Yesoo stomped her steps as she finished her work early. Her colleagues already bid her good bye. The time showed that it was only 2 PM. Suddenly it crossed her mind that Minhyun's office was nearby. A visit once in a while would be harmless, right?

She tried to call him but no answer. Her lips pouted as she redialled her phone. This time he picked up, which enlightened her expression.

"Hey, I'm near your office. You know, that cafe across your office building."

"Oh, yeah."

Yesoo's smile slowly faded. She could imagine how Minhyun was on the phone, with his plain, expressionless face, and his attention all over to his computer screen, working on anything he was working on. She continued speaking, "I was thinking if we could meet for a minute, or two. I'm buying you coffee and some snack."

"Sorry, it's not that I don't want to meet you, but work is piling up right now."

The smile was completely gone on her face. She just faked one when talking. "Oh, okay. It's alright. Let's meet once you're not busy."

"Mm-hmm. I'll text you later."

"Sure."

"I'm hanging up."

"Okay." She glanced at the coffee and bread she had bought. Fortunately, she only bought what she liked, so she could have them later.

Just when she was about to leave that cafe, she, again, bumped into the one and only Hwitaek. Later on, she found out that he worked at the same building as Minhyun, but different company.

"If you're not busy, better stay here and accompany me having late lunch," Hui said as he put his arm around Yesoo's shoulder, dragging her back to the table she was sitting earlier. "I'm having tuna sandwich. You?"

Waving her hand, she said she was still full. Yet Hui didn't listen and ordered caramel apple pie for her, saying it was his treat.

Meanwhile at the same time, Minhyun who was concentrating on his new project got startled by Jisoo who suddenly popped up out of nowhere. "Was it your girlfriend?" he asked with excitement oozing out of his eyes.

The word 'girlfriend' successfully attracted everyone's attention. Because who would have a thought that this stone-face actually has a girlfriend?

"What? Hwang Minhyun? Girlfriend?"

"Really? Heol, daebak."

Thanks to Jisoo, now Minhyun couldn't focus on his work.

The chattering went on until his supervisor showed up and joined the crowd. "Your girlfriend is here? Then you should come down and meet her. I suppose you haven't had your lunch break."

"No, Raina noona, it's fine. I'm almost finished."

"Hwang Minhyun, do you want me to turn off your computer this very moment?" Raina bend her body and put her thumb on Minhyun's computer's power button. She didn't seem to play around, especially recalling how eccentric she was. "Then go down this instant. Your work - your never-ending work - can wait for a while."

"Yes, Ma'am." He quickly stood up before Raina started rambling again, or worse.

Minhyun stopped by in rest room to wash his face. His face and body muscles got stiff from not moving from his workspace. He massaged his wet face before he got tissues to dry it.

His eyes landed at the mirror before him, gazing at his own reflection for a moment. Fair skin, not so thick eyebrows, squinted monolid eyes, fine nose, and thin lips. Not to mention a sharp jaw. Stone face, huh? Well, he always put a serious expression that he never realized. His sense of fashion also matched the 'stone face' concept, as his closet was full of plain black, grey, white or brown colored outfit. Whenever he went out with Yesoo, whose clothes were mostly colorful or have patterns, the contrast of their outfit was very clear.

Before leaving the rest room, he once again took a look at himself who was wearing black shirt and grey trousers. He gave himself some pats on his shoulder and chest, probably to brush off some dust sticking on his clothes.

He dialed Yesoo's number as he speeded up his steps to go after her girlfriend, who he assumed was still in the restaurant she mentioned. Or at least if she had left, she wouldn't be very far. Yesoo not picking up his call finally made him run through emergency stairs from the 5th floor instead of using elevator. He headed to the restaurant across the street right away.

Hui apparently had starved himself looking at his upcoming food delivered to their tabld after he finished the tuna sandwich he ordered earlier. That sandwich was probably only starters. His main dish, which he was already digging in, was marinara pasta.

In front of him, with unbelievable look in her eyes, Yesoo almost dropped her jaw. She couldn't even eat all the apple pie and as long as she remembered, Hui never ate much. Back then he used to be like he didn't have appetite.

"It seems like you've got big appetite now," muttered Yesoo as she stirred her latte.

Hui chuckled and feed himself with the last bite of prawn. "Well, yeah. I'm trying to gain weight."

Yesoo just nodded three times.

"Where are you going after this?" Hui asked. He was about to take over the apple pie.

"Hmm, let me see," she mumbled as she took her phone out of her bag. Actually, she had no plan and nowhere to go. Home would be her final destination, and the only plan she had was binge-watching New Girl.

Her pupil got wider as she noticed one missed call from Minhyun. But then again, she didn't give much thoughts about it. Probably Minhyun did it unintentionally when he slided his phone in his pocket.

"Yesoo!" A familiar voice called her name. Yet she didn't even flinch, somewhat hoping there was another Yesoo in that cafe.

Oh, great, even I could hear him in my head, she talked to herself.

"Hey, I think there's no more Yesoo in this cafe." Looking around the cafe which was not so crowded, Hui slightly whispered to her, referring the guy calling for Yesoo. He gave her signs by eyeing this particular tall guy.

At last, Yesoo turned her head to where Hui's eyes stopped. An instant smile grew on her face and she immediately got up approaching the tall guy. She reached her arm to link to him. "Did you have lunch? Do you want me to order something for you? Coffee?"

Minhyun, smiling and looking at his girl in the eyes, shook his head. "I'm good. But coffee would be great."

