Two other study sessions with Eun Ji followed the one that had been decisive. If they were still both there to study, the atmosphere was cosier than before. Sitting on a desk chair with her shins resting on Minho's lap, Eun Ji was going through Minho's answer to her homemade grammar test under Minho's apprehensive look.

A firm nod and a smile on her part relieved the young man. She put down the paper on the table and brought her face close to Minho's, whose heart still had trouble adjusting to her being so close to him. She let a little kiss on his cheek and whispered:

- Well done Mr Choi. I'd say you're ready for your exams. 

- Are you telling me this so that we can stop studying and move on to funnier things?

- What? No! Are you slandering me Mr Choi? I'll sue you!

- There is no proof Miss Shin. With what will you make your case? Mere feelings? 

Eun Ji burst out laughing at Minho's mock trial before engulfing him in a hug.

- I can't argue with a soon-to-be lawyer!

The soon-to-be lawyer closed her arms on her and smelt her hair. The vanilla scent emanating from her dark locks was intoxicating. Soon, he found himself smelling the flowery fragrance of the perfume on her neck. He couldn't help but justify himself by telling her she smelt so damn nice, which only made her laugh and hug him tighter. The kisses he let on her neck and plexus that, for some odd reason, he adored, sent shivers running on her skin.

His phone ruined the moment. The distinct ringing noise of a text notification distracted him from the delicious moment he was having. And upon reading it, he felt even more distracted. A painful pang of guilt clenched his heart.

"Hey Minho! Exams are right at the corner, I hope you're not too stressed! There's a movie I really want to watch so you can't bail on me once you're done with all this, okay? Break a leg, see you!"

His audible sigh worried Eun Ji who enquired about the source of his trouble. Ever since they kissed, Taemin was something left unsaid between the two of them so he didn't feel like making the atmosphere weird by telling her the truth. He made up some story about his brother to avoid mentioning the forbidden name.

Eun Ji sympathized with him and his brother and fortunately, didn't ask too many questions. It wasn't too late and they hadn't worked for a long while but Minho decided they deserved a reward for their hard work throughout the last study sessions they had had together. They watched some romantic drama with funny and awkward situations, something easy to watch to rest their brains. 

Two days later, it was not their lovey-dovey time watching dramas that he had in mind but the hours they had spent working on his international law exams as he sat in an austere classroom with the rest of his classmates with a paper before him and Mr Paulson pacing in the alleys between the desks. 

His four-hour exam seemed to be endless and, at the same time, too short. Writing an essay was time and energy-consuming and when their teacher asked them to put down their pen, he was relieved but exhausted. He was quite satisfied with his work but his gut feeling wasn't enough to guarantee he had done well. Unfortunately, he had no time to rest. After a lunch break, he and his friends had another exam. South Korean law for two hours then business law for three hours. When he went home, forcing himself to study in the evening for the next day felt excruciating. He was knackered, stressed and seriously under-entertained. 

The notification bell rung pulled him out of his notes. It was Taemin once again.

"Sorry, I had promised myself I wouldn't disturb you while your exams aren't over but I couldn't resist! You're not the only one studying like a madman, guess who I'm with?"

A picture followed Taemin's message. A selfie, taken by the younger one who was grinning at the camera next to a fed-up Kibum who was looking away, visibly displeased to be in the picture. Taemin had Kibum's glasses on his nose, he looked adorable with them when Kibum just looked... studious. Minho let out a little chuckle.

"Leave him to study, I bet he won't be done til 2 am at least, you're sleeping over?"

"I probably will, I'm feeling too lazy to go back home and knowing him, he won't use the bed much."

Minho chuckled, Taemin was probably right. Kibum's incredible determination could lead him through the night with ease. As for himself, he decided to stop at midnight to get some well-deserved rest.

Friday was a bleak day with a greyish sky over his head and dirty sloshy snow under his feet. Another day of racking his brain and writing essays, of reading stuff, highlighting stuff and filling draft sheets with scribbles. Five minutes before the end of the last exam, Minho allowed himself to cast a look around. Jinki was still writing furiously, Changmin was re-reading his paper with anxious eyes and Jonghyun was doodling on a piece of paper. 

When Mr Kwon announced the end of the exams, a buzz suddenly filled the room, quickly hushed by the teacher who warned them that chatting before giving back their essay could count as cheating. They all obediently kept quiet and handed him their papers before spreading in the corridor to comment on the exam subject.

Minho had trouble realising he was done with exams and had a week-long break ahead of him. Some deserved holidays full of possibilities: hanging out with friends, sleeping all he wanted and spending Christmas with his family and with Eun Ji and Taemin too, maybe. As he was thinking of those blissful times awaiting him, Jonghyun elbowed him in the ribs to catch his attention.

- Hey, Taemin's here. 

