▼▲▼ I was sure that the both of us felt the sweetness mingled with the coffee scent in the air.

Nara

So that’s how Eunji and Baekhyun got together.

I gave a weary sigh as I lay on my bed, facing the ceiling, phone clutched in my hand.

I just had a long conversation with Eunji through the phone. It was me who called her up, pestering her to tell me how on earth she and Baekhyun had got together. I was really curious.  Except for a few glances at each other, I never saw them exchanged a word. Ever.

If Eunji had told us the truth instead of escaping from us the whole day with Baekhyun, I would never have to call her up.

Eunji told me that she had feelings for Baekhyun for quite some time already (and she didn’t even tell Sooyoung or me), but she didn’t know that Baekhyun had feelings for her too. That was, until Baekhyun confessed to her.

“How did he confess to you?” I asked.

Eunji gave a nervous laugh, saying that Baekhyun just pulled her aside after class, and confessed out of the blue.

“That’s it?” I said in disbelief.

“Yeah, we got together just like that.” I could imagine Eunji smiling to herself as she said that.

Hearing the happiness in her voice caused me to envy her. Envy the happiness she felt. Envy her for being with someone she liked. Envy her for being with Baekhyun. Envy her for having a boyfriend. And most of all, I envied her for being able to get closer to Chanyeol.

And all I had was having a crush on someone. Someone who probably did not have a speck of interest in me.

I could clearly feel enviness bubbling inside me. Then I caught myself. Eunji was my best friend – one shouldn’t be envy of their own best friend, right?

I shook my head hard – once, twice, thrice – trying to dismiss these thoughts. Then I forced myself off my bed and grabbed my camera, which was fully charged for my usual routine tonight.

Thinking about my job tonight made me feel more relaxed, and I found my lips curling slowly into a smile.

What exactly would Chanyeol do tonight? It was not likely that he would hold a birthday party – that’s what he told us during lunch. Then my thoughts averted to the present – the present that I gave him. Did he saw my present? What would he think about it? Would he like it?

The more I thought about these, the more thrilled I was. I got a hold of myself when I saw the minute hand of the clock moving towards eleven.

Almost eight. Time to go.

I stepped out my room, not forgetting to lock it behind me. Then I stuffed the keys into the pocket of my coat.

The house was in a silence, except for the sound of shooting guns from the television in the living room. It was probably Sehun watching an action movie. Mom and Dad were out on one of their usual dates and would not be back until midnight, which gave me the privilege to stay out later than usual.

“I’m going out,” I announced as I was passing by the living room.

Sehun averted his gaze from the television to me, surprised. “Again?”

“Yeah. I’m going photographing.” That was part of the truth though.

“Okay then.” Sehun’s gaze lingered on my camera for a moment. “But you better come home early. I don’t know what to explain if Mom or Dad interrogates me.”

I knew I could trust Sehun for not telling on me to our parents. But that was because I always bribed him with something he liked, so it was impossible he would tell on me. Like they said, everything came with a price.

“Sure,” I replied.

“Remember to buy me some ice-cream,” Sehun called after me before I closed the door.

Chanyeol

“Baekhyun has a girlfriend.”

 That was what I thought to myself the whole day.

I banged my head against my desk.

Argh.

I didn’t know why I was thinking about this whole day long. I mean, what does Baekhyun having a girlfriend had to do with me?

I tried to divert these thoughts by looking around. Just then, my eyes landed on the pile of opened presents on my desk, and I remembered that present that caused me to shudder.

It was a black coloured, medium sized box filled with my photos from top to the bottom. It was unnamed. The photos were of me on various occasions, including in school and outside of school.

Had that certain someone followed me everywhere, spying on everything I did? Just thinking of that sent a shiver down my spine. I knew that I had a lot of fangirls, but this fangirl – didn’t she think that she had gone a little overboard?

I sighed and dispersed these thoughts once again. I must be thinking too much, I decided.

I thought of Chen. Chen didn’t have a girlfriend too – but obviously he had someone in mind. I recalled the way he always looked at Nara. He looked at her in a way I never saw before.

How did I know? Well, I was his best friend; of course I’ll notice it.

Besides, I knew that Chen would invite Nara to hang out with us from now on. I didn’t really mind about Nara hanging out with us. She seemed like a nice girl, and I was sure that Chen would be happy to have her around.

Now that Chen had someone he liked, and Baekhyun had a girlfriend, it seemed like I was the one left out. What if they went out on a date? Wouldn’t I be left all alone?

I scrunched up my nose. No, that was not going to happen. Absolutely not.

I thought of Minah who lived in the next street. We were friends since we were quite young. I had had a crush on her for a long time, but I never had the courage to ask her out. But right now, I knew that it’s time for me to ask her out before I lost the chance to do so.

Without considering the consequences I might face, I whipped out my cell phone and typed a message. Then I pressed ‘Send’ before I could stop myself.

From Chanyeol:

Hi! Do you want to hangout with me? Let’s meet up in that coffeehouse nearby! :)

I bit my lip, my feet tapping on the ground. My cellphone was clasped tightly in my sweaty hands.

I had to admit that I felt really excited at this moment. My heart pounded fast in my ribcage.

Would she come? And most importantly, would she agree to my request?

My heart pounded hard, and I closed my eyes, waiting for her reply.

