56

Just When I Thought I Was Over You
 

LVI

 

 

Kris might be the director of the play but in real life there was someone directing him exactly six thousand, eight hundred, and sixty-two miles away. Of course, that director made sure to pick the best and suited actor for whatever plot they planned and Suho knew no one except his -faced slash poker-faced roommate slash college buddy slash best friend by the glorified name, Kris. However, it wasn’t really easy to hire someone whose talent fee required a year supply of BB creams and other whatever that maintained Kris’ godly attraction.

But Suho didn’t graduate from high school with an honor for nothing. In the end, Kris fell into a nonconsensual contract because without his knowledge, someone actually applied him to an exchange research program to Korea. And in all honesty, even though he was scary-looking with his physical looks and demeanor, the real devil lied inside his angelic-faced best friend slash greatest manipulator, Suho.

So, what did Suho ask Kris to do after traveling exactly eleven thousand and forty-three kilometers from New York to Seoul?

---

Suho supplied Kris with everything he needed when he went to Seoul – the place to stay (thank goodness that he was close to the Jins), the two-seated sports car (which was naturally Suho’s graduation gift from his parents and Kris ended up using it first), and information about a boy named Kim Jongin or Kai (to his friends).

But, it wasn’t really the first time that Kris heard about this certain tanned boy. Seyoon had already mentioned about Kai through their frequent chats and video calls. Those were the times when he already had some hints that Seyoon likes that boy. Though, Seyoon had actually stopped mentioning Kai, as Kris remembered correctly, about a year ago just when she entered her second year in high school. Whatever happened that time, Kris didn’t bother to know but he noticed the changes in Seyoon especially her short cut hair which was a great surprise to him. He used to love her long hair.

Then a year after, Kris just found out that Seyoon was put into an arranged marriage. Kris didn’t even know why Seyoon agreed to that marriage – he never asked her. But what exactly he wanted to know was about the other person involved in that marriage. Was Kai someone worth marrying to? Of course, that was not all for him to judge. But what Suho gave him to judge was…

Your main goal is to find if Jongin likes my sister or not. Not through the influence of alcohol… (Because that was exactly how Suho attempted to know Kai’s feelings towards Seyoon but he wasn’t able to get anything. And he knew that it’s not a trusted way of knowing).

So, even before Kris left the comforts of their house in New York, Suho already gave him guidelines – more like a step by step ways (thanks to the internet) - on how to find out if a guy likes a girl.

But there was something that Suho didn’t know and couldn’t control. That was, obviously, Kris and if it was Kris who would act in the plot that Suho would direct, Kris would definitely not comply with the script. Instead, he would do some twitching Kris’ style because what Kris wanted was what he would do. So, goodbye Suho’s scripts and hello Kris’ amazing adlib acting skills.

---

Unfortunately, every Mondays and Wednesdays, Kris still had to attend the university lectures in the morning and would just head to the school in the afternoon. So that Monday, Kris dropped Seyoon off to her school before heading to the university. He found out that Kai went back to their apartment the next day after he punched him on the face real hard (in which the bruise still remained but perfectly concealed) so he wasn’t able to see him the rests of the weekend.

“See you, princess,” he said as Seyoon opened the door of the car, which was parked a few feet away from the entrance because Seyoon didn’t want to get a lot of attention like the last time when Kris parked his car in front of her school.

“I’ll see you then. Bye Ace,” she said as he patted Ace who was now resting on the seat she was previously sitting on.

Kris waited before Seyoon disappeared from his sight as she entered the school gate. Not long after, he already spotted his target, the one who caused him a tube of concealer in just two days. He watched Kai walked towards the gate. The boy had his typical not amused face. He always looked like he was drained of energy, Kris thought, which was really different from the way Seyoon described him years ago.

What happened to the enthusiastic boy, who, Seyoon said, would always in some ways but would always be there to help her in every way?

---

“Did your dance teacher come here this morning?” Kris asked Seyoon.

“Yes. Teacher Hyoyeon taught them the choreography this morning.”

“Good. All I have to do is polish their acting skills so they could shine like a diamond on stage.”

Kris heard Seyoon laughed beside him. “What the hell is that? Just reminds me of Rihanna.”

“Really? So how do Jongin-ssi perform…” Seyoon looked at Kris who had a sudden change of topic. “And the rests?” Kris added but definitely emphasizing on Kai.

“I actually don’t know. I wasn’t there when they were practicing. We’re busy with the props and other preparations. Never saw him once this morning.”

“I see.”

“Why?”

The two walked together in the hallway when Kris saw Krystal and Kai coming down from the stairs, laughing with whatever they were talking about.

Suddenly Kris rested his arm on Seyoon’s shoulder which Seyoon didn’t mind at all. She also didn’t notice that Kai and Krystal were walking towards them.

“Speaking of,” Kris muttered under his breath. “HAHAHA, that Rihanna joke is funny, isn’t it?” he started laughing while drawing Seyoon closer to him.

Seyoon looked at him confusedly. “That was done seconds ago—”

“Oh, two of the leads are here. What a coincidence,” Kris greeted the two.

Kris looked at Kai whose eyes were briefly locked on his arm resting on Seyoon’s shoulder before averting it somewhere.

“Good afternoon Mr. Wu,” Krystal greeted.

“Oh no need for honorifics. Just call me Kris-oppa,” Kris replied with a smile.

Krystal looked at him with an awkward smile and nodded but not Kai whose face seemed to devour him any time with anger.

“Good afternoon Jongin-ssi,” Kris greeted Kai.

The latter replied with his eyes rolling and mumbled, “Good afternoon,” with a half-hearted and mostly insincere tone.

Seyoon looked at them awkwardly before she remembered something. She went away from Kris’ arm before approaching the two. “Ah, I think you should have these,” she said as she handed them the new scripts. “It’s the modified one. We removed some unnecessary scenes and lines.”

“Thanks,” said Krystal.

Look at the way he treats Seyoon, Suho’s words repeated inside Kris’ head.

Seyoon handed Kai the script and Kris expected something like a ‘thank you’ but got nothing.

Instead, he heard Kai said, “Let’s go,” while referring to Krystal. “The students might be inside the theater now. We will go ahead,” he said as he bowed to Kris and Seyoon before heading to the other direction as Krystal followed him.

Kris looked at Seyoon whose head was lowered down.

“Didn’t you say that you haven’t seen Kai this morning?” he asked and Seyoon nodded. “Then why he didn’t even greet you.”

“It’s okay. We will see each other at home anyway.”

“But, that’s not an excuse. He should at least say ‘hi’ or ‘hello’ to you.”

Seyoon swayed his head and looked at Kris. “It’s okay. We’re used to this kind of thing. I think it just comes naturally that we don’t greet each other anymore. We always see each other at home anyway.” There was a momentary pause before Seyoon spoke again. “I think we should go there (to the theater) too. The students might be waiting for you,” she said as she tried to pull a smile but Kris could see her eyes of dejection.

