The Rival (Censored)

Chapter 12

Alex

For the past week, I’ve been at peace. There had been no needless phone calls or conversations with that moron.

Chen’s strange behavior, on the other hand, had a big influence on me.

What gives him the right to believe what he believes? Is that how DBXQ thinks in general?

I strolled down the street, which was only two blocks from my apartment, with my hands in my pockets.

As I approached the corner to the left, I noticed a cafe with a frosty and lovely design, implying a cozy cafe for its new clients.

It was the first time I’d seen anything like that in a long time. They may have only recently opened.

To combat the chill, I stopped to inhale its aroma quietly. After all, I’ve been practicing with the band for hours and it’s been quite stressful.

“One big macchiato please,” I boldly ordered the attendant without checking the menu presented above.

“One large macchiato, sir,” she replied cheerfully as she turned to the coffee maker.

When I glanced away from the empty chairs, I noticed someone I recognized.

A horrible vibe made me shiver from the base of my spine to the top of my head.

I shook my head and turned to face her, checking to see if my guess was correct. Confirmed.

“Alex!” she exclaimed. I pinched my face in disappointment in front of the counter and smiled before turning my attention to her as if I was glad to see her again.

“Sir, here’s your coffee,” the attendant stated as she handed the cup to him.

I took it and moved over to the empty chairs in her way. She was fortunately accompanied by someone.

“Hi, Hani.”

She replied with a smile that reached her eyes and waved her hand. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fantastic. You?”

“Same. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other.” To introduce her girlfriend, she rotated her body in her seat. “Anyway, Jessica,” she replied as I struggled to maintain my cool, despite I was already apprehensive.

I needed to get away from her as quickly as I could. “Well, I’ve got to meet someone, so…” I interjected, pointing to the empty seats in the cafe’s corner section, where the couches were.

“Oh, alright. See you around, Alex,” She nodded and shifted her gaze elsewhere, allowing them to resume their girl banter.

What an alibi, Alex. You knew you were not going to meet anybody today. It would be funny if that scumbag suddenly appears in front of me right now.

I walked in that direction with a large cup in my hand. I sat on the smooth couch material, letting out a sigh. I took a sip and swallowed the steaming drink. The warm ambiance, especially the silence, drew my gaze.

Why didn’t I realize this facility was so close to my apartment?

I heard the door clinking just as I was about to drink. I raised my head a little higher to see who was entering.

The new customer was a tall man who appeared to have a familiar back. I bent my head down to hide when he moved his head to check the area for a vacant seat. I caught myself looking at him again.

That smirk, oh my god.

Why is that scumbag here?

Then, I noticed he was drinking the same coffee I ordered. And in the same proportions?

My taste for it fell as soon as I saw him standing there, and it intensified when he grinned as he approached where I sat, as much as I wanted to appreciate the ambiance of the room.

He didn’t even seek permission before taking a seat in front of me, as if I was delighted to see him here. “You’re here.”

I snorted and averted my gaze. “Just tell me straight, aren’t you following me, are you?” I tucked my hand beneath my chin and clasped it to support the weight of my head, attempting to avoid it as much as possible.

“Isn’t it self-evident?”

Whatever that means.

He grinned as he raised his cup to take a sip with a loud slurping sound.

What a pain! Fine. In the midst of the cold, he was there to have coffee.

However, there were a lot of empty seats in this room.

Why did he feel compelled to sit next to me?

Hani shouted and pushed me closer to the glass window as she dashed at me.

I shoved her away from me, expressing my displeasure.

Chen, on the other hand, kept his grin hidden under the cup he was sipping from.

She wrapped her arms around me, as she always does. She even drew my head back and kissed my cheek. Gross.

“Oh, you’re his girlfriend?” Chen inquired, a smirk on his face. To keep warm, he wrapped his hands around the cup. “I had no idea you had one.” I frowned at him as he tilted his head and grinned at us.

“Yes, I am,” she answered and then squeaked before she gazed at Chen’s face. To hide her flush, she covered her face with her palms. “Oh my God, Alex. Is this the person you’re meeting today?”

Chen glanced at me when he heard it and let out a faint smile on his face. He tried to cover it with his hand as he took a sip.

Although I noticed his tiny nuances, I tried to ignore them and turned my attention to Hani.

“Please accept my apologies. I’m not your boyfriend. Keep your distance from me.” I sipped my coffee to calm myself down after being outraged by her childish behavior.

“Hey, I thought you’d forgotten about me.” She grumbled, “It’s been years since we last met after my return to the United States.”

I just rolled my eyes and said nothing.

“I don’t miss having to deal with a crazy woman like you.”

“Why?” She murmured a stutter.

While holding the cup in my hand, I glared at her.

“Look. I’m not interested in women who are fascinated with me. You’re like the obsessive fangirl I had in elementary school who used her status and wealth to create a fan club with hundreds of members.”

“Can’t you see I’m expressing my love for you?” She exclaimed, squeezing my arms tight, “I founded the private fans club to convey how much I adore you since we were youngsters.”

To let the release of her grip, I shrugged and shook my arm. “Hani, you have no idea how much you have messed up my life.”

As she let go of me, her eyes widened and tears welled up in her eyes.

“Thank you,” I muttered angrily as I sipped my coffee and tried to relax.

“You have no idea how much I was thinking of you while I was there. Alex, you have no idea how much I miss you when I’m apart from you.” Her tears streamed down her cheek, and I rolled my eyes and averted my gaze to avoid Chen’s amusement at the drama.

“I didn’t even consider you,” I grumbled. “When you went, I was overjoyed.”

“Why? Have you got a new girlfriend?”

“What does it matter if I get a new one?”

“I am concerned. What is her name? I needed her name, and I’ll personally tell her to leave you. Alex.”