My cellphone beeped, and I snatched it up instantly and opened up the text message. Then my lips curled into a smile.

From Minah:

Yes, of course! It’s been a long time since we ever did that. I’m setting off right now! See you there! ^^

She said yes!

Thrilled, I leapt up from my bed, dashed out of my room and down the stairs as fast as I could.

“Chanyeol! Can you stop making such a racket? It’s already night!” I heard my mom yelling in the kitchen.

“Sorry Mom!” I yelled back. “I’m going out. But I’ll be back before ten!”

I dashed out of the house before she could give me a reply.

I hunted for my motorcycle key in my pockets, hopped onto my motorcycle, and popped on my helmet.

Then I was off.

I arrived at the coffeehouse to find Minah waiting for me.

“Sorry for making you wait,” I said, and planted myself on a seat opposite her.

“It’s alright, I just arrived too.” Minah replied. She looked breathtakingly beautiful even in a pair of jeans and T-shirt.

I felt my hands shaking from the nervousness and excitement.

“You look pale,” Minah said in a concerned voice. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” I said, and inhaled deeply.

Control yourself, I told myself but it was of no use.

“Are you sure?” Minah frowned slightly. She looked slightly worried, and that didn’t help much.

I nodded. A thousand things were buzzing through my head at top speed at the moment. Then I decided that maybe it was better to ask her that question – right now.

I raised my head and met Minah in the eyes. “Actually… there is something I need to tell you.”

Minah said nothing but continued to stare at me, a bewildered expression in her eyes. Wait, is it my eyes, or is she blushing? Seeing that, I grew more and more nervous.

“Will you go out with me?” I said as quickly as I could, but it was so fast that it turned out that what I said was ‘weeuloouweemi’.

“What?” Minah asked, a confused expression forming on her face.

I feel like smacking myself. Why was I so stupid? I tried my best to calm down. “Will you go out with me?” I asked again, slowly, this time.

“Erm…” Minah turned red.

Say yes, please say yes! I pleaded in my heart.

“Alright,” Minah said finally. My eyes brightened and I looked up to discover that Minah was also blushing madly.

 We looked at each other in the eyes, not knowing what to say. But I was sure that the both of us felt the sweetness mingled with the coffee scent in the air.

Nara

My heavy breathing was loud in my room, but I didn’t care.

I didn’t care at all.

I chest rose and fell rapidly.

I went through the photos that I had captured an hour ago once again. My finger swiped over the camera screen feverishly, looking at the next photo, and the next, and the next…

Chanyeol smiling at a girl.

Chanyeol saying something to the girl with a nervous expression.

Both Chanyeol and the girl smiling sweetly at each other.

Chanyeol walking the girl home.

Chanyeol holding the girl’s hand.

…

The photos went on and on.

Who exactly was that girl? I felt jealousy boiling up in me. Sure, I admitted that she was way prettier than me, but that didn’t mean that she could snatch Chanyeol away from me. He was mine, mine only.

My fingers were clenched tightly into a fist, and I felt my fingernails bit into my palm.

I inhaled, trying to calm myself down, and unclenched my fist.

I walked over to my desk and took up the photos I had printed earlier. Then I picked up a drawing pin and pinned those photos to wall right in front of my desk, making sure the pins pierced right through the girl’s face.

A triumphant smile spread across my face.

I was going to find out who she was. And she was going to be so dead.

A knock on my door interrupted my train of thoughts.

I switched off the light in my room, making sure that it was dark before opening the door only a little, just enough to put my head through. “Yes?”

“Noona, are you alright?” Sehun asked, a worried expression spreading across his face.

I gave him a smile. “Yes, of course I’m alright. What makes you think I’m not?”

Sehun instantly looked relieved. “Just now when you came home, you looked like someone had angered you. Your expression frightened me. Well, actually I’m not that frightened, but still…”

I raised my eyebrows. “I did?” If that’s so, I’m sorry then.” I felt apologetic. I should have not showed that side of me to Sehun just now, but I just couldn’t help it. If he found out about who his sister actually was, what exactly would he think?

“What happened?” Sehun asked.

I remained silent.

“Noona…”

“Alright,” I inhaled deeply. “I just… saw something that bothered me while I’m photographing.”

“What did you see? Did you see your boyfriend being with some other girl?”

That was part of the truth though. I forced a smile. “You can say that.”

Sehun frowned. “That guy was not worth your feelings. Don’t be upset, noona. There are many other guys who are better than him.”

Sehun was quite innocent, although he was quite smart.

“Getting over someone is not as easy as you think,” I told him as I jabbed him playfully on his forehead with my forefinger. “By the way, it’s already eleven thirty. Shouldn’t you be in bed already?”

“Okay, okay,” Sehun grumbled as he rolled his eyes. “I’m going to sleep.”

“Make sure the doors are locked,” I reminded him. “Good night.”

Then I drew back and closed the door.

That was close.

Right now I felt terribly exhausted, and I decided not to stay up any longer. As I lay in bed with my blanket wrapped around me, I couldn’t help but to recall the incident.

Maybe she was his relative. Maybe I was just thinking too much.

That was what I keep telling myself until I fell into a deep slumber of sleep.

Here's chapter three! 

I suppose that it's longer than the previous chapters?

I'll be quite happy if any of you leave a comment!!!  

Btw, a late happy birthday to our happy virus Chanyeol!