Italic are their thoughts.

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Monday. Today was the day that most of them were home and I mean all 12 of them. It also means another thing, I wouldn’t be needed much as Xue will be spending time with the boys. That means that I could finally rest a little.

I walked passed the living room into the kitchen where D.O was talking out milk from the fridge.

“Good morning.” I smiled and he smiled back.

“Good morning, did you sleep well?”

“A little.” I said as I took a sip of water. “Do you need help?” I eyed the batter mix in front of him. “I make some pretty decent pancakes.”

He just smiled and nodded. He added milk and stirred while I prepared the pans. Cooking with 2 pans is would definitely be faster. He placed the bowl of mix between us and we both took a scope of the batter and poured into the pans, the batter sizzled as it cooked. We were on the second batch when suddenly someone slipped his arms around my waist and hugged me from behind, resting his head on my shoulders.

“It smells so good.” He said, voice all hoarse and low, probably from just waking up. “Waking up to you making me food, I can get used to this.” He nuzzled into my neck.

“Good morning to you too.” I said as I flipped a pancake, not breaking my eye contact from it. He didn’t say anything else and just hugged me and watched me as I cooked the pancakes with D.O next to me.

“You look really beautiful when you are focused on something.” He hugged me tighter. “I missed out a lot.” He pulled my hair to one side revealing my neck. He planted a kiss there and rested his head on my shoulder while rubbing my sides with his hands.

“I’m giving you 5 seconds to leave.” He turned to D.O who was looking right back at him. “If you don’t leave my kitchen by the count of 5, no breakfast for you.”

“Rin, you will give me breakfast right? If hyung doesn’t feed me, you will right?” I could see him pout even though my eyes never left the pancakes.

“Just go outside and wait okay? Breakfast will be ready soon.”

“Nope, I’m going to stay here and watch you cook.” He hugged me tighter. D.O began his countdown.

“1.”

"2."

“3.” I nudged him and he groan, refusing to move.

“Kim. Jong. In.” D.O said through his teeth, obviously ticked off by the younger boy’s behaviour.

“4.”

“Fine.” He let go of me and turned towards the living room.

“How can you stand him?” I turned and found D.O looking at me curiously.

“What do you mean?”

“I have never seen him so close to a girl. Wait, let me rephrase my sentence. I have never seen him behave like that to any girls before.”

I just shrugged my shoulders. “He is the same as when he was younger.” I smiled.

“You mean he was like that when he was younger?” he opened his eyes wider. I took the last bits of the batter and poured it into the pan.

I nodded. “Just that now that we are older, he does more skin ship which is weird, he didn’t like it last time. Maybe it’s because we haven’t seen each other for 14 years.” He just shook his head and went to place the pancakes on the table.

“You guys look like newlyweds.” I let out a small laugh and plated the last pancake.

“We got a lot of that when we were younger. They always ask, are you dating? Or are you twins?” I chuckled at the memory while D.O just smiled.

“As long as he doesn’t do anything inappropriate in MY kitchen.” I laughed and brought out the last plate, D.O trailing behind me.

It was time for breakfast.

The others were coming out from their rooms and gathered in the dining room. Just as I placed the plate down, I was tackled into a tight hug by the one and only Jongin. Gosh was he clingy.

“That was so long!” I snorted.

“It’s only been 5 minutes.” I said as tried to break free from him.

“It felt like hours.” I sighed and walked back to the kitchen with him cling onto me. The others just stood there taking in the sight of their younger friend clinging onto a girl. It must have been a funny sight.

“Go and seat first. I’ll be right there.” I turned around and gave him a smile, he smiled and ran to the table. He looked like a small kid. The others were sitting down and Xue was coming down with Luhan behind her. I was about to sit down when I was pulled into another hug, this time it was more gentle.

“Good morning.” He whispered into my ear and pulled back.

“Good morning Sehun.” I smiled. He looked adorable with his bed hair.

