Chapter Twenty Eight

 

If Sehun’s flat was homey with a random assortment of trinkets, Chen’s apartment was classy with its simplicity and minimalistic style.

“It’s not much, but it’s home.” Chen sighed as he strolled into the apartment after he removed his shoes. Ileana eyed the cute living quarters in front of her. It was pretty funky and seemed appropriate for a young man to live in.

“Are you coming in?” Chen asked with a lazy smile, affectively snapping her out of her thoughts. She hastily removed her shoes and meekly followed him further into the apartment.  They walked down a small hallway which led to the kitchen and living room area. Chen walked over to the kitchen and Ileana stiffly remained standing in the middle of the living room, observing her surroundings.

“Do you want anything?” Chen asked her while opening his fridge.

“Whatever you’re having is fine.” She replied and walked over to a couch and plopped herself down. After a few minutes of silence and Chen working diligently in the kitchen, he joined her on the couch while placing a tray of goodies on the coffee table in front of them.

“Nice place.” She murmured awkwardly, reaching for a glass of whatever beverage Chen had picked to serve.  Chen thanked her politely before his eyes sharpened.  And she knew exactly why they did. She took a nervous gulp of her drink before placing it back on the coffee table.

“So, I’m guessing you know about the crystal…” She sighed, leaning back onto the couch. Chen raised his eyebrow before rolling his eyes.

“Of course I do, it’s considered an old wise tale to the average person. And most hope it stays that way.” Chen eyed curiously, “You probably know how I grew to know about it, but I’m not quite sure how you found out.”

“Some chatty ladies at the banquet. “ She promptly replied before straightening her posture, “But I have more important things to talk to you about. Specifically, in regards to certain people's disappearances.”

“And I told you that the group has nothing to do with it.” Chen shot back harshly.

“And you said if there wasn't a reason and I’m now giving you one.”  She returned back with a glare.

“I don’t see the relation between the disappearances and the crystal, so you’re going to have to elaborate.”

She was trying her hardest to keep her temper down, but Chen made her so infuriated. “Sehun and Kai know what your group is-“

“-They’re not my group-“

“-your old group is up to. They’re planning to start a war and they’re going to use the crystal to do it.” She replied through her gritted teeth.

“And you think that’s enough reason to take them?”  Chen raised an eyebrow, “So what if their plans had been found out by you; they don’t care. They’ll probably laugh if you even think they see you as a threat. And your assumption doesn’t explain anyone else’s disappearance. So try harder.” Chen’s rough and dismissive tone hit the last of her nerves. She was already at her breaking point due to the earlier incidents of the day. What an idiot she was, thinking Chen would help her.

“But I am trying hard, Chen!” She shouted back, her voice cracking with emotion, “I’m trying hard to piece together things and you being so damn condescending and unhelpful isn’t making things easy.”

“That’s because this isn’t supposed to be easy!” He yelled right back, “I don’t think you understand what you’re getting yourself into. Who are you to come out of nowhere and try to fix things you know nothing about?”

“It’s not like I asked for this, Chen! I was just plopped in the middle of nowhere without any notice or explanation. I’m surprised I got this far with just sheer luck and relying on other people’s kindness and effort. So, I decided from now on, I’m done with that. I’m going to move forward on my own and I’m going to succeed. With or without your help.” Ileana stood up from the couch and glared down at Chen, “I’ll be taking my leave now.” She hissed and whipped around. She stomped down the hallway and shoved her boots. She reached and opened the door, only to have another hand slammed down on it and close it. Suddenly an arm wrapped itself around her waist and lifted her.

“Put me down right now!” She shrieked, trying to move about and out of Chen’s grip.

“If you keep moving like that, I’m going to drop you.”

“I’ll do whatever I wa-!“ And she was dropped onto the living room floor. She moaned as she rubbed her bottom and glared up at Chen, who was towering over her.

“I told you so. “ He shrugged his shoulders, looking quite amused. Her eyes twitched and she sprung back up and poked Chen hard in the chest.

“And I told you I was leaving!” One more jab and her hand was taken into his. She looked down at their hands confused before looking back at him. He raised a playful eyebrow.

“Would you please let me go?” She told him in an overly sweet tone that sounded too fake to be sincere.   

“Now now, dearie. We haven’t finished our chat yet.” Chen cooed at her mockingly. She felt her nostrils flare.

“But honey, I’m done chatting with you. So, if you would be so kind-“

“But sweetie you haven’t finished your favourite cookies-“

“I DON’T WANT YOUR COOKIES!” She shouted hysterically in Chen’s face. He only snickered at her reaction.

“Let’s go sit you down snookum, it looks like you could use some rest.”

“I much rather rest my fist against your face.”

“So affectionate.”

“Affectionate like a pissed off buffalo.”   

“Save that passion for later tonight.”

Chen managed to sway her back onto the couch with their bickering still filling the air. They kept going at it until she finally realized she was caught into one of his games.

“Damn it, Chen! Enough!” She slammed her free hand onto the couch, “And let me go already! Or I will really smack you.”

“Do you want me to take care of your other hand then?” Chen reached over to grab her other hand and she leapt back defensively, giving him an evil eye.

 “You. Shall not touch me.” She hissed, pulling her captured hand back.

“Hmm, sounds like a challenge.” Chen leaned in close. She yelped and leaned all the way back until she was laying down on the couch with Chen hovering over her. “Looks like we’re getting an early start on tonight’s escapades.” Chen whispered into her ear, which made blood rush to her head faster than a bullet train.

