We went to the cafeteria to get breakfast. We walked over to Nicole. 

 

She smiled playfully. "So, how are the two lovebirds this morning."

 

Key blushed. "Shut up Nicole."

 

"Aww someone's a little grumpy today. What happened? Couple fight? You spilled your makeup?"

 

I couldn't help but laugh at this exchange. And Key continued it as we sat down across from her. "No. I'm just worried your blabbermouth self will get us exposed."

 

"Kibum-ah~ stop worrying! I'd never do that. And hey! My best friend's dating! Can't I have a little fun?"

 

"Sure. Your 'fun's gonna get us both killed."

 

Nicole giggled and looked over at me and pouted. "Minho-ssi~ talk to me~ we haven't spoken in weeks!"

 

I chuckled. "Sorry, Nicole. It's been a while. I don't know what to say."

 

"I get it, you're busy practicing with those senseless brutes-"

 

"Nicole," Key scolded, eyeing her. 

 

"Sorry." she looked back at me. "I'm just saying I know you're busy but you're dating my best friend. I wanna get to know you like a pal."

 

I couldn't help but smile at her sweetness. "Awww I understand. We could hang out later if you'd like."

 

"And just know this-" She slapped her hands across the table and leaned in toward me. She stopped smiling and looked at me threateningly. "If I catch you messing around like that Soyeon-"

 

"NICOLE!!" Key admonished. Then he hushed himself to a whisper. "Keep it down. Don't wanna cause a scene."

 

She looked back at me. She made a line across her neck with her thumb and mouthed, "You're dead. You got that!?"

 

I quietly nodded. "Got it."

 

She reverted to smiling. She's a wonder, you know that? It's amazing how fast she changed her demeanor. 

 

Someone surprised me by wrapping his arm around my shoulders and sitting down next to me. It was Taemin.

 

"Minho! What's up?"

 

"Not much. You?"

 

"Guess who landed a date with two hot mamacitas!" He smiled wide. 

 

"Oh really? Who is it this time?"

 

"These two hotties. One's from America and the others this awesome singer! We're having dinner with them tonight!"

 

"Wait, we?"

 

He looked at me confusedly. "Of course we. When is it ever not?"

 

I kinda expected this but at the same time I didn't. I know, that doesn't make sense. But I just started dating someone. I can't just accept another date. But then again, I've been on plenty of these and didn't give a crap. I doubt this one will be any different. 

 

Taemin brought me out of my thoughts. "You are going right?"

 

I tried to stall. I couldn't do that to Key. "I don't know. I got practice tonight."

 

"No you don't. You told me

you were free all week." Oh . "Hey, gotta go. Don't wanna miss dance class. See you tonight!" He patted my shoulder and before you knew it he was gone. 

 

I looked back at Nicole and Key. I realized I completely forgot about them when Taemin came. Nicole just stared at me with agape. "What?"

 

She mumbled. "Weak." She looked down at her watch and got up to leave. "I gotta go."

 

Key soon followed after her. 

 

****KEY****

 

I met up with Nicole in the hallway. 

"What is it?"

 

She turned back at me. "You really don't see it?"

 

"See what?" I looked at her with comfusion. 

 

"Really? He just accepted a date with someone else! And you're not panicking?"

 

"Why would I? He told me he's been on them before and he doesn't care about them. He just does it for his friend Taemin."

 

"And how do you know that?"

 

I widened my eyes. What is she saying? "Come again?"

 

"You're really gonna just let this slide? What, just cuz he's a guy means that he won't cheat on you? And you said he's been on many of these dates! What makes you think he's not gonna drop you the way he dropped them!?"

 

I didn't know how to respond. She was absolutely right. I couldn't believe it. He really could've done it with those women he dated. Even guys too. 

 

I think Nicole could sense how it disturbed me, because she grabbed my shoulder and tried to reassure me. "I'm sorry, Key. I'm not trying to make Minho a bad guy. It's just, I don't feel comfortable with what he's doing. I figured he should've refused if he really cared about you."

 

"Don't be sorry. You're right. He didn't say no to the date. I'll talk with him later."

 

 

After we finished our classes I paced around the dorm as Minho was getting ready for his "date" (although if he cared about me more 1. he wouldn't even be going and 2. HE WOULDNT SPEND SO MUCH DAMN TIME TRYING TO DRESS TO IMPRESS!!). I was trying to find the right words to say. All day my anger boiled inside of me. I felt betrayed. Minho agreed to go on a date with someone else right in front of me and felt no shame. I knew it was all too good to be true. He's probably laughing on the inside that he could even make a man love him. I should've suspected when he didn't say he loved me back. 

