Normal POV

Specks of sunlight poked through the blinds. The sound of steady breathing filled the sleepy atmosphere. The blinking of the block numbers read 10:13am on the Hello Kitty clock.

It was quiet.

It was relaxing.

It was calm.

The brunette turned in the opposite direction, her sleeping face met with Youngbae. SOL nestled under the covers, scooting closer to the sleeping trainee he held within his toned arms.

Flashback

“From what you’re saying, it sounds like you feel something beyond friendship, Nika,” Taeyang concluded, giving an ensured nod.

A now (and finally) dry-eyed Anika turned away, biting her bottom lip. “Perche’ succede tutto questo?” she asked herself faintly.

An eyebrow rose on Youngbae’s face. “Korean, please?” The singer in training scowled, shooting him a glare. Sighing, Youngbae took his seat next to Anika on the bed, pulling her close. “Now that you’ve admitted it, you just got to accept it.” Another scowl. “Like hell I’m going to accept it! I may have admitted it, but that doesn’t mean I have to accept it,” Anika protested. An annoyed Taeyang gave a frustrated sigh, massaging his temples. “Aish, so stubborn,” he mumbled. “Ok,” now talking out loud, “you don’t have to accept it, just acknowledge it.”

Letting out a “pshhed,” Anika pulled away from her future label mate, giving him that same glare frozen in her eyes. “Don’t go and change the wording on me, Dong Youngbae. I admitted it; I’m not doing anything else.”

He felt the strong urge to protest, but he wouldn’t for three reasons: (1) it’s pointless, (2) he’d lose to her stubbornness, and (3) he could tell she was getting tired. Her red stained eyes said it all. “Let’s not talk about this anymore. You’re starting to get crankier than usual, so let me leave and you go to sleep,” he told her as he made his way to leave.

Eyes now directed at the door, he didn’t notice Anika’s movement until he felt a tug on the hem of his sweatshirt. “Youngbae” came a pleaded whispered, “please stay with me tonight?”

This is definitely the wrong time to be thinking how cute she is.

Straightening up, Youngbae took in a breath and eyed the brunette. “Yeah, I’ll stay with you tonight. Lemme just go back to the dorm to get a pair of sweats.” The trainee released her grasp on Youngbae, responding with a slight nod. “I’ll be back in five minutes.”

End flashback

A cell phone was rattling on the night stand, crying out for it’s owner’s attention. Youngbae winced at the annoying sound penetrating his wonderful slumber. He pulled the covers over him and Anika, in hopes it’d be a barrier against the urging sound. False hope.

“…Ugh.”

Rolling over, he reached for his phone, scowling as he read who was trying to get a hold of him. “What is it, hyung?” not even bothering to mask the grogginess in his voice. “Is Anika with you guys?” came Teddy’s voice from the other end. For a quick second, Youngbae’s eyes went to the sleeping figure beside him. “Yeah, she’s sleeping,” SOL answered non-chalet.

A frustrated sigh came through the receiver. “Why is she still sleeping? She was supposed to be in the studio two hours ago.” A sigh broke from Youngbae’s lips. “I called the president last night. Anika wasn’t feeling well last night while she was with us; she was beginning to run a fever. That’s when I decided to call the president, just in case if it were to get worse. I thought he would’ve told you and Shaun-hyung.” But before Teddy could get a word in edgewise, Youngbae told him to check with the president and hung up. He returned his phone to its rightful place, nestling back under the covers.

As he got himself comfortable, there was a slight stir from Anika, a murmur of words escaping from her lips. “Youngbae, don’t leave,” nuzzling closer to him.

Youngbae smiled softly, coursing his fingers through her soft brown hair. “Never, Nika,” he assured, placing a gentle kiss upon her forehead before returning to darkness once again.

***

 Anika’s POV

I yawned, not realizing how late I slept. Damn, I’m such a bum.

Opening my eyes, I rolled over, greeted by the sight of a sleeping Youngbae beside me. Heat instantly surfaced to my cheeks at the image that’d forever be with me of his sleeping face. For a moment, I forgot I asked him to stay over last night. My attention soon brought me to his toned arm wrapped around my waist. I traced it with my eyes, following it to the source of its owner. He’s seriously handsome. It’s still hard to believe he’s never had a girlfriend. Maybe it’s some kind of cover up to keep that “Shy-innocent boy” image.

I eyed his soothing face, noticing how relaxed he looked sleeping beside me. My eyes traced his lips, then to the shape of his eyes, followed by his cheeks. Oh sweet tap dancing Jesus, I’m being a major creep. I’m creeping on Youngbae really hard. Then again, it’s kind of hard not to… I mean, look at him! HE’S GOREGOUS. Great, just great… Now I’m fangirling. I’ve just hit an all time low. Anika - the creeping fan girl.

Sighing, I removed the draping arm from my waist and got out of bed. I looked at my clock, the block numbers exclaiming 12:30pm. “Ha. Too late to go to practice now.”

***

 “I knew I smelt bacon,” came a voice from the hallway.

“I decided to go with breakfast, well, lunch, American style,” I answered, putting the batch of bacon on the plate.

“It looks good!” Taeyang praised, causing a smile to appear on my face. “I remember Daesung telling us you’re an awesome cook.

…Daesung.

My hand tightened on the spatula. What happened last night… What I told Youngbae.

“I don’t want to see Daesung,” I murmured as I went back to cooking.

“Hm?” he asked, nibbling on a piece of bacon.

“You heard me. I don’t want to see him,” I repeated, my voice louder and firm. “Or Seungri.”

“I can understand Seungri, but why Daesung?” Youngbae asked, concern now coating his voice.

 My eyes narrowed, stare turning hard. “Bae,” I took in a sharp breath as I placed the eggs on the table. “I’m despairingly falling for my best friend. I don’t want to deal with the feelings as is. If I continue to be around him, the feelings are just going to get worse, out of control. But,” hesitation for a moment, “if I separate myself from him for a little while, they’ll go away.”

Youngbae’s eyes suddenly mirrored mine. I can feel an argument about to ensue. “Nika, do you seriously think being away from him temporarily will make it go away? Can you really guarantee it? You can’t force it.”

I know it’ll go away… I’ll make sure of it, indefinitely. Indefinitely.

“And don’t you think you’re going to hurt Daesung in the midst of it?”

His words stung; they hurt. Biting my lip, I thought for a moment. “I’ll make sure it’ll happen,” my voice cold.

There was a tense silence for a moment. That’s when I took in a sharp breath. “…And it’s also because… it’s because I feel ashamed for how I acted last night. For me to do that Seungri, it was horrible. How I was last night… you know I’d never explode like that. You know that’s not how I am, how I’d never be. But… I don’t know,” I painfully admitted, feeling the verge of tears welling up.

Well... there goes my pride.

A/N - You could say this is like a fill in chapter. Idk.. xD Yeah, fill in chapter. Just started writing out next chapter. Chapter 10 is where it's gonna get serious. Enjoy & comment~