"Do you think the others will like it?" I asked as I carefully packed away the sweets into my rucksack.

D.O nodded. "I'm pretty sure they'll eat it no matter what you buy them." But then he chuckled, "Although, I feel like you bought those Japanese sweets for yourself rather than for the others."

It was finally the following the day and we were getting ready to go home. After the Coca-Cola girl had splashed her drink all over D.O, we had gone straight to the department store where we went shopping for clothes and souvenirs. Since I didn't know what to get the others, I ended up buying them Japanese sweets from a traditional confectionery store.

I stared at him defiantly. "No I didn't!" but I couldn't help giggling and soon, my façade shattered. "Okay, so maybe my preference for these sweets did somewhat influence my judgement..."

D.O laughed as he finished packing his things away. It was almost time for us to go. I watched as he tugged on his sky-blue hoodie which was the same colour as mine. I smiled secretly. While we were at the department store, we had decided to buy couple hoodies. I was only meant to be window shopping while D.O bought a replacement shirt to wear, but then I ended up playing the 'if I had money game' and D.O noticed. He saw me staring at the hoodies that were on sale.

"You like this?" he had asked as he picked out one of the hoodies. He saw that there was an offer for couple hoodies.

"I have a weakness for hoodies in general" I admitted. "But the price is still steep even if it's on sale." I returned the sky-blue hoodie that I had in my hand. It was a really pretty colour and the material felt soft too.

D.O took the one I returned out of the rack and searched for one his size. "If you want it, I'll buy it for you."

"You don't have to D.O-ah, I was only looking--"

"Playing the 'if I had money game'?" he asked with a smirk on his face. 

I blinked. "How did you know?"

"You don't have to play it when you're with me." He took a sky-blue hoodie that was identical to the one I had picked out from the rack. "Let's get two so that we can get a discount."

"Are you sure?"

D.O smiled. "Of course." He put the two hoodies he had in his hand into a basket. "I'll go and pay now, will you wait for me here?"

I nodded as I watched D.O leave. While he was gone, a shop attendant, who had been watching us from the other side, went up to me. She glanced at my hand and seeing my wedding ring, smiled. "You have a handsome husband," she told me. "And he's very gentlemanly too."

Not sure how to respond, I agreed with a smile forming on my lips. "Yes," I answered, as I watched D.O from afar. "He really is."

I watched D.O, now, as he sat on top of his bed. "Why do you like Japan so much anyway?"

"Hm?"

"You said before that you liked Japanese food so I can only assume you like Japan too."

I looked away, embarrassed. "Er, the reason's kinda silly."

"Oh?" he seemed curious. "Do tell."

I peeked up at him and opened my mouth reluctantly. "Well, the truth is... I used to be an otaku."

D.O was baffled. "A what?"

"Otaku" I repeated and then I covered my face in shame. "It's someone who's obsessed with anime" I elaborated, with my hands still covering my face. I listened out for D.O's reaction but, when I didn't hear anything, I peeked from at him from between my fingers. 

He was gaping at me. "That's not something to be ashamed of" he responded kindly. "You like anime, so what?"

Relieved, I put down my hands. "Oh, well. People used to give me weird stares when they saw me. I was really into anime. Like, really into it" I stressed. "But eventually, the phase died down and I just started liking the culture more instead."

D.O watched as I finished packing. "Have you ever been to Japan?" he asked out of the blue.

My eyes met his and I shook my head. "No. Not yet. But I'd love to visit one day."

"It's very beautiful. I think you'll definitely like it there."

"You've been?"

He nodded. "Once or twice with the members. We make tours to Japan every now and again."

"Ah" I replied. "Of course."

He eyed me thoughtfully. "Maybe you can come with us next time?" he suggested. 

I perked up. "Really?" But then I realised that I wasn't going to be around for long so there was no point in having my hopes up. I tried my best to hide my disappointment. "Yeah, it would be nice if I could."

D.O, seeing my expression, realised what I was thinking. He added tactfully, "Well, if not with us as a group then, maybe, we can go together, you and me."

I blinked. Huh? "To-together?" I stuttered. Was D.O serious?

D.O eyed my expression and then I watched as his face flushed pink, probably from realising what he had just said. "I-I mean, we can go explore together as a- as a- as friends" he stammered. He looked away shyly. "I mean, it would have been nice if we went to somewhere like Japan instead of staying in Seoul. This wasn't much of a holiday."

