Convenience store food again? Minseok notices the plastic bag Luhan is carrying as he sits in front of Minseok. It’s lunch time, and Minseok has somehow gotten used to having lunch with Luhan. Come to think of it, he has pretty much gotten used to being around with Luhan. Maybe it’s because Luhan hangs around with him all the time and follows him anywhere he goes. What was once annoying has now become natural and comfortable, although Minseok still becomes pissed every time Luhan would follow him to the restroom.

“What’s your lunch today?” Luhan asks as he eagerly waits for Minseok to open his lunch box.

“Aah. It’s curry.” Minseok answers as he opens his lunch box. The pungent smell of the curry spreads as Minseok fully opens his lunch.

“Woow! That’s a nice smell! Your mom really cooks well!” Luhan says as he tries not to let his mouth drool from the delicious aroma.

“I guess. Do you want some?”

“Really?!? Yes!!! Thank you Minseok!” Luhan excitingly answers.

Luhan immediately eats a spoonful and savors the creamy and spicy curry as he makes delighted high pitched “Mmm” sounds. His taste buds seems to be rejoicing.

Luhan then takes out a kimbap roll from the plastic bag and starts unwrapping the plastic wrap. Minseok notices his food again.

“Luhan. Why do you always eat convenience store food for lunch?” Minseok asks. It was mostly out of curiosity, but with a slight hint of worry.

“Well, I can’t really cook anything except instant ramen so I usually buy outside food.”

Minseok pauses. “Uh... does your mother not cook for you?”

Luhan looks at Minseok with a pleasant smile. “Nope. I live alone.”

And with that answer, Minseok freezes. This is the first time Minseok has heard of this and this was quite a surprise for him.

“I’ve been living alone for three years now.” Luhan continues. “My parents went back to China and had me stay with a relative. But I didn’t like it there so I said I’ll live alone instead.”

“Oh… but why didn’t your parents bring you with them?” Minseok asks.

“They left for work reasons, but they said they’ll be back. They said they like it here.” Luhan casually answers.

“Oh I see...” Minseok tries to make a poker face but he can feel that he’s starting to make a sad expression. He kind of feels bad for Luhan who has been living alone for a long time. He couldn’t imagine being away from his parents at such an age. It’s too early, Minseok thought. Then suddenly Minseok thought of something, “Wait! Then what about dinner? What do you eat during dinner?!?” Minseok aggressively asks which startled Luhan.

“U-uhh... I usually buy some take-out from a fast food before I go home.” Luhan answers.

“What about breakfast?”

“I eat instant porridge and a slice of bread.”

“Don’t you even know how to fry eggs?” Minseok asks with a half judging, half worried face.

“Nope! It turns into charcoal every time! Hehe!” Luhan smiles.

Minseok sighs in disbelief. “How did you even survive up to this point?”

“Ooh? Are you worried about me right now?” Luhan teasingly asks.

“Well, we are growing high school boys!” Minseok argues.

Minseok’s response made Luhan pause. He is slightly taken aback.

He then bursts into a chuckle. And this made Minseok, as usual, curious.

“Why are you laughing?” Minseok seriously asks.

Luhan couldn’t respond. He couldn’t stop giggling. After a few seconds of calming himself down, Luhan answers.“It’s because I’m happy!”

“What?... What made you happy all of sudden?” Minseok asks.

“Just now, you didn’t deny you were worried about me. You always deny something like that whenever I tease you!” Luhan flashes that big smile of his. He must be really happy.

“Well it’s because you’re living alone. That’s why.” Minseok looks away.

“Eh? But I’m not alone. I have Minseokkie~!” Luhan cutely says to Minseok.

“Shut up and eat your kimbap.” Minseok coldly responds as he resumes eating his lunch. Luhan also continues eating his kimbap, with a smile on his face.

As Minseok continues to eat and savor his lunch packed with his mother’s love, he wonders when was the last time Luhan had eaten a home cooked meal? He must surely miss his family. But how would Minseok know what Luhan felt? Despite Luhan being constantly around him, he realizes he knew little of him. He knows his name, his nationality, and his personality, but not his story. He doesn’t even know the things he likes, and dislikes. Luhan would constantly talk and ask Minseok about nonsensical stuff, but never really talks about himself much. That’s a surprise, given Luhan’s outgoing personality.

And as these thoughts continue racing through Minseok’s head, an idea pops up his mind and a feeling sparks within him.

I want to know him. Minseok thought.

It’s weird how suddenly he’s so curious of him. What is Luhan’s favorite food? What food does he dislike? What music does he listen to? What are his pet peeves? Does he have weird interests? What does he find attractive? What’s his deepest fear? What lies behind that smile? Who is Lu Han?

A moment ago, Luhan was just some bothersome seatmate for Minseok, now he sees him as someone interesting.

“Minseok? Aren’t you gonna eat?” Luhan suddenly asks upon noticing Minseok spaced out.

Minseok snaps back to reality and realizes that he was spacing out while he was thinking. He looks at Luhan who is already checking to see if something’s wrong with him.

“Yes.” Minseok answers.

“Are you okay?” Luhan asks, staring worriedly at Minseok.

“Yes, I am.” Minseok makes a smirk to confirm.

No, he’s not. Right now, Minseok’s mind is struggling to make a decision. He wants to ask Luhan all sorts of things, but at the same time it feels weird. It’s not like Minseok to ask about someone’s life, especially that of Luhan. But this urge to know... to learn more... this curiosity that’s itching to know Luhan is so strong that it’s becoming quite unbearable.

This is strange. Very strange for Minseok. In fact he hasn’t been this curious about a person at all.

