It was an 8 o'clock dinner and you settled down at the table Xiumin and Chanyeol had managed to reserve, despite the busy hour. Kai sat at the head of the table as it was his treat, opposite Kris who was placed at the other end. You watched as Xiumin zoomed past numerous times, carrying plates of meat and tongs for the barbeque. Chanyeol didn't rush as much but he flitted around in his nice cologne lighting the grills and taking orders. Usually there were 4 or 5 waiters and waitresses working in a shift but that night, there were only 3. The restaurant was busy too, especially for a smallish joint and the workers were finding themselves slightly off their feet. Much to your dismay, about half an hour after you had sat down, Chanyeol eventually came round to both take your order and tell you all that there was no chance he and Xiumin would be able to sit and join you. Not even for a second.

'Sorry guys but we're really run down into the ground. I think we're missing some staff tonight because I've never felt this tired!'

'Actually working tonight then, Chanyeol?' Kris teased, 'that's good!'

'Hyung, I always work hard.'

'Where's Xiumin-hyung?' Tao asked

'He's dealing with the bathroom'

'The bathroom?' Luhan said, 'what's going down with the bathroom?'

'We can't turn the taps off- they're sort of stuck- so things are kind of getting a bit wet in there...'

'Oh damn...' Chen muttered, 'so hyung's getting drenched right now?'

'Yeah, no customers are allowed to head that way'

He sidled up to Kai as Kai began reciting the order.

'You know, I'm really bummed you chose tonight of all nights to treat us to a meal.'

'Sorry, hyung, but it was sort of necessary'

'Necessary?'

Kai nodded with a knowing smile, 'I just wanted to eat out and treat you guys. You could say that I needed to even.'

'You make it sound like you're going to be leaving us' Baekhyun said, 'although you aren't, of course'

'Of course'

'Then that's fine.' Baekhyun crossed his arms and leant back, relaxed, 'as long as this is just a treat and you haven't got some ulterior motive, I'm not complaining'

Kai smirked, 'I wouldn't dream of it, hyung'

 

D.O and Huiling were sat directly in front of the grills and so they were put in charge of the meat. Every now and then, Lay would pick up the tongs for Huiling and turn over the meat for her. She laughed and smiled and talked to everybody and the reaction she was met with was a warm one. No one refused to speak to her. No one singled her out. True, they had tread carefully at the start but now she was one with the group. Slightly aloof if not uncomfortable and shy at times but one with the group nonetheless. You didn't know how that made you feel. On one hand, you were happy for her. You had seen the way hostility had slowly broken down Aaron and you were glad they weren't acting the same way towards Huiling, a girl already broken by a violent ex-boyfriend. It made sense for her to be around- she also had a bad past.

Perhaps that was a reason as to why Kris eventually gave in?

There was an uproar of laughter as Luhan burst out laughing, slapping Sehun several times on the shoulder. Turns out Baekhyun had missed his mouth when drinking and everyone joined in on the unanimous teasing when they saw the front of his shirt drenched.

'Imagine if your girlfriend had seen that!' Kris said, 'Mortified is the word I'd probably use to describe her'

'Where is she anyway? Did we not invite her?' Tao asked Baekhyun shook his head, still dabbing at his shirt.

'She and Ah Ri had something to do. I think they've got to see a musical or something.'

'And they didn't invite Haneul?' 'I'm not a musical kind of person. It just gets a bit tedious. Movies are fine as long as they don't sing.'

'Just not horror movies' Chen said with a wink, 'we wouldn't want Haneul watching another horror movie'

You rolled your eyes. 'You didn't even help'

Chen shrugged, 'Lay seemed to be coping fine'

'Where's your girlfriend?' Lay asked, quickly steering the conversation, 'Seohee's usually around.'

'A dinner with her family. She's been seeing them a lot recently but that's cool. I'm seeing her in a few days time.'

'Do you miss her?' Sehun teased, earning himself a whack across the back of his head.

'Yah, you have a girlfriend too Oh Sehun. Don't tell me you don't miss her.' Chen said, eyebrow raised, smiling widely.

'N-No... I do miss her...'

'Then don't speak. Araso?'

Sehun glared at his hyung. 'A-Araso'

 

A far amount of time after eating the first round of barbequed meat had passed and you were in need of going for a walk. You had slyly undone the top button of your high-waisted denim shorts as they were majorly uncomfortable and quite frankly, who cares? Seeing your discomfort, Kai stood up and walked over to your seat. 

