Panchali

"Bye Sumin!" I waved as Sumin toddled past the entrance of her playschool.

At my words, she turned back with a pout on her face and huge puppy dog eyes. 

"Won't you meet my friends?" She asked.

I sighed.

Staring at the little kid in front of me I didn't know what I was doing. I really did love her a lot but I didn't want to hurt her. She did call me omma last night didn't she? Or did I just hear it? I anyway hear too many things. If she called me omma this is all going to get worse only. And what do I even feel about Kai and Suho? 

"I'm sorry Sumin. I promise to meet them next time yeah?" I said and she looked at me with an extremely disappointed face which made me say, "I'll make it up to you Sumin."

I forced a smile as she looked at me. The last thing I wanted to do was burden her with my problems. 

"Bye!" she waved seeing my reassuring smile and started smiling herself. 

God she just HAD to go and look exactly like Suho didn't she? 

"Bye!" I waved with glee but as soon as she had disappeared my hand sank back to my side. 

Shrugging, I concentrated on trying to find out what I would tell Kai. Wait why should I talk to him? He was the one who left me and went away like a five year old when I mentioned Suho. What is his problem with Suho, anyway? Strange kid. Stupid, strange kid. Awesome, stupid, strange kid.

Turning, I trudged towards the hospital and yawned when I saw a familiar face peeping from the crowd.

"Luhan!" I called out and waved.

He looked around for couple of seconds as I ran and caught up with him.

"Luhan. Dude. I really need to talk to someone. Lets get coffee."

He looked at me as if I was a ticking bomb.

"I'm busy." he said and continued to walk down, furiously typing something on his phone.

I instantly ran up to him and stopped him in his path. 

"Please? I really really need to talk to someone." I said and tried to make a cute expression.

He stared at me for all of two seconds before sighing. I grinned and grbbaed his hand, leading him to a coffee shop nearby. 

                                                                                                                     ~~~

 I had informed Dr. Komal I would be a bit late and office hour rush was over now.

"So what is it that you needed to talk about?" he asked as he sipped his bubble tea.

"I'm sorry for burdening you with this but Chanyeol is high and Suho isn't here and Kai..." I sighed.

"Its not okay but anyway, continue. And quick please."

"Okay so here's the thing," I began, "Last night, Kai took me out for ice cream. And then he told me he liked me. But Suho called suddenly and I had to go. It was important. But when I told Kai he just left me in the middle of park with no mode of transportation and left." 

"So what do you feel about him?" Luhan asked.

His bubble tea had been abandoned as he stared at me with wide eyes.

"Well I-I don't quite know. I've never really been in love before." I scratched my head.

"Oh my god!" Luhan suddenly clasped his hands together and gasped, "Panchali! OH GOD! Take it! Do you know how HOT Kai is?!" 

I stared at him uncertainly and I could swear I could see a tiny hint of panic in his voice as he quitened down suddenly. 

"I-I mean. In a totally platonic way." he said, quickly draining his bubble tea.

"Luhan!" I was left calling out as he grabbed his bags and left hurriedly, "I'm not carrying money you dork!" 

"Ahem." the owner of the shop turned up behind me. 

I just smiled sweetly.

                                                                                                            ~~~

"Dr. Panchali! Are you okay?!" Dr. Komal asked worriedly as she saw me.

My hair was completely dishevelled. It hadn't been easy to explain my situation to the owner of the coffee shop since neither of my 'friends' would pick up their respective phones. Chanyeol and Kai for obvious reasons. I'll talk to Luhan later.

I sneezed and ruffled my hair and looked at her. 

My dark circles were prominent and my neck hung low. I looked like a severely beaten up kid. 

I was about to answer her when Kai walked past me. He looked at me for a brief second and instantly looked away and walked with some files to Dr. Komal. 

"Dr. Kai." she said, still staring at me as I yawned and stretched, "I want you to take care of Dr. Panchali." 

Both me and Kai looked at each other and then hee horrified. 

