Nikka: Are we still on for today?

You: Yeah. Are we meeting at the café?

Nikka: Yes, darling *winking face*

You: I'll be a bit late. Just getting ready npw

You: *now

Nikka: Okie *smiley face* can't wait to meet up!

You: Same! See ya later

Nikka: *blows a kiss*

I closed my phone and quickly got dressed. It had been a few weeks since I had met BTS and the EXO members had been very busy rehearsing for the upcoming Gayo Daejun Concert. It was a concert where many K-pop artists performed and, of course, BTS was also attending. It was the same concert I was meant to attend as the original interviewer for BTS.

I sighed as I saw my reflection in the mirror. My hair was being disobedient today which was why it was taking me longer than usual to get dressed. Frustrated, I decided to put my hair up in a ponytail with the scrunchie that Xiumin gave me.

"Nikka wouldn't mind," I told myself. I quickly grabbed my side bag and left the dorm.

Today I was meeting with Nikka to go around Seoul. It was one of the rarest times I was able to go sight-seeing with Nikka and I was looking forward to it. After all, after the interview, Nikka was scheduled to return to the UK. It would be another ten months until I see him again.

Yesterday, I had informed Suho that I was going to be spending my day-off with a friend. The EXO members also had a few days off to rest before the upcoming concert. Many of them had gone home to visit their families.

"As long as you tell Xiumin-hyung or Chen or Baekhyun before you leave then, it's fine" Suho had told me.

"They aren't going home?" I asked surprised. I knew that EXO rarely had days off.

Suho shrugged. "They probably want to rest at the dorm. But, that should be better. At least you won't be alone for the few days we're gone."

I stood up from the seat on the bus shelter as I heard the rumble of the bus approaching. It was chilly but the sun was out: it was a good omen.

"Let's just have fun today!" I told myself, as I hopped on the bus to meet Nikka.

~*~

Xiumin was sleeping when Chen walked into their room. He peered at Xiumin's sleeping face: he looked like a cute boazi.

"Hyung" he called him, gently nudging his side.

Xiumin stirred from underneath his blanket.

"Hyung" Chen called to him again. This time, he shook him a little harder. He even dared to poke his face.

Xiumin's eyes fluttered open and he frowned at Chen. "Don't. Touch. The. Face" he grumbled. Chen took a few steps back. He had forgotten that Xiumin hated it when people touched his face.

"Sorry, sorry!" he uttered as he backed away slowly while Xiumin sat up.

"What is it, Chen?" he grumbled sleepily.

Chen kept his distance. "I was wondering if you wanted to go somewhere today."

Xiumin's frown deepened. "You woke me up just to ask me that?"

Chen nodded. "Yeah. Baekhyun and I are bored. We're thinking of going out to get some fresh air, wanna come?"

Xiumin threw his blanket over his face. "No."

Chen grabbed hold of the corner of his blanket and yanked it. "C'mon. It's rare that we get a day off! Let's go and do something fun."

Xiumin hugged his body tightly to preserve the warmth. "Go away, Chen. I want to sleep" he said as he took hold of the blanket again.

Chen pursed his lips. He knew that Xiumin hardly went out during his days off and he wanted him to fix that habit. He thought for a moment and smiled slyly as he came up with an idea. "You know, Nami-ah has gone out for the day."

Chen watched as the mountain on the bed, that was Xiumin, fidgeted. His grin grew wider. "She just left a few minutes ago. She told me that she's meeting up with a friend."

Xiumin reluctantly peeped out from the blanket. "So what? She's meeting up with a friend. What's so strange about that?"

Chen maintained his smile. "Apparently," he said in a teasing tone, "her friend is a guy."

At this, Xiumin threw the blanket away from his face. "What? A guy?"

Chen nodded, amused at Xiumin's reaction. "Maybe it's her boyfriend?" he teased further.

Xiumin's face grew dark and Chen chuckled. He continued, "I heard that she'll be hanging around the main town area and that she's meeting up with him in a café. They're going sight-seeing together."

"Sight-seeing?" Xiumin repeated.

