There were hopes hanging loose on Kai’s end when he knelt almost an hour in front of his father and Seyoon’s father. Loose thread of connection between him and Seyoon that he tried to knot in a way that no one, not even them, could break or untie. Then, there was Seyoon suddenly appearing in their apartment when he got home that night, creating sounds that were too sharp to his sensitive ears. It had only been a day when Seyoon didn’t stay home but Kai had missed her so much. Too much to the point that he had to let go of his inhibitions to just let himself feel the warmth of Seyoon in a tight embrace. And much to his surprise, he felt extremely nothing wrong with what he did. He just wanted Seyoon with him.

“Don’t go,” flowed from his mouth spontaneously. He didn’t need to think. He just said whatever he felt.

“Kai…”

“Kai…”

“Kai?”

---

“Hey, Kai…”

Kai’s eyes narrowed on his surroundings. The clouded sight turned clearer as he lifted his body from lying on what it seemed like a soft seat.

“You fell asleep.”

“What?”

Kai looked at his surroundings and it was only then that he remembered boarding Jongdae’s car. Baekhyun and Chanyeol were all sleeping at the backseat.

“What happened?”

“What?”

“Are you still half asleep? You keep on asking ‘what’. Have you lost your memory when you slept?” Jongdae teased.

Kai could only yawn as he swept his hair backwards. “Did I sleep for too long?”

“Nope, only for thirty minutes but you were dreaming and I heard you say, ‘Don’t go.’”

“Really?” Kai looked outside the car window and it was already dark. He remembered going to his father’s office. He remembered about kneeling and begging to his father and Seyoon’s father to let her take the course that she wants. He remembered leaving the office with Baekhyun and Chanyeol. He remembered Jongdae offering them a ride home. And then he remembered dreaming about seeing Seyoon when he went home and the feeling of not wanting her to go.

“You haven’t answered my question though. What happened?”

“What do you mean what happened?”

Jongdae sighed and suddenly pulled over the car. Kai was late to notice that they were already in front of their apartment building.

“Did you convince your father and your uncle?”

Kai wondered if saying ‘Don’t go,’ to Seyoon only existed in his dream.

---

Kai would usually turn on the light upon entering the apartment. The silence was almost deafening though and he felt like he just wanted to be consumed by darkness. It was funny how it almost felt like a déjà vu as he passed by Seyoon’s room. And how the door was slightly opened yet when he entered, there was no trace of Seyoon inside. Kai heaved a sigh before gently closing the door. He was about to enter his room when he heard soft knocks coming from the door. Maybe this was it. Maybe it was Seyoon. Kai hurriedly went to the door to open it only to see Chanyeol standing by the door with cans of what looked like carbonated drinks.

“I hope these are enough.”

 

Kai and Chanyeol stared on the cans laid on the dining table.

“Why did you only bring drinks?”

“Sorry. I don’t have enough money for the food so—”

Chanyeol stopped when he heard someone knocking on the door. Kai hurriedly stood up, still hoping to see Seyoon on the other side but to his dismay, Baekhyun was standing with what looked like another bag of carbonated drinks.

“I don’t know where Chanyeol has gone to so maybe we could drink together. Don’t worry, they’re not alcoholic. You don’t want me to end up punching you again when you’re drunk.”

 

The three ended up staring at the cans of soft drinks on the table for a few minutes. Neither of them opened one and they already felt bloated just by looking at it.

“Why didn’t you me tell that you’re buying drinks?”

“I didn’t know that you will either.”

They all went silent when they heard someone’s stomach grumble.

“Sorry,” they all muttered at the same time. They looked at each other and sighed.

“I guess we’re all hungry.”

They all stayed silent for a while when they heard another round of knocks on the door. Unlike the first two knocks, this time, it sounded more like someone’s pounding the door. Kai immediately stood up. He was not quite sure if it was Seyoon because the knocks were too loud like the person on the other side was mad or irritated but Kai was still hoping that maybe Seyoon could come home tonight.

He opened the door only to see Luhan hurriedly pushed him aside.

“Restroom!” he shouted.

“He’s been holding it for too long,” said Kyungsoo who entered right away followed by Sehun. Kai was too preoccupied by the sudden burst of people inside the apartment that he didn’t notice Seyoon standing in front of him.

“It seems like everyone is here,” said Seyoon.

