“What’s your deal?” Sunny says walking up next to me as I was cleaning up multiple make up sections.

“What do you mean ‘deal’?”

“Since you came back from break, you’ve been quieter than usual and your face’s been red ever since.” She pokes my arm. “What did you and Ilhoon do?”

“Nothing.” I say quickly.

“You did something. What? Is he coming over tonight? You do have a free day off tomorrow.” She giggles whilst I dropped multiple items. I squat down picking them up.

Sunny gasps, “He IS coming over isn’t he!?”

“You said that not me.”

“When you dropped the jars, you basically told me that he was coming.”

I shake my head, “No I didn’t. That was me just being clumsy.”

“Tylie Kim, do you have condoms?”

I turn to look at her and give her a disgusted look, “What the are you talking about Sun!?”

“What if you guys wind up having ? You know the first time randomly happens.” She grabs my arms. “Whatever you do, don’t have with him tonight!”

I remove her hands and shake my head and continue placing the stuff on the shelf. “I really don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not doing anything tonight besides going home, getting in my PJs and lying down.”

“Yeah, with Ilhoon cuddled up behind you.”

“Where is this coming from? Why are you in my business?” I spat at her frustratingly.

“This is coming from a concerned best friend that doesn’t want you to end up pregnant by a guy!”

I roll my eyes and walk past her to fix another section, she followed me. “T.K., look, you can do what you want but I just don’t want you to get hurt is all I’m saying.”

“I’m not going to get hurt. I will be fine. Like I told you, nothing is going on tonight.” She crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows. I looked back at her.

“Don’t give me that look.”

“I will when you stop lying to me.” I sigh and rub my forehead then look around.

“Okay, he’s only coming over because he’s worried about me. I haven’t been sleeping well again and he wants to… I don’t know, help me sleep. Plus he wants to get out of the house to be away from his hyungs for the night.”

“Yeah, he wants to get deep in you. That’s how he’s going to be put you to sleep.”

“Are you serious? Why do you think everyone is out to hurt since me and ‘who shall not be named’ broke up?”

“Like I said, because I don’t want you getting hurt again.” I let out a loud groan and she stares at me with her eyes really wide.

“I promise you Sun, I will be fine. If something was to happen and I didn’t like it, I’ll just… text you okay?”

“You better or I’m kicking his .” I nod and walk past her to grab my tea from the back whilst looking at the customers, “This lady will ring you guys up. I’m sorry we kept you waiting like that.” I say to the ladies in line. I look at my phone to notice that Ilhoon sent me a picture. The picture loads and he shows me a picture of a bento box with the caption, “I bet you can’t wait to see what’s inside! I had some help from hyung to prepare this for you. I can’t wait for you try it.” I sent him back, “You should really stop being so nice to me Hoonie, flattery gets you nowhere. :D”  I shake my head then put my phone back in my pocket and go back to work.

The last couple of customers walk out of the store and I sign in relief as another day of work is over. I run over to the men’s section and look for y cologne for Ilhoon. “I smelt a sample of it the other day… where is it…?” I mumble to myself as I’m scanning through each row quickly before I have to close up with Sunny. “There it is!” I open the cap and smell it. “Perfect.” It was ck One by Calvin Klein. I go in the back and get my wallet and pay for it.

“What are you buying?”

“Nothing.” I say while concentrating on making change for a 100. I put the bottle in a gift bag.

“You know there’s supposed to be a snow storm or something happening right now until Wednesday?”

I shrug while I’m rushing and look at my phone at my text, “I’m here” it heard and I shove my phone in my purse then I put my coat on. “Hell-ooooooooooooooo!?” I look up at Sunny and smile quickly and gather my things. Sunny stops me, “Are you even listening to me?” she looks really frustrated.

“Yes, I heard you. There’s going to be a snow storm, so?”

“You’re going to be stuck in the house with Ilhoon for a couple days. That doesn’t bother you at all?”

“No, no it doesn’t. I’ve lived with two guys before. Why would it bother me staying with Ilhoon for? We’re not going to do anything. At the max, we’re going to cuddle. So please, stop telling me that we’re going to have hot and wild from a or something.” She gives me a shocked face and scoffs.

“You are really something else…” we both walk out of the store and Sunny brings down the gate then locks it. “Be careful on the road.”

I wave to her as I’m walking away, making my way to the front of the mall. I see Ilhoon pacing back and forth in completely different clothes than he had on earlier. When I push open the door he looks up and waves at me. He opens up the last door for me. “Thank you.” I say to him. He grabs the bag with the cake in it and points to the Sephora bag.

“What’s in there? You bought something?”

“This is actually for you.” I hold it up in front of me and give it to him. “It’s not much, but I thought maybe you’d like it…” his eyes widen in shock.