So, how did Kai treated Seyoon?

Unlike when Kris saw him with Krystal earlier as the two were laughing, the way he treated Seyoon…

It is rather cold…

---

Kai didn’t particularly like the voice he was hearing when he went down to the hallway. As expected, he was there, the guy he punched on the face just few days ago. What was more surprising for Kai was when he saw Kris laughing with Seyoon with his arm rested on her shoulder.

Kai didn’t understand it though. After what Kris tried to do to Seyoon that night, now, they looked alright as if nothing really happened. Were they really that close for her to forget everything about it in an instant?

The bastard probably forgot what happened that night, Kai thought. And Seyoon just let it go and forgave him. But whatever Kris did to make Seyoon forgave him immediately like that, Kai didn’t care. He just couldn’t stand the fact that it looked nothing to Seyoon. And the way they show their closeness to each other even in public (though they were only inside the school), he didn’t like it.

“Oh, two of the leads are here. What a coincidence.” Just hearing his voice and Kai wasn’t amused at all.

Then Krystal greeted him in whom Kris replied, “…Just call me Kris-oppa.”

Pft, oppa? You got to be kidding me. He must’ve thought that all girls like calling him ‘oppa’. Well, not my girlfriend for sure, Kai thought.

When Kris’ attention was on Kai, Kai just greeted him as a form of right demeanor but he certainly didn’t want to look at him in the eyes. Instead, he averted his gaze somewhere. Kris always had that smirk on him that Kai couldn’t stand seeing. It looked as if he was mocking him.

He was avoiding looking at Kris that he forgot that Seyoon was standing beside him. He heard Seyoon’s voice for the first time that day. They weren’t able to talk after the incident that happened last two nights. He didn’t know if he would greet her or not.

Looking at Seyoon who was only feet away from him with a smile on her face as she handed him the script, Kai’s mind stopped for seconds. And then he remembered when he pinned Seyoon on the wall and the things he said to her that night. In the end, he didn’t say anything. Instead, he got the script and walked straight ahead without looking back.

He was afraid to look back. On the inside, he sighed with guilt and disappointment for what he did. He didn’t mean to be cold to her. But he just couldn’t face her straightly that time. Not with that smile that she gave to him and also not with the smile she gave to Kris earlier.

It was a whole lot of mixed feelings and what dominated? Anger…

---

“Xiumin! Who says you’re allowed to eat during practice hours?” Kris said with a tone almost reaching his rage mode as he saw Xiumin drawing for what it seemed like a bun from his pocket and was nearly shoving it into his mouth.

He massaged his temples for the umpteenth time this day. He tried to be calm and patient as what Seyoon told him but he just couldn’t control some of them. Instead of doing what he was supposed to do, it seemed like he was stuck in a daycare center with a bunch of brats who didn’t take his directions seriously.

“I told you. Stop eating,” Lay whispered to Xiumin.

“Can’t help it…” he replied as he put back the food into his pocket.

It was already three days since they started practicing and Kris wasn’t having any progress from his observation of Kai.

Look at the way he looks at her. Look where his eyes are traveling…

Exactly how would Kris see that when Seyoon was somewhere backstage doing and painting some props?

And even if Seyoon would suddenly popped out of nowhere, there were still certain obstacles along the way like…

“Let’s start from scene eleven,” Kris directed.

Just in time, Seyoon and Baekhyun entered the stage as they seemed to be measuring some areas on the stage. Kris immediately turned his head to where Kai was standing.

“Got you,” he mumbled when he saw Kai turning his head briefly towards Seyoon’s direction but he was obstructed by someone tapping his shoulder.

“Kris, do I look fierce if I act like this or if I moved my lips like this?” Luhan asked Kris as he literally blocked Kris’ view by standing in front of him and doing different facial poses. The guy was so conscious of the way he looked on the stage and it seemed like he was aiming for a perfect pose and Kris liked perfection. However, he was asking him every now and then with almost similar questions. And Luhan was really getting to his nerves that he might burst anytime soon.

Kris sighed before replying, “You look good on any angle Luhan. And you’re manly enough without twitching your eyebrows, okay? Now go back to your place,” he said calmly.

“Really?” Luhan looked at him enthusiastically. “Thanks!” He tried to capture Kris in a hug but he glared at him fiercely which made Luhan go back to his place without further questions.

He looked at the stage and Seyoon was still there. He looked at Kai but there was another obstacle.

“Hey Chanyeol, what are you doing?” Kris asked the tall boy who was supposed to be far away from Kai but was now there talking to the kid.

“I’m just asking Kai about some parts of the scene that I don’t understand,” Chanyeol replied. But the truth was he just wanted to say the joke that Baekhyun shared to him last night that until now, he still couldn’t get over with.

Kris sighed again. “What is there not to understand? The lines are so easy. Even I, who am not a native Korean speaker, can understand every word in it. Besides, Jongin is not your best friend in this play. If there’s anything you wanted to clarify, ask Luhan,” he said before dragging Chanyeol beside Luhan.

Kris noticed Seyoon looking at him. Fighting, he read Seyoon’s lips saying. He smiled at her and gave her a nod. But he didn’t notice that Kai was looking at them, frowning.

---

During the days that Kris was there for the whole day, he would sit with Seyoon and the rests of her friends in their lunch table. He insisted to have lunch with Seyoon alone but Seyoon insisted to have lunch with her friends so Kris had no choice but to sit with the most talkative people he had ever met.

“Seyoon, how is my acting? Is it great? Huh? Huh?” Chanyeol enthusiastically asked as he was sitting beside her. Unfortunately for Kris, Luhan and Chanyeol managed to stole the seats beside Seyoon even before he got to the cafeteria. They somehow made an alliance to have him seated at the far end corner of table beside Xiumin, who was eating quietly beside him.

“Where’s Jongin by the way?” Kris asked Sehun who was sitting at the other side.

“He rarely joins us for lunch. He is always busy,” Sehun replied monotonously.

Seriously, Kris didn’t know if he would like this Sehun guy because he was the only one different among Seyoon’s friends. He was reserved and full of proper demeanor. But he just couldn’t read his mind at all or get through him. He always had that straight face. No wonder why he became the president, Kris thought.

“Oh, alright.” Kris shrugged.

“Why are you asking for him anyway?” Xiumin asked with his mouth full.

Kris looked at him. “Nothing. I’m just concerned. Isn’t he a part of your group?”

“Oh, but he only joined us twice or thrice. He rarely goes here every lunch. They always say that he’s busy. But I really don’t know if there’s anything he should be busy about. I mean, he and Luhan and Baekhyun are in one class. But those two are always here. They didn’t seem to have anything to do at all,” Xiumin replied. Xiumin and Lay were the only ones in the group who didn’t know the real reason why Kai wasn’t always there.

