Because It's Love | EXO CHEN

13. Drop That

My breath started coming off short the moment I turned my back on him.

Overflowing with dejection, once again I couldn't help the tears brimming in my eyes. I really need to get out of here before I start bawling out the feelings I've been keeping inside.

Amidst the little conversations people were having, I heard a deep manly voice calling me.

"Minzi."

I almost froze to the sweet sound of his voice, the way he called my name... but no, I cannot let it affect me.

Just keep walking, Minzi.

"Min."

He raised his voice slightly, and I was almost shaken by it.

No, Minzi.

I increased my pace and I am only a step away from the door now...

"Minzi!"

This time, a strong hand held onto my forearm firmly, making me stop completely in my tracks. He pulled me away from the door and spun me around until I now came face to face with him.

Seeing this beautiful man before me up close reminds me of the billion reasons why I fell for him in the first place, but my heart aches at the cruel thought of it. I tried holding my head high to stop my watery eyes from shedding tears, but a deceiving one irrepressibly streamed down my right cheek. I kept my eyes open and unblinking, secretly wishing for a hideout to keep this miserable sight of me away from him.

But all I could do was freeze in my tracks, taking in his features in the split second.

"-Min...You..."

I knew there was a high possibility that he'd catch me crying the moment he sees my face, but I hadn't thought of a plan that allows me to escape the situation.

"I-I..."

Unhesitatingly, the hand that was gripping onto me pulled me towards him, making me step forward as he wrap both his arms around me, not saying another word.

So warm, that is all I could think of.

I squeezed my eyes closed and let the struggling tears finally spill out onto my cheeks. I was holding onto my breath unknowingly, but once I was taken into his embrace, I allowed my tensed body relax into his arms. I was finally letting down the walls that I've been putting up the entire time.

The talks around the room died down immediately, but I only focused my attention on none other than the man hugging me.

"Stop. Stop....running away from me." He whispered.

I was flushed with embarrassment for being exposed of what I had just been doing, and I began panting in between my sobs as I tried to speak.

I had no idea what else to reply, only hoping that apologies would suffice. What else could I say that he would want to hear?

"I'm...s-sorry...I'm really...sorry...Jongdae ssi..."

As soon as he realized me weeping he squeezed me tighter in the hug.

His hugs are amazing, and I feel like I regained strength from the warmth he radiates, in the feeling of being in his arms. It was so comforting knowing it's a place I could definitely seek solace in.

But then reality hit me, and I realized the silence in the room was because all eyes were focused on us.

Jongdae was hugging me, unconcerned with the attention on us. My arms awkwardly hung in mid-air, unsure if I should return the hug in front of so many people, but not hugging back could also make Jongdae look bad.