#programming final exam in seven hours fifteen minutes. hello

[k-writer1998]

Rebel Hours (3/18)

Kwon Jieun always fit her parents’ image of the “perfect” daughter… at least to their knowledge. Away from prying eyes she was like any other girl living life to the fullest doing what she wants. When a little someone named Bang Chan comes into her life priorities are changed, mistakes are made, and her life finally becomes her own.

Fluff

w.c: 1.6k

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      Both of our faces burned scarlet as if we were caught doing something we weren't supposed to. Chan cleared his throat as he took a step away, allowing me to catch my breath I didn't know I was holding before I answered my phone.

“How is it that you always have impeccable timing?”

“It’s a best friend’s intuition. I know you’re with lover-boy and all but any chance you can come back? Some of us have curfews.”

“Is it really that late?”

“It’s past midnight meaning we’re sneaking Jeongin into his dorm but you have our keys.”

“Shoot it’s already that late?”

“Yeah yeah you lost track of time blah blah please just come back before Jeongin freaks out.”

“I hate you.”

“Love you too.”

      I ended the call and turned to the boy smiling beside me. This boy constantly goes from cocky to cute and it was seriously giving me whiplash. I knew one thing for sure when our eyes connected again, he wasn’t the one playing the dangerous game… I was.

“That's my fairy godfather telling me my carriage is turning to a pumpkin as we speak because we missed the clock striking midnight,” I sighed dramatically.

“Then we’ll head back,” he laughed.

      As we started the walk back I stuck close to Chan, my leather jacket doing little against the night breeze. We moved in comfortable silence for a bit before Chan spoke.

“So how was the tour princess? Do I get the honor of knowing your name?”

“I mean it was seven out of ten…” I trailed off teasingly.

“Ouch, only seven?”

“It would’ve been higher if we finished what we started earlier.”

“Okay, remind me to chat with your friend later about timing.”

“Will do but I don’t think a seven out of ten is really deserving of a name.”

“C’mon, to be fair the call wasn’t on me. You gotta give me something, I don't wanna wait for the next time you come to the club to see you again.”

      The sincerity in his voice melted my insides and I couldn’t deny I wanted to see more of him too. Hell, he's been on my mind 24/7 since that night so who was I to hold out? I hold my hand out to him, palm up. He tilted his head in confusion and I shook my head with a small smile.

“Your phone. Unless you don’t want my number?”

      His mouth formed an O as he pulled out his phone and placed it unlocked into my palm. I punched in my number and saved the contact as “princess” before clicking save. I turned on the camera, nudged him and when he turned to look I snapped a quick photo of us. I quickly sent it to myself, to give me his number, before giving it back. He smiled down at me with an entertained gleam in his eye as a playful smile danced across my lips. We continued to chat about ourselves and at some point his hands found mine once again. Somewhere along the way our intertwined hands sat comfortably in his hoodie’s pocket and the cold didn't seem to bother me as much. We took a different route than we took earlier and before I knew it, we were already back at the club.

“How is it that it felt like hours when we left but it took so quick to get back?”

“I may have taken you on the extended scenic route to give you the full experience.”

      He shyly explained as he looked away. In the dim light from the club’s sign I caught the slightest red tint burning over his ear and I squeezed his hand in reassurance as a giggle slipped past my lips. We snuck back in from the side entrance we left from, probably the performers entrance, as the noise of bustling people and loud music greeted my ears once again. We pulled away when we were back at the bar and against the roar of the music his voice was soft as he leaned in, his hot breath blowing past my ears.

“I had fun tonight, you'll hear from me soon,” he smiled.

      His cockiness had come back and something in me didn't want to lose. It was like we were playing an unspoken game and the one who’s flustered in the end loses. I placed my hand on his shoulder to support myself as I leaned up to get closer to his ear. 

“Thanks I had fun too. I’ll text you when I get home.”

      Before I could think my body moved to kiss him on the cheek before quickly pulling away and giving him a small wave before disappearing into the crowd like the last time. I definitely will have to be calling Seunghee later for an update and much needed advice. I quickly found the boys and we bolted out of the club and into my car.

“In-ah I’m so sorry, I’ll get you back to the dorms in fifteen minutes.”

