Recap: I walk back inside and make my way to my room when I'm stopped by someone. "So, what did you three do?"
Mari's POV
I spin around to face an accusing glare. "N-nothing oppa, I was helping Tao get better," I say, moving to walk past him. "I'm sure, because when someone is sick, taking a bath with them will totally make them all better. What are you gonna do next? Kiss his boo boo away?" Chanyeol spits and I stop, taken aback. "Excuse me? For your information, the steam in that hot springs has healing ability and helped him! You would've noticed that if you were so jealous!" I snarl and he scoffs. "Me? Jealous? Please. There's nothing to be jealous of. I just don't want you taking advantage of him," he fires back and I'm left gaping. "Is that how you see me? A slut? Oh sure, Mari loses everything she cares about and then appears in a strange house with 12 strange boys! The best idea would definitely be to fuck them all!" I scream, my vision blurred. I watch as his face softens and he takes a step towards me, but I step back. "Just, leave me alone," I say, and run away as the first tear falls, followed by more. "Mari wait! Mari come back! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!" I hear his calls all the way through the house, but I don't want to hear it.
How dare he? What right does he have to tell me what I can and can't do. How dare he portray me as slut. I hate him. I throw myself into my room and onto my bed, sobbing angrily. I scream into my pillow and throw it at the wall. I'm angry at him for acting the way he did. I'm angry at myself for getting so upset. For acting weak. I hear a soft, timid knock on my door and I look up to see Luhan standing in the doorway. "U-um, I heard s-shouting and I t-thought I should c-come and s-s-see if everyone w-was ok," He stutters, his eyes looking around frantically. "I'm fine Luhan oppa. Thank you for asking," I sniffle, turning away and rubbing furiously at my eyes. It's quiet, so I think he left, but then I feel the bed dip down beside me and I turn to see the blurry outline of Luhan, who looks terrified. "T-tell me w-what happened," He says slowly, and I wipe my eyes again, before telling him. At the end, I'm crying due to frustration and he does something unexpected, he slowly wraps his arms loosely around me. I'm shocked, since I couldn't even get him to come within a foot of me, much less hug me, but I don't want to waste this opportunity, so I wrap my arms tightly around his waist and burry my face in his chest. He stiffens, but doesn't pull away.
Slowly, he relaxes a little, and strokes my hair lightly. "Chanyeol is just, upset. He didn't mean it. Trust me, he likes you. H-he would be an idiot n-not to," Luhan says quietly, almost without stuttering, shocking me further. "I'll take your word for it, but I won't forgive him easily," I say, pulling away and he nods. "Would, would you like to come sit with me and S-sehunnie in my room? Maybe?" He asks nervously, as if afraid of my reply. I smile, wiping my face completely dry and nodding. "I'd like that. You're really improving oppa. Maybe soon, you won't be afraid at all," I say and he shakes his head sadly. "I doubt that will ever happen," He says, but I don't miss how he smiles at the ground. Taking his hand and ignoring when he stiffens, I drag him out of my room and into his. "Sehun! Please don't be scared! Luhan oppa invited me in!" I speak in a soft voice, pulling Luhan beside me to calm Sehun as he stares wide eyed at me. "A-annyeong n-noona," He whispers, before glancing helplessly at Luhan, who sends him a tight smile. I release his hand and sit across from Sehun, causing him to flinch backwards. "It's ok Sehunnie. She won't hurt us," Luhan speaks in a clear, but low voice and Sehun glances at him, before nodding. Wow, he didn't stutter at all! I guess he's normal around Sehun, but around everyone else, he's terrified.
