I’m hardly asked to things by guys. Not to a party, not to a date, and certainly not to a dance. So when Chanyeol says those words, the first thing I do is stare, and the very next thing I do is stutter.

“Uh – well – that depends – I mean – “

“You have to go. Why wouldn’t you want to go? It’s Winter Ball.”

“I don’t even know how to dance,” I blurt. He shrugs.

“I’ll teach you.”

The thought of Chanyeol teaching me how to dance just sends my mind in the mixer, so I ask, “Why me?”

“We’ll be going as friends,” he says. There it is. Friend zoned. “And we will also be going with Kay and the guy who is going to ask her to Winter Ball.”

“The girl I talked to?”

“Yeah. She’s really shy, and wouldn’t want to go with only a guy unless she knew someone. Fortunately, she knows you. And we will be there, to act as their personal wingmen – I’ll help the guy, and you’ll help the girl. Does that sound like a deal?”

Is this how Chanyeol is going to plan to do things? Because I’d love it if he told me his plans before he told me what I would do.

“I guess … “

“Great!” He smiles. “This is great, Junah. I didn’t think having you would be helpful, but it turns out there are actually people who are seriously frightened of the opposite .”

“I can be helpful.”

“I know. You even dropped your phone for the cause.” He pats me on the head like a person would pat his dog after giving it a treat. “If it’s broken, it’s on me.”

“Do you even have money to pay for a new phone?”

“I can get money. It might take me a while, but I can get it.”

I snort and push his hand away. “You’re weird. You should stop.”

“Okay,” he agrees. “I have to go. Duty calls,” he says playfully. “See ya.” He jogs off. I turn around and drag my feet to the dorm. My stomach grumbles. Since Chanyeol ruined my lunch, I pass by the school store and buy a pack of ramen. I then heat it up in the microwave at my dorm and spend the rest of the afternoon crying over dramas and eating food.

-----

The days leading up to Winter Ball pass by really, really quickly. It’s partly due to the fact that all my teachers decided it was a great idea to give me an essay to write, two tests, and a quiz, which kept me armed with my computer, library books, and textbooks – but it’s also due to the fact that during the times when I wasn’t studying or complaining about studying, Chanyeol would always have something for me to do.

As if he didn’t know I was busy. And I know he knows. We’re in the same class. He has the same math test I do next week. Yet for some reason, he still has all the time in the world to insert multiple “Hey are you busy” phrases to me.

At midnight, he sent me a text asking if I were sleeping. I said no, but that I was in my pajamas. He told me never mind, then, and said that I should go back to sleep.

While I was making flash cards for myself, Chanyeol sent me a text saying that he needed me if I didn’t have previous plans. I said I do. He told me he would wait for me to be free.

I didn’t tell him I was free until the day after.

He also sent me a text saying that I should try to find Kay again, and with that he gave me her class schedule for Tuesdays and Thursdays. He probably got that from the guy he is helping, which is actually pretty commendable and also slightly sketchy.

I talk to Kay on my way to class. When I shout her name, she flinches as if she’s been hit. I run up to her and apologize. “I’m so sorry for scaring you!”