Chapter 8: Good Girls

The next mornig, Dahae gently knocked on the guest room and cracked the door open to see if anyone was awake yet. "Luhan, can I come in?" Without a response, Dahae let herself in the room and walked over to the side of the queen bed. She smiled at the sight of Haru being cuddled in Luhan's chest as they slept soundly. "Luhan," Dahae whispered once more as she shook him. 

"Hmmm? W-what's going on?" Luhan slowly opened his eyes and sat up in bed. His shirt lifted as he stretched his arms, revealing a part of his bare stomach. 

Dahae tried to hide her smirk after hearing her schoolmate's morning voice and seeing him with bed head. 

"When did you come in?" Luhan answered groggily as he ruffled his hair. 

"I-I...just a while ago. Breakfast is ready so I wanted to see if you two were awake."

"Oh...thanks. I'll just wash up then." Luhan picked up Haru and headed to the bathroom. 

Once Luhan headed into the kitchen, the aroma of soup, hot chocolate, and pastries filled the room. He saw Dahae with a big smile and wearing a pink ruffled apron on her waist. 

"Take a seat you guys, I hope you enjoy the meal."

Luhan placed Haru on a chair and seated himself, "You made all of this yourself?" He picked up his spoon and dipped it into the soup. 

"Mhm. It was my first time cooking though, so I hope it's ok." Dahae watched Luhan intently as he took his first sip of the soup. 

Luhan kept his face down as the after taste of the soup still lingered in his mouth. To sum up Dahae's cooking skills, they weren't good. 

"Is it good?" Dahae asked excitedly, "Haru do you like it?" 

Luhan quickly grabbed the spoon from Haru's hands and Dahae shot her eyes towards him. "Umm...Haru is...allergic to all kinds of soup?" 

"Oh," Dahae said disappointingly, "I'm sorry, I should have asked before I made breakfast. Well I hope she can eat the pastries."

Luhan bit his lip nervously as Haru placed a pastry in her mouth. He wasn't sure if she would be blunt and say how Dahae's cooking was unappetizing. But much to his surprise, Haru smiled as she ate her food. Out of curiosity, Luhan took a bite of the fresh baked goods and it was 10x better than the soup Dahae made. At least she knows how to cook something. 

"The pastries are good, huh? I bought them down the street." Dahae said as she happily took a bite for herself. So I guess she didn't make these...

After breakfast, Luhan changed back into his clothes from the previous day and headed towards the front door,"Well thanks for breakfast and for letting us stay the night."

"Are you leaving so soon?" Dahae asked. 

"Yeah, I should go get a new key made." Luhan slipped his right shoe on then stopped. He picked up his shoe and placed his hand inside. Slowly, he pulled out the missing key to his apartment. "What? Where did this come from?"

"Aha Luhan, it was in your shoe this whole time?"

"I-I guess it was? But why was it in my shoe out of all places? Sorry, this whole thing could have been avoided."

"No, it's alright," Dahae said in sudden nervousness. "I'm glad that you and Haru were able to stay over. I'm also glad that I got to know you a little bit better."

Luhan looked down at Dahae who was smiling shyly. He looked away when she realized that she had a really nice smile. It was really similar to someone else's. 

"Well goodbye," Dahae said, opening her arms for a goodbye hug. 

Instead of hugging her back, Luhan quickly stuck his hand out and shook Dahae's hand. Confused, Dahae slowly shook his. "Say thank you, Haru," Luhan told his sister. 

"I don't want to go," Haru complained. She released herself from Luhan and ran over to hug Dahae. 

"Aww it's ok Haru, we'll see eachother often, alright?" Dahae hugged Haru. 

"Noo, I don't want to go," Suddenly tears started coming out of Haru's eyes. 

Luhan had to act quickly and pick up Haru before opening the front door. 

"We're gunna go now, thanks." He said without looking back.

"Wait...b-bye guys?" Dahae said as she saw Luhan leave her home. 

--

"No Dahae, no. Just listen to me. You don't want to get too involved with someone like Luhan." Mijoo advised her friend after she gave her a rundown of what happened the previous night. Just a few days ago, Mijoo thought it would be a somewhat cute idea if Luhan had a crush on Dahae, but she didn't actually think any of them would act upon it. 

