“Whaddya mean it’s confidential?!” I almost scream, pulling on Changmin’s arm as he tries to escape (unsuccessfully) for the nth time. He managed to stifle the yelp erupting from his chest, but he threw me a glare to compensate the sound. I try not to laugh at his face, because that won’t get me anywhere, and instead make a face.

“Are you seriously going to a secret from moi—your fellow birthday celebrant?” I asked, indignant and placing a hand over my chest as if I’m actually offended. He doesn’t play though and continues on to the kitchen, where I follow him without fail.

As if I’d let him out of my sight again! After Jonghyun’s little ‘revelation’, I was going to get answers no matter what!

“Come on, Shim!” I poke him hard on the chest. “I know you like girls—why can’t you tell me which one it is?”

“Because it’s not public knowledge and I want it to stay that way.” Changmin replied simply, swatting my hand away when I move to poke him again. “You’re a little bit like her, actually, noona. She’s pretty, knows how to handle her liquor and is relentless when it comes to interrogating people who don’t want to talk. It’s cute sometimes, but always annoying.”

His eyes twinkle by the way he described his mystery girl, flicking to the direction of an alligator laugh so quickly I would have missed it if I wasn’t so focused on getting the truth out of him. I grin at the realization, my brow shooting straight up because I can tell he doesn’t mean to give anything but just did.

Somehow I remember something Jaejoong said about him once:

“Changmin’s adorable, really, but an idiot.”

Never really saw it before but yeah, I can see now how it’s true.

“Dude, you are so…” I trail off on purpose and his eyes narrow into slits as he looked back at me. From behind him I can only catch Seohyun asking Yoona something and pointing towards the kitchen and suddenly I’m struck with a fantastic idea.

“Hey Yoona!” I greet once my deer (figuratively, ha!) hoobae comes around my kitchen. Her eyes are questioning at first when she looked at me but grow slightly apprehensive once she realized Changmin’s presence as well. I watch her shift on her feet for a bit, her hands tangled behind her back as her cheeks colored.

It’s so obvious she likes surly Changmin that I kinda wanna pull her into a hug and tell her that she’s lucky the guy she likes is an idiot but not a complete waste.

Not like some guys I know.

(Hello, Bitter Barn!)

Damn it, mind, shush!

My grin broadens just a bit when Changmin made to clear his throat. “What did you need here in the kitchen?” He asked, looking anywhere but Yoona. The tips of his ears were red—though I’m sure it’s not because of the amount of alcohol he’s ingested. “I’m bringing chips out if that’s it—but…”

“Joohyun wants some juice,” she answered softly, training her eyes to look only at me while she spoke. Her gaze dropped a bit after realizing I’m grinning too much and it trains towards Changmin’s hands working on pouring chips into a big bowl. Her blush deepens and I bite back a snort as she continued, “I told her she could drink but since it’s a ‘school night’, she doesn’t want to.”

“Why didn’t Kyuhyun get her a drink?” I asked, moving to the door so fast I surprise both Changmin and Yoona in their places. I’m blocking the only exit by the time Yoona finds her voice and replies (“He doesn’t want to give a bad impression, I think, by suggesting to get her a beer. Though I don’t see how that’s possible. Hyunnie likes him right back anyway.”), and by then Changmin’s already glaring daggers at me.

I try not to laugh again. Really, I do, but I can’t help it.

Both Changmin and Yoona look at me like I’m crazy once I dissolve into giggles.

“Unnie?”—“Geez, noona!”

“You—two—have—a—lot—to—talk—about,” I say in between wheezes.

I grab a huge bag of chips and tug a crate of beer along with me as I inch away from the door. Changmin makes to ‘help’ me but it’s my turn to swat his hand away and pull the door closed, locking it without an afterthought. Having the lock outside the kitchen is suddenly a wonderful mistake, and I thank myself quietly for not changing the knob when I first noticed it the day I moved in.

I hear a bunch of knocks and mutters (mostly curses because hey, it’s Shim Changmin!) before it’s finally quiet.

Good. They need to talk. Let all the feelings out and what not.

My gaze finds Yunho and BoA across the room and my heart drops just a little.

Let the feelings out and what not.

My mind drifts into my last memory of Yunho and I grimace in remembering it.

“Yep. This might not have been a good idea.” I tell myself but leave the door anyway.

I grin.

Oh well!