"Soomin! Wait for me" Jin shouted from the end of the hall and everyone in the way turned to look at him. He sauntered down the hallway towards me. I kept my bag in my locker and rolled my eyes. I really don't know how people still get startled at his antics. The boy literally walks around the whole university like he owns the place.

"I know you won't stop just because I say this but can't you just speak subtly. Why do you have to announce your presence?" I chastised the tall boy as he softly rocked on the heels of his shoes while looking down at me with a smile.

"Isn't it a beautiful morning? I am so happy. I was able to get in the line for the coffee before it got long. Here" He ignored what I said and handed me one of the two cups of iced latte.

I rolled my eyes while taking a sip from my coffee.

"Oh and sorry, I'm latte" He looked at me stealthily and started laughing as I gave him a deadpan look "you saw what I did there? Latte...late"

"Hahaha that was funny" I said with a poker face as he winked at me "but why were you late if you woke up early?"

"Dad isn't at home and mom is a bit sick so I made some food for her and a simple lunch for us"

"I hope she gets well soon. I will come to meet her today"

"She would love it. She keeps talking about you and insisted that I make more food for you today. She likes you so much, it's annoying"

"Oh shut up I'm less annoying than you and your dad jokes" I retorted "thanks to her I get yummy food today" I couldn't help but thank Mrs Kim because Jin's food tastes heavenly. If he wasn't going to be an actor, I am sure he could have been a really good chef, just like chef Baek Jongwon.

"Don't worry. I made the best Kimchi fried rice I can for my beautiful girl" he winked at me and I smiled at him while trying desperately to hide the blush creeping up my face at his words. He waved as we parted ways for our respective classes. I was still smiling to myself at his words.

I have known Kim Seokjin, who I lovingly call Jin, since we were 7. At that time, he was a shy boy who was new in the school and was my seat partner. While I was always talking like a non stop record, he was a silent and shy kid who barely ever spoke. He has been handsome since childhood and even at such a young age, girls in my class were always eager to talk to him and used to bring chocolates and treats for him which he used to share with me. While he was shy, he knew how his cute face is everyone's weakness and used to get whatever he wants or whatever task he wants to be done by showing his puppy eyes and cute pout. A literal angel in the class but then one day, he got bullied by some older kids.

I still remember that memory so well. He was scared of these two boys who always ate his lunch away. They started pushing him as he hadn't brought his lunch that day and wouldn't answer their questions. Being a little bigger and chubby at that time, I pushed those two kids away and shouted at them when a teacher noticed. The older kids got punished. Something clicked that day in Jin's mind. We got closer. He started talking and opening up to me more. His confidence started boosting. His smile seemed more beautiful now, his personality more joyful and slowly and softly, I didn't even realise how I developed a crush on this beautiful person that was my best friend.

Years have went by, and we are in university now. What was once a little bundle of emotions for me as a kid has developed into something much more beautiful and pure. Our bond was stronger than ever but one of us had fallen for the other. As for him, his eyes looked at me softly now and then but laced with this bond of friendship, it was hard to decipher if it was something more than just friendship for him or not. To me, it always looked more like a friendly concern than crush and my heart plummeted inside at that. I didn't have the courage to ask him about these feelings so I loved him while being near him yet so far away.

The day went by as any other. We had our lunch together in the university cafeteria and as promised he had made not one but two bento box full of my favourite Kimchi fried rice. I praised his cooking skills as the food was very tasty. Soon we finished our classes for the day.

As planned, I was visiting Jin's home to meet Mrs Kim who was bedridden with a bad fever. I wore one of my basic band t-shirt and jeans and reached Jin's house which was a few blocks away. I knocked on the door as Jin shouted that he was coming from inside. Jin opened the door holding an ice pack.

"Soomin" he smiled "Omma your favourite girl is here" he shouted from the door while letting me in.

"Is she getting better?" I asked Jin as he gave me a sad smile. She had a high fever yesterday. Her temperature is reduced a bit. She will be fine soon"

"She will" I smiled as he looked at her mother's door and back again. "She is waiting for you now come" I yelled in surprise as Jin laughed while pushing me softly by my shoulders towards her room.

"Soomin? Oh Come in darling!"  Mrs Kim spoke weakly as she starting to sit up on her bed.

"No please keep laying. I will sit beside you" I said as she lied down on the bed again with a smile. 

"It is so good to see you my girl. How have you been? Are you eating well? I asked Jin to make you lunch today did he give you or did that idiot ate it away himself?" His mother showered me with questions as I smiled at how much she adores me. Jin shyly snapped at how he isn't like that while her mother made a face at him. Their interactions always showed how much Jin had so much in common with his mother. The caring nature, breathtaking facial features and of course their sense of humor.

