CHAPTER NINE - -

- - crash

"Did you see the strange look the bus driver gave us as we got off?"

I nodded in response to Minho's question as him and I lazily walked up the street to my apartment from the bus stop. Our hands were, of course, together as we walked, half-bumping in to each other and then walking far away enough from one another that our arms were extended. To be honest, we looked drunk.

But the thing is, we were.

Off of happiness and each other.

Well, at least I was.

"Well, have you seen yourself?" I replied, "Your hair is sticking out in several directions and there's leaves in it," I while picking out a stray, bronzed leaf from his dark locks. "You look like you just rolled out of a tree."

Minho rolled his eyes and shook his head, "At least you rolled off a pretty tree. The look suits you."

I wasn't sure whether that was meant to be a compliment or a jab so I simply punched him in the shoulder with my free hand. He feigned pain and pulled the puppy dog eyes, and even in the darkness, I had to admit that he pulled them off rather well.

I averted my gaze, in order to keep some measure of self control, as we continued walking. We'd managed to catch the last bus from the Gardens back to here and I was glad - as beautiful as the Garden had been, I wouldn't want to spend the night there. Minho would've been with me and maybe that would've made it more bearable.

The nine stops to get back went quickly, even though Minho and I hadn't spoken much. Instead, I'd simply sat with my head on his shoulder, his hand massaging my scalp and our free hands intertwined. What did one say after such a confession after all?

I was glad he didn't expect me to reply either, because honestly, I didn't know what to say.

I'd spent the past few days agonizing over whoever the person was that he was trying to find and now to find out that it was me, it was a lot to take in. Well, technically he'd said that he 'thought' it was me - but it was close enough right?

And well did it really matter that I told him?

In some way, I'm pretty sure that Minho knows.

He knows what he does to me - how me makes me so different, so me.

Or well, what I'd always hoped to be.

We soon reached my apartment and I fished in my bag for the keys, opening the door automatically. Minho stepped in first however and flipped the light switch and he did it so nonchalantly it was like he'd lived here for much longer than a week.

I shut the door and watched as he walked into the lounge, stretching his arms upwards as he did so. I blushed as this action caused his shirt to lift, baring his lower back. The blush deepened as my gaze lingered on the revealed skin. Honestly, all that working in a field had done wonderful things for his physique.

"Krystal, I can feel you staring," Minho spoke teasingly as he turned his head over his shoulder. That smirk was once again on his lips as his eyes shone.

I froze.

"Want to touch?"

I swear my entire body turned red at that.

Had I already locked the door? Would it be strange to run out of the apartment? Because that's exactly what I wanted to do right now. Run and run and keep running until the blush faded and my fingers stopped tingling with the urge to take him up on his offer.

"I um..." I stammered, suddenly finding the floor to be very intriguing, "... Are... are you hungry?"

It was the only thing my brain could process.

Food was always a good distraction.

I could hear Minho chuckle in the background, but I refused to lift my eyes just yet. The blush was still burning my face.

That's when I heard footsteps.

My eyes widened. Was he really-

A hand grasped my chin.

I inhaled sharply as my gaze was unwillingly moved from the floor and straight into Minho's orbs.

"You don't have to be so shy you know," he said gently, "It's really ok." His words were so reassuring that the blush did die down, enough for me to relax my tensed shoulders to a certain extent.

And then he leaned down to touch his lips to my forehead.

He really seemed to enjoy doing that.

"And food would be good right now," he added as he pulled back, a grin once again staining his lips.

"Anything in particular you'd like?" I was surprised at the steadiness of my tone.

"Ramyeon."

Again?

Apparently the surprise was rather evident on my face as he explained, "In the country, we do get ramyeon, but my mother is insistent on us eating proper meals. So I barely get to have any back home."

Well that made sense.

"Well, luckily for you, I have a cupboard full of the stuff," I smiled back.

The excitement on his face reminded me of a young child who'd just gotten their favourite candy. It was something I found to be very endearing. And once again, I found myself wondering how I'd ever gotten so blessed as to find him. What on earth had I ever done in life to deserve him?

My mind was still reeling with the events of the day as I climbed into bed.

