+ twenty three

With the new school year coming up, Narda had informed her employers at SM Entertainment that she would no longer be able to travel with the group and work as their house keeper. Her last concert traveling with them was the same one that had been Yena's last--the concert in Guangzhou where Yixing had made his announcement about his relationship with Park Mae of Baby Lips. 

From there, they would be moving onto Indonesia, while Narda would catch a plane back to Korea to continue with her work as a primary school teacher. The boys of EXO almost felt as though everyone was slowly leaving them. First it had been Tao, who had suffered and injury but had been secretly replaced by Yena, then it was Yifan, one of their leaders in the group, next was Yena whose job in EXO had been done, Sarang had been visiting Junmyeon and had to return to her group, now Narda was leaving them despite their whining and complaints to keep her by their side.

"I can personally call your school." Chanyeol offered with a pout. "I'll tell them that we need you more. They'll understand."

Narda smiled and reached out to cup his cheek in her hand, her thumb stroking his face softly. "Channie, I can't. I made a commitment to them and as much as I want to stay with you boys, I have to go back." Narda cooked for them, cleaned for them, kept the house well kept, and was normally the person they went to when they wanted to settle arguments because they thought her as the only neutral side in the dorms. She was like a sister to many of the boys--except Baekhyun and Chanyeol who had other feelings for her. As she thought about the time that would pass before she could see them again, she said to him, "It will only be a month, and then you guys are returning to Korea. I'll be waiting to see my friends again. Chingu-yah." She grinned, now pinching his cheek. She had called him the Korean word for friend, that most of the other boys used for her. They either called her friend or sister.

She left shortly after Yena got on her flight back to her hometown in China, and the group was there to see her off as well. Chanyeol at one point hugged her for so long that she almost missed her flight. Baekhyun only watched from a few feet off, standing behind the other boys. All he did was to offer her an swkward wave goodbye to which Narda responded with a sad smile.

The month in Korea went by quicker than she would have thought. The first days of school were the busiest, since there were introductions to be made and the first lessons normally kept her busy with the children who were starting to learn the language.

Without Nari or EXO, she found herself spending most of her time alone. At times she'd look out at the dorm building, hoping for them to come back. At other times she'd talk to her family, or take the train out to the mall where she, Chanyeol, and Baekhyun had pizza a while back. Everything felt so unreal to her. Moving to Korea and almost immediately being able to meet her idols. She almost expected to wake up one day, in her bed at home and realizing it had all been a wonderful dream.

Towards the end of the month in which they were away, she made one friend in her group of co-workers. She had met him at the teacher's lounge one day, when she smelled the familiar scent of tacos coming from the room. She had quickly entered to find another of the foreign language teachers, who happened to be from Guadalajara in Mexico. His name was Daniel Villalpando and he was the only one in that school who had been hired to teach Spanish.

They had gotten along instantly because he was someone who reminded her of home. Like her, he also felt lonely being in a foreign country to far from home, on his own. 

On the day that they returned, Narda and Daniel had gone to the kimbap restaurant down the street. By then, she was a regular because she went so often with Nari and the boys. Hana, the girl at the register already knew her well and always greeted her with a friendly smile. Though she was a bit curious to see the foreign girl now accompanied by someone new.

They were walking down the street, on the side opposite of where her building was. She always crossed the street after reaching the dorm building because she liked to sneak a glance past the glass doors in hopes of spotting Baekhyun.

The two of them walked side by side and as they reached the dorm building, she noticed a row of black cars parked in the front. From them emerged EXO, appearing tired from all their traveling and their concerts which had been going on in different countries all month. Narda had watched all of them on live streams and read all of their news. Chanyeol also called her very often to let her know how they were doing. But he had kept it a secret that they would returning that day.

When Chanyeol saw Narda, his face brightened with a smile and he raced to her. "The little liar!" He pulled her in for a hug that engulfed her small frame. She almost disappeared from sight since he was nearly a whole foot taller than her. "Its been too long." He said, closing his eyes happily.

In the background, Daniel watched with confusion. "Do you know these guys?" He asked Narda with genuine curiosity. He had seen them in television commercials and on billboards around town. He wasn't able to connect how she knew them.

Narda and Chanyeol pulled away, and Narda answered his question with a nod. "Yes. They're my friends. Remember I told you I had no one because they were away for the month?"

Chanyeol was quick to notice that he was with Narda, and not just someone passing by. His eyes immediately narrowed into a glare. In his mind flashed a thought full of jealousy. I didn't get rid of Baekhyun so that someone else could come and take her from me. Eyebrows furrowed and eyes still set into a glare, he spoke with a clenched jaw. "Yes. I'm her friend. Who are you?"

Narda looked from one boy to the other. Daniel had sensed the hostility Chanyeol was giving him, and had decided that he didn't like him either. She stood in between the two, explaining with a nervous smile. "Channie...This is a friend from work. His name is Daniel, and he's from Mexico, so he makes me feel comfortable because he reminds me of home."

