Seungho’s POV

Minji let out a sigh and rubbed her face with her palms.

“I’m really sorry.” I apologized again.

She shook her head.

“I’ll get you a shirt. Go shower or else you’ll catch a cold wearing that sweat drenched shirt.” She said as she headed into her room.

I stood outside like a fool, looking at my feet.

“Here.” She said, handing me a big white tee.

“Bathroom’s over there.” She pointed to the corner.

“Thanks.” I mumbled.

She turned to walk off, not smiling at all. I did not really understand why she got so worked up, but I did not feel good at the fact she was sulking because of me.

“Minji ah~” I called out.

She turned back to look at me.

“Please don’t be angry.” I said.

“I’m not.” She said.

“But you’re not smiling.” I mumbled.

“Do I have to always be smiling?” She asked.

“I just…” I looked down.

“I’m fine.” She said, smiling slightly.

“I’ll buy you nom nom?” I said.

“Okay!” Now, this smile is genuine and really wide.

“Pizza?” I asked.

“I want chicken drumlets and garlic bread too!” She said excitedly.

So food solves everything. Yessah~

“Anything for you.” I smiled.

“Yay!” She jumped, but stopped almost immediately to massage her back.

“Where else did I hurt you?” I asked.

“Oh gosh, you were like some kungfu panda in there.” She laughed.

“Sorry.” I pouted.

“It’s fine. I’ve experienced more, this kind of pain is nothing.” She said.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing, nothing.” She smiled, heading to her room.

I went to take a quick shower. When I was out, she was still no where to be seen, but I could hear the sound of water coming from her room.

I looked around her place. She did not seem poor at all. Everything a home should have, she has, with the exception of the television and a couch. But in replace of the couch, she had a really fluffy carpet on the floor with lots of cushions around. She also had books and art supplies everywhere.

Canvas boards were placed against the walls, showcasing her art pieces like museum; some were abstract, some had an obvious theme. Most were landscape paintings/drawings, but they all seem so sad.

One particular piece of drawing had me staring at it for a long time. It was a black and white piece of a playground. The surroundings were blurred, only the swing was obvious.

“Drew it with charcoal.” A voice said from behind.

I turned back to find her drying her hair, looking at me.

“Charcoal?” She asked.

“Not the kind people use to kill themselves.” She laughed.

“Kill themselves!?” I exclaimed.

“Barbeque.” She corrected as she headed into the kitchen.

“Which pizza do you like?” I asked.

“Anything is fine.” She said.

“Really?” I asked.

“Actually I like Hawaiian.” She grinned.

“Right~” I laughed as I dialed the number for delivery.

I ordered a large pizza and other sides.

“Forty-five minutes.” I announced.

“So long~” She pouted.

“I’ll rush them.” I said, taking out my phone.

“Kidding!” She laughed, handing me a cup of water.

“Thanks.” I said, sipping on the water.

“Aren’t you gonna sit?” I asked.

“Oh. Hee~” I sat down on the carpet beside her, looking around.

“What?” She asked.

“Huh? No. Nothing. Just… You’re not poor.” I said awkwardly.

She glared at me.

“Sor.. sorry.” I apologized quickly.

“Kidding!” She laughed.

Gosh, is this how Junhyung feel when Haneul teases him endlessly?

“Stop teasing me like that!” I said helplessly.

“You’re fun to tease, and when did I say I was poor!?” She exclaimed.

“I don’t know. Then why do you keep going to that crappy place to watch TV?” I asked.

“Because I don’t have a TV at home?” She said as a matter of factly.

“You could buy one.” I mumbled.

“What for? I’m not a TV person. Sometimes I just happen to walk pass, that’s why I stop to just have a look. Despite the Internet and all, the TV is still considered the fastest and most reliable medium for news and all, I think. Okay, maybe not, since the Internet is catching up, or has already caught up. But whatever.” She smiled.

“But he is always insulting you.” I said.

“Does it hurt me? Physically?” She asked.

I shook my head.

“So, doesn’t matter.” She shrugged her shoulders.

But it hurts me.

“You just keep painting?” I asked, changing the subject.

“No, I draw too.” She said.

“I mean… Aish~” I rolled my eyes at her while she laughed.

“I make sculptures and design stuff online too. Depends on what I am asked to do. Paintings and drawings are mainly just for my own leisure.” She said.

“What does that mean?” I asked, pointing at that playground piece.

“What do you think it means?” She asked.

“Loneliness?” I asked.

“It can be.” She said.

“Can be?” I asked.

“There’s no exact meaning in art, honestly. Different people see things differently. Just like how different mood can let you hear a song differently, art too.” She said.

“What does it mean to you?” I asked.

“Hope.” She said.