Yesoo smiled back. She escorted him to her seat, where Hui awkwardly waited for his friend to come back. "I'll be right back," she said as she patted Minhyun's back when he sat across Hui. "By the way, this is my friend, Hwitaek, or Hui for short. Hui, this is boyfriend, Minhyun."

Both guys bowed their heads and said hi. Once Yesoo left to the cashier, only awkward silence lingered around them. Thank goodness she didn't go away for long.

"Here's your coffee." She handed the tall cup to Minhyun and took a seat between the guys.

"So, I assume we work in the same building." Hui started conversation when he noticed the same access card hanging on Minhyun's neck.

"Yeah, I'm on the fifth floor."

"Oh, cool. Seonho and Guanlin are there too, right? Anyway, I'm on the second floor."

"Yeah." Minhyun calmly sipped his coffee. Then he didn't say any single word.

Yesoo, too, remained silence ever since she came back from the cashier. It made Hui feel like hitting her in the head because she was never being sensitive. He just couldn't stand the awkward atmosphere. Having finished all the food, Hui finally excused himself leaving the couple. "Anyway.. It's nice to meet you guys, but I have to go back." He continued, "Yesoo, it's great to see you again. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

Yesoo nodded, waving her friend a good bye, alongside Minhyun who was bowing to him.

"Yesoo, I think I should go back too."

She pouted. "Already?" She was not usually clingy. But there were times when she wanted to be that clingy girlfriend. She never tried it though. It would be weird if she was being clingy out of the blue, especially to the stone-face guy like Minhyun, who was her own boyfriend, who didn't seem to be able to spoil his own girlfriend. "But I want to stay longer," she mumbled.

"Sorry," he replied. His expression didn't change a bit. "I'll call you later." With that, he got up after patting her head twice. He threw a little smile at her before leaving.

»—«

Fall season was approaching very soon. Yesoo couldn't wait for the falling leaves all over the street. Autumn was Yesoo's favorite season, and Minhyun's too. This year was going to be their second time enjoying autumn together. Last autumn they went to Han river almost every weekend, having a picnic. Sometimes they went for a hike too in nearby mountains.

Yesoo had finished putting her summer clothes in a box after taking out all her autumn clothes. She had spared a few pieces for the last days of summer. Just in time when she had to find her cocktail midi dress and her only one high heels. She was getting ready for accompanying Minhyun to his company dinner, which allowed the workers to bring their plus one. As for Minhyun's case, his colleagues were the one who encouraged him to bring Yesoo. They seemed to be very enthusiastic to meet Hwang Minhyun's girlfriend.

It was rare for Yesoo to attend those fancy events. Her outfits were mostly smart casual. Or just casual. She didn't have much make up kit and tools too. She only had basic skin care, some BB cream or CC cream, foundation, and mascara. And, of course, some lipstick or lip tints. That day was going to be her very first time dolling herself up for Minhyun. By dolling up, it meant that after doing her base, she was just going to add blush and eye shadows using lipstick she had. That should be enough to give some colors.

She decided to leave her hair untied after she tried curling it a little. She brushed her hair with her fingers for the finishing touch. Just in time when Minhyun called, saying he was already in the apartment lobby. She quickly put on her heels and grabbed a coat lying on the couch.

Minhyun greeted with a warm smile. Without words they just set off and headed to the dinner venue. As usual, there were not much conversation on the road. Yesoo used to like every moment with Minhyun, including that long silence moment between them. But now, this silence had a different feel. Yesoo couldn't even look at him the way she used to when they were drowned in their own moment of silence. One-hour trip from her apartment to the restaurant felt like one year and somehow it was killing her inside.

Finally they arrived and dropped off Minhyun's car. That Minhyun didn't take Yesoo's hands hadn't changed. Yesoo had to reach his. So she could walk by his side, not behind his back. Wearing their best smiles, they headed straight to the venue and were jolly welcomed by Minhyun's coworkers. They were so delighted to see Minhyun's girlfriend, who they found her a bit odd for having Hwang Minhyun the stone face as boyfriend.

"Yesoo, thank you for today," said Minhyun when they were on their way home.

"It's okay. I had fun. You have nice friends. I'm sure the office environment is good."

"Yeah." Minhyun paused for a quite long time. He pretended to search for songs on the radio. "Actually, there is something I've wanted to say."

As much as Yesoo got flustered, she wouldn't show it. She knew sooner or later this time was going to come. She had no idea what it is he was going to say. But she had feelings. "What is it?" she asked, smiling.

"What do you think about us?"

Still maintaining her smile, she asked back. "What do you mean?" She tried hard to combine words that scattered in her head. "I like us. I like that you are with me the past 2 years." Her voice was getting softer and a little bit shakier, as she continued, "And I wish we can stay together for... more years to come?"

"I see." He looked at Yesoo, who just turned her head and kept her eyes to the front.

"What about you?"

"I..." Minhyun forced a smile. "I like it too."

This time Yesoo forced a smile as well. She knew Minhyun buried his honest feelings deep inside. Why he wouldn't say it out loud was still a question to Yesoo. Frankly, it bothered her. But she didn't want to push him to tell the truth.

As the time passed, Yesoo's behavior towards Minhyun started to change. She no longer reached her hand to hold his. She no longer asked where they were going to go on weekends. She no longer gave suggestions on where they should go on weekends. She also no longer had that genuine happy smile when with him. The smile she wore mostly was forced. And no one really knew if Minhyun was aware of this. If this continued, fall probably would just pass without any good memories between them.