I gave him a small smile. "Yeah. It would have been exciting to attend the different festivities. Like, watch the fireworks or see the sakura petals falling..." I sighed wistfully.

"I think the best time to go would be the spring" D.O replied. "The trees would be in bloom by then."

"But the summer is good too," I told him. "We could go to the beach and eat yakisoba like they do in the animes."

D.O chuckled, "Or play the watermelon-smashing game."

"I know right! They always seem to do that every time it's summer."

We laughed together for a while before getting up to leave the aparthotel. D.O had received a text message that our ride was ready for us. 

As we made our way outside, D.O suddenly said, "Maybe we can go to Japan for our real honeymoon." 

I turned to him, surprised. Did I hear correctly?

D.O, realising how his tongue slipped again, fumbled for his words. "I-I mean--" but he didn't know what to say. He blushed furiously.

I smiled awkwardly. "It's, um, okay, D.O-ah. It was just a mistake." Though, I couldn't help my heart from beating fast. In all honesty, his words made the butterflies in my stomach flutter. "We should, um, get going, they're waiting for us."

"Erm, yeah" he responded. But we couldn't look at each other in the eye.

~*~

Chen waited patiently as his Skype call connected. "Oh! Chanyeol-ah!" he greeted excitedly, as Chanyeol's face appeared on his phone screen. 

"Chanyeol's online?" Baekhyun asked as he joined Chen by sitting next to him. He waved his hand enthusiastically once he saw Chanyeol's face. "Hey, Chanyeol!"

The pair were currently in a CBX promotion and were waiting in the dressing rooms. While they were waiting, they decided to Skype Chanyeol while Xiumin slept soundly on the sofa nearby. 

Chen spoke, "How have you been, Chanyeol?"

"Yeah, what's the food like?" Baekhyun enquired.

Chanyeol grinned at his fellow beagle liners. "I've been good so far. Filming is going well but the Mandarin is tough." He pulled a face to express his disdain. "But my co-star, Shanshan-ssi, has been very hospitable and she's been helping me with my pronunciation." He thought for a while. "The food has been alright."

"I heard you're starring with Seohyun-sunbae?" Chen questioned. 

Chanyeol nodded. "Yeah. It's quite comforting having someone familiar around."

"You lucky dog, you" Baekhyun muttered teasingly in the background. "I searched up Shanshan-ssi just now. She's pretty cute."

Chanyeol smirked, "Yah, you think every girl is cute, pervy Baekhyun."

The trio laughed for a while before Chanyeol mustered up the courage to ask, "So, how're things back there?"

Chen and Baekhyun exchanged looks. They knew what Chanyeol was indirectly asking about. "Everything's been good over here. We're actually on our CBX promotion right now while the others are doing their individual activities."

"Yep," Baekhyun agreed. "Lay-hyung actually came back from China just as you left."

"Seriously?" Chanyeol was astounded. "Wow. I can't believe we missed each other! I was planning on meeting up with him if he was still around."

Baekhyun chortled. "Yeah, it's kind of a shame you had to leave so soon. In fact, on that same day, they announced who Little Umma's husband was--" Baekhyun cut himself short as he realised he'd said too much.

Chanyeol was silent on the other side.

Chen laughed awkwardly while darting irritated looks at Baekhyun. "But moving on, Suho has been trying to cook and he's been failing miserably--"

"Who is it?" Chanyeol interrupted. He eyed both Baekhyun and Chen steadily as he asked again, "Who ended up being Nami-ah's husband?"

The pair glanced at each other, unsure of whether to tell him or not.

"Just tell me."

Baekhyun spoke, "It's D.O-ah."

Chen noticed Chanyeol's eyes flicker. He showed a flash of worry but tried to disguise it behind a forced smile. "Oh..." Chen heard Chanyeol mutter. "I see." He looked at them both. "Well, how have they been? Are they getting on? What are they doing right now?"

"They're on their honeymoon at the moment" Baekhyun replied. "But they'll be back by this evening."

"When are the episodes airing?" Chanyeol queried rather too enthusiastically. "I'd like to watch." 

Chen noticed that Chanyeol wore a pained expression as he said that. "It'll be out by this weekend" he answered. 

"You should have seen the wedding, though, Chanyeol-ah!" Baekhyun said excitedly. "Little Umma looked so beautiful!"

