Kpop Imagines (On Hold)

#3 - Chen/Kim Jongdae (EXO)

"Lina?" I turn around to see who called my name out. There he is, Byun Baekhyun, one of the most popular guys from our school (who call themselves EXO). 

"O-oh, h-hi..." I stammer.

He smiles cutely and scratches the side of his neck. "I have something to tell you." He glances at his friends, which give him thumbs up and encouraging smiles. He nods and then faces me. "Well, I've actually... had a crush on you for a long time. Will you go out with me?"

Am I dreaming? My eyes widen as I blush and look down. "Yes! I mean, uhm, actually, I've liked you too, for quite a while now. I'm quite glad you feel the same."

A few boys behind him snicker and I lift my head to see what was so funny. There, in front of me, Baekhyun laughs mockingly and clutches his stomach. "Look at her face! She actually believed it!" He turns to me and smiles smugly, "As if I would ever date a geek like you. The next time you're gullible enough to believe such an absurd comment, please look into the mirror. You're not special at all, not pretty either. You're simply just another, weird, nerd who's in my classes. Why would I ever like you?"

I look away, trying to avoid his intimidating gaze and to hide the tears that filled the brim of my eyes. It was too much. I could hear the tall, handsome boy named Chanyeol that was in the middle of their group, attempting to stop the mean remarks. "Yah, Hyung, isn't this going too far? Leave the girl alone."

"Are you defending her?" Tao smirks. "That odd chick? If you want her, she's all yours, Hyung. After all, she must be desperate to get someone to date her." Chanyeol's eyes drift away as he is silenced. The crowd laughs again, and it feels as if arrows are sent and pierced in my heart.

All of a sudden, the back of a man steps in front of me, and snaps, "Hey, leave her alone, guys."

"Why are you so touchy, Chen Chen? Can't take a joke?" Baekhyun teases, patting Chen's shoulder with his palm.

Chen shrugs his hand off and growls, "If I want to protect her, then that's what I'll do. This isn't funny at all." He looks over his shoulder and takes my hand, "C'mon, Lina. We're leaving." He tugs my arm and pulls me outside of the school, with all the other students gasping and whispering in awe.

What is he doing? I think, Why is he suddenly so kind to me? I was used to being alone, to have no one stand up for me when others called me names and teased me. So when Chen defended me, I was truly happy, and glad that at least someone cares enough. It does feel good to have someone by your side. I find myself staring dreamily at his back as he continues leading my away from everyone. Snap out of it, Lina! You're not that desperate to like someone you don't even know that well, are you? It seems like the other part of me doesn't agree though. What do you mean "doesn't know that well"? You've known him your whole life! The first part of me returns and sneers, Yeah, but he probably didn't even notice your existence 'til today... I gaze at his face, Plus... He's out of your reach. 

When we got outside, I quickly release his hand. He first looks at my hand and then my face. I keep my head down and say, "Thank you for what you did back there, but please don't be so nice to me. I'm gullible, as Tao said. I believe everything that everyone says. I'm useless... If you're nice to me, I... I may interpret it the wrong way."

"What do you mean?"

I don't answer.

"I personally find it cute. If we waste so much of our time on questioning and suspecting what others say, won't it be quite tiring? I'd rather live believing everything I hear. Also, I don't mind you thinking that I like you. Because I actually do," he smiles, warming my heart.

I didn't know if I could trust his words. There just have been too many people toying with my feelings, my naivety. The tears I've been holding in for so long start to pour from my eyes, and Chen hands me a tissue while crouching down. "Are you okay?" he asks. "I'm sorry if I said anything that upset you."

I thank him before taking the napkin, "No... It's just that I don't know if I could..."

"Trust me?" the friendly, warm smile returns to his face. "I know it's a hard time for you, especially since you liked Baekhyun hyung. You must be thinking that I'm only joking and mocking you, but I can tell you my feelings are real. It's okay though, I'll wait for the day you're willing to accept me," he says in his soothing voice as he pats my head. He whirls around and I wrap my arms around him. ". . . Lina?"

"I've already accepted you." I tell him as I bury my head in his back.

He grins widely and turns to me, "Really?" I nod, and he takes my hand and kisses it, making me giggle. Together, we head back to the school, and we swings our hands back and forth leisurely. Suddenly, he turns to me with a hesitant look, "Jagiya?"

"Ne?"

"I'm not sure if it's reasonable to be asking this, but can you forgive my friends? They're not usually like this. I'm positive that they must feel really bad now."

I smile and rest my head on his shoulders, "Of course I can. Everyone makes mistakes, right? It wouldn't be fair to not give them a second chance." We walk through the doors, and quickly, EXO rushes by our side.

"Lina? Are you alright?" Chanyeol asks. I nod and beam at the tall cutie. He was and still is always so thoughtful.

Behind him, Baekhyun slowly approaches us, "Uhm... I'm sorry for what I did, Lina. I knew it was going overboard. Will you forgive me?" 

"And me?" Tao peeps in.

I glance at Chen who gives me a wink. Giving him a small signal that I got what he meant, I go up to Baekhyun and cross my arms. "After all you did? Not a chance." His eyes sank with sorrow, as if he sank my goldfish and regretted it. "Unless... you let me see you without eyeliner one day," I joke. He looks at me, shocked. Chen starts laughing, and Chanyeol joins in. Before I know it, everyone was laughing, and Tao gives me a hug and apologizes once more, tearing up a bit. I brush my hand against his back to comfort him, "It's alright, Tao. I mean it. I forgive you." 

"R-really?" he snivels.

I chuckle and place my hand on his shoulder, "Yes, my dear baby panda."

"Anyways, I saw you holding hands and coming in here," Kris notes. "Are you two... You know?"

I blush and Chen lifts his hand to his mouth to hide his embarrassment. Then, he wraps his arm around my shoulder and admits, "Yes, we're officially dating."

They cheer and Luhan whispers in my ear, "Actually, Chen had a crush on you for a llooonnggg time now. I'm glad he was brave enough to finally admit it."

I giggle as Sehun, Tao, Baekhyun, and Suho start chanting, "Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!" Smiling shyly, Chen walks up to me and pecks my forehead lightly. The members boo, unsatisfied.

"What do you guys want from me?" Chen laughs. 

"MORE SKINSHIP!" Chanyeol hollers. 

"With you?" Baekhyun teases. I burst out laughing as Chanyeol pretends to kiss Chen and Chen backs away from him, dodging his smooches. 

Sehun appears by my side with a textbook in his hand, "Lina? I know they made fun of you and said you were a nerd, but actually, I think you're really smart and cool. A lot of people think that. So, I was wondering, will you explain how to pronounce these words and terms to me in English?" 

I can't help but smile when I hear his lisp. It was just so cute! I bite my lip to hide my smile, "Sure. Which ones?" As I help Sehun with English, I quickly catch a glimpse of Chen, who was now pushing Chanyeol's face away from his and screaming my name for help. I rush to him and separate the two boys. 

"Yah! No fair, Chen Chen! I thought you said you loved me!" Chanyeol whines.

"When did I say that?"

"Yesterday! I don't care, I need you to pick. Who are you going to kiss, me or Lina?"

"Well that's an easy question." Chen grabs my shoulders and his lips meet mine. I close my eyes and enjoy the moment, with the hollers and whistling of the rest of the boys filling my ears.