"Is there a chance where you gave a stranger a jacket...?" I asked.
Before Minho could even open his mouth, his phone rang. He picked it up casually.
"Hello?"
("Pooh Bear, are you okay?") a female voice chirped.
My eyebrows went up. Pooh Bear?
"Yeah, why do you ask?" he replied, voice suddenly soft and gentle.
("It's just that Akiyama said you were injured or something.")
"Ah yeah, from basketball practice. I just sprained my ankle, don't worry."
Liar, I muttered in my head.
("Are you sure?")
"Yes, and actually, I'm kinda tired right now, so I might fall asleep."
("Alright then. Don't hesitate to call when you need me, okay? I love you, mwah.")
"I love you too."
Click.
And then he just... lay down and started dozing off like nothing happened.
"Uhm. Goodnight, I guess," I said under my breath before walking away. As I climbed the stairs, my brain wouldn't stop replaying that call. Pooh Bear? Minho had that sweet, lovesick tone I didn't know he was even capable of. That had to be his girlfriend.
I mean, duh. He's hot, athletic, has that annoying "Boy with a secret heart" thing going on. Girls eat that up.
I flopped on my bed, hugged my pillow, and groaned. "Ugh, what am I thinking? It's none of my business." Still. It was like someone handed me a mystery novel and ripped out the last chapter.
After lying there overthinking everything and replaying Pooh Bear in my head (unwillingly), I eventually dozed off.
...
The sun decided to bully me the next morning, aiming its golden spotlight right on my face. I grumbled and covered myself with my pillow.
"Elise! Wake up! You have school today!" Nana's voice rang through the room.
"Yeah, I know I have sch—wait. I have school today!?" I sat up so fast I almost fell off the bed. Nana stood by my door, arms crossed like a principal.
"Yuh. I heard what happened last night, so I came here first thing."
I blinked at her. "You're a lifesaver."
After showering and getting dressed like a human tornado, I went downstairs. The boys were all in the kitchen, dressed for school except Minho, who was still out cold on the couch. Must be nice.
"Minho's not coming?" I asked.
"Obviously. Look at his foot," Travis said flatly, sipping his coffee like a passive-aggressive barista.
I squinted at him. "Okay. Thanks for the attitude, Your Majesty."
He ignored me.
I finished breakfast, thanked Nana, and was about to head out when I stopped on the porch. A terrible realization hit me: What if they don't show up to school? That would be... bad. Saejima would go nuclear. I turned right back around.
"You guys coming or not?" I asked.
James gave a helpless shrug. "If Dad sees our faces like this, we're doomed."
"True," Nana nodded.
I grinned. "Good thing I've got a fix."
"...What kind of fix?" James asked suspiciously.
"BRB." I ran upstairs, grabbed my makeup kit, and returned like a battlefield medic.
"You're gonna put lipstick on us?" James teased.
"Lipstick no. Concealer yes. Band-aids first so the chemicals don't touch the wounds."
I caught Travis about to say something but shot him a death glare. He closed his mouth like a toddler caught stealing cookies.
Nana volunteered to help Ryan and Twan, leaving me with James and Travis. James acted like he was on America's Next Top Model. Kept winking at me every time I leaned in. Finally, I turned to Travis, expecting him to resist.
Instead, he turned his head toward me and said, "Let's get this over with." I blinked.
"Tell me if it hurts," I said softly as I dabbed the concealer onto his bandaged cheek. He didn't say a word. He didn't even look at me. Weird. Travis usually had at least one snarky comment per breath.
After a moment, I finished. "Done. You almost look human now."
James checked his reflection on his phone screen. "I look great. Let's go."
We headed out. On the way, Nana walked beside me.
"I thought you were staying with Minho?" I asked her.
"Saejima needs to see me today. Don't worry, I made sure he's okay."
"Hey Elise," Twan called from behind. I slowed down to let him catch up.
"What's up?" I asked.
"About last night... I didn't mean to grab your hand like that. Hope I didn't cross a line."
"Oh that?" I chuckled. "Please, you've seen me hit people harder. You're fine."
He smiled. "Still. I just wanted to say it."
I paused. "Crap."
