Serin had her bags packed, ready to leave the hotel and travel to her aunt’s house when a knock on the door came. She was expecting someone from the hotel since she’s about to check out, but when she opened the door Minho, Jinki and Kibum welcomed her.

Minho was already rubbernecking, looking intrigued when he spotted her bags.

“You’re leaving?” He said.

“Yes, I’m going to my aunt’s..how about you guys, aren’t flying later?” 

“No, we’re stuck here. Apparently the airport is closed because there was an incident on the runway earlier.” Kibum added with a disappointed pout.

“We were thinking if you know a place we can visit, somewhere quiet with good food..” Jinki explained.

Serin looked at the three men, unsure of what to say. Jinki and Minho’s eyes looked expectant, so she was racking her brains for a good restaurant, but it’s been so long and all the places she knows are the “budget-friendly” types. 

“I really don’t know if you’d like my favorite places, most of them are cheap and often crowded…”

They all looked sad when she said that. For sure they’re also worried about getting mobbed and they wouldn’t want to risk it.

“It’s fine..don’t worry about it.” said Minho.

“I heard you wouldn’t be flying with the rest of the staff…” said Kibum.

“Uh-huh. I asked Taemin for a few days off, I’ll be visiting some relatives.”

When she mentioned it’s for a fiesta, and explained what that meant, she saw how their eyes lit up. She can’t believe she’s finding three grown men so cute, especially how it’s obvious that they want to come with her.

“You can come if you want, a fiesta is open to everyone, anyway.” 

“But we need to be discreet…you need to dress down and use masks and caps, whatever it takes to hide your identity.” She added. 

The three couldn’t hide their glee, even helping her carry her bags as they went down the lobby, only stopping when they saw Taemin walking back from the hotel’s cafe. 

“Taeminie, come with us!” Minho urged excitedly.

“Where?”

“To Serin seonsaengnim’s family..” Jinki brightly added.

Taemin gave her a puzzled look, then gave the same to each of his hyungs. 

“Just say it if you don’t want to go.” Kibum impatiently remarked, rolling his eyes. 

Serin froze when he turned towards her, right eyebrow raised. 

“My teacher didn’t invite me, though.” He said.

Her face probably showed how tense she was because his smirk turned into a lopsided grin…as if tormenting her somehow gives him joy. 

“Of course you can come.” She said flatly.

“It’s gonna be fun..” Minho whispered in her ear with a dopey smile on his face. Serin knew he meant it in a good way, but thinking about having her weird boss around for the entire day is making her sweat.

Jinki insisted on having someone drive them to her aunt’s place and she accepted, knowing how expensive cabs can get because of the horrible Manila traffic.

When they arrived at her aunt’s, the SHINee members didn’t even need to hide because the place was too packed. Everyone was eating, someone was singing by the videoke machine, most of them talking in small groups. Serin introduced the three as her coworkers from Korea and her aunts who were already in their 50s immediately took to them, particularly Minho who ate whatever dish it was that was handed to him. Kibum's sparkling wit and personality and his fluent English held her cousins captive, while Jinki was mostly smiley and polite, which appealed to her older aunts. 

But Taemin, she noticed, looked around as if he was taking in everything. He would smile whenever one of her relatives would greet him. But most of the time, he would either be eating or just be staying quiet in one corner, occasionally using his phone. 

She gathered enough courage to approach him and ask if he’s okay. As she took one step closer, images of that encounter at the pool kept flashing back, but she powered through, not giving her thoughts enough hold. 

“Are you okay? I’m sorry it’s so loud…it’s u-” She started explaining but Taemin cut her sentence short.

“I’m fine. The food is amazing.” 

“Okay then..” 

She stood awkwardly beside his seat, thinking of an exit strategy. But the feel of warmth slowly wrapping around her wrist made her turn towards the seated blonde. 

“What’s that????” 

Serin turned towards the huge Lechon that was being hauled by two men. They were on the way to the kitchen but the living room was packed with people so their short walk became a bit challenging. 

“It’s roasted pig..we call it Lechon.”

Taemin’s face looked so confused it was a bit funny, and she started chuckling when he looked even more confused when people just randomly went gaga over the crispy pork skin. Soon after, Minho asked her about Lechon as well and his eyes sparkled when she explained what it was.

Since her “workmates” get special privilege, her aunts gave the three men special treatment and shooed the other guests to let them get their portion first. 

Her aunt Juana elbowed her and asked, while Jinki, Kibum and Minho excitedly dug through the Lechon and Taemin looked slightly perplexed.

“That one seems like a snob…”

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