“Yeah,” Kai answered dreamily but his eyes widened when he heard that one particular and familiar voice. “Seyoon?”

“We bought fried chicken on our way here. I guess it’s just right that we bought a lot,” she smiled.

Kai stared at her for a while because now it was true. The Seyoon he had only seen in his dream a while ago, the Seyoon he was hoping to see when he opened the door, the Seyoon he was longing to capture in a tight embrace was already in front of him. The only problem was he couldn’t move his body the way he wanted it to be. He couldn’t lift his arm to embrace her or open his mouth to say ‘Don’t go.’ Instead he just said, “Welcome home.”

Seyoon widened her eyes in surprise hearing what Kai had just told him with his matching crescent eyes and smile. Suddenly, she felt a pang on her heart. How could she even say goodbye to him?

---

Seyoon, stay. Nope, that doesn’t sound right.

Kai was busily washing the dishes alone. He was exchanging glances with Chanyeol earlier since the other and the rest of his friends didn’t seem like they wanted to leave early especially Luhan and Chanyeol who were talking nonstop to whatever topic they could talk about. When Chanyeol managed to understand his message about giving him and Seyoon time to talk alone, the tall boy immediately acted like his stomach was in pain and he needed his friends company to bring him back to their dorm. Seyoon insisted at first to give Chanyeol some medicine but Kyungsoo was able to catch some clues about Chanyeol’s true purpose so he insisted that she didn’t have to worry and leave everything to them. When all of their friends left, Kai immediately volunteered to wash the dishes as Seyoon went to her room. He was glad that he was given the time alone so he could think of what he would say to Seyoon to make him stay.

Seyoon, please don’t leave. No, that sounds like he was too desperate. But he was desperate and if begging was what he needed, he probably would.

Or maybe I could just hug her from behind and…

“Kai…”

Kai gasped in shock when he realized that Seyoon was just standing beside him, a threatening foot away. He just hoped that Seyoon would notice how his blood circulated twice the speed up to his face, creating a pink flush on his cheeks. His heart was beating profusely. Why did he have to be so sensitive with their close proximity?

“Do you want me to help you?”

“No, I’m okay. I’m almost finished.”

“Oh.” Maybe there was, maybe there wasn’t but Kai could sense some nervousness in Seyoon’s eyes. Maybe it was just her natural reaction since it was only the two of them left inside the house. It was natural for her to feel uneasy. “Can…” she heard Seyoon spoke tensely, “Can we talk after you’re done?”

“Sure.”

Kai didn’t understand why he felt anxious all of a sudden.

---

“So—” they both said at the same time.

“You go ahead.”

“No, no, please go ahead.”

“No, I think—”

“Fine, I’ll go ahead. Please don’t go,” Kai said in one breath and he suddenly felt light for unexplained reason.

Seyoon stared at him wide-eyed, mouth slightly gaping. She tried to open to say something but she found it closing again as Kai’s words could not register clearly on her mind.

“Stay,” said Kai with a firm tone.

“Huh?”

“If I ask you to stay, will you stay?”

“Wha—”

Kai stood up suddenly and went to his room. When he went back, he was already holding two manila envelopes in his hand. He sat again on the chair opposite from Seyoon on the dining table. Seyoon just watched him as he pulled out what it seemed like papers from one of the envelopes. He laid them on the table and Seyoon’s eyes widened when she saw that those papers were actually her applications to the business schools her parents wanted her to attend to. She looked at the papers then at Kai then back at the papers again.

“Why do you have those? I thought Secretary Im—”

She felt her heart stopped beating when she heard papers being ripped, torn papers flying everywhere. When she tried to reach for the remaining un-ripped papers, Kai’s hands quickly snatched it from her.

“Don’t try or else—”

Seyoon didn’t know if her eyes could still handle it or they would burst from too much shock because Kai started putting some of the papers in his mouth. She gasped in horror and went to Kai, one hand holding Kai’s jaw in place and the other was trying to dig the already molten paper in his mouth. She didn’t care if it felt slimy because all she wanted to do was to prevent Kai from being poisoned – that was if papers could actually poison him – or to prevent Kai from dying due to paper choking.  

“Mmmngshdfgd.” No comprehensive words could escape Kai’s mouth that was full of paper balls.

“Spit it out! Kai!”

“Hmgdglsfd.”

“What?”

