ζδΈζζ - A Mouth
Day by day - SNSD
Love Revolution - C.N.Blue
Nicole once again sat next to Kibum in his car. She had already been home to pack her bags or rather, pick up her bags. All her belongings had already been packed by her mother and were by the door when she arrived at her doorstep. Now they were heading to her new home for the next 100 days, Kibum’s apartment.
Nicole was quite surprised when she discovered Kibum didn’t live with his parents. She had thought the rich would stay close to home, where the money was. When she asked for the reason why he was living by himself he simply shrugged and answered nonchalantly, ‘just felt like it at the time.’ And with that, it ended their very short conversation. Neither made an attempt to break the silence throughout the drive. Both were deep in thought, wondering if they had made the right decision to sign the contract and what was going to happen from then on. The sun had set before the car finally came to a stop.
‘We’re here,’ Kibum sated simply and got out of the car.
Nicole quickly went to grab her bags and followed Kibum who didn’t even have any intention to help her with her three large bags, not that she expected him to help. Once they reached the apartment Nicole stood in awe. She had been expecting a simple apartment, just enough living space for one, maybe a bit more spacious than the average apartments but she never expected this. The most breathtaking view of the city could be seen through the floor length windows and just on the side she could see a spiral staircase leading to a second floor where the bedrooms were. This wasn’t an apartment, it was a penthouse. Nicole shook out of her trance and followed Kibum into her new home. He led her up the staircase and gestured her to her room.
‘This is the spare room,’ he said simply, ‘the toilet’s that way.’ He pointed down the hall way. ‘Make sure you don’t get too comfortable here, a hundred days go by really quickly.’
‘Don’t worry. This kind of place can never make me live here comfortably.’ Nicole retorted.
Satisfied with her answer, Kibum simply left and retreated to his room. Once he left, Nicole sighed. How am I going to get through this…. she dropped her bag and went to lie down on the queen sized bed, just simply staring at the ceiling. She didn’t want to unpack yet. She just wanted to rest and think about all that has happened. She went back through her memories trying to find out what she had done wrong for her to go through all this. Did she do something bad in her past life to deserve this? She turned to the side to see her bandaged wrist. She was instantly reminded of what had happened in the infirmary. Her face showed a tinge of pink as she remembered what happened. I can’t believe I actually kissed him by accident…Before she could delve herself into deeper thought her stomach growled. Immediately, Nicole sat up.
Ahhh, that’s right I haven’t eaten since this morning….she thought and mentally blamed Grandma for causing her to get this hungry.
She got up and walked downstairs to the kitchen. To her surprise Kibum was also downstairs reading instead of being in his room. She expected some sort of reaction as she made her presence obvious as she walked downstairs but Kibum continued reading. He should at least have the decency to acknowledge my existence.
Nicole opened the fridge door expecting it to be filled with food but there was nothing but kimchi, a bottle of milk and water. She then went to check the freezer and it was empty again. She didn’t believe it; he was rich but was unable to afford such a basic necessity, food? She quickly and went to check the rest of the drawers and cupboards. There wasn’t even canned food or instant noodles. Frustrated Nicole walked up to Kibum.
‘Ahem! Would you please explain to me my there is no food in this house?’ Nicole demanded with her hands on her hips.
Kibum’s eyes didn’t leave his book, ‘I don’t think I need to explain that to you.’
‘Then how do you expect we’re going to be fed?’
‘We?’ He finally looked up and stared at Nicole straight in her eyes, ‘there is no "we". I, myself, usually go out and eat or call in someone to cook but that’s only for me. You’re going to have to deal with problem on your own.’ He smiled and returned to his book.
Nicole was furious. How can someone be this selfish and self-centered? She was about to go off at him when she thought of a wonderful idea. She quickly ran upstairs to change and appeared in from of Kibum again.
‘Hey, let’s go shopping!’
Before he could reply, Nicole grabbed the book out of his hands and replaced it with glasses and a beanie. Kibum pulled a confused expression.
‘Put it on,’ Nicole demanded with a smile on her face.
‘Huh? Did you say shopping before?’
‘Oh my god! Just put it on and stop asking.’
Kibum put them on. Nicole was actually surprised at how fast he complied with her demands and was even more surprised at how good he looked with glasses on. Kibum was similarly shocked at how he had listened and followed her orders. As soon as Kibum was set, Nicole grabbed his hand and dragged him out the door and to the streets.
‘Where are you taking me?’ he yelled from behind.
Nicole turned to him grinning from ear to ear. ‘Didn’t I say we were going to go shopping?’
