Oreuji mothan san iraedo, gipilko neomeoga bogesseo, blared from my headphones as I waited. I was currently sat on one of the high stools of my new favourite café, waiting for the staff to prepare my drink. It was busier than usual this morning, something I didn’t like as I quite enjoyed near-silent places.

I didn’t really pay attention to my surroundings, even when I felt somebody take the seat next to me but it was only when I felt someone’s gaze on me did I look around. I have to admit, I got the shock of a lifetime when nobody other than Kim Wooseok had taken the seat next to me and was currently staring at me weirdly. I blinked a couple of times before removing an headphone.

“Um, w-why are you staring at me?” I asked, as politely as I could. Even though you could say I was a fan of UP10TION, the fact that one of their members were staring at me still freaked me out a little. I wondered if I had something on my face or if I had forgotten to brush my bird’s nest of a bedhead this morning but he wasn’t giving me that kind of look.

“Sorry… It’s just that I feel like I’ve seen you before but I can’t remember where.” He rubbed his nape in embarrassment before I smiled a little and told him it was okay. I wasn’t much of a conversationalist so I didn’t really say anything afterwards and put my headphone back in. A couple of seconds later, I felt a tug and turned to see that he had pulled it back out. The nerve…

“I got it! It was you that I saw this morning, I think you moved into the empty condo next door?” He smiled, seemingly proud of himself for figuring out where he had seen me. I hadn’t met any neighbours yet, even though I had been here for a week but seriously? Next door is UP10TION? Am I in some TV drama right now? UP10TION next door?

“Are you serious? I moved next to UP10TION?!” I half exclaimed to myself then immediately wanted to smack myself. He was looking at me a little wary since I so obviously just revealed that I knew them. “No no no, don’t misunderstand. I’m a fan, yeah, but not one of those creepy ones…ah, I’ll shut up.”

Luckily, Howon, the staff member who was always working the morning shifts called me for my drink. I thanked him and made to leave the café quickly before I embarrassed myself even more. I heard Wooshin calling out to stop me but I ignored it in favour of leaving for work. Remind me not to answer my door now, ever.

- Next day -

I had successfully managed to avoid any and all contact with Wooshin after that incident in the café. I even crept across the hall into my apartment silently. I know it was stupid but I felt like I had completely embarrassed myself and in front of my bias no less. It was rather mortifying.

I had my earphones in again as I was walking to the café the next morning. I got in and once again, just payed as Howon knew my order already. It was pretty sad but I couldn’t care. I took my regular seat and waited. Luckily it was quiet again this morning so it wouldn’t take too long so I settled comfortably, daydreaming. It didn’t last long though as suddenly an earphone was pulled out and his voice rang in my ear. I could feel his breath on my skin behind me though which caused me to flinch.

“Yah, that was very rude of you to run away yesterday~” He smirked, taking the seat next to mine as he stared at me. I just wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole. I decided I would just keep quiet and maybe he would leave it alone. Why did I have to be so awkward? “Now you’re ignoring me? I thought we could have been friends, since we’re neighbours now.”

“Why would you want to be friends with me? Didn’t you think I was one of those sasaeng fans or something? Not to mention the complete fool I made of myself…” I frowned, picking at a small chip on the edge of the table. I had to look up when I heard him laugh though. That laugh…

“Nah, I don’t think you are. You’re way too awkward.” He teased, shrugging his shoulders as I sarcastically thanked him and received my drink. Maybe yesterday wasn’t so bad. I guess I could just forget about it. “So, neighbour, what’s your name? It’s only fair since you know mine.” He grinned as he stood next to me, looking ready to leave.

“Shut up. And my name is Mika. Where are you going? Don’t you have to wait for your drink?” I questioned but he shook his head and started to walk out of the café with me following behind, confused. “Then why were you there?”

“Isn’t that obvious? I went to catch you. I don’t like to drink coffee everyday as it apparently stunts your growth. But it’s already got to you so it’s okay~” He chuckled as he turned to glance at my face, laughing more when took in my expression. “I’m kidding. You’re short but it’s cute.”

That made me blush. I just blinked and stared at the floor, following him. I didn’t even know which direction we were going in. “You’re very…familiar, considering you just met me. Isn’t that the opposite of what Korean’s act like?” I asked, wondering what made this guy so different.