I smirked and drank my coffee. “Wow, I didn’t realize you were still a freak Hani.”

“I am, because I adore you, Alex,” she said softly, her lips smooching mine.

With a grimace, I pushed her away. “Are you in love with me?” My question caused her to halt and moan, as though she hoped to be with me.

She nodded without hesitation.

I exhaled deeply and sighed. “Then, leave me alone.”

I had a blank expression on my face when I looked at her. Her eyes became bloodshot and tears streamed down her cheek.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not able to.” She shook her head, desperation on her face while wrapping her hand around my arm. “I’m afraid I can’t, Alex. You’re the only reason I came back.”

“In that case, you shouldn’t have returned!”

When she heard my abrupt wrath, she almost recoiled. She did, however, give a small shake of her head and did not let go of her grip.

She sobbed, “Tell me who’s that b***h you’re hooking up with now.” Say something! Please tell me! Say something!”

I had no choice but to use an alibi to get her to go away. To get her to stop acting up and leave me alone, I needed a compelling cause to do so.

“Him,” I answered, taking Chen’s hand in mine and maintaining eye contact with her.

He let out a yelp. His eyes and mouth opened significantly as he was taken aback by my action.

Sorry, Chen. I was at the end of my rope. This was the most bizarre thing I’ve ever done in my entire life.

At this moment, all I wished was that the ground would bury me right now.

But what else could I possibly do?

Her expression was perplexed. Her brows knitted together and soon elevated, and she placed her gaze on my hand, which was squeezing Chen’s. “What do you mean when you say he?”

Chen was bewildered, trying to figure out what was going on.

I smiled at him to keep up the pretense, even though my stomach was twisted and cold sweat covered my entire body.

I almost stammered, “Yeah, he’s my lover.”

She cried, but her doubts remained.

“You don’t think I’m telling the truth? Look.” I went in closer to his face and delicately kissed his chin.

I had no idea he smelled that delicious.

When I returned to my seat, he had a stunned expression on his face.

“Alex, this isn’t true. You’re just putting me down with him.”

She stood in front of me, shaking her head as though to refute the truth.

With a smile, I placed my gaze on her.

However, Chen’s unexpected move caught me off guard.

As he leaned in closer to me, he pulled my collar towards him, pressed his lips against mine, and opened them, inviting a more intense kiss.

While his eyes were closed, my eyes remained open the entire time.

The combination of the pleasant touch and the fragrance of coffee caused me to become agitated.

When we ran inside the apartment complex’s main gate a long time ago, I couldn’t help but remember how soft and kissable his pink lips were.

“What did you just do?” I whispered, moving him away from me but not far enough for Hani to notice.

“You know this is more convincing.” He smirked, whispering in a rich baritone.

He was still staring at me, his razor-sharp gaze slaughtering me. Our faces were too near for two males in broad daylight in a public place.

“Look.” He c****d his head in her direction. I followed her and noticed that she and her buddy were staring at us. “See?”

In front of her companion, she mocked and grumbled.

I snorted and cleared my throat as I realized she had left, trying to avoid Chen’s attention. “Don’t be too serious about things. I’d like for her to leave me alone. That’s it.”

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me. You should realize that I’m not a moron.” With a sardonic tone, he emphasized the last two words. He sipped his coffee and pressed his lips together as if attempting to taste mine. “How do you feel about the suggestion?”

“What is that?” I had a feeling he’d bring it up.

He shrugged his shoulders. “Do you want to assist the student council?”

I agreed with his conditions and nodded.

“For the sake of our fans and the student council’s charity event, why don’t you start showing me a bit more affection to make it more convincing than just me, trying to get you all the time. That’d be more fun, Alex.”

“I don’t believe it’s acceptable,” I said as my eyes fought against his gaze becoming more intense, engulfing me, as I studied the blank expression on his face.

That stare has the potential to arouse women’s emotions.

Chen does have a stunning set of brown eyes. s**t. What am I doing?

I maintained eye contact with him and returned his gaze.

“Does my face have dirt on it?”

His response was different from what I expected. He stood from his seat and transferred beside me. Why? What is he thinking? What is he doing?

I was at a disadvantage because of the distance.

He drew his body closer to me, moistened his lips, and caressed my face and neck.

I couldn’t help but stare at his pink lips, smell his breath, and feel his warm flesh with his face so near to mine.

“Can you tell me what you’re doing?” I made an effort not to stammer, but the distance made me uneasy.

“Do you have a mole on your neck?” Chen cupped my face again as he leaned in closer than before and combed my hair behind my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

“Could you please simply let me go? My neck hurts, you know.” I couldn’t help but be irritated.

As he carefully tilted his head to inspect my mole from a close distance, he showed no signs of letting go of his grip on my neck.

When I pressed my head against his shoulder, the pain became intolerable. My grunts made him understand I wasn’t joking, and he almost recoiled.

“What the hell are you doing?” I was panting as I spoke in hushed tones.

“Please accept my apologies. I just think your mole is adorable.”

What? What did he say? Does he find my mole cute?

He halted and pulled me back a little, giving me a good look and a smirk. “I have been dying to see it up close, Alex.”

My brows drew together.

Then, I heard someone’s throat clear. We swung around to take a look.

“Jun?” Chen spoke in an agitated tone.

Our faces became scarlet as we pushed away from each other, and he returned to his seat, avoiding Jun’s gaze.

He stretched his lips wide to smile as he raised his arm to wave his hand.

“Hello, guys!” He pulled his lips together, visibly disturbed by what he had witnessed right in front of his eyes.

He raised his arm and motioned to the counter, where a member of the staff was awaiting his order. Jun looked at us again after handing his card to the cashier and chuckled while shaking his head.