The Red Room

TRIGGER WARNING: Vulgar language, violence, + mention of blood.

Read at your own discretion.

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Learning about history had been the most boring and absolutely least favorite pastime for Park Chanyeol. It was all just facts about the past, things he could easily remember for when a test came up. But that was it; it had all been in the past, things that people already knew. It was like looking at an old year book or listening to his parents tell the story of how they met. In his opinion, it was better to think about the future. He wanted to know what would happen twenty years from now— Will there be life on Mars? Will aliens have invaded Earth? Will flying cars have been invented?

Leaning against the rough wooden school desk with his chin resting atop his crossed forearms, Chanyeol lightly snored away. Rather than paying attention to his teacher's lecture, he dreamed deeply of an old fantasy. Park Yunhee, the most beautiful girl in school, finally would fall in love with him. He pictured it perfectly, watching the event play out like a sappy romance film in his mind. He would declare his eternal love and admiration, then she would melt into his arms. The perfect pair finally about to share a passionate first kiss... Alas, the dream was cut short.

Chanyeol jolted up in his seat as he was awakened by the alarming sensation of slimy, crumpled up paper hitting against his skin. Quickly he pushed the frames of his spectacles back onto his face, looking beside him in agitation to witness two snickering boys staring at him with ripped paper all over their desks. The poor boy sneered at the two, preparing to snap at them until the chance to do so was taken away.

"Mister Wu, Mister Kim... Is there something funny?" The teacher spoke up in a calm voice, but with an assertive edge. The two friends stiffened in their seats, knowing that this teacher in particular was known for giving out harsh punishments.

"Nothing," The blonde uttered in response, keeping his shoulders broad and expression straight. The teacher narrowed her eyes, gently tilting her head off to the side as a brow raised with suspicion.

"Nothing, you say? Then why were you giggling just a moment ago?" The blonde student simply shrugged his wide shoulders, his friend keeping dead silent. A horrible tension filed the room until finally eye contact broke between the student and teacher.

Only twenty minutes after the seemingly intense (and extraordinarily over-exaggerated) situation did the loud, scratching noise of the dismissal bell pierce through the eardrums of all. Instantaneously with the sound had students packed their bags, dashing out into the hallways.

Standing beside his locker as he released a miserable sigh, Chanyeol's gaze glazed over. Byun Baekhyun, an old-time friend of his, was already present to greet him.

"Hey, geek. How's the first day treating you?" Baekhyun questioned, a heart-warming smile spread all over his face. As Chanyeol began stacking away his textbook and retrieving another one, he couldn't help but frown back.

"Terrible. I just got attacked by the Double K's spit balls."

"Spit balls?!" Baekhyun laughed. "Looks like they've found absolutely no new material over the summer."

"Tell me about it." Slamming his locker shut, Chanyeol fully turned his body so he could better face the other male. "Anyway, wanna come over to my place later? I've got this really cool telescope that's magnified fifty times more than my old one!"

Just as Baekhyun was about to answer, something most notable peered up from the corner of his eyes, demanding his attention. It was the very two boys from history class, staring them down inimically from the other side of the hallway. They were Wu Yifan and Kim Jongin, the school's most notorious bad boys and certainly some of the richest. They preferred to go by the names of Kris and Kai, hence the nickname 'Double K'.

"Watch your back this year, Chan. I've got a bad feeling about those two."

"I bet my mother's inheritance that they've got some sort of evil plan for me," Chanyeol replied, watching as his enemies walked past him in style. "After what happened last year, how could they not?"

"Well, I've gotta run if I want to make it to chemistry. Good luck, Channie!"

"Right... You too, Baek!" Once exchanging a quick embrace, Baekhyun turned his back to Chanyeol and sped off to the end of the hall.

Feeling all alone in the now empty school hallway, Chanyeol forced himself to reach the next class just seconds before it began. Already it felt like the longest day ever.

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As cliché as it seemed, each clique and group of friends had their own places on campus grounds in which they hung out together, gossiped... The usual faire for any average, social teens.

The popular crowd of proclaimed 'kingkas', 'quenkas' and other 'it' people in school had their special spot on two large picnic benches pushed together, sitting just beneath a short sakura tree. It was right on the grass just at the front of the school. Everyone in the aforementioned group sat properly on the bench seats, talking rambunctiously amongst each other about the day's news. All but the exception of Huang Zitao, who preferred to sit right on the table's surface.

