“Rock, paper, scissors. Rock, paper, scissors…”

Eli was watching Dong Ho and AJ play to the death. They were already at their thirty-fifth ‘best of five’ game of rock, paper, scissors. Secretly, he wondered how anyone could endure that many rounds(I mean, seriously. Who does that?). “He said one hour,” he said, checking his watch. “It’s already been two and a half.” Then silently, he’s even later than Xander. Not that they expected him to turn up on time. He probably had his own schedule anyway.

“I’m giving it twenty minutes,” Lexi muttered from her place on the coffee table. She was staring at the blueberry cheesecake she bought. “If he doesn’t turn up, I’m going to divide this between Dong Ho and me.”

“Jinjja?” Dong Ho turned from his game. A grave mistake on his part.

“Excellent,” AJ muttered, pumping his fist in the air.

Dong Ho turned back. His hand was frozen on the rock sign while AJ’s had paper. “Hey, no fair hyng! I wasn’t looking!”

“Not my fault,” the older boy taunted. “This means I get one of your cake slices.”

Lexi was looking at them with an expression that greatly resembled =.=’. “You dweebs were playing for a cake slice?”

AJ was about to answer –probably to defend their incredibly idiotic game when the doorbell rang. Lexi jumped up at once.

“I’ll get it! If that’s Kevin I get to beat him up for being late for his goddamn birthday party.” Not that it’s a party, she added as an afterthought.

Eli, Soohyun and Kiseop were behind her, just In case it really was Kevin. They watched her peek through the door like she was expecting something hideous behind. There was a moment’s silence then she flung the door open with a shriek worthy of –I don’t know. Brad Pitt or something.

“Xander!” The four of them exclaimed at once.

Lexi launched herself at the boy, who held his arms out for her  and caught her in a tight hug as he greeted the other three.

Eli and Kiseop looked at each other and raised eyebrows. A silent conversation passed.

How do they know each other? Kiseop asked with his eyes.

Ili shrugged. Does it look like I know?

So it really was him she was calling that time. Kiseop had his lips pursed.

Curious, Eli smiled then turned to Xander, who still had an arm around Lexi. “Xander, my man!” They exchanged high fives and man-hugs. “Dude, who did your hair? It looks hot.” He saw Lexi give him a questioning look. “Uh, I meant that in a complimentary, non-gay way, Eun Byul. No need to look like you swallowed a toad.”

She stuck a tongue out at him.

He answered by playfully aiming a kiss at her.

She recoiled. “Gah!”

Xander was laughing. “You sure you guys just met a month ago?”

“Yeah, ” Lexi nodded. “And look, they’re already ually harassing me. Fun!”

Kiseop laughed and draped a shoulder around her, looking meaningfully at Eli. They had the same thought. SINCE WHEN WAS LEXI SO TALKATIVE?

An hour and a half later though, the constant talk broke down to a very tense lull. The cakes they’s laid out on the table were stuffed into the fridge(no, Lexi didn’t really divide it between her and Dong Ho –not that he didn’t beg) and they were already bored to death.

Lexi, who had been playing on Dong Ho’s PlayStation Portable, was dozing contentedly, her head on Alexander’s lap. This brought another round of questions to Eli’s mind. He wanted so bad to ask their former groupmate –or just share his suspicions to the others, but it just felt wrong to him.

“Yo.” Alexander’s voice brought them to their senses. “Is Kevin coming or what? I’ve been to a lot of stand-up situations, but standing up your own birthday seems sort of mental.”

Soohyun shrugged, biting his lip. They’d been so sure earlier. “I’m actually feeling downright guilty right now.”

“Why?”

It was Kiseop who answered, reaching down from his position from the sofa to tuck a lock of hair behind Lexi’s ear. The way he looked at it, no make-up, no winks, no superstar swagger, Lexi was as young as she looked. “Eun Byul. Mollayo –she even bought Kevin’s favorite cake. We asked her to sing for him. We haven’t been with her for long, but she took the time.”

“Ne,” Dong Ho added, picking up the abandoned PSP. “It looked like she was going somewhere earlier.” Then he stopped. “Hey, awesome! She beat my top score!”

“Dude,” AJ chimed in, breaking the morose mood. “She’s a girl. How can she beat your -” he broke off as Dong Ho the console to his face –“holy ! The moment she wakes up, I’m going to bow down to her.”

Alexander laughed. It was good to see that AJ and Hoon were every bit as idiotic as he and Kibum were. Else, he’d have been completely put off.

The first sign that something was off was that the whole dorm was silent. Kevin had gone back a little after six in the evening after a very long catch-up with Ye Jeun. He still couldn’t believe she said she wanted him back. It felt both good and humiliating at the same time. Of course, the whole affair was so public that some fans actually sent them hate mails, but aside from that –nothing.

“Guys?” He peered into the entertainment room. Sure enough, they were there, lounging like a bunch of well-fed cats. And judging from the mess, they were definitely well-fed. “Yo.”