Minho's eyes immediately shot toward the slim figure standing by a tree facing the building's main door. He wasn't alone. Kibum was with him. The four friends were a bit taken aback to see Kibum as he was at that moment. In Taemin's company, he looked way more relaxed, as if he was okay with dropping his guard. Taemin said something that made the law student laugh. So, Kim Kibum could laugh, Minho thought. It was so unusual that it was hard to fathom.

Taemin caught sight of the approaching group and smiled warmly in their direction. They greeted each other and the youngest of the bunch asked them how they had done. All of them believed they had fared decently, if not well. They chatted a bit more about their exams, Kibum had gone quiet, feeling uneasy and awkward to be with classmates he didn't know much, only answering when directly addressed. He took his leave soon after, after promising Taemin he'd stop by his house soon. 

Minho's friends invited Taemin to get a drink with them but the latter declined. They asked Minho if he'd be joining them, but he declined too so they left the two guys behind.

- Actually, I came here to see you. And Kibum! But you especially. 

- Did you?

- Yeah! The movie, remember?

Minho hadn't forgotten. Thinking of going to the cinema with Taemin had been his goal, his light at the end of the tunnel. He was glad Taemin was as eager as he was and hadn't waited any longer to ask him to go. As they were on their way to the movie theatre, Minho asked about the movie. The younger one described it to him with animation in his voice. They were on their way to see a French movie about a French guy getting caught in a scandal after acting against the shady business of palm oil culture in Indonesia. Taemin found it "eye-opening and touching".

Minho was befuddled by Taemin's choice, he had thought they would watch an American blockbuster or any other popular movie from their country to relax, not a foreign movie with a political message. Not that he minded, the plot looked promising. Taemin was a surprising guy. 

- As a future business school graduate, I want to do business properly and ethically. I think I couldn't be working for an industry or company that is so destructive! 

- And, as a future law school graduate, I'm curious to see how he'll be defended and if they'll manage to save him thanks to local law or international law. What a great choice of movie, it mixes both our fields of study.

Taemin agreed and insisted he'd pay for both tickets. Minho agreed on that and insisted he'd pay the pop corn. Soon, they found themselves sitting in the dimly lit projection room of a small cinema, the kind that only showed independent or relatively unknown movies. While watching the movie, they occasionally popped some pop-corn in their mouth, their eyes glued to the screen.

Minho was attentive during the first third of the movie, struggled with focusing and staying awake in the second and gave up the fight somewhere in the last. The room was dark, warm and comfortable, he could feel his eyelids dropping until he could no longer open them, as it took too much energy and willpower. He could still hear the mix of French and Indonesian, none of them he understood, it was like a spoken lullaby to his ears.

He only awoke when an annoying finger poked his right cheek repeatedly. He opened his eyes, realised he had been sleeping on Taemin's shoulder and promptly moved away.

- I guess you found the movie boring. I'm sorry, next time we'll watch something more entertaining.

- No! No, the movie was fine, I swear. I enjoy films like that, it's just that I've been super tired because of the exams lately.

Taemin understood and said it was okay but his eyes couldn't lie. The hint of disappointment was obvious. Minho was worried he may have hurt him a little by failing to stay awake for 2 hours so he invited him for dinner. The younger one's face lifted up, glad that his friend didn't find it boring to be with him.

As they sat in a Chinese restaurant with bubbling hotpot and plates of ingredients, Taemin's usual pleasant demeanor was back. Minho noticed that he mainly ate the paper thin slices of meat cooked in the broth and ignored most of the vegetables. The law student cooked a slice and gently put it it Taemin's bowl. 

- Not a vegetable lover, are you?

Taemin laughed softly, his hand covering his mouth as it usually did.

- Sorry! I like the mushrooms but not the cabbage. Lotus roots are okay but not my fave.

His friend picked a piece of mushroom and gave it to him. The older one's care was pleasant. Unlike his friends, girlfriend or parents who would try to make him eat stuff he didn't like when they were out, Minho didn't mind if he had less meat for himself and he let him eat as he pleased.

Taemin noticed, after observing Minho's choice pattern, that he liked fish balls and lotus roots, thus picking some with his chopsticks to give the older one. 

- Thanks. I love fish balls. And meat but as the generous soul I am, I'm letting you have them.

- Oh no! Please don't! 

- Just kidding. Give me a slice then.

Taemin picked one with hurried movements to show he was not being greedy about the meat.

- Do you want something else? We're almost out of everything. And be honest, it's fine if you do.

Taemin picked up the menu, a good sign that he was still hungry. As expected, he suggested another plate of meat before shyly asking if they could get prawns and scallops. Minho wanted to joke that he had expensive tastes but he feared the other young man would apologise and choose something else instead so he agreed and ordered them, along with some vegetables.