"Everyone's invited to my party tonight!" A joyous voice chimed in, the others perking up with interest. The speaker was Park Yunhee, daughter of a wealthy socialite and famous retired actor. Her reputation for crazy parties and outlandish rebel behavior was surely upheld.

"Awesome! Where's it going to be at this time?" Someone asked, Yunhee grinning with a certain glow to her face.

"I booked the Red Room for the entire night!"

"The Red Room?" Another exclaimed, pure shock reverberating in their tone. "That club hasn't even opened yet!"

Tapping her rose gold painted nails against the tabletop, Yunhee basked in all the glory that her peers provided.

"Let's just say I'm friends with the owner."

"I can't make it," Tao began to explain as his bottom lip puckered into a pout. "I've got some dinner to go to with my family tonight. They'll kill me if I don't go."

"Aw! But I really hoped you'd be there," she replied, her facial expression mimicking that of her friend's.

"I know. Maybe next time, Yun."

She then turned to the blonde male sitting across from her, giving an innocent puppy-eyed look.

"What about you, Kris?"

Slowly he pulled his chin up to look her in the eyes, furrowing his thick brows as if it were the dumbest question he'd ever heard.

"Of course I am," a raspy voice replied, "Everyone knows your parties are the best." Yunhee quickly returned to her cheerful mood, feeling satisfied with his response. Though in reality, he'd only said that so he didn't have to listen to her whine for the remainder of the day. If it were truly up to him, Park Yunhee would be kicked out of her own existence by now.

Just then Jongin raised from his place on the benches, so suddenly walking away. The group gave each other confused looks before calling out, "Where are you going?!" But Jongin did not respond, let alone acknowledge them.

In the main quad sat Chanyeol and Baekhyun on the steps in front of the music room, contently conversing and eating their lunches. That was when Jongin came into view, seemingly approaching them. Immediately Chanyeol looked away, not bothering to get involved in whatever Jongin was up to. He knew it couldn't be good. Baekhyun huffed in annoyance, staring up at Jongin with unamusement while the other male simply smirked.

"What do you want, Jongin?" Baek managed to heave out, disgusted with the sight before him. Yet the other gave no snarky remark or even a threatening comeback.

"You should come to this party tonight. It's going to be at the Red Room." Surprised, Baekhyun raised his brow but refused to give away any sign that he was interested.

"A party with Kim Jongin and his dumb crew? I think I'll pass." Kai took a deep breath and shook his head.

"Well, if you change your mind... mention my name to the bouncer. They'll let you in." As quick as he had shown up did he disappear, leaving the friends to contemplate on what had just happened.

"I can't believe that!" Chanyeol finally spoke. Baekhyun scoffed.

"Yeah, as if I'd be caught dead with any of those snots."

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Later that day at Chanyeol's home, he and his best friend relaxed in his large bedroom that was stock full of books, science magazines and a plethora of his strange mini experiments from over the summer break. Baekhyun comfortably sprawled out onto the mattress, while Chan was busy staring down at a slide of bacteria through a microscope. Baek breathed heavily, feeling quite bored with watching his friend play mad scientist. Unlike the other, he found more enjoyment in social events and artistic activities instead of isolation or sciences.

"Can we, I don't know, do something else? Like, together?" He asked. Chanyeol turned in his seat to look at him.

"Oh, sorry! You can take a look at the sample too. I've been hogging it," he stated as he stood up, gesturing for his friend to take a seat. But he only sighed and shook his head.

"No, I mean something besides studying... Like shopping or going to an art gallery. Or even just going for a walk?" The young male pushed up his dress shirt sleeves to his elbows, feeling bad about having to request such a thing. He hated to disappoint, but at the same time, it was beginning to feel as though their friendship was only interesting when thrown into the dramatics of their schoolyard enemies. "When was the last time you even stepped out of this room other than to go to school?"

Chanyeol was absolutely dumbfounded.

"But... I thought you liked doing all this with me?"

