How's everyone, I hope you all enjoy today's chapter. Happy reading.

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It was all too surreal for Hairi as she made her way up the stairs to the rooftop Yesterday was still too fresh in her mind, a simple and yet somehow absurd moment of being there with Sehun looking back and laughing. It definitely felt like something out of a romantic movie except for the fact that, she was living it and Sehun happened to be her co-lead actor.

 He appeared completely at ease, his eyes focused on something in the pitch of distance, the city below.

Sehun saw her and waved. "Ah there you are, good to see you!"

She felt happy offering her greeting and went to him. "Well someone promised me some good food."

He chuckled while rummaging through his bag and took out a little container. "Oh, I see. That's the only reason, is it? Now, it makes sense,"

"Oh, very much so. I am here specifically because of the snacks," she grinned, leaning forward and reaching for the container. It contained two neatly arranged packs of rice crisps along with some apple slices.

Sehun broke a cracker in two and offered a piece her way, which she accepted with a mock-serious bow. "Thank you, sir."

They both chuckled, chewing on the crackers while looking shyly at one another. The past in her remembered the times when she would watch over Sehun from a distance, her face heating up in embarrassment and affection at the thought. At that time, she would have never come close to sitting next to him or allowing him to eat with her.

As if hearing her thoughts, Sehun tapped her shoulder lightly. "What I meant is, I don't think we had any real conversations."

"Negative," responded Hairi, engaged in examining her rice cracker instead. "I was most likely too occupied. I don't know. With schoolwork, I guess. Er, yeah. Just very busy."

Sehun laughed and she could already feel his eyes at her. "Too busy to pay attention to me?"

Her cheeks warmed even more with a hint of pink. "Well... I noticed you, actually," she admitted, fidgeting slightly. "Just from, you know... over there." She pointed to an imaginary spot across the rooftop to the left of them.

"Really?" His eyes lit up with amusement and excitement. "So, you were watching me, huh?"

"I wouldn't say I was watching," she said, biting her lip. "More like... uh, looking. Like a completely normal, not stalker at all looking."

Sehun laughed again, his eyes crinkling in a way that made her heart skip. "Now you have got me curious?"

She thought of her answer for a while because it was a little braver than she used to be. "I remember thinking that you had a very... good-sounding laugh. And that you looked like you were enjoying yourself the most, even in the dullest of classes."

He let out a laugh and his hand went through his hair. "Happy to know I was not as dull as I had thought myself to be."

The two of them sat there together, shoulders barely touched as they shared little bits of their pasts with some pieces of rice crackers. As Hairi took a bite, Sehun reached into the container and pulled out an apple slice, holding it out to her with a playful grin on his face.

As if it was a world-class delicacy, he proceeded with, "Apple?"

Hairi raised a brow concealing her amusement. "First rice crackers and now apple, huh? You seem to be going all out."

"Only the best for my new rooftop buddy," he replied with a mocking smile.

She collected the slice from him and put her teeth in it rhyme of her fingers joined for a moment. The contact was insignificant; however, it made her heart race.

"Okay," she said in an attempt to change the light of the talk that was getting on the most diffident level, "entertain me and let me know something about you, which 'observing' will not give."

He contemplated for a brief while with his back on the rail. "Hmm. I can... make a paper crane."

Hairi did not even try to suppress laughter. "Paper cranes? That is pretty specific."

"Hey, that's a thing! You won't understand it unless you try it," he said cheekily. "I will make you paper crane when we come up to the roof next time. It's quite fun actually."

"Alright, but only on the condition that you show me how," she refuted, feeling a rush of superior emotions within her.

"Okay," he said extending his pinky to hers. Without hesitation, she placed her pinky onto his and they both erupted into laughter over their ridiculous pledge. The atmosphere around them felt warmer rung in a sense which they could not place, as if they had returned to a familiar friendship which was more developed.

As they sat together there, Hairi's thoughts drifted back to her high school years which were inclusive of impossible feelings of such nature. There had been so many times she'd hoped for the ability to open her mouth and speak to him to let him know they could be friends—anything. Where she was right now was not just able to talk to him so easily, but chatting and laughing with him sharing food, even interlocking pinkies with him like it was absolutely normal.

She looked at him and noted how tropical the sun was on his sparkling eyes. She was reluctant to be truthful, but it was a fact that he appeared more handsome on a closer range than viewed from a distance.

"Enough about me, let's learn something about you," Sehun said, interrupting her line of thought. "What would you be doing if you weren't so busy 'studying' in high school?"

Hairi bit her lip, hoping to not sound stupid. "Honestly? I think I would have wanted to join the art club. I enjoy drawing."

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Are you an artist?"

"Not really," she said with an awkward smile. "More of a doodler. In class, I'd draw these little pictures in the corners of my notes. Mostly of flowers and clouds and things like that."

Sehun's features softened. "I think I would like to see your sketches sometime."

She shrugged, a little embarrassed but pleased. "Perhaps one day. I mean, only if you are that into flower doodles."

"Of course," he said with an honest smile that made her heart race. "I would even exchange a paper crane for a sketch."

After that, they spent the following hour talking on just about any topic possible telling and retelling tales and even consuming more ridiculous bites. Hairi realised that she was bursting with laughter like not in a long time and every now and again, she would find Sehun staring at her with that warm and considerate eyes. As if he was also affected by the oddness and pleasantness of the type of relationship they had developed so quickly.

At some point, Sehun offered her a piece of an apple again, and she exaggerated by saying that she would make a 'taste-test' for 'best crunch.' They were both in a fit of laughter, and in short breaths, Sehun could not help himself but relent, I'm so glad we are able to talk at this level now.

"I feel like we should have been buddies a long time ago."

Hairi's gaze dropped as she felt a sudden ache yearning for all those wasted years in dreams that were concerned at a distance. "Maybe we were just meant to meet at the right time."

He gave a brief nod, again denting the back of the railing with his back. "It's all about timing for us perhaps."

They could only stare at each other after that, engrossed in their respective imaginations, and Hairi experienced an odd sense of peace enveloping her. She was thankful, however, for whatever it was that had pulled them together at this particular time. For the simple act of sharing this moment, seeing him beam, being bold enough to actually come here, to be here with him.

Sehun cleared his throat and asked, trying to jog her memory, "Do you find this striking at all?" Just as they were about to head home after their rooftop lunch, he reached into his bag and pulled out a small notebook. "Oh, your an artist. Use this," he said, handing it to her.

Hairi blinked, unable to conceal her astonishment. "What's this for?"

"A little activity for you," he nudged her gently. "Thus, I can now redeem my vow of gazing at your flower sketches."

She felt a whirlwind of feelings and accepting the book from him, looked at its unmarked pages with glee. "Thanks, Sehun. I will do my best to fill it with flowers that will make you happy."

He grinned and moved in a bit closer. "Careful, Hairi. You don't want me to start thinking that you are hitting on me."

She scoffed, the smile on her face however was difficult to hide. "Get over yourself."

As the two descended the rooftop, an unfamiliar lightness in her, filled it with a warm sensation akin to a gentle but opening petal. This time with a notebook snugly positioned under her armpit while Sehun strolled beside her, she envisioned the commencement of far-fetched reality.