~~~ EXO - Promise ~~~

As expected she didn't sleep after her little episode with Jumnyeon at three o'clock in the morning. She would not sleep nonetheless. But instead of staring into the ceiling with her mind empty, she kept on recalling her short exchange of opinions with Jun down in the sitting room.

The simple fact she knew he is down there, probably fast a sleep again, covered with her blanket, didn't help her mental state either. She kind of wanted to go down and take her blanket away from him, but then she realised how petty that sounded in her head.

She will just have to burn that piece of fabric tomorrow and with it, her crazy hormones.

Around six in the morning she gave up on the attempt to set her mind at ease and got up from her bed. She grabbed her notebook and laptop, deciding to get a little productive and play with her edits a bit. That put her mind off what was bothering her, managing to forget about whole Kim Jun for few more hours.

When was time to get ready for school, she put her laptop away and got dressed. Seeing her reflection in the mirror was almost as painful as she felt. The dark circles under eyes were more prominent than usually, which forced her to try and cover them up with some concealer. It didn't help much, but she just shrugged shoulders and went with her backpack downstairs.

She almost dropped her bag on the floor, when she was given a view of her parents being in the kitchen, preparing a breakfast, while chatting with Sehun who was surprisingly up as well, sitting on the high stool by the bar kitchen counter.

"Look who has finally decided to show up," her dad smiled at her cheerfully, walking around the bar island in the middle of the kitchen to greet her.

Don't get her wrong, she loved her parents very much, yet she just wasn't that used to see them around and when it happened on few occasions it always took her by surprise. She returned her dad' s smile, when he pinched her cheek softly, like he ussualy does. He and Sehun always did that to her, it probably runs in the family.

"Come and sit-down sweetie," her mum encouraged her, "I made an omelette ala pizza, I know you like," she added up, lifting Jihye's spirits instantly. Dad led her to sit down next to Sehun who was working on his portion, looking more than satisfied with the fact, he doesn't have to go to school with empty stomach as usually.

"How come you are not at work yet?" she had to ask an obvious question, before diving into her breakfast. She knew that will make her feel better and gain some more energy to get throughout this day.

"I know we are not around often, we still need to check up on you, even though you both are all grown up now," mom always got emotional, talking about her kids growing up so fast. She and Sehun exchanged looks.

"Right, grown ups yes. We don't need a supervision, though the breakfast is on point," Sehun devoured his scrambled eggs, winking at mom, who looked like she is on top of the world. Ass kisser, she mouthed at him, rolling her eyes, while he made a silly face on her.

"Thank you, mom," Jihye dove into her still hot omelette again.

"Jihyed you don't look well," Mom mentioned, her eyes focused on Jihye's pale face. Her mom's expression darkened with worry. She sighed, she was hoping her state will stay unnoticed. Everyone in the kitchen gave her the stare she hated so much.

"I am okay, I just didn't get much sleep as normally," she just waved her hand over it and kept on eating.

"Did your condition come back?" Dad asked, frowning his eyebrows. Jihye knew they won't drop the topic, because they never did. She knew they care about her and that was why they kept an eye on her, but she was better off everyone giving her the sneaky eye watching her if she is about to crumble or not.

She just shrugged her shoulders.

"Jihye, you should be taking those pills regularly, but I looked and you didn't touch them, since last time I checked," mom scolded her.

She knew the pills will help her to sleep, but they made her drowsy and fatigued at all times as soon as she woke up, she felt out of it, like being on a drug, of course she practically was, whenever she took the medication. She hated it, because it was not the right solution to her little problem. Even though she was tired as it is, making it worse with taking a drug was not something she was keen to do.

"I always forget," she let out first lie to excuse herself.

"Sehun, you are her older brother, you should remind her," Dad reproached Sehun and she enjoyed her brother's dumb face getting all pouty. She loved when he got scolded over something that was her fault.

"You should take one and stay at home today," mom suggested and that was another thing she was not very excited about. Skipping a school. But now that their parent had time to spend a morning with them, she didn't want to make up excuses and go against her parents wishes.

She only nodded her head again, taking the pill out of the doze.

"Oh, look who final woke up! Sleeping beauty," Sehun exclaimed, diverting the attention to the door to the kitchen. She's never forgot that Junmyeon stayed overnight. She quickly shoved her tablet in mouth and swallowed it with a sip of water. She glanced over her shoulder to see him coming over, holding her breath and being aware of her heart pounding.

She remembered she is supposed to become reserved and contain the hormones, in order not get sucked in by him finally acknowledging her. But she didn't really have to worry about that right now, because he didn't even spare her a look.

"Good morning Mrs and Mr Oh. I didn't know I will be seeing you today. Sorry I was occupying your sofa, I was too lazy to drive home last night," Jun's voice sounded cheerful, but still husky as he just woke up. He used to always sleep in Sehun' s room, until they reached the age, when they both thought it would destroy their reputation if they continued do so, so Sehun kicked him out to sleep in the sitting room.

She had to stop herself from staring at him, but it was hard, because his hair were sticking out into all directions, his face being still a little puffy from the sleep, making his cheeks look even more chubby. She almost started to choke on the piece of her omelette, when she realised the way her thoughts were sliding to.

"Junmyeon, we haven't seen you in ages. How are you doing, and your parents?" they started this small talk, Jun shooting one charming smile after another while speaking and she was sitting there, ignored as always, while spacing out.

When she was done with her breakfast, she stood up and cleaned up after herself.

"I will go upstairs then," she excused herself, her parents giving her pleased smiles as she was listening to them and didn't bother with going against their wish. She was thinking of it as they are not around, she needs to be obedient when they are here, even if it meant losing one day of school.

"Sehun, pick up Bora on the way to school, she counts on it," she turned to her brother, who was already looking disgusted over the thought.

"As if," he moaned.

"Oh Sehun, you will do as you sister said," dad ordered him, she shot a sweet smile at him, being pleased she got sided by her dad. She noticed Sehun giving her death glare. Bora won't be happy as well, she had her go with her brother alone, but Jun was going as well so... not that it was going to change a thing.

"Have a good rest dear, we are leaving with your father later and see you in two days' time. I will call you to check up on you," mom gave her kiss on the forehead, letting Jihye head upstairs. It was hard to not look at Jumyeon at least once, but she managed, when she walked past as he still stood by the side of the counter.