 

As I pondered in my thoughts Minho wrapped his arms around me. "I'm gonna go now. Don't miss me too much." He pecked my lips. "I'll call you as soon as I'm done. I promise."

 

He released his grasp of me and made his way to the door. Impulsively I walked over and stood between him and the door. "Why didn't you say no?" I demanded. 

 

He seemed confused by my question. Emphasis on seemed. "What? What do you mean?"

 

I wasn't here to take his bull. "You heard me. Why didn't you say no? We're dating for crying out loud! So what if Taemin doesn't know! That doesn't give you the right to just prance around with other women!"

 

"Woah! You'd think I'd do that to you!? Look, I told you before, I'm doing this for Taemin, not for me."

 

"Don't bull me! Who wouldn't enjoy going on endless dates with all those women. How many? Huh? How many did you meet? 10? 30? A hundred?"

 

He was almost yelling. "Key what the Hell happened to you!? This is not like you!"

 

I was on the verge of tears. I smiled hysterically. "It's true isn't it? You go on all those dates for your own pleasure? I can almost imagine how proud you felt when you got a man to confess his love for you."

 

"KIM KIBUM ARE YOU ING SERIOUS!!?" He was yelling now. "You honestly believe I'd  do something like that to you? That I'm some sort of player? I defended you! I stood up for you when the rest of the team didn't! And you think I'm a heartless stud??" he scoffed. "Imagine that, I clear my schedule this week for the one I love and this is how I get treated!"

 

He looked toward the door. "Move." He commanded as he pushed me out of his way. 

 

I fired back. There's no way I'm letting him have the last word. "That's right. Go have fun. Go enjoy your ing date. Just know this mister: I am NOT here to become one of your disposable S!!!"

 

Minho walked swiftly out the door. "You know what? I will enjoy myself. And maybe along the way I'll find a '' that actually TRUSTS me!!!" It was obvious that he got the last word. He violently slammed the door shut. 

 

All the anger that built up inside of me had gone now. Now I was left with nothing but self-hate and shame. I plopped onto my bed and curled up in a ball. Now my previous anger turned to frustration and showed itself in tears. I hated myself. All this time I doubted Minho. And he loved me. He cleared his schedule because he loved me. 

 

It's still not ok that he went on a date with someone that's not his boyfriend. But we could've talked about it. Instead I let my anger take control over me. 

 

I'm a big ing idiot. That's what I am. He loved me. And I just pushed him further away.

 

****MINHO****

 

Yep. I'm an idiot. None of this would've happened if I had just gone with my gut and refused the date. Now I'm having dinner with someone who's not my boyfriend. It just feels like I'm betraying him. I don't blame him for being mad. But calling them s? Acting as if I just date and drop them? This is not the Kibum I started liking.

 

I tried to suppress my emotions when I finally made it to the restaurant. I met up with Taemin and two girls. 

 

"Sorry I'm late. Had to finish some work."

 

Taemin spoke first, "Don't be sorry. I'm just glad you came. You're actually right on time. Minho, this is Taeyeon," he said, motioning to the shorter girl. Then he motioned to the other one. "And this is Tiffany."

 

"Hi," greeted Tiffany. She looked a bit familiar but I couldn't place her face. "Nice to meet you."

 

I smiled as I greeted her. "Nice to meet you too. I'm Choi Minho."

 

We sat down in a booth and right away we started talking. I asked first actually. "Tiffany? I swear I've seen you before. Isn't your name Miyoung or something?"

 

"Yea. I'm part of the fashion department at Genie. In school I go by Miyoung because it's easier to pronounce. But outside of school I go by Tiffany."

 

Taeyeon piped in. "And to make things even more confusing, her real name is Stephanie."

 

"What??" I laughed. "So you have three names?"

 

Taeyeon continued. "But it's weird because she doesn't like it when I call her 'Stephanie'. She says I have to call her Miyoung. Only other people can call her Tiffany. No one even calls her Stephanie."

 

Tiffany pouted. "Yah~ I don't like being called Stephanie. That's all. You know that, Taeyeon."

 

"Aigoo~" Taeyeon pouted with her and pinched her cheek. "You're all mad. So cute! And hey!" She gently slapped Tiffany's cheek. "I'm two years older than you. You're supposed to call me Unnie!"