'Enjoying yourself?'

You nodded, 'thanks so much for this. I haven't eaten this much in ages'

'Eat more then!'

'I'm stuffed, really. I don't think I can take anymore. My stomach will explode.'

'But we've got loads more coming!'

'Loads more? Oppa, define loads more...'

'Well... There's still the ribs left to come and I'm pretty sure Luhan-hyung just ordered some more bulgogi...'

You groaned, 'My shorts are going to rip if I eat anymore. I've had to undo the top button, you know.'

You lifted your shirt a fraction and showed Kai your waist where the button had been undone. He laughed and held out his hand.

'Why don't we go for a walk then? We can see if that'll help you digest your food?'

'Do I have to do up my shorts?'

'Well your t-shirt covers them so no, why would you?'

You grinned and took his hand, 'Great! Let's go for a quick walk then.'

 

After dismissing yourself from the table, Kai found it was impossible to leave through the front entrance due to the long queue that stretched out onto the street and didn't seem like it would end. 

'You chose a busy night' you said and Kai nodded in response, slightly dumbfounded.

'Seems like it...'

He gripped your hand and pulled you back towards the back of the restaurant.

'Where are we going?'

'We can just chill out at the back of the restaurant.'

'Is that allowed?' 

Kai shrugged, 'Xiumin-hyung won't mind, I'm sure. Chanyeol and Xiumin's boss likes us so it should be fine.'

You followed him through to the bathroom where Xiumin was wringing a towel out into the sink.

'Hyung!'

'Oh, Kai? Haneul? What are you doing here? I thought customers weren't going to be allowed in until tomorrow?'

'We wanted to go out for some fresh air,' you said, smiling at him.

'Fresh air?' Xiumin smirked, 'what for?'

'She over ate.' 

Your jaw dropped and you nudged Kai, hissing. 'Why did you say that?!'

Xiumin laughed, 'surely the bathroom would be better for you then, Haneul'

'Oppa!'

'Either way, stay in here. Out back isn't the nicest place as lots of people smoke there. Just walk around in here. No one will disturb you.'

'But the taps...'

You looked around and noticed that although the floor was wet, there wasn't any running water anymore. Xiumin grinned, placing the towel over his shoulders.

'I fixed it. We just need to wait for the floor to dry before we let people use the bathroom but you two are okay. Just come out once you're ready, okay?'

'Are you sure it's okay, hyung? For us to be here?'

Xiumin nodded, 'of course! Anyhow, I had better get back to work. It's busy out there, isn't it?'

'Busy would be an understatement.'

 

---

 

'Excuse me!'

'Sir! Over here!'

'One more bottle of soju here please!'

'Yah! We're waiting here!'

Chanyeol sighed as his boss ran up to him, neatly squeezing past the overload of customers.

'Where is Xiumin?'

'He's gone to deal with the flooding bathroom sinks, boss'

His boss threw his hands in the air. 'Oh God! I need more staff!'

'Isn't Miyoung-ssi coming in?'

'She's ill!'

'Boss, calm down. It's not good for you to get so stressed'

'Chanyeol! There aren't enough people!'

Chanyeol smiled cheerfully and rested his hands on his boss' shoulders. 'Relax! I'll go see how Xiumin-hyung is doing and help him finish up quicker. Then both of us can get back out to the floor. Why don't we send one of the chefs out to distribute? Or the cashier?'

'I'll get the noona at the till to help waitress'

Chanyeol nodded, 'see, it's fine boss! Just relax! I'll be back in a bit!'

 

 

 

---

I honestly couldn't have imagined a better response to last chapter's author note. You guys... Ah, I think I'm tearing up... Since you all commented well, Operation Hard Copy has begun and it's first step was to create a tumblr dedicated solely to it. It's working progress at the moment but please all read the FAQ as I've answered every question I think is relevant at this moment in time. 

LINK TO FAQ ON TUMBLR

And now in story related news... WHO'S EXCITED NOW?! OOOOH WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN (I know, I know... I'm a tease HAHAHA)

and in life related news... I'M GOING TO BE IN SINGAPORE ON THURSDAY FOR TWO WEEKS! For everyone who got in touch with me about a meet up... the time has come!  HASDBHABSJBSA I'M SO EXCITED JHABSDISD SADHCHB AJBDIWQBEDJABSNAMKSLAOBKBC I'll be messaging you guys again maybe tomorrow just to check up and finalise some dates ^^ 

Who knows... The next update might be coming from Singapore?!