Kai couldn’t hold it anymore as he went to the sink to and threw up everything from his mouth. He went to the fridge to grab something to drink. He thought of thanking Baekhyun and Chanyeol later on for bringing enough drinks to get the aftertaste of the paper out of his tongue. He was still preoccupied by his thoughts as he sat back to his chair when Seyoon suddenly spoke.

“What are you doing? Are you out of your mind?!”

“Stay.”

Seyoon sighed as her eyes met Kai’s intense gaze.

“You suddenly planned on withdrawing from the marriage without telling me anything. Then you also dropped out from the audition and I thought it was because of Krystal but then it was all because you traded your dreams in exchange for the course that your parents wanted you to take. And now you’re back but you’re also planning to leave later on, aren’t you?

“Kai…No, I – Actually…”

“Take the audition.”

“What?”

“Take the SUPA audition again.”

“But I already…”

“It’s still possible for you to join. After all, you’re one of her victims.” Seyoon noticed Kai’s voice faltered especially on his last words. Kris was right; Kai might be blaming himself for what Krystal had done to her but Seyoon never thought of that. Kai had nothing to do with it.

“And…” Kai took a deep breath. “I think it is also better if you pass the application for the music school your brother has found for you just to make sure that you have options.”

“How did you know about that? Did you and Kris—”

“I have my sources.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“I think it’s time that you forget about the welfare of others and start thinking about yourself. Do things for yourself, Seyoon. Don’t let others, even our parents, control your life. It is not only my freedom that you gave back when you withdraw from that marriage, it is ours. We both should be free from their control.”

Kai give the other unopened envelope to Seyoon. “Think about it,” he said before standing up, grabbing a couple more cans from the fridge, and went in front of his room. “About the scattered pieces of papers…I’ll clean that up tomorrow,” he said before closing his door.

Seyoon opened the envelope and saw the application for the music school in New York, the same application that Kris was trying to give her the past few days. But beneath it was another application, a familiar one except that the torn pages were all already taped together – it was the SUPA scholarship form she thrown in the thrash a few days ago.

Our freedom…

---

Kai groaned as he gulped another carbonated drink before finally plopping to his bed.

That didn’t go as plan. It wasn’t even one of my plans!

He buried his head on the pillow. How he wished his bed would gulp him whole due to embarrassment. He didn’t even know why he did all those stupid things to Seyoon. Kai concluded that paper didn’t taste good at all. His face was flushing red just by thinking of it. Maybe she’ll think that I’m a desperate freak who’s trying to control her decisions. But he was desperate and he just wanted the best for Seyoon. He wanted her to realize how important it was not give up on her dreams.

He just hoped his paper eating outburst would turn into something good.

---

Kai fell on the floor, crashing on the nightstand beside him as empty cans fell on his head followed by his alarm clock which he quickly catch before crashing on the floor. He read the time and it was already half past seven.

Damn!

Realizing that he only had thirty minutes to prepare and to run to school before the gates would close on his face, he immediately went to the bathroom, his room that looked like thrash was momentarily forgotten…even the thing that happened last night.

After a ten minute rushed bath, he opened his door only to find a noiseless empty apartment. Suddenly, his last night’s embarrassing outbreak returned to him in a flash.

Damn! Again.

Without knocking, he opened Seyoon’s room in a hope that she was still there but to his dismay, he found it empty. He immediately closed it thinking that Seyoon might have left him last night without even realizing that all of her things were still inside her room. He went to the entrance door to see if Seyoon was waiting for him outside but she wasn’t there either. He was too preoccupied by his thoughts that it took him another five minutes just to notice a box on the top of the kitchen counter with a note under it.

I combined your breakfast and lunch together since I assumed that you’ll wake up late. And I just wanted to say that…

Kai immediately ran outside, grabbing his bag and the lunchbox Seyoon prepared for him. He had to hurry because he only had ten minutes to run from his apartment to his school. He wanted to make sure that he would not miss something important.

…that I’ll be leaving early because Chanyeol told me that the extended audition will start at nine in the morning and I think I still need to prepare and maybe, fill out a more readable application form.

See you.

---

“Hey.”

“Hey.”

“Do you know the whereabouts of my seatmate, Krystal?”

“I don’t know. I never talk to her ever since I found out about that—”

“Ow, that’s sad to hear. But, at least you know the evil witch lurking inside her beautiful appearance and it’s good to know that Seyoon agreed to join the audition again.”

