Minji’s POV

“You sure about this?” Seungho asked.

“About what?” I asked, handing him a helmet.

“Telling them.” He said softly.

“You don’t wish for them to know?” I asked.

“No. I don’t mean us. I mean… you.” He said.

I took the helmet away from him and cupped his cheeks.

“Darling~” I said.

“Okay, okay. I get it.” He smiled, leaning in to kiss me on my lips.

“Let’s go, or we’ll be late!” I put on the helmet for him.

“Since I’m paying, it’s okay to be late.” He said.

“No!” I frowned at him.

“This is called fashionably late.” He said proudly.

“Ugh.. It’s still being late.” I stuck out my tongue at him.

“Alright, alright. So punctual~” He poked my nose.

“What are you doing?” I asked as I watch him got in front.

“I’m riding. Get behind.” He said.

“NOOOOOO!!! Get off! It’s my bike!” I tried to pull him down.

“You’re my girlfriend.” He said.

“And so!?” I smacked his arm.

“And so, your life is mine to protect.” He said.

“You can protect me from this but not like you can protect me from something else. I’m going to die anyway.” I muttered absentmindedly.

‘Minji! Not again!’ I mentally slapped myself.

“Seungho…” I muttered, feeling so guilty.

I heard him sigh softly before he turn to me with a smile.

“Alright, you ride.” He said, moving back.

I shook my head.

“No, you ride. I’m sleepy. I want to sleep.” He pouted.

“How are you going to sleep on a bike?” I asked, getting in front of him.

“Like this.” He said, hugging my waist and resting his head against my back.

“Alright then, sleep well.” I patted his thigh before starting the engine.

He was quiet throughout the journey, but I knew he was not asleep. He must be feeling so hurt by my words.

“We’re here.” I announced when we arrived.

“Mmm~” He moved away from me, but did not get off the bike.

“Not getting off?” I asked as I got off.

He shook his head with a grin.

“Want to sit here forever?” I asked.

He nodded, grinning widely.

“I’m going in then~” I .

“Ehhhh~~” He grabbed my hand.

“Such a baby~” I said as I took off the helmet for him and straightened his hair.

“Your baby?” He said.

“What!?” I laughed, holding his hand as he got off.

“Aren’t I your baby?” He asked.

“Baby! So overgrown.” I laughed.

“Overgrown!?” He yelled.

“Shhhh!!!” I covered his mouth.

We headed into the restaurant and even from outside, we already knew which room they were in.

“So noisy!” Seungho commented as we stepped inside.

“You’re finally here!!” Doojoon shouted.

Haneul and I exchanged glances. She smiled at me, but her smile seemed different, as thou she noticed something. I looked at her, confused. Then she made a gesture and I looked down. Seungho and I were still holding hands.

“I guess, Seungho hyung, Minji and you have something to announce to us?” Junhyung teased.

I squealed at the fact Junhyung remembers my name. The fangirl in me could not keep still. Seungho must have noticed because he turned to me, as thou telling me with his eyes ‘I’m your boyfriend, not him.’

“Come on, don’t be shy. Say it.” Dongwoon said.

“Ahhh~ You guys already know.” Seungho said, blushing. Seungho is blushing!?

“We want to hear it from you guys to confirm it!” Hyunseung said.

“We… are together.” Seungho mumbled shyly.

“Ayeee~ Why so soft? We can’t even hear you. Seungho you’re usually so damn loud.” Haneul teased.

“Perhaps I’m not presentable enough for him to say it out loud.” I too.

They started laughing while Seungho turned to me with a shocked expression. I stuck out my tongue at him.

“MINJI AND I, WE’RE TOGETHER!” He shouted, staring at me.

I did not see that coming. I covered my face in embarrassment while the others cheered really loudly.

“Oh my! Your fault!” Seungho covered his face too.

After they were done teasing us, we finally settled down for dinner.

“So, how long has it been?” Haneul asked, looking at me like a curious puppy.

“What how long?” I asked.

“Do I really have to put it in words ayee~” She sighed.

“Not as long as Junhyung and you.” I said.

Junhyung and Seungho both turned to look at me.

“Come on, Junhyung and I have been together for centuries it doesn’t make sense.” Haneul said.

“Excuse me, are you indirectly telling me you’re getting tired of me?” Junhyung asked, poking her hand with his chopsticks.

