"He did what?!"

"He kissed me!"

Jinri clapped her hands together like an overactive seal, her happiness made evident by a smile that could outshine both Baekhyun's and Chanyeol's.

"Seriously?" Sehun said, "hyung really kissed you?"

"Isn't it about time anyway?" Seohee said, looking at Chen and feeling pleased when her boyfriend nodded in agreement. "Honestly, you two- you took long enough."

"Oh don't give me that. I know you're all super interested to know what happened after-"

"What did you do with that kid after?" You all froze and one by one peered up to see Jaemin with his hands firmly placed on Jinri's shoulders. She, frozen stiff, looked like she's rather die than have to deal with her brother. He, on the other hand, had a look of triumph. "What? Oh come on! Don't stop the conversation, I don't want to be the party pooper here."

 

***

 

Night fell faster than you had expected and the dorm was eerily lonely, despite everyone being around. Lay's baggage had been replaced by Tao's and surprisingly, Tao had fewer bags than the elder boy.

"I'm only going for a month, if even that. It might just be a few weeks."

Luhan patted his back, "take your time. Buy me a souvenir."

"Hyung, you're /from/ China. What souvenir am I supposed to get you? An 'I heart China' t-shirt?"

"Yeah," Luhan said, seriously considering it. "Sounds good."

Xiumin nodded, "get me one too."

"And me!" Sehun cried, earning himself a glare which made him retreat back to his script.

Half an hour of textbook work, shouting to turn the television volume down and playing pranks on whoever was in the shower later, the doorbell rang and everyone whipped their heads around to stare at the door. No one moved though.

"Is someone going to answer that or-" Baekhyun started before the loud bang that shocked him into silence.

"Hey, can someone please open the door?!"

It was Minwoo and everyone simultaneously got up to scramble for the door. Sehun got there first however, unlocking the door and opening it, ready to launch himself at him. But instead, he stared open mouthed at Minwoo, who he was with, and who he was carrying.

"Kyungsoo-hyung?!"

Kai, who was standing beside Minwoo, nodded. "He went to the nurses office. I saw him there when I went to see Aki."

He looked over at you, wondering if you'd show any emotion when Aki's name was mentioned. You didn't though, instead being too absorbed with looking and taking in the sight in front of you. Kyungsoo- pale, frail and ill, nothing like the way he usually was. His sarcastic and jokey side had disappeared like a dream, replaced by someone who never smiled, almost as if it would burden others to.

"Let's get him into his bed, okay?" Minwoo said and Kris hurried him in, thanking him for managing to carry Kyungsoo all the way from the high school to the university accomodation.

"Did Kai call you to pick him up?" Kris asked, "or were you just around the high school?"

"Kai called."

"And he didn't call any of us?" Xiumin asked, sliding into the room, "fishy, isn't it?"

"You and your intuitions, hyung," Kris said, rolling his eyes, "they need to stop."

"I'm just saying it's a bit weird that he decided to call help on someone who doesn't live with us. No offence, Minwoo-ah."

Minwoo smiled, shaking his head. "None taken, seriously. It is a bit weird."

"Well it's not really," another voice added, "considering the icy atmosphere we've got going on here." Chen was stood by the door, leaning back on the frame, staring at his nails. "Let's be serious. Kyungsoo and Kai haven't been all that hot for a long time, we all know that."

No one spoke. Xiumin looked over at Kyungsoo who was now tucked up in bed and he bent down to check his temperature on the back of his hand.

"And now look at him," Chen said, carrying on in his monotonous voice. "He's like this because of Han-"

"Chen, don't-" Kris interrupted, gesturing with his eyes where you stood with Kai, just about to enter the room. "Too late..."

Kai glanced at you and placed a hand on your shoulder but you shrugged it off, pulling away from him and going to your room. You didn't feel any better even when you slammed your room door with enough force to startle Chanyeol who had fallen asleep on the sofa.

"Right, well done," Kris said, glaring at Chen who admittedly felt a little bad and awfully guilty. "I'll check up on her-"

"No, I will," Kai said. "Let me."

Minwoo, Chen and Xiumin all turned back to Kris who bit his bottom lip like a stubborn child but eventually found it in him to nod and agree. "Sure, fine. Go ahead."

"I'll walk you back to yours," Xiumin said, offering his company to Minwoo who gladly took it, following the elder out of the room. 

 

Back in your room, you lay on your bed with your face down into the pillows unmoving. Only when you felt the bed dip slightly with the weight of another person and fingers lace with your hair, carefully combing it, did you attempt to summon the strength to sit up.

"Hey, are you okay?" Kai asked, and you nodded even though everything told you not to. Kai, however, didn't believe you. "What's wrong?"

You shook your head, crawling under the covers and refusing to come out. 

"Haneul, don't be like this."

"Kai, I know what you're doing. Just... leave me for a bit, okay? I feel awful enough as it is."