“Yeah. Ah, Luhan?”

“Hm?”

“What are we doing here?”

Kai tried to remove Luhan’s arms encircling his waist and his head that were resting on his shoulder. They were at the upper box of the theater while they watched the ongoing audition on the stage.

“We’re not supposed to be here. This is not an open to see audition anymore. Besides, we’re supposed to be inside our classroom.”

“Oh shut up. Don’t you want to see Seyoon performing again?”

He looked at the stage where Seyoon, who was pestered by Chanyeol every second, was sitting happily with a genuine smile plastered on her face. Kai didn’t know if what he did last night had been that effective but he couldn’t help but smile too just seeing that Seyoon was now chasing for her dreams. He didn’t notice that Luhan was looking at him with a serious face.

“She looks happy, isn’t she?”

“Yeah,” he answered dreamily.

“I hate you,” Luhan muttered firmly without looking at Kai.

“What?” Kai averted his gaze from Seyoon to Luhan all of a sudden. The way Luhan said those words, it sounded as if he was serious about it.

“I hate you for realizing things only now and you still make it on time. I hate you for taking so long to realize that you like Seyoon when it’s too obvious. I hate you—”

“What are you saying?”

“I hate you for meeting Seyoon ahead of me even if it was just mere months. I hate you for knowing Seyoon longer than I do. I hate you for spending time with Seyoon longer than I do.”

“You’re not under the influence of anything, right?”

“I hate you for making her smile like that. I hate you for making her happy in a different way. I hate you for doing things that I couldn’t do for her.” Luhan suddenly bolted to the exit door.

“Hey, where are you going?”

Luhan turned around to look at Kai one last time. “This is the last time that I’m helping you. Be there to support her for her performance. I’ll just tell our teacher that you have a stomachache and Kai…”

Luhan stared at his first and only considered rival – well, because Chanyeol wasn’t threatening at all. It was funny how their relationship started in a not so friendly way and yet here they were suddenly turned to being friends – or even closer – just because of one person. What started out as dance rival turned into a different rivalry when he met Seyoon. He didn’t realize that the girl who fought against him the first time they met would be the one who would reconnect his relationship with Kai after so many years.  He didn’t realize that girl he fell in love with had already loved someone else. Yet in the end, he didn’t realize that he would be one of the reasons to make his rival and the girl he loved to get close and realized their feelings for each other. Maybe he was the real idiot and not Kai.

He looked at Kai, patted his shoulder and smiled. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for Seyoon but if you let her go again, I’ll make sure that you’ll meet the evil Luhan you met a few years ago,” he said as he stuck his tongue out before going to the exit of the theater hall, leaving Kai with a surprised expression that eventually turned into a smile.

“Thanks but I’ll never let her go.”

---

“When will the result of your audition come out?”

“They say they will announce it by the end of the month.”

“Oh, I see.” Kris turned his head to look at Chanyeol and Luhan who were trailing at the back together with Jongin. “Can you two accompany me to the restroom?” he asked, referring to Chanyeol and Luhan.

Chanyeol pointed at himself and looked at Luhan. “Us? Sure.”

“I’ll just talk to them. You can go ahead. There’s a café near the airport. I’ll just see you there with your friend,” Kris said to Seyoon as he shot a quick glance at Kai.

 “Alright, I’ll see you there. Just be back on time.”

---

“Kris!”

Kris sighed and rolled his eyes when two monkeys suddenly clung to him like they were clinging for their dear life.

“Please, stop acting like you’re really sad about it and stop faking those tears, Chanyeol. I saw you and Luhan putting some eye drops.”

“Aish! See! I told you that crying won’t affect him.”

“Well, what can we do with the heartless and -face that is Kris?” Chanyeol lifted his shoulder, palms facing up, and a mocking expression on his face.

“What did you just say?”

“See, his nostrils are growing bigger like a dragon with smoke coming out of his nose.”

“Shut your mouth, Chanyeol or else—”

“Oh my goodness and look at his face. It’s already turning red as tomato. Where is the ‘ please’ cool poise that you’re trying to maintain, huh?”

“Luhan, you too!”

It was only seconds after when Luhan and Chanyeol were pleading for their life to be spared because Kris, no matter what his gender preference was, was as strong as any other well-trained military officer. The two were begging for their heads to be released as Kris trapped them in a tight headlock. “Where is my poise now, huh, Luhan and do I look like a dragon now, huh, Chanyeol?”

