Chapter 8

Closer & Rumor

I look around as I walk at the mall. Where is he? He didn't specify on where we're suppose to meet. I pulled out my phone but before I finished typing a message I saw a familiar talk black-haired guy leaning against a glass wall of a designed clothes store, looking like a real model and even hotter than the ones in the posters there.

Shit did I say hot?

Kai turned my way and when he saw me coming he flashed me his heartwarming smile. Damn what's wrong with this guy and his killer smiles?!

"You came." he said with a smile as I stopped in front of him.

"I told you I'll help you, remember?"

"Are you sure about that? There's still time to back out." he said amusingly.

"I'll help you, end of story. Now what is it that you needed help with?"

He bobbed his head sideways motioning me to follow him but before we got to move someone shouted behind us.

"KAAAA!"

We turned around to see a cute little boy running towards us.

"KAAAAA!"

I was surprised when he jumped straight into Kai's arms. "Taeoh!"

"Kaaaa!"

"I missed you, buddy. How's Jeju Island?" Kai's pinching the boy's pink chubby cheeks. The little kid giggles then puts his little hands on Kai's cheeks pinching them too while started talking to Kai but I didn't understand because it's still baby talk. But clearly Kai understands him since he laughs and continued talking to him.

"Kai!"

Another kid run into Kai. This time it's a cute little girl. She hugs Kai's legs, trying to reach to him.

"Taerin!"

Kai went down and carried the little girl on his right arm while the boy is on his left.

Wow. He carries them like they weigh nothing. I watch in amazement while the three of them get all cuddly.

"They missed you, Kai."

A tall man appeared next to me. He's looking at Kai and the two kids. I'm assuming he is their father.

"I missed them too. They got heavier. Did you eat lots of food at Jeju?" Kai asks them, lips pouted that can match the boy's cute pouted lips. I laughed at his facial expression.

"Do you know her Kai?" the little girl noticed me.

"Yes. Her name's Krystal."

The little girl pulled Kai's right ear and whispered "Is she your girlfriend?" but we all heard it anyways.

Kai chuckled. "She's a friend."

I felt relieved hearing him say that (my not so innocent dream still haunts me at night).

"Say hi to her." Kai said but the little girl shook her head and embraces Kai's neck, hiding her face.

"I'm Kim Ricky." the father extended his hand for me to shake.

"Jung Krystal."

"Nice to meet you Krystal." he said with a smile. "Kai I have to go. I'll leave these two to you." he kissed his kids goodbye. "Behave, okay? Mom will pick you up later. Bye-bye."

Ricky waved goodbye leaving me, Kai and the two kids. Now what?

I turn back to Kai but he had already started walking towards the way he motioned for me earlier. I run to follow them. We went inside a Taekwondo Center. The receptionist greeted us and she took the two kids inside the dressing room. I followed Kai inside the staff room.

"You work here?"

He nodded. "Tao's family owns this. Every weekends I have 3 classes here."

"Wow. Really? That's nice ...but ...what am I going to do here?"

Kai brought out a set of white Taekwondo gear from the cabinet and handed it out to me. "Tao and I have 3 classes for today but he can't come to work because he got a flu yesterday and we're short staffed so I need you to take his place for today and tomorrow."

"Are you serious?! I don't know Taekwondo!" How am I suppose to handle a Taekwondo class when I don't even know a thing about it?!

"Don't worry, I'll do the teaching. Just copy the moves then all you have to do is follow me and make them do it. Usually we divide the group into two but since Tao's not here I'll handle them all with your assistance."

I nodded slowly, memorizing the things I have to do. Copy, follow, assist. Okay, I got this.

He puts his hands on my shoulders and smiles at me. "Just relax and enjoy it. Don't worry, I won't let any harm happen to you."

By the time I was already dressed in the uniform, I can still feel my heart beating so fast and so loud in my chest. All because of his beautiful smile and warm words. I'm starting to think I have weakness over Kai's smile, both sexy and innocent.

Kai's class started. It consists of 20 kids ages from 3 to 6. Taeoh and Taerin are in his class and I can tell that they really love and adore him. In fact all of his students loves him. I don't even have to do much since all of them have their 100% attention to him.

