KAI: Chapter 3 (1/1)

Thinking about Kai’s past actions, I can’t help but think it’s me he likes, as vain as that sounds. But that thought immediately dissolves when I see Kai glaring at me every time I talk to Chanyeol, who is, much less to say, a complete chatterbox. This is the first time I’m actually having a conversation with him, as we happen to be partners for practicing baseball pitches, and he hasn’t stopped talking since the start of class.       “So where do you live?” he asks.     “Exo-M Apartments. It’s like three bus stops away from here.”     “Oh I live in the building across the street from there. Near the store.”      “Oh cool!” I never knew so many people from our school lived near me. I smile at him and when I look away, my eyes meet Kai’s. He looks really angry. Yup, it’s definitely not me he likes. The bell then rings for the end of class and Chanyeol leans towards me.      “Wanna go home together?”      I stare at him because I’m not sure I heard him correctly. Just as I’m about to respond, I hear a voice.      “Chanyeol, the P.E. teacher wants to talk to you.” It’s Kai.      Chanyeol nods and says, “See you after school, (y/n)” before running off.     Kai looks at me with a raised eyebrow as he wipes off the sweat on his forehead, “After school?”     “Yeah, it turns out he lives near me. Or us, I should say.” I remember how Kai lives close by too.      “So?” Kai asks, looking a bit ticked off.     “So...he asked if I want to go home together.” I’m slightly scared of his face, which is turning more and more irritated.       “Did you say yes?”     “I didn’t respond at all.”     “Don’t go with him.”     “What?” I look at Kai, who turns away. His signature pink ears are glowing. He clears his throat.      “I mean, he probably forgot the fact that he has basketball practice after school today. You’d be waiting for hours,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck.      “Really? Then I’ll tell him I can’t wait that long,” I say. Kai looks somewhat satisfied.      “Um… did you not have any questions for math yesterday?” he asks me. I face him with a confused face. I slowly shake my head and he chuckles, brushing off his slightly damp hair that pokes his eyes to the side.      “Why?” I ask him.       “I was...waiting for your text.”       What..? He’s being so confusing. One moment I feel like he’s angry at me for something and now I can’t help but go back to thinking he’s interested in me. I feel my face growing warm. But I soon hear Ollie calling me and I gladly realize it’s lunchtime. Before I turn to leave, I try to give Kai his jacket back but he tells me he can have it later. I nod, unsure of what to think of all this.

“Enjoy your lunch, (y/n),” he murmurs with a slight grin as he jogs towards Sehun and Baekhyun, who have suspicious smirks on their faces as they look our way. They begin to point and laugh at Kai, who throws his water bottle at them. As Kai and his two friends make their way towards the entrance of the school, I remember the need to hurry up and change so that there will be at least something left for me in the cafeteria. I quickly move my feet and walk towards the school building.  ***     “What did Kai say to you la?” Ollie eyes me suspiciously as we sit down with our trays of food.     “Nothing,” I say back.     “Wait. Now that I think of it...is that his jacket?! GIRL WHAT IS GOING ON? TELL ME NOW!” She grabs my arm after recognizing the jacket. Oh yeah, I’m still wearing Kai’s jacket when I clearly did not want any misunderstandings. Way to go (y/n).     “Nothing is going on; he just gave it to me because I was cold.” I look at her but she doesn’t seem convinced.     “Uh huh...sure.” Then her eyes get big. “What if he’s the one?”     “...?”     “Your milk guy, dummy! It looks as though he has a huge crush on you la.” She giggles and claps her hands. “Who would have thought Prince Kai, of all people, would like you, of all people?”     Should I slap her now… I face her with a face that projects seriousness and say, “No. He likes someone else. I’m sure of it.”     “What do you mean?” she asks with raised eyebrows.     “I saw on Baekhyun’s facebook post. He likes someone else,” I repeat, deciding to believe that it really can't be me. From the few encounters I had with him, I can tell that Kai's a nice guy. All the things from him that made me think there's actually a possibility of him liking me are probably just...manners. Or something of that sort.     “Huh.” Ollie chews her food lost in thought. But before she can say anything else, someone sits next to me. Ollie looks at him wide-eyed.         “Can I sit with you guys?” Chanyeol flashes his signature smile and Ollie nods, mesmerized. “What were you guys talking about?” Chanyeol asks.     “Uh nothing.” I continue eating. Chanyeol pouts at me, like he’s sad I’m not including him in our conversation. But it’s none of his business. Ain’t no puppy dog face gonna make me talk. “Hey, you wanna eat ice cream after school on the way home? I know a super yummy place,” Chanyeol says soon after. Ice cream? Now that’s tempting. But I remember what Kai told me and say, “But I thought you had basketball practice.” “Oh man, you’re right. I completely forgot,” Chanyeol groans, his face overflowing with disappointment. I almost feel sorry. Did he want ice cream that bad? “Well maybe we can go tomorrow?” I suggest. Chanyeol immediately nods and turns to Ollie and tells her she should come too. Ollie’s cheeks are bright pink and she quickly nods as well.  ***     It’s always so tiring after lunch; my eyelids are literally heavier than a truck. I find a carton of milk on my desk again, but I set it aside and decide to drink it later. This period being history isn’t helping so much either. I cannot understand a word the teacher is saying. I yawn continuously and accidentally meet eyes with Kai. He smiles at me and I immediately look away. I’m wide awake now.     The bell rings and as science follows after, our homeroom teacher walks in. He has a suspicious smile on his face and he begins drawing on the board. Oh no. It’s the time of the quarter where we switch seats. We all groan. He finishes his grid of desks and numbers them randomly. Then he tells Kai to pass out slips of paper with random numbers on it. I silently pray I get a seat in the far back next to Ollie. Kai comes to me and I continue praying. I choose a slip of paper with my eyes closed and hear him laugh quietly. I stare at him, silently asking him ‘what.’ He shakes his head before moving onto the next person. I open my paper. 14. I check where 14 is on the board and realize it’s not a bad seat after all. It’s next to a window in the second to last row. I turn to Ollie sitting behind me and she shows me her paper. 7? We aren’t partners after all. I sigh at the fact. We all have our new numbers and our teacher gives us the sign to start moving. I grab all my belongings (not forgetting the milk) and walk over to desk #14. I sit down and wait for my desk partner, who should be number 13. Just as I’m starting to space out, I hear a voice.    “(y/n)? You’re 14? We must be destiny since we keep running into each other like this.”  I turn to see Chanyeol smiling at me. He quickly sets his bag down next to me and pulls out his chair to sit down. I smile back at him and he points to the carton of milk I’m holding.“Do you like strawberry milk?” he asks. “Yeah, I’ve been getting these for free lately,” I respond. He looks at me wide-eyed and I ask him, “Remember I asked you that one time if you knew who was giving me these? I asked everyone in the class.” “....huh,” is all he says.  “Park Chanyeol.” A deep voice interrupts our conversation. We look to our right and see Kai glaring at us. Or at Chanyeol.   “...?” Chanyeol raises an eyebrow.  “Switch seats with me.” Kai hands him his paper. It says 8. Wait 8? Isn’t that next to…  “Sit with Ollie over there.” Kai commands. Umm… what is going on?  “Why?” Chanyeol glances at Kai, and then at me. He grins at me before continuing, “I want to sit here with (y/n).”  I feel my face getting hot and I don’t know what to do. But I look up at Kai questioningly because I don’t understand why he would want to switch seats with Chanyeol. Maybe he liked the window by our desks? Kai’s face turns ice cold. “Switch seats with me. I’m the class president and this is an order,” he repeats. “Well Mr. President, if that’s the case, you’re abusing your power.” Chanyeol doesn’t back down. I decide if they both want the window, I’ll gladly move next to Ollie. She seems to look back at us confused anyway.  “Guys, calm down. I’ll go,” I say. I grab my bag and reach out to give Kai my seat number paper when both Chanyeol and Kai grab my arm. Huh?  “No you stay,” they both say at the same time. Uh…   “I’m going to use my president card if you’re not going to move,” Kai threatens. The president card is basically a card that’s given to the class president, granting him three “wishes.” It’s one of the privileges of being the class president. Kai never used his card before.    “...”   Chanyeol glares at Kai, but as he opens his mouth to respond, Kai shouts, “I’d like to use my president card and sit in desk #13!”  Everyone looks at him and then at me. The teacher nods. I bury my face in my desk. ***