“Hope?” I asked, a little surprised.

“I don’t know about you, but each time I go to the playground, I hope the swing is empty. So an empty swing is hope to me.” She said.

“Oh.” I nodded.

The door bell rang.

“FOOD!” She jumped up, but held onto her back and winced. I felt so bad.

While I went to get the food, she went to get plates.

“Does your back hurt a lot?” I asked, putting a piece of pizza on her plate.

“Nah, it’s fine.” She smiled.

“No, it’s not fine. You’re hurting badly, aren’t you? Let me take you to the doctor.” I said.

She shook her head.

“Please. I feel bad.” I said.

She laughed and shoved a bit of pizza into my mouth.

“Eat.” She said.

“If it still hurts after a few days, you have to let me know, okay?” I said.

“Yes, boss.” She smiled.

I glanced at the time. It was 3.45AM.

“It’s like eating breakfast.” I said.

“I know, right.” She said, munching on the pizza.

“It’s amazing to see girls eat at this timing.” I said.

She dropped the pizza and looked at me.

“Am I fat?” She asked, pouting slightly.

“NO NO NO!” I said hurriedly.

“I don’t care too.” She laughed, eating again.

“Would you like to meet my friends?” I asked.

“What!?” She choked.

“Was it that shocking!?” I asked, patting her back.

“Meet… your friends?” She asked after she calmed down.

“Yea.” I said.

“I’m not sure if they want to meet me.” She mumbled.

“They are dying to meet you!” I said, remembering Mir whining about wanting to meet her.

“Why? Because I am crazy?” She asked.

“No! I didn’t say that! I never thought you were crazy! Okay, maybe I did.” I said awkwardly.

She laughed and shook her head.

“Really, do you want to meet them?” I asked.

She shrugged her shoulders.

I did not ask further as I sensed her awkwardness. I really wanted to bring her to meet the boys as well as Junhyung and Haneul thou. I think Haneul and her could be really good friends.

“I was supposed to be buying you nom nom, but you ended up paying.” She said as we cleared up after eating.

“Nah~” I said, helping her with the empty boxes.

“I’ll send you back.” She said.

“What!? No! It’s so late!” I said.

“Exactly. There’s hardly any cabs around this area at this time.” She said.

“No, no. You’re not going out at this timing.” I said.

“Let’s go!” She grabbed her keys and tugged onto my arm.

“NO!!!” I tried to stop her but she was dragging me along.

We took the stairs this time.

“Enough! I’ll go home on my own!” I stopped her from walking.

We were at the lobby. There was no one around.

“But it’s late.” She mumbled.

“Exactly. What is a girl doing out there on a bike so late? After you send me back, I wouldn’t feel good letting you come home alone. Most likely I would want to send you back too. It will never end. We will never get home.” I said.

She chuckled and took a step back.

“Alright, alright. Let me wait for a cab with you then.” She said.

“That should be okay.” I said.

We headed outside, and there really were no cabs around.

“Sorry for yelling at you just now.” She said.

“You were right, thou.” I said.

“There’s really nothing to be embarrassed about.” She said.

I nodded, looking on the ground.

“I wasn’t claustrophobic from young thou.” I said.

“Was it that incident?” She asked.

I nodded.

“Aww~” She patted my head as thou I was a little boy.

“Hey~” I narrowed my eyes at her.

“Awwwww~” She continued patting my head.

“Tsk!” I frowned.

“Okay, okay.” She giggled.

“Sudden loud sounds scare me too. Explosions, fireworks, I couldn’t take it anymore.” I confessed.

“Then your concerts…” She mumbled.

“The boys hold me to prevent me from freaking out on stage.” I said.

“So sweet~” She smiled.

“Yes they are. But I feel like a burden. I’m the leader, and yet…” I said.

“It wasn’t your fault.” She squeezed my arm lightly.

“I still get occasional nightmares. If I go crazy in the day, it will continue to haunt me at night. Sometimes it gets so bad it will wake the boys up too. I just.. feel so damn bad.” I said.

She looked at me, smiling.

“If you could not sleep tonight, you’re free to call me.” She said.

“Call you?” I asked.

“Yea, call me and cry or something.” She laughed.

“CRY!?” I looked at her.

“Yea, cry, and I’ll hush you.” She giggled.

“Yah!” I slapped her arm lightly.

“Call me and talk. Tell me about it. If you keep it to yourself, you’ll just be scared. So share it with someone.” She said.

“I don’t want to wake anyone up just because of my own problem.” I said.

“Aren’t we… friends?” She asked.

“Of course we are!” I exclaimed.

“Then, what’s with all these ‘I don’t want to be your burden’ crap talk?” She said.