The class ended. Parents arrived and picked up their kids. Taeoh and Taerin kissed Kai before running towards their mom. Kai and I have an hour break before his 2nd class starts.

He told me that the next class are middle school students so it is more complicated since the rank is higher.

When the class started, Kai handled them with a different approached than the last one. He's more serious on this one. The students are focused on him as well. It's really amazing watching him like this. This is a different side of Kai. I'm finding myself drawn to him more. Like I wanted to see his different sides. There's really something about him that makes me wonder. Something that always keeps me on edge. I can't explain it by words but I know I'm already too deep into him.

Wait. Does that mean I really like him?

I know for a fact that I'm attracted to him physically. My wild dream is enough proof. Jinree's words keeps on reflecting at the back of my mind. What I need is a solid proof confirming if I really like this guy emotionally. But then what if I do? What happens next?

I'm still stuck with those thoughts even after his shift has ended. Kai insisted on buying me dinner since he said I did a great job today but personally I think I didn't do much. He bought two chicken meals at Noona's Chicken then we parked at one of the fields near the school while we ate.

The night's beautiful. It's a clear sky with millions of stars shining endlessly. I looked sideways to Kai. He's eating quietly. He's really comfortable with silence. I don't mind too. It's times like this that he looks fragile. I laughed quietly as I watch him eat. He's stuffing his mouth with food, his cheeks getting round.

He looked at me surprised. "What?" he said with a full mouth.

"You look like a kid when you eat." I chuckled.

"Oh. Yeah, I got that a lot. My brother used to tease me how I eat." he said.

"You got a brother? How many siblings do you have?" I just realized I don't know anything about Kai's life outside of school.

"It's just me and my older brother. He graduated from SAA last year and he moved with his girlfriend so I don't get to see him often now."

"I thought you have younger siblings because you seem very good with kids."

"I got younger cousins on my father's side. I always play with them whenever they visit us." he said.

"Wish I had younger cousins too. Mom and Dad are both only child so I don't really have near cousins. I'm stuck with my older sister."

He chuckled. "The way you mention your sister it's like you disapprove of her."

"Oh I love my sister to bits but you know... older sibling sometimes are-"

"Pain in the ass." we said at the same time.

We laughed. We finish our food while having little talks. I find him really easy to talk to. Kai's the kind of guy who looks at the person in the eyes when they are talking and I find it genuine. He's a good listener.

"So basically your Dad asks the two of you to live with him now after years of being apart?" he asks. Our family talk continues as we watch the stars above since he had the car's hood down.

"Yep." I answered.

"So the night I first met you, that's your last night at Busan?"

I nodded. "My friends and I went clubbing as a farewell party. Actually my friend Jinree dares me to dance at the middle of the dance floor and challenge someone to a dance off."

"I knew you were showing off back then."

I turn to face him. "I wasn't showing off. I really liked the song the DJ played so I just danced. I was about to leave the dance floor when the song ended but then ..."

"But then I joined you." he finished. He's eyes twinkling with playfulness. I felt my stomach flutter remembering the way we had danced that night. I had to turn my gaze away from his brown eyes. Keeping my heart calm is a vital thing.

"What are you doing at Busan anyway?" I asks, changing the topic.

"Family business." he said, turning his head up at the sky which is a good thing because his gaze makes me nervous.

"Yeah right. Family business at the club."

"The meeting ended in the afternoon and I asked to be left behind. I'm suppose to meet up with an old friend but he was stuck on his job so I ended up at the club."

"That's nice of you to be involve in your family's business while still in school." I said, trying my best to avoid the 'club' topic.

"You have no idea." he said. All playfulness in his voice gone. I look at him. His eyes were focused at the sky but I can tell his mind is off somewhere else.

"Black hair suits you. Did anyone already told you that?" I don't know why I said that but I just had the urge to distract him with something else. Maybe because I feel the family business thing is sensitive to him.

And I succeeded. He laughed hard. "Are you being honest about that?"

My brows knitted. "Yeah, why?"

