+ twenty six

Narda sat in the living room watching the television the next afternoon after she had been banned from the SM dorm building. It was set to the entertainment channel, where SM Entertainment was set to give a big announcement that involved two of their idols. Narda already knew what was coming, since the pictures were circulating of her and Baekhyun. They were going to try to pass her off as Taeyeon.

No one would question it or even suspect that it really wasn't the SNSD idol. The only visible part of her in the picture was her arm with her wrist and the tibu bracelet adorning it. Other than that, only Baekhyun was visible, though very dark and grainy since it had been taken from very far down.

When the broadcast began, Narda saw Baekhyun and Taeyeon sitting together, both of them with smiling faces. But Taeyeon's smile was much bigger, and Baekhyun's seemed forced.

Narda heaved a loud sigh just as Nari walked into the room.

Plopping down on the couch next to her friend, Nari said to her, "Why are you even watching this? You're only making yourself suffer."

"You know, the hija de puta threatened me." Narda gestured to the woman on the television screen. 

Currently, Taeyeon was going on about how she didn't want to reveal their relationship in public until now because she didn't want his fans to be mad at her for taking their Baekhyun away. Her smile was fake as she said it. She was more than happy to be seen dating her fellow label mate because she liked him and she knew he had once liked her too. It was the reason why their agency had fabricated everything. They had seen the chemistry between them and planned to work off it. Now there was nothing, and Baekhyun wasn't interested.

Nari raised her eyebrows in surprise. But she quickly waved it off, saying to her friend, "Don't pay her any attention. She's just naturally mean like that. One time Kyungsoo and I were hanging out during lunch break, and she saw us. She told me that as an employee of the agency, I shouldn't get so familiar with the idols. Who do you think you are, she said to me. Can you believe that? She thinks she's better than everyone because she's in SM Entertainment and she can sing. There are plenty of people out there who can sing and they aren't snobby like she is." Nari paid it no mind since Kyungsoo didn't feel that way.

He wanted to be with her, even if she was just a hair stylist. 

"Yeah I guess you're right." Narda sighed, still looking at the screen. Her eyes were trained on Baekhyun and the way he was trying so hard to look like he was happy. "But you had Kyungsoo to back you up. Baekhyun doesn't do that. He pushes me away. And now Taeyeon has SM on her side too. I can't win."

Grabbing the remote off the couch between them and switching the channel to one that was airing dramas, she gave a suggestion. "Well, if Baekhyun oppa won't stand up for you, maybe its time to let him go. See other guys. I mean, he's not the last man standing in Korea and you aren't lacking attention in that department. Chanyeol oppa is crazy about you no matter how many times you've made it clear that you just want to be friends, and then there's that guy from work that always calls you to chat in Spanish." Nari could hear them through the thin walls of the apartment. Almost everyday, Narda's coworker called her on the phone. The conversations were almost always in Spanish, which gave away who was calling her.

Narda gave a quick shake of her head. "Dani and Chan are just my friends. I care about them and don't want to lead them on. I've never said or done anything to make them think something else."

"Or," Nari thought of another suggestion. "Get one of those dating app things."

"So I can end up missing, or dead in some ditch." Narda pointed out.

Her parents had always taught her that--to believe the worst about strangers. They were always imagining the worst possible scenarios to things. It was the way that Mexicans did things--never trusting anyone until they could prove they were trustworthy.

Narda got back on her feet and heaved a sigh. "I'll let you watch your drama comfortably. I'm going out for some fresh air."

Nari nodded her head. "Think about what I said. Don't wait around for Baekhyun oppa."

-

Since she wasn't very familiar with the surrounding area, even after months of living in Seoul, she walked the distance of about ten blocks before she turned back. As she passed many tall business buildings, she saw an announcement posted on one of them. Baekhyun and Taeyeon were on it, with the words: Congratulations Baekhyun and Taeyeon!

Narda rolled her eyes at the sight of it and stuffed her hands into her coat pockets, hunching her shoulders to shield away from the cold. 

She was almost back to her apartment building when she heard someone calling out to her from across the street. She turned her head to see Chanyeol with a wide smile, waving her over. He was so cheerful, it was almost as though he had forgotten that she was now banned from even getting close to the EXO members. All because of a kiss that had been caught on camera.

Narda looked both ways before crossing the street to meet up with him. She was still not used to the way he towered over her. He was almost a whole foot taller, while Narda was small and had to look up to meet his eyes. 

"Hi Channie." She said, without much enthusiasm.

"Are you upset over the announcement? Or are you upset over their kiss?" He asked her, biting down on his lower lip nervously as he awaited her answer. He already knew that she was, but somewhere in the back of his mind he hoped that she wouldn't be. He hoped that she would be over Baekhyun. When he asked her about the kiss too, she knew that like most people, he also thought it was Taeyeon in the picture, and not her. No one would ever think it was her, unless she told them.

Narda gave a shake of her head. "That, and being banned from visiting you boys. But also, it was stupid to think that Baekhyun would ever pick me. I'm just a crazy sasaeng who's obsessed with him."

