exo imagines {closed}

Cotton Candy [Chen] for @dancelikeXO

The cotton candy stick in your drawer was slightly sticky with melted sugar, and completely unappetising. It didn't seem like something of importance - probably just the trash your little brother had thrown around. But to you, Elly, it was your most prized possession. Just the small wooden stick could bring memories, of a person long gone. 

1 year ago, Busan Fun Fair, South Korea

"Yah! Kim Jong Dae! Let's go to this store!" You dragged your friend Chen around the Busan Fun Fair, stopping every minute or so to look at the stacks of cool SHINee photocards. He had reluctantly agreed to come with you to the fair. Being a typical nerd, he always had reasons to study or review the day's lessons.

However, today, he was more than willing to go with you. As you approached a cotton candy machine, you noticed a small slot for a coin to fit in. Pulling out the required coin, you pushed it in, taking a stick from the container by the side. But before you could twirl the threads of pink cotton candy around the stick, Chen grabbed it.

"Let me write something first~" He flashed his signature grin. Whipping a permanent marker out of nowhere, he wrote a message on the stick and twirled the cloud-like cotton candy for you. You were instantly mesmerized by how deftly he did it, the droplets of sweat making him look somehow endearing in the blazing sunlight. You liked him but it wasn't the typical story of how the girl was afraid to confess to a guy, or something like that. In fact, you feared confessing would affect his emotional state, in turn causing his results to drop eventually. 

And results were very important to him.

By then, Chen had thrusted the stick into your palm. You licked the top of the cotton candy happily, gobbling up the gauzy threads sooner than you thought. Unfortunately, you were a messy eater, tending to leave stains all around your mouth. Therefore, there was a litle patch of dried up sugar at the corner of your lower lip.

Chen noticed it almost immediately. He brought his hand upwards, gently caressing your soft cheek. Your heart started beating as fast as the time where you sprinted for about 3km. The whirlwind of emotions rushed to your face, eventually resulting in a faint blush. Your hands quivered ever so slightly, this was a first. 

He didn't feel the heat. His fingers slowly inched towards the corner of your lips, wiping away the melted sugar. "Sorry, Elly-ah~" He says, "Did I surprise you?" 

"A-Aniya..." For the first time in forever, you actually stuttered. You were surprised by his sudden sweet action. Was he about to kiss you? 

Impossible. He just thought of you as a friend, right? The thought lingered in your mind all the way back home. In your house, prepared to read the message, you flipped over the cotton candy stick, to see the neat, compact Korean handwriting of Kim Jong Dae. 

"사랑 해요, 공주~  (I love you, Princess)" You were utterly shocked. If you were surprised by his actions just now,  that was nothing compared to this. Your mind was in turmoil. Did he love you? Did he not?

Despite your constant messaging and calls, he never replied. Maybe it was out of regret? Disappointment? Anger? The very next day, you were watching TV, trying to take your mind off Chen. The emcee on Mnet was announcing the new boyband yet to debut the following month. 

"And now, we have Kim Jong Dae, or Chen! He is a talented high note singer that has managed to steal the hearts of fangirls everywhere, will he steal yours too?" You were blown away. Though you were his friend, you didn't know he could sing. But now that he was an idol, and you a mere nobody, you could never be together.

Well, reality was harsh.

Back to Present

Reminiscing about the past, your flashback was interrupted when your handphone notification ringtone sliced through the silence of the peaceful evening. Typing in your password, you saw that Chen had replied you, finally.

His message, though short, read:

Annyeong, Elly ah~ I've been really busy in EXO M these days. It's been almost a year since we last spoke and spent time together. We just came back from promotions in China yesterday, so are you free tomorrow, 6pm? I'll pick you up. 

And about what I wrote on the cotton candy stick, it's all true. I'll tell you properly tomorrow <3 

~Chen Chen

You smiled and typed back, "I love you, Kim Jong Dae."

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And wow! There goes my first request of a Chen fluffy one shot for @dancelikeXO. Hope you enjoyed it! 

By the way, cotton candy sticks in my country are a bit like ice cream sticks- broad and flat. 

Please do request. Kamsahamnida!~ I'm going to sleep, it's rather late. Kkk~

~Edaline