There was a long pause until finally Kai spoke. "Why... do you feel awful?"

You sat up suddenly, throwing the covers off you and Kai saw that you had black tear stains on your cheeks. It wasn't everyday you wore make-up and somehow he felt a little uneasy to see that you had tried especially hard with your appearance that morning.

"Haneul... Why are you crying?" Kai asked slowly, lettng each word roll off his tongue like fondue. 

There was a creak at the door and you groaned, internally wondering why people were sliding and snooping into rooms so much that night. Both Xiumin and Chen had made an unexpected entrance, followed by you and Kai. And now, poking his head into your room, was Chanyeol, rubbing his eyes sleepily as he tried to pat down his hair.

"Kai, go to sleep."

"Chanyeol-" Kai started, wanting to argue back. What right did Chanyeol have to tell him when to sleep? He was talking to you too, for that matter. Kai wasn't 4 years old. "Chanyeol, what are you-"

"Go to sleep," Chanyeol said bluntly, "can't you see Princess here is tired?"

You opened your mouth to rebuttle him but he looked your way, shooting a look that read, "don't even think about it". As all your attention was now Chanyeol and his rather off and unlike him behaviour, you didn't notice Kai slowly stand up and make his way out of your room. 

"Tao's going tomorrow with Huiling. Let's all get some sleep, please?" Chanyeol muttered, "Princess is tired. I'm tired. You must be tired. Let's leave the conversations which right now must seem like they're of the utmost importance for tomorrow. Sound good?"

Kai nodded glumly, stalking out of the room and Chanyeol turned to follow him out too. 

"Wait-... Chanyeol..." you said, reaching your hand out instinctively. 

He turned back and cocked his head to one side, "yes?"

"Goodnight, Yeollie. See you tomorow."

Chanyeol smiled, nodding. "See you tomorrow, Princess."

 

***

 

"Since when was congee the consistency of gloop?"

"Since you put Lay in charge of cooking."

"I'll have you know the congee was made by Kris."

"And of course Kris wouldn't be domesticated enough to be able to cook something as easy as congee. AKA soupy rice."

The morning bickering had ensued, as expected. Baekhyun was busy hurling chunks of congee rocks at Tao and Sehun, laughing that neither of them would be able to do anything back to him as he was older than them both. Tao had eventually threatened not to bring him back a souvenir and when that threat had been put out in the open, Baekhyun quickly placed his spoon back on the table where it belonged. Huiling was silent, more so than usual, and you guessed it to be nerves. Kai looked like he hadn't slept a wink and he blamed it on Kyungsoo's pained groans through the night.

"We probably shouldn't leave him alone today," Tao said, looking over at Kai and Kyungsoo's closed joint bedroom door. 

"How was his temperature this morning?" Baekhyun asked

Suho's smile dropped a little. "It was on the high side," he responded before shovelling some more of the gloopy mess Kris had made into his mouth.

"Hyung, you don't need to force yourself to eat that rubbish," Sehun said, pushing his bowl forwards and leaning back on his chair indignantly. 

"Eat what you're given, Sehun," Luhan said sharply, "don't take food for granted."

"I agree." Chanyeol nodded, "but how are you going to help Kyungsoo get better by feeding him this muck?"

"Yah, Park Chanyeol! Take that back!" Kris shouted across the table, making his hurt evident which only spurred on a string on attacks.

"It's true though..." Tao said, "it's inedible. I've been getting hit with it, I should know."

"Safe to say, whoever marries you will need to be a good cook," Lay said, grinning and turning to Kris.

"Just pick someone out of the 'Kiss Me Kris' fanclub," you said, "they all make really good chocolates."

Pairs of eyes turned to face Kris.

"You give your chocolate away to Haneul?" Kai asked.

Kris nodded, "what else am I supposed to do with it?"

"Hmm, I don't know. Eat it maybe?" Chen replied sarcastically.

Kris patted his stomach, "and what would that do to this? Haneul does exercise so she can afford to eat all my chocolates."

"So you don't eat the chocolates?!" Baekhyun screeched in disbelief, "why not?!"

"Chocolates aren't my style. I'd get fat."

"I don't believe you!"

"And to Haneul of all people!"

"What about me? Aren't I your hyung?"

"I thought we were friends!"

"We're roommates!"

You looked over at Kris who blinked, unsure of how such a strange situation haf arisen. He ran his fingers through his hair and stood up, not bothering to try and calm down the kids who were pelting solid chunks of congee at him. 

"I thought you were god-like naturally! Your reputation is ruined!" Sehun yelled after him, too consumed by excitement to see Luhan approaching him from behind to clamp his hand over his mouth.

"Oh shut it you."

