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Jaehyun was happy. She was not. Especially not when he half-dragged half-carried her to the stupid dormitory and showed her a room that was stupidly fancy and annoyingly had many, many very comfortable-looking pillows. She still wasn't happy. Not even a little. Maybe impressed but definitely not in a good mood.

"Her room" was a large but comfortable-looking room with the workings of an interior design team for a Korean drama film. The four-poster bed had a white comforter that looked annoyingly fluffy and made her hands itch to run through them. The vanity had neatly placed makeup she'd never use and the mirror was brighter than her future. Literally, in this case.

The desk had a few books and nothing else. Not even a single tablet. There was a matching chair for it and a fluffy white carpet to sink her toes into. Silken curtains fluttered in the draft created by the opening of the door—the large windows were closed. Locked, no doubt. A neat bookcase stood in the corner of the room with a large beanie next to it.

They had gotten all her tastes down to a point, and it was irritating, annoying, infuriating, and whatever other synonyms there were for I-want-to-pull-my-hair-out-and-eat-it.

Jaehyun led her excitedly into the room. "Like it? I helped pick out the furniture. Tristan chose the books and Leon moved them into this room. I think Kieran was the one who picked out your clothes."

Clothes? She considered if she wanted to go over to the closet and see what disaster the pervy white-haired male had gotten her. She decided it wasn't worth the effort. It was going to be the silent treatment for them. She was going to be as difficult as she could, but curse her inner conscience that made her feel guilty for being so rude when she was just a guest.

Keyword, guest. But they made it sound like she was going to live here forever. Ha, they thought. High school was going to end and they'd get bored of their game anyway and forget about her sooner or later.

Right?

Jaehyun nudged her and pouted when she made no move to follow him into the room. He tapped his chin before lighting up. (Y/n) watched him warily. Whatever he was planning, one thing's for sure. She wasn't going to like it.

He swept her legs out from under her before she could yell, hit, or do anything at him, cradling her as if she hadn't been threatening to hurt him before. Moving to the bed, he placed her down with more tenderness than she was used to.

(Y/n) tried not to struggle when she was picked up, which people seemed to like to do a lot lately. Because if she did, she was the one who'd get hurt, be it a drop on her behind or her head. She learned that the hard way.

She folded her arms and stared straight into the wall, refusing to look at the blond. If you people are going to be knuckleheaded cavemen, I'm going to do the same.

Jaehyun's face fell at her obvious rejection. He sat down beside her and rested his chin on her shoulder, making her flinch. "It hurts when you ignore me like that," he murmured, his eyes dropping and melting into rosemary pools under his eyelashes. "Talk to me, (Y/n). I like it when you talk."

Great. That makes one of us. She suddenly found great interest in the doorframe. Don't hear zebra anywhere. Maybe I could run.

She might as well be a wooden plank as she sat upright. She doubted Jaehyun's neck was sighing in bliss right now, but the boy looked completely at peace as he leaned against her. Who made her the boyfriend in this nonexistent relationship?

He sat up. "I know! It's boring here, isn't it?"

Boring's an understatement.

"Let's watch a movie." Without waiting for a response, he seized her wrist and dragged her downstairs to the cinema she had seen the last time she was here. Great, (Y/n) thought sarcastically. Now I'm reduced to a rag doll. What's next, a maid? They'll have to hold me on gunpoint before I put my hands on any broom to clean this stupid place for them.

RIP (Y/n)'s vocabulary.

She scanned the area they stopped in, taking in the giant flat screen that filled up the wall deep into the room. There were three rows of chairs in front of it, built on levels that lead downwards. And they weren't the cheap chairs in most movie theaters—they were expensive and highly comfortable-looking armchairs she could fall asleep in.

He led her to one of the seats in the second row and sat her down. Annoyingly enough, the chair was just as comfortable as it looked. "Do you want anything to drink?" He asked.

The (h/c)-haired girl remained silent, not wanting to entertain him. He nodded as if she had just given him the answer to the meaning of life. "Okay, be back in a second."

As soon as he disappeared he reappeared with two glasses and a large bag of snacks tucked under his arm, not giving her any time to escape. (Y/n) sat back down with a scowl. Are they all ninjas?

Unsurprisingly at this point, the glass was filled with her favorite drink, (f/d). She stared at the beverage sitting in its cupholder and made no move to touch it. He pulled open a bag of chips, her favorite kind goddammit, and offered the open end to her.

"Want some?"

