"Alright, everyone grab your stuff and move to the outside edges of the room!" Jae Suk ordered the class. The students all sighed and rounded up their books and bags and walked to the perimeter. Sehun stood on the wall opposite of Jin Ae who had been unconsciously avoiding him ever since Chanyeol's party last week. Jin Ae knew she was feeling something different for Sehun regardless of how much she denied it to herself. And because of that, the farther she got from him, the better.
But Sehun didn't know why she wouldn't look at him anymore. He had tried to joke around with her one they first came into class but she just gave him the cold shoulder. He knew there was something between them; so wouldn't she just let go? She hadn't talked to him for a week!
"Mi Sun and Ta Joon," Jae Suk pointed to the first set of desks in the front. The boy and girl both walked over, upset that they weren't sitting near their friends. "Next is Ah Young and Luhan." The two sat down as well. Jae Suk continued to give the seating. Jin Ae was put next to Lay while Sehun got the back seat in the back with Ae Ra.
"Everyone okay with the seating arrangement?" Jae Suk asked once he was done. Jin Ae sighed in relief that she wasn't sitting next to Sehun because with her luck, she knew she would've been put with him.
"Uh, Ssem?" Ae Ra raised her hand. "I can't see the board from back here, my eye sight's pretty bad."
"Oh chincha? My bad." Jae Suk said and got the seating chart again. "Uh...let's see..." he looked over the paper to see who he could change with Ae Ra. Jin Ae could almost feel what was coming and buried her head in her book, trying to make it seem like she wasn't there.
"Ah! Jin Ae!" Jae Suk smiled at her.
"I spoke to soon." She mumbled to herself bitterly. "Neh, Ssem?" She asked, picking her head back up.
"Can you switch with Ae Ra?" Jae Suk asked.
"Do I have a choice?" She internally asked herself. "Neh." Jin Ae clenched her jaw and picked her books up. Ae Ra and Jin Ae switched seats making it now Sehun next to Jin Ae, and Lay next to Ae Ra. Sehun bit his lip trying to contain his dorky smile. He looked over at Jin Ae who was stopping every urge in her body to over at him.
"Jin Ae-yah!" Yoori called from the kitchen.
"Yeah?" Jin Ae called back as punched numbers into her calculator for her math homework. Yes, she was doing homework on a Friday. But hey, what else was an Angel supposed to do?
"Can you go get bread and milk from the store?" Yoori asked. "We're out." Jin Ae silently groaned as her head heavily fell down on the bed.
"Yeah." She reluctantly answered back after picking her head back up. She sighed and pushed herself off of the bed and slid on her sweatshirt. "I need money though." She told her Unni when she walked out of her room. Yoori gestured toward her purse while she stirred the brownie mix. The Angel went over to the purse and took out a $20, just in case she wanted a snack or two on her way back. "I'll be back soon." Jin Ae said as she walked out.
Jin Ae waited in front of the elevator as it rose up to her floor. The doors opened and a big smile grew on her face when she saw who was inside. "Ommoni!" Jin Ae beamed, grinning from ear to ear.
"Oh Jin Ae!" The cute little lady smiled once she was her neighbor. Jin Ae got in and gave the older lady a big hug. Jin Ae's neighbor was such a small and huggable lady that you couldn't help but love her. Ommoni would take care of Jin Ae whenever Yoori was away on "business trips."
"It's been so long!!" Jin Ae exclaimed when she released her Ommoni.
"Aiyoo, too long!!" The Ommoni giggled giving Jin Ae a light hit on her arm. "You guys are coming to the anniversary though right?"
"Well, I don't know if I can since I have school, but I know Yoori Auntie will be there." Jin Ae lightly pouted. As much as she liked her Ommoni, she still hated going out in public. Was Jin Ae a Satanic Introvert?
Probs.
"Aiyoo you kids and your school work! Have some fun sometimes!" Ommoni exclaimed walking out of the elevator. "There will be lots of attractive young men there~~" Ommoni cooed while wriggling her eyebrows at the younger.
Jin Ae shyly blushed and chuckled. "Thanks, but no thanks." She laughed. "I'll try, okay? How about that?"
Ommoni pouted. "Fine." Jin Ae smiled and waved goodbye to her before the elevator doors closed, separating the two. The elevator went down and reached the first floor. She walked out of the apartment building and down the street in the cold end-November weather to the small grocery store by her home.