"Yeah, maybe a few times here and there, but not every single day! We were like this last year, too, but I never said anything because I wanted you to be happy. Don't you think it's time to try something new? Get out there and see the world beyond all these dusty books and test tubes?"

Stepping a little closer, Chanyeol sneered, "So what you're trying to say is that my interests are lame... Right?"

"No, I just mean—"

"I think you made it pretty clear what you meant." Baekhyun quickly hopped off the bed, snatching his blazer into his hand before moving towards the door.

"If you want to stay cooped up in here for the rest of your life, that's fine! Just don't come crying to me when you realize your whole life passed you by!" With that, the door slammed shut, an angry Baekhyun storming out of the house before one of the house servants could even question why.

Chanyeol stood there in his room, arms crossed over his chest as he was caught up in deep thoughts. As much as he despised to admit, Baekhyun was right. There had to be more to life than this. In fact, he wanted to experience some new things; as his friend had suggested. Ever since his mother passed away last year, however, things within his family had changed. Now it was just him and his old man. Mr.Park had been his role model, not to mention the rock of the family, since he could remember anything. His mothers death had turned his father into a living train wreck. He no longer was filled with life, no longer spent his free time with his son. The poor man just kept to his work, drowning himself in it with the hopes of forgetting their tragedy. Because of this, Chanyeol felt as though he had to do the same so that his father wasn't alone in suffering. The worst part of it all was that no one knew about it, excepting the family. He hadn't even told Baekhyun of what happened, so there was no way his peer could have understood.

'This is my fault,' Chanyeol thought to himself as he took in a long breath. He had to fix this. In haste the tall boy left his home, beginning the search for his most revered friend.

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Music blared loudly, neon lights flashing about. An entire crowd of people waited in line to enter the Red Room club.

Baekhyun found himself skipping the line and facing a bouncer who stood at the entrance. He couldn't believe that he was actually there, about to go party with some of the worst bullies and most self-righteous people in school. Yet he was, after all, invited and his anger had led him there.

"Name?" The bouncer questioned in a gruff voice, glaring down at his clipboard. Baekhyun nervously fidgeted with his fingers, a bit afraid of the height and muscle of the bouncer.

"Um, Jongin invited me?" The tough-looking male shook his head and pointed to the line beside the wall, signaling that it was useless. But then Baekhyun was enlightened and quickly rephrased.

"I meant Kai! I'm friends with Kai." It was then that the bouncer finally stepped aside, allowing the boy entrance to the club. Cautiously moving forward inside the building, the once muffled music abruptly grew inescapable. From the moment he'd walked in, all worries or feeling of guilt had vanished. This was just the sort of thing Baekhyun had always wished to do. Of course he had been to parties in the past, but they were all basic house parties. Elementary in comparison to such anarchy that went on in the Red Room. As he maneuvered past the crowd of people talking and dancing, a familiar face suddenly came into the vicinity.

"I see you changed your mind!" Coming to an ultimate halt, Baekhyun could only nod his head in agreement. "You having fun?" Jongin asked, both hands gripping tightly onto two bottles of soju.

"Do you even care?" The other male retorted, stuffing both hands into the pockets of his pants. "Why'd you invite me anyway?"

"Honestly?" Glancing off to the side, Jongin let out a sigh. "It isn't me who wanted you here. It was Tao." Baekhyun furrowed his brows.

"Tao?"

"Yeah. He's looking to recruit you as one of his minions or whatever. He says he's short of one and I heard him talking about you. You're one of the best candidates to take the spot." Almost immediately after his explanation did Baekhyun laugh, his head pulled back slightly.

"You're kidding! You people really think that I would become some kind of slave for you? And for what? So I can be like you?" Jongin put on his infamous smirk, almost chuckling at the boy's reaction.

"You might think you're better just because you hang out with geeks like Park Chanyeol. But in reality you're no different. After all, you're here at our party instead of stroking Chanyeol's dick like you usually do."

His eyes widened in rage, Baekhyun unable to hold back the wrath he felt. Honing in as much physical force as he could, the young student stepped forward to swing his fist against the other male's nose. Jongin went teetering backwards upon impact, hitting into other party-goers and landing on the cold dance floor. A horde of people who were nearby stopped dancing, now paying their attention to the brawl. Deep crimson liquid came trickling from Jongin's nostrils, cascading down his skin and onto his lips. Bringing his smooth hands up to wipe the blood away, the young man was left speechless.