Chen nodded. "She said her friend was visiting Seoul for the first time." He couldn't help himself and added, "I guess you can call it a date."

At this, Chen succeeded in getting Xiumin out of his bed. Chen grinned, "So, do you want to come out with us today? Baekhyun and I were thinking of hanging around that area of town."

Xiumin pulled on his jeans and grabbed his black jacket. He headed straight for the door before turning around. "What are you waiting for? Let's go already."

Chen smirked. Operation: Cupid's Arrow is a go!

~*~

I watched as Nikka sipped his coffee from across me with a wide grin forming on his face. "So I have a lot to update you on back at the office," he said enthusiastically.

I put the cup of tea in my hand down, "New gossip?" I asked with equal enthusiasm, "spill it."

Nikka did so gladly. "So Hyemi's finally gone back to work and she's absolutely livid that you're here in Seoul and she's stuck doing editing for Richard."

I scoffed, "It's not like I had any choice in the matter." Thinking about Hyemi made me annoyed as I remembered how I ended up going undercover. "It was her fault for breaking her damn leg in the first place."

Nikka chuckled, "True, true. But when I get back, I'll be assigned to work with her on editing." He sighed as he pouted at me. "Work's no fun without you, Mirei. I miss our impromptu coffee dates and secret codes."

I grin at him sneakily, "Fact-checking in the archives?"

He grinned back, "Yes, fact-checking in the archives."

We grinned at each other knowing full well that 'fact-checking in the archives' didn't literally mean what was said. It was our secret code for leaving the office building, during working hours, to go and have a coffee at the Starbucks across the road. We did it at least four times a week and had never got caught.

"I miss that too," I told him, "What would I ever do without you, Nikka? It's so hard being so far away from my best friend."

Nikka's eyes flickered slightly and then he gave me a small smile. "You can do it, Mirei. Just ten months more to go and you'll be back home again. How do the locals say it here?" He thought for a moment and then balled both his hands into fists as he said, "Fighting!" in a cute but cringey way.

I almost spat the tea out of my mouth as I laughed. "Oh my God, Nikka! Since when did you learn to do that?"

He winked. "I've been watching too many K-dramas lately."

I was astounded. Nikka wasn't one for K-culture in general so it was weird hearing those words come out of his mouth. I'd always thought he was more into western shows like 'Game of Thrones' and 'House of Cards'.

"Speaking of which" I started, "what do you think about Seoul so far? You've been here for a few weeks now."

Nikka responded, "The people have been nice but I wish they would stop gawking at me!" He furrowed his brow, "like when I went into a supermarket one day, this old lady was blatantly staring at me like this," he opened his mouth and widened his eyes in an exaggerated manner and I giggled. He continued, "and she started saying something but I have no idea what."

"They're probably just curious about you" I reassured him. "It's rare for them to see your type of Asian here."

"It's because I'm brown, isn't it?" he retorted, faking offence.

I gave him a small smile. "Yeah, it probably is."

"But what about you? Do they treat you any differently?" He reached out his hand so that both our hands were next to each other. "You're just a few shades lighter than me."

"I get a few stares" I admitted, "but it's not too bad."

Nikka looked like he was about to say something when his phone suddenly started vibrating. He glanced at it and his jovial expression dropped.

"What's the matter?" I asked him.

He sighed as he unlocked his phone to respond to the text message. "It's my supervisor, here in Seoul" he explained while typing, "he says that he needs me to come into work today. There's an emergency at the office."

"Today?" I repeated, my earlier enthusiasm ebbing away, "but today's your day off!"

"I know" Nikka mumbled. He was frowning at his phone, "but it looks like it's really urgent." He looked apologetically at me, "I'm sorry, Mirei, but I have to leave."

I was devastated but I tried not to show it. "It's okay. I understand."

"I'm really sorry," he said again as he started putting on his coat. "Maybe we can re-schedule?" But we both knew that today was the only day both of us were free. I had to return to being EXO's housekeeper and Nikka had to prepare for the BTS interview that was only around the corner. Today was my only chance to be Mirei and not Nami.

