The Choice I Made

CHAPTER XVI: Troubled

Krriing...krriinnngg...kriinngg...

My alarm clock woke me up from my beauty sleep. I glanced at it and it said seven in the morning. I stretched out my tired body and is ready to fall asleep again when I remembered that I have guests to attend to. I scrambled to my feet and went out to serve my visitors. To my surprise, the boys are already preparing for breakfast.

"Good morning!" they chorused when they spotted me. I looked around and saw Chanyeol and Kyungsoo wearing aprons and were frying eggs; Sehun and Jongin were putting bread on the toast and who seemed to be having fun with the machine; Xiumin was brewing coffee while Jongdae watched from the side; Kevin and Tao were busy setting the table; and, Lay and Luhan were in charge of putting the living room in its original state.

"Where's Suho oppa and Baekhyun oppa?" I asked, walking to the kitchen.

"They checked if the heater is already fixed," somebody answered. Lay, I guess. He's not much of a talker and I learned from Kevin that he's really awkward around people he just met.

I looked over what they're preparing and wanted to help but all of them made a chorus of disagreement.

"This is our way of paying back your kindness for letting us stay," Xiumin said, smiling at me.

Breakfast was delicious though it was plain. Just sunny side up, bread with Nutella, and coffee. It was a simple breakfast but spent on a happy atmosphere. Everyone was chatting happily and would laugh whenever someone tells a bad joke. It felt like family.

EXO didn't stay for another night because their heater has worked again. Some members were reluctant to leave that Suho has to almost drag them out of my unit. Of course, they were just playing around. Kevin, who's the most reticent to go, was the last to leave.

"Why do you look so sad when we're just a few steps away?" I chuckled when I saw his pouting face.

"I want to stay with you as much as possible," he replied. "I'll be very busy this coming months and I'm sure we won't see each other often as we wish."

"We can always call each other, can't we?" I said, assuring him. "What are you so worried about?"

His expression got a bit stiff for a second but it melted right away. He smiled at me and said, "You're right. Maybe I'm just overthinking things."

***

"You look pale in that CF," Belle commented while watching the TV and stuffing popcorn in her mouth.

It's Christmas eve and I'm lounging in her living room, waiting for the live telecast of MBC Gayo Daejun where EXO will be performing. Eric and Belle are kind enough to let me be their third wheel for the night. Besides, it's Christmas eve and it's lonely to spend it alone.

"It's what the director wants," I replied lazily at her comment, pulling up the blanket, which she has lent me, to my chest. It's crazily cold even with the presence of the heater.

Eric, who was sitting beside Belle, sat up straight when the show signaled to be starting.

"It seems like you're more eager to watch than Sam," Belle noted. "So, you also like to see idols, huh?"

"Eyyy, do you really have to be jealous?" Eric teased and Belle just rolled her eyes in response. I snickered at their exchange and Kevin's face flickered in my mind. I miss him. It has been a month since we've spent quality time together. Yes, we see each other since we're neighbors but that's just it---seeing each other.

The show is just starting to get heated when a call came in.

"Woo Bin oppa?" I said, answering the phone.