KAI

"What's with all the ruckus?" Kyungsoo asked as he delicately washed the vegetables one by one. 

I groaned just thinking about what just happened. Was I going too overboard? I sighed and said,"She saw the picture..." Kyungsoo looked at me for a moment, not replying. I took the chance to change the topic, "Where's Hyeri, by the way?"

"Hyeri went to buy a cake to celebrate this double date. She's the type of girl that likes to celebrate, ya know? I told her I'll buy it after washing the vegetables, but she demanded that she'll buy it. Isn't she adorable?" Kyungsoo says while smiling, showing his heart shaped lips. He paused forgetting what we were intially talking about. Then he nods, remembering it, and continues to say, "What's wrong with her seeing the picture?"

"I don't know man. I just feel so intimidated when she saw the picture. I got mad out of nowhere when I didn't mean to. Aish." I closed my eyes for a second, then stood next to Kyungsoo and helped chop the vegetables.

"YAH!" Kyungsoo suddenly yelled. I jumped a bit, surprised at his sudden voice.

"WHAT?! Geez hyung, you almost gave me a heart attack."

"Go upstairs and check on her. You can't just stand here as if nothing happened. Be a MAN," Kyungsoo says, carefully taking the knife from my hand and shoving me out.  

"Fine, fine!" I raised my hands up, surrendering. 

As I walked up the stairs, my heart starts to beat fast. What am I supposed to do when I get there? Am I supposed to comfort her? Do I act coldly as if nothing has happened? 

It was too late, I was already inside my bedroom. Act fast, act fast! My mind pondered on what to do but my mind went blank when I saw Minah on the floor, hugging her legs close to her chest with her head buried in it. From the corner of my eye, I saw a trickle of blood on Minah's right hand. It can't possibly be from me right? 

I headed straight to the bathroom and took the first aid kit placed on top of the shelf. When I returned back to my room, I sat beside Minah and took her right hand. 

She seemed to be shocked as she looked up at me with her eyes widened. 

"What are you doing?" she says as she tries to take her hand back.

I held her hands tightly, not letting go. My eyes met hers and she quickly turned away. "Just stay still," I murmured as I used a Q-tip and carefully rubbed alcohol on her cut. When she winced, I blew cool wind on it to help make her feel better. When I finished putting the bandaid around her finger, she whispered, "Why did you help me?"

I paused for a second, then returned back to cleaning up and putting everything back in the box. "How can you be so stupid and just let your hand bleed like that? Do you want to have an infection?"

"Why do you care?"

"Because I―," I stopped myself in the middle of my sentence as I was about to say... that I cared. 

"Because you what?" This time Minah's eyes met mine. I never realized how beautiful her eyes really were...-

I cleared my throat, not knowing what kind of feeling this was. "Because I know it's my fault," I said pathetically. I expected her to roll her eyes and laugh at my lame excuse, but instead she softly said, "I'm sorry I went to your room without asking you. I know it's your privacy and I shouldn't have came here."

I had to blink twice to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Minah was apologizing to me for the first time. Usually I would've clapped my hands in amusement, but I didn't. This was the real her. 

"You shouldn't be the one to apologize," I responded. "I'm sorry I scared you when I got all mad for no reason. And I'm sorry I gave you a cut from the picture frame." 

"It's fine, I'm not hurt." She slightly smiled and it wasn't her usual teasing smile; it was genuine. Her small smile made me feel relieved at last, but it also made my heart flutter, which I wasn't sure why. My eyes locked with hers longer than our usual short glances.

She turned away in embarrassment, blushing until her cheeks turned as red as a cherry. Her hair tucked behind her ear fell loose, covering my view of her face.

I unknowingly came close to her as my hands reached for her hair and tucked it back behind her ear. Now her face was only a few centimeters apart from mine, but I didn't budge and neither did she. I couldn't help but blush as well, only realizing now that she was more pretty than I thought.

I gulped thinking of how stupid I would've been if I ―

"Dinner is ready!" Kyungsoo yelled from downstairs. Both of us were startled from the sudden sound. As Minah stood up immediately, I fell on my , still dazed from whatever that happened just seconds ago. 

Aish, why did I have to make such a fool of myself today? Soooo unlike my cool self. I guess I'm finally exposing myself. 

As these thoughts came crashing in, Minah's hand reached out to me as she chuckled quietly. I smiled back as I was about to reach for her hand, but took my hand back.

"You're not going to let go and make me fall on my again are you?" I suspiciously eyed her. 

She shook her head no. "I won't. I promise."

I hesitated for a second, but decided to trust her and grab her hand. When my hands touched hers, it was that feeling again... I couldn't help but notice how small and soft her hands were. It made me want to hold her hands forever– which was not a good sign. 

It surprised me when she was able to pull me up on my feet when she's a girl. She was really strong. I kind of hoped that she couldn't lift me up and would fall on top of me so I could stare at her beautiful face for longer. My train of thought was interrupted when Minah held my hand and said, "Let's go."

*****

"Ta-da! Tonight's special is spaghetti and meatballs with tomato sa