it was currently five thirty five in the afternoon, friday, and jihae was currently on her way to seonghwa's apartment.

she was bringing a tripod and a camera, along with her backpack.

the girl was currently waiting outside their campus for yeonggi, who luckily finished his work early and agreed to take her somewhat near the boy's house.

the two were meeting at that cafe near the lee's house, since it was near the building where the junior lived in.

a black car suddenly stopped in front of her. the driver's window went down revealing a strict looking man, gesturing her to get in.

she happily did and sat on the front seat. "thanks again, gi."

he simply nodded. "you're going to a guy's house?"

jihae just rolled her eyes playfully. "it's for a project. i already told mom
and dad."

"well, then. i'm guessing it's that seonghwa guy?" he claimed as he stepped on the pedal.

"yep. it seems like you're more interested in him than i am." she gave a teasing grin.

yeonggi just scoffed, used to her behavior. "my girlfriend wouldn't appreciate you assuming everyone to be gay."

jihae just laughed at the irritated look on the older's face.

"and, really? you're interested in him?" the lawyer continued asking. "i thought you and yunho are a thing."

"my best friend wouldn't appreciate you assuming we're dating." she mocked the man's previous tone which earned her a groan. "and where did you even get that i'm interested in hwa?"

"hwa?" the older snickered. "you said it yourself. you're more interested in him than i am. it means you already have a liking for him."

the girl simply cleared her throat.

yeonggi glanced at her before returning his eyes back on the road. he smiled to himself, knowing he was right.

jihae looked out the window and noticed little droplets of water hitting it. "it's raining again."

"ugh, it's the fourth time this week." the man looked displeased.

"hey! rain isn't that bad." the sophomore tried comforting.

"it is when you have a six year old in the house, crying because it's 'scary'."

the girl could only shake her head.

soon enough, they arrived at the said cafe where they could see seonghwa holding an umbrella.

jihae thanked yeonggi once more before grabbing her things, the man offering help which she declined.

"you wouldn't want your slicked back hair to get wet now, would you?" the girl joked.

she stepped out of the car, desperately covering her head and running towards the boy. when seonghwa noticed her, he immediately went to her while reaching out for her belongings.

"you should have called me." he took the tripod with one hand. "i'll carry your backpack."

jihae chuckled as she shook her head. "it's fine. why didn't you wait inside?"

the junior gave her a look which made her sigh. she took off her bag and the boy happily wore it and placed it on his back. "i'd have to pay for a drink and i'm broke."

the sophomore just laughed, relating to him. "good point. so, let go?"

"sorry, we'd have to share this umbrella. we can buy another one
in the store-"

"it's fineee." the psychology major whined, tangling their arms together. "you're already carrying my things. the faster we get to your flat, the better it is for you."

seonghwa smiled at the contact. it somehow became the girl's habit around him, and he's not complaining. "okay, then."

upon arriving in the boy's apartment, he immediately helped jihae set up what was needed. he led her to a room after asking if she needed anything.

the place was simple. his things were well arranged and they didn't need to do much for it to look 'professional'.

"is this okay?"

"it's perfect." jihae smiled. "and you're just going to answer a couple questions."

-

it was now passed seven that they finished the entire thing.

they also wrapped up in time since started raining heavily. it would be a bother since the microphone would catch the sounds.

"thanks again, seonghwa." she said as she reviewed the all the footage.

"anytime, ji. was i okay? do you need to re shoot something?" he asked anxiously.

jihae only shook her head with a smile. "you were perfect."

the junior looked through his window and noticed that the raining was getting a bit of hand. "let me drive you home."

"you always do. i can always call my dad." she politely declined as she thought she's been too much.

the next thing they heard was the sound of thunder, making them both flinch. it was followed by a flash of lightning.

"h-holy cow." the girl exclaimed.

jihae's phone suddenly began ringing. she picked it up seeing that it was her mom.

"jihae! jesus christ, we're all so worried. where are you?" mrs. jeon practically screamed through the phone. her voice was a little disoriented due to the lack of signal yet it was still heard.

"i'm fine, mom. i'm still at seonghwa's apartment." she explained.

it was silent for a while that jihae thought the call ended. "hello?"

"sorry. why are you there at this hour?" her mother asked sternly but calmly. it looks like she forgot.

"remember that project i was talking about, and did with jungkook? it was for that."

"we all texted you. how come you didn't even reply?" mrs. jeon was really worried about her well being. the rain or the storm wasn't exactly helping.

"you did?" jihae pulled the phone from her ear to check her messages. she didn't see any notifications indicating so.