"I don't know why you hate him so much. I really think that I might like him...and I want to get to know him even better." Dahae admitted. 

"Well from the story you told me, he seems to act pretty cold towards you. Even when you're so nice to him and his little sister."

"But that's just his personality. What if he can't change it?" Dahae tried reasoning. 

"Well what about this, he told you about his old girlfriend right? That was like 4 years ago but he still sounds like he's in love with her."

"Y-you think?" 

"What's her name? I want to look her up."

"Hmm I don't think he mentioned her name." 

Mijoo rolled her eyes, "Ugh, well now I can't see if she's hot or ugly. But just steer away from Luhan. Baekhyun seems more like the kind of guy you'd go for."

As Dahae left her dorm and headed to the library, Mijoo's words still stayed in her head. Does he still have feelings for his old girlfriend? Is it really useless trying to be with him? But then those thoughts were quickly replaced with Baekhyun's words. 

"But Baekhyun said Luhan does like me...and if I like him back...shouldn't I tell him?" Dahae said to herself and she kicked the rocks on the floor while walking. 

She happened to kick a rock too hard and it hit someone's shoe as they were walking. "Oops I'm sorry," Dahae looked up and saw Luhan. 

"Luhan!" She exclaimed, "are you going to one of your classes?"

Luhan shook his head, "No. I do have a class right now, but I have to pick up Haru from school, she suddenly came down with a fever and her school called me." Luhan put his skateboard down and started skating away. 

"Wait Luhan!" Dahae ran after him, "If you need to get there fast, we can take my car."

Luhan looked at Dahae skeptically, "N-no, it's ok, I can just go there myself."

"But once you get there, how are you going to take her home if she's too tired to walk? You can't let her on your skateboard either."

Luhan bit his lip, realizing that the girl was right. He didn't want to accept her offer but he had no other choice. A few moments later, the two were sitting in the same chic car that they used to go to the theme park. The driver stopped infront of the preschool and Luhan rushed out to get Haru. 

"Do you think we should go to the pharmacy on the way to their apartment?" Dahae asked the driver. 

"If you want to miss. Also, don't think that I'm being nosey or anything but...what is this guy to you? Is he a friend of yours or--"

"He's just a friend. A schoolmate, really," Dahae said quickly. 

The driver raised his hands, signaling that he wasn't going to talk anymore, but through the rear view mirror, Dahae could tell that he was smirking slyly. 

Finally Luhan came back with Haru in his arms. He was no longer wearing his jacket because it was wrapped around Haru's body, she must have been freezing. 

"Is she alright?" Dahae said with a concerned tone. 

"Hopefully." Luhan said, holding his sister close to him. He placed her in the car seat that Dahae so conveniently kept in the car.  

Once the driver came to Luhan's apartment, Luhan opened the door and headed outside. From behind, he could hear another door closing and the sound of a car leaving. Luhan turned around to see Dahae following closely behind him. 

"What are you doing."

"I wanted to help you take care of her." Dahae answered. 

"No. I don't need your help. It's just a fever; she'll be sleeping most of the time."

Luhan insisted that he did not need Dahae's help but she said she told her driver not to come back for a few hours and that he was already heading out of the city to pick up her parents. With no other choice, Luhan let Dahae stay. 

"Ok you can stay until your driver comes back, but I don't need any help. Haru has had a fever before, I know how to take care of it."

Dahae took a seat on the couch and frowned at Luhan's rejections of help. She watched helplessly as Luhan changed Haru into pajamas, wiped her forehead, gave her medicine, and set the bed out for her to sleep on. Dahae noticed that Luhan was looking tired as he received a phone call and stepped to the side, "Hello? N-no I can't make it in today. I have a family emergency. Yeah I know. I know I'm really sorry. This won't happen again. Y-yes I will work extra shifts this weekend. Ok. Thank you."

"Is everything alright?" Dahae asked. 

Luhan gave Dahae a look for eavesdropping on his phonecall, "That was work. They needed me to come in today, but obviously I can't." Luhan sighed, he knew he could've used the money from working his shift. 