“But his dorm is at least twenty minutes away,” Hyunjin added.

      I just flashed him a wicked grin and all the boys clutched their seatbelts for dear life. We successfully snuck Jeongin into his dorm building and dropped Hyunjin back at his place before Seungmin and I headed home. When I parked the car I dropped Chan a quick text telling him I got home safe before I shot Seunghee a text which got an immediate response from her. Thank god we are eight hours ahead here.  Seungmin rolled his eyes and told me to tell his sister “hi” before disappearing into his room. Once I was in my room I turned on my laptop and quickly got a call from her a few moments after I signed in.

“Hello love!” She chirped excitedly.

“You live in the UK for a month and you already act like a native,” I roll my eyes with a laugh.

“Oh hush. So what’s with the SOS?”

“Well as my best friend you get first dibs on the details but remember the cute rapper we saw when we went out the night before you left?”

"Hahaha I called it! Wait a minute? DETAILS?! You went on a date with him, didn't you?!"

“I mean I don't know if you would call it a date but I guess?”

“Okay details. Now.”

      With a laugh, I dove into the events that transpired a few hours earlier. The flirting, the talking, the adventures, the almost kiss, up until I kissed him goodnight. While I was retelling the story, my attention was constantly stolen by the incoming texts from Chan as we continued to talk and although I tried to hide it, Seunghee caught on easily.

“Seungmin hasn't said anything before about you going over there so hey you had more self control then I thought."

“Of course you had Seungmin update you,” I let out a small laugh before continuing, “he says hi by the way.”

“He could have waited five minutes to say hi himself when he got home,” she rolled her eyes, “but back to you. You like him don’t you?”

“Huh?”

“Babe don’t play dumb, all the signs are showing. The whole out of character flirting thing you’ve been doing, smiling at your phone, and now waiting for his texts-”

“Ugh I know but can I not say it out loud?”

“Why? It’s not like the feelings aren’t mutual, what’s the problem?”

“My parents.”

“Your parents? Wait are you talking about that guy Minhyuk who your parents-”

"Nearly ruined the life of by almost losing him his audition for a renowned dance program? Yup. I can't let that happen to Chan. He not only has a soccer scholarship, I learned, but he has 3racha and god knows what my parents might do to him if I tried to get serious with him."

“Don’t take things so seriously then. Right now what we know is that you are both attracted to each other. Maybe you like him a lot right now because he is something you can’t have. Just test the waters for now.”

“I don’t know… I haven’t even told the boy my name. How would I even explain the wig and the clothes?”

“Well that’s it. If you put in a bit of effort you won’t have to explain anything. Although I still don’t understand why your parents want you to have natural hair and make you dress like a conservative prep school student but besides the point. You’ve gotten away with dying your hair silver and getting that collarbone tattoo of yours so what’s one more thing to add to the list?”

“We’ve talked about this. Dad’s stupid congressman campaign is for a “modest” family so I sadly have to look the part or risk god knows what kind of trouble I’ll get into… but okay.”

“Now how did it feel to have Hyunjin cockblock you when he wasn’t even here?”

“Oh shut up,” I laugh.

      She made jokes to ease my mind and we shared a good laugh. I asked how she’s been and she launched into her wild adventures in London, the mundane college student life of drowning in exams, and a certain boy’s name kept popping up. Before I could grill her for answers, she checked the time and realized how late it was over here. I bid her goodbye with a laugh before powering down my laptop and getting ready for bed. I finally checked my phone again once I laid in bed and saw a short string of texts from Chan. When Seunghee and I started to talk about my feelings I had stopped responding and he noticed, thinking I probably fell asleep, judging from his sweet dreams message that was accented with a black heart emoji. The corners of my lips turned up as I gave the message one last look before falling asleep next to the eevee plushie.

[lovemenowmr]

Chapter thirty one

I had just gotten out of my last exam, it was actually two days before Marco’s birthday today but he was away, It actually had been a good thing since I had had enough time alone to concentrate into my exams but I missed him terribly, I couldn’t even imagine how bad it was going to be in Summer, when I wasn’t going to see him for two whole months.