“Roro, you know no matter how tired I am of you or how far I go away from you, at the end of the day, it is only your arms I would return to.” Haneul said.

Junhyung squealed and blushed in delight while the rest of us made vomiting sounds. Haneul was laughing like crazy, absolutely not embarrassed about her mushy confession.

“Please, Haneul! Please! The percentage of single people in this room takes up about 90%! Spare a thought for us! Leave those words at home!” G.O said.

“At least they were not kissing in front of you okay.” Seungho muttered.

“Kissing?” I asked.

“You don’t want to know, darling.” He said.

“Tell me!” I insisted.

“After dinner.” He smiled.

“Okay~” I smiled, poking his cheek.

“PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Doojoon yelled, covering his eyes.

“Alright, alright. Sorry.” I apologized on behalf.

“Why apologize? It’s not our fault.” Seungho said, resting his chin on my shoulder.

I did not turn over, because I know if I did, he would kiss me. This man is so weird at times. He poked me angrily like a child when he did not get what he wanted.

The food came shortly and we chatted while we ate.

“So, you have not told us how long have you two been together.” Junhyung said.

Although I know Junhyung is like a friend now, I still cannot keep my inner fangirl calm.

“Don’t talk to her, Junhyung ah~ She’ll wish she can deny being in a relationship with me.” Seungho said with a sigh.

“Why?” Junhyung asked, not getting his message.

“She’s your fan, idiot.” Haneul said as she fed Junhyung a spoonful of rice.

“Aww so sweet~” I muttered my thoughts aloud by accident.

They turned to look at me.

“I mean… nothing.” I bit my lower lip, looking down in embarrassment.

“Ahhh~” Seungho said, putting a piece of meat at my mouth.

I looked at him.

“I can… do it my mmmm!!” Before I could finish, he shoved the piece of meat into my mouth.

“That’s so romantic.” Haneul commented.

“I know, right. Like, so polite of him.” I said, chewing on the piece of meat.

“You like me? You’re my fan?” Junhyung asked suddenly.

“What?” I looked at him.

“My fan?” He asked.

“Ahhh.. Yea, yea.” I looked down, smiling.

“Really, Junhyung here isn’t as smart as he looks like he is.” Haneul said.

“He doesn’t look smart.” I muttered.

They burst into laughter while Junhyung stared at me with mouth open wide.

“I’M SORRY!!!!!” I apologized quickly.

“I thought I was the only one who saw the truth!” Haneul laughed.

“I’m so sorry!” I apologized to Junhyung again.

“I didn’t know I look stupid.” He pouted.

“Hyung, see! I’m not the dumb one!” Kikwang shouted.

“Neither am I!!!” Joon commented.

“Shut up, both of you, pure water.” Seungho said.

“Pure… water?” I asked.

“Make a guess!” Yoseob seemed excited.

Seungho looked at me, as thou asking me to give it a try.

“Deadly?” I asked.

“Not bad. Quite close. Try again.” Seungho said.

“Come on, Minji! You can get this right! I got it at first try!” Haneul said.

“Pabo-ness as deadly as pure water?” I tried again.

“My smart girl!” Seungho pinched my cheeks.

“We’re not dumb!!” Kikwang and Joon yelled in unison.

“Junhyung hyung can join the dual and make it a trio. They could do with a rapper.” Dongwoon said.

“Ya! You repeat that again!” Junhyung slammed the table as he got up.

“Sit down.” Haneul said, pulling him by the back of his shirt.

He turned to look at Haneul, and then obediently sat down.

We continued dinner with a lot of chatter. Haneul and Junhyung were feeding each other as thou their hands could only feed the other party and not themselves. Seungho and I occasionally fed each other. He was being really sweet by taking care of my every needs, not that I had a lot of needs, honestly.

“The four of you can like, sit at that corner and have a battle of mushiness or something.” Yoseob commented.

“Jealous? Go get a girl.” Junhyung said proudly as he pulled Haneul into his embrace.

“You guys have not told us how long the both of you have been together.” Doojoon said.

“About three weeks.” Seungho said.

“THREE WEEKS AND YOU TELL US ONLY NOW?!” He yelled.

“When was it?” Junhyung asked.

“A few days after… you know.” Seungho said.

“Wah hyung~ How could you keep it from us for so long!” He complained.

