KYUHYUN   Three days had passed since we got back from our trip to Jeju. After Heechul hyung and Zee learned about their make-out session from the previous night, things got pretty awkward. It took awhile before Zee came out of the washroom and when she did, she couldn’t look at any of us on the face, nor even talk to us. She kept close to Angela during our entire trip back and because of that, Angela and I weren’t able to talk again as well.    Our last conversation was left hanging and honestly, I was hoping I’d get to talk to her again. I thought I would get my chance when Heechul hyung dragged Zee out of the airport, leaving Angela alone. But then fans swarmed the area considering that articles came out about Heechul hyung’s supposedly rumoured girlfriend due to the couple picture he tweeted during our stay in Jeju. It was a good thing that Zee’s face was filled with icing, so the fans still wouldn’t recognize her. Err, she didn’t know about this bit though. She was still locked up inside the washroom when Siwon hyung showed us the news article, and we thought we wouldn’t let Zee know as she might go hysterical again.  Heechul hyung didn’t seem so bothered by the rumor anymore since he was going to make his relationship public on Strong Heart this week.   Anyway, it was a good thing that our girls were disguised well. They wore caps and scarves and we made them hold make-up kits so they can be mistaken as one of our stylist noonas. Several fan taken photos of Heechul hyung and Zee holding hands surfaced and went viral on the internet. It also stayed trending for hours on various sites. Well,  it’s a good thing that I distanced myself from Angela that time.   I thought I would get my chance again once we go back to my apartment but then considering how we’ve been with one another these past few days, it was highly unlikely for her to stay with me under one roof. She was obviously going to use this opportunity to avoid me at all cost. I’m actually just dreadfully waiting for her to tell me that she would get her stuff and move in with Zee permanently. I know I wanted to kick her out of the place before but now that I want her around, she wouldn’t come back to stay. Sigh.   Actually, Angela called Ryeowook-sshi last night and said that she would come over the apartment today to clean since we have officially settled down from our overseas activities.  She probably assumed that we were always out of the house in the morning due to our idol schedules. What she didn’t know was that only Ryeowook-sshi and Zhou Mi hyung had schedules for today, while I had none. I know this could have been the perfect opportunity for me to finally talk to her alone. However, I seemed to have lost hope for that already. I thought it was futile. I’ve already expressed my feelings for her but then she’s always finding a way to avoid me.   If she doesn’t really want me, then I shouldn’t be forcing myself to her anymore. Though to be honest, there are things that I clearly don’t understand. That time she place a blanket and pillow over me…The number of times we held hands without saying anything…that time during the black out, when we were confronting the douches harassing her…I swear, I felt something but then…   Aish! I hate being left alone with these kinds kind of thoughts.   So I just decided to attend classes today. Besides, I thought it would be a nice time for me to catch up on my lessons since I’ve been missing out on a lot too. But then my classes finished earlier than the usual time and I noticed that it was just 2pm.   I don’t think I could go back to the apartment yet since Angela might still be in the middle of cleaning. I don’t want to get in her way so I asked Manager hyung to drop me off at the company first so I could get my car. After getting my car, I drove off to some place where I know I can get some peace of mind.    Actually, maybe even a piece of mind. ***   “Ya, Cho Kyuhyun! What are you doing here?” Zee greeted me and I looked up from the animal magazine that I was flipping through.   I decided to drop by here at Just Got Pawed and made myself feel at home as always while I lounged by the lobby earlier. I don’t even know why I was reading this. I guess I was really that bored.   “I didn’t have any schedules today but I attended classes instead. It finished earlier than the usual and I’m bored so I thought I’d hang out in here.” I said monotonously as I looked back on the magazine where a picture of a fluffy dog was looking back at me with its purplish tongue sticking out. Well, this looks cute!   “You know this isn’t a place for you to just hang out at when you’re bored, Kyu. And don’t you know Angela’s not here cos she’s cleaning your apartment?” Zee expressed matter-of-factly, walking towards me as I heard footsteps approaching.   “I know she isn’t here.” I said casually without looking up at her.   “Then why are you really here? You can’t just be here because you’re bored.” She asked suspiciously and when I looked up she was crossing her arms at me, waiting for the truth to come out of my mouth.   I gave her a mocked offended look. “Can’t your best buddy be here without getting all suspicious?”   “With you who is currently in love, I don’t think so.” She said with an eyebrow raised at me.   “Aish! I’m just really here to hangout, Zee. Besides…I think it’s a lost cause anyway.” I sighed defeatedly as I leaned back on the couch and lazily tossed the magazine on my right side.   There. I said it!   “And why would you say that?” Zee asked as she sat on the chair across me.   “Well…She never responds to anything I do and she doesn’t seem to take my words seriously, even when I really mean then.”   “Oh Kyuhyun. This is why most girls that some guys like who also like them back will get snatched away by another guy.” My best friend told me exasperatedly while shaking her head sideways.   And to be honest, my brain can’t process what she just said. “Err…care to explain?”   Zee looked like as if she wanted to do a face palm but instead she just heaved another sigh. “Didn’t it ever occur to you that she might have been confused on how she feels about you? Maybe it’s already a giveaway that even if she’s cleaning your apartment right now, she still won’t move back in. Though she’s not talking to you, she still gave you a pillow and blanket when you were all curled up uncomfortably on that couch back at the resort. But no, you still don’t get it. ”   And she’s right. I really still don’t get it.   “Ya, I’d rather solve a complicated math problem rather than analyze how the minds of women work. I may be an A+ student but my brain can only take so much and it doesn’t include how to understand women.” I replied irritably as I crossed my arms.   Do I really not understand or am I just being too rash?   “Ya! What Angela is doing now is pretty obvious. Your other hyungs notice it, even Henry! And I bet Heechul told you about it too.” Zee said with a knowing look.   “Yea right! Hyung knows how to get you women.” I waved my hands dismissively.   “Yeah, right! Like when you were convincing Heechul and I to get together?” Zee snapped back at me and I was to retort something back but then I realized she had a point so I shut my mouth again.   Oh hoho. Those were the days. I kind of played matchmaker between them as well. Kekeke. It’s just that…the spark between them was really strong as that of their personalities. We all saw it. And there they are now.   And it’s quite amusing to think that he and Zee are the ones playing matchmaker now between Angela and I.   “You are aware what hyung’s about to do in his Strong Heart recording today, right?” I asked, sounding eager to stir the topic away from my not-so-budding love life.   “Of course I know about it! We talked about it last night.” My best friend exclaimed certainly. “But that’s not the point Kyu. It’s not really that you aren’t sure of how Angela feels about you. It’s more like you’re unsure of yourself.”   I creased my forehead at her, unable to fully understand what she meant. “What do you mean by that?”   “You know you like Angela, and you can sense she likes you too, but you don’t feel that you’re worthy to be liked by her. Hence, here you are, giving up right away. Can’t blame you given err, the past failure.” Zee explained, giving me a half-apologetic look.   We both sat in silence for a short while as Zee’s words sank in my head. She’s right. Ever since that night Victoria left, I seemed to have lost the confidence to fight for my feelings. I know I like Angela. Am I just really going to give her up that easily?   But she could be so damn stubborn! What am I going to do?!   “What do you think should I do?” I asked, sounding totally clueless.   “Do what you do best. You already showed her you feel. Now make her tell you about hers.” Zee said matter-of-factly, as if it was an easy thing to do.   “How do you suppose I do that? She can barely look at me straight.” I asked sulkily, my eyebrows furrowing in frustration.   “Cho Kyuhyun! You come up with so many devious ways to prank your hyungs but doing something as simple as getting someone to fess up, you go blank?” Zee said incredulously as she rubbed her nose.   Does she really think it’s that easy?!   “Yah! It’s not that simple you know! She’s…she’s---”   “Different?” Another voice said.   Exactly. But HUH?! WHO WAS THAT?!   That male voice sounded familiar. Zee and I turned to look at the stairs and my eyes widened in shock when I saw Kang Minhyuk, the drummer of CNBLUE.   “Sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear you guys.” He said with a guilty smile, not moving an inch from his post.   “What are you doing here?” I asked, unable to hide the tone of suspiciousness.   CNBLUE is busy with their promotions lately from what I know. I haven’t heard from Jonghyun in a long time as well since that night. And speaking of him, I know he’s been interested in Angela ever since then, and I didn’t care much back then. For all I know, Jonghyun is Angela’s first friend here, as she had put it before. But then right now…I just can’t help but think…Has Jonghyun started courting her already? In the middle of his promotions? It’s a bit surprising to find Minhyuk here though. If Jonghyun’s after Angela, why didn’t he volunteer here instead? Unless…he asked his dongsaeng to keep an eye out on Angela for him instead when he’s not around?   “He’s volunteering.” Zee said flatly on Minhyuk’s behalf.   “Aren’t you guys still busy promoting?” I asked suspiciously. I can’t help it, sorry.   “We are but I just like coming here to relax during my spare time. And well, today is actually my last day since we will start preparing for our Japan promotions soon.” Minhyuk replied calmly as he walked towards to where we are seated.   I’m a bit surprised that this kid is unmoved by my suspiciousness. He’s just like Donghae hyung. He also has that sense of…innocence. No wonder they’re friends.   I nodded at him and slowly, I started to feel comfortab