 

"Whatever you say, Taeyeon."

 

"YAH!!"

 

We all laughed joyously. I was having fun talking with them.  Taeyeon works at a recording studio and she gave us a little demo. She had a really nice voice. But I couldn't stop thinking about Key. Of course I'd apologize. But how would he take it? What does this mean for us?

 

At one point Taemin got up to go to the restroom. The three of us were quiet. It was kinda awkward since we all had been talking earlier. This was the first awkward moment of the night. 

 

I think Taeyeon and Tiffany could tell something was off. Taeyeon asked, "What's wrong?"

 

I tried to brush it off at first. "It's nothing really."

 

Tiffany added, "Come on, it's ok. You didn't look like this before."

 

I had had fun with them all throughout tonight's dinner, but I ultimately decided to be honest. I figured that's the least I could do for Key. "I'm sorry. I really enjoyed talking to you guys. But the thing is, I already have someone."

 

Taeyeon looked a bit shocked. "Wait, you're dating somebody else?" I nodded. Tiffany added, "Then why did you come here tonight?"

 

"I did it for Taemin. He's trying to find a girlfriend for both of us. He doesn't know I'm already dating."

 

Taeyeon smiled. "It's ok. We can still be friends. It's really nice talking with you." I smiled at this. I expected them to be mad. 

 

What Tiffany said next surprised both me and Taeyeon. She admitted, "Actually, I too have something to confess."

 

I looked at her curiously. "What's that?"

 

She declared. "I... I am dating someone too."

 

My eyes widened. She'd better not be kidding. But if she's already dating... 

 

She went on. "And I love this person." She turned toward Taeyeon. "Admit it, Taeyeon. You're dating too."

 

I looked toward her. "You too?"

 

Taeyeon looked worriedly at Tiffany, then back at me. "It's... true."

 

I sat back in my chair, dumbfounded. I asked gently because I didn't want to scare them. "So... you're both dating someone? So why would you come-"

 

Tiffany interrupted me. "So no one would suspect."

 

Taeyeon looked even more anxious by the minute. "Suspect?" I asked, even more confused. "Suspect what?"

 

Alas Tiffany looked at Taeyeon, then slowly held her hand. She intertwined their fingers. I noticed they even had matching rings. Couple rings. 

 

"Ohhh..." I started. "So you two..."

 

Taeyeon nodded. 

 

I was still a bit shocked. But then I smiled. I released a sigh of relief as I leaned back in my seat. Tiffany looked at me with worry. "What is it? Are you laughing cuz of us?"

 

"No! Not at all! I'm happy for you two, actually. How long have you two been together?"

 

Tiffany smiled brightly. "Three years." She sqeezed her hand around Taeyeon's. I think Taeyeon was still a bit uneasy. "What about you?" Tiffany asked. 

 

"Just a couple weeks. We got into a huge fight today. That's why I'm a bit down."

 

"Don't worry. You have no idea how many times I fought with this girl. Fights aren't fun but if you don't fight, you're not a couple. And hey, if you really love this person it's all gonna work out."

 

I guess it made sense. Real couples fight. How else do they get to know each other?

 

"Of course I love this person. I'm just worried that he'll be mad at me and won't forgive me."

 

"Him?" Taeyeon finally spoke. "You're dating a guy?" I nodded. She smiled. She probably felt more comfortable. "What's he like?"

 

I smiled even brighter just thinking about Key. "He's really pretty, cute, and talkative at times. He's really cute when he pouts too."

 

Tiffany seemed to catch on to whom I was referring to. "Wait, is he the guy who hates rollercoasters?"

 

I nodded. "Wahh! Our Kibum's dating you!?"

 

"It gets even better. He's my roommate!"

 

Taeyeon's eyes widened. "Daebak."

 

Taemin finally came back. Taeyeon and Tiffany's hands separated. "Sorry it took too long. Bathroom was packed. You guys have fun?"

 

Tayeon, Tiffany and I smiled slyly at one another. Tiffany answered, "Yea, we had a good time."

 

For the rest of the night we talked. Taemin remained oblivious to what Taeyeon, Tiffany and I knew. I couldn't wait to tell Key this. 

 

After the night was over, I exchanged numbers with Tiff and Taeyeon so I could chat with them

later. We even thought of planning a double date, with them two, me, and Key. 

 

But I had to make up with Key if we were gonna go anywhere I needed to gain his trust back. With slight hesitation, I opened the door to the dorm.