I shook my head. "No, we'll both be too busy in the coming weeks."

Nikka had a regretful look on his face. "I'll make it up to you when you're back in the UK."

I smiled at him weakly. "You'll have to do more than buy me tea next time."

Nikka gave me his famous half-dimpled smile. It was the smile that first attracted me to him back when I thought he was straight. "I'll throw in a muffin next time." He leaned over me and gave me a hug before leaving the café first. I sighed as I watched him go.

"Now what?" I asked myself. I was alone for the rest of the day. I glanced out the café window and saw that there was a tteokbokki shop right opposite me. "I guess I know what I can do next."

~*~

Equipped with their masks and baseball caps, Xiumin, Chen and Baekhyun wandered the streets of Seoul, unnoticed. They had been walking around town for a while and thankfully, had been doing so without attracting attention. No one seemed to find their presence unusual or maybe, the people of Seoul were already used to seeing pedestrians wearing surgical masks that, hardly anyone gave them a sideward glance. Whatever the reason, Xiumin was grateful.

"We've been wandering around for ages!" Baekhyun moaned as he trudged behind Chen and Xiumin who were walking ahead of him. "What are we even looking for?"

"We're window shopping" Chen replied but, he wasn't looking at any of the shop windows. He was busy trying to find a certain someone.

"Shopping for what?" Baekhyun continued to moan. "I thought we were going to eat or play in an arcade or whatever."

But before Baekhyun could get an answer from either Chen or Xiumin, he noticed that the pair, in front of him, had halted.

"Yah, why did you--?"

Xiumin started sprinting from where he was so that he could catch up with a person in front of him.

"Where's Umin-hyung going?" Baekhyun asked Chen, who was just as startled at Xiumin's actions as he was.

"I dunno" he replied, not taking his eyes away from Xiumin's profile. "Hyung!" he called out to him and then started running after him too. Baekhyun sighed and followed suit.

Xiumin ran as fast as he could to tail a young woman in front of him. He saw that she was wearing a red scrunchie and if he wasn't mistaken... he grabbed onto her shoulder to stop her and was about to call out her name when she suddenly clamped her own hand on top of his and twisted it as she turned around to face him. Xiumin was forced to kneel as the excruciating pain on his outstretched arm made him breathless. He let out yelps of pain, "Ow ow ow!"

The person let his hand go at the sound of his voice. "Xiumin-oppa?" She crouched down as she tried to help him up.

"Now I know how Chanyeol felt when you floored him that time" he joked as clutched his arm. "You're quite strong, Nami-ah." Xiumin saw that Nami's face was beet red with embarrassment.

"I'm so sorry oppa!" she told him worriedly, "I didn't know who you were. I-I thought I was being robbed or something--"

Xiumin laughed at her flustered expression. Her red tinted cheeks looked cute. "Don't worry about it. It was my fault for startling you." He took in her appearance and saw that she was carrying a black plastic bag in her hand. "Why are you alone?" he asked curiously, "What happened to meeting up with your friend?"

Nami looked away downcast. "Something came up and he had to leave." Xiumin nodded and deducted what was inside the black plastic bag. The sound of pattering footsteps caught both of their attention as Chen and Baekhyun finally caught up to them.

Chen was breathless, "There... you... are," he said in between gasps of breath. His face lit up when he saw who was with Xiumin. "Nami-ah... Fancy...meeting... you... here."

"Catch your breath first, Chen" Xiumin told him, amused.

Nami was surprised to find all of CBX together. "What are you all doing here?"

"We were out window shopping" Baekhyun replied. "But really all we've been doing is wandering around town aimlessly."

Once Chen had caught his breath, he asked, "Since it seems like all of us have nothing better to do, why don't we all go somewhere together?"

"Finally!" Baekhyun exclaimed. "A plan!"

"Do you want to hang out with us, Nami-ah?" Xiumin asked. He eyed the black plastic bag in her hand and added, "we can have a picnic or something. We haven't eaten yet."

