Chapter Text
Kim Rok Soo lived a simple life.
Until he didn't.
No, wait--I mean, until he met a certain little shit who adopted him(?), someone he needed to babysit(???), his sugar daddy(?????)
Actually, their relationship is just too damn chaotic to actually have a label.
Needless to say, that punk is Kim Rok Soo's best friend whom he'd probably never exchange for anything in this world.
'Probably' because if throwing that brat aside means Kim Rok Soo can at least live a peaceful life, then he would. Without hesitation. Unapologetically too.
"Rok Soo-yah! I'm leaving!"
Kim Rok Soo blankly said without even turning to look at the other, "Goodbye you little shit."
He heard a quiet sneer and an imaginably eyeroll from said little shit.
"You damn asshole."
Kim Rok Soo just waved his hand as he continued to peel his apple. "Leave already. You're gonna miss your flight."
"Whatever. You just want me out of my own house."
Kim Rok Soo paused his action and slowly turned around to look at the red haired young man leaning on the doorframe of the kitchen who had a frown on his face. "Cale," he called out that only made the latter's frown deepen.
"You are absolutely right."
Kim Rok Soo shamelessly admitted making Cale snort.
"Don't come crying to me saying you miss me!"
Now it was Rok Soo's turn to snort, putting the fruit knife down before moving to shoo Cale away from the kitchen towards the entrance. "Why the hell would I even cry? You're just good-looking but that's nothing to cry about."
Cale lightly nudged his elbow to Rok Soo's rib from the front. "You punk."
"What?"
Once they arrived by the entrance, Rok Soo release his hold of the other and Cale turned to face him with his eyebrows furrowed. "Did you even enroll at the Academy I told you to attend?"
At Kim Rok Soo's silence, Cale gave him an annoyed look and slap his shoulder making Rok Soo yelp.
"I told you to enroll already!"
"I was going to!"
"I bet you forgot and didn't plan to even remember!"
"How the hell did you even know that?!"
Cale glared at him.
"If you're not gonna attend the Academy I'm kicking you out."
"Thank goodness."
Cale's glare intensified making Rok Soo sneer. He outstretch his hands and patted Cale's shoulder.
"Okay, okay, I will do it as soon as you leave."
"I'm gonna check the Academy's site later on the plane to see your name, if I don't see it you're dead."
"Don't use your phone during the flight." Rok Soo sternly scolded but Cale just gave him a bored look.
"I mean before the plane leaves, idiot."
"Are you just gonna continue insulting me until you actually miss your flight?"
Cale rolled his eyes. "I can always book a new one."
"You need financial management help."
"You're literally the one who holds all my cards, what the hell are you on about?"
Kim Rok Soo pushed Cale forward to the gate, all of Cale's luggage already on the service waiting outside. "And I keep telling you, leaving the money to me is not gonna help with your oniomania."
"Its not like you're gonna run away with my money."
"You don't know this but I actually plan to run away tomorrow."
Cale raised an eyebrow, "Is that so?"
"Yup." Rok Soo made sure to enounce the 'p' just because.
Cale snort once more, both of them stopping in front of the black van. "I'm gonna call you once I arrive in France."
Now it was Rok Soo's turn to give him an annoyed look.
"Why the hell would you do that? I'd be asleep by the time you land."
"I'm gonna disturb you because you're such a little shit."
Rok Soo lightly punched Cale's shoulder when he was now sitting on the van, making Cale snicker.
"Yeah, whatever, you brat. Have a safe flight."
"Argh! I'm not gonna have a safe flight because you said that!"
Rok Soo gaze him a look that said he's done dealing with him making Cale laugh lightheartedly.
"I was serious when I said that, you bastard."
"See you when I return."
"I actually hope you don't come back."
Cale raised a middle finger before slamming the van's door shut. Kim Rok Soo clicking his tongue in disdain.
"I told him not to do that."
Even though he really wanted to grab Cale's ear to scold him, he couldn't as the van already started driving away and Kim Rok Soo stayed out until the van was out of sight.
Kim Rok Soo turned to enter the now quiet house and went straight towards the kitchen. Washing the cutting board and the knife he used before taking the bowl of freshly cut apples towards the living room, something he was used to doing as Cale would steal from his fruit snack that would inevitably end with the both of them yelling curses at each other.
Now though, there was no one who would steal his fruits from him.
Kim Rok Soo let out a satisfied sigh when he plopped down on the couch.
'Now this is life.'
Kim Rok Soo finally got the peace and quiet life he wanted. He'd need to savor the moment until 3 months later when that brat comes back from his birthplace.
Yes, you read it right. Cale, that punk, originally lived overseas. For reasons Kim Rok Soo didn't bother knowing, Cale Henituse flew all the way from France to Korea that result in the two of them eventually meeting and living together.
The reason behind them living together is actually quite simple.
Because Cale is shit when it comes to literally everything house and self-care related and Kim Rok Soo was on a constant financial crisis to the point that he had hardly eaten anything in days then even got kicked out of his previous apartment.
