NINETEEN

(Seorin's POV)

  Sunlight was streaming in through the small window when I opened my eyes the next morning. For a moment I couldn't recognize where I was. Then I remembered; Exo's dorm. The house was quiet but an absolutely heavenly smell was wafting through the morning air.

  Stomach grumbling, I quickly made my bed and stepped out of the room. The smell was coming from the kitchen where D.O was standing over the stove.

  "Good morning!" he greeted me cheerfully. "Did you sleep well?"

  "Yep. What are you making?" I asked leaning on the counter.

  "Pancakes. I thought I'd go English today, for a change," D.O replied.

  "Oh. Need any help?"

 "Thanks but I'm almost done,"  D.O flipped a pancake expertly. "But could you help me lay the table please?"

  "Sure," I said getting to work. "Do you always cook for them?"

  "Most of the time," he said switching off the cooker and sliding the last pancake into a platter "Other times we order some take out"

  D.O came over to the table with the platter of pancakes as I finished laying the last plate. "Seorin, can I ask you something?" he asked suddenly.

  "Yeah"

  "What do you think of Sehun?"

  I looked up, startled. D.O was regarding me seriously. "Um... what do you mean?" I asked after a moment.

  He shrugged. "Just, you know, what you think of him. Whether you think he's good or bad or..." he trailed off.

  "Uh- he's good I guess?" I said uncertainly, not sure where the conversation was going "Though I did think he was cold at first."

  D.O nodded. "A common misunderstanding," he said "He's very sweet and soft hearted actually, under that poker face. He is very loyal and gets hurt easily. People who don't know him, don't see what caring person he really is. Specially towards people he loves." D.O looked at me.

  "Um ok," I said. Why is he telling me this?

  "I just thought that you should know," D.O said. I just stared at him. "Right!" he abruptly changed the topic. "Let's wake up those sleepy heads shall we?"

  "I'll do it," I offered, wanting to clear my head. What is D.O implying? Have I hurt Sehun or something?? I knocked on Baekhyun and Chanyeol's door.

  "Wake up!" I called "Breakfast's ready."

  "Ok," mumbled a sleepy voice and I continued to the next room which was Kai and D.O's and then to Xiumin's room he shared with Chen and Lay. Lastly, I stopped by Sehun and Suho's room.

  As I was heading back to the kitchen, I needed to pee so I stopped by the bathroom. The door was closed so I knocked cautiously. There was no answer. I knocked again, this time louder, and the door flew open and Sehun stepped out.

  I screamed, flinging my hands over my eyes. "PUT SOME CLOTHES ON!!!" 

  I heard a low chuckle through the pounding of my heart. Cautiously peeking through my fingers, I saw Sehun standing there with an amused smile. He was shirtless and wearing a pyjama bottom, his hair tousled adorably

  "Don't you think you're overreacting a little bit?" he asked, raising an eyebrow  and I put my hands down, going red.

  "I-I w-was surprised that's all," I stuttered defensively, trying to keep my eyes on his face but failing miserably. My heart was trying to burst out of my chest and I was doing my best not to blush. I hadn't been prepared to see a shirtless Sehun early in the morning.

  Sehun leaned forward with a little smirk, "Are you blushing?"

  'WHAT?! NO!"

  "Looks like you are. Though no one can blame you, I am pretty hot-"

  "SHUT UP!" I snapped, furious that he was telling the truth and I couldn't do anything about it. D.O's voice echoed in the back of my mind; What do you think of Sehun? 

 "Move. I need to use the bathroom," I pushed him aside and slammed the bathroom door in his face. My face in the mirror was as red as a beetroot. With a groan I leaned against the door. How am I going to face him at breakfast??

(Sehun's POV)

   I went back to my room with a chuckle. Suho was just coming out. "Who screamed?" he asked with a yawn.

  "Seorin," I replied, rooting around for a t-shirt.

  "Jesus Sehun, you shouldn't scare the poor girl early in the morning," Suho gave me a reproachful look.

  "I didn't do it on purpose!" I protested "I didn't even know she was awake."

  "Fine. Come for breakfast quickly," he said and left the room. I followed him after a minute. The others were at the table and the usual bustle filled the room.

  "Oh hey," Chen greeted me "Where's Seorin?"

  "In the bathroom I think," I said pouring myself some coffee.

  Across the table Xiumin raised an eyebrow. "Did you have anything to do with the scream we heard?" he asked

  I shrugged, reaching for the pancakes. D.O swatted my hand away.

  "Wait for Seorin," he chided.

  "I was meaning to ask you," Chanyeol said "Did you play a part in Seorin getting evicted? So she could come and stay with us?

  "Smooth," Baekhyun said with a low whistle.

  "Of course not!" I said indignantly. "It was just pure luck. She-" I stopped short when Seorin entered the kitchen. Her eyes flitted towards me once and she looked away, cheeks faintly red. I smiled to myself at the memory of her getting all flustered and stuttering. She had looked so cute, with a her cheeks pink and hair messed up cutely.

  Seorin sat down and breakfast started. "Oh my god this is so good," sighed Seorin, who was inhaling one pancake after the other.

  "Thanks," said D.O looking pleased. Anyone complimenting his cooking gave him great joy.

  "Woah slow down Seorin!" Suho said with a laugh. "You look like you haven't had proper food in ages!"

  Seorin looked up and swallowed, saying nothing.

  "Wait, you seriously haven't had proper food?!" I asked "Tell me, when was the last time you had a good meal?"

  "Um...two or three weeks ago? I think," she said sheepishly. I started at her in disbelief. "I did eat a lot of ramen though," she assured me.

  "Ramen is not a meal!" I cried "Why didn't you tell us? We could've helped."

  "I didn't want to be a burden to anyone," Seorin avoided meeting my eyes.

  "Aish silly girl," Lay said "You're part of our family. You aren't a burden."

  "Yeah. You can just tell us if you face any difficulties," Kai said.

  Seorin gave a little smile. "Thanks. To be honest I didn't tell anyone because I kept thinking business will pick up and I'll get a proper salary again."

  "I heard the news. I'm sorry about Cosmic," Suho said.

  "It's ok. It's just a rough patch. We'll recover," Seorin said "Somehow."

  There was a silence as everyone concentrated on their food. "Baek, what did I tell you? No phones at the table," Suho said, breaking the silence.

  "Oh don't be so parental hyung," Baekhyun grumbled, putting away his phone. "I was just reading an article about a collaboration event." He continued on giving the details while I listened half heartedly.

  An idea started to bloom at the back of my mind. I put down my fork suddenly, interrupting Baekhyun midsentence and making the others jump. Will it work? 

  "What's the matter?" Kai questioned. "You look odd."

  "I just had an idea..." I said slowly "If it works, it might save Cosmic." Seorin looked at me in surprise.

  "Go on. We're listening," urged Chanyeol and I started telling them my idea.

  "Do you think it'll work?" Seorin asked, her eyes shining and face hopeful.

  "It might!" Lay said excitedly "Why didn't we think of it before!"

  "Because you don't have my brains," I teased.

  "Oh shut up," Xiumin said good naturedly "But it is a good idea."

  "So are we all in?" Suho asked "Then we can go to Cosmic with Seorin today."

  "Of course we're all in!" D.O said "Have you guys finished eating? Let's not waste any more time."

  I smiled at Seorin across the table. "We are going to save Cosmic with my brilliant IQ. Get ready to thank me later." 

.  .  .