[ONESHOT] The Games We Play
Title: The Games We Play
Word Count: 2660
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Junhyung/Hyunseung
Summary: Life is a game. Simple as that.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters.
A/N: Oneshot, here you go. Hope it's decent ^_____^
Games.
Childhood is full of games. Games which are so innocent, look so harmless and silly for their parents and for the rest of the society. Those same games solve problems and also create some. And all that just to prepare a single person for the life ahead, to face with games which are more vicious, which teach that now there is no such thing as free candy. Everything has to be paid for, everything has to be earned.
As a child, games were played on friends, friends which at times weren’t welcome for reasons that sounded so important, friends, who seemed to be the third wheel. So the child plays, plays that he’s not home while watching the other kid leave, and plays even with friends, snickering when a lone kid is pounding on the door and later runs off. Success. And the next day they meet up again, wearing sincere smiles and run off to play together.
Games were easy because the anger subsided soon, children forget. It was easy because the world around them was actually so small; they weren’t required to face what was outside of their boundaries.
Now the world is bigger, endless numbers of doors are open and every character is complicated. Shoulders are heaved down by weight, by responsibilities, leaving no road open for escape. And facing it, the society, is vital even with all the hypocrisy in it. Nose has to be held up high, steps have to be confident, back has to be straight - all that to play the games of grown-ups.
Games which now can’t be solved with a day, games which may take you down.
Games…
If you don’t play, you will be played. If you’re not involved, you will be stomped down by various feet. Into the mud, because there is no such thing as mercy. Everyone wants a piece of you, wants to take you down to bask in the spotlight. It’s something they have to face daily.
Their moral - be ambitious no matter what it takes!
Junhyung looked out to the river. Nevertheless the time, children were still playing outside, even quite a number of them and every single one of them was different, different but still hold characteristics of the people they were going to be. They change, they grow, they fight and they’ll love. Everything that is so natural to life.
It’s easy being a kid…
They run and chase after each other…
Now the chasing includes money and sweet-talks. You have to play it. Play that you’re the best, think that you’re the best and act like you’re the best. Be a fricking Casanova if that’s what it’s going to take but plans must be ready for the chase to succeed. Ready to catch the poor butterfly that is desired by many.
Junhyung is defined to be one of the butterflies. He’s getting tired of games, he’s too good at it and no longer he sees the fun in his success. It’s safe. So he has decided to only be the butterfly and leave people behind with hateful words, disappointed faces, unsatisfied lower bodies and if needed, with nothing.
Because he will not be stomped down into the mud.
Many have tried, none have succeeded. Some with slow seduction, some just with blunt words into his face. He liked then people were straight-forward - easier to handle and easier to get rid of. Sincere clinginess was a rare sight. Some played this game good, some worse, some raised his sympathy, some earned his hate.
But nothing could get him caught.
…hold picnics…
Now all those cheap plastic cups have been replaced with expensive champagne glasses. All sandwiches have been replaced with expensive restaurant meals. All laughs are now tinted with sly eye-smiles and unspoken words. Nothing was ever what it seemed.
Not anymore.
Cheerful chats have now been replaced with conversations. Conversations filled with words which never meant one thing, words which tried to trick your mind, tried to manipulate your thoughts. Every gesture, every leg movement, and every muscle on their face - everything held information crucial to survive. So it was necessary to know body-language, it always got him out of trouble. Or to put it nicely, without proper knowledge you’re doomed.
Junhyung had learnt it the hard way.
…flirt innocently under a tree…
Now all the flirting was pointless. Money spoke, money attracted, money was necessary and there was no such thing as just a ‘flirt’. No sincere smiles, no accidental brushes against arms. It always included ulterior motives, always included men and women hanging off of him, everyone trying to get a piece, trying to get what they knew was impossible to capture.
The butterfly would fly away.
The subtle touches never existed; they were always planned before-hand, planned with care and huge amounts of time. Junhyung remembers times like those, remembers how he used to be like them, when he was still learning the ways of the higher class. Now all he had to do was to fend them off. Keep them away and concentrate what needs to be done, concentrate on games which were far more important, games which involved big sums.
