DAY 15

You lie on your bed, exhausted. You and your friends had attended an event that day, and a few classes. Classes because one of them really wanted to learn how to cook different types of Korean food. An event because two of them really love Running Man. So, she had found out where their producers planned on recording the next episode and the five of you had joined the massive crowd that came to watch them.

You check the clock. It's almost 8PM. Soon, Kai would be arriving at the airport and then you'd be able to see him the next day. It was the one thing that kept you awake at this moment, the thought of seeing him again.

Well, that, and the fact that your phone was obnoxiously ringing on the nightstand. 

You check the number. It's unfamiliar, but you knew that you wouldn't give your number to any random person, so you pick it up, mostly sure that it's someone you know. And you're right. "Yoboseyo?" You answer the phone.

"Ah! It's me, Taemin!"

"Oh, annyeong."

You hear him chuckle on his end. "How are you?"

"I'm good. What about you? Why'd you call?"

"Getting straight to the point, huh? Haha OK, do you want to go pic up Kai at the airport? I asked their managers and all and they're okay with it since the noonas seem to trust me a lot..."

"Yes! I mean, yeah! I'd..love to." You smile. Even before he can say anything, you're already standing up and running your fingers through your hair, trying to fix it. 

"OK, I'll come pick you up in, like, ten minutes. See you!"

"Bye! Thank you."

"No problem." He hangs up. You get ready, putting your phone in a small bag, and a room key. Your roommate asks who that was and you answer her honestly. She gives you a suggestive smile and you grin whilst pushing her on the arm lightly. 

"Don't do that!" You open the door. "I should head out now. I'll see you later, okay?"

"Mkay. Have fun."

You close the door behind you.

You head to the lobby slowly, taking the stairs. For some reason, you're trying not to rush your way to the car. But then you see it and you quicken your pace. You hear a loud click as Taemin unlocks the doors and you hop in. "Hey!" You greet him casually.

"Excited?"

"Yeah." You admit. He laughs, and then starts the car. You've always loved taking car rides at night. Big buildings always had lights on and the city looks bright and alive. You couldn't see many stars in the sky with all the lights down here, of course, but seeing the moon and the clouds...it's all very enchanting. You happily rest your head against the window. What could make this experience even better?

Well of course it's Taemin talking about Kai in his predebut days.

"He worked really hard for this. All the awards, all the fame and love. Him, and the rest of them. They deserve every bit of it."

You smile when you hear this. He's smiling too. The rest of the ride passes in silence, but it's a comfortable silence. When you two finally arrive at the airport, the first thing you notice is that you can't hear anything besides the screaming of countless fans. Taemin tells you that it's best if you two wait in the car for him to come out. He's already called Kai beforehand and Kai knows that you're coming. 

After about twenty minutes, the screaming gets even louder, if that's possible. They're coming. You see the members; there's Chanyeol, then Baekhyun next to him. Suho looking behind to see Sehun following behind. Dorky and cute Kyungsoo waving at fans.

And in the back...is Kai. 

You step out of the car and try to get his attention. "Kai! Kai!" You say, hoping he'll turn your way. Finally, he sees you. He smiles for a second, then his eyes widen in shock. And then he does the worst thing he could possibly do just then.

He turns around and walks away.

To be precise, he turns around and follows the members to their van. 

W...what? You can barely comprehend what had happened. It was as if he was happy to see you at first, but then realized something and ran away. You stand there, stunned. You hear a car door slam behind you and then Taemin is standing next to you, waving his hand in front of your face.

"Hey. Hey! What's wrong? What happened?"

"I..." You try to explain, but you can't. "I don't know..."

The van EXO-K is in leaves.

And you're still standing here. Dazed.

Taemin puts his hands on your shoulders and shakes you gently. "Hey, are you okay? Tell me what happened, where's Kai?"

"He...he left with the others."

"What!?"

You explain to him what you saw, the sudden change in expressions, the confusion, the hurt. Taemin stands there and listens. Then he opens the car door and motions for you to go in. "Come on. Let's go back, okay? I'll buy you something to drink on the way." 

You get in the car and he runs to the other side. He drives smoothly and silently and when you're almost back at the hotel, he stops at a fast food restaurant, still open even at this ungodly hour. 

He opens the door for you, like a gentleman, and leads you inside. "What do you want?"

"Coffee. Any kind. Just...coffee."

He looks at you with a frown. "Sit down, okay? I'll be right back." You sit down at the table closest to you. He comes back a minute later with a small coffee in his right hand, and a smoothie in his left. You take the coffee from him. It's light, in fact it's almost like a milkshake. You give him a look. "I didn't want you to have a hard time..sleeping today. It's late already, you should get some rest. We'll go back after you finish that, okay?"

You nod slowly.

"How are you feeling?" He asks you, speaking in a tone as if you might break any second now. 

You shrug. "I..don't know the story behind it. So I won't come to any...conclusions yet."

He smiles. "You're a smart girl."

"Not really."

And you feel that way too. Because the whole time you two sit there, slurping on your drinks through cheap plastic straws, tuning out the old music playing in the quiet speakers, you have one thought in your head.

What is he hiding?