Chapter 9 (1/1)

The next day, the school was buzzing with excitement. Despite it being exam week, the students were gathered together, discussing enthusiastically over the annual crowning of King and Queen of the school."Definetely L.E! He's so cute!", the girls squealed."I'm voting for Rae. She's totally the queen of our school.", the boys yelled. The outcome was pretty much predictable. L.E and Rae had won for three consecutive years. Now that it was their last and final time, L.E and Rae were a bit more excited for this year's than all the three years before. "All hail King L.E and Queen Rae!", Miri was shouting playfully. They were walking out of the school building. It was autumn and the air was chilly. Orange, yellow, and red leaves were scattered on the ground everywhere. The wind was blowing slightly and everyone was bundled in their coats and scarves. L.E and Rae laughed along and enjoyed the playful atmosphere until they noticed someone at the school gate entrance.Luhan was standing there, staring at Rae from afar. When he saw them look over, he gave a big smile and waved."What's that rascal doing here? Looking for trouble I suppose," Jin grumbled. The group made their way towards him and stopped 3 feet before him."Rae...I'm glad I finally found you here.", Luhan said hesitantly, gazing shyly at her."Luhan..what are you doing here?", Rae asked, puzzled at the unexpected encounter."I...just. Can I speak to you privately?", Luhan asked, uncomfortable under the unwithering glare from Jin."Um..sure, I guess.", Rae answered and looked at her friends. "I'll catch up with you guys later.", she said to them. They hesitated, but complied. "What's up?", Rae asked as they walked along the sidewalk."Well, I just wanted to thank you again. If it weren't for you, I could've been dead.", Luhan responded, staring at the cracks in the ground."Oh sure..yeah no problem. It's no big deal.", Rae said, wondering if this was what Luhan came to  visit her for. "Okay..", he said absentmindedly. There was an awkward pause and it sounded like he had something else to say."Is..that it?", Rae asked, knowing the answer was no. She just wanted him to say what he had to."Well..Kris keeps asking about you. He keeps telling me to bring you to him..but I'm not going to.", Luhan stated. Rae looked over at him to call his bluff when she noticed the seriousness in him."Oh..because you owe me a favor? Well, thanks.I appreciate it.", Rae said, thinking it was just a return of gratitude for helping him."No, because I like you.", he blurted out, emphasizing on the "I". He blushed immediately after he said that and looked at Rae to see her reaction. She was taken off guard and certainly couldn't find any words to say in response. He smiled at her flabbergasted reaction, knowing that this completely left her speechless. "I...", she started."Don't know what to say?", he interrupted her. " Don't think it's right? Yeah, It probably isn't.", he muttered under his breath. He shoved his hands into his coat pockets and blew his bangs out of his eyes. They had stopped walking and were awkwardly standing on the sidewalk as cars blew pass them."No...I mean I like you too.", Rae stuttered. "We've..only just met.", she continued, she knew entirely that wasn't the main reason. She couldn't find a way to utter those words."And because I'm part of EXO and you are..well you're you.", Luhan said, stating what Rae hadn't wanted to. She kept quiet, not knowing what to say. "But you like me too...?", Luhan pressed on. She thought about how he made her heart beat faster and how easily she blushed in front of him. She felt butterflies in her stomach and her knees weaken when he stared back deeply in her eyes and the magnetic attraction between them when he first rescued her from Kris. "Yes..I do.", she answered carefully. Luhan smiled, "Well, that's all that matters then.", and grabbed her hand. She looked around flustered, blushing at the sudden contact."What are you doing?", she asked in embarrasment. "What? I can't take you out on a date?", he asked bashfully. Rae let him lead them to a nearby cafe around the corner. The sky was slowly turning dark and the air was getting colder. Rae unconsciously moved closer to Luhan, closing in on the space between them. They walked into the cafe and Luhan told Rae to sit down and wait for him as he ordered the drinks. "What do you want?", he asked her before ordering."A warm peppermint cappucino would be nice.", Rae said smiling. He went to order it as she found a table and sat down at it. Minutes after, he returned with their drinks and sat down across from Rae. "You know..this is going to be a problem.", Luhan started to say."What is?", Rae asked curiously, raising her eyebrows. "We're from different worlds. But, somehow we managed to like each other. There's going to be some disapprovement from both sides.", Luhan stated. He wasn't afraid of facing them, he just didn't want Rae to get hurt. He knew Kris was after her and being around her put her in an even more vulnerable state. Rae looked down at her cooling cappucino. She didn't say anything because she had no solution. This wasn't something that would solve itself."Don;t worry about it though. I'll find a way.", Luhan said, mistakng Rae's solemn expression as a worried one."I can take care of myself too. I can handle any sorts of trouble.", Rae said, having an urge to prove her independence."Well, there's two of us involved now. So, you're not alone. You have someone you can depend on.", Luhan said, once again not getting the message Rae was trying to get across. Instead, she sighed, knowing Luhan would'nt understand. She also didn't want to mention that she had her other friends. The exact ones who kind of wanted him to  disappear. It was for his own good that he didn't get involved with them, however that was impossible considering how close Rae was with them. On the other hand, for once, Rae felt like she had someone to lean on. Someone to turn to whenever she needed. She could do all that with L.E and they  had always been close like that, but this was the first time she was involved romantically. It gave her a new thrill, she wasn't sure if she liked it yet or not though. For the rest of the night, Luhan and Rae chatted and got to know one another better. Their night was going well until Rae recieved a phone call from her mom telling her to come home."I have to get going.", Rae began to say. Luhan stood up abruptly and insisted on walking her  home. Rae smiled at his thorough personality. If he was to date, he wanted to do it normally, with differences put aside. They walked a couple blocks until they reached the towering gate that blocked the Jang residence from the busy city. "I'll walk you to the door.", Luhan said simply and walked next to Rae as they passed the gates. Just as they walked up the stairs, the double front doors opened and there stood Rae's mother, in an evening dress and fur coat, with pearls draped around her neck and worn as earrings. "Mother!", Rae exclaimed in surprise. Luhan looked shocked as well, but bowed his head in respect. Her mother barely cast a glance at Luhan and told Rae to come inside the house. The maids beside her ushered her in and Rae mouthed "Sorry I'll see you later" to Luhan. He nodded and waved back. Just before Rae's mother closed the door, she said loud enough for Luhan to hear, " You shouldn't mingle with people like that! Grace your presence with the upperclass, Rae!" and proceeded to shut the door in his face.