EXO: ESCAPE WITH YOU

CHAPTER 23: Starting New

TWO MONTHS LATER

Lay made Aries stay in his hometown with his mom. And after a few days, he went back to Seoul.

The news about Baekhyun dating Girls' Generation's Taeyeon spreaded worldwide already. Some Baekhyun stans REALLY cried and after a while, Luhan quits EXO. Is this EXO's downfall already?

Kai throws the newspaper away and sits on the couch. He rubs his nape while closing his eyes

"What is this?" DO holds the newspaper

"I hate all the articles about us. Why would they have to jump into conclusions?" Kai mutters

"Don't blame them, Kai. It's called critics. They never brought good news." DO answers

"I thought of having a new powerful comeback" Kai smirks

"It's the thought that counts, honey. Want some?" Chen offers a drink to Kai

"No, thanks" Kai smiles

Suho and Xiumin are gazing at the sky while leaning at the balcony

"It's a nice air" Xiumin smiles at Suho

Suho nods "Our next comeback, I want to be worthier for our fans"

"Will do, sir" Xiumin chuckles

Chanyeol walks to the balcony to talk with Xiumin and Suho also "Still alive?" he smiley asks

"Of course" Suho sighs "Oh, wait I might need Shane today"

"Why?" Xiumin asks

"For writing purposes. She's really good in English" Suho grins

"Are you really trusting them? Them" Chanyeol rants "If I were you, I'll stop contacting unknown girls from a different country" he adds

"Chanyeol hyung is right" Sehun appears while his hands in his pockets

Suho gazes at them "I need you to stop boys. It's been two months since Gwen, Denise and Kate left. And..." he looks away "Shane will go back to the Philippines by next week"

"Hyung" Sehun taps Suho's shoulder "Are you in love?"

Sehun together with Chanyeol and Xiumin laughs

"Of course not! Shane is just a friend" Suho gulps

"Oh" the boys nodded.

PHILIPPINES

Gwen yawns when someone tapped her head "Wake up. Nandyan na si ma'am"

"Okay" she stands up lazily

"Ms. Cruz! Kung nagdi-daydream ka sa class ko, lumabas ka nalang" the teacher said

"With all respect ma'am, I just took a nap. And for your information, I never had a dream on that short sleep" Gwen walks out of the classroom

"Everybody, sit down!" the teacher exhaled

Gwen was walking along the hallway dizzily when she bumped onto Elijah

"Gwen? What are you doing here? Pinalabas ka na naman ng teacher" he shook his head

"Ano bang pake mo?" Gwen blurted

"May pake ako kasi may gusto ako sayo, na kahit ganyan ang itsura mo, ang ugali mo at ang buhay mo, ikaw parin yung gusto ko. Don't you understand that?"

"I don't. Okay?!" Gwen raised her voice "Elijah, please..."

"Ganyan ka na simula nung umuwi kayo galing Seoul" Elijah hissed

"Anong connect ng Seoul sakin? I mean, Seoul has nothing to do with me" Gwen crossed her arms on her chest

"Kasi naman, nalulong ka na sa KPop artists. What's with them that the people don't have here?" Elijah confronts her

"You're crossing the line already. Pwede ba? I don't have any time to explain myself to you. Uuwi na ko" Gwen walks away

While walking along the street, a moment with Luhan flashed in her mind. The night that she met him

POV: GWEN

Two months na din pala mula noong umuwi kami nila Kate galing sa Seoul. Kumusta na kaya ang EXO? Sobrang busy na ni ate Shane kaya hindi ko din makausap. Matatapos na ang school contract n'ya sa Konkuk next week.

Never heard of Denise na rin. Lumipat na sila sa province ng family n'ya and alam ko, may hard feelings pa sakin 'yon

"Oh, nandito pala to" I smiles

Nadala ko pala yung headphones na binigay ni Kai sakin two months ago. The bear from Luhan? Nasa bahay. Hindi ko nilablabhan and never! Hays.

Suddenly, my phone rings. Oh, si maomao tumatawag. Nasaan kaya s'ya? Di ko manlang nakita this week

"Hello? Long time no see" I said

"Maomao. Si Pikachu nawawala!"

"Ano?!"

"Oo. Nandito ako ngayon sa mall, ang daming tao. Naiiyak na ako"

I can hear the nervousness of my best friend. That Pikachu is genuine to her. Of course, it's from Baekhyun eh. For sure, it's really driving her crazy na.

"Tulungan mo ako. I need to find him. Alam mo naman kung gaano kahalaga sakin 'yon 'di ba? More than anything else"

"Alam ko. Nasaan ka ba? Pupuntahan kita. Gumagala ka pa kasi eh"

"Thank you! Sa Fifth Mall, nandito lang ako sa ground"

"Sige. I'll hang up the phone na. Papunta na ako"

"Okay! Ingat!"

Shaking my head while putting my phone in my bag, sana mahanap pa namin yon

• • • • • • • • • •

FIFTH MALL

"Saan ka ba galing? Bakit nawala?" Gwen asks

"Marami. Naghanap ako ng materials for thesis at 'eto na, nawawala na sa pagkakasabit sa bag ko si Pikachu" Kate hugs Gwen while crying

"Mahahanap din natin 'yon. Kalma muna. Okay?" Gwen smiles a bit

AFTER 3 HOURS

"Paano yan? Wala talaga" Gwen sighed

"Hindi pwede! Hindi ako uuwi hangga't 'di ko nahahanap yon" Kate mutters

Gwen is looking around the mall when she saw a girl hugging the same Pikachu of Kate but she looks away

"Paano naman kung makita natin? Eh baka may kapareho yon at iclaim na sakanila din" Gwen asks

"No! No. Special edition from Korea, remember? They can't just have that sort of plushie here" Kate explains

"Edi wow" Gwen hides her hands at her back and looks away

"Maomao. Hanapin na natin. Mukha ka ng tomboy sa ginagawa mo. Ayusin mo nga kilos mo. Parang two months ago lang pinag awayan ka ng mga bigating artista"

"Oh? Tell me more. Hindi talaga kita tutulungan. Nakita ko na eh" Gwen smirks

"What?! Nasaan?" Kate shook Gwen's shoulders

"Sabihin mo munang dyosa ako" Gwen grins

"Okay. Fine. Dyosa ka Gwen. Asawa ka ni Chanyeol" Kate rolls her eyes

"Very good! Ayon oh, aalis na yung bata" Gwen chin-points the toddler

Kate rushes to stop the toddler and knealt down

"Hi cutie! I'm ate Kate. Where'd you get this Pikachu? Akin kasi ito eh"

"Talaga po? Sorry. Binigay po nung lalaki sakin"

The toddler points a guy in disguise. Kate takes Pikachu and stands to walk towards the guy in disguise

"He-Hello mister" Kate taps the back of the guy

To be continued...