"There is some sort of magic in the unexpected."

— Anonymous

Once they finished discussing every detail of the 45-minute long interview, Su Min headed back downstairs to check on EXO’s brainstorming progress.

When she got to their dressing room, she found them scattered throughout the four-walled space with a notepad in one hand and a pen in the other, all seemingly lost in deep thought. Cautiously, she looked around, expecting to lay eyes on him, but Kai was nowhere to be found.

"It’s okay," Sehun interrupted her search without looking up from his notes. "He's not here," he informed her, followed by a teasing comment, "Why? Are you scared he might get even?"

"Maybe just a little bit," she breathed out, playing along. There was really no use in denying she was scanning for him, but as for why she was…well, that was something better left unsaid.

Not wanting to disturb their thinking process any further, Su Min tiptoed across the room and quietly sat herself on the couch. But the moment she did so, Chanyeol came over and sat himself beside her. He then proceeded to settle his head on her lap and cover his eyes with his right arm, catching her by surprise.

"Ya," Su Min called faintly, attempting to forcefully, yet carefully, get him off her. She never minded his impulsiveness, and she understood he was acting this way because he missed her just as much as she missed him, but she never expected Chanyeol to be so carefree and comfortable with her in front of s, and especially inside SM.

"Ahhhh…I don’t want to," he whined like a little boy as he forced his head back down.

With a defeated sigh, Su Min grabbed the nearest pillow beside her and let him have the win. She was too mentally exhausted to have a play fight with her stubborn best friend.

As she tried to place the square cushion on her lap—thinking it would make him more comfortable—Chanyeol gently shoved it away.

Realizing this action signaled her surrender, a wide grin formed on his lips. "Thanks, but I like this better," he whispered as he repositioned his head on her bare lap.

"Park Chanyeol, shouldn't you be preparing for your special segment?" she whispered back, gently massaging his temples.

"Already done," he mumbled quietly as he brought her hand to his chest.

Somewhat surprised, Su Min lowered her eyes to him. "And what exactly did you decide to do?" she asked with skepticism.

"You'll see," he replied sweetly and entwined his fingers with hers, closing his eyes.

"There goes the two love birds again," Sehun commented after catching a glimpse of their current position.

After hearing those remarks, Baekhyun looked up from his notebook and narrowed his eyes toward the target. "Ya!" he exclaimed like a grumpy old man, "You're making all of us jealous!"

Chanyeol briefly opened his eyes and glanced at s with a mocking grin. "You should be," he joked as he turned to Su Min and encircled his arms around her waist lovingly, rubbing it in their faces.  

"Wha~ you’re really something," Baekhyun grumbled, tearing a sheet from his notepad and crumpling it into a ball.

|| …………… ||

After an hour of dodging multiple paper balls being hurled from all direction, the eight guys finally called for a cease fire and readied themselves for their separate schedules.

Xiumin, Chen, and D.O. were to head to Running Man; Suho and Lay to The Return of Superman as guest nannies; Sehun to Busted; Baekhyun to his drama for an overnight filming, and Chanyeol to the recording studio for a new OST. As for Kai, Su Min assumed he already left with the SuperM choreographer some time ago.

"Take care! See you tomorrow!" she exclaimed as she watched the members board their respective rides.

Approaching from behind, Chanyeol made his way over and stopped in front of her. "Sorry, I don’t think I’ll be able to tuck you in tonight