CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
I kept the photo in my bedside drawer. I took a quick shower then I headed to the kitchen once I got dressed.
"Need help?" I asked once I saw Kyungsoo and Chanyeol in the kitchen. The two looked a bit surprised to see me up this early.
"I was just kidding when I said you should help last night." Kyungsoo said as he continued cutting some vegetables.
"Well, it wouldn't hurt to help." I smiled.
"You look good today," Chanyeol commented as he handed me an apron.
"I do?" I asked as I wore it.
"Well... you look like you're in a different glow. You definitely look better now than your previous days here." Kyungsoo chuckled. I grinned as I shook my head in disbelief.
"Well, if that's another way of saying that I look good then thanks." I giggled. Meeting their mother made me feel comforted in some way. Somehow the burden I've always felt was lessened.
"Let's just say that you look good and it's reflecting on your actions. You're not usually in a good mood," Chanyeol said. I smiled. They just don't know how to be straightforward with their compliments.
We worked on making our breakfast afterward. Some of the guys have also woken up and they too were surprised to see me awake. "Where the heck do you get that energy?" Tao groaned as he rubbed his eyes. Most of them still looked tired but I also noticed that their wounds have healed a bit.
"A cold shower in the morning, it wakes your senses" I grinned. Tao only groaned once again before taking his seat on the dining table.
They really look tired. There was this huge lack of energy. Xiumin looked like he didn't have the appetite to eat. I gave myself a determined smile when I thought of an idea. I went to the kitchen and I prepared hot cocoa for everyone.
By the time I finished making them, everyone was already gathered at the table. "I prepared this for everyone," I said as I distributed the mugs.
"And why would you do this?" Luhan asked with a skeptic look. "Is it poisoned?" he chuckled.
"Try it then," I teased.
"It tastes good. Thanks Paige," Suho smiled at me. I was mentally giving myself a pat on the back upon hearing them thanking me. It's good to do something for them, no matter how no big of a deal it is.
"You should make this for us every morning," Xiumin said as he took another sip. "If it's alright with you, that is."
"I'd prefer it if you'd make me some privately," Kai smirked. Just like usual, he ends up getting glared at by everyone.
"You'll never change, will you?" I chuckled softly.
"Never," he winked.
I suddenly noticed that there was still a mug left on the tray. I looked around and I realized that Sehun wasn't here yet. Nothing new, he's always late.
"I'm sorry I'm late." speak of the devil--demon... whatever. "I overslept," he said as he took his seat.
I took the last mug, which is Sehun's, and placed it on the table. I took the tray and hurriedly returned to the kitchen. Once I was back, Sehun was already holding the mug. His brothers probably handed it to him. Our eyes met for a brief moment but I looked down and quickly walked back to my chair.
"Thank you," I heard him saying when I passed by his seat. I didn't respond because I didn't know how to react.
After eating, some of them offered to help me clean my room. I accepted the offer since my room looked like it got hit by a cyclone. I don't even know how I slept comfortably here last night. There were still shards of glass on the floor, some of the furniture was broken, there were dents on the wall and there was even blood on the carpet. Cleaning this would definitely be a pain.
"Your room is a complete mess. I think it'd take a whole day to clean this," Tao groaned as he began to put away the broken pieces of furniture.
"I'm amazed that I managed to live after losing that much blood," Baekhyun said as he looked at the blood in the carpet. I grimaced at the memory of seeing him crashing onto the floor together with the shards of glass.
"Baekhyun," I called him and he turned towards me. "Sorry," I said. He went near me and ruffled my hair.
"Stop apologizing, if it wasn't for you I'd probably still be half-dead like last night." he smiled back. This guy is too nice. I really find it hard to believe that he's part demon.
"You did what you could do Paige. You should stop worrying about that." Lay said as he gave me a pat on the back. "You should be more worried about yourself rather than Baekhyun or any of us," he said.
"And why?" I asked.
"You told Sehun that he could have you anytime he wants to. Based on your previous actions, I bet you're not letting him, aren't you?" I slowly nodded as Lay continued. "He'll find out," he warned.
"I already told her that," Baekhyun adds.
"As long as his demon form doesn't appear, I'm safe," I told them as I crossed my arms.
"Yeah, but I think you forgot the part that you're a klutz and you tend to be really stubborn and impulsive." Tao suddenly commented which caused Lay and Baekhyun to burst out laughing.
"As accurate as it is, you have to trust me." I sighed.
"You should keep this somewhere safe," Baekhyun said as he handed me the knife that Aleister gave me. "I remember that Kai hid it under your bed,"
I took the knife from him and looked at it for a while. I could see my own reflection on its blade. I still couldn't believe that I used this knife to try and kill Sehun. I really regret it when I think about it now.