Chanyeol's gaze softened, only when directing his words at Narda. "I thought I was your home away from home. I told you not to feel alone because I was by your side." His words were tinged with hurt.

She nodded. "What was I supposed to do with you and the other boys gone?"

The other boys watched the conversation and decided not to get involved. Instead they made their way into the building until Baekhyun emerged from his car with a cap over his head, a surgical mask, and sleep filled eyes. He had slept on the car ride from the airport back to the dorms and hadn't been nearly enough. But he was instantly made wide awake by the scene before him. Not only was Narda there with Chanyeol, but she was there with another man. He tried with every fiber in his being not to care, but he couldn't stop himself. Before he knew it, he was already walking towards them and he stopped by Chanyeol's side.

"Is there a problem here?" He asked the three of them.

They all turned to look at the boy who had just arrived.

Narda gave a shake of her head, trying to pacify the situation. "I was just introducing Channie to my new friend Dani. Dani, these are my friends Channie and Byun. The rest of the boys and Nari must be tired so they didn't stop to greet us." But the tension was there and it was so thick that it could be cut with a knife. 

Dani. Baekhyun scoffed under his breath and rolled his eyes.

Continuing their conversation from moments before Baekhyun arrived, Chanyeol told Narda, "Well we're here now, so he can get lost." Baekhyun nodded in agreement.

At his words, her eyebrows furrowed. "Don't be rude, Chan." She scolded him.

Daniel placed a hand on her shoulder to get her attention. He was the same as Chanyeol in the sense that his tone was much more gentle when speaking to her, his Mexican accent poking through his words. "Don't worry Guti. I have to get going anyway. I'll see you at work tomorrow."

Narda nodded and heaved a sigh. "Please forgive them, Dani. They're probably irritable because they're tired from their flight. They've never acted like this." She assured him in Spanish, since it was the language that was more comfortable for him. Chanyeol and Baekhyun only watched her with confusion, since they couldn't understand a word she was saying to her new friend.

Daniel leaned in to kiss her on the cheek goodbye and Chanyeol felt his hand involuntarily roll up into a fist. Daniel walked away after handing Narda the bag which contained some food she had gotten at the kimbap place. Narda watched him go and when he was far enough, she turned back to the two boys, a deadly glare that sent a shiver down their spines. 

"Narda--" Chanyeol started, taking a step towards her. He instantly regretted being overly jealous and protective of her.

But she raised a hand to stop him. "No, Channie."

Baekhyun opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. There was nothing he could say to her.

Narda crossed the street and went to her apartment, feeling embarrassed over what had happened in front of one of her co-workers. She would forgive the two boys for what they did. But for the time being, she needed the time to cool down.

She saw them again a week later, when Nari blindfolded her and with a painstaking effort got her across the street to the SM dorm building. Narda had tripped a few times on the way there, but Nari told her it would be worth it once she saw the surprise they had for her. They went through the side of the building, since Chanyeol had been trying to get permission for Narda to visit whenever she wanted, but it was taking longer than he hoped for. And they climbed the six flights of stairs up to EXO's floor. 

They reached the lounge room and Nari yanked the blindfold off her friend with excitement. There, she saw a banner that read thank you for everything Narda, and the place was decorated with colorful streamers and balloons. On the table in the center of the room were presents and a cake. Narda brought her hands to her face in surprise. "Thank you, guys. But its not my birthday or anything."

Chanyeol stepped forward. "We just wanted to thank you for all your hard work while we were on tour. Since you left, we have really felt what struggling is." He joked, but the other boys nodded in agreement. "And...Baek and I wanted to apologize for that scene we made in front of your co-worker. Maybe we were really tied from our flight. But that doesn't excuse our behavior."

Narda ran up and hugged him, having to jump slightly to throw her arms around his neck. Chanyeol held her to him happily, and as they pulled away, Nards looked around the room with confusion. "Where's Byun? I want to let him know that I forgive him."

Kyungsoo responded, "He went to invite the others. They don't know you, but we thought they'd love to meet you."

There were other idols who lived in the building, in other floors. Narda knew who most of them were, but she had never met any of them. There weren't many times that she had been allowed in the building. When she was with EXO, it had been at the agency building, or at their dorms abroad.

She smiled and gave a nod of her head. "I'd be thrilled to meet them too."

The group waited for everyone else to arrive, and they did after a couple of minutes. But what seemed to catch Narda's attention the most was that Baekhyun arrived last--a wide smile on his face, and linked arms with Taeyeon.

-

i haven't updated this story in ages so forgive me if im a little rusty. haha. 

in the name of drama, i have decided to add taeyeon into the mix and see how things go from there. because as we all know, baek and taeyeon dated. and in the timeline of my story, this is around the time in which they announce their relationship. i honestly dont dislike taeyeon, but i never shipped them. it seemed like a fabricated relationship to me. but idk.

anyway, i hope you're all having a very merry christmas eve. i hope all your holiday wishes come true and that you can all have a wonderful time with your family.

-clary xx