"When will he come here?" Moonji chirped cheerfully, her eyes scanning the room in anticipation of seeing Kai. She couldn't contain her excitement when Kyungsoo called, inviting her to a charity event and telling her that Kai wanted to talk to her about something. Kyungsoo had even bought her a dress, leading her to believe that this might be the moment when she and Kai could reconcile and rekindle their love.

"He'll come, don't worry," the event staff reassured her before taking a seat, observing the glamorous event unfolding before them. It was indeed a charity event organized by Kyungsoo's dad, aimed at raising funds for underprivileged children.

Moonji, dressed in a cute knee-length floral dress and sporting brown wavy hair extensions and wig, looked lovely. She couldn't help but wonder about her role tonight. "Moonji, are you okay if we put you up for bidding? The proceeds will go to charity," Kyungsoo asked, his eyes filled with hope.

"What if no one wants to bid on me?" Moonji replied, her voice tinged with worry as she absentmindedly played with her nails.

"Somebody will," Sehun chimed in, smirking. "Come on, Ra Moonji, can't you be a little more helpful?" he added, noticing the apprehension on her face. Moonji finally nodded after being asked a few more times by Kyungsoo and Sehun.

"Alright, you should follow me to backstage with the other volunteers," Kyungsoo instructed as he led Moonji behind the scenes.

A short while later, Kai and the rest of EXO arrived, dressed impeccably in tuxedos, suits, and ties. Their entrance drew the attention of everyone in the hall. Women gawked at their charm, while men couldn't help but feel envious. The EXO members, all handsome and charismatic, greeted Sehun and Kyungsoo at their table before taking their seats.

The master of ceremonies began the event with a lively introduction. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to our annual charity night! We have a total of 25 volunteers here tonight, ready to go on a dinner date with you! Let's kick off this charity event with a spectacular opening performance!"

The MC's voice was loud and clear, eliciting cheerful applause from the audience. The girl group "Girlfriend" took the stage, singing a few opening songs that left the guests captivated by their charm.

"Wow! Gentlemen in the hall, I hope you're all on your best behaviour! Wait until you see all the candidates available tonight! But remember, it's just a dinner date, nothing more, okay?" The MC's playful remark brought laughter throughout the hall. After the opening performance, the hotel chairman took the stage to deliver a speech.

"Guys, I'll never bid on anyone at this charity, right? Why did you invite me?" Kai sighed, sipping his water. "Just for fun, man!" Xiumin chuckled, patting Kai's shoulder. Kai laughed, shaking his head. EXO was in a playful mood tonight. "You can't bid on anyone if you don't have a bidding paddle," Kyungsoo explained. "You're not registered for bidding tonight. Don't worry, none of us at this table are registered either," Lay reassured him with a smile.

"Let's welcome all the lovely ladies for tonight!" The MC's words were met with a standing ovation from the crowd. Twenty-five girls, each with a number tag tied to their wrists, stepped onto the stage. Instead of watching the girls on stage, Kai busied himself with his phone, texting Dasom. Moonji stood nervously on the stage, hoping that the number 21 would bring her luck. Her eyes met Kai's, seated not far away, but he seemed too absorbed in his phone to notice her.

In the blink of an eye, volunteer number 20's turn was already. "Why is the hall suddenly so quiet?" Kai asked, suddenly aware of the eerie silence that had descended. "Shh, this is funny," Chen said, and the rest of them struggled to hold back their laughter. Kai's gaze remained locked on the figure standing on the stage. "What is she doing up there?" he asked, looking at his friends, who were trying hard not to laugh. "Bid for her," Kai muttered through gritted teeth, his eyes darkening.

"We didn't come to bid, and we don't have bidding paddles," Kyungsoo smirked. "Okay, Miss Ra Moonji, you can step aside while we move on to the next volunteer." Moonji nodded, stepping aside with embarrassment written all over her face.

"Come on, guys, who's responsible for this?" Kai whispered in a low voice, his eyes locked on his friends. "She volunteered herself; don't blame us," the EXO members chuckled, still not answering Kai's question. The bidding continued, and Moonji glanced at Kai, hoping that he would bid on her. Their eyes met again when Kai turned his gaze back to the stage. "Why is the hall so silent all of a sudden?" Kai asked, frustration creeping into his voice.

"Come on, guys, who did this?" Kai kept his voice low, his eyes narrowing as he focused on his friends. He couldn't quite comprehend why they had orchestrated this situation. It was as if they had some hidden agenda, and Kai grew increasingly suspicious.