Kris thought that this ‘baozi’ looking guy had some function after all.

Kris looked at the rests of them and it seemed like it was really normal that Kai wasn’t there. Even Seyoon who was busily laughing and talking to the talkative guys surrounding him didn’t even look for Kai.

---

Friday ended with Seyoon not really showing up inside the theater because she was too busy with her other endeavors. While Kris, on the other hand, ended up scolding at least four students (including Luhan and Chanyeol) for playing some of the props that were already on display inside the theater. As for Kai, Kris noticed that the kid had great potentials especially with his dancing skills. But that wasn’t Kris’ concern at all. What he was bothered about was the fact that he was actually on the midway believing that Kai liked Seyoon but he just couldn’t get enough evidence of it. Just a little more evidence before he could settle with a conclusion.

So he had no choice…

“What are those for?” Kris asked Seyoon who was carrying a bag of what looked like uniforms. He couldn’t help but pity the way she looked. It was the first time that he saw him as exhausted as the way she looked now.

“I have to take this home for the weekend and attach these patches. These are their costumes for the play. And I still have to repair some of them especially Chanyeol’s. He needs longer pants. Baekhyun didn’t get his measurements right,” she replied, putting the heavy bag down, grabbing the bubble tea that Kris was currently drinking.

“Are you really that thirsty to take that drink from me? I could just buy you one, you know.”

Seyoon swayed her head and took a final sip before giving the drink back to Kris. “No need. I’m okay with just a sip. Can you send me home? I can’t carry all of these all the way there.”

Kris looked at her and at her bag and held his chin with his fingers as if he was thinking really hard. “Uhm…but I have a favor to ask you?”

Seyoon pouted but still asked him, “What is it?”

“Since it’s already weekend tomorrow and Ace doesn’t want to end up in your house alone without your parents, he actually would like to ask his mom if he could stay with her for a while. Oh, the father is coming too if she doesn’t mind.”

“What? But Kris, I’m not the only one living there. Besides, I don’t know if it’s alright with Kai.”

“If that’s the case then why don’t you ask him?” Kris said while pointing his head on someone else’s direction.

Seyoon turned around to look at what Kris was talking about and she saw Kai approaching them, with an angry expression…

---

Kai didn’t like seeing it when Kris and Seyoon would exchange glances and whatever signals on the stage. Seyoon rarely showed up on the theater but whenever she would go there, there was no moment that Kai wouldn’t see her and Kris exchanging signals.

Kai would sometimes see her giving Kris some words of encouragement like the other day. And Kai could see a different smile forming on Kris’ lips which would eventually fade when he would face the other students.

Seyoon also gave Kai some words of encouragement but that was some nights ago when they had a slight talk – their first long talk for this week. And that was it. They weren’t been able to talk during mornings because Kris would always be there to pick Seyoon up with his convertible.

What a show off, Kai thought.

There was also a time when Kai decided to have lunch with his friends. It was rare that he joined them and besides, Krystal was busy practicing her piece for the SUPA auditions. But he ended up having lunch alone. Why? Because when he attempted to go to the cafeteria, Kris was there with his friends – sometimes talking to Sehun or Xiumin, other times flicking Chanyeol’s head or scolding Luhan, but most of all, eating the lunch which he asked Seyoon to make for him.

What Kai didn’t like the most was the fact that even though Kris was older and just came a few days ago; he looked as if he was part of their group for too long now. Kris was more welcomed than him, Kai noticed.

This wasn’t a batlle but it looked like it was to him now and Kai decided that he didn’t want to lose against him.

---

On Friday, Kris left earlier after their whole day practice and coaching. Kai and the rests of the male casts remained to try the costumes made for them. And on that particular time, Seyoon was there with no Kris in sight. But she was far away down the stage talking to Sehun and the younger members of the student council. On the other hand, Baekhyun and Kyungsoo were the ones assisting the casts for their costumes.

“Seyoon!” Baekhyun called her.

It was that moment when Seyoon heard Baekhyun and turned her head to the stage when Kai felt some kind of tension inside of him.

Kai didn’t know but somehow ever since Kris showed up, Kai’s awareness of Seyoon heightened up. Like there was always an urge inside of him to look for her. He didn’t know but maybe because Seyoon’s attention was more directed to Kris lately. And when Kris was not there, he felt at ease. It was as if it was okay for him if Seyoon’s attention was on somebody but not Kris.

When Seyoon approached Baekhyun on the stage, it was also the time when Kai was called by Krystal who was also trying her costume backstage.

“How do I look?” Krystal asked him.

But what traveled and registered to Kai’s ears were, “I got Chanyeol’s measurements wrong. We need longer pants. And we also need these patches to be attached to their uniform. I wonder if you can—”

“Sure, sure. I’ll just take these and get things done over the weekend. It’s no problem Baekhyun. I’ll handle these.”

“Really? Thank you. I hate sewing anyway.”

“I know.”

“By the way, don’t you need someone to carry these for you? It’s heavy just to warn you. I can’t leave yet but I could just ask someone to carry them for you…”

“Kai? Kai?” Krystal’s voice suddenly came up again.

Kai snapped from eavesdropping and tried to focus on Krystal who was looking at him confusedly.

“It looks great.”

“Really? Kyungsoo and Seyoon made this. Anyway, do you want to come with me to the music room? There’s another piece I would like you to hear.”

Seyoon with a heavy bag or Krystal with her new music piece? That was the question that Kai needed to answer in split seconds.

---

Kai ran, ran as fast as he could after coming from the music room where Krystal played another song for him. It was beautiful, he said that to Krystal. It was indeed. But more than that was the image of Seyoon struggling with a heavy bag dominated his mind. It was a good thing that Krystal’s music coach said that she would come. So that meant that Kai had to leave before her coach got there. He immediately leave but not for the reason that he was afraid to get caught, but for the reason that he was hoping to catch Seyoon in the theater. He wished she was still there.

Kai ran again. But the moment he got to the theater, Baekhyun told him that Seyoon already left. The good news was she just left a minute ago so that meant that Kai could still catch her. And he did, only to see her with that tall annoying guy again.

Kai ran. No. More like he walked with heavy steps because the time he made his way to the entrance, Seyoon was there. Together with her was the bag of costumes. But what made Kai walked briskly towards them was because Kris was there again. He thought the guy already left but no.

What made Kai even angrier was the straw. Damn straw!

Seeing Seyoon sharing food with others was not new to Kai. Seyoon shared her ddeokbokki once to him when they were still in middle school. Chanyeol shared the same ddeokbokki cup with her frequently but using their own sticks. Kyungsoo shared his kimchi spaghetti with her but using their own chopsticks. Baekhyun shared a cake with her but with their own forks. Sehun shared his bubble tea to her but definitely with a different straw.