"What?"
"I left my bag at the dorm."
"I'll go with you," Twan offered immediately.
"You don't have to—"
"Remember what happened when we left you alone?"
"...Fair, but I'll be alright."
Back at the dorm, I found Minho limping toward the kitchen.
"You need help?"
He looked at me, unimpressed. "Why are you still here?" he said while disappearing into the kitchen.
"I forgot my bag, relax." But then—CRASH.
Glass shattering. I bolted toward the sound and found Minho on the floor.
"Oh my God—Minho!"
I rushed to help him get back on his feet, putting his arm over my shoulder while assisting him towards the living room. He limped like a baby deer, muttering something under his breath that I couldn't quite catch. Probably cursing the plate instead of himself.
I lowered him gently onto the couch, noticing that his hand was bleeding from where the glass had gotten him.
"I'll go get the medkit," I said, turning to head upstairs.
"It's just a slight cut, you don't have to"
"Zip it." I replied. And with that, I was already halfway up the stairs.
When I came back down, I sat beside him and gently took his injured hand. "Tell me if it hurts, alright?"
"OW!" Minho flinched dramatically.
My eyes widened. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry—"
He smirked. "Just kidding."
I gave him the look. The 'you think you're funny but you're not' face. After cleaning the wound and carefully wrapping it, I got up and went to clean the mess in the kitchen. Glass shards and bacon don't make the most charming combo.
When I returned, Minho was standing up again. I stopped in my tracks. "Where are you going?"
"School. Is that a problem?" Minho replied.
I raised a brow. "You can't even walk straight. Sit your ass back down."
He rolled his eyes. "I have a tournament next week. I need to be at practice."
"There's no practice if you pass out halfway there and break another limb. Sit."
Minho sat down with a dramatic sigh. "Why are you always in my way?"
"I could ask you the same thing."
He paused, then muttered, "You do have a point though."
A brief silence fell over us, thick but not exactly awkward. I broke it.
"You hungry? I could get you some waffles."
"I want bacon."
"Of course you do."
A few minutes later, I brought him a plate of bacon and eggs. I grabbed my bag, ready to leave for school—finally.
"Where are you going?" Minho asked.
"School. Is that a problem?" I replied.
"You're an hour late."
"What?" I checked my phone and cursed under my breath. 9:00 a.m. already. There goes my perfect attendance record. I thought about it and sighed. "Screw it. I'll just go after lunch." So I sat back down across from him.
"Want some?" he offered, holding out a strip of bacon like a peace offering.
"I'm good," I replied, smirking.
He took a dramatic bite. "So where'd you learn to patch people up like that? I saw you last night going Florence Nightingale mode."
"Why do you ask?"
"Just curious."
"Well," I started, leaning back into the couch. "I want to be a doctor. Plus, I used to babysit my younger cousins. They were basically walking disasters."
"Wow. I didn't peg you as the nurturing type."
"What do you mean? I'm literally babysitting you right now."
"Ohhh, so I'm your baby now, huh?"
"You wish." I responded.
He laughed. That real, belly-shaking kind. It made me smile... a little.
"So, Elise..." he said after a moment.
"Yeah?"
...
We ended up talking for an hour, and—surprise, surprise—he wasn't the total ass I thought he'd be. Still kind of a jerk, but also kind of... tolerable? Actually kinda fun to be around?
"Damn," I muttered, checking my phone. "It's already 11 a.m."
"Time flies when you're having fun," he said smugly.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Which means you like talking to me." He added.
"That's not what I said."
"But you didn't not say it." He grinned.
I just rolled my eyes. "Whatever, Minho."
He yawned and stretched. "I'm getting sleepy, so don't wake me up."
He flopped down across the couch and of course—decided my lap was a good footrest.
"Seriously?" I complained.
"Shhh... nap time."
I sighed, brushing a piece of lint off his bandaged hand. "Minho, I have something to say."
"If you've fallen for me already, just say it."
"Ew. No." I gagged. "But... I think I have something of yours."
He cracked one eye open lazily. "Oh?"
"Your camo jacket," I said, hesitating for a second. "I think... I think you were the guy from the party."