𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬

four ✪

10 years ago. Xukun and Xinyi were 7 years old.

"Xukieee~" Xinyi called out holding a plushie. "Look what I got! I won it at the claw machine."

Xukun's smile grew wider, "Woah! I have one like this at home too. We can match!"

Xinyi cheered and danced around with the toy. She was really happy with it, she didn't notice someone walking beside her.

She turned around and bumped into the girl, making them both fall on the ground.

"My plushie!" Xinyi groaned, picking it up. She looked at the girl. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you."

The girl had a scowl on her face, "No! You did that on purpose."

She pushed Xinyi on to the ground again ans started stepping on her plushie.

Xukun who was a few meters away because he went ahead to buy ice cream, came back when she heard Xinyi's cries.

"Hey, what are you doing to her?"

"She pushed me first!" The girl exclaimed throwing the plushie on the ground.

Xukun raised his eyebrows and held out a hand for Xinyi, "Come on."

"Are you not going to apologize?!"

Xukun turned around and found the girl really furious. He smiled and picked up the plushie that was on the ground. "Why would we apologize when you pushed her first? Don't you have some manners?"

Xinyi tried to stop herself from snickering. The girl just scoffed and ran back to the opposite direction.

"Thank you," Xinyi whispered to her old friend.

Xukun patted her head, "I'll be here for you. Always."

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"I will always be here for you -"

"Cut!"

Seungkwan interrupted Yoojung and Vernon. They were practicing for a drama play that we were gonna do in English.

The best one who has a plot line that has a strong impact to the audience will win a prize.

I hope its a trip somewhere.

"I can't feel the love you know," Seungkwan explained, using hand gestures. "I need to feel the emotions."

"Seungkwan, come on. We've been doing this for almost 45 minutes and we're still in the same scene." Yoojung whined.

Doyeon nods, "They're right. How about we practice Xinyi and Xukun's scene?"

Yep. That's correct. We were short one person so the teacher decided to group Xukun with us because she says since he's living with me, WE ARE close.

"Maybe, later," I said not in the mood.

Xukun suddenly stood up from his seat, "We can do it."

"Are you crazy?!" I whisper but more like a yell from beside him.

He just shrugs his shoulder and stood in the center, "Well come on. This scene is not going to work if I'm the only one playing."

"Why don't you try playing it yourself?"

Xukun sighed, "You want me to be the boy and the girl at the same time?"

I faced Vernon, "Can it work?"

Vernon chuckled and shook his head, "No, it can't. Now go. Quit stalling."

I coughed holding the script in my hand. I was shaking but I think Xukun doesn't notice it.

"Stop shaking," Oops, spoke too soon.

"Okay. We'll start," Changbin said, clapping the slate. "In 3, 2, 1, action!"

"You waited for him?" Xukun asked, getting into character.

I bit my lip, "It was the only thing I could think of!"

"Naeun, you do realize that HE has a girlfriend? What were you thinking?"

"You wouldn't understand! You never experienced falling in love in the first place."

"You don't know that."

Both our eyes met and why am I having this tingling feeling inside my stomach. He's so good in acting - or was it genuine?

I scoffed. Well, that was what the script says! "Don't lie. I know you, Taemin."

Xukun suddenly held my wrist and pulled me towards him. Our faces are only inches apart and I can feel my heart beating twice as fast. My eyes moved towards his eyes then down to his lips. I can feel his breathing right in front of me.

"Stop talking, Naeun, for once just stop." He leaned in closer as I close my eyes.

Is he going to kiss me? For real? Right here? What?!

"Okay, I'm done," I got surprised as he let go of me and backed away. He was so close, I swear.

Seungkwan nods, holding a tissue, "Beautiful. Truly beautiful." He suddenly pointed at Vernon and Yoojung. "This is the kind of emotion we need! It has to have soul!"

Yoojung raised her hand, "Do you even know what that means?"

"I don't!" Doyeon replied with a grin on her face. "But I think I have a new ship. Is Kunyi good? Or Xunyi? Which one is better Changbin?"

Changbin who was quiet during the whole scene, frowned. "Nothing is good."

"Don't be a sour pork!" Doyeon said, hitting his shoulder. "You're just jealous because you don't have a lovelife."

"But I personally think Xunyi is better." Vernon adds.

"Kunyi!" Yoojung screamed.

"Okay!" I exclaimed, clapping my hands together. "Are we done here, yeah? We're done."

I walked out of the room first trying to catch my breath. What did I just experience back there? I was sweating all over the place and I swear I was blushing.

I looked at my hands that were still shaking and everytme I close my eyes, I can picture the scene where Xukun leans in -

"Xinyi," A voice called out from behind making me jump.

"O-oh, Xukun," I stuttered.

I saw Xukun's chest went down as he had just exhaled, "Zheng wants us to come home. He ordered beef."

I nodded, taking my bag and saying goodbye to my friends. I didn't notice it was already night out.

We were walking home when suddenly Xukun spoke, "Sorry, if that made you feel awkward."

I was shocked because whenever we walk home together, he never spoke to me. Not even a single word. And to think this time he's the one initiating the conversation.

"No, no, it's okay. It didn't feel awkward at all," I lied.

I can see the shadow of his head nodding. I was walking in front of him, so I can't really see what his reactions are.

"The script just told me what to do, so I did it."

We were almost at the house when I felt him stop behind me.

I pursed my lips together to asked what was wrong but before I could say anything he beat me to it, "But if I Seungkwan pushes us to do a real kiss scene, I won't hesitate."

There goes my beating heart again, "Aren't you afraid of what they'll say?"

"It's just a play right, besides," Xukun closed the gate behind us and when he was doing so, I could hear a faint mumble from behind,

"I was your first kiss after all."

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word count: 1,136 words
2/7/18