“Thank you.” I rested my palm on her head, playing with her fringe.

“Hey, are you indirectly insulting my height?” She frowned.

“Nope. You’re not short. Who says you’re short? I’m just tall.” I smiled.

She tried to elbow my ribs, but I moved away just in time.

“Bleh~” I stuck out my tongue at her.

She jabbed two fingers into my stomach, startling me.

“Bleh~” She stuck out her tongue.

We tried to jab each other for a while, but kept missing.

“Okay, okay. Stop. My back hurts.” She laughed.

“So sorry.” I said, looking at her massage her back.

“You can pay for a full body massage.” She said.

“Sure!” I said, really hoping I could do something to make her feel better.

“Just kidding. Don’t you dare buy anything.” She said.

“I really feel bad!” I pouted.

“Don’t be. It wasn’t your fault.” She said.

“Ahhh cab!” She shook me before I could reply her.

“Go on up.” I said.

“Text me when you get back. Just to… you know. Let me know you’re back home safe.” She said.

“Sure.” I smiled.

"Oh, and this." She pulled out a rolled up piece of paper and tossed it to me.

“Bye~” She waved and ran back even before I could respond.

I watch her go back up before leaving. 

In the cab, I spread open the rolled up piece of paper to see what it was. It was the drawing of the playground. Behind, she wrote 'May the day you see this as 'hope' instead of 'loneliness' come soon ^^'

I smiled like a fool at the drawing. Aye, this girl~

***

‘I’m home! 〜(￣▽￣〜)’ I texted her as I walked up the stairs.

‘You didn’t die! ＼（＾∀＾）メ（＾∀＾）ノ’ She replied after awhile. I was already back in the dorm by then.

“HAHAHA!” I laughed out, earning a groan from the sleeping G.O.

“Sorry, sorry.” I covered the blanket over his head as I grabbed my clothes and headed out.

‘(╯︵╰,) You sound like you wish I did~’ I replied as I changed.

‘Nawwwwwwwwww~ ⊙︿⊙’ She replied.

I laughed at her use of emoji. I could literally picture her looking like that.

‘Alright, alright. Go to sleep! It’s late! (。-ω-)zzz’ I replied.

‘THE NIGHT IS STILL YOUNG! PARTY BABY!! ＼（＠￣∇￣＠）／’ She replied.

Did she just text me something like that!? Before I could reply, another text came in.

‘Goodness me. What did I type!? Ignore that! ／(x~x)＼’ She texted.

‘Noooooo~ I’m going to remember that forever (ｏ・_・)ノ”(ノ_＜。)’ I replied.

‘(*・_・)ノ⌒* Never going to speak to you again!’ She replied.

‘┐(‘～`；)┌’ I replied.

While waiting for her reply, I went to find a place to stick the drawing. I pasted it in front of my bed, above my desktop. Perfect place for me to look at it as and when. I went to check my phone, but she still did not reply. Was she really upset?

‘Yah!! (*・)σσσ(*゜Д゜*) Are you really not going to reply anymore!? ╥﹏╥’ I texted her.

‘Am I that petty!? I was working on something. Sorry.’ She replied.

‘Still working at this hour?’ I replied her as I threw myself onto my bed.

‘There is no knock off time for my job.’ She replied.

‘But you gotta rest too. All those can be done later.’ I replied, listening to G.O snore loudly beside me.

‘Later might never come for me.’ She replied.

I sat up, reading her message again. What is she saying?

‘What do you mean?’ I replied.

‘Time waits for no one, simple as that ≖‿≖’ She replied.

It really did not sound that way, but I did not press on further.

‘Still, rest, okay?’ I replied.

‘Alright. Oh, when?’ She replied.

‘What when??????’ I replied, confused.

‘You said you wanted me to meet your friends, no?’ She replied.

‘You’re willing to meet them!? ＼(>o<)ノ’ I replied, feeling excited.

‘Well, if they don’t mind me, I shouldn’t be minding them too, no?’ She replied.

‘I’ll let you know again, okay!?’ I replied.

‘Alright, go to sleep already, you human looking panda! (●￣(ｴ)￣●)’ She replied.

“PANDA!?” I yelled.

I quickly turn to see if I woke G.O up, but luckily not. He was smiling in his sleep. Must be dreaming about his pigeon folder.

‘I’M NOT A PANDA HMPH! ヽ(｀⌒´メ)ノAlrighty, good night. Sleep too! (∪｡∪)｡｡｡zzz’ I replied.

I waited awhile for her reply, but it did not come. I fell asleep soon, I hope she was asleep too. 

***
Minji when Seungho said to buy food~

Seungho when Minji got excited instantly when he said to buy food

Seungho when he read the words Minji wrote behind the drawing