Mia here. Not MIA, Mia. And here's my story about the guy I found cute and tried numerous times to talk to finally talking to me. You'll be in for a ride with my best friends HImchan, Junhong and Jaz. There's the boy Daehyun too. And a couple of other unnescessary people coming along our way.

One week of car pooling became two. Two became four. Week by week, every Thursday Daehyun would return home with a warm Pyrex dish and a note. The first week was Shepherd’s Pie. Second week was Lasagne. The third week was a last minute broccoli cauliflower bake. Each Friday, a clean Pyrex dish and a note came in reply, a sweet comment on my cooking bought a smile on my face despite the university stress.

Daehyun opened up to me like flower in spring, over time it was just the right moment when he became himself. He laughed more, smiled more. We’d study occasionally. He’s still a noob though, never really checking his phone when there’s an important text on it. Like how our lecturer is sick so we’re free for an hour, which is why I’ll be with my friends instead of class. I hope he saw my text or he’ll be the only one to sit in an empty lecture theatre.

“So has he asked you out yet?” my best friend chimed as I texted Daehyun of my whereabouts. I expected this from Jaz, not Himchan. I scoffed at his question, he can’t be serious when he knows there’s been nothing of the sort happening between Daehyun and I. “Can you get off your phone for one damn minute?” the deep voiced culprit swiped my phone from my fingertips. I got up after Himchan immediately, my demeanour changing from playful to serious.

“Give it back” my voice came out low. How dare he use his height to take my things from me.

Where Jaz had been my biggest worry with her obnoxiousness, her obnoxiousness is actually benefitting. “Oi! Don’t be rude, give it back.”

“Himchan hyung that’s not cool” Junhong frowned. “You’re violating her privacy.” He continued as the immature elder chuckled at the contents on my phone.

“Yeah but look, he’s seen-zoning her.” Himchan laughed. This is embarrassing, jumping to reach for my phone was my final attempt. Rolling my ankle on landing, I fell to the ground with a yelp seeing stars. Warm hands slid underneath my legs and behind me back, lifting me off the ground and onto a free sofa. A familiar scent filled my nostrils

“You okay?” came Jaz’s voice. The figure that carried me moved away as Jaz moved her ice cold water bottle to my ankle.

“What are you? Five?” Came Daehyun’s voice, I didn’t need to be able to see to know he was talking to Himchan. “There’s a thing called privacy. And when someone tells you to stop, it’s cowardly not to listen.”

“It’s cowardly to not change for the girl you like.” Himchan retorted.

“Guys, we’re in public. Please.” I begged.

“I know what you’re playing at Daehyun, if you hurt her I won’t let you be.” Himchan spoke before grabbing his belongings.

“She’s hurt because of you.” Daehyun remarked as Himchan walked away.

As much as it angered for me to see Himchan that way then, little did I know I would be paying such a hefty price for my silence today.