Nicole dragged Kibum into the closest grocery store and grabbed a shopping cart. It was only then Kibum finally understood what she meant by shopping it was just a way to get him to buy food for her but he couldn’t help but smile at how she could be so happy with the thought of food.
‘You brought me here so you could just buy food?’ Kibum complained, ‘and what’s with the glasses and beanie?’
Nicole thought it was about time she explained herself. ‘Well, I figured that since you’re such a spoiled brat you wouldn’t have tried proper home cooked meals. And since I’m such a nice girl I would cook a nice meal for the both of us. BUT only for today and of course you’re shouting the ingredients.’
‘Then what’s the difference between me going out to buy a meal when I still have to pay for the food?’
Nicole flashed a smile at Kibum, ‘Because, a rich kid like you wouldn’t understand the joy of buying ingredients so that you can make it the way you would want to taste, the homely feel.’ Nicole chuckled when she saw Kibum’s puzzled expression. ‘See, you don’t understand.’
‘Then what’s with the beanie and glasses?’ Kibum asked trying to brush off what Nicole had just said.
‘So you can be normal and not be stared at by strangers just because you’re an heir to the biggest company in Korea. Plus, I wouldn’t be able to stand all the attention either. Aren’t I thoughtful?’
They spent the next two hours wandering around the mart looking for… well, for whatever they wanted to eat. Nicole insisted on making ddukboki while Kibum followed along watching Nicole moving from shelf to shelf naturally as if she knew where everything was.
‘This fish cake or this fish cake?’ Nicole held up two packets of different branded fish cakes.
‘That one?’ Kibum pointed to the left packet.
‘Then I’ll take this one.’ Nicole placed the other packet into the trolley.
‘Then what’s the point of asking me to choose?’ Kibum said, annoyed.
‘You looked bored?’ Nicole shrugged and went on looking for rice cakes.
Kibum furrowed his brows. He simply couldn’t understand her. She was depressed acting like she hated him when he arrived at his house but would ask him to go shopping with her. Her actions made no sense at all but Kibum had to admit he was enjoying her unpredictability. It interested him even thought she was annoying.
Nicole clapped her hands which diverted Kibum away from his thoughts. ‘Yay! Time to get some snacks!’ she cheered as she quickly pushed the trolley into the snacks isle while Kibum walked faster to follow her.
When she reached the isle she grabbed almost every product there was on the shelf. Kibum widened his eyes. ‘You don’t plan to eat all that do you?’
‘Well….’ Nicole paused, thinking, ‘Yes, but I’ll share if you ask oh-so-nicely.’ She ended with a smile.
‘What?! I don’t need to ask you. I’m the one paying for them.’
Nicole laughed, ‘Not if I can help it!’ She quickly stuck out her tongue at Kibum before running away to the closest counter with Kibum chasing closely behind her. Nicole stopped at the counter but Kibum had been running too fast he tried to stop himself but he had already crashed into Nicole making her fall to ground with him on top. He was going to yell at her for angering him and making him chase her but the words stopped at his throat. He couldn’t say anything as he stared at her innocent almond shaped eyes. They were vibrant, pure and most importantly happy. He could feel his heart beating faster as his eyes moved down to see her smooth rosy cheeks and pouted cherry lips lured him. She was like a doll from heaven which he couldn’t take his eyes off and as if his body had a mind of its own he began to lean forward closing the distance between them until they were only centimetres apart.
‘Hey you love birds! Please control yourselves. You’re at a supermarket for god’s sake!’
They both turned to see the checkout lady peering her head over the counter staring at the pair as well as curious heads popping out of the line to see what was going on.
‘So you going to pay for these or not?’ The lady said impatiently.
Nicole and Kibum quickly realised what they had been doing before and quickly got up trying to remain composure. But inside both their hearts were racing.
Nicole’s face flushed bright pink. Did he just try to kiss me? She thought as she relived the scene of Kibum intently staring at her while leaning forward. Her heart began to beat faster even at the thought of it. Why was her heart beating faster? Maybe I was just scared…
While Nicole was busy collecting herself together, Kibum went to pay for the food. Yes, that was what he was doing physically but his mind drifted back to the scene before. His eyes widened as he realised something. If I lean any closer we would’ve kissed. Oh my god, what were you thinking Kibum? How could you even think of kissing that peasant girl? That was so not you…
Kibum was too drowned in his thoughts to notice how the counter lady was staring at him. ‘Um… you can’t be Kim Kibum right? I mean, are you the son of the Kim family? The one who owns Xavier?’
‘Huh?’
‘OH MY GOD!’