But this, he just couldn’t take it. Seyoon and Kris sharing the same bubble tea with the same straw – the straw that Kai saw Kris was sipping from when Seyoon suddenly snatched it from him. Kai saw it, the straw where Kris’ lips touched before was also the same straw that Seyoon’s lips were touching now. He. Just. Couldn’t. Take. It.

So now, he was walking towards them with eyebrows in furrow but he didn’t care.

“I’ll help you carry that home,” Kai said to Seyoon firmly without looking at Kris as if he wasn’t there at all or as if there was already a possibility that Kris might have offered Seyoon a ride home.

“No,” Kris immediately answered.

But Kai didn’t listen or look at him. He wasn’t talking to him in the first place so he just ignored him. Instead, he grabbed Seyoon’s hand with his one hand and the other grabbed the bag and slung it on his shoulder.

Kris smirked in amusement. This is great.

Suddenly, Kai felt stronger hand holding his arm.

“Woah, easy there kid. Not too fast,” Kris said to him without letting go of his arm.

Kai held his breath and unwillingly turned his head to face Kris.

“Can’t you see that princess and I were talking?”

Damn it. He calls her ‘princess.’ What’s up with that?

“Besides, she has something to tell you,” Kris said while winking at Seyoon.

Seyoon looked at him with questioning eyes and gaping mouth.

“Ahm…Ace…” Kris coughed.

Seyoon’s brow moved in question and Kris nodded at her in which Kai frowned – because here they were again, exchanging signals as if they understood their own world without saying any word.

“What is it?” Kai asked impatiently.

“Ah…” Seyoon’s mouth was hung open without any words coming out. She didn’t know if Kai would let Kris have a sleepover at their house especially when she felt like there was some kind of tension between him and Kai.

“Seyoon asked me if I could stay at your house over the weekend but she is afraid that you won’t agree so—”

“I didn’t—”

“Ace…” Kris glared at Seyoon.

Kai looked at Seyoon whose hand was still held by him.

“Ah, I am wondering if Kris could stay with us over the weekend. My parents will not be at home till Monday next week and it’s kind of lonely if he will be left alone…”

Seyoon’s eyes were fixed on the floor. Kai’s eyes were fixed on her. And Kris…he was trying to hide his happiness with his serious expression.

“So, is it okay if I stay over or not? Or maybe Seyoon could just come with me and accompany me to their main house. It’s her house anyway.”

Of course not! Kai would rather spend the weekend with this annoying guy than letting Seyoon leave his sight for two days. Who knows what he might do to her?

“Do whatever you want,” Kai said aloofly.

“Great. So I’ll be with you over the weekend,” Kris said to Seyoon with a smile.

“Thanks Kai,” said Seyoon.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go,” Kai replied as he grabbed her hand again.

“Hey, I have a car. Don’t you think it is better if you just—” Kris was motioning his head to his car.

Kai looked at it. It’s a two-seater car. Kris would take the driver seat and of course, Seyoon would take the passenger seat. Obviously, there was no place for him there.

Is this his way of mocking me?

Kai looked at Seyoon as if waiting for her decision.

“Seyoon is carrying a heavy bag. It’s more convenient if she rides the car.”

“No. I’ll just walk with Kai. You can take the car and go ahead.”

Of course, Seyoon would choose Kai. It would be rude of her if she and Kris would take the car and see Kai walking home alone.

Kai was surprised by Seyoon’s answer and deep inside, he was celebrating. It was as if it was his first win against Kris.

Kris smirked and went to Seyoon. “Why did you have to be so kind?” he said while ruffling her hair playfully.

This should be Kai’s win by he felt as if he still lost against Kris.

Why do they have to be this close?

---

Kris celebrated as he watched Kai and Seyoon walking together. And they were even holding hands. Way to go kid.

You’re giving me too much than what I expected. One time you’re cold then the next, you possess her as if you don’t want to let her go. This is a nice progress. But don’t celebrate yet…

Kris parked the car in front of their apartment building, grabbed Ace from the passenger seat and his bag from the compartment at the back. Even though he had the car, Kai insisted that he would carry the bag of costumes.

Kris entered the apartment once Seyoon opened it. And just on the moment when they entered the apartment, he already had a heated argument with Kai.

“So, am I going to sleep with you? Ace in between,” said Kris as he waved Ace in front of Seyoon’s face and winked at her. Kai looked at him in contempt as if cursing him from head to toe.

“You can sleep here on our couch,” Kai said to him. He didn’t want to be rude but he would be especially if this erted would insist to sleep in Seyoon’s room.

Seyoon looked at the two of them whose heads seemed to be clashing anytime soon.

“You could just sleep in my room Kris. I’ll sleep on the couch,” Seyoon said to him.

Kai looked at her and felt guilty.

“He could just sleep here on the couch. You should sleep on your own room.”

Kris smirked briefly before hiding it and acted as if he was lying on the couch.

“But my body is too long for this couch. See,” he demonstrated.

Kai’s eyes rolled and his teeth gritted in anger.

“Besides, we used to sleep together before when you were still in America. I don’t see anything wrong doing it again. It is not as if something will happen. You know that right,” said Kris as he lifted his body to a sitting position and grabbed both Seyoon’s hands. He looked at her with his pleading eyes.

Seyoon knew that nothing would possibly happen between her and Kris but that wasn’t what inside Kai’s mind. It was as if his mind churned with all sorts of thoughts.

If Kris was able to attempt to kiss Seyoon in their own house with her parents still there, what more if they were just in an apartment where there were only three of them and if they were in the same room together?

“Fine. You can sleep on my bed,” said Seyoon. Kai was surprised as Kris smile widened. “But I’ll just sleep on the floor in my sleeping bag.” Then she looked at Kai whose eyes were still in shocked. “Don’t worry. I know Kris. And I’ll make sure that he will not drink anything alcoholic just to make sure that he will not think of doing something…uhm…unthinkable again.”

“Great!” Kris stood up in excitement. “So, I’ll just put these where?” he said, referring to his bag and Ace.

“My room is on the right.”

Kai didn’t argue anymore.

---

They said that laughter was contagious but not for Kai. It elicited anger more than feelings of happiness when he heard Seyoon and Kris laughing out loud inside her room – INSIDE HER ROOM.

And he? He was left alone in their living room, watching TV. He just couldn’t stay inside his room because their laughter was louder. And even though he wanted to listen to what they were talking about, he couldn’t, because they were talking in English. He just couldn’t understand a single thing except for some familiar words.

In the end, he plopped on the couch and started watching Pororo – the only show that could make him happy when he was depressed (but that was when he was still a kid). So, no matter how much he increased the volume of the TV, he just couldn’t be angrier than what he was now.

