Coincidence (EXO)

23: Switch

"Miss, it's the final stop," I stirred awake when someone was nudging my shoulder. I got up from Kai's shoulder and looked at him, he was still peacefully sleeping. The lady smiled and walked away to wake up the other passengers.  

“Kai,” I said and shook him lightly. “Kai!” He unconsciously waved away my hand.

I shook him even harder. He unknowingly started to hug me and bring me closer to him.

“Five more minutes,” he murmured in his sleep. His sleeping habit is getting annoying.

“Idiot!” I snapped and slapped his arm away. He finally opened his eyes and let go of me out of embarrassment. He didn’t say anything that indicated it, but I could tell from his nervous looks. The spot between his eyebrows got wrinkled when he looked around. He was still half asleep and his eyes were shining.

I quickly shoved the junk from our table into a plastic bag and went up to throw it away. He fixed his hair before getting up.

-

The two of us were waiting for the bus that was going to take us to the cottages where the triathlon is going to take place. Both of us didn’t say anything but I noticed that Kai would look at me now and then. I made it obvious that I was ignoring him. I was still a little annoyed from back then regarding Myungsoo. It was actually none of his business. I didn’t ask any questions about Yihyun so he definitely doesn’t have the right to ask me about Myungsoo. But come to think about it, there’s nothing going on between me and Myungsoo like there is between him and Yihyun. I pouted unknowingly.

My backpack suddenly landed on my face. Kai threw it, interrupting my thoughts. I didn't catch it so it fell to the ground next to my feet.

“What am I, your slave?” he said in a conceited way. I looked at him in disbelief before picking it up while rubbing my cheek.

I threw his knitted beanie at him that I wore. Unfortunately, he caught it. “What am I, your coat rack?!” I snapped back. It was his turn to look at me in disbelief.

-

The bus finally came. We walked into it in different doors because both of us didn't even want to stand next to each other at the moment. I planned on sitting alone because the bus was almost empty but he made me sit next to him by standing next to two seats and giving me a look that said "get in" while motioning with his head at the seats. I sat on the seat with a bad attitude so he would notice how upset I was. I looked like a little kid who hadn’t gotten her way with arm crossed on my chest while looking out the window.

All of the sudden I heard him talking to someone so I looked at him. He was speaking with someone on the phone, and he was speaking politely so it had to be someone he had respect for. I couldn’t help but to hear what he was saying

“Yes.. Yes.. Yes, sir. I will... I’m staying here for two weeks,” Sir? Definitely his boss.

“Okay, I will come back a few days earlier then… Yes… Goodbye Sir,” he said and hung up.

I didn’t realize that I had actually gotten closer to him to hear him talking. He looked to the left to look at me. “I’m done talking now,” he plainly said. I quickly sat straight again and pretended like it didn’t happen.

“So where are you going?” I asked him while looking at the bus driver. I wanted to know but asked him in an uninterested way.

“So now you’re talking to me?” he said and looked at me.

I quickly looked out the window. “Fine, don’t answer then!” Jerk.

“I have to leave a couple of days earlier than expected, EXO’s showcase is coming up.” He casually continued and ignored my little bratty answer. Showcase? That's amazing.

“Cool,” I said sounding unimpressed and turned back to the window. He smiled from my compliment even though it sounded like I didn’t mean it.

-

“Are we lost?” I said while looking around, a moment after the two of us got out from the bus. Kai is either pretending to know where the place is or he actually knows. And I doubt it was the second one.

“No,” he said confidently. I looked at him, trying to see if he was bluffing.

“I’m not bluffing,” he turned to face me. I gave him another look.

“I’m not. Trust me.”

-

Half an hour passed slowly. Where are we heading?! It feels like we’re walking around in circles!! I’ve seen this damn sign earlier. I looked at him and he was casually walking like there was no problem. He was checking his watch often but other than that, he seemed normal. It surprised me that he wasn’t as irritated as I was from all the walking.

“Where is this place?! I’m getting tired now,” I complained. My stomach was growling like an animal after food.

“Is that a hint that you want a piggyback ride?” he asked while still walking.

“What? No.” I said and wrinkled my forehead.

“Good, because you weren’t going to get one anyway.” He said without looking at me. I rolled my eyes.

“It wasn’t like I was begging for one.”

-

The two of us finally arrived at the god forsaken place. While walking over to there, I saw the participants sit in a ring outside. The leader was standing in the middle while making a speech so me and Kai quietly snuck over to join them.

“Mr. Jongin and Ms. Sam, ” the leader suddenly said without looking at the two of us. Me and Kai froze. He turned around to face us, “You’re late.”

Kai stood up and bowed. He looked over at me and saw that I was still sitting down, not giving a damn. “Unbelievable,” he whispered in annoyance and dragged me up by my arm, making me hiss at him. He bowed and had to push down my torso so I bowed too. I made a face to him and he gave me the usual scolding look.

I sat back again and made an angry face at Kai. He gave me a dreamy smile which made me almost black out but as usual, I snapped out of it.

“Girls and boys will be sleeping separately. The house on the right is for girl and the house on the left is for boys. Are we cleared?” The leader explained. Everyone said yes in unison.

We were about to head over to the houses when the leader called for me and Kai.

“Jongin and Sam, ” the two of us looked back at the same time. “Come here,” he said while motioning with his fingers to go over to him. Shit, we're in trouble.

Me and Kai slowly walked over to the leader. He had his arm crossed and was looking at the two of us. “Why are you late?”

I wasn't going to take the blame. And it seemed like Kai wasn’t going to either. So the two of us didn’t say anything and just looked at him.

“You’re two hours late, we have arranged everything now without the two of you.”

Me and Kai still kept quiet. “You know what this means, right?” We're getting kicked out of the triathlon? I shook Kai’s hand lightly in secrecy to signal that the two of us were screwed now. He didn’t react though. He was looking like a lost puppy as usual.

“No,” I answered and looked down.  But his reply made me look up at him in horror.

“You two are partners now.”