Struggling against all odds, (Y/n) turned her head away from the tempting aroma of the chips, her heart aching as she did so. Arghhh, I won't lose to the temptation!

"The movie that's starting is one of my favorites," Jaehyun said as the screen began to turn on. "I watched it as a kid but now I don't really have a chance to." He gave her a sweet smile. "I'm glad I can watch it with you."

I'm not.

Lights off she tried another escape attempt but Jaehyun's tight grip on her wrist kept her rooted to the spot. His sweet smile didn't change as he turned to the (h/c)-haired girl, but there was a dangerous undertone to his voice.

"Sit down. Okay?"

The obvious threat in his voice made her shiver. She had no choice but to comply. When he finally released her, the skin his fingers had wrapped around burned as if it was flames that caressed her wrist instead. She rubbed it subtly, trying to remove the tingling feeling.

(Y/n) couldn't pay attention to the movie and stared at the center of the screen instead, trying to ignore the occasional stares the blond threw her way. Fed up with it, she fixed him with a hard look as if daring him to do it again. But he had the decency to blush and look down at his lap, fidgeting as if he had caught her in the middle of changing.

Haha, very funny.

The movie dragged along, much to her dismay. When it was finally over, her wrist had grown sore from where he held it again after she tried to sneak to the next seat and slip away. She slumped back into the chair and cracked her neck as the credits began to roll. She could only hope he didn't want her opinion on the movie because she sure as hell was not paying attention to it.

Okay, maybe she was. Just a little, but she was not going to admit that anytime soon.

There was a pinch of pale pink dusting his cheeks and across his nose like freckles as the lights flared on by themselves. Jaehyun grinned at her, the sweet sight making her traitorous heart melt before hardening itself. "Did you like that?" He chirped happily. "I didn't think you'd like those romantic flicks all those girls seem to like to watch, so I chose a thriller instead."

It was thrilling alright. Six attempts to run away in a measly two hours, all failed.

He cleared his throat and kept the smile on his face even when she didn't respond—she was slightly impressed at his willpower. "Come on, let me show you around the places I couldn't last time. The others are busy so it's the perfect time to. Come on!"

Commence the dragging. But what (Y/n) was determined to let be another miserable experience was actually not as bad as she tried to make it be. She found herself marveling at the splendid paintings that lined the white walls which had golden leaves climbing up it. Stained glass windows of mythical creatures and religious events, immaculate furnishings, and gold-gilded wooden surfaces that were rough to the eye but pearly smooth at the touch. Ivory and obsidian sculptures of man and beast.

She shied around one particularly realistic-looking statue of a lion rising up on its hind legs before its long fangs could do serious damage to her head. She almost didn't notice Jaehyun watching her as she took in the brilliance and beauty of the artworks. She quickly rearranged her features back into her stony mask but it was too late.

His hand tightened around hers before with one fluid motion, he pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her body. (Y/n) stood awkwardly in his embrace; risk his fury by struggling or just stay there and hope it's over?

He hid his face in her face—she didn't know what he looked like at the moment. "You're here," he said quietly. "I'm so glad you're here." His warm breath tickled her neck and he stayed that way for a few moments before releasing her, his face bursting into flames at the realization of his actions. "U-um, sorry! I-I couldn't help myself—I m-mean, let's go to the kitchen and get you something to eat."

She wanted to refuse but the rumbling of her stomach betrayed her. She scowled. Why do stomachs always growl at the worst possible times?

The blond giggled and pulled her into another hallway. "The kitchen's on the first floor," he told her. "You can use it whenever you like, but all the knives are locked up at right now"—he threw her an apologetic look—"They're pretty sharp."

What am I, a kid?

The kitchen was bigger than her bedroom. No, bigger than her bedroom and her father's bedrooms combined. Hell, she didn't even have the heart to examine it closely. The sheer size of the place made her stomach twist in dread. Finding her way around this place is going to be hell. How would she ever escape?

Much to her surprise, someone else was already in the kitchen, and that someone else was Leon. The black-haired male didn't notice them at first. Or if he did, he didn't show it. His lips were slightly parted with a furrow in between his brows as he stared in concentration at the freshly baked cake before him, his hands steady as he slowly decorated it with icing. When he was done, he put the icing back onto the counter and washed his hands in the sink.

"Mhm, cake!" Jaehyun pulled her into the room with him as he ran up to the finished product on the counter. "Can we have some, Leon?"

"Wash your hands," the male commanded as he took out a few plates and utensils from the cupboard. "Sit down."