"I missed you" I replied sincerely to Mrs Kim as she held my hand "I missed you too. Keep visiting this old woman now and then"

Jin was looking at both the women he adored so much as his mother reminded him that she should take her medicines soon. Jin was so engrossed in his thoughts that he jumped a bit as Mrs Kim repeated his name. "What?"

"I said make something or order something for everyone to eat and then bring my medicines" Jin excused himself scratching his head shyly to order some food. I smiled at his cuteness.

"You two are such idiots!" Mrs Kim said softly while shaking her head.

"W-why omonim?" I said, a bit flustered at her sudden comment.

She sighed softly "I remember how you both were since childhood. Always together with such adoration in eyes. Sure, it was friendship. But what I see now is something different and I can't help but smile at how clueless you both are of each other's feelings" she giggled

"W-what are you talking about Mrs Kim. I don't understand.." my cheeks felt warmed at her assumption. I didn't know that she had figured out my feelings. But wait, Jin-?"

"You can hide your feelings from the world my child but you can't hide it from a mother" she laughed "Isn't it true? Tell me. You like my little potato head don't you?" She inquired with a teasing smile. "Or don't reply. I got my answer. That blush on your face said everything my little girl" she said while pulling my cheek softly.

I whined softly as we both laughed. "Don't you think Jin would like someone more beautiful and kinder than me? I'm a little chubby you know" I said, trying to lace the sadness in my voice with a smile. My chubby cheeks and thicker thighs than half of the girls in my class had always been one of my insecurities that always resurfaced when I was sad or vulnerable.

"Honey you are beautiful as you are and I know Jin will love you with all his heart for the way you are. Trust me. That boy is always jumpy as if he has a pogo stick attached to his legs and don't even get me started on his dad jokes but when it comes to who he loves, he gives all of him to that person"

Love?

Could he actually love me? His actions were always just limited to friendship and nothint more. This can't be true.

"As much it was fun talking about it. Let me tell you, the only thing he loves the most is his food"

"Now I can't deny that fact" Mrs Kim said and we both laughed as Jin entered the room with a tray of food and medicine. He kept looking from one to other. "What's so funny? Omma are you making fun of me infront of Soomin?" He pouted at his mother.

"There's nothing much to praise about so yes. I was telling about the kind of idiocy you do around the house" she said as I stifled the laugh while he whined.

"No! I won't let you two be together for so long. Come Soominie. Let's watch a movie and have dinner. He said. Her mother and I laughed at that as he pulled me by my hand to the large sofa in the living room.

After having food we finally decided on a movie to watch. Jin was going to take me home after that. We settled down as Jin brought some snacks and a blanket to keep us warm and dimmed the lights. As the movie went on, I felt Jin stiffen up while I was sitting relaxed. I could feel that something was bothering him. Suddenly he shifted a little towards me. He looked at my face and looked away.

"W-what's the matter? Is something bothering you?" I asked as he turned towards me again visibly nervous. He then sighed and looked up at my eyes.

"I-I heard everything you said today...while talking to my mom"

My face heated up as his eyes bore into the side of my face.

"I-I.." his hands tantalizingly rubbed against mine as his fingers finally slipped into mine. His thumb rubbed circles on the back of my palm.

"Soomin, do you really like me?"
My throat felt constricted. I tried to make some sense of the situation but my mind felt like a mush. He turned my face at him by my chin. I looked up but couldn't hold his piercing gaze as my eyes dropped to his lips which he noticed. I mentally cursed myself and looked away.

"Because I really like you" before I could react his lips touched my cheek "more than just friends"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My heart was pounding erratically inside as I looked up at him. His cheeks just as red as mine. A beautiful feeling bloomed inside me at his confession as I finally let out the feelings that I've been holding in for so long.

"I like you Jin. So much" his ears turned even brighter shade of red. He smiled as he hugged me softly. "I've liked you for so long and I thought you never saw me more than a friend. So I never confessed to keep you by my side"

"Me too Jin. Me too. I never thought we would end up liking each other" I giggled softly. My hand was turning sweaty under his hold but he won't let go.

We smiled at each other as Jin gave a mischievous smile "Ok Soomin, I know this is the worst timing but..." He looked down and up again "Knock Knock" I looked at him puzzled as he raised his eyebrows with sparkling eyes. I groaned "not the right time Jin..." I frowned "Who's there?"

"Harry"

"Harry who"

"Harry up and kiss me already"
I can't believe how this boy can make such lame jokes and still make my heart beat like crazy. I let out a frustrated sigh as he pulled me closer while giggling and kissed me on the lips. His soft, plump lips moved tantalizingly against mine. We finally seperated as he booped my nose. "And you are really beautiful you idiot. Just the way you are. So never think otherwise" I smiled at him.

I finally found the love of my life in my childhood friend.

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A/N: Thank you for reading this story. I would be updating more stories with other members very soon so add the book to library if you liked this story. May you have a good day❤️