이름없는 기억

TO HELL WITH NONCHALANCE(NOSY PEOPLE ALWAYS KNOW)

Eli couldn’t say he didn’t notice anything different with Lexi’s behavior towards Kevin and vice versa. Well, he hadn’t known Lexi for long, but it didn’t take a genius to figure out that they were –what was that term? Oh, yeah. Hostile to each other. Besides, he knew Kevin well. And you don’t know anyone that well without knowing quite a bit about them.

True, Lexi was closer to them now, barging in their dorm whenever she wanted, but she always seemed to go her way and avoid Kevin. Kiseop agreed with him at that observation.

Then there was Kevin himself. The last time they’d seen the guy meet Lexi’s eyes, he cringed like he was burnt. Oh, they always seem really normal during rehearsals. They have to. But private life was a bit different.

And then there was Xander. Eli couldn’t even begin to explain what was happening. He had disgusting questions like, were Lexi and Xander together? And “I thought Xander was gay?”(he got a punch in the gut for that). He’d argued about it with Kiseop and AJ(who didn’t really seem interested at first) but all they came up was that Kevin and Lexi had a past relationship and Xander was a spectator; or Xander and Lexi had a relationship and Kevin was a third wheel or something. It all seemed unlikely to him.

Their nosing only stopped when Hoon told them they sounded like useless old biddies gossiping.

Right at that moment, Eli stared as Kevin and Lexi loaded luggage into the van at the same time. Nobody said a word. Lexi just gave him the StinkEye while Kevin looked nothing short of petrified.

“How the hell are they going to pull off that music video at this rate?” Eli muttered under his breath.

“Don’t ask me. It’s creepy enough just thinking about it.” Dong Ho hugged six packs of munchies to his chest.

“You’ve noticed.”

“Hyung, I’m eighteen(seventeen in other countries),” he said. “I’m supposed to notice things like that.”

Eli clucked his tongue. “Puberty,” he muttered, remembering how Kevin said it.

Dong Ho looked slightly insulted. “Hyung, I’m the same age as her. You don’t see me having that problem.”

The older boy clapped him on the shoulder. “Go put that in the car.”

“I was about to go on!” Lexi complained as AJ jumped into the van before she even got the chance to hold the door.

“Sorry, saeng. I got here first,” AJ answered. He winked at her and pointed at Kevin’s car. “Plenty of room there.”

She winced in reply. “There is something called being a gentleman, you know.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

AJ sighed and stepped down. Lexi smiled in response and tried to climb up but the boy carried her bridal style and deposited her by Kevin’s car. With a bow, he opened the door. “Gentlemanly enough for you?”

Too surprised to protest, she made a face. “Fine.” Stuffing her earbuds into her ears, she walked back t the van, AJ close at her heels. “Eli, Kiseop, Dong Ho. With me in the other car.”

The three looked at each other. “Why us?” Dong Ho complained.

“Because,” she answered stubbornly.

“But –I’m too young to die! I-” The maknae was cut off when Eli covered his mouth and smiled. “Sure.”

“What?!” AJ protested. “No fun, Eun Byul!”

She stuck her tongue out and pulled Kiseop with her. Kevin, who was alreay at the driver’s seat, looked up briefly as she entered with her entourage. Dong Ho quickly got in the shotgun seat, turning to Eli, who was directly behind him.