An hour earlier...

Suji had a grin on her face as she knocked on the door to her father's office. "Appa?" she said in her saccharine voice as she opened the door and peered inside.

"Ah, Suji. Come in." Lee Sooman beckoned with his hand from his high-back chair.

Suji straightened her back as she walked in. She smiled at her father as she observed him looking through some documents that he had sprawled across his desk. Lee Sooman had his fingers intertwined together as he had his chin propped up resting on top of his hands. He was looking at the papers intently.

"Appa" she chimed as she approached him. "Can I ask you a favour?"

Lee Sooman peeped up at her, "What is it, my darling?"

Suji batted her lashes at him, "It's to do with EXO."

Lee Sooman frowned. He had noticed that Suji had been hanging around with EXO a lot lately and he wasn't pleased with her getting too close to them. "What about them?" he asked suspiciously.

Suji walked over to where he was sat and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She knew that if she wanted to ask her father anything, she would have to act cutesy to do so. "Appa, I was wondering if you would hear me out on an idea I have." She rocked forwards and backwards while hugging Lee Sooman as if she was a young child begging for pocket money.

Lee Sooman looked away from his papers to give his only daughter his full attention. Despite being feared by many of his employees, he was still a father that doted heavily on his child. "And what would that idea be?" he enquired. He could never say no to Suji.

Suji smiled internally. She knew her father had already given in. "EXO has this housekeeper" she began, "that's been living them in the dorm for a while."

Lee Sooman raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"And I was wondering if you'd be interested in putting her on 'We Got Married' with one of the EXO members."

Sooman was astonished by her proposition. "Why would I ever be interested in doing that?"

Suji explained, "It would gain a lot of attention. I've been researching what's been trending on social media and WGM is one of the most popular reality shows on both a national and international level. If we get EXO on this then, it would attract a lot of interest in the company."

Sooman looked at his daughter dubiously. "I understand where you are coming from, Suji, but why would I want to pair one of the EXO members off with their housekeeper? WGM is a reality show where you pair celebrities from different companies so why EXO's housekeeper in particular?" He eyed his daughter intently, "Who is she?"

"She's just a commoner" Suji replied offhandedly. "But she's attracted a bit of attention in the past."

"Oh?" Sooman was intrigued. "What sort of attention?"

Suji pulled out her phone and showed her father photographs of Nami modelling with the EXO members. In spite of being bitter that Nami had thwarted her plans in the past, she had found use of her mishap. Suji explained to Sooman, "This is their housekeeper. She modelled with EXO a while back and caused quite a stir amongst the fans."

Sooman eyed the photographs and his eyebrows lifted even further. "This is their housekeeper?" He flicked through the photos on Suji's phone and showed a clear expression of surprise. He had to admit, she was quite charming.

Suji nodded, "Yes, appa. So, what do you think?"

Sooman thought for a while. "Why her in particular, Suji? Even if she had caused quite a stir in the past, she's still just a commoner. If I wanted to attract a lot of attention using EXO then, I would rather pair one of them off with someone from JYP or YG Entertainment."

"No, appa" Suji whined. "I'm telling you, it has to be her."

Sooman was suspicious. "What are you up to?" he asked, his small eyes narrowing behind his thick spectacles. He knew that Suji could be cunning when she wanted to be, after all, she was his daughter.

"No-nothing, appa" Suji replied. "I'm just saying that if you get the housekeeper to do the show with EXO it will be a big hit."

"And I'm asking you why it has to be her. Like I said before, if I wanted to attract more attention, I would get an artist from an equally well-known company to go on the show with EXO. The way I see it, pairing one of the members off with her won't add any benefits."

Suji pouted. This wasn't how she wanted her conversation with her father to go. "You're right, appa." She unwrapped her arms around him and started sulking. If her cutesy act didn't work, there was another tactic she could use and that was acting upset.

Sooman immediately started comforting his daughter once he saw her face. He could never resist the way her bottom lip quivered as she pouted. He exhaled, "Look, I'm not really sure why you'd want to have one of the EXO members go on WGM with this girl but, since you will one day take over my legacy, I will grant your request just this once."

Suji grinned at her father's words. She hugged him gratefully. "Thank you, appa!"

Sooman smiled as he hugged her back. If anything, his biggest weakness was his daughter. As Suji pulled away, he asked her, "Which of the EXO members do you want her to be paired off with?"

Suji smiled at her father innocently but inside, her thoughts were twisted. She didn't care who EXO's housekeeper went on the show with as long as it wasn't Chanyeol. Suji had been plotting to separate Nami and Chanyeol for a long time but it was only recently that she devised her ingenious plan. 