 

***

 

After Sehun had finished wiping the table being the main culprit for causing the food fight against Kris, Tao took you to the side. Everyone was due to leave in the next few minutes and you were just about to lace up your boots when you felt a hand pat you on the back. Pulling you away from everyone else and speaking in a hushed voice, Tao gave you a hug, lightly pecking you on the head. You were startled a little by his sudden show of affection and pulled back. Knowing you'd be surprised, he smiled and shrugged.

"See you soon, yeah?"

You giggled, "Tao, I'm coming with you to the airport. Kiss me then."

"And get my kicked by the others? No thanks."

"You and I both know if there's someone the guys won't pick a fight with, it's you."

Tao winked, "that's true."

"You're finally going home. You got what you wanted."

"I shouldn't be the only one though, should I?" Tao said, "don't you want to be happy?"

"Doesn't everyone want to be happy?" you replied, "what's with these strange questions and actions? Hey, are you pulling a Lay here or something? You know, running away and all that? It's almost as if you're not going to come back."

"Oh, you're not getting rid of me that easy," Tao laughed, "actually, I have a request for you."

"A request? You're leaving today though. What sort of request is it?"

Taking a cautious glance around, Tao realised everyone had begun filing out of the dorm, not wanting to keep the cab waiting. Suho and Lay were helping Huiling with her bags and she flitted around the dorm for one final time, taking photos on her phone presumably to show her family how she had been living without them.

"Don't come to the airport with me, Haneul. Stay here."

You gawked at Tao, eyes wide, mouth open. "What? No, I have to see you off! Your dream's come true! You're going home!"

"Then who's going to look after Kyungsoo-hyung?" Tao asked, with a slight knowing smile on his face, "we can't leave him by himself."

You felt your cheeks redden a little and you cursed, wondering why your body was blushing at just the mention of Kyungsoo's name. More over, you wondered how Tao had come to piece two and two together. He could so easily have asked Suho or Lay to stay and look after Kyungsoo, although it was more likely to be the former as Lay was more than obligated to bid Huiling a safe journey and a final goodbye.

"Stay with him. He'd want you to," Tao said, "and you want to too, don't you?"

"But what about saying goodbye to you?" You were making excuses now. It would be far too obvious if you stayed behind to care for Kyungsoo and didn't come to send Tao off. Imagine how Kai, Chanyeol and Lay would feel when they found out you were staying. Just imagine that.

"Don't make up excuses. And if you're worried about what the others will say, don't. Not telling them or letting them know soon would be selfish, especially after the whole Lay fiasco."

There it was again. Selfish. It's selfish not to do the inevitable- to prolong the pain. It's selfish because the only pain you're trying to save is your own. But worse than selfish, it's downright cruel. Jaemin had said it. Kris had implied it. If the letting down was going to happen anytime soon, it'd have to happen now, now that you were ready and set. Someone just had to shoot the pistol, start the game, get the ball rolling and tell you to go.

And here, the starter was Tao.

"Fine. I'll stay," you said, "I'll look after Kyungsoo. But are you sure you won't miss me at the airport?"

Tao scoffed, "miss you?! Like hell I will."

"How mean of you."

"I don't want to leave without knowing that when I come back, something will have changed about this weird and awkward 4 guys 1 girl situation."

"That sounds slightly wrong."

Tao chuckled, "you're so dirty minded."

"No, I'm as innocent as a butterfly."

"You're as innocent as Baekhyun's hard-drive."

"Ew! Oh God, Tao!" you shrieked, "I really didn't need to know that!"

"Wait till you hear about Kyungsoo-"

"Don't you dare!" you screamed, "don't you dare taint his name! I don't want to hear it!"

Tao grinned, picking up his carry-on bag and giving you one last final hug. He sighed as he held you in his arms and you knew his eyes were watering slightly. Being the emotional person he was, even farewells that weren't real farewells could set him off.

"Do what you have to do. Don't be scared, okay?" he whispered, "we'll always stand by you, even if you let down a couple of us. Don't feel guilty. Don't blame yourself for Kyungsoo-hyung being ill like this."

You nodded, "I won't."

"Just make sure he knows how much you love him. Then it'll all get better."

 

 

 

---

Woah woah woaaaaaaaaaaah, Christmas is so close! Ah, I really am sorry about this late update. It's been over a week, shoot me (yeah, please don't). But hey, now that school's finally finished (I finished yesterday), I can do some serious writing yay!

Hmm, since all have been revealed and we now know whose alternate ending this is, how do you guys feel about it? Of course, I think some of you saw it coming (what with my obsession with Kyungsoo and Chanyeol.....) and I really am sorry to everyone who wanted me to put up Chanyeol's and Kai's. I was really tempted to put Chanyeol's up after the last chapter was put out and I read all the comments but I stuck to my guns and decided to go with the Kyungsoo ending instead. Kai's was always going to be saved for the hard copy book.

But anyway, I hope you're not too disappointed if you wanted to read the Chanyeol or Kai endings (because I won't be putting up either on AFF). If I don't post an update before next Wednesday then I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Be safe and take a rest!