“Mom! I’m heading out!” Joy yelled to her mother as she hurried out of her room and put on her school shoes. Her mother came out of the kitchen and handed her two lunchboxes.

“Here! Don’t keep Minhyuk from waiting too long?”

“I know.” Joy told her mother and rushed out of the house.

Outside, Minhyuk was already waiting for Joy with his back against the wall while doing his morning stretches. Like every mornings, she would checked Minhyuk out from head to toe, admiring his built figures.

“Woahhh, what a lovely sight.” Joy murmured to herself.

“What’s with the erted look on your face again? Good morning, sleepyhead.”

Joy tosses Minhyuk the two lunchboxes that her mother had prepared for them.

“Mom really need to stop making lunches for you every day. There’s no point. It’s guaranteed that you’ll get at least one from your fangirls anyway.”

“Still, I prefers auntie cooking more anyway. Besides, you eat most of my foods.”

“I know. My mission in life is to help you maintain that y bod of yours. Sunbae the best!” Joy gave Minhyuk a big thumb up.

The two walked their usual path to school, while discussing either about the new episode of a drama that just been aired on television the night before, or the League of Legend matches between their two favorite teams. Walking to and from school was their everyday routine since middle school. They spend most of their childhood on this street that leads to their school.

“Hmmm…I’m going to miss this alley in the future.” Minhyuk muttered to himself.

“How come? You have less than a year until graduation. Shouldn’t you be excited?”

“I am, but I’m just worry about this little girl.” Minhyuk pointed to Joy. “What will she do without me?”

“Aish, I’m not a little kid anymore. I can take care of myself. There’s something else you should be more worry sunbae. I’m catching up to you on height.” Joy got onto her tippy-toes, trying to overshadow the man standing beside her.

They were at eye level with each other, and only a couple of inches were separating them apart. Minhyuk cracked a chuckle at Joy’s careless intimacies with him and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

“Geez, let’s go. We’re gonna be late for class at this rate.”

Minhyuk dragged Joy across the field of the school main entrance, while Sungjae was observing them from behind. The two reaches the third floor of the building and Minhyuk handed Joy one of the two lunchboxes.

“Play nice with your husband today.” Minhyuk teases the girl.

“I know. Go away.” She replied and waved him a goodbye.

Minhyuk disappeared up the stairs. As Joy was about to head to her classroom, she noticed that Sungjae was only a few stairs behind her.

“Can you go with me somewhere?” Sungjae asked.

“I don’t want to.”

“Please…..” Sungjae pleased and grabbed Joy by the hand to lead her up the stairs. They passes the fourth floor of the building and headed straight to the rooftop. When they got outside, the two sat down on the nearby bench with Sungjae’s hand still holding on to hers.

“Ohhhhh, so this is your new hiding spot. Not bad.”

“….Wait…just give me a second.….”

Joy didn’t say anything afterward. She sat there for a few minutes enjoying the mid-autumn breeze. The sky was cleared, with some birds occasionally flying toward the south for the winter. Another minute passed and Joy turned her head to face him.

“Hey, we should go back before we’re late for...…”

“I’m sorry….”

Joy gave Sungjae a puzzled stare, which he finally turned to face her.

“….For disappointing you, I’m sorry. What you said back then was true, I think I have grown cold over the years. I did took for granted the love that was given to me and I regretted it now…...But even if the world turn against me now, can’t you stay by my side?”

“…..........”

“….….”

“…………..……..” Joy continues to stare at him blankly.

“Arrrgggg, I think I’m really losing my mind lately.” Sungjae whined out loud, while coving his head with his two hands. However, he quickly regained himself and asked, “By the way, what’s your real name?”

Upon seeing his reaction, Joy shook her head and sighed sarcastically.

“You really have become a full-time stalker haven’t you?”

Joy’s words pierced his nerves, causing Sungjae to cover his head with his hands again and rounded up into a ball.

Another short chapter, I’m sorry……..

Sungjae like someone with a have strong personality and matches well with him. He found Joy’s interesting and special. As for when he fell for her (or if he already did), I’m not so sure myself. ^^

But even with Sungjae’s questionable personality, he definitely have a desire to befriend and protect her.