“You—release us!”

“What? No one will hear us from here, Luhan.”

“You’re as cool as the famous Chinese model Li Jiaheng,” said Chanyeol.

“Yeah and as hot as the famous Chinese actor Kevin Li.”

Kris was glad that the two wouldn’t see his awkward gummy smile as he laughed his heart out so loud.

“Please release us now!” the two cried in pain.

“As you wish,” Kris removed his arms that were s on the two boy’s necks and released them.

Chanyeol was rubbing his painful neck while Luhan shot Kris a glare. “That’s abuse of power!” he shouted.

“Ha! What? I’m not even using one percent of my energy to lock you two eggs under my arms. You two combined are just too weak compared to me.”

“That’s child abuse!” shouted Chanyeol.

“You’re not a kid anymore, Chanyeol. Pssh! I really can’t believe I ask the help of these two airheads here,” Kris mumbled.

“Hey, we heard that!”

Kris just smile and approached the two. The boys instinctively stepped away from Kris but he was too fast to capture the two of them with his arms draped on their shoulders. “But I’m glad I did because you two are great help to me,” he said before planting a kiss on each others’ cheeks.

“Ew!” The two immediately rubbed the lingering touch of Kris’ lips on their faces as Kris only smirked in the corner.

“You two really dare to rub your faces in front of me.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever miss you,” said Chanyeol.

“Yeah. Your kiss is traumatizing enough to be forgotten. I think I’ll have nightly nightmares from now on,” Luhan added.

“Do you want another headlock?” Kris teased.

“No…”

“But I have to thank you two for giving me another idea.”

“What is it?”

“Come on, let’s go back. I think giving nightmares as a goodbye gift is not a bad idea.”

---

Kai didn’t even know why he was here with his friends as they bid goodbye to Kris. He was not even close to the guy neither he even considered him as an acquaintance. Although Kris had helped him the last time but he knew that it was only all for Seyoon’s sake. He still saw him as his rival especially now that the other had his arms draped on Seyoon’s shoulder.

Kai wasn’t happy at all.

“Look at those two. I really envy Kris,” Luhan whispered to Kai.

“Yeah. They’re so close. If only I’m not close to Seyoon, I would think that she and Kris are in a relationship,” Chanyeol added.

Kai could grit his teeth as he watched Kris talking to Seyoon and Seyoon smiling and laughing with him gleefully. But his eyes would only pop out and his blood would only reach the boiling after witnessing Kris’ next move.

---

“Don’t forget to tell my brother to eat well. And oh, please don’t forget to bring these kimchi to him. Tell him to sleep well and don’t drown himself too much in his books and—”

Seyoon suddenly stopped talking when she felt Kris’ lips plant a soft peck on her cheek. Oh, he could see the glare Kai was giving them.

“I’m the one who’s leaving here and yet you keep on talking about your brother. Am I not important to you?”

“Sorry.”

“Apology not accepted.”

“Huh? Why? I also give you enough kimchi and the marinated beef that you like. My parents also gave you boxes of persimmon.”

Kris chuckled and Kai couldn’t stop thinking what Kris and Seyoon might have been talking about.

“Do you think I am easily persuaded by food?”

Seyoon could only look at him with a slight gaping mouth. “I don’t mean that. You know that I don’t mean that. Of course, you’re my best friend. You’re important. Besides, you’ve helped me a lot especially our class despite the fact that you’re busy with your research. You’re an angel sent from up above…” Seyoon said with the last words trailed in a questioning tone.

“Why does it sound as if you doubt that I’m really an angel sent to save you.”

“I’m not.”

“Apology and gratitude still not accepted,” Kris said with lips slightly pouting.

Did he just make that cute face? Is he trying to appeal to Seyoon? Kai thought while Luhan and Chanyeol could only puke mentally because Kris’ trying-to-be-cute face looked disgusting.

“What do you want me to do then?” Seyoon asked.

The next thing Kai saw was Kris’ face getting closer to Seyoon’s. This was like the demo kissing scene all over again! Luhan held Chanyeol’s hand firmly while Chanyeol kept on repeating, “It’s the angle. It’s not true. The kiss is not true,” like a mantra. Kai wished he could punch Kris right there and then but that would make appear like a desperate low class friend. Damn, he’s not even Seyoon’s boyfriend to act possessive all of a sudden.