Seungho just smiled.

“Seungho hyung is pretty easy to please thou. Like an animal, just give him food.” Cheondung said.

“Yah yah!” Seungho glared at him.

“That, I know.” I laughed.

We soon broke off into small chat groups. The guys were talking among themselves while Haneul and I chatted.

“Where are your kids?” I asked.

“At home. Asleep.” She smiled.

“Why didn’t you bring them along?” I asked, thinking of Loki.

“Because Junhyung and I wanted some time alone. Why? Missing Loki?” She asked.

“Yes. I miss him, and also I want to get to know the other two.” I said.

“Loki misses you too.” She said.

“He does?” I asked, surprised.

“Yea, he keeps asking when is the yeppeo noona coming over.” Haneul said.

“Yeppeo noona hahahaha!” I felt embarrassed at that compliment even though it was coming from a kid.

“Well he is not wrong. You’re yeppeo, and you’re his noona.” She said.

“What yeppeo! I told you I look like a squid!” I said.

“What squid?” Seungho asked, appearing beside me suddenly.

“Your girlfriend says she looks like a squid, but my son thinks she is so damn beautiful.” Haneul said.

“SQUID!?” Seungho looked at me.

“Ya!” I laughed.

“Don’t mind her, Haneul ah~ She has never seen a squid in her life. She’s just using words randomly.” Seungho said.

“What do you mean by that!?” I smacked his thigh lightly.

“You don’t look like a squid for goodness sake, you beautiful thing. If you’re a squid, then fine, I love squids.” He said, kissing my cheek.

Haneul squealed and buried her face in Junhyung’s chest.

“What’s wrong?” Junhyung asked, surprised, as he was talking to Yoseob beforehand.

“They are being mushy!” Haneul pointed at us, face still buried in Junhyung’s chest.

“Oh, we can be mushy too!” Junhyung said.

Haneul looked up at him and laughed. Although I was with Seungho, I could not help but feel jealous at Haneul and Junhyung’s relationship. Not that Seungho was not sweet, but Haneul and Junhyung get to have a taste of ‘happily ever after’, while Seungho and I, we are like walking on thin ice.

“We can have forever too.” Seungho whispered into my ear as he hugged my waist.

“Mmm..” I responded.

“Forever doesn’t mean we have to spend our entire lifetime together. It is not the time spent together, darling. It is the moments. With you, every moment of my life is blissful, and that is enough.” He whispered.

I nodded and smiled, but inside, I was fighting to prevent my tears from flowing.

Seungho, you don’t know how much I want to be with you together, forever, literally. You really don’t know.

“You guys gotta stay happy, okay?” Haneul said just as we were finishing dinner.

“We would.” I smiled, looking at Seungho, who smiled back tiredly.

“Create your little heaven with Seungho hyung, but don’t forget me, fan!” Junhyung said.

I could only giggle at him.

“If Seungho is giving you problems, come to me.” G.O said.

“Yah! What is with all of you!? Am I that problematic!?” Seungho yelled.

“Only when you’re hungry.” Joon commented.

Seungho was about to stand up but I pulled him down.

“Sit down, panda.” I commanded.

“I’m not a panda.” He pouted, but sat down obediently.

We continued chatting randomly while waiting to settle the bill.

“I erm…” I voiced out, looking at Seungho.

Seungho looked at me, confused for a second, then he took my hand and gave me a light squeeze.

“I have… something to say.” I said, feeling my heart race.

“Gosh, you’re not pregnant, are you!?” Mir said.

“YAH!!!” Seungho pointed at Mir angrily.

G.O gave Mir a smack on his head.

“Sorry, sorry.” Mir apologized quickly.

“I’m not.” I smiled.

“So what do you have to say?” Haneul asked, leaning against Junhyung.

I looked at Seungho. He smiled at me, but looked away quickly.

“I hope… or rather, I ask all of you, after what I said, please, don’t treat me differently.” I said.

They looked at me, sensing the seriousness.

“Is everything okay?” Junhyung asked.

Seungho was not looking at me or anyone else anymore. He was staring at the wall.

“Everything is okay. I just have leukemia.” I smiled at them.

***
Minji: You can protect me from this but not like you can protect me from something else. I’m going to die anyway.

Seungho: Ahh... You guys already know.