Chapter Forty Three
 

“Hello. This is Lay’s office sec-“

“Office. Now.” And the line went dead.

Ileana hung up the communicator and rolled her eyes. She pushed herself out of her chair and entered Lay’s office. He was leaning against his desk, looking like someone that had just walked out of a classy magazine.

“I just got off the phone with the Finance Ministers and they’re in.” Lay told her while twiddling a pen in his hands.

“Oh...oh! That’s great!” Ileana smiled and clapped her hands together. There was a small silence, “Um, is that all?”

Lay shot her a look before placing his pen into a pen holder and started to approach her, “How are the others doing?”

She broke from their eye contact, still not used to Lay’s smouldering stare, “We’re almost there but there are some complications.” She thought back to Xiumin, “Should we call a meeting soon?”

“I’ll contact everyone.” Lay nodded before smoothly making his way back around his desk.  She stood there and watched as he opened a folder and started writing. “You’re dismissed.” He says after a moment without looking up.

Ileana bites her lips and thinks back to what D.O advised her earlier, “Hey Lay. Do you think I could leave early today?”

Lay raised an eyebrow as he met with her pleading gaze. “You might possibly be one of the worst secretaries I’ve ever had. I already gave you a day off yesterday.”

“It’s kind of important though…” She murmurs back, fidgeting a little. She prayed he wasn’t going to ask for details.

Lay sighed and waved his hand, “All right, you’re free to go.”

Ileana immediately beamed at Lay, “Thank you so much!” She bows hurriedly and nearly dashes out of the room before Lay could change his mind. She retrieved her belongings from the secretary desk and eyed the clock. Sehun should have arrived back home by now.

She got into the elevator and took the long trip down to the ground floor. She exited the building and made her way to Sehun’s shop.  During the walk, she went over what she was going to do and say to Sehun. She grew extremely nervous as time passed. She was scared of how Sehun was going to react. She didn’t really know what to expect. But either way, she knew she had to lay this problem to rest. D.O was right. This issue between Kris, herself and Sehun could escalate and the others might even start picking sides. That was a crisis that definitely needed to be avoided.

Ileana finally ended up in front of the shop’s door. She turned the door knob and entered the store, ignoring the part of her that wanted to run away. The bell rang but she saw no one around. She walked further in when something caught her attention in the far corner of the shop.

The radio was blaring a smooth melody from afar and someone was dancing to it. She knew from the fluidity of the movements and the stature of the person that it wasn’t Kai. She inched closer to the scene, trying not to make much sound as she approached. Soon, she realized it was Sehun… of all people. She didn’t know he was a dancer.

The music took a dip in tone and Sehun began incorporating a chair within his little routine. She was impressed. She thought his skills could easily compete with Kai’s and Lay’s. She continued to stare on and became lost in Sehun’s dance until the music stopped and an announcer’s voice cut through her dazed state. Sehun stood and picked up the chair. He dropped it as soon as he saw her.

“H-How long have you been standing there?” Sehun stuttered out, cheeks flushing red.

Ileana couldn’t help but smile at the shy Sehun. “For a few minutes, you’re really good you know? Maybe you and Kai could-”

“No, definitely not. I just do it for fun...and usually when no one is watching.” Sehun eyed her hesitantly. He quickly picked up the chair again and placed it to the side. “So, is there a reason for this unexpected visit?”

She took a deep breathe in, “Yes. Is it a good time to…talk?” She made sure to stress of the word ‘talk’, hoping he would follow her drift. By his quickly stiffening stance, she knew he did.

“Let’s go upstairs.” Sehun replies in a firm and strained tone before he brushed past her. She followed after him and soon they entered his flat. They arrived in the kitchen where Sehun served her a glass of water. She tried hard not to gulp the entire contents down in order to ease her nervousness.

“So…” Sehun starts, leaning against the kitchen counter, “What is it you want to talk about?”

“I think you know what needs to be said.” She mumbles and looks down to her glass, “I think it’s time we talk about…us.” Ileana nervously her lips and hesitantly meets Sehun’s gaze. His stare was so intense that she immediately looked down to her glass again.

“Go on.” He whispered.

“I-“ She starts but found her thought process jumbling up and her breathing suddenly becoming short. Gosh, why was her body making things difficult as well?

“It’s okay.” Sehun spoke in a soft voice, “Take your time.”

No, don’t be like this. She thought, Don’t be so nice and understanding. 