…exchange pecks…
Now there is no such thing. Now it’s all about the heat, the lust that drives them further and further. No pecks are given, even kisses on the lips are rare and the pattern keeps repeating - lips on the neck, lowering down and down, removing clothes in the midway, foreplay kept to minimum. And the point of this game is to get as far as possible before the 5-minute break is over. Before Junhyung detaches himself, fixes up his shirt which is never off completely, fixes up his hair and once more shows his annoyance at the person who had gotten too lost in the moment.
And what he despises are hickeys - he has made sure everyone knew that.
“Call me,” a voice would say, male or female, it varied.
But they knew he never will.
…tease the ‘couple’…
Now it couldn’t even be called teasing at all. It was all behind-the-scenes plans which Junhyung had to handle with care. People fought over him and he had to foresee that, and eliminate. Eliminate everyone involved if things got too far, eliminate if they were becoming a hassle. He had authority to do so and he has never hesitated to use it.
Letting them off the hook was never an option, such a useless thing.
And apart from work, he also had to deal with people whose lovers’ thought Junhyung had ‘stolen’ what belonged to them. Stolen what they had been unable to keep. Stolen something so unimportant that he just wants to walk away in hope never to hear such nonsense again.
Everyone is capable of cheating if only given the right cards to drive them.
It’s a game with rules that merely exist.
Junhyung stood up from the bench. Having wasted too much time, it now hurried at his back with every tick of his extravagant watch. Wasted too much time, considering there was a whole bunch of documents to sign, another set of conflicts to avoid and bunch of forced dinners to cancel.
And of course find something to relieve stress with.
Or if other people would say it - someone.
He let out a sigh while walking down the street. The children stayed behind him, still enjoying their games, enjoying their youth while they wanted to grow up so bad, the faster the better. Regret wasn’t really known yet so they didn’t know how to avoid it. They couldn’t even imagine how often they would have to face it later.
Later when it is too late and the problems are too big to handle.
Junhyung checked his phone, there were more calls than expected. If only he had avoided the conflict with the head of foreign affairs, if only he had acted sooner, then he would’ve been fine. But his pride got in the way, he needed to show who he was and with that small mistake he had almost fallen into a slump.
But he won, he had never doubted it. He won and that’s all what mattered and that’s what those extra missed calls meant. He had won.
It never brought him any satisfaction. Not anymore.
He stepped into a café, quite old-looking and full, but still away from the main street full of baby-screams and annoying tourists. This was a place he rarely visited but still did if given the chance; it was always full but impressively quiet. Quiet in the direct meaning as the only sounds heard were laptop keyboards, silverware against the cups and small plates and slight toned down conversations. It was a real café, no pointless fast-food, there wasn’t much to eat anyway apart from cakes and other small snacks in the view.
Junhyung checked the snacks and the menu, a routine, even though he always ordered the same. He liked routine in a sense. It would make him predictable, he knew, but it also made him feel weirdly relaxed among his hectic schedules always accompanied with various sleepless nights.
The man facing at him was young, it was a face he had seen before but which probably didn’t recognize him. Another point for this café. The male was quite short, had changed his haircut compared to the last time and behind that eye-smile Junhyung could easily see he had been interrupted.
The male’s hair seemed already styled quite sloppily but it was certain a pair of hands had had its way with it, tie just didn’t fit on the shirt like it was supposed to and a certain blush was seen on his cheeks.
Junhyung smirked. He had already noticed another male in the back-room. Details, he’s been trained to notice. Junhyung placed his order and the other just blinked a couple of times in confusion, hands slightly trembling and sweat glistening on his forehead.
He was still excited and probably couldn’t wait to get back there. Back into the hands he so seemed to yearn for. Gikwang had always seemed the innocent type, who knew he’d risk with his job.
“It’s a rush-hour if you didn’t notice yet.” And he placed the bill on the counter, taking the wooden number-sign and left, already knowing that the male was fixing his shirt as he heard a slight curse which was probably directed at the reason for this all. It was a name he didn’t recognize.