Jin Ae grabbed a basket and walked into the small yet warm convenient store. She took her black hoodie off of her head now that she was out of the cold weather. She walked to the milk aisle and checked the carton for the one with the furthest expiration date. She found one that wasn't going to expire for another 3 weeks and nodded in approvement. "Good enough." She said and placed the red carton into her basket and was just about to walk away, but stopped when she heard the giggles of little children. Jin Ae looked over and saw a boy and a girl chasing one another around a woman who Jin Ae assumed to be their mother.
"Can't get me!!" The girl laughed as she stuck her tongue out at her brother.
"Yes I will!!" He said back, the smile never leaving his face. The little girl ran away from her mother and her brother charged right after her. The girl rand past Jin Ae, who's head moved with the two. The siblings ran until the little girl tripped and fell onto the ground, crashing into a stack of Peppero Sticks. Jin Ae unconsciously took a step forward to run and help the little one up, but stopped herself when she heard their mother's voice.
"Ah Young ah!!" The mother cried out and rushed over to her daughter and son. "I told you to behave, didn't I??" She said while lifting Ah Young up. The latter sniffled in embarrassment while her brother dusted her off. The mother's face eased up once she saw the remorse on her kid daughters face. She sighed and lifted the little one up in her arms, "Are you okay baby?"
"Yeah..I think I scratched my knee though." Ah Young pouted, rubbing her left knee.
The mother slightly smiled. She knew her daughter was just pretending to be in pain so she wouldn't get into trouble. "Let's go look at it." She said and carried her daughter back to the cart, with her son holding his mommy's hand.
Jin Ae watched the mother tickled the the daughter until she smiled from ear to ear while teasing the boy as well. The Angel couldn't watch any longer and finally ripped her gaze away from the family. She dragged her feet into the next aisle and tried to focus her attention on the medium, grade A eggs in front of her.
But God dammit. Jin Ae couldn't stop playing the picture of the mother laughing with her children! It was too sweet to forget. The way the mother loving looked at her daughter and son and how the kids looked up with love at their mother. Jin Ae shook her head and read the labels on the gray carton of eggs. She picked one up and opened the lid to check if the eggs were alright. When she didn't see any cracks, she carefully placed it in her basket and began walking to the check out lanes. She set her basket onto the conveyer belt and waited for the people in front of her to finish up.
Jin Ae sighed as she waited. With her alone and nothing focusing her attention, her mind started to wander back to the scene of the family. Jin Ae suddenly felt sad as her shoulders fell. She knew she could never have that, so why did she always think about that? She wanted a family of her own so badly. She wanted to wake up to her kids playing and laughing in the living room as her husband cooking breakfast for the family before going to work. She would come out of the room and her husband would kiss her good morning, the kids would squeal in disgust and run away. She and her husband would laugh and chase them back together before sitting down for breakfast. After eating, Jin Ae and her husband would get the kids ready for school and drive out, together.
"Ma'am!"
Jin Ae blinked and looked up, meeting eyes with an irritated cashier. Jin Ae turned her head and saw five people standing angrily behind her. Jin Ae bowed her head and moved her stuff forward as she burned with embarrassment. "Mianheyo." She said and walked forward. The blonde haired boy at the end of the line chuckled at how dazed she looked.
"Jin Ae!" He called as the cashier scanned the Angel's items and placed them in a bag.
Jin Ae turned around and met eyes with one of the cutest guys she had ever met. "Luhan!" She exclaimed before she gave the cashier her money. Luhan smiled and waved and told her to wait for him. She nodded and waited by the door for Luhan to get his own stuff.
When he finally walked over, the two left together.
"What's up?" He asked as they walked to the parking lot.
"Just getting stuff for my aunt." She said, showing him the bag with a light smile.
Luhan smirked and nodded. "Same. The guys wanted me to get snacks for tonight. Hey, are you free tonight? It'd be great if we could practice a little more before we have to present on Monday."
"Uh, today?" Jin Ae bit her lip. Practicing the skit meant she would have to see Sehun. Did she want to? Hell yes. But should she? Hell no.
"It would be the last chance we have." Luhan pouted. "I'm busy this weekend."
"Uh, I don't know Luhan. I have some things to do..." She bit her lip while rubbing her arms.
"Do them tomorrow!" He jokingly chuckled. Jin Ae sighed and thought it over. She looked at Luhan who had placed his clasped hands under his chin and was pouting his lips out, whimpering like a puppy while staring at her with his big, glossy eyes.