“You didn’t need to get me anything, Ty.” He looks inside of the bag and pulls out the Calvin Klein box then opens it and smells it. “Wow. This really smells good.  Wow. Thank you Tylie.” He hugs me tightly then shoves it back into the bag. We hold hands and walk to my car.

“Of course it would snow harder as soon as I start walking right?” I say sarcastically.

Ilhoon chuckles and fixes my hat. “Your nose turns red in the cold. That’s cute. You’re Rudolph.” I push him as soon as he calls me Rudolph and he laughs.

“I do not. Shut up before I abandon you here in the snow.”

“Rudolph noona~” he says playfully in a singing voice.

“Shut your face.” I unlock my car and run to the driver’s side then unlock the passenger’s side. “It’s open meanie.” He opens the back down and sits his gift and the cake on the floor. We both jump in the car. I put the car in the ignition and wait for the car to warm up. Ilhoon takes his bag off his back and sits in between his legs then flexes his fingers in and out of a fist toward me. “Hands. Please?” I look over at him then at his hands and hold his hands. He smiles then moves our hands around.

“Your nails are pretty. Are these your own nails?” he moves my hands around as he looks at them.

“Yeah, there my own nails.” He kisses the back of both my hands really fast back and forth.

“Even your hands are really soft. That’s why I like holding your hands. It’s like holding a ball of cotton or something… soft.” I tilt my head in slight confusion then just laugh it off. I let go of his hands then turn on the heat. I start backing out of the parking lot and look down at my iPod. “You can put something on. I don’t know why it didn’t play anything when I got in the car.” As I’m driving, he picks up my iPod and looks through it. He puts on Dok2 and sits the iPod back down and looks out the window. It was pretty quiet for a while as he listened to his favorite hip hop artist.

“Hey… I have a question?” Ilhoon says sudden as I approach the stop light.

“Ask away.” I tap my fingers on the bottom of the steering wheel to the beat as I’m staring at the road.

“Are we going to sleep in the same-“

“No.” I quickly answer his question and he looks at me as he’s blinking with a blank expression on his face.

“I couldn’t even finish asking before you said no.”

“I knew you were going to say bed. When and if we become a couple, we can sleep in the same bed.”

“We’re not a couple?”

“…No?” I start driving again.

“But we kissed today; twice.”

“Okay… that doesn’t mean we’re a thing now. We’re just in the dating phase I’m guessing.”

He nods and pushes his glasses up on his face. “So we’re dating each other?” he looks over at me as I’m driving.

“I’m guessing so if we kissed. I never kissed my friends like that, have you?” I glance over at him and he shook his head ‘No’. “Then… we’re dating.” He grabs my hand and holds it tightly as I’m driving. I thought about what I said on the way home. ‘We’re dating’. DATING; I barely even know what that is any more or how to do it. My last relationship hit me like a ton of bricks making me sort of forget how to date someone but I figure as long as I treat him how I want to be treated, we should be okay. No one’s perfect so of course there’s going to be hardships to come. Even if I mentally prepare for it now, it wouldn’t really matter. Nothing prepares you for a fight with your lover.

When I pull up and park into my parking spot, which was barely visible due to all the snow, Ilhoon looks at the two apartments.

“Which one is yours?”

“9245.”

“The one to the right?”

“Yeah…” I grab my purse from the backseat and Ilhoon gets his bag, gift, and the cake. We both get out of the car and I press the lock button twice to much sure it’s locked. Ilhoon waits at the steps on the porch and holds his arm out. I’m a little confused, but I grab it and he walks in unison with me up the three steps.

“I wanted to make sure you didn’t fall or trip. I know you’re wearing heels and the snow is slippery. I don’t want you to get hurt.” He smiles and kisses my cheek.

“Thanks Hoonie.” I walk in front of him and I jump a little when I feel his hand brush against my lower back as I walk by. I look at him and he holds his hands up. “I’m sorry…” he mouths to me and I nod It off as I unlock the door. “You go in first.” He walks in and runs up the stairs and I follow behind him. I close the door and lock it then run up the steps.

He looks around the living room at all the pictures and sniffs, “Its smells really pretty in here.” He says as he takes off his coat, “It smells like roses or something.”

“Well, yeah. I’m a tea and candles kind of person so it always smells like that in here.” I take his coat and hang it up on the rack along with mine. “Take your shoes off at the top of the step since there wet.” He quickly follows my orders and picks up his bag, gift, and the cake.

“Where do I put this stuff?”

“Uhm… give me the cake and put your stuff in the room to the left. Go straight ahead.” He hands me the cake and looks around in the hallway then turns into the room, turning on one of the lights and places his bag down. I go into the kitchen and open the fridge. “Good, I did go food shopping.” I put the cake on the lower level and close the door.  I take off my shoes and put them by the stairs then rush into the room where Ilhoon is. He’s looking around at all the vinyl’s that I have on the wall. I turn on the other light and he turns around to face me.