“May I sit here?” He asked. It was a normal sight in this café so he was not surprised by a quick glance and silence - permission that was always granted here. Junhyung followed by the unwritten rule, it fit him perfectly - don’t say anything if not talked to. A rule which everyone had to follow if taking a seat in already occupied table. This was a place for busy people and interruptions were always answered with daggers shot out of their eyes.
Nothing surprising and Junhyung at times couldn’t help but think that people here maybe, just maybe had a tad bit more class than anyone from his circle of colleagues and family acquaintances. These years have proven that silence is quite an interesting thing.
But as he was eyeing the new books that had been placed on the shelf he couldn’t help but feel eyes on him, boring into his own and not moving a flinch. And instinctively his brain went through routine actions, he knew what he was going to do; he was going to let his eyes meet with the other’s, manage on a certain emotion and snap something smart and the other would shoot his eyes back down to his book. It should be obvious - he was in no mood to have a chat.
So he did, he let his eyes snap at the other, managing on a tired but clearly annoyed expression and was just opening his mouth…
When he noticed something. And that something caught his eye.
He noticed an interesting glint. A glint that for some reason made curiosity peak its ears without any thought at all, without him even knowing and being able to control it. A glint that didn’t even falter a bit.
“What?” Junhyung gave his words a hostile feeling as he kept the eye-contact. For some reason it was never uncomfortable even though the rumors stated otherwise. Good for him, he only gained more respect and in the corridors no one dared to give him a glance. They even avoided him.
Go figure.
The male before him let his elbow rest on the table, supporting his head from the side. There was silence, a small silence before words escaped his mouth; his voice was usual, noting spectacular that would make him more attractive. It was usual but what was intriguing was the extra to it, the extra tint of amusement which he wasn’t even trying to hide.
“You just seem familiar.”
So this is what it was about.
That one sentence, it was always like this - a kid was sent to get closer, sent to get information. It made sense, perfect sense as he could withstand his eyes, was impressively good-looking, had astounding eyes which was known to be the first thing Junhyung looked in people and he seemed…interesting. The male wasn’t pretending, he was out there, probably with no tricks up in his sleeve. His eyes told him so but still…
It was so obvious.
Who else would use a sentence like that? Who else would even start talking to him when they must’ve known who he was. Their creativity was clearly on its wa-
“Hmm, I meant that I’ve seen you here before but,” He looked down at Junhyung’s cup, “but you still get that so…You must be new in a sense.”
Junhyung looked at him for a second or two, the other had made eye-contact again, head slightly tilted to the side and seemingly in thought, at times taking a sip from his own cup. He was observing
“What do you-“ Junhyung started, a wave of irritation washing over him as he was interrupted again.
“You seem quite smart though…” The stranger said, his eyes one of an innocent child’s which reminded Junhyung all the plans he should be having. But for some reason he felt like there was no need for one, for some reason he wanted to see where this was going. The stranger’s aura didn’t hold usual obnoxiousness that all the others before him had, his movements were smooth and if usually it’d seem fake and a try to impress, then this time it seemed genuine.
There was something…Something that told him he has not what he thought he was.
And his gut-feeling never lies.
Junhyung let his eyes linger on the other a couple of more seconds before blinking once and averting his gaze but not his head. He looked to the left, let his attention go over the people, every single one sitting on that side, letting his attention pass over them while keeping his mind blank, waiting for a thought to pop up like it always did.
Another blink and his eyes travelled to the right, meeting with the other’s smile in the midway. The sight was the same, people were sitting, minding their own business, some reading, some working, some chatting, some doing who-knows-what in those dark corners, but all of them constantly took sips of their drinks, sips out of their cups…
Cups… Why…
Cups.
Junhyung’s eyes shot to his own one and then at the stranger’s before him who definitely seemed even more amused now. He really looked like a little kid and little did he know that he was older.
Their eyes met, Junhyung’s eyes still empty, stranger’s eyes still holding the same glint and a playful smile was lingering on his lips.