I had called Marco everyday since he left, I felt sad knowing even though I was still in Dortmund it was going to be the last time we properly saw each other since we were not getting any quality time together in France. My family was not happy they didn’t get to see me until the European Cup finished but I didn’t let them pull me out of the trip.

The sun was shining today, and it was nice and warm in Dortmund. It hasn’t been like that much, which I actually thanked since I had had to study a lot the last couple of weeks in order to pass my final exams and I wouldn't had been able to enjoy the weather, It was actually so nice that I decided to call Marco on my way home, so I would walk slowly and enjoy my way.

“Hello liebe” I heard Marco on the other end of the phone “How was your exam?”

“It was good, I think” I said “I just got out, I’m walking home right now.”

“Does that mean you’re free from now?” he asked.

“Yeah, I think so” I said smiling “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine” he said.

“You don’t sound convincing” I said “Is everything OK?”

“It’s really nothing” he said.

“It’s clearly bothering you. Just tell me what it is”

I wasn’t going to hide this under the rug, I wanted to know what was happening to him. I knew how nervous and hopeful he was about this Championship and I was kinda living those emotions through him. I was almost as committed to this European Cup – and Marco’s participation in it – that I actually had spent nights awake wondering how much hurt would it cause if he finally didn’t make it in the end.

“My abductors are bothering me again” he said.

“Oh” I said actually freezing in my spot.

I didn’t really know what to tell him, I wanted to make him feel better, to assure him it would be OK and that it would pass. That this was not going to be another big injury. But I really didn’t even know what to say, what to do. I mostly knew nothing I would say could possibly erase his pain or his doubts about him, his nervousissm.

“See” he said “I didn’t want to worry you”

“I’m not worried” I said starting to walk once again “You’ll be better”.

“You can’t lie to safe you’re life liebe” he laugh.

“I’m not lying” I said.

“Yes you are” he said “Anyway, what are you planning on do until you come to France?”

“I don’t know” I answered.

“You still got a couple of days left”

“I know, I gotta tidy everything up anyway”

“You can call my sisters, they would help”

“I know” I said “But I can do it alone, I don’t want to bother them”

“You wont be” he said “Family always got each other backs”

“You’re his brother, not me” I said as I got to the stairs.

“I know” he laughed “But you’re family too”

“I’m not” I said laighing as I approached my house.

As I turned the corner I saw a little person in front of my door, he was wearing some jeans and a thin white sweater that was a little big for him. Yvone was behind him with Mia on her lap, the little girl was already four months old and she has the strongest grip I had ever seen in a baby, so you really couldn’t let your hair fall loose around her if you wanted it to stay on your hear. The baby was wearing a pale blue long sleeve dress that matched a blue culotte paired with a baby pink hat and a pair of pink shoes as well.

“Wait a moment” I told Marco while a waved at Yvonne.

I silenced the phone and kneeled down to pick up Nico, who was running towards me.

“Hello big boy” I said giving him a kiss on the cheek “Hpw are you doing?”

“Hello Adi” he said in an adorable voice “I’m good”

“Do you wanna talk with Uncle Marco?” I asked.

“Yes” he said clapping,

I unmuted the phone and I told Marco someone wanted to talk to him, then I passed the phone to Nico, who said “Hello Uncle Marco” with the cutest voice ever. I put him down and I grab his hand while I approached his mother and sister, I hugged Yvonne first and then I talked to little Mia.

“Hello little one” I said in my baby voice.

The little girl laughed and she moved forward into her mother’s lap, extending her little arms to reach me so I picker her up and placed her in my lap. I rocked her a little while still talking funny to her and tickling her in the belly, her sweet laugh filling my ears.

“You finished your exams, didn’t you?” she asked..

“I did” I answered “I just finished them right now”

“Good” she said “Because Nico wanted you to go to the playground with him but I didn’t know if you were free”

“I am free” I said “Of course we can go”.

Once Nico ended talking with Marco I picked up the phone and hung up after saying goodbye and then the four of us headed to the playground. We spent the afternoon there, playing with Nico and also with Mia and then they went home since it was late and it was a school night.