Jin Ae's head fell indefeat with a big sigh. "Aish Luhan."
The fairy grinned and cheered. "Yay!!"
"I'm gonna regret this." She muttered to herself as Luhan opened the door to the passenger seat anf gestured with a smile for her to get in.
"Put on your pants guys, I brought a guest!" Luhan shouted as he and Jin Ae walked inside. "You can put your bag in the fridge." He told her. The guys all looked over, a few jaws dropping at their unexpected guest. Jin Ae sheepishly smiled and awkwardly waved before she put her big where Luhan said. "Guys," Luhan said, "You all know Jin Ae right?"
They nodded, still staring at her.
"Be good and don't bother us. We're practicing for our skit." Luhan said as he pushed Tao and Chen's staring eyes heads away from the Angel.
"Uh, Luhan. Where's the bathroom?" Jin Ae asked.
"Oh there's one right in that-" Luhan began to answer Jin Ae's question when Baekhyun slapped a hand over the older's mouth.
"Uh, the sink doesn't work in that one. You can use the one down the hall." Baekhyun mischievously answered. Some of the guys furrowed their eyebrows at Baekhyun's answer as Jin Ae nodded and went to the one down the hall. Once she was gone, Luhan Baek's hand causing the younger to yell in disgust and remove his hand.
"There's nothing wrong with the sink." Luhan said, and it wasn't a question. It was a statement.
"It's because Sehun's taking a shower in the other one and since Baek is a ually frustrated, erted , he told Jin Ae to go there." Xiumin said, whacking Baek on the back of his head.
"What?!" Luhan exclaimed staring at the younger. Baekhyun just shrugged like he did nothing wrong.
While that was going on in the living room, Jin Ae went to the bathroom. She lightly knocked on the door, (too light for Sehun to hear) and when she didn't get a response back, she opened the door.
Sehun heard the door opening and turned around, thinking it was one of the guys. "Hey what's for dinner tonight?" He asked, right before making eye contact with the Angel.
Thank God Sehun had a towel wrapped around his waist because if not for that, Jin Ae would have passed out.
"Grumpy." Sehun nonchalantly called.
The Angel's eyes widened as parted in shock. Her eyes darted from his face to his abs, then back to his before immediately turning her back to him, "Oh my god I'm so sorry Sehun ah!!" She exclaimed covering her eyes even though she wasn't even facing him. "Uh, B- Baekhyun said to use this bathroom since the other one's sink is broken!" Jin Ae frantically explained.
Sehun was wondering why she was apologizing. It was an obvious mistake, it's not like she purposely walked in knowing he was in there. And why was she covering her eyes? Had she never seen a guy's torso before? It's not like his manhood was out, he was completely covered from the waist down, except for maybe his shins. Point is, nothing scandalous was showing.
Had she never been alone with a shirtless guy before?
"I- um, I'll just leave now." She endlessly stuttered as she walked forward, her hands still covering her eyes.
"Yah watch-!"
*CRASH*
"I'll pay for that!" Jin Aw exclaimed after she knocked a lamp off of one of the tables that she ran into.
"...out." Sehun sighed finishing his sentence. He could tell how tightly shut Jin Ae's eyes were when she removed her hands to feel the space around her. She finally found the door after tripping once or twice and running into the wall once. Jin Ae grabbed the door knob and tightly shut the door behind her.
Sehun couldn't help but let a giant smile grow on his face. "Looks like Cold Grump Cat is a bit of a prude." He chuckled to himself.
"THERES NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SINK IS THERE?!" Jin Ae yelled as she angrily pinned Baekhyun up against the wall in a surge of rage.
"Omo Jin Ae!" Tao exclaimed in fear when he heard the thump of Baekhyun's back against the wall.
"Alright alright alright!" Luhan pried the seething angel off of Baekhyun as she was still trying to claw his eyes out.
"Jeez, Jin Ae's got some strength." Baekhyun smirked as he rubbed his neck and shoulders. "Remind me to wear padding next time."
"There won't be a next time!" She said about to pounce on him again when Suho and Luhan held her back.
"Alright back to your corner." Suho commanded her. "Baekhyun, you're an . Stop talking because next time, we won't hold her." The leader said to the younger in an irritated tone. "And Jin Ae, you can't commit murder here. There's too many witnesses."
Jin Ae angrily huffed while crossing her arms.