She was looking for an escape route desperately but the only thing she could see was Chen’s neck. When she felt Chen's breath on her own neck, she decided that she would have to make due with what she had.  She opened and-

“Ow!” Chen yelped and pulled back, affectively getting off of her and letting go of her hand, “Y-you bit me.” Chen looked at her surprised before a smirk crept onto his face, “I see how it’s going to be…” And he crawled toward her again.

“Nooo!!” She cried and fell off the couch trying to get away from the predator that was Chen. Chen burst out into laughter.

“You’re making this way too fun.” Chen managed to tell her through his chuckles. She was less than impressed and of course, was still getting over the feeling of being violated.

“How can you act like this!?” She yelled at him, “A war is about to start and all you can do is play games with me!?”  

“Might as well make the best of it.” Chen shrugged, his amused expression turning nonchalant.

“Then what about Baekhyun?” She told him with her glare softening. Chen seemed to freeze up at the mention of the name.

“What about him?” Chen murmured, “He has nothing to do with the crystal or group. So, don’t even try-“

“I beg to differ Chen. He has everything to do with this, like the others. I just don’t-”

Suddenly, connections started to form in her head. Out of the people who were present when the vision happened, more than half of them had disappeared. Was it a coincidence? Were they connected? She looked to Chen, who was waiting for her to continue.

Would Chen be next? She wondered.

“Chen.” She started, “Have you been noticing anything…weird happening to you lately? Like people following you or asking you any strange questions?”

“Besides you appearing, my darling, everything has been pretty average.” Chen replied, “And why do you ask?”

“The people in the vision, Chen. More than half of them have disappeared, and with what people are telling me, it’s not because of your stupid government or that group you were with. So, I’m trying to figure out why they were taken and how they’re connected.” She explained, looking around in thought before meeting his gaze, “I’m also kind of worried that you might be next.”

“I appreciate your worry, but I can take care of myself.”

“If you saw what the shop looked like, you might think differently.” She mumbled, thinking back on the image of the torn up shop…and the blood. “If they come for you, they’ll be ready for a fight.”

“Then it’s a fight they will have.” Chen's tone surprisingly went soft, “Don’t worry about me, Ileana. Okay?” Chen sat down on the floor next to her and lightly rubbed her back.

“I think they’re connected Chen. The crystal, my mission, the disappearances and that group. I just don’t know how they all are or why.” She searched his eyes as if expecting an answer to be shown in them.

“They might be and they might not be. Listen, why don’t you rest for the remainder of the day? Then, your mind can work to its full potential tomorrow.” Chen suggested, while patting her hand.

She didn’t want to take his suggestion. She felt like she was wasting time, and at this rate, who knew who would be taken next.  And never mind the crime group’s possible advances in retrieving the mysterious crystal and starting the damn thing she’s supposed to prevent.

“Chen, do you know anything about the crystal’s whereabouts?” She asked, figuring she had nothing to lose asking.

“No, I don’t. I know nothing about the crystal except that the group had some thoughts about finding and using it against Sector K.”  Chen replied with a sigh, “I was being serious about you giving this topic a rest. It seems you’ve had enough for one day.”

“But, I feel like I’m just letting time go by without doing anything.” She told him after exhaling loudly.

“You would be wasting more time by trying to figure things out with an overworked brain. Give it some time to recuperate and you’ll have a clearer mind to work with tomorrow. Trust me on this.” Chen’s one tight squeeze on her shoulder finally convinced her to follow Chen’s advice. And Chen noticed.

“So,” he smirked. “Shall we continue what we started on the couch?” He leered in close to her. Her face immediately turned sour and pushed his forehead back, disgusted.

“Don’t even think about it.”

“Come on, you know you want me.”

“I want you to go away.”

“Only if you come with me, angel.”

“Never.”

 “Playing hard to get is only going to make me try harder.”

“Then I’ll resist accordingly.”

“Naw, baby, don’t be like this.”

“Naw, babe. You make me puke.”

“Rainbow, roses and love, I hope.”

“…Chen.”

“Yes, dollface?”

“Shut up.”  

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Oh hiiii there. 

I bet all you guys are like: WTF? Chen is so y. Well, I kind of see him as a sauve but slightly jokingly y and cool guy. And I imagine Ileana/Chen to be a nonstop bickering couple. Just saying. My bad if I ruined the cool Chen image any of you had 3

On a more important note. Many of you may already know that EXO...IS NOW ON THE SAME CONTINENT AS ME fnjdbfodshfods!!! They went to DisneyLand and tumblr was ensued by yours truly.

I saw this picture and LOLED hardcore. 

Luhan, I hope you realize people will question your age even more with hair like that. Just FYI. 

Now, if only they went to Disney World a few weeks back and I would have actually met them. (Never mind it's actually across the country from LA). AND, I'm pretty sure they're still about the same distance away from me in comparison to when they were in South Korea, if not farther. LA, why you so far from where I live in Canada?

Hence, EXO. I cordially invite you to come to Canada. Heck, you can stay at my house if you want to save on hotel expenses. Just saying. I can totallly fit 12 grown men and their posse in my house...(I WILL make it happen). So, you better...

Because...

Kay cool. (Chanyeol macros are so magnificent)

BTW, to the people going to SM Concert. YOU BETTER TAKE SOME DARN PHOTOS. I want you guys to be the best friggin paparazzi! Put all the rest of 'em to shame! Kay, awesome. 

Now, giveaway. *Throws sausages* Because this macro made me pee my pants, soooo funny. 

Kay buhbye now