“I-I guess to start. Um, this thing…Whatever this thing-” She frantically motions her hands between them, “-is between us, it needs to stop. When we finish taking over the government, my mission will be done and I’ll have to leave EXO. I’ll have to leave everyone I’ve met and grown to care for, you included.” She was feeling a little like an idiot at that moment. Couldn’t she find better words to express herself? All the practice she had on the walk there was wiped clean from her memory.

“I don’t want this to get any worse between you and I. You understand, right? The last thing I want to do is cause you any more pain than what I’ve already done.” She grips the glass within her hands hard, trying to keep swallow down her nerves and the tension in the air.

“What do you want me to do?” Sehun asks in a whisper. She looks up and meets with eyes that were full of patience and love. It resulted to the feeling of a knife stabbing through her chest.

“I’m asking you to try and move on. To understand that we won’t and can’t happen. I’m sorry Sehun, I’m sorry that this had to happen. I should have-”

“Shh.” Sehun approaches her and lightly rubs her upper arms, “There is no reason to apologize. My feelings are my own and there’s nothing you can do about them.”

She felt pathetic. Here she was, hurting Sehun and he was the one trying to comfort her. That wasn’t okay. She tried to shrug his arms off despite the calm feeling they gave her. When she tried to move, the hands' grip tightened slightly.

“Ileana, I’ll try to do what you ask of me if you do one thing for me. Can you do that?” Sehun’s hands travel up her arms and rested against her cheeks, forcing her to make eye contact. She lightly nods her head, telling her eyes to keep the tears back.

“Your feelings. All I ask of you is to tell me your feelings and I’ll let you go.”

Her eyes widened and her mind went blank. “Sehun,” She sighed out, “I-I can’t.”

“Why not?” He whispers and places his forehead against hers, “Please. Just give me something to work with.”

Finally a tear escapes her eyes, “I don’t know Sehun. I don’t get it. Sometimes…sometimes, I think-But then I tell myself to forget it because it’s impossible. I’m sorry Sehun, I’m sor-“

“Stop apologizing.” He brushes his thumb over her lips to close them, “I get it. You may not feel the same but, but at least I know there’s still something there. I at least have that.”

She doesn’t understand how Sehun got that out of her gibberish, but he was right nonetheless. “I’m still sorry.” She whispers, closing her eyes, “I’m sorry to cause you any pain. I’m sorry that you’ve meet me, and I-“

She was cut off when Sehun placed his lips against hers. It was a light brush that increased with pressure over a short amount of time. She didn’t feel herself resisting and remained still. Her tears continued to stream down and mix in with the kiss that was starting to coerce her to reciprocate. The lips massaged against hers at a rhythmic pace that she couldn’t help but go along with it. After a few seconds, Sehun was surprisingly the one who broke away, “I told you to stop apologizing.” He told her with his lips brushing against hers with every word. “I’m happy to have met you, so don’t say something like that. You may have caused me some pain but you’ve given me so much more than just that.”

“But-” She was interrupted by a quick peck to the lips.

“Stop, it’s not your fault.” Sehun pulled back completely and placed a long kiss to her forehead, “It’s going to be difficult, but I’m going to try. For you. So, please give me some time.” Sehun’s then wrapped his arms around her and brought her close. She placed her arms around him as well, gripping the back of his shirt as her head rested against his shoulder. She pulled back and took a step away from him.

“I, um, maybe I should go now…now that this is done. Thank for, um, listening.” She wipes her tears away and sighs what she thinks to be one of the longest sighs she’s ever done. Sehun weakly nods to her and shoves his hands into his front jean pockets.

Ileana turns to leave but faces Sehun again when another thought hit her, “Uh, I know this might be much to ask, but could you…possibly try to get along with Kris better? I know he can be a bit much, but…could you try?”

As soon as Ileana mentioned Kris’ name, Sehun stiffened. “If he doesn’t start anything, I won’t either.” He replied, his tone rather sharp. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing. She nods and thanks him in a mutter before she fully turns around and leaves the flat.

She walks through the shop and was about to exit when the front door opens right in front of her.

“Oh, hey Ileana!” Kai greets her with a smile, “Surprise seeing you here. Leaving already?”

“Y-Yeah.” She manages to smile back, “It’s about time I get home.”

Kai nods, “Okay. But before you go, I have great news! The ministers of Technology are totally for the uprising. And I managed to convince them without them having to take a peak at my insides.”

“That is great, Kai. I’m happy for you.” Ileana tries to sound as happy as Kai was, but felt as if she was failing miserably.

