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"Hyung! Baek! Do you guys want to hear some juicy gossips?"

Joonmyeon rolls his eyes as he chews his curry rice. The taller likes being a busybody and would literally squeeze himself between the girls and talk about the latest scandals.

"They said the Econ hottie was seen hitting his girlfriend and she is reporting him to the police."

His eyes widen at the news. That is some juicy gossip. The Econ hottie is among the top five hotties of the university even though he has a girlfriend. With that happening, the Economic School is going to have a new hottie.

"They probably looking for a new one. I might have a chance!"

"You are a Music student, Chanyeol." Baekhyun shakes his head. His friend can be so ridiculous sometimes.

"But out hottie is such a perfect man. I want to be a hottie now!"

Joonmyeon pushes his empty plate to the sice, taking out his water bottle and sips some of it. Ever since he found out about the hotties thing during his first year, he had wondered how a student became one. The criteria is so diverse since his own school hottie is a third-year and average looking but he's probably the nicest man the school has ever known.

"Oh! There is another one."

"Of course there is more." Baekhyun ignores the side-eyes Chanyeol is giving him.

"Someone saw the Medic hottie went out on a date with a man."

Joonmyeon catches the small flinch Baekhyun had at Chanyeol's words. He focuses back at the taller as he looks like he has something more to say.

"The person couldn't see the other clearly but he was small comparing tot the hottie and the person said they looked cute together."

He purses his lips at Baekhyun that has completely stopped eating even though his plate is still half full. Baekhyun didn't tell him anything and he didn't want to push him either. He looks at Chanyeol. "How did the person know it was a date? Just two people going out doesn't mean they are on a date. Maybe they just accompany the other shopping and stuff."

"It was a date, hyung. The person said the Medic hottie looked super happy. Man, I never thought the Medic hottie 'served' that way. He looks super manly."

Joonmyeon is taken aback at the younger's remarks but he keeps his cool. "What do you mean by that?"

The look his senior gives him make Chanyeol realize what he just said. "Ah, no. Hyung, no. I..."

"If I was taller and handsome like him, I wouldn't be like this?"

"Hyung, that isn't..."

"If I become more fit and not this weak anymore, I will turn back like before?"

"No, hyung. Listen..."

"I'm!" Baekhyung tries not to mind the attention he garnered from his abrupt standing. Collecting his plate and glass, he looks at the older. "I'm going first."

Joonmyeon's eyes follow his junior until Bakehyun is no longer in sight before truning back to the loose-mouth in front of him. "I thought you're better than this."

"I am!" Chanyeol bites his lower lips, feeling guilty as he blurted something out without thinking. He doesn't know what make him say that. "I'm sorry, hyung." He gets a small nod. "It was hard to accept when you told me years ago so I guess this kind of news is still difficult for me to digest it. But, I assure you I am not that kind of a person."

"What kind of a person?"

"Quickly judging people without knowing the whole story."

Joonmyeon knows the taller isn't that kind of a person so he understands the loose-mouth. He is lucky enough to have friends that accept him as he is. Looking at the younger, he takes a deep breath. He just have to know. "What if I told you that I like you?" He sees the big eyes getting bigger.

"Are... you?"

"If."

"I... I don't think so, hyung."

Joonmyeon nods as the taller's expression become uncomfortable. It is not anyone's fault.

+++++

"So, what do you think?"

Yifan stares at the three pieces of clothing that being displayed and worn by the mannequins. The clean-cut black suit with silver-outlined geomatrical-shaped flowers at random parts of the piece really catches his eyes. He had a different vision when Bella explained to him but again, he knows nothing about this industry.

She can't stop feeling proud as Yifan has his eyes glued to her idea but his own was as good. "Yes, I know I am awesome but your idea was great too." Bella circles the mannequin wearing the polo T-shirt. "I'm thinking we do with casual Tee and long-sleeves ones as welll."

Full-colored in different shades. The logo is on each sides of the sleeves and one on the left of the chest. "It was only last week." Yifan looks over at the female.

"I've been doing this for years, dear. Samples are an easy thing."

He walks over the last sample. A white denim jacket with the flowers as the button holes, only become a full flower when being buttoned but still stand out on its on. He likes this one a lot.

"One of the staff came up with that. Because it is white the logo pop up more." Bella sees the male nodding at her words and heads towards her desk. Although she want to release this collection as soon as she can, it needs more. Maybe another one or two designs. "Yifan."

He walks closer but stops in front of the dest when his phone rings. He fishes out the device and takes a quick look at the caller before answering it. "Hey. What's up?"

Bella listens at the one-sided conversation and closes her sketchbook of designs she had wanted Yifan to see. Ever since the university days she never win against the caller. Yifan wouldn't suddendly changed that.

He looks at Bella that is busy typing on her computer after ending the call. "Can we continue later? I need to go out."

"Yeah, sure. See you at home."