"You're the only person who said that. Everybody prefers me blonde, some even thinks I look cool in pink."

"I gotta admit blonde is a little something but black is good. It looks natural on you." I said with all honesty.

"Thank you. People really do have different views."

"What about you? What do you think suits you best?"

He puts his index finger at his lips. I know this habit of him. He does this most of the time when he's thinking. "Hmmm, I actually like the bronze one that I had last year. I hated the grayish white one, I lost to Luhan that time. He got the black and I ended up looking like a reincarnated Albert Einstein."

I burst out laughing. "I need to see that."

"Don't. You'll end up dying from laughter. I'm serious, it's hideously ridiculous."

"I'll be the judge of that. I think you're exaggerating. I mean, you look perfect."

"You think I'm perfect?" his tone change.

I froze up. Did I just say he's freaking perfect right in his face?!

"I ..."

He turn his whole body to me, arms folded in his chest and an eyebrow cocked up together with his precious smirk. Shit I'm doomed!

"I ...I mean.. It looks p-perfect because y-you're a performer."

He didn't say anything. He continued to stare at me with those mischievous smirks of his. Naughty Kai is back! What should I do?!

Saved by the bell, my phone rings.

I fished it out of my side pocket and answered the call.

"Where are you?" my sister asks at the other line.

"I'm on my way home."

"Okay. Can you buy Kimchi? We're running low." Jessica said.

"Yeah, sure. Okay. Bye,bye." I ended the call.

Kai got the message and brought the engine to life.

*00000000*

Kai's Sunday shift at the Taekwondo Center ended a little early today. And just like yesterday, we ended up eating but this time it's at the Cafe.

"Thank you for helping me out. It would really be a mess if I did the class on my own." says Kai. We're seated at one of the comfortable table set at the Cafe while eating and playing cards.

"It's the least I can do for taking so much of your time with my choreography project." I said.

"Did you also offered your charity service to Lay and Sehun?"

"I did. But they both refused saying the project didn't bother them at all."

"And you thought it bothered me?"

"Well yeah. You always looked so tired those two weeks plus the fact that you often take naps before and in between classes. Not to mention you were also preparing two performances at the Music Department Showcase. You should have mentioned you were already packed with things to deal with instead of agreeing to be my dancer."

"If I tell you that will you listen?" he said with a smirk.

"Of course!"

He shook his head. "I don't think so. Besides, you look desperate begging for me to be your dancer."

I narrowed my eyes as I stare daggers at him. I knew he will somehow turn this against me. He's been so kind these past couple of days that I forgot he got a devious side of him hidden somewhere.

I sighed. "That's why I offered my help."

"It's actually not necessary." he said while looking at his cards. "I looked tired because I've been doing extra hours at the Taekwondo Center. We're really short staffed. And as for the naps at the rooftop, it's always been a habit of mine to sleep there during my free time. I'm a sucker for sleeps. I think I sleep for more than 12 hours a day."

"So when I saw you sleeping there the other day...?"

"I was just really resting. It's a normal thing for me. You can ask Sehun and the others if you don't believe me." he said. "And also, I win again." he showed me his cards.

"What?!" I drop my cards at our table from frustration. It's already my third time on a row losing to him.

He laughs. "You can't beat me. I'm the King of Games." he said proudly.

I rolled my eyes. Is there anything he's not good at?

The lady beside our table accidentally knocks her empty glass of juice. I gasped, expecting the crash but Kai is faster. He's reflex took over and in a millisecond he catch the glass an inch before it came contact to the floor.

Okay, I shouldn't have asked.

He gave the glass back to the lady as she thank him, praising his speed then he turned back to our table and started rearranging our cards again like nothing happened.

"How did you do that?" I asked in awe.

"Reflex, I guess." he said shrugging his shoulders.

I refused to have another round with him again. I knew I will not win anyway. After finishing our food, Hera brought our bill and Kai payed for our food. He insisted on paying despite of my protest.

*00000000*

I'm busy doing homework at my room when I heard a knock on my door. The door opened before I got to answer.

Jessica stepped inside carrying her laptop. She sits at my bed beside me.