Only Hoon turned from the movie they were focused on, which Kevin found weird, since he usually was the only one who DOESN’T turn. When he stepped closer, he almost  staggered back. There were more than six heads –eight in fact. He recognized Xander immediately, then turned to the body he cradled. WHAT THE HELL?!

“XAND -!”

He was cut off by an outraged ‘ssh!’ from Soohyun, who pointed at the prone figures. “Dong Ho and Eun Byul are sleeping.”

“Right.” He dropped his voice to a whisper. He sat beside Eli, who was busy with the movie, but recoiled as soon as he did.

“Dude!” he complained. “You smell strongly of that disgusting perfume! Have you been hanging around Song Ye Jeun?” He meant it as a joke, but the waiting laugh disappeared as soon as he took in Kevin’s guilty expression. Even Soohyun looked incredulous. “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me, Kevin.”

“Was that where you were for the past, what, eight hours? You’ve been screwing around with her again?”

Lexi had begun to stir. She never really was a heavy sleeper anyway, and the slightly-raised voice broke into her subconscious. “What?” She sat up and looked around, confused. “Oh, my god. How long have I been out?”

“A little above a few hours,” Alexander answered, covering her ears as the two continued to argue behind him. He ignored the stare he could feel burning on his back. Kevin.

She groaned, and Alexander realized she was faking. She’d heard everything –or the past two minutes anyway. “I have to go. Like now.” She looked around, her stare blatantly bypassing Kevin. “Sorry I fell asleep.”

“Gwenchanasaeyo, Eun Byul-ssi,” Kiseop muttered. “We’ll see you.”

“Annyeonghi kyesayo.” She bowed. “Please tell Dong Ho he can have what I promised earlier.”

Alexander had stood up too,  and fell into step behind Lexi. “Bye guys,” he waved.

They waved back and shouted at him to visit again sometime. He assured them he would then turned away.

As soon as the door closed, Lexi’s eyes turned cold. “I can’t believe I just wasted all that time waiting for that moron.”

Xander held up his hands in mock surrender. He knew better than to challenge the girl when she started with the back-stabbing insults. She didn’t need a conversation. Not really. Merely someone to listen and nod in agreement as she verbally abuse someone. Her rant went on as they walked out the door and into the crisp winter air. She fought back a shiver  and bit her lip. Xander took off his overcoat then handed her his blazer.

She smiled gratefully. Xander knew. He always had. “See what I mean, oppa? Everything feels imperative.”

This time, he felt the need to answer. “But if he’s getting back together with Ye Jeun…” It was off the point, but somehow he knew she had to hear it said out loud.

“I guess that should mean I’m off the hook.”

“Huh.”

Lexi giggled. “Huh? That’s a totally intelligent answer.”

Xander tried to look insulted. “What? I’m not a girl. How would I know what to say?” He made a face as her building loomed in sight. “It’s bad enough that I’m the only one you talk to about these things.”

She eyed him thoughtfully. “Waaaiiiit…. Are you feeling awkward?”

He looked at her darkly.

“I mean, I’m thankful that you listen to me,” she said, leading him through the lobby. “But if you’re getting wierded out, I’d stop.” They stopped in front of the elevator. Nobody talked.

<>

The elevator opened and Lexi jumped in, curls bouncing, looking much like a twelve-year-old. Xander followed wordlessly. The girl hit the penthouse and hummed incessantly.

“Well,” Xander said at last. “You’d probably die if you didn’t talk, so whatever.”

She looked up at him, grinning widely. “I knew I could count on you.”

Xander shook his head in humor. Hell, you’ve got me wrapped around your little finger.

Her eyes sparkled as she threaded her fingers through his. He felt a familiar thumping  at the sight of her hand in his.

“I missed you, Xander,” she said, still smiling.

He maintained his composure. “Yeah. You probably would, since you didn’t bother to call or text or even email in that one year.”

She pouted. “I know it’s inexcusable, but I just said I missed you!”

He smiled slightly, keeping his eyes in their distorted reflection. “I guess I did too. Miss you, I mean. Well, just a little bit.”

“Good enough for me.”

Xander realized she was taking her guard off. She wasn’t afraid to speak her feelings out around him. I might be the first to say that to her since she came back, he thought. Knowing Kevin and his pride, he wouldn’t. with a great sigh, he pulled her into his arms, wrapping them tightly around her. “Kidding, Lex. I missed you a lot.” He smiled when she pulled him closer. This time , she wasn’t crying. He planted a kiss on her forehead and began to pull away. But she refused to let go. Fine, he thought. A couple minutes more wouldn’t hurt. He buried his face in her strawberry-scented her. “Just a bit longer.”

She sighed in response and clutched at the folds of his clothes on his back. “Yeah, Xander. Just a bit longer.”

Aren't you just a bit intrigued..?? :3

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