Who knew it was the start of an endless game.
Word Count: 2660
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Junhyung/Hyunseung
Summary: Life is a game. Simple as that.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters.
A/N: Oneshot, here you go. Hope it's decent ^_____^
Games.
Childhood is full of games. Games which are so innocent, look so harmless and silly for their parents and for the rest of the society. Those same games solve problems and also create some. And all that just to prepare a single person for the life ahead, to face with games which are more vicious, which teach that now there is no such thing as free candy. Everything has to be paid for, everything has to be earned.
As a child, games were played on friends, friends which at times weren’t welcome for reasons that sounded so important, friends, who seemed to be the third wheel. So the child plays, plays that he’s not home while watching the other kid leave, and plays even with friends, snickering when a lone kid is pounding on the door and later runs off. Success. And the next day they meet up again, wearing sincere smiles and run off to play together.
Games were easy because the anger subsided soon, children forget. It was easy because the world around them was actually so small; they weren’t required to face what was outside of their boundaries.
Now the world is bigger, endless numbers of doors are open and every character is complicated. Shoulders are heaved down by weight, by responsibilities, leaving no road open for escape. And facing it, the society, is vital even with all the hypocrisy in it. Nose has to be held up high, steps have to be confident, back has to be straight - all that to play the games of grown-ups.
Games which now can’t be solved with a day, games which may take you down.
Games…
If you don’t play, you will be played. If you’re not involved, you will be stomped down by various feet. Into the mud, because there is no such thing as mercy. Everyone wants a piece of you, wants to take you down to bask in the spotlight. It’s something they have to face daily.
Their moral - be ambitious no matter what it takes!
Junhyung looked out to the river. Nevertheless the time, children were still playing outside, even quite a number of them and every single one of them was different, different but still hold characteristics of the people they were going to be. They change, they grow, they fight and they’ll love. Everything that is so natural to life.
It’s easy being a kid…
They run and chase after each other…
Now the chasing includes money and sweet-talks. You have to play it. Play that you’re the best, think that you’re the best and act like you’re the best. Be a fricking Casanova if that’s what it’s going to take but plans must be ready for the chase to succeed. Ready to catch the poor butterfly that is desired by many.
Junhyung is defined to be one of the butterflies. He’s getting tired of games, he’s too good at it and no longer he sees the fun in his success. It’s safe. So he has decided to only be the butterfly and leave people behind with hateful words, disappointed faces, unsatisfied lower bodies and if needed, with nothing.
Because he will not be stomped down into the mud.
Many have tried, none have succeeded. Some with slow seduction, some just with blunt words into his face. He liked then people were straight-forward - easier to handle and easier to get rid of. Sincere clinginess was a rare sight. Some played this game good, some worse, some raised his sympathy, some earned his hate.
But nothing could get him caught.
…hold picnics…
Now all those cheap plastic cups have been replaced with expensive champagne glasses. All sandwiches have been replaced with expensive restaurant meals. All laughs are now tinted with sly eye-smiles and unspoken words. Nothing was ever what it seemed.
Not anymore.
Cheerful chats have now been replaced with conversations. Conversations filled with words which never meant one thing, words which tried to trick your mind, tried to manipulate your thoughts. Every gesture, every leg movement, and every muscle on their face - everything held information crucial to survive. So it was necessary to know body-language, it always got him out of trouble. Or to put it nicely, without proper knowledge you’re doomed.
Junhyung had learnt it the hard way.
…flirt innocently under a tree…
Now all the flirting was pointless. Money spoke, money attracted, money was necessary and there was no such thing as just a ‘flirt’. No sincere smiles, no accidental brushes against arms. It always included ulterior motives, always included men and women hanging off of him, everyone trying to get a piece, trying to get what they knew was impossible to capture.
The butterfly would fly away.
The subtle touches never existed; they were always planned before-hand, planned with care and huge amounts of time. Junhyung remembers times like those, remembers how he used to be like them, when he was still learning the ways of the higher class. Now all he had to do was to fend them off. Keep them away and concentrate what needs to be done, concentrate on games which were far more important, games which involved big sums.
