The start of a new week marked another day of Kai heading to school, leaving Moonji at home, still resting peacefully. On her bedside table, he left a simple breakfast - a ripe apple and cheese bread, a thoughtful gesture to ensure she wouldn't go hungry. With a soft touch, he covered her with the blanket, not wanting to disturb her peaceful slumber as he departed.

Arriving at school, Kai made his way to class, nodding in greeting to his friends along the way. However, his mind wasn't entirely focused on academics. Occasionally, he would steal glances at his phone, responding to Moonji's playful yet somewhat whiny texts. The playful banter between them made him smile, even amid the monotony of his classes.

During the break, they all gathered at the school's dining hall, occupying their usual private area. Kai settled into his spot with a brief nod to his friends, his attention drifting to his phone as their conversation continued.

Suho, sitting across from Kai, finally broached the topic that had been on his mind. "Hey, why did you hide Moonji's face from us yesterday?" He was engrossed in his phone, texting with Moonji, who was keeping herself entertained at home.

Kai, momentarily distracted, looked up at his friends, a subtle smile tugging at his lips. "What? I didn't hear you."

Suho persisted, and Xiumin chimed in, expressing his curiosity. "He asked you why you hid Moonji's face yesterday. I was wondering the same thing."

"Oh," Kai began, his smile growing as he recalled the situation, "She didn't have her makeup on. She would be upset if you guys saw her sleeping face." His voice held a hint of amusement, knowing Moonji's quirks well. Her morning routines were a spectacle of colours and transformations that she kept hidden from the world.

Baekhyun, embracing his playful side, added his own jest to the mix. "I bet she must be really ugly, then."

Sehun, ever the peacemaker, tried to ease the situation. "You shouldn't say it like that." Unspoken agreements floated among them, acknowledging Moonji's unconventional and distinctive style. Her penchant for bold makeup, fake lashes, and colourful wigs made her appearance rather unconventional.

Kai couldn't help but laugh at the banter, genuine happiness radiating from him when thoughts of Moonji crossed his mind. "Then I must be lucky to date somebody as unique as her. What a lucky guy I am."

His friends exchanged glances, surprised by Kai's reaction. His eyes sparkled with a happiness that they rarely saw when he discussed girls. Soon, their breakfast arrived, and they eagerly dug into their food, though Kai seemed less enthusiastic.

Kai pushed his plate away and wiped his mouth, his thoughts drifting back to Moonji. "Moonji's cooking is way better than this." He couldn't help but make the comparison, reflecting on the enjoyable meals they'd shared. Suho, amused by Kai's honesty, helped himself to Kai's leftover food.

Feeling the urge to hear Moonji's voice, Kai decided to call her, excusing himself from the table, mindful of the others enjoying their meal. He wanted their conversation to remain private.

While the EXO members savoured their breakfast in the cosy dining area, their conversation flowed with laughter and shared stories. Chanyeol, known for his playful nature, couldn't resist cracking a joke. "Kim Jongin is so smitten by Moonji. I guess our boy already lost his innocence to her," he teased, earning laughter from his bandmates.

Sehun quickly teased Chanyeol in return and added, "Well, that explains why a girl so smites him."

The group erupted in laughter again, even Chanyeol joining in on the jesting. "At least he's not hung up over Dasom's rejection."

Their leader, Suho, decided to steer the conversation in a different direction. "Let's stop talking about it. So, what are our plans after the exams?"

✿✿✿✿✿

"Hello there. Are you already completely awake?" Kai's voice sounded warm as he greeted Moonji over the phone.

Moonji responded with a playful lilt in her voice, "What are you saying? I'm not sleepy right now, just bored."

A mischievous grin formed on Kai's lips as he continued, "What are you doing?"

She chuckled softly, her tone teasing, "Watching movies in bed. And I'm really hungry right now. You just left me bread and an apple," she replied in a high-pitched voice, her hunger apparent in her tone, adding a hint of flirtatiousness.

Kai's monotonous tone couldn't mask his growing fondness as he replied, "I'm sorry. You were sleeping just now, and I didn't want to wake you up." His words carried a subtle hint of regret, coupled with the concern that was undeniable.

Moonji, feeling a bit brusque in the morning with her meagre breakfast, couldn't resist playing along. "Whatever," she purred with a hint of playful seduction, "I'm hanging up. I need more than just bread and an apple to satisfy my appetite. Bye."

Kai couldn't help but chuckle at her teasing tone. He replied, "Wait. Don't move from the bed, okay? Just stay there; I'll be back as soon as I can buy you some breakfast." His voice held a subtle longing that lingered in the air. "Bye," he added, his tone now laced with a bit of anticipation.

Kai ended the call and returned to the dining area, a knowing smile playing on his lips, as he couldn't help but think about the playful exchange he had just shared with Moonji.

Chen couldn't resist teasing him, "Hey, I never knew Kai was a romantic guy!"

Kai shrugged off the remark. "She just wants something to eat. What's romantic about that?"

After briefly conversing with his friends, Kai took his leave from the group and drove back to his penthouse. There, he packed some mouthwatering pancakes from one of the most renowned pancake stalls in Seoul for Moonji. As he embarked on this small errand, he couldn't help but reflect on his changing priorities. His initial plan to impress Dasom seemed to be fading, replaced by a growing connection with Moonji.

Returning to the penthouse, Kai presented the paper bag of pancakes to Moonji, who greeted the delicious sight with a radiant smile. The warm exchange on the phone had left a lingering sense of closeness between them. Kai couldn't help but shake his head, pondering the shift in his focus. Had he just skipped classes to buy pancakes for Moonji? His original goal of impressing Dasom was waning as Moonji's presence became increasingly significant in his life.

As Kai retreated to his room, Moonji couldn't help but smile, noticing his change in mood. "Cold Prince is back," Moonji murmured, observing Kai's transformation as he entered his room, leaving her in the cozy space of her own. As soon as Kai got into his room, his thoughts returned to the room just across the hall, where Moonji was. He sighed in defeat, unable to ignore the pull of their connection.

"Could you cook me lunch?" Kai popped out of his room and stood at the door frame of Moonji's room. When he reappeared at her doorway, asking her to cook lunch, it was clear that something had shifted between them, though neither fully comprehended it.

Moonji couldn't resist teasing him a little, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness. "Sure, but I need a thing that could support me standing. Maybe a cane could help." She smiled, acknowledging the newfound warmth that had grown between them, even if they couldn't put it into words.