“Well, you’re not Korean so it’s different for you isn’t it? Does it bother you?” He smiled, gazing down at me as we walked. I couldn’t help but shake my head. It was quite refreshing, actually. Everyone else was pretty much overly formal and while I wasn’t the most talkative person, I hated acting so reserved and formal with practically everyone. “Good. So, are you going to work or something right now? I’ll walk you. Let’s be friends, Mika!”

I just nodded and glanced up at him a few times while we walked the thirty minutes to my workplace. He was an anomaly to me but it was interesting. I had a feeling we could actually become really great friends. I hoped we would, anyway.

It continued the same for a couple of months. Wooseok would join me at the café in the mornings that I had to go to work and he didn’t have any schedule and he would walk me all the way there. We became close friends pretty fast, exchanging numbers with which he texted me quite often. Mostly just random things to keep me from dying of boredom as a receptionist when work was slow but sometimes he would call on my breaks and ask how my day was going and if I missed him. Truth be told, I did but I would never say it. It sounded weird. Like I had feelings for him or something. I did not have feelings for him. He would counter with stupid stuff like “I know you miss my perfect face, Mika~”. It never failed to make me smile.

After a few weeks, we got comfortable enough that he would hang around in my apartment, watching movies or playing video games. I had met all the other members and I talked with a few others too but it was mostly Wooseok. Kuhn had teased by telling me that Wooseok had warned them all off, saying that he wanted to keep me all for himself but Wooseok just scoffed, walked out and back to my place with me in hand. I didn’t think much of the way my heart jumped back then.

It had officially been six months since we had become friends already and to celebrate, Wooseok said that we should have a sleepover. Just staying up as late as possible to play games, watch movies and eat junk. I agreed and after I had finished work, I went home to turn the living room into a makeshift bedroom. I brought pillows and blankets out, even though we apparently weren’t sleeping. I had already been to the store before coming home and bought cola and some of our favourite snacks, Wooseok telling me he would order food for us if we felt like it later on.

After I had everything ready, I got a quick shower and changed into leggings and a slightly oversized shirt before he arrived. He just let himself in, since he decided to steal my spare key and use the excuse he needs it for emergencies. I couldn’t help but feel so nervous as this was my first sleepover with a guy, friend or not.

“I hope you’re ready, Mika! I brought new games and I’m totally going to beat your this time!” He grinned as we settled down on the mattress in front of the TV. He set the game up as he handed me a controller then just as we were about to start fighting, he proposed a bet. Whoever loses had to grant the winner three wishes. Anything they wanted.

“Oh, you’re on. Be prepared, kid!” I smirked, ignoring everything else to concentrate on the game. I had to win this.

“Come on!” I almost screamed as I was about to win. We were currently tied and whoever got the last kill in the thirty seconds remaining would win. I had a shot if I just went around the corner where his bot was hiding, so I crept around. I didn’t pay attention to the fact that Wooseok seemed unnaturally silent but I wish I had because in the moment I was about to land my kill, he leaned over and knocked his entire body into mine, throwing me completely off. He quickly recovered and ran over to my bot, using his melee weapon to kill it just before the timer sounded.

“NOOOO! You cheated!” I wailed, chucking my controller onto the floor in front of me. I was so close but he cheated. I shouldn’t have to grant his wishes for that. “Yah, I’m not giving you three wishes for that. It wasn’t fair!” I pouted as he was clutching his stomach from laughing.

“Wow, that reaction though. Are you a sore loser? And yes, you are! In fact, I already have my first wish ready. You have to feed me. All night.” I just gaped, shoving his arm before slouching against the sofa and refusing to do such a thing. “You should have known it would happen, stupid~ Now feed me. I want some pepero.” He handed me the box as he sat with his mouth open.

“You’re such a , you know that? This is so weird! I don’t want to feed you…” I complained even though I was already pulling one of the chocolate sticks out of the packet to place in his mouth. Once he had closed his mouth around it, I let go only for it to drop. He explained I had to feed him the whole thing as I groaned in frustration. “Aish, fine!”

As I picked the fallen stick back up, I held it as he nibbled bit by bit. It was getting closer to my fingers and I was getting ready to let go but it seems he had other plans since before I could release it, his lips caught the tips of my fingers in what seemed like a light kiss. I immediately pulled my fingers back and turned away, knowing my face would be red. I tried, to no avail, to stop the ‘I wish it would have been my lips’ thoughts in my head. I didn’t have feelings for him.

“My second wish is that you have to cook all of my meals for a week. You don’t want this pretty boy to starve, do you?” I could practically hear the smirk in his voice and whined. He looked like an angel but I swear he was a little devil. After a small protest, I agreed as he told me that he loved my cooking. Only to then want to take it back as he said I needed to be a good cook if I was going to become his wife. His jokes weren’t funny sometimes.