“Take a seat, they are going to eat soon.” he nodded as he grabbed my hand and pulled me to where Jongin was waiting.

“Seat here.” he made me sit in between both of them. “Thanks for making breakfast.” He leaned in and gave me a kiss on my cheek. My hand immediately touched my cheek when his lips left my cheek, I looked at him and he was grinning.

“What was that for?”

“My thanks.” He face the front where Baekhyun and Chanyeol were sitting with their mouths wide open. That was when I noticed that all of them actually saw what happened.

“Me too.” Jongin leaned in and kissed the other cheek before eating the pancakes. I knew they were doing it just because the care for me. They both have already stated that they have good feelings for you but it’s just the friendly way. Just take it that they are my brothers and we are siblings. Their skinship is their way of showing affection. Since telling them doesn’t stop them from doing these actions, I just compiled to it.

“They got it bad.” Baekhyun said as he placed a piece of pancake into his mouth, while smiling at me.

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2.30AM

I sighed took my laptop to the balcony. I couldn’t sleep. Again. These few nights, I haven't got much sleep, the most I got was 5 hours. The least, well, 1.5 hours.

I settled myself onto the sun chair and this time I took a blanket along. I propped the laptop on my lap and continued working on my document. I added K’s information as well. From what I collected, Suho was the leader of K, his decisions are final. As for M, I concluded that Luhan may be the leader of the group. Everyone seems to listen to him. Lay and Kris were candidates as well but I haven't gotten enough evidence about it. I was so focused that I didn’t realised time flying by and that someone was next to me.

“What are you working on?” I nearly fell off the chair. I looked up and saw Kris looking down at me.

“Oh my goodness. You scared the life out of me.” I placed my hand on my chest, trying to calm myself from the shock I just received.

“Sorry. I actually knocked a little.” he sat next to me and I closed my laptop slightly, not wanting him to see the document. It is about them. “You were so focused, I think you didn’t hear it.”

“My bad. But seriously, next time don’t sneak up like that. If I had a weak heart, I would have had a heart attack.” I joked and stretched my arms.

“Can’t sleep.” I nodded.

“Me too.” I turned to him.

“Dreams?” he nodded. “Is it that bad?” he looked at me. His eyes were filled with something I can’t really catch, it was like he was yearning for someone. But the emotion I could see the most was sadness. Something I noticed when I first saw him. Despite that cold and fierce outer appearance, his eyes said otherwise.

“Sometimes.” He looked at me without breaking eye contact.

I had to admit, I was really curious about him. He always had the same expressions, he rarely talks. But recently, he did the opposite, he was talking more and he seemed to relax a bit more, his facial expressions. Maybe it is just me but he seems to be changing if that is what you can call it.

“Can I ask you something? If it offends you or too personal you can choose not answer, I understand.” He continued to look at me, I took it as a yes to continue.

“Why don’t you smile?” He didn’t reply and I thought that I crossed the line. I wanted to apologise but he spoke.

“It’s not that I don’t smile.” He sighed softly as he looked away. “It’s because I can’t.”

“You can’t?” I asked softly. He nodded. I didn’t understand. Why can’t he smile? Is he sick? Like those really rare people who has some sort of disease or sickness that prevents them from I don’t know, smiling?

“I was born different from others.” He looked into the distance while I took in his side profile. His high nose bridge and sharp nose, his sideburns and slightly messy bed hair.

He was really attractive.

“My family,” He turned and looked at me. “They were cursed.”

“It’s a curse that for every generation, the first son born into the family, he will not have any emotions.” his eyes were filled with tinge of sadness. “Even if I want to show emotions, my body won’t allow it.” I just sat there, taking in his confession. Chen said that he was different. I didn’t know that the difference would be because of a curse.

“Are you disgusted?”

“W-what? No.” I replied. “I’m just a bit overwhelmed.” He looked down as if that was the expected reaction.

“It must be so hard for you.” I said softly. I must be so hard for him. He can’t be like a normal person who can express himself anytime anywhere, whenever he wants. He is still human.