"Do you know this Park Chanyeol?" she asks.

I nodded, taking my eyes off my laptop and looked at her laptop. "Yeah. He's a friend of mine."

"Then why is he sending me a friend request in Facebook?" her brows knitted.

"Because you know him too."

"I do?"

"Yeah. Remember the guy who delivered some paper works to Dad a couple of weeks ago?"

She looks up, trying to remember that memory. "Oh, you mean that dude with weird ears?"

I laughed. "He's a 6 footer giant but the only thing you remembered about him is his ears?"

"You know I'm bad at remembering faces and besides his ears are really weird so it's the first thing that I noticed." she explains.

"So are you going to accept Mr. Weird Ears on FB?"

"I don't know. Maybe? He's your friend too right? I don't see any harm on accepting him." she said. "Why are you grinning?"

"Nothing." I said playfully.

"Whatever." she said then stood up and started walking to the door.

"Oh make sure you're free tomorrow afternoon." I said before she get to leave.

Jessica turns around. "Why?"

"I got us a part-time gig. It's a coffee and tea shop. You don't mind, do you?"

My sister went back to my bed. "Actually I've been thinking of looking for a part-time job since last week. My body misses going to work after school and I also needed cash."

"Did you applied for a job already?" I asks her. My sister and I had planned to seek for a job once we got settled in this city.

Jessica is an aspiring fashion designer. It's already her graduating year. Back at Busan she had a part-time job at a clothing store.

"I saw a couple of good establishments but I haven't pass any resumes yet. A coffee and tea shop you say?"

"Yeah but if you wanted to work at a clothing store it's okay. I really don't mind." I said.

"Nah, I'll go with your coffee shop." she said with a smile.

"Really?"

She nodded. "I still feel loyal to my old store so working on a new one would be a little weird for me. And also... since we moved here I barely get to be you. If we will work there I can spend more time with you."

"Awwwww." I attacked her with a bear hug. She tried to avoid me but I'm quicker.

"Ahhhgg! Krystal I can't breath!"

"Sorry if I haven't been around lately." I said with a pouty lips while still hugging her.

"You should be. You're always busy with school stuff or busy hanging out with your new friends." she said.

"Is my sister jealous?"

"No I'm not." she released herself from my grip then stood up from my bed. "Just text me the address and time. It's already late you should get some sleep." she patted my head.

I yawned widely. Now that she mentioned it, I remembered I'm already sleepy even before she came.

Jessica leans down and kissed the top of my head."Good night Baby Jung."

"Good night Sica-sama."

*00000000*

"Krystal!"

I turned around. Cey is walking towards me. I stopped and waited for her.

"Good thing I caught up with you. Are you going to your job now?" she asks.

I nodded. We started walking towards the school gates. "I got morning shifts every Mondays and Tuesdays then afternoon shifts on Wednesdays and Thursdays."

"It feels like everybody has part time job except me. I feel so lazy."

I laughed.

"You and Hera works at the cafe, Yuri also work part-time at a radio station with Lay, even Ericka has work on weekends now."

"That's my doing. When she told me she's a Taekwondo black belter I immediately encouraged her to apply at the Taekwondo Center at the mall that Tao's family owns." I said.

"That's why I feel so lazy but I can't afford to squeeze time for a job." she said with a sad face.

"Cey, you're already busy with school activities plus you are nowhere near lazy. Being a student council president is no joke."

She chuckled. "I wish we get payed too though. Hmmm, maybe I'll ask for a petition for the officers to have paycheck."

"Baekhyun and D.O. will love that."

We both laughed. These are one of the things I like about Cey, she's easy to be with and she's also a lot of fun. We took the bus as we continued chatting.

"I had to admit, one of the reasons why I made an effort to catch up with you is to know if you're okay." she said, turning a little serious.

My brows knitted in confusion but I smiled. "I'm okay. A little tired because of my work at the cafe but all in all I'm doing great."

"That's good to know." she said.

I'm still confused but touched at the same time from my friend's concern.