"If you want I can leave," I suggest and Sehun shakes his head. "A-ainyo. G-gwenchana," He says and I bite my lip. "Are you sure?" I ask and he nods. "N-ne, I'm s-sure." I smile at him and Luhan speaks up. "W-we h-have been m-meaning to try to get o-over our f-fear," He says, glancing at me, but then snapping his gaze to the floor. "Well, you're definitely improving oppa. You don't stutter nearly as much!" I tell him enthusiastically and he grins at the floor, while Sehun looks saddened. "And I'm sure with some help, you will be the same Sehun!" I hastily add and he smiles unenthusiastically. "I-it will t-take a l-lot o-of help," He says sadly and I shake my head. "Nonsense! You're already improving! Look at you! You're talking to me! An outsider!" I joke and they both chuckle slightly, almost unnoticeably, but it's there. "I'll help you," I say and they stare up at me, wide eyed. "R-really?" They ask and I nod, smiling brightly. "Of course! I promise!" I say and they smile, before visibly relaxing a little. "S-so, what's f-first?" Luhan asks and I shrug. "Hmm, how about we take a walk outside?" I suggest and their eyes grow wide and fearful. "A-aniyo!" They both shout, and I mean shout. It feels as if the whole house is quiet after that. "Wae?" I ask and they gulp slightly. "N-no one g-goes outside. B-bad t-things h-happen," Luhan says and Sehun nods. "V-very b-bad th-things!" He adds and I roll my eyes. "Alright, then how about we-" I'm cut off by the door slamming open.
"Is everything ok? I heard yelling!" I look up to see Chanyeol standing in the doorway. His eyes land on me and guilt flashes through his features. "Luhan oppa and Sehun were just surprised. Nothing happened. DOn't worry, I'm not trying to sleep with them," I say coldly and I see Chanyeol's face crumple slightly in guilt, before a blank look is replaced. "I just thought I'd come and check," He says and I scoff. "Well you've checked, now please leave. Or better yet, stay. I'll leave," I say, standing and turning to HunHan. "Sorry guys. I promise I'll help you tomorrow," I say and they nod in understand, glancing warily at Chanyeol. I move to leave the room, but Chanyeol blocks my way. "Can you move? You're in my way," I snap, annoyed, before glancing back at HunHan. "Plus, you're making Sehun and Luhan oppa uncomfortable," I add, and when he doesn't move, I elbow him in the ribs, causing him to slump to the ground in pain and allow me to slip past him.
"Mari! Wait!" He wheezes, but I ignore him and make my way downstairs. "Mari! Please we need to talk!" I keep walking, quickening my pace slightly. I definitely do not want to talk to him. "Yah I'm talking to you!" I hear and then suddenly, someone latches onto my wrist and yanks me back. I spin around and glare up at the culprit. "Aish what do you want?" I snap and he sighs. "To talk!" I roll my eyes. "You've got 30 seconds, starting now," I say and his eyes widen, before he quickly begins to speak. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean anything I said! I was just angry and jeal-" his voice is drowned out by a scream and the sound of something breaking. I quickly pull away from him and run towards the noise, with him on my heel. The screaming continues and it turns to sobs. Loud, childish screeches. I burst into an empty room to find Baekhyun lying on the floor, screaming and crying. "Oppa! Oppa what's wrong?" I exclaim, running over to him as the rest of the residents file into the room, worry written on their faces. "Eomma! Eomma!" Baekhyun cries and that's when I realize how small and fragile he looks. He's in his toddler phase. "Baekhyun," I say in a soft voice and his gaze moves widely around the room. The amount of people in the cramped somewhat small room seems to scare him and his screams grow as he squeezes his eyes shut. "Eomma! Eomma!" He cries again, slamming his fist childishly to the ground. I move towards him and gently place my hand on his shoulder, but since his eyes are closed he didn't see my coming and gets scared.
He throws his hand out and slaps me in the face. If he were an actual toddler, it probably wouldn't have hurt too much, but since he is a grown man, it hurt like hell. I shake my head as the world spins, before I move cautiously towards him again. "Baekhyunnie," I coo and he looks up at me with fearful eyes, tears streaming down his face. "Eomma?" He asks pitifully, and I nod slowly. "Ne, I am your eomma. It's ok. Come here," I say and he launches himself into my arms. "Eomma!" He cries and I feel my heart break as this grown man sobs in my arms. This grown man, who as of now, does not know he is a grown man. "I-I was s-so s-s-scared!" He weeps and I rub his back and his head soothingly. "It's ok. Eomma's here now," I whisper, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. The guys all send me small smiles for helping him, before slowly leaving. All of them, that is, except for Chanyeol. He walks over to the corner of the room, and picks up what seems to be a broken picture frame. That must be what we heard break.