…exchange pecks…
Now there is no such thing. Now it’s all about the heat, the lust that drives them further and further. No pecks are given, even kisses on the lips are rare and the pattern keeps repeating - lips on the neck, lowering down and down, removing clothes in the midway, foreplay kept to minimum. And the point of this game is to get as far as possible before the 5-minute break is over. Before Junhyung detaches himself, fixes up his shirt which is never off completely, fixes up his hair and once more shows his annoyance at the person who had gotten too lost in the moment.
And what he despises are hickeys - he has made sure everyone knew that.
“Call me,” a voice would say, male or female, it varied.
But they knew he never will.
…tease the ‘couple’…
Now it couldn’t even be called teasing at all. It was all behind-the-scenes plans which Junhyung had to handle with care. People fought over him and he had to foresee that, and eliminate. Eliminate everyone involved if things got too far, eliminate if they were becoming a hassle. He had authority to do so and he has never hesitated to use it.
Letting them off the hook was never an option, such a useless thing.
And apart from work, he also had to deal with people whose lovers’ thought Junhyung had ‘stolen’ what belonged to them. Stolen what they had been unable to keep. Stolen something so unimportant that he just wants to walk away in hope never to hear such nonsense again.
Everyone is capable of cheating if only given the right cards to drive them.
It’s a game with rules that merely exist.
Junhyung stood up from the bench. Having wasted too much time, it now hurried at his back with every tick of his extravagant watch. Wasted too much time, considering there was a whole bunch of documents to sign, another set of conflicts to avoid and bunch of forced dinners to cancel.
And of course find something to relieve stress with.
Or if other people would say it - someone.
He let out a sigh while walking down the street. The children stayed behind him, still enjoying their games, enjoying their youth while they wanted to grow up so bad, the faster the better. Regret wasn’t really known yet so they didn’t know how to avoid it. They couldn’t even imagine how often they would have to face it later.
Later when it is too late and the problems are too big to handle.
Junhyung checked his phone, there were more calls than expected. If only he had avoided the conflict with the head of foreign affairs, if only he had acted sooner, then he would’ve been fine. But his pride got in the way, he needed to show who he was and with that small mistake he had almost fallen into a slump.
But he won, he had never doubted it. He won and that’s all what mattered and that’s what those extra missed calls meant. He had won.
It never brought him any satisfaction. Not anymore.
He stepped into a café, quite old-looking and full, but still away from the main street full of baby-screams and annoying tourists. This was a place he rarely visited but still did if given the chance; it was always full but impressively quiet. Quiet in the direct meaning as the only sounds heard were laptop keyboards, silverware against the cups and small plates and slight toned down conversations. It was a real café, no pointless fast-food, there wasn’t much to eat anyway apart from cakes and other small snacks in the view.
Junhyung checked the snacks and the menu, a routine, even though he always ordered the same. He liked routine in a sense. It would make him predictable, he knew, but it also made him feel weirdly relaxed among his hectic schedules always accompanied with various sleepless nights.
The man facing at him was young, it was a face he had seen before but which probably didn’t recognize him. Another point for this café. The male was quite short, had changed his haircut compared to the last time and behind that eye-smile Junhyung could easily see he had been interrupted.
The male’s hair seemed already styled quite sloppily but it was certain a pair of hands had had its way with it, tie just didn’t fit on the shirt like it was supposed to and a certain blush was seen on his cheeks.
Junhyung smirked. He had already noticed another male in the back-room. Details, he’s been trained to notice. Junhyung placed his order and the other just blinked a couple of times in confusion, hands slightly trembling and sweat glistening on his forehead.
He was still excited and probably couldn’t wait to get back there. Back into the hands he so seemed to yearn for. Gikwang had always seemed the innocent type, who knew he’d risk with his job.
“It’s a rush-hour if you didn’t notice yet.” And he placed the bill on the counter, taking the wooden number-sign and left, already knowing that the male was fixing his shirt as he heard a slight curse which was probably directed at the reason for this all. It was a name he didn’t recognize.