"I'm sorry if I asked. I'm just concern, with all the things going on I'm glad you're taking it pretty good." she said. Are we talking about my part-time job and me being a new student here?

"I gotta admit it was a little tough at first but eventually I got used to it."

"You're doing better than I did back then. When it was me I had a hard time copping." she said. Is she a transfer student too?

"Oh it's hard balancing it all. Focus and time management is the key."

"And guts. It takes guts to date a popular guy."she said.

Wait, what?

"Date a popular guy?" I'm pretty sure we're not on the same page here.

Cey looked at me in the eyes, not blinking. Like she's looking through me for an answer. After 15 solid seconds she sighed.

"You're telling me it's just a false rumor?" she asks.

"What rumor? What are we talking about here? Did I miss something?" I'm completely lost.

"You haven't heard the rumors about you and Kai?"

My eyes widen in surprise. "R-Rumors ...? Me ...? K-Kai ...?"

Cey shook her head. "Clearly you don't know."

"W-what rumors?"

"Well apparently according to the students ,you and Kai are dating."

"What?!"

A few passengers looked at us but I ignored them. Me and Kai? Dating? Is that suppose to be a joke?

"Actually people really believes that you are Kai's girlfriend. I had like 8 classmates who asked me if the Kai and Krystal dating rumor was real."

"And what did you say?"

"I answered honestly. I said I don't know. That's why I wanted to talk to you to confirm if the rumors are true."

Wait, I think I need a minute here. People actually thinks Kai and I are dating? But why? I get that these past couple of weeks we got closer but is that how things work here? The moment two people got close they were already branded as dating couple?

Shit! They probably saw how Kai looked at me during their performance at my Choreography class. The guy literally slayed me with those illegal body rolls and devil smirks. They probably thought he was teasing me. And also those times when he will give me a ride. And me hanging out with the rest of his friends is also like adding fuel to the fire. At the cafe, there were SAA students when Kai and I went there after his shift at the Taekwondo Center. That must be it. They thought we were dating.

Kai's girlfriend...

"You do know you missed your bus stop already, right?'

I gasped. "What?!"

I looked at the window and sure enough I saw the cafe fading away from my view. I jumped at the stop button and desperately pressed it violently. Cey pulled me back to my seat.

"Relax. He will drop off at the next bus stop."

I sighed. How stupid of me to forget to get off the freaking bus?

"Your reaction pretty much tells me that the rumors are far from the truth. Am I right?" Cey asks.

I wiped the sweat off my forehead. I feel hot all of a sudden. "Kai and I are not dating."

Cey narrowed her eyes on me. "Are you sure about that?"

"I think I would know if I'm dating someone."

She laughed. "You know I was almost tempted to say to them that you two are officially dating but I hold my tongue. But I'm positive I'm not going to hold back for long."

"What do you mean?"

"I knew you like Kai." she said. "Don't even try to deny it." she added before I got to argue.

"I gave you that water because I knew you needed it. Your choreography is hot and it was Kai of all people who's performing it. I'm surprised you survived that. You need water to cool off 'cuz I knew what it feels like when someone you like performs right in front of you."

"Luhan?"

She nodded. "We were together for a year and a half before he decided to end our relationship."

"What happened?"

"It's a long story. And if I'll tell it to you, there's a huge chance you will miss the next stop again."

And right on cue the bus stopped. I stood up. "I'll call you tonight." I told her. She nodded and smiled at me.

I got off the bus. Cey waved at me from the window. After the bus left I started walking back to the cafe. It's a few blocks away from this bus stop but I don't mind. I needed this time to think and calm myself.

I wonder ...did the rumors reached him yet?

What would be his reaction? Will he be mad at me for getting him involve with such lies? Well it's not like I started it. I don't even have the slightest idea there were rumors in the first place.

Maybe I should start avoiding him again and let the rumors died down on their own.

Hell no! I'm not that kind of friend. Kai said so himself that we're friends and friends don't abandon one another.

Tomorrow. I'll talk to him tomorrow. I just hope the rumors haven't reached the rest of the wolves or they will tease us endlessly.

What the heck am I thinking?! Of course they knew! The whole damn school knows!

*88*