More than that was the ticking of the clock. It was almost dinner time but still, Seyoon hadn’t started cooking yet.

Does she forget to eat when Kris is here? Is she trying to starve me to death?

Suddenly, the laughter subsided. Kai couldn’t hear anything anymore except the laughter of Pororo and his friends. He lowered the volume of the TV.

Why does it become silent all of sudden?

The silence remained longer than expected and Kai couldn’t stay calm on his seat. What ever happened to those two, he couldn’t just sit there without knowing anything. So, he stood up and went to his room.

He drew his head closer to the only wall that separated his room and Seyoon’s. He couldn’t hear a thing.

What are they doing?

Suddenly, he heard a knock on his door and it flung open. He was startled that he immediately sat on his study table and pretended that he was reading something.

Eavesdropping? Very skillful.

He turned his head only to see Kris standing on the doorway.

“Woah, your room is bigger than Seyoon.”

“What do you want?”

Kris closed the door and without Kai’s permission, he just sat on Kai’s bed, crossing his legs.

“My princess is cooking. She doesn’t want to be interrupted so I’ll just stay here.”

“Who says you’re allowed here?”

“Who say I’m not? If you do, you should’ve stopped me when I was still on your doorway.”

Kai fisted his hand but it remained resting on his desk.

“I asked Seyoon to cook Chinese food but she said that she’ll cook fried chicken. She said you like it.”

Kai facial expression softened. Is she telling things about me to Kris?

Kris looked at Kai, whose back was facing him, in amusement. Yeah, I’ll give you clues until you get what it means.

“Don’t you think she’s spoiling you too much? I’m your visitor and yet she’s cooking that food that you like.”

Kai didn’t know why Kris was telling him those things but he couldn’t help to smirk secretly.

“She even chose to walk with you when riding a car is way more convenient. Isn’t she too kind to you? Or is there a deeper meaning to it?”

Kai swiveled his chair to face Kris. “What do you mean?”

Kris averted his gaze to Kai’s bookshelf. “Hey, you read manhwa? You have a great collection here.”

A change of topic? This man is annoying.

“Do you know what makes romantic manhwa interesting to read?” Kris said while grabbing one of the comics on the shelf. “It’s because the two leads are too naïve to realize that they like each other even if it’s too obvious. Am I right?”

“I don’t get what you mean. I don’t read romantic manhwa,” Kai replied while snatching the comics from Kris and returned it to where it belonged.

“That’s bad then. Well, I guess I have to go. It seems like I’m not welcome here. I’ll just help Seyoon. I already miss my princess. See you.”

Tsk. Annoying intruder. Kai swayed his head as he dived onto his bed.

‘Isn’t she too kind to you? Or is there a deeper meaning to it?’ Kris’ words resonated again.

No. She’s just too kind. She is, isn’t she?

---

After their dinner, Kris and Seyoon started attaching the patches to the uniforms. And after an hour and a half, both Kris and Seyoon were already sleeping on the couch in the living room with Seyoon resting on Kris’ shoulder.

Kris woke up when he felt the weight on his shoulder being lifted up. “Princess…” he mumbled with his eyes still half closed.

“I’ll bring Seyoon to her room. You sleep on my room and I’ll sleep on the couch.”

Kris opened his eyes to see Kai lifting the sleeping Seyoon from the couch.

“But—” Kris was about to protest to piss Kai off but the boy turned his head and glared at him – the scariest he had seen so far.

“Alright. I’ll sleep in your room. I just hope that it’s comfortable because if not, I’ll creep to Seyoon’s room whether you like it or not.”

“Don’t you dare…” Kai said firmly before going inside Seyoon’s room.

---

“Hey, good morning!”

“Good evening to you too. So, how’s it going?”

“Progressing”

“In a positive way or the other way around?”

“I won’t tell you the details yet but there’s a chance that what you expected is right.”

Kris didn’t hear any response from Suho. Isn’t this what he expected? That Kai liked Seyoon?

“Hey Suho!”

“Yeah?”

“If Jongin really likes Seyoon, what will you do next?”

There was a long silence on the other line.

“Hey, are you listening?”

“Oh, sorry. I’m driving on my way to the university and—”

“Just answer my question. What will you do?”

“Hm…maybe you’ll have the right to know that if you already gave me the results of your mission there,” Suho replied mischievously.

“You! I understand. You just wait until I am fully disclosed with this unresolved mystery and until then, I will wait for your answer. I just hope we’re going somewhere from here.”

“Sure we will do. But you have to give me the results first. So, good night Benben~”

“Right. Good day and by the way, I kind of scratched the back of your car.”

“Wha—” Kris hung up the phone.

“Serves you right, Suho.”

---

 “Good news is that the two of you are chosen to perform the school hymn on the school festival opening,” said the principal

Seyoon looked at Chanyeol happily while the other captured her in a tight hug.

“The bad news is that you should have extra time to practice. I know Ms. Jin is busy with her student council works and Mr. Park is a cast of the play but I hope that you practice really well. I’m counting on you.”

“We promise to give you a good performance. Thank you.”

---

“Really? You are chosen to sing for the opening? I’m happy for you,” said Kyungsoo as he held Seyoon’s hands.

“And I will play the piano,” Chanyeol boasted.

“Good luck,” said Sehun.

“If it’s Seyoon, I have no doubt about that but if it’s—”

“Stop it Baek!” Chanyeol pouted.

“I’m not saying anything…yet.” Baekhyun stuck out his tongue on Chanyeol.

Kris looked at Kai who was standing on the stage. He is looking at Seyoon from afar. Why don’t you just join them? Kris eyebrows furrowed in curiosity.

“Ha! So, you will practice for the play and for the opening. Isn’t that hard Park?” Luhan teased.

“It is. But it also means that I’ll be practicing with Seyoon on extended hours,” Chanyeol smirked.

“No…”

Chanyeol stuck his tongue out at Luhan as he tried to capture Seyoon, who was busily talking with Lay and Kyungsoo, in another hug.

This derp has the guts to show his affection openly. Kris looked again at Kai. Did I just saw him frown with what Chanyeol did? Interesting. He smirked.

“What are you smiling for?” asked Seyoon.

“Hm? What else? I am happy for you. That’s all,” he said as he ruffled her hair.

“Why do you always do that?” Seyoon complained as she tried to fix her hair.

“Because you looked cute,” he said while he pinched her cheeks this time.

“Stop harassing Seyoon,” Chanyeol complained.

“Why? She’s my princess,” Kris glared. He turned his head to look at Kai whom he caught glaring at him. The latter instinctively avoided Kris gaze immediately.

My princess? Is he claiming ownership of Seyoon? Kai thought.

“Shouldn’t we start practicing?” said Kai from above the stage.

---

“Third time?”