"I'll use it in case of emergencies," they looked at me after I said that. "Your uncle and my stepfather are considered as emergencies, right?" I said as I hid it in my drawer as well. "We'll find a way to defeat them, we're not letting them break us, right?"
"Of course not. We're one heck of a strong family Paige." Lay smiled.
"Enough with the drama. Help me over here! This isn't even my own room yet I'm the one doing the most work." Tao complained as he was sweeping the floor.
I looked towards Lay and Baekhyun and giggled. Without any more words, we returned to cleaning my room.
After spending nearly the whole day cleaning, the three went to their rooms to rest for a bit. It's already five-thirty in the afternoon. Good thing we managed to finish. Another good thing is that I managed to persuade them to not attend the night class tonight. Yesterday was really stressful and I think they need the rest. Well, it's unfair for the guys that volunteered to help me clean my room but that's a different story.
I walked around the garden for a while. I took a deep breath and I felt really refreshed. Fresh air... this is exactly what I needed. I closed my eyes as I felt the cool breeze. I placed my hands in the pockets of my cardigan. It gets really colder here at night.
I was walking peacefully until Sehun suddenly appeared in front of me. Good thing I managed to stop right on time otherwise I would've bumped him. He looked really confused to see me. He's the one that teleported here so why is he this puzzled? Wait, why would he even teleport in front of me in the first place?!
"What are you doing here?" we said in unison. Now it was my turn to be confused. He's the one that randomly appeared here, so why is he asking me that?
"I was just getting some fresh air. Why did you suddenly come here?" I asked him back.
"I don't even remember teleporting here. I was just lying on my bed then next thing I know, I'm already standing right in front of you." he answered. That made no sense.
"Then how would that explain this whole situation?" I asked again.
"I don't even know why I always end up thinking about you," I was taken aback by his answer. "Demons could teleport to places that they want to go just by visualizing the place." I got even more confused.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I was probably unaware that I was already thinking of you. That probably sums up how I got here." I immediately avoided eye contact with him. I just can't look at him properly whenever we talk.
It could be possible that he's thinking of me because of his unanswered questions ever since last night. Then again, it might only be his demon side working. What if his demon side is starting to take over his human side? Wouldn't that be a definite worst-case scenario?
"This place reminds me so much of my mother," he sighed.
I blinked in surprise. Is he opening up to me? Should I ignore him? Should I leave him here? I might end up doing something stupid again. Being alone with Sehun is the last situation I would want to be in but a part of me just wanted to stay and listen.
"Why?" I asked.
"She took care of this garden. My brothers and I played a lot here too when we were younger." he answered as he looked in no particular direction.
"Your mother... what is she like?" I asked him. Of course, I do know her, but I'm curious about what her son thinks of her.
"She's everything that a mother should be. She's the bravest woman I know," I could feel his sincerity. Their mother is probably smiling already, I know that's something that a mother would want to hear. "You're brave too Paige," he said.
"How am I brave?" I asked.
"You're living with eleven demons, you attend night class with demons, you even made hot cocoa for us," he chuckled fondly at the thought. "That's brave."
"That's nothing compared to what your mother did. She married a demon, had kids, and raised them. Your mother is a really nice person," I smiled.
"You're talking as if you actually know her," he said. I only smiled at him, I have met her but that's something that I'd want to keep to myself.
I looked up when I felt something fall against my head. I realized that it was starting to rain. The raindrops suddenly began falling. I also realized that it was already dark too. "We should head back," I told Sehun.
"Let's go?" he offered his hand.
"Yeah, sure," I said uneasily as I placed my hands inside my pockets. Good thing I was cautious. I would've accepted his offer right away.
Sehun looked confused at first but then he suddenly rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry, I always forget," I suddenly remembered when he first introduced himself to me. I nearly shook his hand that time if it wasn't for Baekhyun.
"Just walk next to me. I'll keep the distance." he said with assurance. I bet it's hard to be a gentleman if anyone was in his position.
I took one arm off from my cardigan and I offered him one sleeve. "Hold this," he carefully took it while making sure that he doesn't come in any skin contact with me.
"Why am I doing this again?" he asked confusedly.
"It's much better than just walking next to you right? At least this way, you'll be sure that I'm just here." I told him.
Sehun didn't give me a reply after that. I didn't need it anyway, the smile on his face right now is enough for a reply for me.
This is stupid. This is wrong. Here I am again, I'm trusting him and I'm letting my guard down once again. I know I'm still bound to get hurt, I'll always be in harm. Whenever I'm with Sehun, it's considered dangerous. But right now...I'm just not afraid of Sehun.