Curiosity doesn’t always kill the cat, right?

Minseok clears his throat.

“Uh… Luhan.” Minseok looks at him. And Luhan looks at Minseok.

The moment their eyes met, Minseok couldn’t help but stare and hold Luhan’s gaze. And without looking away, Minseok asks, “What’s your favorite food?”

Luhan blinks as he was taken aback, once again, and laughs. This made Minseok look at Luhan with wonder.

“What is wrong with you?” Minseok asks in an annoyed tone.

“No… What is wrong with YOU!” Luhan says as he continues to laugh.

Minseok couldn’t answer. He just doesn’t understand what would make Luhan laugh. What’s so funny with asking him his favorite food?

“Why do you… Hahaha! Why do you have to ask that with a serious face? Hahaha! Your face! Why are you so serious? Hahaha!” Luhan can’t stop laughing.

Luhan tries to calm himself down by taking deep breaths, and just by really trying hard not to laugh.

“Minseok… you’re really interesting!” He says as he flashes his usual smile at him. “Your face was so serious, so I thought you would ask something serious. But then you asked me my favorite food! Minseok! Really. You’re really an interesting person!” Luhan explained himself as he smiles with delight.

“... I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to...”

“Oh no no! Minseok, I should be the one saying sorry for laughing at your question!” Luhan quickly apologizes. “I’m sorry, I just really found it funny how your face doesn’t match with your words.”

Minseok feels a bit embarrassed and discouraged now because of Luhan’s reaction. Should he just forget about it? Somehow, he wasn’t feeling the need to ask Luhan anymore. It’s stupid Luhan’s fault! Minseok thinks as he sighs.

“Ah! I like steamed buns the most!” Luhan tells Minseok.

“Steamed buns? What an unusual thing to like.”

“Really? I don’t think so. It’s really addicting!” Luhan says as he looks at Minseok. Then Luhan pauses. And he stares at him. After a few seconds, as if realizing something, his eyes grows wide. “Aah! Minseok! You remind me of a steamed bun!” Luhan excitedly tells Minseok.

“What? What the heck?! What are you talking about?” Minseok says. His face clearly shows he’s annoyed at another one of Luhan’s randomness.

“Haha! I’ll call you Baozi from now on!” Luhan cheerfully declared.

“Baozi?”

“Yup! It’s the Chinese word for steamed bun!” Luhan smiles.

Minseok just couldn’t help but sigh. “Whatever.”

Just then Minseok realizes that Luhan just successfully made him lose track of his goal. Oh right, I need to ask him a lot of things. Minseok thought.

“Lu--”

“Minseok. Why did you suddenly ask me something like that? That’s not like you.” Luhan suddenly asks.

Somehow, Luhan had always caught on to Minseok. It’s like Luhan could read his mind. Is this guy secretly psychic? Minseok thought. But obviously not. That’s not gonna happen.

“I just felt like asking you. Why? Something wrong with that?” Minseok answers.

“Not really. It’s just you’re being curious of me… I like that.” Luhan teasingly smiles at Minseok. “You can ask me anything, anytime!”

Now that Luhan said himself that he can ask him anything, Minseok feels that this embarrassed and hesitating feeling he had just moments ago was immediately gone. And without a second thought, Minseok asked, “What’s your favorite color?”

“White.”

“Blood type?”

“O.”

“Shirt size?”

“M”

“Allergies?”

“Seafood.”

“Hobbies?”

“Soccer… although I don’t really play it. Hehe.”

“Oh… right.” Minseok looks at Luhan and sees that he’s cheerfully staring at him.

“Haha! Those are pretty basic. Anymore questions?” Luhan smiles.

“I do… but I think I’ll save them for later.”

“Alright… then can I ask you a question?” Luhan says as his expression shifts to a serious look.

Minseok stiffens. What is this sudden serious atmosphere? Minseok thought. “Okay.”

“Don’t you miss your friends back in Busan?” Luhan asks.

Minseok’s fists tightens and his body further stiffens. Of all the questions he could have asked, why did he have to ask that one? Minseok thought. He kind of regrets starting this whole question and answer portion. But he just didn’t expect it would suddenly lead to this. As much as possible Minseok wants to avoid talking about his past. But right now he has no choice but to answer Luhan. But really, what should he answer? If he says yes, not only is he lying to Luhan and to himself, but also Minseok felt that Luhan would have a follow up question with that response. If he answers no, he would have to provide a reason and try not to say unnecessary things that might make Luhan ask for more questions. Minseok must decide quickly before more time passes. If he doesn’t answer as soon as possible, it might look like his answer is a “no”.

Luhan notices that Minseok has become quiet and says, “You don’t ha--”

“Yes!” Minseok abruptly answers, facing down looking at his lunch.

“I see.” Luhan responds.

Suddenly, Minseok stands up, still without looking at Luhan. “Excuse me, I’ll just go to the restroom.” And Minseok dashes off.

And as Minseok hurries towards the restroom all he could think about is how he wishes Luhan wouldn’t follow him. Don’t follow me. Please don’t. Just stay there! Minseok thought over and over. At the same time, Minseok couldn’t feel but be annoyed and angry at himself. Why did I say such an impulsive answer? Why did I have to make a fuss over a little thing? Why can’t I just get over it? Minseok thinks as he just gradually becomes more frustrated.

Meanwhile, Luhan sits at his spot with a sad expression, as he thinks about Minseok running out of the room. He stares at Minseok’s seat. He still remembers the time that it was once empty, and that now it has been occupied. But since then, nothing seemed to change much.

Luhan sighs. No matter how much he tries, he just can’t seem to get close to Minseok.