“Okay…”

Seyoon watched Chanyeol as his fingers jumped from one key to another. They couldn’t practice in the music room because the music club reserved the room for their after school practices. So, they just decided to use the piano hiding at the backstage of the theater. The practice of the play just finished about an hour ago.

Seyoon’s voice resonated inside the theater.

“They look great together, aren’t they? Perfect harmony…” Kris whispered to the man standing behind one of the backdrop props.

Kai almost jump out in surprise when he heard someone’s voice from behind. He turned around only to see Kris smirking at him.

“What are you doing here?” he asked Kris.

“Why do you care? How about you? What are you doing here when the practice ended an hour ago?”

“Why do you care? Besides, this is our school. There’s nothing wrong staying here.”

“Right,” Kris smirked again. “There’s nothing wrong hiding behind that tree prop while spying on somebody else’s business.”

“Spy—” Kai looked at him in disbelief. “I’m not spying. I just think that I forgot something here so I came back.”

“Pft. Really? As if you’ll find something under that tree.” Kris stepped closer to Kai which caused the latter to move back as his back was already touching the wooden prop. “If you wanted to say something to Seyoon, why don’t you just tell her?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, you know what I mean Jongin-ssi. You don’t have to deny it.”

Suddenly Kris pinned Kai on the big wooded tree prop. Kai knew that if Kris would exert more effort, the tree would surely fall and they would surely be exposed.

“I want you to be honest to me, Jongin-ssi.” Kris eyes looked him as if it was piercing him deeply. “Why don’t you just admit that you like Seyoon?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh you know what I’m talking about. Still denying it?”

Kris could sense Kai’s chest fluttered rapidly.

Kris moved back a bit. “Relax,” he said as he playfully straightened Kai’s collar and tie. “I’m not going to kill you if you just tell me.”

Kai held Kris’ hand and removed it from holding him. “Stop doing that.”

“Fine. If you don’t want to say anything then I’ll just tell her myself.”

Kai’s eyes widened. And even before he could stop Kris, Kris already came out from behind the tree.

“Princess!”

Seyoon and Chanyeol turned their head towards Kris’ direction.

“Oh, good thing you’re here,” said Seyoon as she went to Kris and grabbed his hand.

Kai saw it and his eyes rolled in irritation. But more than that was the anxiousness that dominated him. He didn’t know what he would do if Kris would really do what he had told him.

“We’re practicing here for a while now and it would be better if someone would give opinion about our performance. Can you listen to it?” Seyoon asked Kris.

“I would love to but I have something to tell you.”

Seyoon looked at him with questioning eyes. “What is it?”

“I think…”

Kai’s chest fluttered in nervousness. He couldn’t move his feet as if someone froze him in his place. 

“I think I will not be able to listen to you now. I have to go. I still have to attend the lectures tomorrow, remember? Besides, your parents ask me help them about something so…”

“I see.”

Kai felt as if someone lifted a weight from his shoulder. He heaved a sigh of relief.

“But,” Kris looked at the tree prop where Kai was hiding, through the corner of his eyes. “If you want someone to listen to your performance, why don’t you ask Jongin-ssi?”

“Kai? But he’s not here.”

Kris shrugged his shoulder. Just in time, Kai found the courage to reveal himself from behind the tree.

“Kai? Good thing you’re here,” said Chanyeol as he stood up, went to Kai, and dragged him near the piano.

“Since I will not be able to send you home, I asked Jongin-ssi to do that for me. I don’t want my princess to walk home alone, you know.”

What are you saying now? Kai thought.

“Ah, really? Thank you,” Seyoon said to Kai. Kai nodded shyly.

Kris looked in amusement. “Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow,” said Kris as he planted a kiss on Seyoon’s forehead.

Chanyeol and Kai glared at them. Chanyeol couldn’t take it anymore as he stood up to break Seyoon from Kris’ lips. The kiss took longer than expected.

“We still have to practice.”

Kris smiled. “Fine. Bye princess,” he smiled at Seyoon and then he looked at Kai. “And Jongin-ssi,” Kai looked at him. “It’s nice to talk to you but I hope to hear more from you in the future.”

Chanyeol looked at Kai while Seyoon looked at Kris as they tilted their head in curiosity.

---

The final rehearsal was set on Saturday and the presentation was set on the opening of the school festival. They were almost done practicing all of the scenes. The final scene to practice was the kissing scene which Kris found the most interesting.

“Okay, let’s see. Luhan would die in the end—”

“Not me. It’s the character that I play,” Luhan corrected.

“Whatever. But the good news is that the female lead and male lead will kiss in the end. How convenient is that?” said Kris while smirking at Kai. Kai just frowned and rolled his eyes in annoyance.

“I wonder if you two are convenient to have the kissing scene or—”

Kai and Krystal looked at each other shyly.

“Of course they are…” Luhan muttered almost inaudibly but Chanyeol heard it and nudged his side real hard. “Hey!”

“Sshh! So, are you?” Kris repeated. The two weren’t answering but Kris could see their embarrassed face.

“Do you really have to ask that? If the scene demands it then go with it,” Kai replied coldly.

“Woah, fierce…” Luhan mumbled. Kris glared at him.

“What a professional answer Jongin-ssi,” Kris smiled. “Okay. So, let’s start the scene.”

Kris had never felt as lucky as he was right now. He felt that the god of love must have been taking his side. It was not only that they were now practicing his favorite part of the play but also because Seyoon was actually inside the theater, painting some of the remaining untouched props. And if things go according to his plan, he knew someone’s patience would turn into a boiling anger anytime soon.

“Kissing scene. Kissing scene isn’t really the hardest thing to do in a play or an act. In fact, it’s my favorite part to direct.”

“Doesn’t he just sound like a ert?” Xiumin whispered to Lay.

“And since this play will be watched by a lot of audiences, I was actually wondering if we shall do a real kiss or a fake kiss.”

“Real kiss!” Luhan shouted. Kris glared at him again – this time it was more deadly.

“Sorry…”

“Anyway, real kiss or a fake kiss…” Kris looked at Seyoon, who was busy with her own work. Good thing, he was considerate of Seyoon’s feeling because if he would be one to decide, he would surely choose the real kiss. But… “I decided that we will do the fake kiss.”

“Soojung-ssi, Jongin-ssi, can you come here in front?”

“This is interesting,” Xiumin whispered to Lay.

Kai and Krystal looked at each other nervously. This was just a kissing scene, Kai knew. But he still felt anxious especially when there were only a few people who knew his relationship with Krystal. And even if she was his girlfriend, kissing in public (though it’s just a fake kiss) wouldn’t be easy for him. Aside from that, he was feeling uneasy since earlier because not far away from them was Seyoon. He never felt more nervous than before.