Trying to lighten her mood, Chanyeol pointed out, "But actually, you're much more calm than the regular sasaengs we've encountered before. You know, there's a Japanese sasaeng who's obsessed with Jun hyung. She goes to all our concerts and fan meets, holding a poster that says Suho please rape me. She's only like fourteen years old too." He crinkled up his nose in disgust. He added, "Recently she started showing up at Baby Lips concerts and fan meets with a poster that says, Sarang leave my man alone, and I'm going to have his babies. Sarang noona is really worried that the sasaeng might do something to Jun hyung."

"I've read about her." Narda crinkled up her nose, remembering the disturbing stories she read online about that girl.

She always told herself she would never go that far.

"But lets not talk about unpleasant fourteen year olds." He told her. A smile appeared on his lips as he said to her, "Why don't we go out for dinner together?"

Narda thought about it for a moment. She remembered what Nari had suggested about seeing other people. She didn't have to date Chanyeol to get her mind of Baekhyun. She could go out with him as friends. Giving a nod of her head, she said, "Yeah. But I want to pick the place."

His smile seemed to get bigger when she agreed to go out with him.

"I want you to try some authentic Mexican food, so you can know what to expect when you visit my country." She explained. 

Over the summer while they were on tour, Narda had been hired to clean up after them and teach them English. But she had also been assigned to teach them basic Spanish, which was mostly for the vocalists who were going to perform at Music Back Mexico in October. All summer, Narda had extra sessions with Jongdae, Baekhyun, Lu Han, and Kyungsoo. She had suggested for them to perform Sabor A Mi, which was one of Mexico's most beloved songs. It was a classic that everyone in the country knew.

When Lu Han left the group, he and Jongdae were replaced by Chanyeol and Junmyeon. 

"I wish you could go with us so you can show us around." Chanyeol told her.

Narda nodded, wanting to go with them as well. It would be their first time visiting Mexico and it was a country she knew well. But she had to remain in Korea for her teaching job. And now it would be more impossible, since SM had banned her from even seeing EXO. They would never allow her to travel with them.

-

Over the next few days, Chanyeol and Narda saw each other in often, without his SM managers finding out. They were even careful to avoid being seen by the press or the fans. It was difficult, but they managed to do it. Chanyeol had even gotten the help of Yixing, since he had gone over a year in a secret relationship with Park Mae before anyone found out. Chanyeol had given him the nickname the sneak king. 

Narda knew her way around the dorm building well, and even spent a lot of time there, whenever the managers weren't around. Baekhyun wasn't there most of the time, since he was being forced to spend time with Taeyeon.

But whenever he was there, he was always fuming at the sight of Narda there with Chanyeol.

He felt like they were trying to rub their friendship in his face, and he failed to realize that she always tried to talk to him whenever he was around. 

Narda tried to keep her distance at first, but it was difficult and she found herself often bumping into him. Chanyeol, on the other hand, tried hard to see her, and had to do it in secret while she and Baekhyun didn't even try to meet and they often saw each other. 

Baekhyun did his best to ignore Narda's presence, and whenever he was with Taeyeon it was easier because she always demanded his attention. But on one outing, he found himself at a club with Taeyeon, and to his surprise he saw Narda there as well. She wasn't alone, and neither was she with his best friend Chanyeol. This time she was accompanied by her annoying co worker. 

Narda didn't notice him at first, since she was immersed in conversation with Daniel. Baekhyun huffed out an annoyed breath every now and then at the way she smiled at him. 

It wasn't until Daniel had gone to the bathroom and Narda went to the bar for another drink that Baekhyun decided to take action. He excused himself from his table, telling Taeyeon that he was going to get her another drink. She smiled at him and thanked him for his attentiveness.

He hurried across the room and arrived at the bar just as Narda had finished ordering her drink--a pink lemonade margarita. She turned slightly and her eyebrows rose in surprise. "Byun, fancy seeing you here when SM is known for overworking their idols. I thought you'd be in bed sleeping by now." She said first, and then added soon after, "Are you here with the queen bee?" She didn't even have to ask to know that he was there with his supposed girlfriend.

He ignored her question and instead asked one of his own. "Are you following me?"

Narda scoffed and rolled her eyes at him. "How was I going to know you were coming here tonight? Daniel was the one who invited me."

"I knew there was something between you two!" Baekhyun accused as though he had caught her in the act of doing something wrong.

"So what if there is?" Narda challenged, raising an eyebrow at him. She knew that there was nothing more than a friendship between her and Daniel. But she didn't see any harm in letting Baekhyun think otherwise. He had no right to accuse her of seeing someone when he was dating Taeyeon--even if it was a fabricated relationship.

"Nothing." Baekhyun replied all to quickly. "I don't care what you do, as long as you leave me alone."

The bartender finished preparing her drink and slid it onto the table in front of her. Narda thanked him with a nod of her head before grabbing the glass of alcohol and turning to leave. "Careful what you wish for, Byun." She told him over her shoulder, her voice dripping with self-confidence. "It just might come true."

He watched her go and kept an eye on her for the rest of the night, sulking at his table while Taeyeon tried to make conversation with him. In the back of his mind was the warning that Yena had given him weeks before. Don't wait until she's tired of chasing you.

Maybe he was too late.

Maybe she was already getting tired.

-

another update for this story and we're down to about fourteen chapters before the book ends. i want to thank everyone who has read and supported this. it means a lot to me. i'll try to update again either tomorrow or saturday and then i'll also update lotto, which hasnt been updated in about four days. 

i hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

-clary xx