 

“I’ll miss you,” said Seyoon as she hugged her best friend tightly the same way she hugged him when she left America years ago.

“I’ll miss you too and I hope you’ll consider what I told you.”

“What—what did you tell me?” Seyoon pulled away lightly from the hug to look at Kris but her arms were still tugging on his waist. They look like a couple that would separate for a long time in Kai’s wide open eyes.

“That you can’t keep hiding what you feel for him forever,” Kris’ eyes darted on Kai’s direction for a second before looking back at Seyoon’s eyes. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong telling him what you feel.”

“That…I don’t really know.”

“Just consider it okay,” and Kris kissed Seyoon’s forehead one last time before Chanyeol interrupted as he looked at Kris with eyes saying, ‘That’s too much.’

“We will miss you Kris but I think you should go now,” said Luhan who trailed behind with Kai who never stopped glaring at him.

“I’ll go then. We’ll see each other again,” he said while looking at Kai.

---

Kai, Chanyeol, and Seyoon stared on the announcement posted on the board after a month and it seemed like there was something they had to celebrate.

---

 

 

 

There were only echoes of voices and footsteps that resonated in the almost empty hallway of their school. Most of the students were inside their classrooms with whispers of their future plans and bidding their goodbyes. The overly used chairs were vandalized to the fullest; old rusty lockers were all emptied; and boards were erased of the last notes for the day and maybe the last note of their high school life. At last!

High school was finally over for those in their terminal year and they could only acknowledge it with mixed emotions. Half of it was happiness due to fulfillment and half of it was melancholy for things they had to leave behind.

But no emotions were too evident and too colorful except to that room located down the empty hall leading to the library.

---

“This is supposed to be the last meeting for the senior members of the student council but—” Sehun’s eyes trailed down on the extra heads and bodies occupying the chair surrounding the conference table “—what are you all four doing here?” he asked in a subtle and not so hurting tone but with a hint of dismay and anger maybe.

“Oh come on, I always came here to help you if you needed help,” said Chanyeol.

“This place is enough to warm us from the winter cold,” said Xiumin.

“Just following Luhan and Xiumin,” said Yixing.

“Seyoon is here,” Luhan bluntly replied while his hand traveled to the food prepared solely for the student council members laid on the table. Kyungsoo even wrote ‘FOR STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS ONLY’ with bold letters on the box but he didn’t care even if Kyungsoo was looking at him with eyes wide opened.

“I made that food for the junior members to thank them—Oh! Chanyeol! Don’t ever dare to imitate what Luhan did,” Kyungsoo said angrily as he covered the food and snatched the lunchbox away from them.

“And don’t ever say to us that you’re helping here because each time you went here, if not for the food the Kyungsoo prepared or to annoy Sehun, you just went to disturb Seyoon from her work. Not to mention that you destroyed two student council properties and you haven’t replaced them yet. Park Chanyeol are you listening to me!” Baekhyun was talking to his friend but the other didn’t seem to hear him as the giant kept on begging Seyoon to convince Kyungsoo to give him some food.  

“Whatever,” Sehun could only sway his head in disappointment before he returned to his emotionless face. “So, I guess it’s the last year for all of us and—”

“Don’t,” Luhan raised his one hand in the air while the other was pinching the bridge of his nose, “ever say anything about goodbyes.”

“He gets too emotional sometimes,” Yixing explained.

“I’m not even saying anything about goodbyes—”

“Kyungsoo, please, I want to taste the kimbap. Just one bite please,” Chanyeol’s deep loud voice overcame Sehun’s.

“No!”

“Please…”

“No!”

“Just stop it, Chanyeol!” Baekhyun shouted.

“Fine, if you don’t want then—” Chanyeol stood up and tried to run after Kyungsoo who was protecting the lunchbox with his small body. It was the first time that he felt thankful for his small height because Chanyeol’s tall body was having a hard time bending to level with him.

“Go away!” he swatted the giant’s hands repeatedly.

Xiumin raised his hand and Sehun didn’t know if he was teary-eyed or what; at least, someone was listening to him but unfortunately, Xiumin was not part of the student council. “Yes?” he asked coldly.

“Where’s Kai?” 