(Y/n) made no move to comply but she couldn't exactly resist Jaehyun's tugs either. Is manhandling the poor (Y/n) a new sport or something? Moments later, a very disgruntled (Y/n) plopped herself in the farthest seat from the two and stared at the fork before her, imagining how good it would feel to shove it down their throats.

Leon cut the cake with expertise, barely moving at all as he did so and delivered the slices onto the plates, pushing them across the dark brown table. There were only two plates, she realized. Her curiosity seemed to be written across her face because he noticed.

"I don't eat sweets," he said. "Enjoy. And Jaehyun?"

The blond looked up with a mouthful of cake. "Yesh?"

"Don't make a mess. The rag's on the counter and the wet wipes if you need them are in the top drawer—"

"Yeah, yeah," Jaehyun scowled, swallowing his bite of the sweet treat. "Got it, dad. You can leave now."

Leon sighed and with one last glance at the still highly disgruntled (h/c)-haired girl, he wiped his hands on his jeans and disappeared from the room. She glared at the cake before temptation got the best of her and she took a bite. Annoyingly enough, it was good. Like, really, really good. Good at a professional level. Is there anything these people can't do?

Something wet hit her cheek and she sat up straight with a start. Her eyes darted to the source as her hand flew to her face. Jaehyun stared back with a guilty look and offered her a sheepish smile as he lowered his fork.

"Oops?"

Oops? (Y/n) wiped the icing from her cheek. Oh, it's on. Without a second to spare, she took a fork load of cake from her plate and whipped it towards the blond. How do you like that?

Jaehyun was stunned as the icing landed on his soft golden hair and fell onto his lap. A wicked glint entered his eyes and he picked up the whole slice of cake. "You're not getting away with that, (Y/n)!"

ABORT! ABORT MISSION! (Y/n) shrieked at the blond advanced on her with the cake in his hands. She darted around the table, using it to shield herself from him, but it didn't stop the boy from flinging it at her. She ducked, but a good chunk of it caught on her hair. Ducking back up, she broke a chunk of the cake on the table and flung it right back. I'm a professional at food fights. You don't stand a chance!

When Leon walked back into the room, he was at a loss. His warning of not making a mess was obviously ignored, and his cake he had spent time and dedication in making was strewn across the counter, walls, floors, and even the ceiling.

He looked at the mess. And then at the two cake-covered children who grinned back at him.

He sighed, shaking his head. Jaehyun and (Y/n) watched him warily as he went to the counter. They tried to see what he was doing, but his back was turned to them. Then he straightened and paused.

The two shared a look, (Y/n)'s anger forgotten. What's he doing?

Like a wound-up rubber band, he snapped around, throwing two paper plates filling with whipped cream straight towards the two's faces. They hit bullseye, coating the two in the sweet substance.

(Y/n) stood up, her mouth opening. "You did not just do that."

Leon grinned back at her. "But I did."

Even Leon was no match against the duo (Y/n) and Jaehyun. It involved a lot of tackling and more wasted bottles of whipped cream, but eventually, Leon had lost their food fight. Or maybe he was just pretending to entertain them. She sat crisscrossed on his chest while Jaehyun drew a whipped cream mustache on Leon's face. (Y/n) added a goatee for added effect.

Jaehyun was laughing as he coated the other male's eyebrows with the cream. "Now you really look old, Leon!"

(Y/n) pointed to a spot on Leon's hair. "You forgot a spot."

"Whoops. Here you go! Now it's perfect!"

The three's faces were almost unrecognizable under the whipped cream and cake that coated them. Not (Y/n)'s best accessory, but it gave her cover to realize she was supposed to be mad at then and cover up her smile. Curse her easily side-tracked mind.

The door opened and they heard a sigh come from behind them. "I was wondering what all the ruckus was," Tristan's smooth voice sighed, penetrating the light atmosphere of the room. He quirked an eyebrow at the state the kitchen was in before noticing Leon lying on his back on the floor covered in icing. He frowned. "Matthews?"

Leon smiled sheepishly and wiped most of the cream from his face and sat up, the movement making (Y/n) and Jaehyun move away. He looked at the whipped cream in his hands and then at the blue-haired male. Tristan seemed to see something they didn't in the black-haired male's face and he blanched.

Tristan took a step back, his eyes narrowed warningly. "Matthews, don't even think about it."

Leon shrugged and smiled. He was about to put the handful of whipped cream down before Jaehyun scooped it from his hands. "Here's a late birthday present, Tristan!" He lobbed at the stoic male before anyone could stop him. It landed perfectly on his hair, coating his neat blue locks before slipping down onto his glasses.