His face crumples, and he turns and leaves without a word. I sit alone in the room, comforting the sobbing boy in my arms until finally, his cries stop and his breathing becomes even. I look down to see that he is fast asleep. Dried tear stains are littered all over his face and his hair sticks to his head due to sweat. He looks so peaceful and innocent. It's hard to think that this sweet man, has two alternate personalities. One of which, caused him to attempt to burn the house down once, or so I'm told. I press a kiss to his forehead and move to get up, when his arms snake their way around my waist, hugging me for a moment. "Saranghae eomma," He whispers in his sleep, before rolling over and sticking his thumb in his mouth. I smile sadly at him, before grabbing a pillow from the corner of the room and placing it under his head. I look around for a blanket, but realize that if I want one, I'll probably have to take one from one of the bedrooms. Suddenly, the door opens and Chanyeol walks in, blankets in his arms. "I figured it would be best to leave him here, since we'd probably wake him if we tried to move him," He explains, layering the blankets over the sleeping man. I nod, and kiss Baekhyun's head again, before standing and walking silently out of the room.
"Mari?" I stop and turn around, mentally exhausted. "I, I really am sorry. I know that doesn't do much, but I honestly didn't mean anything I said," He says and I smile half heartedly. "I forgive you. I shouldn't have reacted the way I did," I say and he shakes his head. "Ani! You were in the right. I was an ass," He says and I smirk. "Yeah, you were," I agree and he chuckles. "But I was a bitch too, and for that I'm sorry," I say, hugging him tightly. "So, are we good?" He asks hopefully and I put on a thinking face. "I don't know," I trail off and his face falls. "I'm kidding oppa, of course we're good!" I say and his face immediately brightens. "Well, it's late, so I think I'm gonna go to bed," I say, stifling a yawn and he nods. "Yeah, me too. G'night. See you tomorrow," He says and I smile. "Yeah, goodnight." I make my way upstairs, my mind spinning from the recent events. Baekhyun's temper tantrum and Chanyeol's apology. Oh yeah, he was apologizing before the outburst as well. I remember as I make it to my room and climb into bed. I wonder what he was saying before we were interrupted. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean anything I said! I was just angry and jeal-" Angry and what? Jealous? No there's no way. For someone to be jealous, they'd have to like you in the first place, and Chanyeol definitely does not like me. I mean, what's there to like? Sure, I accused him of being jealous originally, but I didn't mean it. I was just angry and annoyed. No, I'm probably over thinking it. I should just go to bed, my head is starting to hurt from all this thinking. Aish.
Chanyeol's POV
I watch as Mari walks slowly up the steps, a frown etched on her face. She takes her lips between her teeth and I can't help but marvel at her beauty. Do I like her? Yes, I'll admit that she is gorgeous. Whenever she smiles at me my heart flutters. And I'll admit that seeing her with Tao and Kris did make me boiling mad. So mad, I punched a hole in the wall. Whoopsie. Is that a crush? I did almost tell her I was jealous. Thank god Baekhyun interrupted me, because telling her that would definitely give away that I like her. Wait, do I? I'm so confused! I don't understand! There's no way I can like her after only knowing her for a few days. Right? But, I do always get this funny feeling when she looks at me, or walks into the room. And her laugh is contagious, as is her smile. Whenever she's happy, I'm happy. When she's sad, I'm sad. Is that a crush? Is it? It seems to, stalkerish to be a crush. Oh god, I'm not a stalker am I? Omo I'm going crazy.
That's love for you.
Yeah that's- wait a minute, love? I never said anything about love! I don't love her, do I? Of course not pabo! You can't love someone after a few days! This isn't a movie! No, I just, like her a lot. As more then a friend, I don't know yet, but I will figure it out soon. I look up to see that I had walked to my room the whole time I was thinking. Wow, I didn't even feel myself move. I sigh and climb into bed, closing my eyes. I guess I should sleep on it. Goodnight Mari, I love you. WAIT WHAT?