Kai catches on to her odd behavior unfortunately, “Is something wrong?” he asks. He leans in a little closer, “Have…you been crying?”

She immediately brings a palm to one of her eyes, “I’m fine. But, can you do me a favour?”  Kai blinks, not believing her but nods nonetheless, “Look out for Sehun. I think he might need it.”

“Look out? How?”

“Just, be there for him.” She pleads lightly. Kai slowly nods his head and agrees. She gave him a small smile in return, “Thank you.”

And she walked off into the night. 

*whistles* Oh hai there!
...
...
...
*hides*
Okay, so some Sehun lovers are probably wanting to kill me right now. But, please understand the situation! Please, just AHHHH *dodges flaming pitchfork*
Lesobs. 

Anyways, I was really wondering about the kiss part and whether or not I should add it. But in the end, my fan service heart won. I hope some of you liked it. NOW, what will happen with Kris? Muahaha, we shall see. >:D

Also, double the commenters wanted Alternate endings and thus, I shall write them. That way, everyone is happy. So, one ending for Kris and one ending for Sehun. Party hard. 

And we move on.

Thank you to all subscribers, commenters and readers, you are all so good to me <3 I can hardly believe my eyes sometimes. 

Love you alll<3

By the way, I'm sorry for taking a while to update. Honestly when I tell myself I need to update and I start to actually write, I know I have to put aside a few hours. Why? I get so distracted. Like: Checking story updates, googling things, tumblring, youtubing and the regular old:

I get so side-tracked. I thank you guys for your patience <3

Here are mah comment replies:

@yeollikeabuffalo - Alternate endings=going to happen, yo. :P LOL, I'm so glad you like y bao zi lolololol <3

@LALULALIDO - *stares* NOW LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE. Now I want to write a Peter Pan oneshot for Kai, and I already promised some other one shots/short stories in my future project bin...Oh well, thanks for your comment! It was really interesting, I like how you see Lay and Kai. :)

@Mokonazuna - Noooo, not you too. Don't do this to me, /fallsover. I will see what I can do, I'm definitely interested and am tossing it into my future project bin.

@skuxasianchick - Thank youu~~ I'm glad you found it interesting at least. I hope it doesn't feel like I'm rushing ^^'  And I decided to do alternate endings. Cause honestly, I like both Sehun and Kris. I originally had just one of them in mind and then I developed the other one to a point where my heart was aching a little. LOL.

@pegglasus - Naw, thanks for the vote. I'm sorry to say that I'm going to do alternate endings (only two?) And I would pick, but goodness, is it bad to say I love them both equally? I mean, I started with one in mind and then OPP, nope. My heart is fickle 3

@MarianneManson - NOO, don't feel like that <3 Comment when you feel like it :) I know these last chapters may be a bit on the dryer side, so it's okay. Buuuut, it seems you're okay with that last three updates, lol. Glad you like everyone <3 Kris included lol. I was wondering if that line was too much, so thank for liking it XP And vote taken, altenate endings it issss. LOL, you are a great subscriber, lemme love yoouuu. 

@lilenur - Lol, how did you know she was going to end up with Sehun? What's wrong with Kris? (rhetorical question lol) XP Anyways, sorry to say, but it seems alternate endings has won. I hope you'll still end up liking what I write ^^'

@parktaemi - LOL, alternate endings it is.

@SapphireSeptember - Ahaha, a little bit of an early proposal, yes? Oh well. And Lay takes his tea seriously...very seriousy XP

@umbrellaqueen - Sehun or Kris? ...*flips table* Lol, I getchu

@NinjiPandi - It is hard, it's like perfection vs perfection. Sigh, life's tough being an EXO fan. 

@citedFriedRice - Bahhhaa, you wish is my command. *spirit fingers*

@yeongwonhi - Lol, it is done. Alternate endings came on top, hope you'll like ittt ~~<3

@shahirashera - Nawww. I think I'm going to stick with just two alternate endings unfortunately. I don't want to give away too much, but I'll try to make it as painless as possible. Lol, Xiumin can certainly try to woo women, but some aren't going to fall for his charm. How? I'm not quite sure. 

@toblerone - Ahaha, alternate endings has been chosen. Choosing is too difficult for me too 3



Okay, donnnnne. Now, before I sleep:
giveaway of the day: *Throws Sehun with his tongue sticking out*
Do what you will fan girls *gives the y eye*

Buh bye much love xoxox