---

Seyoon volunteered to get some drinks from the vending machine in the cafeteria after Kyungsoo finally gave up and let everyone taste the food he made. She was enjoying seeing her friends and she wanted to cherish it in the most possible way. She thought that she would probably never find some friends as great as them.

She was about to get her drink but she was wondering if she would get her usual persimmon juice or maybe she should try another flavor for novelty. She was staring intently between the peach flavor and the sesame flavor when someone poked her shoulder from behind. She turned her head and almost dropped the cans when she saw Kai looking at her with a smile plastered on his face.

“I was supposed to buy a drink when I saw this girl standing in front of the vending machine and it seemed like it will take another hour just to pick the flavor that she wants.”

“I’m so sorry. I just thought that…”

“The peach tasted too pungent and the sesame tasted bland so if I were you, I’ll choose the usual.”

“Oh, alright. I’ll just—” Seyoon turned around to face the vending machine again, her hand traveled to the usual button when her body suddenly froze. Her heartbeat was pacing too fast that if someone would convert it to the line vector version, it would appear like her heart was suffering from a strong magnitude earthquake. She tried to stay calm when she felt Kai so close to her from behind that she could almost feel his hot breath and hear his soft steady breathing. His hand tapped the button first as the sound of the rolling can was neglected by the sound of Seyoon’s heartbeat. Their close proximity right now was too much for her to handle. She was only able to relax when Kai stepped in front to get the can.

“My treat,” he said as he handed the persimmon flavor juice to Seyoon.

“You—you don’t have to but thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Kai pressed the orange flavored juice and as the can rolled and made its way to the rectangular opening, Seyoon could only stare at him because it seemed like her body was already frozen and she had a hard time moving.

“I just remembered the first time that we met. It’s just like this, like right now. This is like going back to that time,” said Kai.

“Ah, ye—yes. It is just like that.”

“Actually, I have a confession to make.”

Seyoon’s grip on the bag of juice tightened and she felt like there was a huge lump constricting her air passages. She didn’t know why she felt anxious all of a sudden.

“Wha—what is it?”

“The truth is…” Kai faced her, his eyes looking at her seriously. Did Kai even know how she would melt under his gaze? “I lied when I suggested that persimmon tasted good. I actually find that flavor weird for some reason and yet when you tasted it for the first time, it suddenly appeared tasty. I just suggested that flavor because I was in a hurry back then and it seemed like you would consume an hour just to choose a flavor. I kind of didn’t like you the first time I saw you, to be honest.”

“Ah, really?” Seyoon mentally sighed in relief. “I didn’t know that you don’t like persimmon flavored juice but it’s okay. If it wasn’t because of you, I might not have discovered this very wonderful flavor that is persimmon. So, thanks!”

 

Kai wanted to call an ambulance right there and then when Seyoon smiled at him all of a sudden, that smile that was too genuine, too fragile-looking – like the smile she gave him the first time they’ve met on the same place a few years back. He thought he might suddenly have a heart attack and faint in front of Seyoon which wasn’t really a good idea so he tried to gulp the rush of hormones speeding up inside his body. He shakily opened his can of juice as he took a sip in a calm way but Seyoon suddenly said something that made him choke his drink in embarrassment.

“What? What did you just say?”

“I said even if our parents planned for us to meet, I still think that our meeting in front of the vending machine was our fate.”

Fate. Like we’re fate to be friends and then more than friends and then lovers and then…Oh my goodness, I have stop these illusions. Kai just mentally slapped himself.

“It’s good to meet you on that day Kai. I think it’s our fate that we’ve met that time and I am thankful for that.”

Kai couldn’t contain himself anymore and his teenage hormones as he tugged Seyoon in a friendly embrace. “I hope you don’t mind me hugging you like this. It’s my way of showing how grateful I am that I’ve met you.” He didn’t need Seyoon’s answer anymore when he felt her hands encircling his waist.

“It’s good to have you as a friend,” Seyoon whispered.

Kai only hummed in response. “Seyoon?”

“Hm?”

Kai pulled from the hug but his hands were still clutching on Seyoon’s shoulder, letting his eyes locked on her coffee irises. “There’s another thing I wanted to say to you,” he said in serious tone and eyes full of determination.

“What is it?” Seyoon asked in a soft but shaky voice and Kai thought it must have been because of the close distance of their faces and the position they were in.