Tristan stiffened as (Y/n) fell over laughing, taking sweet satisfaction in the sight. Even Leon had to chuckle at Tristan's expression.

He struggled to remain calm, his jaw muscles working as he held back whatever poisonous words he was preparing to fling at them. "Matthews, Kim, (Y/n)," he said in a tense voice. "You—"

Who was going to wait for him to finish? Not (Y/n) and Jaehyun, that's for sure. The blond ran full-on into the blue-haired male's chest, succeeding in knocking him over onto the cream-covered floor as (Y/n) took a new bottle of whipped cream with her sticky hands, applying a good swirl of it onto the stoic male's face.

"Stop!" Tristan spluttered, trying to free himself from the blond's hold as Leon looked on with amusement. "Stop it, you imbeciles! Matthews, get them off me!"

"Nah, I think I'm good," (Y/n) drawled, shaking the can. "Let me take out my anger on you. Where's the rest of the cake?"

Jaehyun pulled the plate and the mushed up remains from the table. "Hope you like cake, Tristan!"

"Kim, (Y/n), I swear to all things holy—"

"Whoops, my hand slipped!"

"KIM!"

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The next hour was spent with her and Jaehyun on their knees while Tristan lectured them. The male's eyes were furious as he snapped at them. The effect might've been scary had it not been for his hair dripping with water and the cracks on his glasses. They might've been a little too careless with them. Even with all the cleaning up they had to do, it was so worth it seeing Tristan like that.

Wait, she was supposed to be angry. Goddammit, they got her to relax.

She retreated to "her room," leaving the rest of them to their own devices as Jaehyun looked around in confusion when she disappeared. She tried finding the door and running outside again in case it worked this time, but all the doors and windows were locked, not to mention the fact she couldn't find the front door even if she tried.

So she took a chair to a window and much to her displeasure it didn't even crack, much less budge. It was annoying to see the clear surface remain unblemished and scratchless even when she hit it with a lamp. At least the lamp broke—(Y/n) was going to have serious anger issues if it didn't.

Feeling an odd sort of satisfaction with leaving the broken lamp on the floor, she retreated to "her room," the only place she thought was safe at the moment. Just before she stepped inside, she paused. Why should I obediently stay in a room they arranged for me? The answer is: she shouldn't.

Sucks for you because I'm going to be as difficult as I can. (Y/n) ran down the hallway quietly and relieved to see they were empty, she pulled open what looked like a closet door and hid inside, closing and locking it securely behind her. If they were going to keep her here against her will, she might as well use the overly large manor to her advantage so that they couldn't find her. Whatever they were planning with her, she wouldn't let them do it.

Mere minutes passed before she heard voices beyond the door. She sucked in her breath to keep herself as quiet as she could while curling her legs up to her chest. The voices grew louder as they approached the door and she stilled.

"Did you find her?" Kieran was saying, his voice genuinely concerned.

"No," Leon sighed. "She's probably somewhere on this floor. You take this side. I'll go over there."

"Roger, Leo-chan~"

She heard the black-haired male growl threateningly at the nickname. "Don't f*cking call me that."

"Or else what?" Kieran teased. "You'll smash my face in? You're rather fond of doing that lately."

"Shut the f*ck up before I throttle you, a**hole."

"Ooh, scary. I'm scared now~"

Leon decided he wasn't worth it and swallowed his anger. (Y/n) heard his heavy footsteps as he stormed off, leaving a laughing Kieran in his wake. When his laughter died down, she waited for the white-haired male to move away before daring to let out a sigh of relief. At least they didn't find me.

She decided to stay in the closet for a while longer. Eventually, she knew she'd have to go out to scout for signs of Reese and for food—she wasn't about to let herself die just yet—but she could still hold on a little right now. Just to be safe.

Minutes or hours passed, she didn't know, and the darkness that surrounded her seemed to be pulsating as they cooed to her softly, lulling her to sleep. (Y/n) shook her head, struggling to stay awake, but her attempts were futile. She had no choice but to surrender herself to the bottomless void that eagerly consumed her consciousness.

Goddammit me.

She fell asleep just as the door creaked open and Kieran peeked unto it, a corner of his mouth quirking up into an amused grin.

"Maybe we should've made this her room," he suggested. "Or we could always have her stay with me—"

"I swear if you try anything, Fujikawa, I'm putting you on toilet cleaning duty."

"But that's what the cleaners are here to do!"

"I can and will demote you."