Chanyeol had a small smile. "Really?"

"Yeah!" Baekhyun continued. "And D.O's smile when Little Umma joined him at the altar" he added enthusiastically, "was the cutest thing ever! You'd believe that D.O-ah had feelings for Little Umma. He looked genuinely happy!"

Chanyeol was motionless on the other end. It looked as though he was deep in thought.

"But, that's probably because D.O-ah is an experienced actor" Chen quickly interjected as he shot Baekhyun another irritated look. "So it was probably all an act for the viewers."

Chanyeol nodded slowly but he seemed distracted. "Erm, I-I have to go now," he said finally. "Looks like my break is over."

"Already?" Baekhyun was disappointed. "Well, okay. We'll chat with you again soon."

"Good luck with the Mandarin" Chen mentioned while waving Chanyeol goodbye.

Chanyeol waved back. "Yeah, let's talk again later, bye." And then he hung up.

As soon as Chanyeol was gone, Chen pinched Baekhyun on the arm.

"Ouch!" he screamed. "What was that for?" he asked, rubbing his arm.

"That was for being an insensitive idiot" Chen growled. "What were you thinking? Why did you have to mention D.O's reaction when he saw Nami-ah during the wedding?"

"What?" Baekhyun retorted. "It was the truth!"

"Yes, but it's such an insensitive thing to say." He frowned at Baekhyun. "You know how Chanyeol feels about Nami-ah."

Baekhyun grew pensive. "Oh, shit..." he mumbled.

Chen nodded. "Yeah, finally realising now, huh?"

Baekhyun averted his gaze as he apologised. "Do you think that D.O-ah has feelings for Little Umma?"

Chen exchanged uneasy looks with Baekhyun. "I don't know" he replied. "But, let's just hope that he doesn't develop any..."

~*~

Chanyeol sighed heavily as he exited Skype from his phone. He stared at the picture of him and Nami which was his current phone screen saver. He sighed again.

So her husband is D.O?

He shook his head as he tried to remove the anxiety he was feeling. Of course, to him, whoever became Nami's husband would bother him. But knowing it was D.O bothered him more. Chanyeol had some idea about what D.O felt for Nami. He had been suspecting it for a while. And finding out that Nami and D.O were on WGM together made him feel uneasy.

"Are you okay, Chanyeol-ssi?" 

Chanyeol looked up and saw that Seohyun was in front of him. She smiled at him warmly. "You look troubled. Is it the Mandarin?"

Chanyeol shook his head slowly. "No, it's not that, Seohyun-sunbae." He put away his phone. "I was just thinking about someone."

Seohyun sat opposite him on the table. "Oh? Someone special I assume?"

He smiled weakly. "I guess you can say that."

She pressed a little further. "Do you need someone to talk to? I can listen to your troubles if you like."

He gaped at her and then glanced at his script. "Do you know how this film ends?" he asked suddenly.

She looked at him quizzically. "Well, yes, of course, I do. Your character and Shanshan-ssi's character lives happily ever after."

He smiled again. "That's right. My character is an arrogant celebrity that falls for his anti-fan who is also a news reporter." He laughed softly, "And they end up getting married."

Seohyun was confused. "But how does that trouble you?"

"Shanshan-ssi's character... reminds me of someone similar," Chanyeol responded, as he studied the last page of his script. "And I was just wondering if she'll get her happily ever after as well." 

Seohyun, not knowing what Chanyeol was on about, tried to cheer him up regardless. "Don't worry. Everything will work out as it should. I'm sure she'll get her happily ever after too."

Chanyeol managed a slight smile. He knew that Nami would eventually get her happy ending. Almost everyone does. 

But something else troubled his mind. Because the main question was... who will she have her happily ever after with? 

~*~

Author's Note:

Hey reader! Thank you for reading chapter 52 of Our Little Dorm Mother!

So much happened in this chapter! Could Nami finally be falling for D.O? What would Chen and Baekhyun do if they find out about how D.O truly feels about Nami? And what would Chanyeol do next after finding out that D.O and Nami are on WGM together?

Stick around to find out!

Next time...

P.S. Please, comment vote and share! I'm sorry that the title of this chapter is a little misleading. Don't worry! It's not ending just yet!

Note: For those who are curious, the film that Chanyeol was on about in this chapter is 'So I Married An Anti-fan' which he starred in, in 2016.