Nami smiled. "I do have tteokbokki with me," she said as she lifted the black plastic bag. "And it's more fun to eat with others than alone."

Xiumin grinned at Nami's words. It was the same words he had used when they coincidentally ran into each other a long time ago. "Yes," he agreed. "It definitely is."

~*~

Chen had a massive grin on his face as he quietly observed Xiumin and Nami talk animatedly with each other.

They were at Seoul Grand Park and were sitting on a bench, munching on food that they had bought from the cafeteria. After bumping into each other in town, they had decided to go and visit somewhere they hadn't been to and that was Seoul Grand Park. After walking around and seeing what the park had to offer, they had decided to eat in one of the rest areas. They were sitting on a wooden bench that had a table in front of the seats. Chen sat next to Xiumin and opposite Baekhyun while Nami sat opposite Xiumin.

Chen was glad that Baekhyun was with him or else he would have felt like he was third-wheeling again.

Chen kicked Baekhyun from underneath the table to catch his attention. He glared at him. "I think I'm going to go to the bathroom," Chen told the others but eyed Baekhyun specifically.

Baekhyun was puzzled. "Okay, come back soon," he answered as he got back to eating.

Chen kicked him again.

"What? Why do you keep--"

"I'm going to the bathroom," he said through gritted teeth as he pointed at Xiumin and Nami with his eyes. "Didn't you tell me that you needed to go too?"

Baekhyun glanced at Xiumin and Nami who was wrapped up in their own little world. He looked at Chen. "Er, yeah. Now that you mention it, I think I need to go too."

The pair got up and slinked away together but, neither Xiumin nor Nami even noticed.

Once they were at a safe distance, Baekhyun turned to Chen. "What is it? Why were you kicking me?"

"Shh!" Chen hushed him as he peeked at the bench they had just left. He turned back to Baekhyun. "There's something going on between Xiumin-hyung and Nami-ah" he began. And then he relayed all the information he knew about Xiumin and Nami. Baekhyun listened attentively as Chen made his case on how not only was it their responsibility to help Xiumin out but it was also an opportunity to ensure that they win the bet against Chanyeol.

"I don't believe it," Baekhyun said to Chen, "the way I see it, Umin-hyung treats Little Umma like a sister, nothing more."

"Trust me, Baek" Chen replied, "there's something more." He gestured at the pair who were still talking happily, oblivious that Chen and Baekhyun were gone. "And I'm gonna need your help to make Xiumin-hyung realise his feelings towards Nami-ah."

Baekhyun was startled. "My help? What can I do?"

Chen raised his brow at him. "You're the love doctor, right?"

Baekhyun nodded slowly.

Chen grinned, "If we're going to make love happen, I'll have to enlist your help as the love doctor."

Baekhyun was amused. "If I'm the love doctor, what are you?"

"Me?" Chen said pointing to himself. He grinned, "I'm Cupid."

The pair exchanged playful smiles at each other as they reached an understanding. The alliance was formed. Now all that was left was to enact the operation.

~*~

I couldn't help smiling as I stared deeply into Xiumin's eyes. We have been talking for a while now, about anything, and I still felt like there were still so many things I wanted to say to him. I was so absorbed in our conversation that I didn't even notice how spicy the tteokbokki was nor how quiet Baekhyun and Chen were being. It was as if we were the only two people left on Earth and even then, I wouldn't have noticed had anything changed.

Xiumin smiled at me as he answered, "If I could date I would do all the things that normal couples do."

That was right. We were talking about dating. "What kind of 'normal' things?" I asked curiously.

Xiumin thought for a while, his chin resting on top of his palms. "Like holding hands, getting into cuddles and going on marathons together."

His last words piqued my interest, "Marathons?"

Xiumin laughed at my expression. "I like sports and keeping fit. I think going on a marathon for a first date is a good way of finding out if we're compatible or not."

"You mean, you're going to make a girl run on a first date?" I teased.

Xiumin snickered, "That's what makes chasing her even more fun. I literally get to chase her."

I giggled at Xiumin's clever pun.