“I just want you to know that I—” How do I say this? Should I be bold? Should I use more intricate words? Should I go straight to the point? Damn, this is the result of an unplanned confession.

Seyoon was waiting for the words to come out from him but he was stuck in his thoughts and the words failed to come out of his mouth.

“Ah—I…” and now he began to stutter. Minus point from Kai. “I…”

“Seyoon, where have you been?” someone shouted from behind. Kai quickly let go of Seyoon as Seyoon just stood there confused of what just happened.

“What the!” I promise you’ll get a headlock from me someday, Park!

“Oh, hi Kai! Seyoon, you’re here!” the giant hurried went to their direction as Kai witnessed how Chanyeol pulled the oblivious Seyoon into a bone crushing hug. “Holy guacamole! I thought something happened to you but thank goodness you’re safe. You made us all worried.”

Worried, your face! If I know that was only your excuse to hug Seyoon. Scheming giant!

“Is she here?” a panting Sehun suddenly appeared.

“Yes! See,” said Chanyeol as he grabbed Seyoon’s arm and waved it at Sehun.

“Great. Oh Kai, you’re here. Even better. Let’s go back to the student council room. The camera is already ready.”

“Camera?”

“Of course! Tomorrow is our graduation and today is our last day so we have to make use of it. We should have our commemorative photo!” Chanyeol clapped happily. “Let’s go Seyoon. We should stand beside each other on the picture.” Without further ado, Chanyeol grabbed Seyoon’s hand as they already went to the student council room. Seyoon only glanced at Kai for a second before coming with the giant who pulled her.

“Well, I guess you have to wait for another four years before you confess to her.”

“What? How did you—”

“It’s obvious just by looking at your tomato-colored face. Chanyeol is an expert blocker, isn’t he?”

“I don’t think so. I’ll show him who he’s messing up with!” shouted Kai as he ran after Chanyeol.

---

The picture came out and it was chaotic as expected as shocked faces were captured in such a small frame.

Yixing was staring emptily into the figures before him. Xiumin with his hamster-like appearance was grinning happily. Baekhyun appeared like he was in shock but because his eye-lined eyes was put to waste as Kyungsoo, who had his eyes big as saucers, blocked Baekhyun with his head. Luhan was captured with his mouth opened widely as if he was shouting. Chanyeol had the terrified look sprawled on his face; not to mention his borderline creepy big eyes. Sehun, well, he had the same bored face but his eyes were clearly tainted with shock. And at the middle of the picture was Seyoon, whose gaze was the only one locked on the camera but with mouth gaping, as Kai, who clearly was happy with his eyes crinkled to crescent, had his lips planted on Seyoon’s cheek.  

Seyoon smiled at the picture before inserting it between the pages of the notebook she was holding. She looked at the window and all she could see was the bright blue sky and the skyscrapers of Seoul appeared to be getting smaller and smaller. She was happy to see her friends follow their own dreams. She was even happier to see Chanyeol and Kai going to the same university together.

And as for her, it was now the time to chase for her own dreams. But one thing was sure for her, she would surely go back to Seoul because there has always been a reason for her to go back. It wasn’t over yet. She was not over him yet.

Their story has just opened a new chapter.

 

 

 

 

End.

---

That's it. Thanks for reading until the end. I'll miss you guys!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you waiting for something? That's it. That's the end.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, about the ending kiss. I hope you don't mind that it was it. I just think that the kiss on the cheek would the appropriate one for them since Kai hasn't confessed to Seyoon yet. If I'll make it a kiss on the lips, Seyoon might react differently. I actually like that simple kiss on cheek in a way that it is genuine and it is a subtle implicit confession from Kai. And remember at the end when Seyoon said the she wasn't over him yet, one of the reason was because of that kiss. Even though she was leaving for America, there was still something that connected her and Kai. And it only meant that there's a possible future for the two of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry if it wasn't the conventional chase in the airport ending or kiss on the lips ending or the marriage that everyone wanted ending. Nope, I'm not like that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Really? Still scrolling?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for those who subscribed and made it till the end. And to those who upvoted, thank you. And to those who commented from start to finish, hail to you all. I LOVE YOU.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XOXO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I mention that there will be an extra chapter? Nope, it's not the end. You won't be fool if I do this on April so happy October fools everybody! Or happy early trick or treat?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next chapter will really be the end, the epilogue as others call it.