Aftermath
Title: Aftermath
Chapters : Prologue
Author: frmdbutterflie
Fandom: ZE:A
Rating: R ( gets higher in later chapters )
Pairing: To be added later
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Disclaimer: I don't own ZE:A. Inspired by the Huis Ten Bosh mini-film
Summary : Taehun was a normal University student who only wanted to leave the campus, craving for fresh air. That'swhen he came across an interresting ad in the newspapers....
Taehun frowned, checking his position on the map again. He was in the middle of nowhere, yet his GPS showed him he had reached his destination. He looked around him. He was parked on the verge, the road framed with elaborate metallic fences behind high brick-walls. He sighed and unfastened his belt, before stepping out of his car.The heat was overwhelming, the kind of oppressive, smothering heat that makes you sweat as soon as you put one foot on the burning asphalt. He himself regretted leaving the cool confinement of his air-conditioned car. He started walking along the wall, feeling the back of his shirt dampening with every single step. He had no idea where he was going, his phone showed no signal and the dry air wasn’t helping his motivation.
Taehun had come across an ad in the University newspaper. He had spent the last couple of months looking for roommates. He had been leaving on the campus for 2 whole years already,and craved for more space. He was a child of the countryside, and his lungs needed fresh air, his limbs were aching for exercise , things he couldn’t find in the City. So when he came across this ad by pure chance, he immediately called the number written at the end of the page. The ad promised outdoors, space, and tranquility.The only condition was owning a car, which Taehun did. After a short phone interview he was urged to come on a Wednesday morning, at 10, to visit the house and talk more. He was thrilled about the idea to leave his lonesome room and have some social interaction with new people. Yet at that right moment, he thought that maybe it was a pure product of his imagination, and that the house didn’t even exist.
He was about to give up when he noticed the road was coming to an end. He sighed in relief and walked a bit faster . After the curve, he stopped and stared at the high screen door that was facing him. Beyond the fence he would see an alley leading to the biggest house he’s ever seen in his life. It looked like a 3-story ,Georgian-style mansion, luxuriant vegetation growing wild against the walls surrounding the property. On the wall, next to the screen door was pinned a sign with the number 127. That was the same address as mentioned on the ad , and he felt a rush of relief washing over him. He walked over to the fence to find an interphone. Taehun cleared his voice and pushed the button.Nothing happened for a minute or two, and a scowl formed on his face. He was only 10 minutes late, could the homeowner have left ? He tried again, once, and then twice. The sun was beating down on his nape, and he cursed mentally not having used sunscreen on his skin. He would for sure catch sunburns, and this perspective made him moodier than before.After 10 more minutes he was ready to give up, when suddenly he saw a car emerging from one side of the house and rolling in the direction of the entrance. He stepped sideways when the doors slowly opened in a loud, metallic creak. His eyes caught the ones of the person sitting on the passenger’s seat. Two half-moon shaped dark orbs stared back at him, before the car stopped. He bent over and waited for the driver to wind the tinted-glass window. A tanned, handsome man with a pair of obviously very expensive shades was smiling briightly.
“ Hi, can I help you ? “ he asked in a joyful tone.
“ Ah, good morning, my name’s Kim Taehun, I found this ad in the newspaper” he said, unfolding the cutting he was keeping in his pocket. The other man’s grin got wider, if it was possible, and he removed his shades, before stopping the car and opening the door. The man on his right tilted his head and unfastened his seatbelt to imitate the other and get out of the car himself.
“ Nice to meet you,Taehun-sshi! My name’s Kwanghee, and he’s Siwan.” he said, gesturing the other man with his thumb. The other man bowed
Taehun smiled and bowed in return.
“ Hello. I was worried I got lost, it’s not easy to find...” he started, before the other man waved his hand, still grinning.
“ Ah ! It’s ok, Taehun-sshi. Have you been waiting for a long time ?Damn, you’re sweaty, you must be so thirsty ! Please go in,I have no idea why the others didn’t answer, they must be lolling around as usual, they’re so careless. I’m sorry about it! Also you will have to go in alone,I must excuse us, we’re late for a meeting, but Siwan is going to call them to be sure they open the door for you and let you in. Ah,these idiots” he sighed after his tirade, before holding out his hand.
“That was a pleasure to meet you though ! Sorry I can’t stay more and chat ! Have a nice day, Taehun-sshi!” Kwanghee said, before getting back into the car.
Taehun looked up at the other man, Siwan, who looked way less dumbfounded with the other’s verbal flow and was standing there quietly. Siwan looked back at him and bowed again.
“Nice meeting you, Taehun-sshi” he said,before hurrying back into the vehicle.
Taehun waved at the car as they drove away, before sighing and making his way through the screen-doors, which he heard closing in a rattling sound behind his back.