The lady at the counter pointed at him and yelled, ‘You are him! You’re Kim Kibum! Oh my I can’t believe it!’
People around her had heard her and before Kibum was able to recollect himself a crowd had begun to form. Some were already taking photos of him. Kibum looked across and saw Nicole’s shocked face. She wasn’t used to crowds and began to panic. He, on the other hand, had dealt with these situations plenty of times before and knew what to do. He quickly grabbed the bags of food and took Nicole’s hand and ran out of the store with some of the crowd still following them.
They continued to run until they finally reached the lobby of Kibum’s home.
‘What was that all about?’ Nicole panted.
‘That was what I get for going shopping with you.’ Kibum managed to let out.
‘At least I remembered to grab the groceries.’ Nicole eyed at the bags. She suddenly winced at a sharp pain coming from her wrist. Her eyes quickly looked left hand which was still interlocked with Kibum’s. Kibum noticed it too and quickly withdrew his hand away from hers.
‘Umm..so…’ Kibum broke the awkward silence between them but still avoided eye contact with Nicole. ‘You wanna go up now?’
‘Huh?’ Nicole turned to him, ‘Oh right, sure.’
Not another word was mentioned as they made their way back into the apartment. Immediately as they stepped into the apartment Nicole naturally went to the kitchen bench and began sorting out the groceries, walking to and fro from closet to drawers to the fridge. Kibum quietly observed her, watching her organise everything as if it was her own home moving from places knowing where everything was, even things Kibum didn’t know. Once everything was in place Nicole placed on an apron and rolled her sleeves, ‘Yes, finally time to start cooking.’ And she began to boil the water for the rice cakes. By the time she had started cooking; Kibum had already lost interest and went back to reading his book. It wasn’t long before a delicious smell engulfed the apartment and soon tempted Kibum’s stomach to growl which it did as Nicole placed the pan onto the dining table which was already set up.
Nicole giggled. She had heard Kibum’s stomach but she knew he wouldn’t give into eating so easily, especially since it what he would all ‘poor’ food. Being the impatient Nicole, she wasn’t going to wait around for him to come to eat with her. She was starving herself. So she quickly began eating purposely blowing the smell to Kibum’s direction and making random compliments to her cooking along the way.
‘Gosh, Kibum, you don’t know what you’re missing,’ Nicole smiled with her mouth full.
Kibum’s stomach growled again. Aish…Kibum, eventually couldn’t resist temptation and sat down at the dining table. Nicole smiled to herself. Gotcha!
Even though he was hungry he just stared at the ddukboki examining it at every angle. He used his chopsyicks to poke and probe into the pan not sure whether its contents were edible. Nicole rolled her eyes. She grabbed one of his chopsticks from his hand and poked it through one of the rice cakes and offered it to Kibum.
‘Eat it.’
‘No!, I’m not eating this trash!,’ Kibum shook his head but his stomach gave way again.
Nicole laughed. ‘Say ahhh…’
Kibum closed his eyes and slowly opened his mouth bracing himself. A soon his mouth was open; Nicole quickly stuffed in the rice cake. ‘See it’s not so bad?’ Treating him like a little boy who had just conquered one of his worst fears.
Kibum eyes widened as he tasted the different flavours of the rice cake. The chewiness and spiciness, all the textures and flavours united perfectly. It was the most delicious food he ever tasted. Before he even digested his first piece he was already scoffing down more.
‘What is this called?’ Kibum asked between bites.
‘Dduboki.’
Dduboki….I must have this more…Kibum thought as he continued eating. He hadn’t noticed that Nicole went to the fridge and brought back two cans of soda.
‘Here. You might need some this to help you swallow.’
Kibum gladly accepted the can. Nicole opened her can of soda and held it up towards Kibum.
‘To our first day? No, To surviving our first day together.’
Kibum laughed. This isn’t as bad as expected. He, too, held up his can and slightly hit Nicole’s can.
Nicole smiled. This might actually be fun. She drank from her can. Even if they were to fake being a couple, didn’t mean they couldn’t be friends, right?
Author notes:
I apologise for the extremely late update. you guys have probably forgot about the plot and characters already. I'm so sorry. This late update can't be blamed on anyone else but me. Sorry for depriving you guys of NiKey for so long. Been suffering a horrible writer's block and being bombarded with school work.
I promise I'll make it up to you guys. 
This chapters a little bit of a filler, don't bash me. but hopefully the NiKey moments made up for the crappyness of it. :/ BUT I guarantee that the next chapter will be filled with Shinee x Kara. Yes, you heard me Shinee AND Kara not just Nikey.