"But other than that, I'd like to do the simple things like eating meals that she made for me and just generally being together." He sighed, "since I'm a celebrity, I can't do all these things so I'm looking forward to it."

I stared at his child-like face and observed the wishful expression he wore. He must really be lonely. "And what kind of food would you expect her to make for you?"

Xiumin met my eyes. He thought for a second. "Anything really. I like kimchi soup and occasionally homemade sushi is nice too." He sat up, "I like coffee as well. If I didn't become an idol, I would probably have become a barista and opened my own coffee shop." He sighed, "maybe I should have done that instead."

"Don't say that" I told him, "you can still open a coffee shop when you're older."

Xiumin smiled weakly. "Yeah, but who would want to date me by then?"

I looked at his forlorn face and without thinking, I suddenly blurted, "I would date you."

Xiumin's eyes flashed.

I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment. Shit. Shit. Shit. Did I just say that out loud?

"Erm, I-I mean, you shouldn't worry about age erm, since love comes unexpectedly and you should find someone that would appreciate you." I covered my face in embarrassment and mentally cussed myself for being an idiot. 'I would date you', yeah, way to go Mirei. How are you gonna face him from now onwards? You might as well have told him straight up that you like him!

Xiumin was quiet for a while and then I finally heard him say, "Thanks."

I peeped at him from behind my fingers and saw that he was smiling at me warmly.

"It's been a while since I heard those words come from a girl's mouth." He played with his hair shyly, "honestly, it made me happy to hear you say that."

I felt like an arrow shot through my heart as I watched Xiumin act shy: it was cuteness overload.

"I know that I don't stand out much compared to the other EXO members" he continued, "since I'm not as tall as Sehun or Chanyeol nor am I as funny as Baekhyun. I don't even get many singing parts compared to D.O and Chen nor am I as good at dancing as Kai or Lay. To be honest, I feel insecure being an EXO member but, hearing you say that makes me happy." He smiled at me radiantly, "so thank you, Nami-ah."

I felt myself colour at his honest and heartfelt thanks. Seeing him in front of me made me remember what I had wished for in my birthday a few weeks ago. Ever since as long as I could remember, I had been wishing for the same wish every year. And that was to meet my true love. And the longer I stared at Xiumin and felt the way his presence made my heart race, the more I grew sure that he was the one. I just hoped that one day, I would be brave enough to tell him.

"You know, if you ever do decide to become an EXO-L, I hope that you'll be one of my fans" he joked with a smile.

I grinned at him, "Even better-- I'll be your number one fan!"

He chuckled at my response and I watched as he got up to stretch his legs. "It's getting late now and those two still haven't returned."

I glanced around me and realised that what Xiumin said was true: Baekhyun and Chen were no longer sitting beside us. "Maybe they've gone back to the car?" I suggested.

Xiumin shrugged. "Maybe." He turned to me, "Shall we go for a stroll before heading back?"

I nodded at him. "I'd like that."

~*~

As Xiumin walked alongside Nami on the dirt path, something inside Xiumin stirred. It had surprised him when she suddenly said that she'd date him. It reminded him of Chen's words from a few weeks ago: what if she likes you?

Xiumin eyed Nami closely. Did he really only think of her as a sister?

He already acknowledged the fact that Nami was important to him but he wasn't sure whether he valued her as a friend, a family member or a lover. He didn't want to rush into things if it turned out to be the latter of the two. After all, if he made a mistake, it would ruin what good relationship they already had.

Xiumin shook his head and made up his mind. He won't rush into things. Not yet. If he really liked Nami then it would become clearer in time. And maybe, just maybe, Nami's feelings for him would become clearer to him too.

~*~

Author's Note:

Hello reader! Thanks for reading chapter 22 of Our Little Dorm Mother.

So as you can guess from the content of this chapter, this was all about Xiumin. I guess you can say it's a little fan service for all those Xiumin stans out there! *cough cough CL*

What do you think will happen now? Will Xiumin and Mirei have their happily ever after? Or will Mirei be swept away by another contender?

Find out in the upcoming chapters!

Next time...

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