When she was in her bed again, still in her clothes, she came to conclusion it was better this way. As it has always been. She will keep her distance from that guy, staying out of the danger, he probably felt bad because he didn't know her well after so many year, maybe wanting to fix that. She didn't know what was behind his sudden care for her, but she was glad he went back to ignoring her existence.

At least that what she was telling herself as she laid in the bed. She was texting with Bora for a while, as she expected her friend was not thrilled by the fact she was driven to school alone without her, on the other hand Bora was more than encouraging telling her to stay in bed.

The pill started to work slowly, but she was fighting it. It was around eleven in the morning, when she realised she was supposed to submit project she was working on for two weeks. Today was the last day she could bring it and there was no way she will be excused if she is not present.

She shot out of the bed, still being dressed in her uniform, grabbing the bag she dragged upstairs, cussing herself. She could have given the materials to Sehun and he could do it for her. She was so stupid.

She flew out of the empty house like wind, knowing she has to walk to school, because there is no scheduled busses going there at this time of the day.

She felt the medication taking over her, her eyelids become heavier than usually, her increased heartbeat making the effect of the pills being carried through her blood stream even faster, but she didn't stop and walked as fast as she possibly could.

She almost died with happiness when she got near enough to school to see the main gate to it.

She rushed through the corridor, almost colliding with the teacher she was by coincidence looking for, to pass her work to him.

"I'm sorry teacher Seo," she let out gasping for the air. He looked at her indifferently, until he noticed the messy state she was at, his eyes growing wider behind gold round spectacles.

"Miss Oh, what are you doing here, I was told you are off school today," he mumbled visibly confused. He frowned at her, waiting for her to stop breathing like a steam engine.

"I am, I was... I just needed to submit my work, before it' s too late," she pulled out the file with the project almost showing into Mr. Seo's hands. He looked shook.

"Your dedication sure is admirable, but you didn't have to rush to school just to give me this. You could come on Monday. I figured you are not feeling well and you do not look well either," he looked down at her from his height, with his eyebrows lifted up.

"It' s done, teacher Seo," she forced smile on her lips, dying inside. She should have fixed up her face a little, before running here like a crazy woman. Then he suddenly smiled at her, causing her blush. Everyone has a crush on teacher Seo. He came to work in the school last year, arriving from Chicago and being the best teacher of English, this school has ever had before.

"Alright then, I will give you more points for this effort. Now you should be going home and have some rest," he advised her, patting her shoulder and leaving her in the hall.

She was happy with herself that she managed to do this.

She threw the backpack back on her shoulder, slowly walking back the way she came in. The rush that she felt when coming here was fading away and she felt like dying.

Thankfully the hallways were mostly empty as the new period just started, so no one was questioning her acting up like she just came out of Walking dead. She managed to get out of the school and the premises of it. She was beyond exhausted, when walking on street that when she saw the free bench in front of her, she decided to take a break before continuing on her journey home.

She sighed in relief when she sat down, the muscles on her legs thanking her as they protested the whole time she was up. The moment she relaxed, sitting down, her limbs lost all their remaining strength and she went into hibernation state. Only partly she came to realise that she was slowly dosing off.

She closed her eyes for a second, enjoying the peaceful respite.

"Jihye!" she heard her name being called, scrunching up her nose. Leave me alone...

"Jihye, wake up!" the soft melodic voice grew on urgency, forcing her to make an attempt and open her eyes, but it was like invisible weight was put on them... it was hard.

"Jihey wake up, damn it!" the last sentence threw her out of her slumber and she opened her eyes in a shock, staring into pair of coffee like eyes she knew very well.

Junmyeon's eyes were boring into hers intensely. She found him squatting in front of her, his hand covered the one she had in her lap. The skin contact burning her right in that spot he was touching her. He didn't retreat, when her eyes left his, staring on their hands.

"Are you okay?" he whispered with audible worry in his voice.

Oh damn, did she actually fall asleep on public place? She quickly looked around, realising she was still on the bench, happily sleeping away for... she looked at her watch, that starling her even more, knowing she must have been sitting here for two hours at least.

"Oh..." she groaned, feeling embarrassed to the whole new level. Why did he have to be here to wake her up, out of all people? She saw the car parked by the curb behind him.

"I was driving home, when I saw you sleeping on the bench. What are you doing here, I thought you were staying at home today?" his eyebrows were lifted up, not understanding why she was here out of places.

"I am, I mean I was, but I had to go to school to submit my project and...," she started with explaining and stopping when she noticed his forehead frowning slightly. She must sound like a complete lunatic to him. 

"You ran to school for that and then you passed out of exhaustion here?" she could not blame him for not understanding her way of thinking.

"I didn't pass out, I just dozed off for a second," she took her hand of his hold, making him realise he was still in the same position. He quickly stood up, making her tilt her head back to be able to see his face.

"Let me take you home," he said, his face growing straight, like it did yesterday when she let him know she doesn't appreciate his care.

"That' s okay...," she wanted to decline his ride offer, but he suddenly launched towards, like he expected her to go against him and took her backpack from her. She gawked at him in amazement.

"Your bag is going with me, you decide if you wanna join," he informed her, turning on the heel and disappearing in his car. Was he serious? She wanted to jump up and just walk off, if she didn't feel like her legs would give up on her after few steps, plus she had all her stuff in that bag and her personal notes, that gave her the kick she needed to follow inside of the car.

She ignored his smirking face and sat down on the passenger's seat, fasting her seatbelt furiously.

"Thank you for your cooperation. I've never realised how stubborn you are," he mumbled as he sat off on the road again. She stayed quiet, sinking into the seat, which was way too comfortable right now. The car smelled just like him, as always and her head still under the effect of the drug, was very much enjoying it.

It turned out those two hours of sleep on the bench were not enough, and she couldn't stop herself from falling asleep in his car. She felt his occasional gaze on her, not saying anything to let her rest. She didn't know how she managed to do so, being with him in the car and alone, her heart felt weirdly warm and fuzzy, still beating too fast.

As he drove, it calmed her down slowly, and she was able to drift off.