"She volunteered herself, don't blame us," Kyungsoo replied with a mischievous grin. The rest of the EXO members chuckled, exchanging knowing glances, leaving Kai in the dark about their true intentions.

As the bidding session ended, Moonji stood on the stage, feeling like the world's most awkward and unwanted person. The silence in the hall was overwhelming, and her heart sank with each passing moment. She couldn't help but wonder why no one had bid on her, even though it was all part of a plan.

Moonji's internal thoughts raced as she tried to maintain her composure. What's happening? Why is no one bidding on me? Did they change their minds about supporting the charity? Or is it something else? Her expectations of a heartwarming reconciliation with Kai had turned into a humiliating ordeal she hadn't anticipated.

Just when Moonji was on the verge of retreating backstage, overwhelmed by embarrassment and feeling like the spotlight had exposed her deepest insecurities, some of the other volunteers offered her sympathetic smiles. These small acts of kindness, though well-intentioned, stirred a storm of conflicting emotions within her.

Moonji came from an orphanage, a place where she had grown up without the warmth of a family's love. Abandoned by her parents as a toddler, she carried an extreme inferiority complex that plagued her every interaction. It manifested as low self-esteem and constant self-doubt, haunting her steps like an unwelcome shadow.

The smiles from the other volunteers, although meant to provide comfort, inadvertently intensified her feelings of humiliation. Each kind glance and supportive gesture made her painfully aware of how different she felt from those around her. She couldn't help but wonder if they were offering sympathy out of pity, and the idea gnawed at her self-worth. "Ra Moonji." A voice pierced through her solitude, jolting Moonji from her moment of despair. She raised her head slowly, her tear-stained face glistening as silent tears trickled down her cheeks. She wasn't sobbing or crying loudly, but the pain in her eyes was unmistakable.

"What the hell are you doing up there?" Kai's voice seethed with fury as he strode closer to her, his presence cutting through the emotional turmoil in the room. His words landed like sharp, accusatory blows. "What are you thinking? Did you really believe that someone would bid on someone like you?" Kai's anger burned brightly as he approached Moonji, his hands firmly tucked into his pockets. His posture was rigid, and his gaze was filled with a smouldering rage.

Moonji felt like she was shrinking under the weight of his words, her voice quivering as she struggled to respond. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"What?" Kai's tone remained icy, and he leaned closer to her, his eyes locked onto her tear-filled ones. "What made you think that anyone would want to date you?" Actually, what he meant internally was that people here wouldn't just date people out of their circle. His words do not imply how she looks or anything, but to Moonji, it was as if she was not someone who was worth anyone's time, and nobody would even spare a glance at her.

Moonji's voice quivered with sorrow and self-doubt as she replied, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not being pretty enough. I'm sorry for not being likeable. I'm sorry for not being attractive. I'm sorry for being me. I'm sorry that no one wants to bid on me. I'm sorry that I even thought you might bid on me. I'm sorry for not realizing how much you hate me. I'm sorry, Kim Jongin-shi."

With that, Moonji grabbed her bag and fled from the hotel, leaving Kai stunned. As she disappeared from his sight, he suddenly felt a wave of guilt washing over him, the anger he had initially harboured now replaced by a deep sense of remorse for his harsh words and actions.

✿✿​​​​​​​✿​​​​​​​✿​​​​​​​✿

"Kai! We've been looking for you!" The rest of EXO suddenly surrounded him, their voices a cacophony of concern and confusion. Kyungsoo placed a comforting hand on Kai's shoulder, but his face held a smug expression. "What a wonderful event, right?"

Kai unleashed his pent-up frustration without hesitation, delivering a swift punch to Kyungsoo's face. "Kai! Kai! Let go of him!" Chanyeol intervened, pulling Kai away from Kyungsoo's prone form. Kai's anger was palpable, and he couldn't contain it.

"Why? You want to know why?" Kai shouted, his voice filled with anger and betrayal. "She didn't deserve to be treated like that, Kyungsoo! You knew the real story, and you knew our history! I thought you understood me! What have you done? Why?"

Kyungsoo rose from the ground, dusting off his tuxedo calmly. "Why? You're the one acting like a complete jerk here, Kai. I was doing what a friend should do. Let's talk when you've cooled down a bit." With that, Kyungsoo walked away, leaving the rest of EXO bewildered and struggling to comprehend the unfolding drama.