By sending Nami off to WGM with one of the EXO members, she would have Chanyeol all to herself. Not to mention the fact that WGM was an intimate show which forced the participating celebrities to act like a married couple. This would put Chanyeol and Nami's relationship to the test and Suji was almost certain that it would break them apart.

"I don't mind who as long as it isn't Chanyeol-oppa" she replied.

Her father had his eyebrows raised again.

Suji quickly added, "It's because he'll be going to China soon. He won't be able to take part in it anyway."

Sooman nodded. "Okay, well, I will get it arranged immediately."

A smile crept up Suji's face once more. "Thank you, appa! You're the best!"

Suji couldn't wait to split Chanyeol and Nami up for good.

~*~

Presently...

"What's going on?" I huffed as I glanced from one EXO member to the other. "Why do I have to take part? What's 'We Got Married'?" I turned from looking at Suho to Kai, who was still in shock. In fact, almost all the EXO members were still speechless.

Sehun was the first to speak. "This is great! We're finally getting a chance to go on one of the most interesting reality shows out there!"

"What's 'We Got Married'?" I addressed Sehun. "Can you please explain to me what's going on?"

"'We Got Married', or WGM, is a reality show where two celebrities from different companies get together and experience what married life would be like. They're normally two celebrities that have never met before."

"They essentially pretend to be a married couple for a month or so" Xiumin interrupted. He turned to Suho, "Did Manager-nim say anything else? Like why Nami-ah was chosen?"

Suho shook his head. "All he said was that Lee Sooman requested personally that Nami-ah be a guest on the show."

"Did he say which one of us will play the husband?" Sehun queried. All eyes turned to his direction. "What?" Sehun asked, looking around. "All of you were thinking it."

The others exchanged looks and made an effort not to look at Chanyeol in the eye. They hadn't forgotten the fact that Chanyeol and I had just recently revealed that we weren't dating.

Suho coughed, "Well, one thing's for sure, it's definitely going to be one of us who will be on the show with Nami-ah." The others glanced at Suho attentively. "But" he continued, "we won't find out who until the day."

Baekhyun let out a sigh of disappointment. "They're such a tease" he complained. "Why can't they just tell us who, now?"

"But that's not the real issue here" D.O suddenly spoke up. The others eyed him expectantly. D.O quickly glanced at me before addressing the others, "Nami-ah isn't a celebrity and she's still recovering from--" he stopped abruptly and cleared his throat, "what I mean to say is, Nami-ah's not ready to take part in something like this. It's too soon and too demanding."

"I understand where you are coming from, D.O-ah" Suho replied sympathetically. "But, these are direct orders from Lee Sooman himself. Even if I wanted to, I don't think I can refuse for her."

"But hyung--" D.O started reasoning with Suho as he tried to persuade him to get me out of doing WGM. As I watched him argue for my sake, I started feeling guilty. Yet again, I was causing problems for the EXO members.

"I'll do it," I said resolutely while D.O and Suho argued. They hushed immediately when they heard me speak.

"What?" D.O was surprised.

I locked my gaze with his. "I'll do it" I repeated once more before I turned to face Suho, "I'll go on WGM."

The other EXO members looked at me expectantly. Suho nodded in reply. "I'll let Manager-nim know--"

"Wait, hyung" Chanyeol interrupted suddenly. Everyone turned to face him but his eyes were focused on me. He walked over to where I was sitting on the sofa and murmured, "Can I have a word with you first?"

I peeped up at Chanyeol, unsure of being alone with him. I was still feeling uncomfortable after our recent argument. Seeing how serious his expression was, I reluctantly got up and followed him as he led me to the kitchen where we could speak in private.

"What is it?" I asked him pointedly. I had to keep a strong front to show him that I wasn't affected by him anymore.

He cut to the chase. "Yah, are you sure about doing WGM?"

I blinked.

"It's an invasive show. And you'll have to act lovey-dovey and do embarrassing things together." Chanyeol frowned as he added, "You have to pretend that you're a real married couple." He searched my eyes as if he was hoping that I would see sense and back out.

"So?" I retorted.

Chanyeol was taken aback.

"I already have a lot of experience in pretending" I scoffed. "Isn't that what we've been doing all along? Pretending to date?"

Chanyeol looked wounded by my words but he continued, "There will be cameras on you from dusk till dawn so you will hardly get any privacy."

"And? It's not like I didn't know that--"

"You don't get it!" he interrupted, half-shouting. He lowered his voice when he noticed he had my full attention. "If there is no privacy then, there's a high chance that they'll find out about your secret."

My brows were furrowed. "That's none of your concern anymore" I replied curtly.

Chanyeol's jaw clenched. "Nami-ah, if you're going to be this reckless then, I might as well have told the others that you're a reporter."

I fought to keep my brave front from shattering. Was he threatening to expose me?