~~~

Hello, my dear readers!!🤗

Because today is the 6th Anniversary of EXO being EXO, I've decided to updade one day earlier 🎉🙌

I am, the second year in the row, EMO af, so excuse me, I will try not to rant too much, but when it comes to EXO... well to put it simply, I do have this odd, weak spot inside my heart, that will go mushy whenever this time of the year comes ... okay that's a lie, I become like this whenever the situations asks for it 😁

I know I am ridiculous, but a least one of you will agree with me and relate to me, please, I dont want to feel like I am totally loosing it, in my age (where everyone who I know will tell me, I should stop being the fangirl I am hah), but how can I stop? Before EXO, it thought my fangirling days are over... haha... well and here I am. 🤓

Weeping like little kid, cuz 6 years ago, those boys became a family and since then all they did, was... changing the world as it is and no I am not exaggerating!💘

I said I wont rant, someone stop me!

But I have to say, I love them with my whole existence! They are my inspiration, they and their music are sometimes the only thing that can help me get through the day... they are the reason I write in english, which is sometime I was always so scared to do hah, even though I'm fluent as it is. 😎

anyways, I will stop here.

#HappyEXOday

#Happy6thanniversaryEXO

I do hope you will celebrate this beautiful day in any way.

I hope you like the chapter🙏

I believe everyone knows who teacher Seo is hah, go and ask Irina, why I included him in this small role... the obsession is real😳😁

I know nothing much happened in this chapter, at least it feels like it, but all that happened was important... so let's see what the next chapter will bring to us hah... maybe some drama?😈🔥

okay, I will stop ranting now, Imma go and be nostalgic for rest of the day, love ya fam💜