Bad Reputation (In A Relationship With EXO DO✅)

Eight

Dedicated to the number one reader of 'EXO in a relationship series' @storyaly  Happiest birthday again ♥️

"I have a crush on Ray."

I paused my reading and looked up at Hwanhee, well precisely, I looked up at Hwanhee watching Ray like a puppy. Her round eyre had turned big, and I snickered as I turned to Ray, and wondered what she liked about him.

I mean yes, he was a good person, a strict mentor, a handsome guy and everything, but without knowing him on that personal level, I judged Hwanhee's judgment on him, which was wrong because I had no right, but still I did. I wanted best for my friend.

"You should talk to him more, like spend time with him before saying those words," I muttered, and went back to read the book in my hands.

She hummed. "I know. It's just that I notice little things about him, and ask myself what's not there to like about him?" Her statement reminded me of a certain someone, but I shook off the thought.

"If you're comfortable, you can share your feelings with me. I promise, I would try not to judge."

"I thought of him as a strict man who liked to bully his juniors, but..." Hwanhee stopped, and glanced at the man in talk. "Looking at him now for these past few days, I have realized that he just wants best for us. Like he throw us in a tough situation to make us ready for the future. He doesn't appreciate the efforts often, but then again he treats us whenever we do something great."

"Now that you mentioned it, I think it's true." I frowned. "Whenever I aced in my field, Ray used to bring me something to eat, always my favorite food. And, then there were juniors, Ray used to help them in their files as well."

"I remember." She chuckled. "He has been so kind behind this mask of rudeness. Like he never really made us see his efforts. Last night, he was talking to Kyungsoo and I overheard him saying that he would make sure that our team won't leak anything about Idol's privacy."

"Yeah. He's considerate." I looked at Hwanhee. "So, that's what made you like him?"

"I don't know. These are his qualities that I noticed, like really noticed when I gave him the attention he deserves. But, I don't think there's a reason to this attraction. It's just there."

There was a soft smile playing on her lips and I couldn't help but smile back. "Tomorrow night is the celebration of one of the soldiers birthday. I have heard there will be a dancing scene, so make sure you grab this chance."

She froze. "You're supporting me in this? Like really? I thought you hated Ray-"

"I hate Ray. Superficially. Only in empty words. In my heart, nothing can top the respect I have for him." I stood up and walked over to her chair. "He's a nice man. A little stiff, but a nice man."

"I'm really doing this. I'm pursuing a man!" She whispered in excitement and hugged me. "I hope he likes me back too. I want to know him better than anyone."

"I hope you enjoy this journey." I hugged her back, and chuckled when she squealed like a kid. I shook my head and looked up to see Kyungsoo marching by my side. He had some boxes in his hands and I figured it must be filled with fan's letters. I have come to know that he had received these kind of boxes in dozens.

I followed him in silence, but I knew he knew that I was there. The sun was setting up in the horizon and it gave him a reddish glowing shade of light as he turned to smile at me. "Hi."

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. "Hi." I cleared my throat. "Can I join you?" I asked out of humility and he nodded. Placing the boxes aside, he made a space for me, and I sat beside him. "You've got a lot of letters. Are you going to read them all?"

His answer was a simple nod.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I grew conscious when he kept staring at my face with a small smile.

"You're beautiful," His reply made me flush and I laughed to cover my embarrassment. "Did you come to know about tomorrow's plan?"

"I did. I've heard there will be dancing."

"There will be singing too." Kyungsoo placed his hands back on the ground and leaned up to stare at the sky. "It's been a while since I sang, like really sang. That soldier's wife gave birth to a baby girl, and he hadn't seen her yet. I would like to comfort him on his birthday with my singing."

"That would be great. I haven't heard you sing ever-"

"I could sing for you whenever you want." He cut me off with an unexpected smile and I bit my lip. "You're blushing." He noted. Guess again, genius.

"I'm not habitual to compliments."

"That's interesting. I mean you don't blush when other soldiers compliments you." He teased further and I slapped his shoulder playfully. He pretended to get hurt and I rolled my eyes. "You really do have a crush on me."

"I believe so," I muttered, and played with my fingers. "You know I adore you to be honest. I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable but I really do like you."

"Can I say that your confession, no matter how many times you do it, it makes my heart flutter." Kyungsoo patted my head and took me in a half hug. "You're truly a magnificent lady."

"I don't understand. How you could say that about me when you don't even know what I am as a person?"

"Do you remember the day when Hana got admitted to the hospital and you complained about the big bad scary bodyguard?" He asked, and I furrowed my brows. How did he know that until.... My eyes widened in realization as I stared at him. "Yes," he confirmed. "It was me in disguise."

"Oh my God!" I covered my mouth with my hands and he nodded yet again.

"I met you that day for the first time. Then you helped Iseul, became friends with Sana and Eun sang through Hana. Fought with Fei." He gave me a look, and I groaned.

"Don't make me remember that fight with Fei. I still regret it."

He chuckled. "I know. I grew intrigued by this girl whose name was on everyone's lips. I wanted to know you, and then like a magic, you came to our dorms. On Hana's birthday night."

"Yeah. The night you gave me a fake compliment." I grumbled, and he scratched the back of his head awkwardly. He looked cute. "You do know that I don't like as an idol Kyungsoo?"

"Then you don't really like me, Jia," He told me. "Because that's a part of me. It's a part of who I am, and if you can't like that, you don't like me."

"Well, I like you. But, I wish you were a common man of South Korea, not a freaking idol with millions of fans. Do you know how your fans will hunt me down if even they came to know that you have some kind of an attachment to me?"

Kyungsoo remained silent, and I bit my tongue. That was harsh. Shit. "I'm sorry for hurting you like that."

"It's fine." He turned silent, and I started feeling worse with each second.

"Kyu-" He stood up, stopping my words in mid way.

"It's late. You should head back too." He turned away to leave, and on instinct, I grabbed his hand and stood up as well. "Jia, please -"

"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said that -"

"You said the right thing. I had forgotten about it for a while." He pulled his hand from my grip, and smiled.

"Kyungsoo."

"But, thank you, really for reminding me that."