“All of these are anime soundtracks?” he points to the wall.

“Yeah. These are my all-time favorite ones.” I cross my arms and he looks at me.

"Am I sleeping in this bed?"

“Unless you want to sleep on the pull out bed?”

He chuckles and looks around, “I don’t know, we might fall asleep and cuddle on the couch or something.” He grins at me.

I turn around and walk away. “I’m going to change my clothes, I suggest you do too. I’ll show you around the house when I’m finished.”

“Okay.” He closes the door at the same time I do. When we both get changed, I tell him to come into my room. He slowly walks inside and looks around.

“It’s nice in here. Is that a water bed?!” he points at my bed.

“Yes! I had this forever.” I nod and he continues to look around then notices our photo booth pictures in the anime cell frame.

“Awww, you have it up already.” He runs up behind me and gives me a back hug. “I like it better now that you don’t have those heels on. I can hug you better.” He hugs me tight while I rub his arms. He lets me go after he places a small kiss on my temple.

“I’ll show you the basement.” When I turn around to face him, he has his hand under his shirt and I see the band to his underwear. Immediately I turn around and act like I didn’t see it. He follows me down to my basement and I turn on the light.

“There isn’t much down here yet, but I have my old tv and furniture down here. This is more of like… my hang out spot when I don’t want to be upstairs.”

“Why does it always smell good in every single room that I walk in?” he looks down at me.

I shrug and walk back up the steps, cutting off the light. Ilhoon follows behind me as I plop down on the couch and tack my legs under myself.

He looks at all the movies I have and he picks up “Spirited Away”, “Can we watch this Ty~? I haven’t seen this in so long.” I nod and turn the tv on.

I point to the blu-ray player in the tv display, “It’s under the Playstation, you see it?” I stick my head out to see if he finds it.

“I found it.” He opens it and puts the movie in then closes it. He walks backwards then sits down next to me. We both sit and watch the movie. I adjust myself to put rest my head on right arm as my back is resting on the arm of the couch. I close my eyes and before I know it, I’m falling asleep and fast.

Ilhoon’s POV

I scratch the back of my neck and look over to my right to only see that Tylie’s knocked out cold. She looks very peaceful as she sleeps. I’m glad that she’s actually sleeping. I glance out the window to see the snow falling down hard. I get up and run to the window to see that the snow has already stuck to the ground and accumulated. While I was quietly walking back to the couch, Tylie adjusted herself on the couch and I noticed her chest. “Whoa…” I say quietly to myself. “She has big s…” I stare at them in shock that I thought she had normal sized ones. I sit down and keep staring then I rub my eyes and look back at the tv. I can’t believe I was staring at her s like that… it’s not like there gigantic. There just… a little above normal. For her to be that petite and have s like that… I shake my head. Why the hell am I really sitting next to her thinking about it!? I put my hand to the side of my face so I wouldn’t stare anymore; that only lasted 30 seconds. Why couldn’t she wear a t-shirt or something instead of a tank top?

I look around for a blanket but I couldn’t find one. Usually people have a blanket on the top of the couch or somewhere nearby but she didn’t have one? I know she does somewhere… I look down and blink two really fast. Are you serious right now…? An … over her s? I put my hands on my face and exhale quietly, trying not to wake her up. “At all the times for this to happen… right now?” I say quietly out loud. I look at one of the pillows and put it on my lap and sit uncomfortably for the whole movie. “Think of something gross… someone’s face half ripped off and eaten; zombies.” I repeat to myself out loud watching the ending to Spirited Away. It wasn’t long before it slowly went down and I moved the pillow from my lap. I glanced over at her as I heard her mumble and rest her head on the arm of the chair and put her hands in between her lips. There it goes once again; another .

“GOD DAMN IT!!!” I yell loudly, waking up Tylie. She jumps up and pushes up her glasses and looks at me.

“What’s wrong?!”

“N-Nothing…” I quickly put the pillow back over my lap, pressing down to try and make it go down.

“Why’d you yell…?” she says as she rubs the sleepiness out of her eyes.

“…because the movie ended.” I point to the screen while looking straight at her.

“…You’re acting different. You don’t act like this…” she keeps staring at me and I feel my mind coming up with naughty things I want to do. I rub my eyes and keep staring at her.

“I’m not acting like anything. I’m just thirsty.”

She points to the kitchen, “Get something to drink then. You’re more than welcome to eat or drink anything that’s in there.”

“Oh, the bento box that I prepared for you.” I get up moving the pillow the putting it right back over my and sit back down.

The look on her face is so scrunched up from confusion even that is . She scratches her chest and my eyes slowly watch her fingers, “…you have a hard on don’t you?”

My eyes shoot right up to her eyes, “No.” I say with a straight face.

