9.

Kai looked at his cup of coffee, and stared at it. “Kai, we have a week off after promotions so you can do whatever you want,” D.O. said, stretching while he sat up straight, leaning against the headboard. “So, I’ll be going out with Sehun and Luhan and we’ll be going on a food hunt for a week..” he said and his voice trailed off as he started giggling. He quickly cleared his throat and smiled.

Kai nodded his head.

He looked up from his cup of coffee that has already turned cold. He smiled and he shot up from his seat. “Okay then. I’ll go, to school.”

The alarm clock rang. Hyesu groggily got up from her desk and shuffled her way into the toilet. *School again..* she thought. And somehow, she felt happy.

To be honest, Hyesu didn’t know why because she really hated elementary school days, and also didn’t like the environment there in Japan as an exchanged programme. Well Hyesu could say that, nothing beats better than her home.

She smiled and held a bread in as she slung her school bag over her shoulders and went out of the house.

Kai squinted as he hid behind a pillar, looking back and forth with his sunglasses on and he pulled a cap down his face. He crossed his arms together and brought it to his chest, then looked at the school.

Hyesu walked into the university together with her classmates, smiling and chatting with one another as they entered the school gates and disappeared from Kai's view.

Kai looked at Hyesu and slightly smiled. He then immediately left his hiding spot and went to the nearby cafe. He rolled up his sleeve and looked at his watch. “Ten hours, I guess?” he said and raised an eyebrow.

Just before the clock struck 12, Kai was already dozing off, and his head was drooping backwards with his mouth wide open.

The manager of the cafe shook his head and smiled as he tapped Kai’s shoulder. Kai immediately shot up from his seat and fixed his sunglasses, then looked at the manager, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. “We are closed for the time being. You can come back thirty minutes later,” the manager said while Kai glanced up at the clock, then nodded his head. “Alright. It’s fine with me.”

He strolled around the streets, window shopping. His eyes then fixed on a book shop, which made his heart flutter.

Those memories came back to him when he was young, and he couldn’t help but enter.

He entered the shop. There wasn’t a lot of people in the book shop, and that was why Kai was happy. He let his fingers trace the outline of the books placed on the shelves, then picked a book which was then his favourite. A Better Day Ahead of the Past. Then, he placed it back on the shelf and went to a corner, which made him chuckle.

He looked at the rack that contains different types of glasses. It was to fit the concept of being a bookworm with those thick books.

He softened. "Those were the days where we were together," he softened. Just as he was about to pick, his phone rang. “Kai! Where are you!” the maknae on the other line shouted excitedly. “Window shopping,” Kai instantly replied.

“Wanna taste some good food? The whole EXO is here! Even Suho hyung!” he exclaimed excitedly.

“Aish shut up maknae!” another person screamed at Sehun and snatched the phone. “Hello? Kai? We are now near the famous bakery shop, where are you?” Chanyeol asked as he munched on the cookie with the other EXO members.

Kai quirked his lips and hesitated. “I’m now at a book shop. I’m not that hungry, maybe tomorrow.”

Then there was a few arguments that could be heard from the other line, as someone snatched the phone again. “Kai! Which book shop are you in now? There's a book shop opposite the bakery, I wonder if you’re in there..” Xiumin said and his voice trailed off. He went out of the bakery shop and crossed to the opposite end, with the other members were still at the bakery shop.

Xiumin entered the book shop and scanned the surroundings.

Then, he saw Kai. “I see you!” he exclaimed and he quickly ran out of the shop. “Guys! Kai’s here!” Xiumin shouted and went back into the book shop again, which made Kai quite confused.

“Wh-what?” Kai asked and before he got a reply, the eleven members gathered around him and started pulling him out of the shop. “Come on Kai! We’ll go on a food hunt today!” Baekhyun shouted excitedly, while he pulled Kai’s shirt, grinning widely.

Kai blinked in surprise. “But I’m not hungry.”

“You’re not breathing but you still need air, right?” D.O. asked.

“Aish just don’t be a spoilsport and come with us!” Chen exclaimed and pushed him into the other bakery shop, having donuts, muffins, cookies, cupcakes and any delicacies that they all yearn for.

Hyesu walked out of the university gates after ten hours of studying non stop. She rolled her neck and smiled at herself, while looking at the sun that was soon setting.

She took out her notes and started reading it, with her head looking down and her hands flipping the pages while she whistled.

Then, a stranger blocked her way. She frowned and moved to her left, while that stranger blocked her way again.

When she moved right, the stranger was still there, blocking her way.

She moved left and right, not wanting to look up from her notes. But that stranger continued blocking her way. She grew annoyed and frowned, then finally she looked up from her notes and she blinked. She had no idea who that stranger is. While that stranger gave her a quick smile. Not a friendly one, nor an evil one. He handed her his name card, while she looked at the name card.

“Good evening Kim Hyesu. I’m a journalist, from Truth Intentions Magazine. Nice to meet you, I’m Yoon Baekwon,” he greeted while Hyesu looked up at him. “What do you want from me, and how do you know my name?” she asked suspiciously.

He smiled once more, bringing his hands to his side and he pressed his lips into a firm line. “Why don’t we grab something to eat while we discuss?” he said politely and he led the way.

Hyesu looked at him suspiciously. She was considering to follow him or to ignore him. But she knows, that if this journalist knows her name, there was be something he wants from her, something that Truth Intentions Magazine wants.

And she know that if that guy can track her down, there is no way she could hide from him

“Alright then.” *Stalker.*

She couldn’t help but feel uneasy with a stranger. After all, people would always never talk to strangers, just like how the story of red riding hood shows it all. But now, Hyesu is not only talking to a stranger, and also a drinking coffee with a stranger. Wow.

“What do you want?” Hyesu said. He smiled and nodded his head. “You’re very straightforward which makes you very smart too.”

Hyesu frowned and shot a look at him. “Will you just shut up and cut to the chase. Girls my age have no patience at all,” she said, still frowning.

He laughed which made Hyesu want to slap his face right now. “Alright then,” he spoke up. *Oh finally.*

“What I want, is what you have, that is how I track you down,” he said, placing his coffee down, while Hyesu looked at him warily. “Which is..”

“Evidence.”

Hyesu thought for a moment. What evidence does she have? She frowned.

“Kim Jongin, and his life as a teenager. I want it,” he said, leaning forward and placed his arms on the table.

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