Pandora's Heart | d.cx ✓

CHAPTER 24

'So tell me, what happened last night?' Chengxin asked. He and Pandora were sitting on the porch of the building on a bright sunny morning.

'I told you it's no big deal Chengxin,' she answered.

'No I have to know.'

Pandora frowned. 'Well, it was just Haoxiang explaining why he broke up with me, that's all.'

'Why would he explain it now? Just when it seems to be going well for you and me? I hope you're not falling for it.' He sighed. 'My band mate is a really annoying person.'

She nodded. 'Yeah whatever, let's not talk about it.'

'You should tell me if he does something silly again.'

'Why should I tell you as if you're my boyfriend?' Pandora folded her legs. 'In case you didn't notice, you didn't ask me to be your girlfriend.'

'Oh right,' he cleared his throat. 'Pandora, will you be my girlfriend?'

She turned to him and sighed. 'No.'

'What!?' Chengxin honestly couldn't believe it. It was worse for him because he thought they were actually dating even though he did not exactly say the words. He felt they had grown close enough to have assurance that they were together. 'Why?'

'Because...Nikita likes you and Haoxiang doesn't want us together.'

'Didn't we already talk about...?' he started to complain.

'Yeah we did, I know. But Haoxiang is your band mate, and I don't want you to have bad blood with your band mate. You guys are gonna be together for a long time, you live in the same house, you'll be at the same interviews...you can't have tension. I don't want to ruin your band.'

'We don't have tension.' Chengxin snickered.

'You think I haven't noticed that you and Haoxiang can't even look at each other right now?'

'The tension is gonna end, we've argued before.' Chengxin answered even though he wasn't sure if they had ever had a serious argument before. He and Haoxiang weren't really the type to have confrontations.

'Then I'll think about it. And that's not a yes. Give me time.' She ruffled his hair.

'Gosh I hate girls. Fine.' Chengxin rubbed his forehead.

While the two of them talked, Haoxiang and Junlin walked out of the door. Haoxiang walked past Pandora and Chengxin, before Junlin grabbed the sleeve of his sweater and held him back.

'Where are you guys going?' Chengxin was the first to them ask curtly.

Pandora immediately looked down when she and Haoxiang's eyes met.

'We just wanna get some sun.' Junlin answered on behalf of the two. 'We'll be right there.' He pointed at some outdoor chairs which were in the large front yard.

'Okay have fun.' Chengxin told them then turned back to Pandora who had her eyes on the ground. He rubbed her back. 'What's wrong babe?' he knew what was wrong, but he found it really gratifying to have some romantic contact with Pandora in front of Chengxin. It made him feel like he was the one who had an upper hand, and in fact, he felt like he did.

'Nothing,' she removed his hand from her back. She could have sworn she saw a glare in Haoxiang's eyes.

'I guess you're worried about the trouble you caused by ending your bandmate's career and then stealing her crush.' Haoxiang responded. 'I noticed she didn't even want to talk to you at the hotel.'

'Haoxiang...' Chengxin started.

'No I can handle this myself.' Pandora looked up from the ground to Haoxiang. 'Why are you always like this? Why do you enjoy bullying me?'

'What do you mean? I wasn't bullying you, I was stating why I think you're sad. Forgive me if that's not the reason.' He cracked an insincere smile.

'No, you know what you're doing and you've always been so good at that!' She went on to accuse him.

Haoxiang nodded. 'Yeah I guess I've always been good at that, but that's why you liked me right? You liked it when I was able to make everyone who bullied you cry.'

Junlin looked between Pandora and Haoxiang with curiosity.

'Okay that's enough!' Chengxin finally intervened, seeing that Pandora wasn't going to answer. Haoxiang seemed to be very good at playing his cards well. 'Just stop talking like that to her, she obviously hates it when you mention Nikita and what happened. So have some respect and stop.'

'Noted.' He eyed Pandora one last time then walked off with Junlin to the wooden chairs.

'Don't mind him.' Chengxin tried to assure her. He knew that Haoxiang was so good at making her uncomfortable.

'Yeah, let's go inside.' She answered.

Chengxin didn't want to go inside just yet, but he knew that Pandora was not comfortable having Haoxiang and his friend sitting just in front of them. So he got up and left with her.

Pandora was annoyed with herself, Haoxing was right – she did love that stoic attitude of his.

...

'So dude, I've been meaning to ask you,' Junlin said as he put his leg over the other. 'Do you still like your ex?'

Haoxiang looked at his friend. 'You know...I never stopped loving her. I just didn't think we'd ever meet again.'

'Yeah!' Junlin snapped his fingers. 'When we were trainees, I swear you acted like a boy who was in love. Failing to sleep, overthinking while looking outside a window. I had my suspicions but I didn't believe it.'

'Really? Then you're the only one who noticed.'

'Actually, Jiaqi noticed this other day as well.' Junlin chuckled. 'Anyway, what are you gonna do about it? Chengxin seems to like her a lot. I mean...not seems to, he does like her.'

'I don't think that's my business. That's his.'

Junlin nodded. 'So you're not gonna try to get Pandora back right?'

'I will.'

Junlin widened his eyes. 'What? No Haoxiang, I don't think that's appropriate. Chengxin likes her and no offence...but I think he deserves her. He worked hard for her and you just wanna step back into her life now that she's acting better? Let's face it, all you did was bully her since she came here.'

'I wasn't bullying her, she was annoying. I was just putting her in her place.' Haoxiang defended himself. 'Me and Chengxin are different. I guess Chengxin believes someone can change when you love them and cuddle them and all that nonsense, but I believe people change when you tell them facts...tell them what they're doing wrong and what it causes.' He slightly smiled. 'Also, I just said some things because I was jealous about her and Chengxin.'

'Well I think she likes Chengxin now, sorry to burst your bubble.' Junlin answered with a serious face.

'I don't know, maybe she does...but she likes me more. I can tell by how she looks at me. I don't know if she ever stopped loving me as well.'

'Haoxiang! Your cheeks are getting pink!' Junlin said excitedly and pointed at his cheeks. 'Talking about her makes you feel like that? Okay, I don't know whose side to be on now. I just hope you and Chengxin don't start to seriously hate each other.'

'We wouldn't, we have to get along whether we like it or not.'

'Yeah. I wonder what's next, maybe Yaxuan likes her too.' Junlin laughed.

'That is just too far-fetched Junlin.'

The two of them laughed at the suggestion as Haoxiang thought about what his move was going to be.