When the two of them met again after the first time they coincidentally came across each other, Cale had said with a shoulder shrug like he couldn't be bothered at all, "My original housekeeper is bad at his work so I kicked him out."
At that point, Kim Rok Soo just thought Cale is nasty. And that was only their second meeting.
Until Cale gave him an offer.
That offer was for Rok Soo to live together with him and he gets paid while doing so.
A very tempting offer coming from the devil.
If Rok Soo had the ability to go back in time, he would slap the past him and shake himself so much while yelling at his face that no matter how good the offer sound, he should never accept that offer from Cale because now Kim Rok Soo could hardly live in peace with the loud Cale who complains about everything and nothing.
So anyway, Rok Soo's job is basically being a housekeeper and a babysitter. Literally a babysitter because Cale acts too much like a brat that Kim Rok Soo would even need to accompany the redhead outside because if Cale was left alone, who knows what sort of trouble he'd get himself into.
....The last time Kim Rok Soo actually let Cale step foot outside his radar, Cale ended with a horde of admirers(?!!) Rok Soo will never figure where the hell they all came from, or how the hell it even happened in the first place.
....The previous one before that, Cale somehow ended up being put on auction...? Like seriously, where on earth does Cale actually crawl himself into that he gets in the weirdest and craziest situations ever?!
....Now that he's thinking of it... Cale won't get into another weird situation since he'll be with his family right?
Kim Rok Soo could only pat his chest in assurance.
'Nah. Nothing's gonna happen to that kid.'
That's only natural. There will be lots of people who'll take care of him in Rok Soo's stead. So there's nothing to worry about.
Definitely.
As Cale has said, he did call when he finally arrived in France.
And that was at the ungodly hour of 3 am in Korea.
Kim Rok Soo badly wanted to curse this punk for disturbing his sleep but Cale looked so smug on the other side, knowing that he had indeed ruin Rok Soo's sleep.
"What the hell its 3 am here you fucker.... I told you not to call." Kim Rok Soo grumbled while keeping his eyes shut, eyebrows furrowing so much as he faced the phone to him while he lay on his stomach.
["Is it my fault you picked up my call in the first place?"]
Rok Soo forced his eyes to open in order to glare at Cale who wasn't even hiding his devilish smile.
"How was I supposed to keep ignoring it if my phone had been ringing for the 20th time since you first called?!"
At that, Cale couldn't stop himself from cackling. Almost throwing his head back on the lounge he was resting on. He was laughing so much that he had to wipe a stray tear away, his stomach already hurting and it only took him one glance at the annoyed and tired cat face Rok Soo had to make him burst in laughter once more.
Rok Soo gazed at him annoyedly. "You happy?"
Cale couldn't even respond because he's cackling so much.
The damn devil.
It took another 10 minutes before Cale began wheezing in order to catch his breathe. Rok Soo didn't know if he should just go back to sleep or entertain this evil brat but ended up staying.
Rok Soo heaved out a sigh before placing the pillow beside him on top of the pillow he was using to support his back as he adjust to a more comfortable sitting position. Knowing that if Cale was gonna talk, it would take them either 30 minutes before the call will end or another 3 hours.
That's just how talkative Cale is.
"Are you in your parents' house now?"
Cale switched to a laying position after seeing Rok Soo sit up, prompting Rok Soo to glare at him and Cale snickering before responding.
["Nope."] he turned the camera of his phone around to show the room he was in. Rok Soo wasn't really surprised to see the fancy room since he knew Cale was unimaginably rich. ["I'm at the hotel my father reserved for me to stay at the moment I'll arrive."]
Kim Rok Soo frowned at what he had heard.
"Wouldn't it be better if you rested in their house instead?"
What was the need for a hotel?
["Nah. The house is actually a bit far from Paris and it'd take a few hours to arrive there so I'd really prefer staying here at the hotel right now."]
"Still. Shouldn't he have just sent a driver to pick you up or something."
Kim Rok Soo didn't know the entire story behind why Cale went to Korea instead of staying at France, but he knew about the fact that after his mother died his father had remarried not that long after and he ended up growing up neglected with only his butler by his side.
No matter how much Rok Soo thinks of it, or even tries to understand Cale's father, he just can't see the reason why he needed to actually neglect his own son.
And Cale knew this too. He knew about the fact that Rok Soo doesn't actually like his father even without him directly stating so, so he knows that Rok Soo was annoyed at the disposition he was in right now. Making him smile internally knowing that someone cares.
["Wouldn't that just make me even more tired if I travel again after flying on air for hours?"]
Kim Rok Soo didn't respond.
He knew Cale had a point. And honestly, he would prefer it too for Cale to rest since he's probably suffering from jet lag right now.
Even still.
Rok Soo would just like for Cale's father to actually pay attention to him too.
'The rest of his family better treat him right or I'm boarding the next plane asap if I find out they all treat him like shit and drag Cale back to Korea with me.'
Kim Rok Soo safely locked that thought to his heart and silently watched as Cale stood up from the lounge and walked. ["I'm gonna show you something you won't see for the next months to come."]
Rok Soo raised an eyebrow at those words. "What are you even talking about? That's just probably gonna be your face again or something. Which, by the way, I can clearly see right now."
