Our class was sent to the library for English this morning. An essay is due next week and our teacher decided to give us the opportunity to use today's period to do some research. At this moment, Exo would be at the airport, preparing to board the plane.

It's not fair.

In a couple of hours, they'd be at a luxurious resort with a spectacular view of the sea and walking on soft sand, while I'll be finding myself surrounded by more noise and unnecessary complaints from unmotivated students.

Shaking my head, I erased the negative thought and stayed optimistic.

This morning I woke up with a huge smile on my face. You want to know why? Because my prayers have finally been answered. I wished for this day to come ever since the bubble tea store first opened and my wish has finally been granted. 

Oh Sehun wasn't going to make an appearance today. 

Yay! In fact, I wasn't going to see him for a whole week.

The thought of working in an environment where I wouldn't feel the need to scream at a particular customer or receive teasing or physical harassment from them was truly a delightful thing. 

My happy thoughts were suddenly interrupted when a small box on my computer screen popped up, inviting me to join a chatroom. I accepted when Tao's name caught my eye. He was using his phone.

Tao started a conversation.

Tao: Hey, Hyemi! We just got on the plane. OMG I'm so excited!!

Hyemi: I wish I was there with all of you

Tao: I know

Kris requested to join.

Tao: DON'T LET HIM! He'll be annoying

Hyemi: He'll get mad if we reject though

Tao: Yeah, probably. Just pretend we can't see his request then

Hyemi accepted Kris' request.

Tao: Hyemi, WHY?!

Kris: ...

Hyemi: Yes, Kris?

Kris: Tao, I don't want to sit next to you. Can you move seats?

Tao: You were the one who wanted to sit next to me though

Kris:  Then stop squealing like a little girl!

Hyemi: Lol

Luhan, Baekhyun and Xiumin requested to join.

Hyemi accepted Luhan, Baekhyun and Xiumin's request.

Luhan: Hello!

Hyemi: Hiii

Tao: Aw, why are all of you here?

Baekhyun: What are we talking about?

Tao: I just wanted to express my excitement to Hyemi

Xiumin: I'll join too. YAY! I'M SO EXCITED! :D

Hyemi: Stop, you're just making me jealous

Baekhyun: Hyemi, you should've come. Then I'd have you sitting next to me instead of Kai who's just sleeping

Chanyeol, Chen, D.O and Lay requested to join.

Baekhyun declined Chanyeol's request.

Luhan accepted Chen, D.O and Lay's request.

Hyemi: Lol Baekhyun, that was mean

Baekhyun: But he purposely tripped me in front of everyone earlier 

D.O: I told him to do that. I can't believe he actually listened LOL

Baekhyun: WHATTT 

Sehun requested to join.

Hyemi declined Sehun's request.

Baekhyun: Lol Hyemi. And you're calling me mean?

Hyemi: ...

Kris: Why isn't the plane flying yet?

Luhan: It's not going to take off for another five minutes

Kris: That's what you said five minutes ago

Tao: Maybe we should take pictures. EVERYONE, SMILE AND SAY CHEESE!

Chen: CHEEEESE :D

Xiumin: Wait until we actually get there

Lay: We're going to run out of batteries before we even arrive

Baekhyun: Kai told me to tell all of you to shut up

D.O: HYEMI HEEY

Hyemi: HELLO KYUNGSOO

D.O: What are you doing?

Hyemi: I have English now

D.O: Are you bored?

Hyemi: Yes

Chen: I'm bored too

Xiumin: That's good to know Chen...don't sit next to me then

Kris: Tao will switch with Chen

Tao: NO

Lay: jfnbcgngviuras

Hyemi: ...

Baekhyun: ...

Tao: ...

Xiumin: ...

Luhan: ...

Chen: ...

Kris: Were you trying to speak in English?

Lay: Oh oops. I accidentally dropped my phone. Lol. You're all funny

Sehun requested to join.