“You are not scared of me?” he looked up and I couldn’t help but smile.

“No, what made you think like that?”

"People avoided me. They tease and bully me at times. It was so hard, it’s a burden.” I reached out and touched his arm unconsciously.

“Hey, it’s okay. Nothing is perfect. At least you have friends who are accepting you for who you are now.” I smiled as he nodded.

“Without them, I don’t know what or where I be now.” I could see that he cares about them a lot. It’s hard to see from his expression but I could feel the concern he had for them.

“Actually, I envy you.” I said softly. “I envy that you are able to do that. People can’t read you easily.” I paused thinking back at my life, I didn’t have a smooth life. “Sometimes, having to act in front of people is tiring. Just take it as you are wearing a mask, hiding your emotions from people.” I looked at him in the eye.

“It can be a good thing.” I gave his arm a squeeze of assurance. “So don’t think of it as a burden. You never know, someone might be able to break that mask you are wearing right now.” he just shrugged.

“So what were you doing?” he changed the topic.

“I was just working on some documents. Nothing important.” I said and quickly pressed control S to save the document.

“Why so secretive?” he moved over and I lowered the screen even more.

“Hey, really there is nothing to see. Unless you want to watch some shows.” I trailed off.

“What shows do you have?”

“Running man and a couple of dramas.”

“Want to watch it together?” he placed his chair right next to mine, leaving no gaps and sat down. “I mean that’s if you want. Since neither of us can sleep.”

“Why not?” I quickly closed the document and he caught sight of my wallpaper.

“Who are they?” he pointed to the screen and I smiled.

“My brothers.” I looked at their picture and I started to miss them more. I missed hanging out with them and joking around like there is no tomorrow. “I miss them.” I said softly.

“Sorry, I ruined the mood here.” I quickly opened a drama that I was watching. “Memories just came back.” I smiled sadly. I placed my laptop on the table as the drama started.

“Do you want to share the blanket?” he nodded and I scooted closer to him and draped it over his body. The blanket was definitely not long enough to cover his long legs but it was more than enough to cover his upper body along with mine. I snuggled against the backrest of the chair and watched the drama quietly.

“He looks good in this drama.” I said to myself forgetting the fact that I was actually watching the drama with someone else. “No, is she stupid?” I continue to comment on the drama, giving my input on it from time to time. I didn’t realise that he actually moved closer to me, I didn’t know he brought his legs closer to mine. I was so absorbed to realise that I didn’t know his focus was no longer on the drama but on somewhere else.

“She is just oblivious to his actions. Do such people exist?” I turned and looked at him, only to be looking at him right in the eye. I paused the drama and looked at him.

“Erm, is there something wrong?” his gaze never left, and I subconsciously touched my face. “Is there something on my face?”

“Nothing.” He said finally, still, looking at me. “Sorry about that. It’s quite interesting to see you comment on the show.” I blushed and turned away from him, hoping he did not see that. My stomach did a little flip and my heart was racing.

‘What’s wrong with me?’ I tried to calm down.

“Do you still want to watch the drama?” I glanced at him and he nodded and I clicked play.

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Kris POV:

I watched her as she made comments about the drama. It was interesting and I couldn’t help but watch her instead of the drama. She was so engrossed and her face was glowing from the screen’s light. It only enhanced her beauty, slowly drawing me in. It was weird, I had never looked at a lady like that before, but she intrigued me which was a first for me.

A while later, I felt something heavy on my shoulder and I looked over. She was resting against my shoulder with her eyes closed. She snuggled up to me and didn’t know what came over me. My right arm went to her waist and pulled her closer to me, her head now rested between my shoulder and chest. I pulled the blanket over us and made sure she was warm. I pulled some strands of hair away from her face and watched her sleep. There was something familiar about her, something I can't put my finger on. No matter how hard I try to remember, I can't seem to grasp it.

'Who are you?'

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How is it so far? Good or bad?