Cale snort but doesn't stop walking until he arrives at the place he intended to go to, then he switch his front camera with the back camera and aimed it on the night city of Paris. Specifically on the brightly lightened infamous Eiffel tower.
["Since I'm not gonna be in Paris for the whole 3 months I'm here in France, this is your only chance of seeing it."] Cale moved the camera around to show the tall buildings which had their lights on that showcased a beautiful hue of golden orange, the aesthetic sight of the city from a different country. The sight would have even more vivid if Rok Soo was standing beside Cale instead of seeing it on the other side of the phone.
Cale returns the camera to the tall tower.
"Are you sure you can actually show the Eiffel tower to me?" Kim Rok Soo couldn't help but ask. He read it once over the internet how its not allowed to take pictures of the tower at night before asking for authorization to do so.
["Its not like I'm filming? besides, its only illegal if we post this online and I'm just showing you because you're a loser who chose to stay behind."]
Rok Soo sneered. "What, so you're gonna brag about travelling around France, taking pictures then shoving it all to my face to make me realize how I missed the fun eventful vacation you're having?"
Cale switched the camera to the front camera again. ["That's right. Who even told you to stay when I remember too clearly asking if you wanted to come with me."]
"Huh, so you weren't actually joking about introducing me to your family or something?"
Cale frowned. ["Why the hell would I even do that?"]
"Why wouldn't you? I'm your sugar baby."
["You crazy punk."] Cale couldn't help but curse at him. This time, it was Rok Soo's turn to snicker. ["I thought it was weird you haven't said that joke for a month."]
"I was preparing for this very moment. The look on your face was so funny. Definitely worth the whole month of silence from me."
["I'm actually considering coming back just to kick your ass right at this very second."]
"I'd be out to run away with your money before you can even do that."
["You can't do that you shit."]
Cale began to walk back towards the lounge and plopped down.
"Who was it again who told me 'live with me and I'll pay you' after just meeting me for the second time?"
Cale made a face of disdain. ["That wasn't how I said that."]
"Same difference." Rok Soo stuck his tongue out. Cale let out an annoyed huff before looking like he just suddenly remembered something.
["Oh right,"] for some reason, hearing those first two words made Kim Rok Soo want to end the call and ignore all the calls and messages he'll receive from Cale for the next three months but before he could even put any of those to action, Cale spoke as the sign for doomsday. ["Earlier when I went to the front desk to check-in, someone approached me..."]
Kim Rok Soo deadpanned.
It hadn't even been a full day since he reassured himself that nothing weird is gonna happen to Cale while he's miles away from Rok Soo's radar but something already happened not even an hour after he arrived?!
Which god is responsible for all these shits?! Who is it?! Kim Rok Soo is going to make sure he'll smack whoever that is on the back of their head!
["It was weird because I was like... uhm, hello? I just arrived? who the the hell are you???"]
'Exactly?!' Kim Rok Soo wanted to scream that but decided to stay silent and listen to Cale talk.
["I was gonna ignore that person y'know, since I always get involve in something stupid and crazy."]
Rok Soo nodded his head in agreement to those words.
["But then that person actually had a good reason for approaching me?"]
Rok Soo deadpanned for the second time.
"What the hell."
What the hell does Cale even mean with that 'good reason'?! everything that he had experienced whenever he's out on his own can't be considered good!
["Okay wait, I know it really sounds weird okay? but trust me I heard that person very clearly."]
"Whatever thing that person said, you got scammed. Or will probably end up being scammed."
["You also scammed me one too many times but here we are."] Cale didn't even hesitate in saying that, prompting Rok Soo to give him another annoyed glare. "This and that are two different things you punk."
["I know, but listen to me first."]
Rok Soo huffed. He didn't want to but if Cale was gonna ask, then what option is there left if not to listen?
["Turns out that person is like, scouting or something."]
"From that alone, its dubious."
Cale ignored what he said and continued to talk.
["He said he's involve with developing a new game and my voice suits one of the characters quite well....?"]
Kim Rok Soo had a blank expression. "How the hell did he even made that judgement."
["Right? I thought it was definitely suspicious too."]
Rok Soo made a face that said his life span was really decreasing the longer this talk was dragging on.
"And base on the fact that you're telling me everything right now means you are considering accepting that dubious offer."
["Hey!"] Cale had a tone like he had just been accused of a crime, ["Its not that I'm considering it! Its that I already accepted it!"]
Kim Rok Soo looked so done. How many times had he been deadpanning right now? he lost count.
He took a very deep breathe in and opened his mouth to speak with a blank expression.
"For the next 3 months to come, don't ever call me."
He ended the call after saying those words despite Cale yelling at him to listen.
He didn't want to. Rok Soo had a forbidding feeling that if he continued to hear Cale out, something is gonna happen that Rok Soo is gonna find himself struggling to get out off.
And he is not willing to get his peaceful life disrupted thank you very much.
Later on, when Kim Rok Soo finally realized where the forbidding feeling actually came from, he won't be able to escape even if he wanted to.
Because it would be Kim Rok Soo doing the chase.