Yifan rushes out from the room and exits the shop, standing in front of the entrance and looks over at his left and then his right, eyes finally spot the caller walking towards him.

"Hey." Minseok smiles as he looks up at the taller, standing before this best friend of his. "Are you sure you are fine going to lunch with me? Did you ask Bella to join?"

"No, you didn't ask me to."

He purses his lips. His tall friend is always so direct when it comes to his bride-to-be. Luhan told him about his conversation with Yifan and he can't help wonder how does Bella feel about his friend. He throws his gaze around and pauses at the green-walled shop across the street. "Is the shop going to open soon?"

Yifan turns at the direction Minseok is looking at and nods. "I think it's some kind of dessert shop. There is a big waffle drawn in the inside of it." He sees his friend's eyes sparkle at his words.

"Let's go take a look!"

He lets himself being dragged to cross the street until they are standing right in front of the shop. The waffle drawing he always see from across the street is much bigger than he had sxpected as he has no reason to come to this side of the street.

"The waffle looks delicious, right? I wonder when they will open it."

"Hopefully the end of this month."

Yifan turns to the voice and sees a sharp-looking man smiling at them.

"Are you the owner?" Minseok earns a nod and smiles back. The man looks familiar. "So it's a dessert shop?"

"Yeah. I have been dreaming to open one and since this street doesn't have such shop so I thought why not."

Yifan looks to his left and right and realizes the male is right. There is a cafe several shops away and a convinience store on the other side but nothing like this shop. The female workers along this street will be ecstatic. Bella as well.

"But there is still more than a week left. Should you really open it up like this and not covering it?"

"My staff said the same thing too but I had to brag about the waffle so..."

Minseok turns to look a the said drawing that is filling the view from the glass window and he acknowledges it. "Well, I can't wait to visit when you finally open it."

"I will be waiting."

He says his goodbye and walks along Yifan. He is for sure had seen the man somewhere before.

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"Excuse me for interrupting..." Joonmyeon smiles when he gets the woman's attention, stepping back a little when she stands up as she finally recognizes him. "Hi."

"Joonmyeon, isn't it? Sophia's brother."

He nods and takes the offered hand, shaking it. "A staff told me that you're here so I had to see you. Thank you for returning the key, and for sending Sophia home too."

Bella shakes her head. The key had fallenn beside the trash can in the bathroom that she only saw it the next morning when she wanted to throw the trash out. "I wanted to deliver it but Sophia insisted to come and pick it up. Oh, and I had to ask her number from Mr. Jirayu. I hope it's okay."

"It's fine. Thank you again." Joonmyeon senses a presence behind him and turns to see a waiter is carrying a plate of steak and some soup. He faces back to the lady. "Then, I will leave you with your dinner. Thank you again..." His words stuck as a soft hand is holding his own.

"Are you busy? Do you mind sitting with me? Eating alone is boring." Bella stares at the male in front of her. Yifan is probably still with Minseok and she was craving meat. She was hoping to chat with Sophia but apparently she wasn't a waitress. Meeting her brother is totally out of the question.

The look the older gives him make him purses his lips, checking his surrounding before giving the lady a small nod. He knows that feeling very well, where at one point he had stopped eating altogether. No matter how full his stomach was, he'd still feel empty.

Bella can't hide excitement as Joonmyeon takes a seat right across her. She offers him the soup but the male refuses, saying he had eaten. "Sophia said you and Mr. Jirayu are friends. How long have you guys known each other?"

"Almost two years. He helped me before."

Bella senses the changed mood at those words. She chews her steak as her mind thinking another topic to talk about.

"Are you always eating alone?" Joonmyeon waits as the lady swallows her food.

"Hm... Not always but most of the time, I guess. I don't really have friends that I can hang out with. Yifan isn't that fun either. Oh, you remember Yifan, right?"

He nods. He isn't curious but doesn't mind knowing how the tall male is doing for the past years.

Bella sips some of her soup, getting a nod from Joonmyeon when she compliments the dish. "Well, you know how woman should take lead now and again... He should do the same." She notices the furrowed brows and gulps down her fruit juice, before staring at the younger. "I mean, I know we are arranged and all and I am used being the one leading but I don't mind being a follower sometimes."

Joonmyeon listens as the lady tells her story, about how boring the Chinese male is sometimes. He would agree on a movie but would watching it with a blank expression. Never refuse a skinship but never initiate one either. He breathes in. The lady shouldn't torturing herself either. "Do you love him?"

The knife between the piece of meat stops cutting and she blinks a few times before looking up at the male. She had asked herself the smae question many times before and the answer changed over the years as they spend more time together but it has been a while since then.

A sigh coming from his front makes Joonmyeon realize his mistake. "Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."

"I love him."

He sees seriousness in those eyes.

Bella pokes the cut steak as she imagines Yifan on it and puts it inside , chewing it roughly. "I love him but... You know how some people would die for their loved ones because they love them so much?" She earns a stare. "Well, I won't be dying for him, if that's what you mean."

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