‘Sorry I didn’t call sooner.’ You should’ve said those words before you’d ended the call…how had you forgotten to say them to him?

Plump lips devoured you, cushions pressed warmly and familiarly against your skin…

Fingers through your hair, sending sparks through every single nerve.

His smell, you could almost taste it, almost breath it in…

‘You’re going to drive me crazy.’ One voice uttered.

‘Someone as pretty as you shouldn’t be crying.’ The other whispered-

‘I wouldn’t have it in myself to-‘

-You woke up coated in sweat, your heart pounding rapidly.

What was that?

‘.’ You hissed, hearing the loud buzzing noise by your bedside table. The harsh sun rays stung your eyes by a small crack from the curtains you’d forgotten to close fully the night before. Your heart banged against your chest, causing you to stir immediately as you lunged for your phone on the table.

Without even opening your eyes, you groaned and swiped your phone, instantly hoping it wasn’t Kyungsoo who was calling;  

‘_____-ah?’  You blinked twice, breathing an internal sigh of relief. 

You’d almost forgotten how deep and coarse that voice was.

‘Ah-Chanyeol?’ You chocked on the dryness of your throat, feeling heavy and groggy while you tried to open your eyes.

‘Were you sleeping? Sorry I can’t seem to get the time difference right.’ He almost chuckled in a guilty apology. Even in your semi-conscious state, your mind could paint a picture of Chanyeol resting against a wall, wearing his favourite blank tank top that showcased his arms perfectly (which didn’t really make sense there was no one to impress, even while you were around…unless he did swing the other way seeing as him and Baekhyun were always smiling and chuckling and almost oogling into each other’s eyes (as Jong Dae had put it one day) but anyways, irrelevant side thought-)

‘No, no it’s ok, what, what’s up?’ You asked, trying to sound like you weren’t a bit too relieved to hear Chanyeol’s voice instead of someone else’s.

‘Well, I wanted to talk to you about something.’

‘Mmhmm.’ You mumbled in reply, rubbing your temples.

‘Well, you see, I have this friend.’ You stared at the ceiling, trying to focus on what Chanyeol was saying.

‘Yep.’

‘And well…’ His hesitation began to slightly raise your curiosity, even though you should have been focusing on a hundred other things like the boys’ schedules today.  

‘They’re planning to, or they are going to do something stupid.’

‘O….kayyyyy.’ What was he getting at? You furrowed your eyebrows while you rubbed your hand over your eyes, still trying to make sense of life.

‘And what if you know what they were planning on doing…would hurt someone else, someone you really care about?’ Chanyeol’s low voice almost stuttered on the question. How serious was this?

And yet for some stupid reason, for some silly and dumb moment – a flashback ran through your head. At the airport, when he’d given you that plushie…that small stupid thought you had…even though you immediately disregarded any ideas and conclusions you had made about Jongin in that moment in time…you two had gotten past it, hell, you were even texting the boy each day…

Kyungsoo was his best friend…

Is that why Jongin…had given you the gift in secret? Away from him? Or was it because of someone else…?

Dah, don’t be stupid, this isn’t some silly drama.

You smacked your forehead to knock out any irrelevant daydreaming and false, made up conclusions about situations that didn’t exist.

‘So my question is…if you were me…what would you do to stop them?’ It was a simple question, but one that was far too early in the morning to answer correctly.

‘Just tell them they’re being stupid.’ You replied, trying to stifle a yawn.

‘But I’ve told him and that didn’t go so well-‘

‘Yeolie, is this about Baekhyun?’ You asked knowing almost-certainly it was. Chanyeol wouldn’t have given a rats- as to whether any of the others were going to or had done something stupid.

‘Uh-who?’ The startledness almost immediately confirmed it. 

‘Uhhhh, what’s the fool done now Chanyeol?’ You groaned, shutting your eyes tight while you added scolding Baekhyun to your checklist of a million things to do in the day, and that included showing Jong Dae some new western pop tracks you’d found.

‘What!? NO NooooooooOOOoooo not Baek-nahhhh.’ Chanyeol’s voice had gone about 3 octaves higher – instant liar, buttttt you didn’t have time to get Chanyeol to fess up as-

‘-Oh wait someone’s calling on the other line I have to go talk to you later missss youuuuuuu.’ 

-The line cut.

‘Ch-chanyeol? Ahhhh.’ You ended the call, tossing the phone back onto the bedside table while your mind stupidly floated back to that ridiculous dream…

It was just a dream…or… far-off memories you thought you’d completely buried and forgotten…

Well, obviously not.

But hey, you had bigger fish to fry, such as improving the out of your Chinese before an interview that was scheduled soon.

Apparently no interpreters were available on the day and seeing as SM couldn’t be bothered to hire any others, you were obliged to interpret a whole interview conducted in Chinese to Jong Dae and Minseok so they could actually understand what was going on and reply….

Jeezus.

It would be an effort to keep both of them calm and collected let alone trying to keep your own nerves from spilling all over the place –

-‘You’re awake?’ Tao asked, entering the bedroom.  

‘Yah Tao! You have to knock before you open the door.’ You grumbled, covering your face with both hands.  

 ‘Sorry.’ He pouted looking as fakely guilty as possible as he stood in the centre of the room looking indolent.