"Come on, let's go work on the script in my room." Luhan calmly said, gesturing her to the first room on the right. And with that, the left the living room. "My stuff is in the top drawer to you can just take it out, I'm gonna go get a drink." He said before leaving the room again.
Jin Ae walked over to the desk and took out the scripts just like Luhan said to. But underneath the scripts were some rinky-dink papers and stuff that you would lose but wouldn't care. Now that Jin Ae saw that, she looked around the room. This looked like someone's actual bedroom, not just some hangout spot. There were clothes on the floor, shoes by the door, belts hanging from open drawers, and random socks here and there. And then she remembered the other rooms she saw; they all looked like regular rooms that people lived in.
Luhan came back while Jin Ae was pondering with a pitcher of water and three glasses. "Here." He said handing her a cup and pouring her half a glass.
"Thanks Luhan." She said and took the drink. Luhan smiled and placed the dishes on their dresser.
"So where should we start? Beginning? Middle? End?" He asked with a half chuckle.
"Hey Luhan, can I ask you something?" Jin Ae asked.
"Jin Ae as much as you're beautiful, I can't date you." He said without even a change in expression or tone.
"What??" She exclaimed. "No!!"
Luhan chuckled. "Kidding kidding. What's up?"
Jin Ae rolled her eyes at his stupid joke before getting to her question. "Why do you guys stay here so much? I can tell by the way you guys stay here that it's not just for a couple of hours. You guys stay here for days on end, why? Don't you guys have homes to go to?"
Luhan stopped flipping through the script papers and looked up at her. Jin Ae knew from his expression that this could be a sensitive subject.
"Well, yeah. Most of us do have homes to go to. But I don't know if we can really call them our 'homes.' We have a house and parents, but they're not really homes." He explained. "Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
"Yeah I think so. But why?" She asked.
"You got time? This could get really long." He half-heartedly laughed. Jin Ae gave him a small smile and nodded.
"Well I'll start with the ones who have it the worst." He said, sitting up straight. "Baekhyun lives with his grandmother after his mom died and was taken away from his dad. His grandmother doesn't really care for him since all he does is remind her of her dead daughter. So he stays here most of the time. Chanyeol lost his mom too when a couple years ago and the two bonded over that. Kris and Tao come from rich, but very passive families. They swim in money, but I doubt their families even know their birthdays."
Jin Ae couldn't believe what she was hearing. In her life, she had come from a loving home. Her parents loved her so much, and although Yoo Ri wasn't her real aunt, Jin Ae could tell how much she cared for the Angel. How could families be so crewel to something they were supposed to love?
"Then there's Yixing, Joonmyun, Jongdae, and Minseok. They're all from normal, average families. They're not poor, but not rich. They chill here a little less than the others since they have an actual home to go to, but still come around since they just like to chill with us."
Jin Ae fiddled with her fingers as she listened, nodding occasionally.
"Kai and D.O. are a little bit on the poor side. They have families to feed so they're usually here the least since they're always out working. " Luhan said. Jin Ae never in her life would have guessed what Luhan just told her. Since the day she met the boys at the amusement, she just thought they were like any other spoiled rich kids, the type she hated the most.
Never did she think there could actually be some personality behind the kingly auras.
Jin Ae inwardly cursed herself for being so insensitive. Of course these boys had other lives, how could be so dense!
Jin Ae secretly said sorry to the boys in her mind before Luhan went on. "And then there's me." He said with a light chuckle that Jin Ae found herself taking a liking to. "I was born to two loving parents, with two loving older sisters. My dads a doctor, and my moms a judge. My sisters are both studying law, and well, my life is basically perfect. I love my family more than anything, I love going home. Hell, I even cancel plans with others just so I can chill with my parents and sisters."
Jin Ae furrowed her eyebrows. He sounded so...was it snobby? Cocky? Or was it just straightforward? Luhan didn't sound the first two, but his wording just rubbed Jin Ae the wrong way.
Luhan saw the Angel's trouble expression and lightly smiled. "There's no use in sugar coating it. I was raised in a very good environment, basic as that. I don't have some teary childhood back story or anything."
"Then why do you still come here so often?" The angel asked, feeling a little better about his story.
"Those s outside are the reason why I come. To you, we're probably just a bunch of jerks. But to us, we're family. We have all been there when one was going through a rough time."
"I stay here for those guys outside." Luhan finished.
One thing you need to know about Jin Ae, is that she's seen a lot in her life. She's seen things again and again and so doesn't get touched or scared that often.