“You okay, Mika?” I only nodded in reply. Things just got really weird. I had this feeling in my stomach and I’m not stupid enough to not know what it is but I am stupid enough that I didn’t realise it sooner. This sleepover might have been a bad idea.

“Come on, let’s watch a movie. I got the new Star Wars!” He questioned, pushing the snacks aside as he set it up. After he was finished he moved back and patted the space next to him for me to sit in. I moved but tried to keep a little space between us, which didn’t work as he only shuffled closer and sort of leaned on me. “You’re a squishy bean, so let me lean here.” Jerk.

“It feels weird…” I mumbled to myself but settled in quietly anyway. If he heard, then he didn’t reply so we both watched the movie in silence. I originally wanted to watch the movie so bad as I was a super Star Wars fan but when it was being released, I never got the chance as I was planning my relocation to South Korea. When I say we watched it in silence, I mean that Wooseok practically watched it in silence save for laughing at my reactions. I was excited through half of the movie then sobbing when one of my favourite characters ended up getting killed.

I smacked his arm before slumping down, watching the rest of it in my saddened state. It finished not long after but I was still in a mood. “You’re still upset over that?” Wooseok’s eyebrows shot up hearing me sniffle when he turned all the lights back on. I glared at him before wiping my eyes and nodding. “I’ve adored him since I was nine years old and I watched the first movies! Of course I’m sad, stupid!”

“Well, I know what might cheer you up, princess.” I looked over only to see that smirk again. It was such an evil grin on such an innocent face and I didn’t know how I felt about what he was going to do next. “PILLOW FIGHT!” He yelled and before I could react, he had a pillow and was smacking it into my face.

“Yah! No fair! Come here…” I grabbed my own and shot up, chasing after him as we ran around the living room to hit each other with the pillows. “Wooseok-ah!” I jumped over the back of the sofa as he got to the side and managed to land a hit in the back of his head before laughing and running around the other side. He chased me around but I lost sight for a moment as I faced the opposite way, so when I glanced around he had managed to swing the pillow into my face.

Only, it was so hard that it sent me back a little and my heel caught the edge of the mattress. I felt myself falling backwards and he must have seen it too because he moved forward to pull me back up, falling with me instead as I grabbed his shirt.

We landed with a soft thud as our heads managed to miss a collision by only a few inches. It took a moment to register but his body was pinning me to the mattress, our faces barely centimetres apart. His breath fanned against my lips and our eyes were locked; grey to near black. We were frozen.

Time was lost at that moment. It felt like we were there for minutes, hours; both wanting but neither making a move. I shifted my gaze to his lips, parted slightly, before looking back up into his eyes almost to give him the sign that it was okay. Because maybe it was.

He slowly leaned down, closing the gap as I shut my eyes. It wasn’t hot, messy or rushed but a soft, slow kiss. One that had apparently been long overdue. One in which I finally accepted the feelings that I had been having and which he was showing me his. It wasn’t for long, or was it? But we broke apart and he rested his forehead against my own as we both smiled.

“Mika?” He whispered, tangling his fingers in my hair. “Yes…?” I answered just as quietly, not wanting to break the atmosphere.

“I know what I want for my third wish…It’s what I’ve wanted for a while now.” I looked into his eyes again, not saying a word as I waited for him to reveal his wish. “I want you to be my girlfriend.” My heart did a bunch of somersaults and I bit my lip to prevent a too-happy grin from appearing.

“Now, there’s a wish you’ll get no protests about. I’d love to be your girlfriend!” I chuckled and wrapped my arms around his neck as he buried his face in my shoulder, just as pleased about my answer.

“Mika~ Can you feed me again?” He suddenly asked, popping his head up as he looked at me innocently. Seriously? You want me to feed you right now? After what just happened?

“Are you serious right now—“ He cut me off with a finger on my mouth and shook his head, smiling. “Not with food. With this.” He tapped his finger against my lips before my cheeks heated up and he placed his lips against my own again.

So, maybe this this sleepover was a good idea after all.

i'm was going to split this into two parts because it turned out kinda long...sorry not sorry. it's wooshin. he's my love. but i cut some stuff out :(

aaaaaand ten points go to whoever knows what lyrics they are from the start, without using google. if you don't you're either missing out on amazing talent or...well if you know who it's from but you're not stanning i don't understand y'all

anways, xiao coming up next~

laters :)