20 cm || Choi Yeonjun

07

"8....7....6....5....4....3....2....1, okay, rest for a bit, you guys." The dance instructor clapped his hands a few times, visibly content with our progress in training. All of us simultaneously dropped to the floor when we hear the words we've been wanting him to say for at least fifteen minutes now. I couldn't help but groan out when my skin hit the cold floor.

"I'll be attending a quick meeting with the production management. If I don't comeback after an hour, you guys continue the set of steps I taught you. Eunbi watch over them." He ordered our oldest while getting his things splayed out on the corner. Eunbi unnie muttered a quick 'yes'. Once our teacher was out the door, the girls screamed out in delight. Though we were all sweaty and breathless, Ria still managed to stand up on shaky legs and connected her phone to the speakers. Her playlist started playing and that was our cue to finally relax.

Oh god, I think I'm dying.... I've been momentarily staring at the ceiling with stray hairs sticking all around my face. My thighs were burning and my shoulders were tensed as hard wood. I can't even feel my legs and my cheeks probably had uneven patches of red from dancing too intensely. I grabbed my towel and wiped my face. "Yah, Jiwon. You've got a message." Ga eun yelled over the music. She waved my phone and there I saw on the screen was a tiny notification bubble. I unsteadily stood up from my lying position and walked to sit next to Ga eun on the wooden bench.

Kai:
Noona, I'm here in the convenience store! Want to meet? ^3^
Sent 3:47 pm

After reading the text, I turned to Eunbi unnie. "Unnie, will our teacher be back anytime soon?" I asked.

"Not really. I heard from the staff that the meeting will particularly be a long one. And those usually last for 2 hours or so. Why?" Eunbi unnie curiously tilted her head in my direction. She observed my expression first with her cat-like eyes and then cracked a small smile after probably seeing my excitement. Ugh.... She knew me too well.

These past few days, Kai and I would meet in the convenience store to grab a snack and hang for a few minutes. This became like a ritual after we met again on my second day of training there at the store. One thing lead to another and we officially became food buddies. We have gotten close within the span of 6 days and not one of us was planning on break our streak of meeting each other.

"Kai invited me to eat." I said.

"Lucky girl." Ria chided in while still heavily panting. I giggled because of that. She has a huge crush on Kai. And she would bug me endless to take a picture of him. Literally like a fan.

"Okay, come back after an hour." Eunbi unnie negotiated. I quickly nodded my head and grabbed my wallet. I adjusted my hoodie and attempted to calm my now frizzy hair by tying it into a low ponytail.

"Don't forget the pics!" Ria shouted before I closed the door.

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I jogged to the place and tried to spot the fluffy haired idol. I sucked in a breath when I realize that today was particularly jam packed. The line was pretty long at the cashier and a handful of people were in every corner of the store. I continued walking mindlessly past the aisles, when a pretty long hand proclaimed its presence amongst the sea of people at the tables. A familiar voice called my name. I rushed there with a smile and finally saw the brunet.

"Hi." I greeted breathlessly. While sitting down, I realised that this time, Kai wasn't alone. Yeonjun was sitting next to him and was now expectantly looking at me. I nodded my head at him and gave a small smile.

"Kai, I'll pick out a few snacks. Wait for me here." I said about to stand up.

"Oh no no no, noona. Yours is already here! Yeonjun hyung treated us." Kai, trying to stop me while mouthing 'he seldom does that though.' And made a face. I couldn't help but laugh at his antics.

"Thanks for this." I turned to Yeonjun. I noticed that his ears were red again. He squirmed uncomfortably and nodded his head. What he bought me was a sandwich, an ice cream cone and a bottle of pororo juice. Kai probably chose these.

"So how was practice? Ours was done an hour ago." Hueningkai mumbled with food in his mouth.

"Oh, I'm just on break. I'll return after an hour." I responded while looking at my watch.

"Should I buy you a gatorade instead?" Yeonjun asked with knitted brows, he quickly stood up and before I could even decline, he was already choosing from the fridge. Kai and I exchanged weird looks. His eyes were wide open and has stopped eating his ice cream midway.

"What's up with him today?" Kai couldn't help but whisper to himself.

"Is he always like this? You know, thoughtful?" I asked him. He immediately shook his head and waved both his hands.

"Actually, that hyung right there is very stingy. He would only treat us during birthdays. Hmm.." Kai furrowed his eyebrows and scratched his head, obviously in deep thought.

"Well, at least free gatorade, right?" I attempted to joke. But Kai didn't hear me. He was quiet, still thinking.

"Here." Yeonjun offered me the drink and sat down. I muttered a quick thanks and looked away, hiding the blush that was about to surface.

"Aha! I get it now! Hehehe." Kai said all of a sudden while clapping his hands. He was smirking while looking at the both of us.

"Know what?" Yeonjun asked, clueless as to what Kai was pertaining.

"Oh nothing~ ....Ah! Right, Yeonjun hyung, you should also give your number to Jiwon noona since we're all friends now!" Kai pressed on while exaggeratedly moving his brows up and down at his hyung. "Did I miss something?" I alternately looked at the both of them.

"That's n-not a bad idea, actually. Here, Jiwon-ah. Y-you can text me if you want someone to accompany you in eating. I mean not only in eating but you know, if you'll need a f-friend?" Yeonjun rambled in a small voice. His whole face was so red now. He can't even look straight at me. And to make it more awkward, Kai suddenly burst out laughing, his hands on his stomach and had tears in his eyes.

"N-need a f-friend? Really, hyung? Why are you stuttering?" Kai nudged Yeonjun on his side, teasingly. 'And gosh, you're so slow'. He whispered to him not knowing that I could hear him.

"Right! Here's my phone." I handed the phone to him.

I'm still confused though. Kai never acted weird like this before. What games is he playing now? We exchanged numbers and I automatically registered his name as 'Yeonjun sunbae' on my contacts.

"Jiwon noona, Yeonjun hyung is older than you so you should call him 'oppa'." The little brat suggested while wiggling his eyebrows. I slapped him lightly on the shoulder to stop him. He couldn't even let his hyung live in one piece even just for a second, huh?

"Alright, that's enough. Jiwon-ah, we'll get going." Yeonjun didn't even bat an eye and pulled on Kai's sleeve and stood up.

"Jiwon noona! Goodbye!" Kai said while being dragged out backwards.

And here I thought, you could help me. Yeonjun whispered to Hueningkai while letting out a sigh.

I did! It's effective you've got to admit. Kai whispered back loudly while they were making their way to the door.

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Word Count: 1311