“May I sit here?” He asked. It was a normal sight in this café so he was not surprised by a quick glance and silence - permission that was always granted here. Junhyung followed by the unwritten rule, it fit him perfectly - don’t say anything if not talked to. A rule which everyone had to follow if taking a seat in already occupied table. This was a place for busy people and interruptions were always answered with daggers shot out of their eyes.
Nothing surprising and Junhyung at times couldn’t help but think that people here maybe, just maybe had a tad bit more class than anyone from his circle of colleagues and family acquaintances. These years have proven that silence is quite an interesting thing.
But as he was eyeing the new books that had been placed on the shelf he couldn’t help but feel eyes on him, boring into his own and not moving a flinch. And instinctively his brain went through routine actions, he knew what he was going to do; he was going to let his eyes meet with the other’s, manage on a certain emotion and snap something smart and the other would shoot his eyes back down to his book. It should be obvious - he was in no mood to have a chat.
So he did, he let his eyes snap at the other, managing on a tired but clearly annoyed expression and was just opening his mouth…
When he noticed something. And that something caught his eye.
He noticed an interesting glint. A glint that for some reason made curiosity peak its ears without any thought at all, without him even knowing and being able to control it. A glint that didn’t even falter a bit.
“What?” Junhyung gave his words a hostile feeling as he kept the eye-contact. For some reason it was never uncomfortable even though the rumors stated otherwise. Good for him, he only gained more respect and in the corridors no one dared to give him a glance. They even avoided him.
Go figure.
The male before him let his elbow rest on the table, supporting his head from the side. There was silence, a small silence before words escaped his mouth; his voice was usual, noting spectacular that would make him more attractive. It was usual but what was intriguing was the extra to it, the extra tint of amusement which he wasn’t even trying to hide.
“You just seem familiar.”
So this is what it was about.
That one sentence, it was always like this - a kid was sent to get closer, sent to get information. It made sense, perfect sense as he could withstand his eyes, was impressively good-looking, had astounding eyes which was known to be the first thing Junhyung looked in people and he seemed…interesting. The male wasn’t pretending, he was out there, probably with no tricks up in his sleeve. His eyes told him so but still…
It was so obvious.
Who else would use a sentence like that? Who else would even start talking to him when they must’ve known who he was. Their creativity was clearly on its wa-
“Hmm, I meant that I’ve seen you here before but,” He looked down at Junhyung’s cup, “but you still get that so…You must be new in a sense.”
Junhyung looked at him for a second or two, the other had made eye-contact again, head slightly tilted to the side and seemingly in thought, at times taking a sip from his own cup. He was observing
“What do you-“ Junhyung started, a wave of irritation washing over him as he was interrupted again.
“You seem quite smart though…” The stranger said, his eyes one of an innocent child’s which reminded Junhyung all the plans he should be having. But for some reason he felt like there was no need for one, for some reason he wanted to see where this was going. The stranger’s aura didn’t hold usual obnoxiousness that all the others before him had, his movements were smooth and if usually it’d seem fake and a try to impress, then this time it seemed genuine.
There was something…Something that told him he has not what he thought he was.
And his gut-feeling never lies.
Junhyung let his eyes linger on the other a couple of more seconds before blinking once and averting his gaze but not his head. He looked to the left, let his attention go over the people, every single one sitting on that side, letting his attention pass over them while keeping his mind blank, waiting for a thought to pop up like it always did.
Another blink and his eyes travelled to the right, meeting with the other’s smile in the midway. The sight was the same, people were sitting, minding their own business, some reading, some working, some chatting, some doing who-knows-what in those dark corners, but all of them constantly took sips of their drinks, sips out of their cups…
Cups… Why…
Cups.
Junhyung’s eyes shot to his own one and then at the stranger’s before him who definitely seemed even more amused now. He really looked like a little kid and little did he know that he was older.
Their eyes met, Junhyung’s eyes still empty, stranger’s eyes still holding the same glint and a playful smile was lingering on his lips.
Who knew it was the start of an endless game.