*Haemin’s POV*

That night after the fan meet, Soobin and I went out for supper since it had been so long since we got to hang out. As we settled down at the ice cream palour that we love, I couldn’t help but notice the way she was ‘scrutinizing’ me if that is the right word to use.

“Fess up!”she said all of a sudden.

“What? What are you talking about?”I was caught off guard.

“What’s up between you and your myeolchi oppa huh?”she asked.

“What’s up between me and him?”I asked again.

“You two have been behaving rather oddly. Besides, you haven’t been spazzing over Donghae lately…,”she squinted her eyes at me.

“Really?”was all I could say after a moment of silence.

“So, what’s going on between you and Eunhyuk? Are you two together?”she asked, smiling a little this time round.

“No! Are you mad? He has Hyoyeon for god’s sake,”I avoided her glance to look at my ice cream.

“He has a girlfriend? He told you?”she asked, her tone lower than before.

“Not exactly. I kinda feel that he has someone he likes…,”I muttered.

“And you think it’s Hyoyeon?”she asked.

“Or you…,”I replied.

“Haemin…,”she called out.

“What?”I looked up.

“If you still want to eat your ice cream, you better stop stirring it,”Soobin pointed at the cup that was filled with liquid now.

“Oh my god, what have I done?”I rolled my eyes at my own stupidity.

How could I have day-dreamed till this extent?! Getting annoyed, I pushed the cup away.

“Are you okay?”she frowned.

“Yeah…,”I lied.

“Stop lying, idiot. You can tell me everything…,”she reached out to hold my hand.

“Don’t you think…I’m stupid?”I asked her.

“Apart from your blonde moments, you aren’t that bad. I’m kidding. What makes you think you are?”she asked.

“Well…, isn’t it stupid for me to…like myeolchi oppa?”I mumbled.

“I KNEW IT! I SHOULD HAVE GUESSED!”Soobin clapped her hands together.

“Why are you so happy? Does it matter? It’s not like we’re ever getting together,”I sulked.

“What makes you think that way? Aren’t you two getting along very well?”she asked, concerned.

“In a way, yes. But he doesn’t tell me things. Like how he never tells me who he likes! I know that’s none of my business and it will kill me to know who that girl is but…I can’t help but to want to know. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”I asked.

“You’ll be surprised…,”Soobin gave me a smile as she muttered.

“What? What will I be surprised about?”I raised an eyebrow.

“Nothing! Besides, what makes you think that you two are never getting together, huh?”she smiled as we walked back together.

“First, I’m not a member of a girl group. Second, I’m not pretty. Third, I’m not skinny nor do I have abs. Fourth, I’m not talented. Fifth, I’m ordinary. Do you really need me to carry on because I’ve got tons of flaws,”I replied.

“Firstly, who says you gotta be from a girl group to be able to date a member of a boy band? Second, you ARE pretty, stupid. Third, you are the skinniest person I’ve ever known and you could get abs by diligently doing those crunches. Fourth, you have your talents like playing the drums. Fifth, your myeolchi oppa may like someone ordinary,”she winked.

I was about to open my mouth when she beat me to it.

“Relax, Haemin. Focus on your good points!! Where’s your usual self-confidence eh? You’re always so sure that Donghae would marry you and all that. Where’s that mentality now?”she asked.

“Soobin, that was when I’m in my fangirl mode. This…is reality!”I argued.

“Oh, now you’ve matured,”she laughed.

“Go and die,”I rolled my eyes.

“Alright, alright! Don’t worry too much and just go with the flow! Who knows what life will bring you?”she winked.

“Do you know something I don’t?”I asked.

“Nope, I’m as clueless as you, to be honest. But I’m just being encouraging as your best friend,”she grinned.

“Thanks. I needed that,”I gave her a smile.

“Sleep early, alright! Don’t talk too long on the phone with your myeolchi oppa!”she joked.

“I’M GOING OFF NOW. BYE!”I avoided her.

“Aww, Haemin is being shy now!”she yelled across the street.

I closed the door so that I wouldn’t have to face her teasings anymore. Just as when I was about to step into the shower, my phone rang, indicating a message.

[Did you get home safely? –Myeolchi Oppa ^^]

[I did kekeke! I went to get ice cream with Soobin. You back at your dorm yet? –Haemin ^^]

[Nope, I’m heading to the gym with Donghae. You know I gotta take care of those awesome abs of mine to make sure it doesn’t disappear kekeke –Myeolchi Oppa ^^]

[Goodness, do you even know the word ‘thick-skinned’? Heehee –Haemin ^^]

[Apparently not. Do you want to teach me what is it after my gym session? –Myeolchi Oppa ^^]

[Let me know when you’re done. I’ll be waiting for your call~~~ You better not lie to me again! Hmph! I don’t want to stay up all night, waiting, you hear me? –Haemin ^^]

[Aigoo, is our Haemin angry? Kekeke, alright, alright! I’ll call you~~ Wait for me!!!! –Myeolchi Oppa ^^]

Just like that, I stayed up doing my work while waiting for his call and it finally came at about 11pm.

“Hello?”I answered.

“Are you tired?”he asked.

“No. Are you? You’ve had schedules all day plus you still went to the gym,”I fiddled with my pen.

“Nah, I’m used to it already. What are you doing?”Myeolchi oppa asked.

“Just doing my work,”I answered.

“Am I disturbing you?”he asked carefully.

“No…,”I replied.

“Hey, you alright? You sound…gloomy,”his voice so full of concerned.

Biting the insides of my cheeks, I willed myself not to say anything. Myeolchi oppa, stop being so nice to me if you aren’t going to return my feelings…

“No, I just watched a drama series earlier on. I guess I was a little affected by it,”I lied.

“Really? Because you can tell me anything, you know! You know I’m a secret keeper. I know all your secrets like your admiration for G-Dragon,”he joked.

 “That’s not considered a secret. Practically everyone knows that!”I laughed.

“Hmmm, does that mean that Donghae knows as well?”he asked.

“NO, DON’T TELL HIM! He might get the wrong idea, thinking I’m not his number one fan! I only admire G-Dragon because he’s good at writing songs!”I was getting all anxious.

“I’m just kidding, Haemin. Why are you so uptight?”he started laughing.

“YOU! Seriously, Myeolchi oppa, you’re too much!”I rolled my eyes though he couldn’t see.

“Come on, cut me some slack. I was just trying to cheer you up. I’m sorry it backfired,”he sounded truly apologetic.

And I couldn’t help but…

“Hmmm, I’ll forgive you if you do something for me…,”I bit my lower lips to hide my smile.

“What? Just say it and I’ll do it,”he told me.

“Be my gym partner,”I suggested.

“Sure! You’ve always admired Yuri’s abs, right? I’ll help you get those!”he readily agreed.

“REALLY?”I was practically squealing.

“Really, Haemin! I usually gym at night because of my schedules though…so if you don’t mind…,”he trailed off.

“No, I don’t! I’ll match your schedule!”I grinned.

I don’t know if I’m being selfish for stealing you away from the girl you like but…I just want to spend more time with you….