"If you don't mind me asking, why do you have to work when you're a student? Don't your parents send over some money to help pay for the apartment?"

Luhan sat beside Haru and gently fluffed her pillow, "It's not as easy for people like me alright? But you wouldn't know."

Dahae wanted to say something, but she didn't know what to say back. She didn't want to give Luhan a harder time than he's having now. 

"I'm sorry. Sorry for always bothering you and--" Dahae looked down once she heard abrupt snoring. Luhan was knocked out on the floor, his head not even on a pillow. Dahae went near Luhan and moved his head so it would rest comfortably. 

"You can have anything you want Haru," Luhan opened his eyes once he heard noises coming from the kitchen. It was already dark outside and he saw Dahae still at his apartment. She and Haru were at the table eating. There were take out boxes on the table and Dahae was feeding Haru. 

"Oh you're awake! Look, Haru's feeling better now," Dahae gave an eye smile. 

"You're still here?" Luhan got up from the bed and stood over the dinner table. 

"Well since you were still sleeping, someone had to be around to watch Haru."

Luhan sniffled as he took a seat. "Is it cold in here?" He wrapped his arms around himself and gave a little shiver. 

Dahae tilted her head, "Luhan, did you get sick too?"

He sniffed again, "It's probably just a cold," he placed his head on the table and closed his eyes again. 

Dahae grabbed Luhan a blanket and wrapped it around him, trying to get him to sit up straight. 

"You should eat this so you'll get better," She scooped him up some food on a spoon and held it up to his mouth. 

Luhan frowned with lazy eyes and rejected the food. "I'm not hungry. Besides, I can feed myself."

"When you're sick, you have to try to eat," Dahae refused to put the spoon down. 

"You never give up, do you?" Luhan sighed before opening his mouth. After Dahae fed Luhan, she stroked his hair. 

Luhan stopped chewing and saw Dahae in his peripherals, "What are you doing?"

"I was just fixing your hair."

"Why are you always trying to take care of me?" Luhan questioned in a somewhat annoyed tone.  

Dahae thought to herself for a second then shrugged, "It's probably just my second nature? I just like to offer my help as much as I can...If you ever need my help, you can always call me. I hope you don't mind, but while you were sleeping, I already put my number into your phone in case of an emergency...or maybe if you just wanted to talk to someone..."

Dahae turned to Luhan who looked as if he was glaring at her. "Oh I'm sorry...I should have asked for your permission first." 

Luhan shook the mug off of his face, "No I wasn't mad at you or anything, I was probably spacing out. I was just thinking about how...you're really nice. Baekhyun is the only one who would try to help me as much as you do, but I've known him for such a long time."

Dahae smiled, "Aw don't mention it. I like to help because I like you."

Luhan turned his eyes towards Dahae who smiled awkwardly after she caught herself spurting out nonsense. "I mean...of course because we're friends right?" Suddenly Dahae's phone beeped, receiving a text from her driver that he is waiting outside for her. "Oh, I have to go now."

Luhan walked Dahae to the door. "Is it alright if I leave? Do you still need me to stay here? I can help and take care of Haru still while you get your rest."

Luhan lifted the left side of his mouth, making a small smile, "I actually...really appreciate everything you've done already. But you don't have to be so concerned with us."

"Yeahhh sorry you probably think I'm weird or something...Well I have to head out now. Remember to take your medicine, and Haru needs to take her medicine too, also get lots of sleep, " Dahae hesitantly opened her arms for a goodbye hug, but refrained, remembering what happened the last time she tried to hug him. But what she didn't expect was for Luhan to pull her in and hug her back. 

He wrapped his arms around Dahae's waist and rested his chin on top of her head as he ran his hand through her long black hair. Dahae's face became red as she hugged Luhan, but she was still taken aback by his sudden embrace. They have been hugging at the doorway for a good minute until Dahae cleared her throat, "Um, Luhan?"

Immediately Luhan released himself and looked away from Dahae. "Bye." He said flatly. 

"Um b-bye...I'll see you at school tomorrow right?" Dahae said before leaving the apartment.

Once Dahae left, Luhan slid his back on the front door and held his head in his hands, "What am I doing?" He said frustratingly.