Lost In The Dream

12 | Hotseat and Candle Lights

She stared intently, her hand at her throat. What to do next?

There are seven celebrities in her home, and four friends who just wanted to know what is happening. It's getting dark and she felt that they won't be leaving until she says a word.

"Are you sick?" Shownu asks with his chopsticks pointing at her, but when he realizes this, he put those sticks down.

Changkyun clears his throat, "hyung she's not sick. I hate to break it all to you but Kihyun hyung is lying." She knows he's lying but what lie could cover everything that happened between her and Kihyun?

Should I just tell them we kissed and he was sweet all day? She thought and shakes her head trying to swim inside her pool of thoughts. She looks at Kihyun, who is already looking at her with looks of concern. Their eyes battle in front of everyone and even if no one speaks a word, they already know something is up.

"Just tell us," Wonho recognizes the seat burning so he tries to lighten up the mood by encouraging the two to speak up.

Zimmy feels her heart crumble, thinking of the most unselfish answer she could say. She is always like this, used to thinking of the other individual before her first. She knows it's wrong to not prioritize herself but it's also wrong if they will know that she just broke a rule. A tear silently pokes from her eyes, she just hopes no one sees because she's not ready for it to pool all over her eyes.

Kihyun gazes at her and just wants to hug and comfort her, tell her that everything is going to be fine. But honestly, he's been thinking of what she blabbered about a bet, and his heart sinks a couple of times because he is ready to confess and own up to his feelings. But what good would it do if she thinks that was only a bet? He thinks that maybe what he's feeling now is an idea of love that he has forgotten a long time ago. Maybe this is just an infatuation, a not so serious matter. He sadly purses his lips, not knowing what to feel.

"Just say you're dating already," Minhyuk calmly begins.

It's funny how he said it calmly, while the two they put on a hotseat are both battling with their feelings.

Zimmy sighed so deep she thought her lungs are breaking, "i-it's... I called him," she answers while still putting up words in her mind, "I was having a pretty bad time since-" she stops and looks at Hyungwon and everybody knows that already. She then make sure that she and Hyungwon are both in good terms and there is nothing to worry about anymore but it is just her that's feeling off.

"But Kihyun went out since morning, he didn't even attended our practice. You're saying he picked up his phone to answer you and tend on you?" Jooheon inquires with his narrowed eyes.

If there is one thing she would like to do right now, it's to bang her head on the table. How can she not think of that? Kihyun is not the type of person to answer a call from her, or to even care about her.

She grimaces just thinking of the shower of questions about to be thrown at her stupid answer.

"Are you sure he picked up his phone for you? He can't even pick up his phone for me." Hyungwon added salt to the injury.

"Stop it," Kihyun finally asserts with his arms crossed.

"You're lying to us now, Kihyun?" Minhyuk objects. The seven deadly sins are now exchanging deadly gazes and it didn't help because Zimmy's feeling all tired and of no help. She sees Kihyun take a deep breath. "You're lying to us because of this girl?" Minhyuk points at her, making her heart crumble a little more.

She looks down hoping for this night to pass and to be reunited with her bed at the moment. She completely regrets that she even thought of coming out for a walk, if she didn't come out, this wouldn't happen. No matter how hard she tries to think it's not her fault, all roads still leads to her.

"Stop it Minhyuk, you're-" Dara interposes but got cut.

"Why would I stop? You're best friend taught our Kihyun to lie! Maybe it is her that needs to stop." Minhyuk snaps.

"I said stop it Lee Minhyuk!" Kihyun jeers.

But it's too late, tears are already streaming on her face as she bites her lower lip trying to not make a sound. The room turns silent and the lights turns off. She finds it hard to see because of her bad eyesight, but everything turns dark. Quietly, a hint of light enters the room.

Candle lights in the middle of this chaos? She thinks.

Everyone in the room is singing Happy birthday Zimmy all of a sudden and her tears pools over her eyes thinking of how much of a mess she is. It's her birthday and she almost forgot but thanks to whoever planned this prank, she's crying at her special day.

Minhyuk quickly goes to her and gives her a hug, "I'm so sorry Zimmy-ya!"

She later on catches up and is able to realize that everything is a prank, everything. She plasters an uneasy smile on her face even though her heart sinks and drowns inside. Just knowing that she has been pranked is okay, but she doesn't know what to think about the kiss.

Is that also a prank?

They celebrate her birthday and are able to drink a few shots of alcohol which Zimmy refuses because she has a very low tolerance. She didn't leave the party though and tries her best to keep that plastered smile on her face.

Kihyun can't help but to gaze over the birthday girl, he wants to explain the situation to her but he can't because no one knows his true feelings yet. His soft gazes silently kills Changkyun inside on the other hand. The maknae realizes something is up and is finding the right moment to bring it up to his hyung.

Of course everyone likes Zimmy, who wouldn't? She is an enlightened being with capabilities of shining a light to everywhere she goes. But Kihyun's feelings are a lot different compared to what other's are feeling towards the enlightened girl.

Time flies quickly and it's time for a wrap, team sierra accompanied the seven deadly sins on the way to their car. Kihyun slows his pace to be able to talk to Zimmy. He quickly jerks to hold her arms and pulls her into a private place where nobody can see them.

Zimmy gave him a confused look, with her eyebrows twitching. "What now?"

Kihyun felt his heart tear a little from her question, he sucks in a quick breath. Zimmy realizes how she sounded annoyed and regrets the tone of her voice afterwards.

"I just want to-" he starts, brushing his hand to her shoulders.

"It's okay, Kihyun. I get it. For a prank, right?" She tries to hide her grimace but Kihyun still saw it.

He can't help but to put both his hands on her shoulders, making her cornered to her defeat. She tries her best to avoid his gazes and she's doing quite good at it because now, she is on his nerves.

"Just for once, Shiny. Will you let me finish?" He says under his breath, still looking at her who's frozen with her eyes fixated on the other end of the street.

Zimmy knows she has no other choice but to stay and listen to another set of bullshit, this is her first time hearing Kihyun say something though as she always cut him off.

On the other end of the street stands Changkyun, feeling victory because he realizes something is up between the two of them. He always felt his hyung is hiding something ever since she threw her enamel pin on him.

Zimmy narrows her eyes and recognizes Changkyun, her insides slowly squeezing the life out of her.

He can't see us like this.

She jerks her shoulders, "I said it's okay, Kihyun. I understand that you're this kind of person but you can't go around," she catches a breath, "you can't go around making my heart flutter."

Kihyun's brows meets, a look of confusion clouds his face. He loses his strength and let go of his hold on her shoulders. Now, he's starting to regret why he kissed her this early. Now he has feelings she can never reciprocate, he thought.

"Also, don't ever call me Shiny again."