"i didn't get anything." she told her mother.

"gosh, the weather's really bringing down everyone's mood." mrs. jeon exclaimed. "is seonghwa there?"

hearing the deep concern in her mother's voice, she was tempted to accept seonghwa offer for a ride.

"yes. mom, don't worry. once the rain calms down, i can go home. seonghwa also said he can drop me off." she looked at seonghwa as if asking if it was okay despite her declining awhile ago. fortunately, he simply gave a nod and smiled, whispering she shouldn't worry.

the sophomore was relieved, but that was cut short when her mom spoke. "no, don't let him drive. your father just arrived and told us that he could barely see anything but fog." she sighed. "and if the rain takes a while, he'll be back by his apartment late."

jihae wondered what her mother wants. they were running out of options. she couldn't go to the lee's house since it still took one ride and a five minute walk to get there. "so, what are you implying, mom?"

"ask the boy if you could stay overnight." jihae couldn't believe her ears.

she could already hear jungkook's and her dad's voice, telling her mother to just let seonghwa drive.

"what?" she asked, just to make sure she heard her correctly.

"you heard me. ask him if-" mrs. jeon's voice faded as she put the phone away from her mouth. "not another word from both of you! do you really think i'll let the poor boy drive in the middle of the night?"

the other line went quiet until the woman said something again. "sweetie, as i was saying, just stay there until tomorrow, i'll have jungkook pick you up after breakfast." her tone changed drastically, almost scaring jihae.

"you know what, hand him the phone. i'll talk to him myself." mrs. jeon basically demands to which jihae complies to.

"hey, hwa. my mom kinda wants to talk to you." the girl informs him. she could see him tensing up before agreeing.

she handed him the phone. "hello, ma'am?"

"hi, dear." a soft voice greeted. "i know this is too much to ask but," the woman behind the phone took a deep breath before asking. "can you please let my daughter stay for the night?"

seonghwa's eyes widened and instantly faced the girl who was fiddling with her fingers.

"mrs. jeon?"

"i know, i know. you can just let her sleep on the couch." the woman was stressed. she couldn't believe she was letting her daughter stay at practically a stranger's house, but she also couldn't risk it if something happens to another mother's son if he drives.

"ma'am, i can drive-"

"you won't because i'm not letting you. seonghwa, dear, it's for both of your safety." she explained. it reminded seonghwa of how his mother nagged to him back home which made him slightly smile.

"i trust you, seonghwa. you're a good kid. please, take care of her. this is the only favor i'll ask of you."

the boy couldn't help but mutter an agreement since it sounded like mrs. jeon was desperate.

the girl's mother thanked him multiple times before asking him to return the phone to jihae.

"stay safe."

"okay. you, too. love you"

"love you, too." and they both hung up.

"so..." jihae awkwardly started. "i'm sleeping over, huh?"

the junior snickered at how fidgety she was being. "i guess so. let's eat dinner, yeah?"

-

after dinner, both of them got ready for bed. by that, it means that seonghwa gave the sophomore a sweatshirt to comfortably sleep on since she was still in her uniform.

she was wearing shorts underneath her skirt so she just paired the top with that.

"so, you're staying in that room." seonghwa pointed to a door. "and the bathroom's over there."

they went in the room and jihae immediately plopped on the bed.

seonghwa chuckled before grabbing a pillow and blanket.

"what are those for?" the girl curiously asked.

"for me to sleep."

and sudden realization struck jihae. "where are you sleeping again? you know, just in case i need something." she made up an excuse.

the junior ruffled her hair. "i'll be on the couch."

"what?! what about your room?" she scrambled off the bed.

"this is my room." he laughed.

"then, i'll sleep on the couch! seonghwa, i'm only staying over." she tried protesting.

"exactly. i sleep here every night." he persuaded the sophomore.

"but it's still your room! i can't just-" seonghwa cuts her off by cupping her cheeks, the pillow and blanket clipped by his forearms.

"see? my room. that means i decide what to do with it." he concluded, making jihae pout.

seeing this, seonghwa couldn't help but grin as he lets go of her face. "hey, don't pout. i promised your mom to take care of you. it's only one night. sleep comfortably."

the girl could only nod as the junior patted her head. "goodnight."

"wake me up if you can't sleep on the couch!" she said as the boy made his way out of the room.

she sighed, lying on the bed.

i guess i'll just make it up to him someday.

a/n: HAPPPYYY BIRRTHHDAAAYY CHOOII SAANNN ENJOY UR SPECIAL DAY AND GOOD LUCK ON YOUR COMEBACK ILYYYYY