Luhan accepted Sehun's request.

Hyemi: Luhan, why do you have to be so nice

Sehun: Finally

Luhan: The plane's about to take off. We have to go. Bye, Hyemi! We'll talk to you soon!!

Sehun: Wait, what the heck?!

Hyemi: BYEE~

Kris, Tao, Luhan, Xiumin, Chen, Lay, Baekhyun, D.O have left the conversation.

Hyemi: Lalalalalalalala

Sehun: ...I'm still here...

Hyemi: ...

Sehun: ...

Hyemi: ...

Sehun: Hi

Hyemi: Bye

Sehun: HYEMI

Hyemi: Why haven't you left this chat yet?

Sehun: Because I don't want to

Hyemi: Oh. Then I'll leave first

Sehun: No don't. I just want to talk to you

Hyemi: ...

Sehun: Miss me?

Hyemi: What do you think?

Sehun: I'm thinking 'yes'

Hyemi: NO. Not even close

Sehun: Oh. Then, 'definitely'?

Hyemi: /facepalm

Sehun: I need you here

Hyemi: That's not going to happen

Sehun: Who knows. Maybe you'll fly over to Jeju and surprise me 

Hyemi: That's never going to happen

Sehun: Honestly, I wish you were here

Hyemi: Well you didn't convince me hard enough

Sehun: You sure about that?

Hyemi: Yes

Sehun: I should've just handcuffed us together until today came

Hyemi: That totally would've worked

Sehun: Okay, then that's what I'll do next time

Hyemi: Next time?

Luhan requested to join.

Hyemi accepted Luhan's request.

Luhan: I SAID THE PLANE'S ABOUT TO TAKE OFF. SEHUN GET OFF THIS CHAT

Sehun: I did but then decided to go back on

Luhan: Liar. I'm sitting next to you. You haven't put your phone down once

Sehun: But we're not leaving for another minute

Luhan: Oh my god, what difference does it make

Hyemi: Lol

Luhan: Hyemi, he's not going to listen. Why don't you leave the conversation first?

Sehun blocked Luhan.

Sehun: There. Problem solved.

Hyemi: You guys are funny

Sehun: fhbwiihncwhbcughviu

Hyemi: What?

Sehun: uhffhnuhcHCcfjsi'1p

Hyemi: What

Sehun nudged you.

Hyemi: What's going on?

Sehun: This is Luhan. I just played a fun game of tug-o-war with Sehun just now 

Hyemi: Oh

Sehun: I'm going to log off for him now, okay?

Hyemi: Okay lol

Sehun: He says bye and that I'm going to get punched by him

Hyemi: Lmao

Sehun went offline.

♦ ♦ ♦

After school:

As soon as the school bell rang, I headed straight to my store like I always did each day. However, when I reached the entrance, an uneasy feeling suddenly took over. The doors were locked and the sign was set to 'Closed'. 

I peeked through the glass windows to see if my parents were in sight but the place was completely empty. The lights were switched off and the seats were neatly folded on top of the tables like how I left them last night. This has never happened before. I'd always be greeted by the sight of customers entering or exiting the store during this time but today was different. 

I'm sure there's a good explanation for this. It's not like we've suddenly gone bankrupt or anything...right?

I immediately erased the idea from my head and raced home. 

"Mom! Dad!" I called in worry. I turned the knob and ran in the living room. 

"Hyemi, what's wrong?!" my mother asked in concern. My parents were casually sitting on the couch. 

"Is everything okay? I went to the store but no one was there," I explained. Unexpectedly, my mother responded with a grin.

"Everything's fine, sweetheart!" she cheerfully said. 

"No need to worry, Hyemi," my father began. "Our store will be closed for a couple of days."

I was confused. "What? Why?"

"Guess what, darling," mother said excitedly. Just then, my eyes landed on the full luggages piled up beside the couch.

"Why are those there?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. 

"Because we're going to Jeju Island for a whole week!"