‘Can I join you?’ He asked, immediately seeming chipper.

‘Mm.’ You grumbled, sitting up and rubbing your eyes. Apparently that was a yes as Tao jumped in mid-air and landed on the edge of your bed, shuffling himself to rest against the wall, feet dangling over the side.

’So what’s the schedule today Manager?’ He asked, bouncing up and down on the mattress.

‘Well annoying me was apparently first on the list.’ You sighed, looking at the Pikachu plushie the man-child had tucked under his arm when he’d entered the room.

‘And why do you look so chipper today?’ You lightly tapped his exposed shoulder, his white-wife beater folded neatly down along his torso. You’d almost forgotten that Tao probably was the most muscular in the group.

‘I dunno, maybe it’s because yours is the first face I get to see today.’ His feline smirk revealed the knowance that he was being corny as he flipped the plushie around in the air and caught it. You tutted and rolled your eyes. It was actually strange seeing Tao so lively; from what you usually saw, he seemed very groggy, angry and exhausted almost every morning.

Sometimes you really despised the innocence Tao seemed to exude – making you feel as if you had no right to feel jaded at any time of the day. Perhaps the world seemed a lot more positive through his eyes…or maybe he kept the sceptical side of him locked up too.

You tapped Tao’s legs as you sat up, resting your back against the bedroom wall while your legs barely dangled off the edge of the bed. You patted down your bed head, trying to act like you weren’t a tad-bit self-conscious.  

But before you could pry him further for answers, yesterday’s mistake came flooding back, causing you to almost groan aloud at the memory. Tao turned his head, the back of it rubbed against the wall, his dark eyes scanned your expression inquisitively.

‘What is it?’ He leaned closer, watching you with feline prowess. The blackness of his hair contrasted with his skin rather nicely, you couldn’t help but think.   

‘Nothing it’s just…do you mind if we talk in Chinese from now on?’ It was an embarrassing request to ask.

‘But I need to practice my Korean.’ He replied quizzically, almost pouting in response.

‘Yes but I need to-‘ You looked at the floor, quickly biting your tongue, afraid to spill the truth. Tao cocked his head half-expectantly.

‘Um, well, it’s just…when in China…do as the Chinese, you know?’ You cringed at the stupid, unconvincing smile you gave him, but Tao seemed to comply;

‘Ok then.’ He shrugged. Well that was far too easy...

‘-But can we practice Korean from time to time?’ he asked, inching slightly closer adjusting himself on the bed.

‘Because I don’t want to get in trouble when I go back. I hate it when Baekhyun makes fun of me.’ He almost whispered the truth, afraid Baekhyun really would be able to hear him. Tao’s Korean skills were the worst amongst the Chinese boys which usually gave Baekhyun and the others a chance to rip the piss out of him for it.

‘Sure.’ You replied, nodding your head. It was no secret Tao had been bullied prior to even joining Exo…. sometimes you wanted to ask him about it, to understand what he’d been through…but some scars perhaps ran too deep, you thought.

‘And if Baekhyun or anyone else makes fun of you while I’m around, there’ll be hell to pay.’ You retorted, meaning every syllable. Tao’s face lit up over the words, a crooked grin emerged from his lips;

‘You’re my angel.’ He replied, nudging your shoulder with his before getting off the bed and walking to the door. You couldn’t help but bite back the words, wanting him to understand while your face fell, watching his muscled back as he walked away…

Please don’t think I’m perfect Tao.

‘Shall we go?’ He asked, opening the door further.

You nodded, sliding out of bed ungracefully and walking past him.

‘I’ll make us something good for breakfast since schedules don’t start for another 2 hours.’ You called down the hall while you walked to the bathroom, yawning slightly. Tao hooted in response.

‘How about some eggs with-‘

You’d never forgotten to knock.

Never ever EVER, even at home in England you always knocked before entering the shared bathroom in your house. But somehow today, perhaps because you were distracted, thinking about food or something else but…

The door swung open and…

Your eyes nearly popped out of your skull, the words ‘woops’ caught in your throat as you stared at the occupant of the bathroom.

Yixing stood wrapped in a towel with a hint of surprise as he called out a ‘Good morning.’ Rubbing his frayed, wet hair with another towel.

WHY ARE YOU STANDING STILL?? MOVE!

Your stupid, stupid eyes betrayed you as they scanned his body; Yixing’s unbelievably water covered, chiselled torso went on forever, the droplets slid down further and further...

HAUL , MOVE YOU FOOL.

It was long and curved in all the right places, you didn’t even realise that this torso existed under his clothes.

NO, DON’T YOU DARE LOOK DOWN, DON’T YOU DARE-

As all conscious thought escaped you, you barely had time to react, to realise your gaze had drifted lower…and lower still- ‘SORRY!’

While your heart almost flung out of your chest, you slammed the bathroom door shut, feeling your head definitely about to explode.

‘Hey _____-ah, you have to knock before you open the door.’ Tao mimicked in a know-it all voice.

His Wushu skills hadn’t saved him when you flung your slipper at his head.  

==================

Perhaps it was the dream that had made you forget, but for once in these boys’ lives, they had the morning off. That was why Tao had been so chipper as a lie in meant the boy felt refreshed and rejuvenated. Kevin was still asleep, hence why Tao had crept into your room as he didn’t want to wake up his b