- Thank you for indulging me! You could become my sugar daddy and I'd be able to eat seafood hotpot whenever I want! Taemin said with a smile that showed he was excited to try the scallops but when he caught Minho's taken-aback look at being called a sugar daddy, his smile dropped as he realised the undertone of his joke

- I mean... not like that... nothing ual, ahah! Just... oh god, I'm making things worse, he added while hiding his eyes behind his hand.

- It's fine! As long as you're not asking for a Chanel bag or a Gucci jacket, I'm okay with being your sugar daddy.

- Stop it! I spoke too fast!

Minho chuckled, unable to keep it in as Taemin's embarrassment was a cute sight. The business student was staring at his empty bowl to avoid looking at him, fiddling his hands to busy himself.

When the waiter brought them fresh ingredients, Minho took a piece of meat and once it cooked to perfection, he gave it to his friend.

- For you, Taeminnie. I cooked it with love.

Taemin stared at the steaming hot slice of meat then at Minho, looking a bit like a deer caught in headlights. 

- Relax! Can't I be greasy with my sugar baby? Minho said before letting out a hearty laugh.

Taemin chuckled along but the redness of his cheeks didn't lie. Why was his heart beating so fast and why were his emotions so jumbled together that he couldn't figure out what he felt?

He felt good when he was with Minho but when his heart rate spiked like that and he felt hot and couldn't think of a funny reply, he didn't know whether or not he liked it.

- Are you okay? I'm sorry if my jokes are too much, I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable.

He quickly realised he had been zoning out and promptly apologised and said he was fine. But Minho wasn't buying it. His honesty and warm demeanor took over. He bore his look into Taemin and said with the softest of tones:

- Hey. You can tell me anything, you can even tell me to f-off if my jokes are terrible. I'm sorry if I'm being too much. My college friends are the outgoing kind that I can tease and make fun of without thinking twice. But you're different and we're still learning to know each other.

Taemin's introverted personality wasn't used to such openness. He had troubles being true to himself and speaking honestly about his feelings. His first reflex was to say it was fine, really, however, Minho's reproachful look was a sign he wanted honesty.

- Yes, okay. I swear I was not offended by the sugar baby-daddy joke. I'm glad we can joke, I just don't know how to reply or I wonder what the other person will think and then I feel... awkward. 

- What I love more than you being funny is you being true to yourself. You're just so adorable.

- I don't want to be adorable, I want to be cool. Not popular-cool just cool. Easy-going.

- So either you work on it to change whatever you want to improve, or else, you accept that you being awkward is just who you are. It's fine. Anyone talking to you could tell you they don't mind you being yourself.

Taemin's usual shy side wanted to look away as to shield himself from Minho's big soulful eyes but with a bit of newly found courage he managed to keep looking at his friend before nodding and telling him he'd think about it. 

Minho's round mouth curved into a smile and he allowed himself to put his hand on Taemin's arm to silently tell him he was there for him. Taemin replied with an equally frank smile.

They finished their dinner in a peaceful atmosphere, enjoying the seafood and meat while talking about the movie, the bits Minho had missed and their promise to try to consume less products with palm oil.

- Want to grab some ice cream? Taemin asked once the plates were empty.

- Sure! 

They easily found a convenience store to get some ice cream. They ate inside the store where people usually sat with the ramens they had just bought.

They enquired about the other's ice cream, grape for Minho and caramel for Taemin and after a bite of the other ice cream they decided they liked it better than their own so they swapped.

When only the wrappers and sticks were left on the counter. They decided to call it a night and head home. They lived in the same area so it was the occasion to keep chatting. 

As they were making their way to the uphill road where Taemin lived, they had no choice but to walk on that sloshy snow from the morning that had frozen again with the low temperature. It creaked under their steps and some parts were more ice than snow.

The younger one was talking about his Christmas plans when one wrong step on a layer of ice got him flailing his arms to keep his balance.

- Taemin!

His hand grabbed Minho's long wool coat, one hand grabbed his arm but to no avail, his feet lost the fight against the ice and he fell forward, taking Minho with him in his fall. Taemin landed on his shoulder, Minho half on top of him. The inclination of the road and the frost covering the street made them slide down the road and they could stop their fall only three meters away from where they had fallen.

- You ok? Minho asked, his breath sending little clouds of steam in the freezing air.

- Yeah... that was a rough one, Taemin hushed.

They stayed on the floor for a moment, trying to catch their breath and assess if they were in pain anywhere. Nothing too serious apart from some dull pain in Taemin's shoulder and Minho's knee. 

Snow was starting to seep through their pants, the ground was hard and uncomfortable but they stayed in each other's embrace, probably looking either like two drunkards passed out on the floor or two weirdos embracing each other in the middle of a deserted road. 

Their gaze met and they couldn't help but start laughing at how ridiculous they must be looking right now.