She smirks and gets up, “its okay… you’re young and your hormones act up. Is the box in your bag?”

I look at her and nod as I watch her go and get the box. I cover my face in humiliation at the fact that she knows I got a hard on for her. She walks out with the box and walks into the kitchen. “Do you want something to drink?”

“Y-Y-Yes!”

“Uhm… I have iced tea, is that okay?”

“You and your tea… yes, that’s fine.” I lean over as my lower half of my body is starting to hurt. At this point, I can’t even look in her direction. I heard her footsteps come closer and I heard the glass clank down in front of me on the table. I looked up to see she had the bento box, quickly; I looked down as I noticed her cleavage.

“Do you like it?” I mumble into the pillow.

“Yeah, it’s really good.” I heard her place it on the table. “I’m going to put something else on. Do you mind if I watch Death Note?”

I shook my head, “I don’t mind.” I groan in pain as there’s no sign of it going away.

“I’m… sorry… I can put a hoodie on or something.”

“Can you please? I can’t bear to look at your anymore…” I glance up at her a little, looking at her sympathetic as I’m telling her to change her clothes because my hormones don’t know how to act around her apparently. I look up as she comes out with a loose hoodie on.

“It’s pretty bad outside, the snow’s really high.” She presses play the on the remote whilst picking up the box.

“When I looked earlier, it was really high.”

“Do you have everything you need?” she looks at me with her black chopsticks hanging from .

“Y-Yeah, yeah I have everything I need.” I keep staring at her as she watched the tv, not even realizing I was eyeing her up. She glanced at me and noticed me my lips at her and she immediately blushed and turned away.

“I’m sorry.” I look at the tv and sigh as I can tell I’m making her nervous.

“It’s fine. If I didn’t have morals…” she quickly paused and I looked over at her.

“If you didn’t have morals, what? Finish what you were going to say.” She violently shook her head.

“Tell me, I won’t judge you or anything.”

“If… If I didn’t have morals about relationships, maybe… I’m saying MAYBE I’d… do something so you weren’t sitting over there in pain.” My eyes widen that she said that. She quickly stormed out of the living room to put the bento box in the kitchen.

“I’m surprised you said that.” She comes back in the room and looks at me.

“I’m… going to go to bed… good night.” She disappeared as soon as I blinked. I couldn’t even say goodnight before she left. I stood up and looked down, I was a bit ‘calmer’ now then turned off the tv. I looked around for the light to the living room. Once I found it, I caught it off then go into my assigned room. I haven’t had a room to myself in so long… I should be able to sleep soundly. I sit down on the bed and bounce up and down. “It’s really soft…” I move the blankets and crawl under the blanket and get comfortable. Soon enough, I fall fast asleep.

I had to be asleep for at least a good solid two hours. I don’t know what woke me up, but for some reason, I got worried about Tylie. I roll over to look at my phone. Surprisingly, no new messages from any of my hyungs, but the time were 3:40 A.M. I get up and I remember my iced tea was still on the table. I make the bed then walk out until the living room, pick up the iced tea and take a sip. I put it in the fridge to drink it when I get up. I walk into the hallway and I hear music, I think it was jazz playing. I remember her telling me she couldn’t sleep if anything wasn’t playing in the background. Her dad would always play a lot of jazz so the kind of music stuck with her.

I slowly open the door to her room, when I look around she has two candles lit. I blow them out just in case a freak chance of a fire. “Tylie?” I say softly approaching her bed. I tap her shoulder lightly, “Hey… Tylie?” she groans then opens her eyes.

“Ilhoon? What’s wrong, are you okay?” she looks at me worriedly, I could even tell that through the darkness of the room.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Don’t take this the wrong way, but can I sleep with you?” I slowly sit on the edge of the bed and look down at her.

“Why do you want to lie with me?”

“I don’t know. I just woke up feeling worried for you. I’m here to help you sleep a little better, so I’m just trying to help you.” I heard her shift in the bed and I felt the warmth of her body getting closer to me. Soon enough, I felt her lips crash down into mine. I closed my eyes and deepened our kiss, bringing my hand to hold the back of her head. The music became foggy against the sound of her heart racing.

Tylie broke our kiss sweetly and pecked my lips before completely leaving, “Thank you.” She whispered softly.

“For what?”
                “Thank you for actually caring about me…” I felt her arms wrap around me and she embraced me. I could tell by her grip, it was finally sinking in that I’m here for her and I care about her. I rubbed her head whilst she let me hold her to comfort her. She moved over to make room for me. I fall onto her bed and laughed at out wiggly the water bed was.

“This feels a little weird… keke.” I got underneath the blanket and lifted my right arm as I felt her rest her head onto my chest. I wrapped my arms around her, placing my hand on top of her head to rub it softly. Once again, we both fall asleep together.