"B-but ma'am! She's so old. She can take care! And besides she must have Suho." Kai said suddenly. That hurt. It hurt a lot. I stared at him for a considerable amount of time before I realized both of them were looking questioningly at me. 

"Whatever you feel fit Doctor." I muttered and she turned back to Kai.

"Well then Kai. Go on." she said, turning around and walking away.

Kai scoffed and walked a little closer to me.

"Why do you always trouble me like this? Just go to bed stupid. You'll be fine. You must've been very busy to have dark circles like that. What did you and Suho do together..." he muttered as I looked up at him with tears lining my eyes. 

His expression softened considerably at the sight of a tear rolling down my cheek.

"P-Panchali..." he whispered.

"No. Just no. I've been trying so hard to be on top of everything but its hard okay! And what would you know?! You have a perfect family! You have good friends! Do you realize how lonely I am without all of you?! Without... you... Just stop Kai! Just stop!" I said, turning on my heel and walking away.

I didn't expect him to follow me and he didn't. All I wanted right now was a hug. And grammy was the only one who could give it to me. Only problem was that she lived across Seoul. Never mind. I needed her too much right now

I dragged my feet towards the bus stop and stood there silently for a couple of minutes. I was the only person standing at that busstop, waiting impatiently for the bus to show up. No taxis were around. In fact the place was secluded.  

Focus Panchali! I shook my head which was when I heard a voice which made a chill run down my spine, "How are you doing?" 

I spun around to see two greasy looking men staring at me lecherously. Not good. Gulping, I turned around and started walking briskly in the opposite direction. I hadn't taken two steps when a bulky guy appeared in front of me and held both his arms out. I broke into a run at the sight of him but I couldn't dodge him. He instantly propelled me back and I hit one of the guys behind me again.

I had no clue what to do anymore. Tears streamed down my face and I tried to do all I could.

"LET GO OF ME YOU SICK BASTARDS!" I yelled loudly as I kicked and threw punches randomly, just aiming to hurt them anywhere.

"Aish. She struggles too much."  one of the men grunted and clamped his hand over my mouth. 

I sobbed as someone grabbed my legs and lifted me off the ground and I could hear the whirring of a van. I struggled with the little strength I had. This couldn't be happening. Please let this be some sort of a twisted dream. I squeezed my eyes shut as someone held my mouth tighter. But when I opened my eyes the scenery hadn't changed. 

Please help me someone. 

There was only one word in my mind- Kai. I just wanted to see him again. I wanted to hug him. I wanted to tell him that... I liked him. A lot. A hell of a lot.

"Let her go. Now." I heard a cold voice behind me. It was the most slicing voice I had ever heard. I twisted my head around somehow to see someone framed behin the men. I couldn't see who it was. 

The men instantly dropped me and spun around to face the intruder as I tried to get up. I was pulled back by two strong hands and I felt my chin and neck starting to bleed with all the roughness.

It was then that I noticed that the man who stood there was... Kai. 

As I was pulled back towards the huge man I looked at him with pleading eyes. 

I didn't want him to be hurt. Under any circumstances. A million emotions were running through me but the most profound one was an intense feeling to be in his arms. I just wanted to run to him. I had a strange feeling that when he was around nothing could hurt me.

"I said..." Kai's voice rose, "LET HER GO!" he yelled suddenly and ran towards the men. 

The next few seconds went by in a blur but I felt the huge man letting go of me as I fell to the ground, still sobbing. 

The van whirred again and they were gone. All of them.

I clutched myself and kept sobbing silently to myself when I noticed Kai kneel beside me. Looking up at him with tears in my eyes, I noticed his face. His chin was cut and his upper lip was bleeding slightly. His arm was injured and I glanced at his hand and took it in mine.

"I'm so sorry. This was all my fault. I shouldn't have stormed out like that. I should've stayed and... and... I'm so sorry. Kai I have to te-" I was cut short as Kai gently held my chin and pulled my face towards his, softly pressing his lips against mine. 

My eyes widened for a second but in that suspended moment, it felt right. It felt right with every pore in my body.

As I cupped his face gently and kissed him back I knew what it was that I felt for him.

Love.