Had today honestly happened? Like, in reality?

I brought a finger to my lips and touched the fleshy mounds hesitantly. Minho had kissed me today and somehow, my lips felt different. I couldn't explain how though.

Well, at least that helped me believe that today had really happened. That, and the sound of Minho washing up in the bathroom. It was right next door to my room after all and the walls were thin. Sometimes, I could even hear Sulli singing in the shower. Fortunately, she could keep a note so it wasn't horrible when she did sing.

You know, it was a strange feeling - knowing that the person you liked, liked you back. Wait, did Minho even like me? He hadn't directly said those words after all. He'd just said that he thought that I was the person he was looking for. Then he'd kissed me. Kissing meant that you liked someone right? That's what happened in all the dramas. But this was reality.

"I promise that your lips will stay. You don't have to hold onto them."

I startled at the voice, dropping my hand to the mattress, and quickly whipped my head in the direction of my door.  

Should I have expected anyone else?

"Didn't your mom teach you not to sneak up on people like that?" I tried to as I willed my embarrassment away.

He chuckled and shook his head, "I don't think that this could even be considered sneaking up. Not when your door was wide open and you were staring at it."

I'd been looking in the direction of the door?

I didn't reply because Minho began walking to my bed.

My eyes widened at this. What was he doing? Why was he sitting on the edge of my bed? Why was he coming closer-

"What are you doing?" I voiced my thoughts as he shuffled right beside me, back resting against the headboard.

"Me?" he asked innocently as he pulled the covers over himself and began adjusting pillows, "I'm going to bed."

"Well that much is obvious," I replied as he lay down completely, "But here? With me?"

He nodded, a tender smile curving his lips, "I don't like being so far away from you," well there he'd just gone and made me speechless, "And I promise I won't try anything. I honestly just want to be close to you."

No one had ever said something like that to me.

It almost brought tears to my eyes.

"It's ok, you can stay here," I whispered and leaned over to turn my bedside lamp off, completely engulfing my room in darkness.

I then slowly settled down, resting my head against my own pillow. However, like in the Gardens earlier, I was facing Minho and he was facing me. My eyes had begun to adjust in the blackness and I could make out the shape of his face. His eyes were still open too. All was silent around us and only the sound of our breathing could be heard.

Along with the soft, gentle beating of our hearts.

Had time stopped?

"Krystal," he said my name so silently that I almost didn't hear him, "Can you come closer?"

My breathed hitched, but before my mind could process, my body had already begun to shift closer to him, until my nose touched his. Without any warning, Minho's arm s around my waist and tugged me closer, until I was forced to duck my head into the curve of his neck.

"Much better," I heard him murmur against my locks. And I had to agree. The heat that he radiated was better than any blanket, not to mention the security his arm around my waist brought. I truly felt hidden from any form of danger.

And that was why I was so easily able to utter the words, "Thank you," before my eyes closed.

Sleep came very easily that night.

There is a time for everything.

And that time only lasts for a certain period before another time must come.

That is simply the way life works.

Nothing lasts forever.

I just wished mine was able to last longer.

I was awoken by the sound of a door slamming shut the next morning.

I groaned lightly at the sound, unsure of whether I was annoyed or not fazed by the awakening. It was then that my vision properly focused and I remembered exactly where I was.

In Minho's arms.

Where I'd been the entire night.

It was though neither of us had moved an inch last night. Minho however, wasn't awake. His sleeping face caused me to completely forget the door waking me up as I focused on his features. Sure I had studied him before when he'd been asleep on the couch, but I was so close this time and I couldn't help but marvel.

I had to be living in some kind of dream right now.

One that I didn't want to wake up from.

Life seemed to have other plans though.

"Krystal! Are you awake."

My eyes shot wide open and my body tensed into ice.

That voice. I knew that voice so very, very well.

And it was right outside my bedroom door.

- Which was currently being opened.

"Krystal, I'm home- oh."

Sulli.

You people are absolutely amazing - do you know that? 26 comments. Wow. I am amazed. To the point that I nearly started crying and decided that I had to write another chapter, even if it isn't all that long, but just to try and say thank you.

I'm still amazed.

<3