Despite feeling nervous, I answered confidently, "Then why didn't you?" I watched as Chanyeol blinked, probably surprised at my courage. Feeling more certain of myself I pressed further, "Why didn't you tell the others then?"

He looked away, wearing a conflicted expression. "Because I don't want anything bad to happen to you" he murmured softly. "And I'm worried that if you go on WGM, you will get a lot of hate from the fans. It's not like before, Nami-ah. You can't wear a mask to protect your identity-- the whole world will know who you are."

To my despair, my heart fluttered at his words and I fought back the tears that were starting to well up in my eyes again. I won't be fooled. I won't let him break my heart again. I breathed in slowly and reminded myself of the hurt Chanyeol had inflicted on me. "You don't have to worry about me anymore, Chanyeol. I can take care of myself. I can handle it."

He smiled weakly as though he knew what I was going to say. "I know that." He thought for a moment as he continued to look at me with woeful eyes. "And don't worry. I won't reveal your secret to the others" he finally muttered. "I won't bother you anymore either." He shuffled on his feet as he stared at the floor, downcast.

I should be feeling relieved by his words but for some reason, my heart was aching. They say that when you break your heart for the second time, it won't hurt as much as the first time because what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Yet, why was I still feeling a sharp pain in my chest?

"I'll be going to China at the end of the week" he stated, as he worked up the courage to look me in the eye again. "And I'll be away for a month." He stared deeply into my eyes as he waited for me to say something.

I stared back at him, Did he expect me to stop him? To tell him not to go? "Okay. Have fun then." The words were out of my mouth before I realised.

Chanyeol didn't hide the disappointment on his face. His eyes dulled by the end of my utterance. He turned away. "Fine" he replied. "I will."

I quickly turned my heel to go back and join the others. Seeing Chanyeol so dejected made me feel guilty for my sharp and spiteful words. But I needed to stay strong. I can't let Chanyeol sway me any longer. I won't let him play around with me again. "I-I'm going back to tell Suho-oppa that I'm joining WGM," I told him over my shoulder.

I waited for Chanyeol to say something or at least a sound of acknowledgement. Nothing.

But as I took the first step back to the common area, he suddenly spoke. "Do you really feel nothing for me anymore?"

I turned to face him and saw that his eyes were forlorn. My heart ached at the sight. He took a step towards me, "Was it really all pretend to you?" He drew closer until we were only an arm's length apart. "Was what you told me in the laundry room... all a lie too?"

Chanyeol's eyes bore into mine as he searched them desperately. I felt my cheeks heat up at the recollection of our blissful moment in the laundry room. When I told him indirectly that I had developed feelings for him; when I desired for our lips to meet; when I thought it was the start of our new love. We had shared so many precious moments together and yet, we had never said those three words and eight letters to each other. Not even once. And I was afraid that if I said those words to him now, it would break my resolve of staying away from him. He had wounded me deeply but I still had lingering feelings.

When I didn't reply, Chanyeol took another step forward so that we were only inches apart from each other. He had managed to corner me to a wall as he leaned his muscular arm over to block me from escaping. "Nami-ah, are we really over?" His eyes locked onto mine as he slowly leaned in for a kiss.

I was stuck, paralysed by his penetrating gaze, and close to abandoning my resolve when I suddenly remembered how I was just a bet to him. The anger and hurt in me were renewed in a flash. I covered my mouth and nose as Chanyeol nearly pecked my lips. I shouted, "Halitosis!"

Bewildered, Chanyeol's eyes widened at my sudden outburst. "What?"

I stared at him squarely, my hand still covering my mouth. "It means your breath stinks!" I quickly rushed out of the kitchen before he had the chance to block my path again.

When I stole a glance at him, I saw that he was sniffing his breath. He called after me, "Yah! I don't have hali-- whatever it is! My breath doesn't stink!"

But by this time, I was already safely back in the presence of the other EXO members. My heart was still racing when D.O asked me, "Are you okay, Nami-ah?"

I nodded at him. "Yeah." But inside, I was still flustered and in a state of confusion on what I should do with my lingering feelings for Chanyeol. There was no way I was going to let him into my heart again, I thought as I breathed out and made up my mind.

It was time for me to move on.

~*~

Author's Note:

Hi reader! Thank you for reading chapter 43 of Our Little Dorm Mother!

I'm painfully aware that I'm dragging out what's happening in the story but, rest assured, it will start to pick up soon. 

Who do you think will pair up with Nami in We Got Married? Will she be able to rekindle her feelings for Xiumin? Or will D.O finally have a chance with her? What if there's another contender?

Find out soon! 

P.S Comment, vote, share! Also, shout out to my readers from Germany, Lithuania and Sweden! Thanks for tuning in!