We are One...For You

Chapter 10: Racing Hearts
Few weeks passed.

It’s Friday morning. For the past days you have often meet with your research group. Yes, you were still avoiding them. But you notice as the days passed, they just get weirder and weirder. They have been acting a little different around you. Really different. This just makes you want to avoid them more and more. Right now you were just sitting in class doing nothing. You hit some tunes to listen. When you hear your phone ring. You saw a message from Lay.

From: Lay
Message:
Guys! We will work tomorrow at our house. But let’s meet first at school.

‘Work? Tomorrow?’ you thought. It took you a few more minutes until you finally remembered that you guys agreed to work at Lay’s place few weeks ago. ‘Oh yeah.’ you said to yourself sarcastically. You waited for class to finish, until it was finally lunchtime. You were really hungry, and you just wanna eat. You were already headed out of the room when you see Hyun-ok and the others block your way.

“Listen here.” She gave me a serious look. “Just because you got grouped with Exo. Doesn’t mean you can do anything you want with them!” she pushed you, which almost made you fall.

Again with the Exo thing?! This girl won’t stop! You were not just gonna let her off without saying anything.

“At least I don’t flirt and tail them. Unlike someone there…” you muttered. You just can’t resist it.

“How dare you!” you saw her raise his hand so that she can slap you. You were expecting a pang of pain in your cheeks by now. But you looked up to see Tao hold Hyun-ok’s arm.

“Ouch. Tao-oppa, your hurting me.” She said while struggling to get out of his grip.

“Then don’t hurt her, if you don’t want to get your arm broken!” Tao actually shouted those words in front of her face. Which made them scram out. After they had gone, you looked down in pity. You realized this is the 2nd time he has actually saved you.

“Thanks.” You said softly. Head down to show him respect.

“Are you alright?” he asked you while he lifted your chin so that you can be face-to-face. Your heart was racing.

“Uh y-yeah.” You stuttered. What is he doing?

“Don’t get hurt next time, alright?” he sounded worried. ‘Wish my dad was more like him.’ You smiled. Then all of a sudden he pulled you to him and hugged you. You felt his warmth covering you. It was different yet felt nice. Your heart raced again.

“Please. Promise me.” He whispered.

“Yeah alright.” And pushed him away. “Ok…I gotta go.” You waved your hand at him and just ran.

You ran to the cafeteria. ‘Ok? Why did he do that?!’ you kept asking yourself on the way. Until you finally arrived. You grabbed something to eat and sat with one of the empty tables. You started munching on an apple. You took a deep breath to clear your mind. You were already at your peace when you hear someone approaching you.

“Hey. What’s up.?” It was Luhan. Uh! You just wanna be alone now. You gave him an annoyed look as a response.

“Don’t worry. I’ll always be here for you.” He smiled and gave you a pat in the shoulder. ‘Why can’t this guy get the message right?!’ You just ignored him anyways and ate a mouthful of pie. Yes, you were THAT hungry. You continued gobbing the food when Luhan looked at you and laughed.

“What? Is there something in my face?” you asked him.

“Yeah. I’ll get it for you.” He smirked.

He got the napkin on the table and tapped it on the corner of your lips. You were really embarrassed of what he did for you, that you turned pink. He slowly wiped the chocolate on your lips. Then he just gave you a deep stare. Now you were looking at each other, ensnared in each other’s gaze with no way out. You saw his eyes sparkling, his innocent face appealing to your sight. It took a few seconds, when you finally looked away.

“Uh, sorry.” He looked away. “I gotta go.” He said and just left.

-The next day-

You woke up a bit late today for it is a weekend. In fact, you just got up this early for a weekend because of research.

“What part of weekend don’t the guys understand?” you groaned as you slowly dragged yourself to the bathroom for a shower. After minutes of getting ready, you were still not done. You were still in the middle of packing a few stuff to bring. Then you hear your phone ring. You opened it up, to see who it was. You saw 4 messages from Lay.

From: Lay
Message 1:
Shin-hee, were already on our way.
Message 2:
Shin-hee where are you? Were already here waiting for you.
Message 3:
Are you sure your gona come? Reply asap.
Message 4:
Were just gonna come at your house to get you.


“What?! They are on their way here?!” your voice was almost heard downstairs.
*DING DONG!*

You heard the doorbell from downstairs. Shit! It must be them. But you weren’t ready yet! You quickly put into your bag whatever you saw that you find important. Notebooks. Papers. Chocolates. You just grabbed whatever you can.