But what Luhan was telling her honestly made her insides warm up. She could almost feel the love Luhan had for the boys. And it made her happy.
Not like a giddy and smiley happiness, it was more of a comfortable, "everyone is okay" happiness.
And she loved every second of it.
But then she realized that he left someone out: Sehun.
"And...what about Sehun? Does he have a safe home to go to?" She carefully asked although she pretty much knew the answer.
Luhan gave her a sad smile. "Considering you said the word safe, I'm guessing you already have an indication what was his home is like." He told her, the Angel automatically understanding. "I think Sehun should be the one to tell you that."
And almost as if on cue, the said one walked in.
"Uh, hyung." Sehun said. "Baekhyun hyung calling you." The boy lied.
"Oh is he?" Luhan asked, obviously knowing that the younger was lying. But Luhan nodded and got up anyway, leaving the two alone.
Jin Ae suddenly felt very self-conscious being alone with Sehun in a closed room. She silently gulped and started fiddling with the paper scripts in front of her.
Sehun couldn't believe his eyes. Was....was Jin Ae blushing?!
Jeez, how much did that scene in the bathroom shock her??
He wondered if she even had her first
kiss yet!
"So...where do you wanna start?" Sehun asked while he sat on the bed next to her.
Even though they were sitting up straight, fully clothed, no touching whatsoever, the only thing that was procession in Jin Ae's mind was the fact that she was on a bed alone with Sehun.
"Uh," she her lips and gulped once more, "th- the beginning s- sounds good." She stuttered, trying to look anywhere but at him.
"Yeah." Sehun smirked. But he actually had no idea what she had just said to him. Hell, he didn't even notice the raging storm that had started outside. His mind was too busy staring at her adorable and shy actions. The way she shook her leg, the way she chewed on her bottom lip, the way she would blink five times in a row, he noticed it all.
"I'm gonna go get some fresh air." She abruptly got up and walked out, leaving him alone in the room.
Jin Ae walked out into the hallway and immediately began to fan herself. Even though it was December, it was really hot in there.
It was probably just the warmth of the room...right?
Jin Ae didn't get to ponder over that any longer because then, her vision went completely black.
"YAH! WHO TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS?!" An angry voice, Jin Ae assumed was Kris, barked through the little apartment.
"BAEKHYUN IF ITS YOU, IM GONNA SHOVE A STICK UP YOUR-"
"It wasn't me!!!" Baekhyun yelled back at Xiumin.
"Somebody turn on their phone light." Lay calmly said.
And soon enough, about 6 rays of light illuminated through the place. Jin Ae turned to her side and saw that Sehun had been one of the causes of the lights.
"You okay?" He asked coming over to her.
"Yeah. What happened?" She asked, inwardly smiling at the fact that he came to look for her.
"The storm must have cut the power." He answered which seemed like the most probable answer.
"Maknae, you alright?" Jin Ae and Sehun heard Chanyeol yell.
"Yeah!" Sehun yelled back, taking Jin Ae's hand and leading her back to the living room. Taking her hand wasn't necessary at all. The living room was only about 20 steps away, he just wanted to hold hands.
But much to Sehun's hurt feelings, she pulled her hand back.
The two didn't acknowledge what had just happened, since leaving it untalked about would be for the better.
"The power is out and nothing works. My phones about to die too." Kris slumped on the couch beside Yeol and Tao.
"I just got a storm warning alert. This is gonna be bad." Tao added on, showing the guys the message.
And then it hit Jin Ae: she was trapped.
The alert meant that the storm would be so bad that it was a hazard driving out in it. That meant Jin Ae didn't have a way of going home.
She could walk, if she wanted to get pneumonia.
With no way home, she was stuck here with 10 boys. Alone. For who knows how long.
Oh .
Hey guys! Although long, I feel like this chapter was so bad xD but I couldn't think of anything else so here you go~~~
But I'm finally back to updating since SCHOOL IS FRICKEN OVEEERRRR!!! YESSSSS!!! You guys honestly don't know how happy I am that school is over lol. This year has honestly been one of the hardest a in my life and it was such a pain to get through it everyday. So now that it's over, I'm so relieved.
I promise that the next updates will be better! (: but still try to leave lots of lovely comments if you guys can (: thank you!
AND LOOK AT THIS GIF I FOUND OF XIUMIN LMAO WHAT THE HELL MINSEOK
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