"Don't you dare insult him ever again!" Shouted out Baekhyun, whose fists had balled up so tightly that his nails began to dig into his own palms, tiny lacerations forming.

Yunhee had seen the punch from the second floor of the club and instantly abandoned her duties as a hostess to come to Jongin's rescue. The dyed redhead pushed others out of the way, kneeling on the floor beside her friend as she used a napkin to help clean the blood.

"Oh my god, Jongin, are you okay?" She questioned anxiously, to which he responded in a hushed and agitated tone.

"I'm fine." It was then Yunhee turned her attention to the culprit of her peer's pain, standing to her feet so she could scold him.

"No one invited you here. Just get out now, before I call the police."

"This party sucked anyway," Baekhyun spat back, shooting Jongin one final, lethal glare before storming out of the premises.

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Chanyeol took in a deep breath, tapping his shoes against the marble floor. He'd been in the parlor of his friend's house, waiting for him to return from wherever the other had run off to. He'd have to come home eventually... Right? Baekhyun's parents both were out of town again, so there was no one to send him away.

With the creaking sound of the front doors opening, Chanyeol jolted up. Perfecting his posture and slicking back his somewhat messy hair, he was the first to speak.

"You're home quite late." Recognizing the same gentle voice that he'd listened to so many times in his life, Baekhyun came to a complete stop. A moment of comfortable silence was shared between the two old pals, both staring deep into each other's eyes. As if they were already apologizing.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was hushed, trying to make it seem as if he were still angry with Chanyeol. For all he knew, the other could have been there to retrieve things he'd left. A part of him feared that their earlier argument was the end of their friendship. Another part of him held out hope that this wasn't how they would go out.

"After you left today, I knew I had to come find you. I'm sorry, Baek." Sitting there in the velvety blue chair in the parlor room, Chanyeol's entire body struggled to stay still. Every moment sitting there, staring at his friend who stood so far away felt like a blade cutting through skin. It killed him to see the other so hurt.'

"I overreacted and you were right. I should get out more."

Afraid to speak too soon, Baekhyun refused to move from his place across the room. There had to be more explanation to his behavior. Of course he knew that Chan would always have his interests and he didn't mind any of it. It was the fact that his best friend was locking himself in his room everyday and avoiding social contact that truly enraged him.

"I should have told you sooner." Shaky hands moved up to remove his glasses frames from his face, carefully laying them out on the glass coffee table in front of him. It soon became obvious to Baekhyun that something horrible had happened. Rushing towards the young man with his head hung low, he got down onto his knees and took his friend's hand into his own.

"What happened, Chan? It's okay, you can tell me anything."

Seconds passed before he blurted out in a weeping sob, "My mom's dead."

"Oh my god. Why didn't you say anything before?!"

He shook his head, "I don't know. I was afraid."

"When did this happen?" Baekhyun whispered out, fearful to make the situation any worse.

"Over the summer. Dad wanted to keep it quiet. She overdosed on sleeping pills."

Baekhyun sighed, forgetting all about their fight from that day. "I'm so sorry."

"Me too..." As salty tears fell down his cheeks, Chanyeol looked over to notice a certain red liquid splotched all over Baek's knuckles. Immediately he retreated his hand from the other's, beginning to inspect the small wounds and bruises that covered it.

"This is blood, Baekhyun."

"I got into a fight," he shamefully admitted, reverting his gaze towards the ground.

"Why?!" As quickly as the tears came welling into his eyes had they stopped, Chanyeol's sorrow for himself instantly transforming into worry for his companion.

Baekhyun smiled sheepishly, happy to know that the other still cared for him.

"Someone said something bad about you."

Chanyeol chuckled at the idea, using his free hand to dry off the tears.

"You're reckless."

"I know."

Letting out another deep breath, the giant-sized male put his glasses back on and stood from his seat, beginning to stretch out his long limbs.

"Come on. Let's get you patched up."

Standing back up, Baekhyun began to follow alongside him as a thin arm went wrapping around his neck and resting on his shoulder. Together they went to the kitchen in which they cleaned Baek's hand off and melted into a moment of bliss.

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