*DING DONG! DING DONG!*

Now you were panicking. You tired your hair in a messy bun and wore any decent shirt you have. You quickly grabbed your stuff and ran downstairs. There you saw your dad standing a few feet behind the doorways. You quickly ran to the door before your father could get there. You swear if your dad sees these guys, he’d freak out.

“Don’t worry dad, I got this!” you carefully backed your dad away who looked suspicious. But he finally turned his back and went back to his room. You waited before he could disappear out of sight. ‘Phew~!’ That was close!

*DING DONG! DING DONG!*

You hear it ring again. ‘Alright! Alright!’ you opened the door to see the guys.

“Where have you been? We were worried you wouldn’t make it!” Chen almost shouted. You bit your lip. You didn’t know they would be that worried. You just frowned at the thought.

“But what’s important is you’re here. Come on. Let’s go!” Lay gave you a relieving smile. “The car is already waiting at school.”

“Ok.” You said softly and walked with them to school. You felt kind of bad for making them wait, but you just stayed silent the whole walk anyways. You were almost there, when something grabbed Sehun’s attention.

“Hey Xiumin-hyung.” He tapped his shoulder, and pointed at the house at the corner of the road. “Isn’t that your–“but before he could continue, Xiumin already covered his mouth. Xiumin gave him a death glare which Sehun understood. Finally after a few seconds, Xiumin finally let him go.

“Hoo~” Sehun tried to catch his breath. “Sorry, I forgot!” he said to him.

‘Forget? Forget what?’ you thought suspiciously. Is there something you should be knowing?

“Okay. Let’s go now!” Xiumin said cheerfully. While Chen and Lay just snickered.

You felt really out of the open. What are these guys hiding?

After a few hours at Lay’s crib, finally the groupwork was over. The guys decided to stay a little longer but you decided to head home already.

-EXO’S POV-
“Ah~ finally, the work is done.” Sehun groaned. “Xiumin-hyung, sorry for earlier. I almost mentioned you rbiggest secret in life, in front of her.”

“That’s alright. But don’t do it again!” Xiumin warned him.

“Let’s call the others. I’m getting kind of bored.” Chen suggested. The atmosphere was really boring with Shin-hee gone. It was weird on how her presence itself turned everyone cheerful and bright.

“Good idea.” Lay agreed and started texting the other members. “At-my-place-now. No-excuses-SEND.” He said. After 15 minutes of waiting, the guys finally came. Everyone searched for a place to stay put in the room.

“Lay, Xiumin-hyung, Sehun, Chen. What’s up?” Chanyeol entered the house cheerfully.

“What’s going on? Why’d you call us for?” Kris took a seat in the couch like a boss.
“Ah. We were just done doing work with Shin-hee. Then she left, then we got bored.” Chen complained. Then all of a sudden, everyone’s attention began to be fixed to Chen.

“Wait, did you say Shin-hee?” Suho asked.

“Yeah?” Chen replied suspiciously.

“Seung Shin-hee?” Baekhyun interrupted.

“Yes. Why?” Sehun gave him the stare.

“Ah. That girl is nice.” Kai smirked.

“Has a beautiful voice.” Baekhyun added.

“Heart-warming smile.” Chanyeol said dreamily.

“And interesting.” Luhan finished. In which everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

“So…do you guys like her?” Kris just randomly asked. Suho almost choked the water he is drinking. D.O. stopped the music he was playing on his earphones. Xiumin paused from stacking the papers. Kai stopped dancing in the middle of the song. The rest were looking at Kris.

“What? Just askin’.” He chuckled.

“Uh. Of c-course n-not.” Tao stuttered. Cold sweat was coming out from his forehead.

“Uhm…Noooo.” Luhan and Sehun said at the same time.

“Nononononononono!”Chanyeol said continuously.

Chen formed an X with his hands. Baekhyun just raised an eyebrow and shook his head.

“Ok.” Kris said casually. Then an awkward silence comes up. Everyone was just there deep in their thoughts.

“By the way, Valentine’s Day is 2 weeks away.” Chanyeol broke the silence. Everyone’s eyes widened in shock. Their expression was more like Oh-right!-Valentine’s-Day!

“Yeah. So what now?” D.O. said bluntly.

“Just sharing. Maybe it will remind you to give something for the one you like.” He replied. And that’s when everyone started looking at each other. Some full of suspicion, others of wonder and curiosity. It took a few seconds until finally all of them understood the situation. It was obvious. Even from the way each one of them acted ever since that person came.

“Now I get it.” Sehun smirked.

“May the best man win?” Luhan looked at everyone. Now they got the official clue. Some couldn’t resist but smile of the idea of the situation they are in to. The competition is on!

Notes