It was Marco’s birthday and I was waiting for his call. It was also the day the final line up for the Eurocup would be anounced and I was nervous to say the least. Marco’s injury had not gotten better – as he has told me on yesterday’s daily call – and I was scared he wouldn't make it, because I knew how much he wanted. Plus no one wanted to be given bad news on their birtday.

My house was actually looking like a mess, I had planned to tidy up my clothes and sort the things that I would take with me and  the ones that could stay and all of my clothes were scattered over my bed, making a huge mountain of different fabrics. I actually didn’t think I could sort everything out for tonight and that meant I wasn’t going to be able to sleep on my bead and that I had to sleep on the couch, which I didn’t like at all.

As I was going through the clothes I heard my phone ring in the living-room so I ran through the house to get it, because I somehow new it was Marco.

“Hello” I cheerfully said as I picked up the phone.

“Hi liebe” he sighed.

“What is it?” I said fearing the worst.

“I’m out” he said lowly.

“I’m so sorry” I said dropping in the couch.

“It’s not your fault” he said “I’m packing right now”.

“I know it’s not my fault but I’m still sorry” I insisted “Was it because of the injury?”

“It was” he said “It’s worst than I thought, I’m probably gonna be out all summer and I’ll miss the start of the season”

“Oh god Marco” I said “That’s horrible”.

“That’s okay” he said “I’m used to it”

“You shouldn’t be” I protested “Don’t say that”

“It’s the truth” he sighed “Look, I’ve got to go, I just wanted you to know before it was on the news. I’ll be home tonight, I’ll text you the date later”

“OK” I said not wanting to end the call but giving up instead.

“Love you”

“Love you too”

It was seven o’clock in the afternoon and I was waiting for Marco in Dortmund’s Airport. The press was also there, so I decided  to wait on the back. They were preparing their huge cameras, some of then prepared to take photos and another ones ready to record some videos, there was actually some of them that were carrying a microphone, so they would connect with their programs. It was interesting watching everything being set up, in your house you really only saw the aftermath but not actually how everything was filmed.

There were also a few people with Marco’s kit around, they were mostly young boys and girls but there was also little kids with their parents. The last ones were sitting at the cafeteria, eating sweets and the fist ones were sat on the ground playing with their phones and taking some selfies while they waited.

I waited half an hour sitting at the coffee shop in front of the gate, the journalists were still on their feet, pointing the cameras to the gate. By the time my phone buzzed with a message from Marco letting me know that he had landed and that he would be on the gate in a few minutes. I grabbed my keys and phone from the table and I stood up, waiting at the end of the line.

I guessed the paps had also had gotten a word about the landing apparently because they got even more prepared and tried to move all together towards the board, crushing themselves against the valla. In a fifteen minutes the gate’s doors flew open and the paparazzi started to look further tp spot Marco, they didn’t for a few minutes but when they did spot him they started flashing their cameras and talking to their respective cameras.

The rest of the passengers looked a little bit shocked about all the fuss and rushed to the exit. Marco instead, seemed a little bit more used to it and he marched quietly throw them and he even stop to sign a few autographs and take a few pictures with the fans that had also congregated there. He also took extra time with the little fans, which I thought it was very cute and he tried to look happy all through it even though I knew better.

When he finished with the line of fans he spotted me and walked to me flashing me a smile, he hugged me as soon as he approached. He wrapped his hands around me and I got on my tip toes and threw my arms around his neck, his head falling to the crock of my neck.

He kissed me in a check after he hold me for a while and then I picked up his suitcase while he carried his travel bag and we headed hand in hand to the parking lot. The press followed us as far as they could, asking millions of questions and taking a lot of photos, slightly blinding me. Marco noticed how tense I was and he pulled me closer to him, making stronger the grip on my hand as I kept my hand down the whole ride.

We thankfully made it to the parking lot and I got in the car while Marco put the bags into the back of the car. When he came back I started the engine and headed home.

“How are you doing?” I asked him once we got out of the airport.

“I’m fine” he said getting comfortable on the passenger seat “Sorry about the airport”

“It’s OK” I said.

“Do you still wanna go to France?” he asked.

“Why?” I asked suspicious.

“Because I’ve got a surprise” he said with a grin.