“This is just easy. But before I let you do it, I think it’s better that I demonstrate it to you first. Let’s see…uhm…”

Kai noticed it, there was another sardonic smile plastered on Kris’ face and he had a bad feeling about it. He watched as Kris approached Seyoon, who was busy painting with Kyungsoo, and whispered something to her ear.

“What?!” she shouted rather loudly. Seyoon seemed to be taken aback by whatever Kris said to her but Kris whispered something to her again. After a while, Kai saw her as she gave Kris a nod.

Just what are you trying to do now?

“I hope you don’t mind if I ask the help of your vice president. By the way, she’s my best friend so whatever it is that we will show you today, I’ll make sure that there will be no harm done. She’s my best friend after all. Look carefully especially you, Jongin-ssi.”

Kris held Seyoon’s shoulder and turned her to face him. “Relax. This is just a fake kiss. You trust me, right?”

Kai saw how Seyoon took a deep breath and nodded at Kris.

Luhan hide behind Chanyeol while the taller covered his eyes.

“Watch where I rest my hands and my facial expression,” Kris directed Kai.

As Kris head moved closer, Kai’s hand clutched tightly. Seyoon closed her eyes and tried to relax.

That’s right. Just the reaction that I expected. Just look Jongin as I squeeze your brain until you face reality.

Seyoon opened her eyes when she felt Kris gripped of her loosened. “It’s okay now,” Kris said to him. “Thank you for helping.”

“You don’t have to thank me. I know you will not be able to do it with another girl. Just don’t forget that you have to treat me for a cake later.”

“Haha! Of course, princess,” Kris said to him.

“Don’t try to ruffle my hair,” Seyoon warned.

“Fine. Okay, did you see that?” Kris looked at Kai before giving him a mischievous smile. “The important thing that you have to take note for a fake kiss is the angle. Of course, you couldn’t just tilt your head and that’s it. It is important that you won’t cover the female lead’s face. It has to be on the right angle.”

---

“No, that’s not it,” said Kris for the umpteenth time. Kai also noticed how their classmates looked at them with the same opinion as Kris’ embedded on their eyes.

They had been attempting to perfect the kiss – just a fake kiss for Pete’s sake – but Kris always cut them and told them that it wasn’t what he was looking for.

Kris sighed before calming himself down. Kai noticed the change on his facial expression. It had become more serious than what it really was.

“Look, I know that you and Krystal are just classmates.”

“Nope, not really. If only he knew…” Luhan mumbled. Chanyeol nudged him again.

“But this is a play and once you are on the stage, you have to relive your own characters. You have to put your shoes into their situation. Do you know why your kiss ?” Kris asked Kai with a tone of irritation.

Kai didn’t like it. He felt as if Kris was embarrassing him in front of their classmates.

“Emotion. It lacks emotion. I know this is a fake kiss but still you have to show the audience that it is real. I’m not feeling anything from it. How about you, do you feel anything when Jongin-ssi kissed Soojung-ssi? Does it move you even a bit?” Kris asked the students.

Kai saw them swayed their heads even Luhan. Chanyeol just lowered his head and avoided Kai’s eye contact.

What’s wrong with the way he kissed Krystal? It’s not as if this was a new experience to him. Even though it was a fake kiss, he was actually showing the same emotion that he was showing when he would kiss his girlfriend in reality. So, does that mean that the way I kiss her all this time has been emotionless?

Kai looked at Krystal but the latter didn’t seem to mind the way he kissed her. Instead, he would whisper to him to be patient and that he should not give up.

“Alright. If faking an emotion is not an easy thing to do then I’ll tell one way on how to do it.”

Kai looked at Kris. There was no trace of mockery in his face, just a serious director who was willing to make everything right for the play.

What should I do with you? Just admit that you like Seyoon. What’s stopping you?

“This is always helpful if you have a hard time showing the right emotion. The best thing to do is to think of any experience or any real life person or place or thing that you think will help you draw that emotion from you. In this case, I want you to think of the person that you like. You really like. And imagine her to be in the place of Soojung-ssi.”

“But Krystal is already his girlfri—” Before Luhan even finished, Chanyeol already cupped his mouth with his hand.

“Okay, let’s continue this tomorrow and I want you to think of what I said to you,” Kris said to him seriously.

---

“It’s alright. I know it’s hard for you especially when the director and our classmates knew nothing about us.”

Kai tried to register Krystal’s words to his mind. It was comforting but not enough for him to think of all the things he had done wrong for that kiss not to come out right.

Did he really lack emotion when he was with his girlfriend?

Did he really look as if there was nothing that connected him and Krystal?

Was emotion really gone with the way he acted?

“Does it really lack emotion?” he asked her.

“Huh?” Krystal looked at him and smiled. “What are you saying? Maybe, Kris-oppa’s standard and expectation are higher. We couldn’t help it. He’s a professional.”

“But…”

“Come on, it’s okay. Don’t think too much about it. No matter how many times you have to repeat that kiss to perfect it, I’ll be here. Cheer up!”

“Thank you.”

“Of course. I love you.”

“I love you…too.”

Kris took a step back after accidentally overhearing Kai and Krystal’s conversation backstage. There were supposed to be no students there anymore except for the student council members because the practice ended minutes ago. But he heard voices coming from the farthest changing room. He didn’t expect to see two people there. And he utmost didn’t expected what he had heard.

“What are you doing here?” he heard a voice from behind.

“Seyoon?”

“Let’s go,” she said as she grabbed Kris and dragged him away from the changing room.

---

“Fudge! Fudge! Fudge!” Kris cursed through the headset as his hands were holding the wheel and his eyes on the road.

“Why didn’t you tell me anything, you greatest manipulator of all?!” he shouted. Luckily, his car was turned into roofed mode and his windows are closed.

“What? What do you mean?” said the voice from the other line.

“You shoot! If only I knew this, I should have crash this car of yours a long time ago.”

“Hey! Don’t you dare do that! Okay, listen to me. Relax because you might go back here in America in a jar. I won’t attend your funeral.”

“Well, it’s your fault in the first place. Why didn’t you tell me that Kai already has a girlfriend? The worst thing of all is that Seyoon also knew about it. Shoot!”

“Hey, stop using euphemism. It still sounded like a curse word, okay? The reason I didn’t tell you anything is because I want someone who will give an opinion base only on how he observes the situation. In other words, your mind is free from any presumption about Kai’s relationship that’s why I think it would be a genuine observation.”

“Damn you, Suho! All this time I thought I have a total control of this situation but you, you!”

“Stop whining okay. Tell me, if you knew it firsthand that Kai already has a girlfriend, would it even cross your mind that it’s possible that he would like Seyoon? Of course not because you knew that he liked someone else. But since I didn’t tell you anything, your opinion is based on solely based on evidence and observation. I think that is more believable.”

“Okay, you got me there. So, what do you want me to do?”

