Truth Behind The Glasses | Exo D.o.

Chapter 13

Thank you, amazing readers!

Your support has meant everything. I'm so grateful to have shared this journey with you—this story wouldn't be the same without you.

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When I woke up, my head was pounding, a dull, relentless ache that made it hard to focus on anything. I groaned softly, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep and piece together the fragmented memories of last night. All I could remember was Kyungsoo... He had given me a piggyback ride, right? I vaguely recalled resting my head against his shoulder as he carried me through the quiet streets, his presence somehow comforting despite the mess my life had become.

But did he really send me home? I blinked at the ceiling, feeling disoriented. How did I even get into bed? I didn't remember that part at all. The last thing I recalled clearly was Kyungsoo's warmth, his steady footsteps as he carried me.

I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and stared at the screen for a moment. I needed to talk to someone, to figure out what was going on with everything—my stepmother's plans, Kyungsoo showing up out of nowhere, and this strange connection I felt with him. I opened my chat app and scrolled to the name that always brought me comfort: Littlepenguin, my long-time online friend who went by the username Cinder. We'd been talking for years, sharing secrets, frustrations, and everything in between.

I quickly typed out a message to him, needing to vent.

Kiara (Cinder):
"Hey, I need to talk. Everything's such a mess right now. My stepmother is planning to take over the company and completely erase my family's legacy. I don't know what to do. And Kyungsoo... I don't even know where to start with him."

I hit send and anxiously watched the screen, waiting for the familiar three dots to appear. Littlepenguin was always so quick to respond, always there when I needed someone. Sure enough, a few seconds later, the dots appeared, and I let out a small sigh of relief.

Littlepenguin:
"You can trust me."

That simple sentence made me pause. It wasn't unusual for Littlepenguin to say something like that, but this time it felt different. There was something about the way he said it that made my heart skip a beat. Trust. It was a word I didn't throw around lightly, especially now, with everything falling apart. But with him, trust had always come easily.

Kiara (Cinder):
"I know that. I trust you. I always have. But what about Kyungsoo? He's so... confusing. I don't know if I can trust him. He's showing up everywhere, and I can't figure out what he wants."

I bit my lip as I waited for his response. I needed clarity, needed to make sense of the strange tension between me and Kyungsoo. Littlepenguin had a way of seeing things clearly, of offering advice that calmed my racing thoughts.

After a few moments, his reply came through.

Littlepenguin:
"What if Kyungsoo's not as hard to understand as you think? Maybe you're overthinking it."

I blinked at the screen. It was such a simple response, but it felt like it carried more weight than usual. My mind raced as I tried to figure out what he meant by that. Was he implying something? How could he know anything about Kyungsoo?

Kiara (Cinder):
"Overthinking? You know me too well. But seriously, it feels like he's hiding something. Every time I think I understand him, he does something that throws me off."

There was a longer pause this time, and I could almost imagine Littlepenguin smiling as he typed his reply.

Littlepenguin:
"Maybe he's just teasing you. Have you thought about that? Maybe he enjoys keeping you on your toes."

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks as I read his message. Teasing? Kyungsoo was definitely the type to do that. He always had this infuriating way of making me feel flustered, like he enjoyed watching me squirm under his gaze. But the thought that he was doing it on purpose, to tease me... well, that made my heart race for entirely different reasons.

Kiara (Cinder):
"You're probably right. But I can't help it, you know? He gets under my skin."

Littlepenguin:
"Sounds like he's gotten under more than just your skin."

I blinked, my eyes widening as I processed his words. My heart did a little flip in my chest, and I could feel my cheeks burning. Was he... implying what I thought he was implying? I quickly typed back a response, my fingers flying over the keyboard.

Kiara (Cinder):
"Don't get any ideas! It's not like that!"

His reply came through almost immediately.

Littlepenguin:
"Sure, sure. Whatever you say, Cinder."

I rolled my eyes, feeling a mix of exasperation and something else—something warmer. Littlepenguin always knew how to tease me, how to say just the right thing to make me feel both flustered and strangely comforted.

I sighed, leaning back against my pillows. Maybe he was right. Maybe I was overthinking everything. Kyungsoo had been there for me last night, hadn't he? He had carried me home, made sure I was safe. Maybe that was all I needed to focus on for now. Maybe I could trust him, just like I trusted Littlepenguin.

But the thought of Kyungsoo and Littlepenguin being two separate people still nagged at the back of my mind. They were so different in some ways, but in others... they felt strangely similar.

Kiara (Cinder):
"I guess I'll just have to figure it out. But for now, I need to get some sleep. I've got class tomorrow, and I need my brain to function."

I smiled softly as I sent the message, feeling a little lighter than I had before. It was good to talk things out, even if I didn't have all the answers yet.

Littlepenguin:
"Sleep well, Cinder. Don't let Kyungsoo invade your dreams too much."

I rolled my eyes again, though a small laugh escaped my lips.

Kiara (Cinder):
"Goodnight, Littlepenguin."

As I put my phone down, I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over me. Maybe I didn't have everything figured out yet, but I knew one thing for sure: I could trust Littlepenguin, and maybe, just maybe, I could trust Kyungsoo too.

With that thought, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep, ready to face whatever tomorrow brought.

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