[CONTENTID1]Chapter 24[/CONTENTID1]

[CONTENTID2]Recap: 

"So I was wondering where you were," someone bends down, and looks at me through my peephole. I tensed for a moment, but relaxed once I saw it was only Baekhyun. He carefully joins me in my hiding spot, and rests his head on my shoulder. "Suho and Kai explained everything to me. What are the chances, huh?" Baekhyun laughs shakily.   

"Is it cowardly?" I whisper. "To run away?" He nods faintly. "I hate myself," I choked. "For being such a wimp."  

"If someone did all of that to me, I would run away too," Baekhyun answers truthfully. "Looking at the kid, I wouldn't believe it. He has the face of an angel, and sure acts like one, too. No wonder nobody took your side on it." Baekhyun wraps an arm around my shoulders, and squeeze my shoulders gently. "That was the past, though. I'll take your side, Phoenix. We all will. No matter how convincing the Luhan kid is, I'll trust you over him no matter what."  

Just when I was about to respond, a familiar voice stops me in my tracks.  

"Hello? Is someone in here?" It was Luhan.  

And he was looking straight at our hiding place.  

End Recap. 

Luhan bends down, and peeks through the hole of our book fort. Eyes widening, he opens his mouth when he sees us in there. My eyes harden, but the tears don't come. This afternoon's episode ran me dry of them.  

"Wow. Don't you think it's rude to interrupt people when they're having a moment?" Baekhyun bluntly points out. Luhan winces, a pink blush on his cheeks.  

"Ah—I'm sorry. It's just that I'm new to the library, and I wanted to find a specific book..." Luhan trails off. Baekhyun raises an eyebrow, while I advert my eyes. 

Look anywhere but him. Anywhere but him. 

"What book?" Baekhyun says testily. He squints at Luhan, trying to figure out what Luhan was playing at. 

"The Lightning Thief," Luhan glances at me. I visibly stiffen, knowing that he was using that as an excuse to talk to me. It was one of our old code words, when we wanted to talk to each other privately. That, and he knew it was my favorite book. "I've heard it was a good book, and I wanted to read the Korean version for a long time." Even though he had only been in school for a day, his Korean was exceptional. I'm not surprised. Luhan had always been intelligent, and no doubt that he took lessons beforehand. 

"Great," Baekhyun stands up and moves out of our fort. I stay there, unmoving. "I'll show your pretty boy where it is. Then, you can go scram." 

"Actually," Luhan smiles sweetly. I knew that look anywhere. It was the look he used whenever he wanted something. And it always worked. Well, 98% of the time. "I wanted the pretty lady over there to show me where the book is. You don't mind, do you?" 

"Of course I ing mind," Baekhyun snaps. Looks like this is the rare 2%. "Are you doubting my ability to find a book? I'm a damn media aid. I know where The Lightning Thief is as well as her. Come on. The sooner you get your book and leave, the happier I'll be." Luhan stammers, but was cut off when Baekhyun grabs his wrist and forcefully tugs him towards the bookshelves. I giggle slightly, broken heart forgotten.  

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