“Didn’t I tell you that I will tell you your next step only if you’ll say to me what the result of your observation is? So, what is it? Do you think Jongin likes my sister?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

“I don’t know alright?! My mind is already fudged up just knowing that Kai already has a girlfriend. What do you think shall I do?”

“Okay, relax. Just think of the days prior to these. What’s your observation of those days?”

There was a momentary silence. “I’m home now. I’ll just tell you about it some other time,” said Kris.

“What? Wait Kri—”

He hung up the phone. Kris punched the steering wheel and buried his face onto it. The events of earlier went back to his mind especially the time when Seyoon pulled him away from the changing room. The way her eyes avoided his eye contact. The way she looked crestfallen when she told him the truth about Kai and Krystal. The way she asked him not to say anything about it to anyone.

Is that the reason why they are holding back their feelings for each other? Is that the reason why they couldn’t admit to themselves that they like each other?

Kris was wrong. This was not his luckiest day after all.

---

The next day became a nightmare to Kai. He thought that he would be able to pull out the emotion that Kris expected from their kiss, but he never thought that Kris expected something more.

“I changed my mind.”

“His face looks scary,” Xiumin whispered to Lay.

“I know so stop talking to me. I don’t want to be noticed,” Lay replied.

“I think that it suited the play more if we have a real kiss.”

Everyone on their seats started whispering. Luhan and Chanyeol gaped in surprise. Even Kai and Krystal were taken aback by Kris’ sudden change of decision.

“I found out that there will be professors from other universities that will attend the play’s presentation. We have to give them the best presentation we can give. And that requires a real authentic kiss.” Kris pulled a smile but it was the same scary smile they saw from him during the first time they met him. It was sarcastically insincere.

---

“No!” Kris pulled his hair back in frustration. “Kiss is not just a touch of lips. How many times do I have to tell you that you need emotion? Emotion!” Kris already burst in anger.

Chanyeol and Luhan felt anxious for Kai, who looked exhausted and already drained out of enthusiasm by Kris’ constant scolding.

“What’s hard about it? Ah, I know. Is it because you two don’t have any relation to each other than being classmates?” Kris asked sarcastically.

“Don’t make any side comments,” Chanyeol warned Luhan.

“I won’t. He looked as if he’ll eat us all.”

“Soojung-ssi, please sit for a moment while Jongin-ssi stay here in the middle.”

Luhan and Chanyeol looked at each other nervously. Krystal looked at Kai one last time before taking her seat.

“Well, let me tell you something. Do you know what’s harder than kissing a stranger just for the purpose of an act or a play?” he said to Kai that only the two of them were able to hear it. “It’s actually kissing your own best friend in front of anyone, even if it’s for a play or not. Do you want to know why?” Kris looked at Kai straight into his eyes. “Because your relationship was already established, with no malice or lust. And a kiss could just break that relationship off in an instant. Unless, you have a real best friend that would understand anything no matter what you do to him or her, right?”

Kai stood there wide-eyed. He already had a hint where this was going.

“Fine. If you want me to demonstrate things to you again, I will, for the sake of this play, even if I’ll sacrifice something important to me.”

Kris went down the stage to where Seyoon was and pulled her to the stage. “You trust me right?” he asked her again.

Seyoon looked at him in the eyes. Although she didn’t know what Kris was talking about, she knew that he had a big problem. And even if he didn’t ask her that question, she would always trust him no matter what.

Seyoon nodded at him.

“Come with me. And please, like the last time, just close your eyes.”

They reached the stage and Kai watched in fear as Kris positioned Seyoon to face him.

“Watch me so you’ll know what you should do.”

Kris looked at Seyoon in her eyes. Seyoon looked at him innocently. He nodded at her to signal that she needed to close her eyes. And she did.

I don’t know why I am mad at you but you shouldn’t agree with the marriage in the first place. And I hope you will forgive me for this.

The next thing that Seyoon felt was Kris’ lips brushing on hers. Her eyes opened wide in surprise and she saw Kris’ face so closed to her. This was not the kiss she had in mind. This was not what she expected. She thought it was just a fake kiss. But now, she was here kissing her best friend in front of everyone, in front of Kai.

Kris pulled away from the kiss and looked at her. “Sorry…” he said to him sincerely.

Seyoon just stood there dumbfounded.

Kai was frozen in place. He didn’t know what to do in that situation. He was in front of everyone. But, if there were only the three of them, he knew that he wouldn’t think for the second time to punch Kris on the face. His hand curled into a fist as frustration dominated him. He just stood there while his friend was being kissed by somebody. What hurt him more was that Seyoon didn’t even protested. Everything was alright with her.

---

“Why did you do that to her?”

Kris was on his way to the boy’s restroom to freshen up when someone’s hand stopped him. He turned around to look at Kai’s fiery stares.

“What do you mean?”

“Why did you kiss Seyoon in front of everyone?”

Kris tried to restrain his anger. “Why? It’s just a staged kiss. Besides, Seyoon agreed to it. There’s nothing wrong with that. And why are you acting like that? Are you admitting to me now that you like her?”

“What? No. I didn’t say anything. All I wanted to say—”

“Then don’t act as if you owned her. Besides, kissing is not new to us.”

Kai looked at Kris in wide-eyed. “What do you mean?”

“Because Seyoon is my first girlfriend. I don’t see anything wrong with it.”

“You’re what?”

“Okay, let’s get straight to the point here. Do you think I’ll travel miles away from New York to Seoul for nothing? I’ll be honest with you Jongin-ssi,” Kris moved closer to Kai like the last time.

“The reason why I went here to Seoul…” Kai felt Kris’ hot breath brushing his ears. “—Is to convince Seyoon to withdraw from your arranged marriage.”

Kris pulled away and Kai could see his eyes – keen and cutting Kai like smoldering knife.

I shouldn’t be doing this but I wouldn’t let Seyoon be with someone who’s already committed to somebody else. She deserves better than you, Kai.

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__MyunHyun #1
Chapter 76: I didn't understand Kai and seyoon have kids now? Jongin is there own son?
__MyunHyun #2
Chapter 76: I didn't understand Kai and seyoon have kids now? Jongin is there own son?
dreamshun
1812 streak #3
Chapter 44: Lu 😭
dreamshun
1812 streak #4
Chapter 42: lulu😭😭
dreamshun
1812 streak #5
Chapter 41: luhan bby 😭✋
dreamshun
1812 streak #6
Chapter 40: gosh,, i pity luhan
dreamshun
1812 streak #7
Chapter 39: same, i too don't have an elder brother but a younger one 😭
dreamshun
1812 streak #8
Chapter 38: i kinda feel bad for luhan but the ending-- OMG
dreamshun
1812 streak #9
Chapter 35: Suho?????
dreamshun
1812 streak #10
Chapter 34: of course, twas directed to seyoon 😭