I never let my guard down.

EIGHT

She slowly parted her eyelids and greeting the view of an unfamiliar place, she immediately shot up; realizing she’s still in her best friend’s house. She glanced to her right and saw her friend still sleeping; head on the table. And then she remembered, she remembered what happened yesterday; she missed the university talents competition. Gasping softly she stood up to search for her phone only to find it out of battery, so using her best friend’s charger, as they had the same one, she charged the phone enough for it to turn on.

6:12 was displayed on her phone when it lit up. And just as she wrote her password, a list of missed calls appeared on the screen:

Missed calls from Daehyun Oppa <3 (43)
Missed calls from Youngjae~ (9)

She nervously bit her lip as Daehyun called literally every minute until her phone died. Exiting the window, she found many messages as well:

(Friday 17:45) From: -Daehyun Oppa <3-

Zelo and Jongup’s performance has been advanced, it’s on six twenty. So come earlier!

See you

(Friday 17:56) From: -Daehyun Oppa <3-:

Where are you?! The competition is gonna start!! Zelo is waiting

(Friday 18:06) From: -Daehyun Oppa <3-:

Are you coming yet? Zelo started feeling down

(Friday 18:12) From: -Daehyun Oppa <3-:

Their performance is after few minutes, Zelo is now really disappointed. I told you not to throw fake promises.

(Friday 19:13) From: -Daehyun Oppa <3-:

It’s over now, too late. They won though!

(Friday 19:38) From: -Youngjae~-

It’s really sad that you didn’t come, it was amazing. Anyways, we are planning a picnic tomorrow as a celebration for their win. I’ll pass to fetch you at ten, okay? Goodnight.

She face palmed for being so forgetful, now what? She dashed to her best friend’s bedroom to pack her things; she needed to go home as fast as possible. Zelo was alone there, how dangerous is that?

Just as she entered, she found her awake with her phone in her hands and a troubled face.

“Youngjae called thirty four times” she informed. “He also sent me a message about a picnic today or something. Just how long did we sleep?”

“He sent me that too. I must go home to check on Zelo. And prepare for this picnic too, see you!” she hollered outside after fetching her bag. Sprinting down the street, she thanked the heavens their houses weren’t far from each other’s.

She quickly opened the door, panting heavily and called Zelo’s name, only to get no response. With a pounding heart she checked every single corner in her house to find no one at sight, only her dog sleeping soundly beside his food and water bowls, and she was surprised to see that they were half full yet she was sure they were almost empty the last time she was home. Shrugging the idea away, she buried her face in her palms in desperation, this was a big problem. Having no other choice, she wore her sneakers again and rushed to Daehyun’s place, even though it was so early in the morning, she had to do it, Zelo was missing; again.

Ringing the bell multiple times, a sleepy Daehyun opened the door rubbing one eye while the other was closed.

“Who is it?” he sleepily said not minding to open his eyes

“It’s me, I can’t find Zelo” she rapidly said, out of breath. Daehyun chuckled at her: bed hair, messy clothes and wrongly worn shoes.

“No good morning to your favorite Oppa?” he playfully asked

“What good morning?! Zelo is missing how can I just keep calm and greet you a good morning?!” she almost shouted in an angry tone.

“Woah there, calm down. He’s here, I took him yesterday to your house but you weren’t there so I got him here, he’s sleeping now.” Daehyun calmly informed and just as he said so, a dizzy Zelo walked out of the room

She deeply sighed in relief when she saw him and hugged the tall boy tight.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t come, Zelo. I accidentally slept over my best friend’s while helping her with her project. Noona is really sorry.” she apologized while rubbing his hands softly. Zelo kept quite then muttered an “It’s okay..” and went to wash his face

“I will take Zelo home to change his clothes and prepare him for the trip, Youngjae said he’ll pass by my house at ten, see you later oppa” she notified Daehyun and took Zelo’s hand after he came out, the elder stopped her halfway though, telling her that he already got Zelo some clothes, yet she insisted about taking the boy with her

On the way home, Zelo couldn’t stop blabbering about how Daehyun was cheering for him nonstop and how he helped him before the performances release his stress and not to forget that he bought him ice cream and delicious food, and she couldn’t help the guilt that was eating her up for not attending and she just kept replying the kid with “oh really?” or “that’s good” to sound a bit interested.

Reaching home and pushing Zelo to take a bath, she took that time to prepare some snacks. After Zelo finished, she dressed him into a White polo and denim shorts, then prepared herself too. Hearing a car honking, she knew Youngjae’s car was there to fetch them. She grabbed the basket she arranged that morning with multiple foods and drinks, locked the house then entered the big vehicle together with the boy to be greeted by Daehyun, Youngjae’s girlfriend, Yixing and Youngjae himself of course.

“We’re going to pick up Jongup by the campus, since he said it would be easier because his house is a bit far” Youngjae explained after everyone saluted each other.

Therefore, as said, the driver conducted towards the University’s gates where Jongup was indeed. Greeting everyone in the car, Jongup ascended with an exited smile on his face and the group of friends happily departed towards their destination.

M                                    I                                            L                                      K                         
 

“Here we are!” Youngjae’s girlfriend exclaimed as she stretched her arms widely an