Bonita had a lot of things on her mind due to everything that had happened to her in the last twenty-four hours, but that was all ultimately drowned out by the commotion coming from the other room while she tried to prepare supper. Making sure the food was set for a second and wouldn't burn, she turned to look at the two grown children arguing in her living room.

'Well, I suppose in hindsight it's just Minho,' thought Bonita as she watched him explain the sleeping situation for the night while Bang Chan sat on the couch.

"...This sleeping bag is comfortable, I swear," said Minho. "That's where you will be sleeping tonight."

"If it's comfortable, why don't you sleep there then?" asked Bang Chan. "The couch is fine for me."

Minho looked like he was about to blow a fuse by this point. His irritation had been growing within him like a weed ever since leaving the entertainment company. It had irritated him that his script had been read when he still hated it. As a writer, that was one of the worst things that could happen to you. One's art was already personal, so when it was viewed before one felt comfortable sharing it, it was the equivalent of someone reading your diary, and this stranger who he barely trusted Bonita around was definitely not the person he wanted reading said dairy. On top of it, he felt that the man was being obtuse for no reason whatsoever.

"Just sleep on the sleeping bag, alright?"

"But I liked the couch last night."

"Sleep on the dang sleeping bag and be happy that you're even in this apartment at all still and not in some jail cell!" snapped Minho finally.

He was about to say more when he got smacked by an empty pasta box in the back of the head, causing him to stumble forward and almost land on top of Bang Chan. Bonita had thrown the empty box at him, successfully 360 no scoping him from across the room.

"Quit giving him a hard time," said Bonita as Minho got off Bang Chan to turn and look at her.

"I'm not."

"But you are. I have ears. Why don't you sleep on the sleeping bag that you brought?"

Minho wanted to say something along the lines of 'because I've known you longer' or 'this man is a stranger'. Maybe even a combination of both, but he knew that would make him sound really childish. So instead, he opted on something that sounded less childish but not by much.

"There's only one way we can settle this," said Minho. "Lets settle this like men."

- - -

"Seriously...are you two, Minho?"

"No, but this is the only way we're going to settle this," said Minho.

Minho and Bang Chan were seated across the table from each other looking like two cowboys about to showdown. Sighing, Bonita rolled her eyes as she filled Minho's glass with milk followed by Bang Chan. She paused when she saw Bang Chan grabbing his cup of fire Ramen noodles, peering down into it before recoiling his face.

"You don't have to do this," said Bonita as Minho shushed her, trying to shoo her away.

'He's really trying to kill this man,' thought Bonita as Bang Chan looked at her.

"It's fine. I can do it. It just...the smell burns."

Minho's lips curled into a bit of a smirk.

"Wimp," he said as he picked up his chopsticks, cocking a brow as he stared Bang Chan down.

Bang Chan took a deep breath before picking up his own chopsticks as Bonita moved to settle back and watch the two idiots in front of her duel to the death over her lumpy couch.

Five Minutes Later

The scene before Bonita was quite amusing. Both of the grown men in her apartment had long since abandoned their seats as they stayed on their knees on the floor. Tears were streaming down both of their sniffling faces as if they had just finished watching Lovely Runner. Their mouths seemed to be permanently shaped like 'O's as they attempted in vain to bring some sort of cooling relief to their mouths. From how it appeared to Bonita, they were about halfway done their noodle cups.

"You are both insane," said Bonita as she moved to refill their milk glasses for what felt like the hundredth time. "Minho, just knock this off already!"

"No...I will win!"

Bang Chan seemed to be in worse discomfort than Minho. Even though they both appeared to be suffering, Bonita could see how sweaty the tank top he was wearing had become. It was clinging to him like a second skin while his hair was dripping as if he had just come out of the shower. As Bonita refilled Bang Chan's glass, she reached out to put a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you going to be okay?"

"Maybe?" he said as he turned to look at her, Bonita smirking at his answer.

"Minho, we're ending this ridiculous thing right now," said Bonita as she turned to look at him. "This is my house, so my rules."

"No...No...you're...HEY!"

Minho turned to watch as Bonita put the milk jug down before scooping up both of their fire Ramen cups and throwing them into the garbage can.

"Enough. The fight is off. Minho, you're the one that insisted on sleeping over, so you can sleep on the sleeping bag that you brought. Bang Chan can remain on the couch."

Minho was muttering something under his breath, but Bonita didn't care to try to figure out what it was. Bang Chan was clearly still suffering as he downed the glass of milk like he hadn't had drink in a year, tears still running down his face.

"Here, let me help you," said Bonita as she moved to extend a hand down to Bang Chan to try and help him up and back into the chair.

The orangey red seasoning of the Ramen noodles was circling his lips like clownish makeup. Bonita grabbed a napkin off the table to wipe it off like he was a little boy. Minho — who had just gotten off his knees — scoffed openly at the sight.

"I don't know why I'm trying to protect you when you're being such an idiot," said Minho more audibly.

Irritation surged through Bonita as she put the napkin down and turned to look at Minho.

"I didn't ask you to protect me."

"No because you're even too stupid to realize you need protecting!"

Slamming the napkin in her hand down onto the table, Bonita glared at Minho as she stated, "I'm not about to stand in my apartment and let you call me names! If you want to be a jerk, then get out!"

Bang Chan looked from the tense Minho to the tense Bonita. He felt bad that the argument they were currently having was his fault. Minho stormed past Bonita and out the front door of the apartment, slamming it behind him.

"I'm sorry," said Bang Chan as Bonita turned to look at him. Even though she hadn't just eaten the same edible fiery torture that he had, he could see the tears glistening in her eyes.

"It's fine..." she said with a weak smile.

Bang Chan knew that was a lie. It was the same lie his parents had fed to him before they locked him in his bunker, right before he never saw them again.

"I'll go talk to him," said Bang Chan as he got up from the chair.

Bonita didn't say anything as the tears she fought so hard to hold back started to trickle free. She nodded her head as Bang Chan walked past her and out the front door. Minho hadn't gone very far. As Bang Chan descended the stairs, he saw that Minho was kicking a rock into a nearby trash can. Or at the very least, he was trying to. He kept kicking up more dirt than anything else, his foot always seeming to be short of connecting with the rock.

"What do you want?" asked Minho as he stopped his dirt kicking to glare at Bang Chan as he stepped off the last step.

"I wanted to talk to you," said Bang Chan.

"About what? What just happened?"

Bang Chan remained silent as Minho rolled his eyes, turning his attention back towards trying to kick the rock.

"I understand why you're trying to protect Bonita. It's like how my parents tried to protect me from the end of the world," said Bang Chan. "Even though my gut currently feels like it's dying, I know you mean well. Deep down, Bonita realizes that too."

"I'm sure she does after I just called her stupid and an idiot..." said Minho, cursing as he missed kicking the rock yet again.

Bang Chan dared to walk over to Minho even though it put him in the line of fire if he ever was able to kick the rock.

"I want to make a bet with you," said Bang Chan, causing Minho to look back up at him and arch a brow.

"What bet is that?"

"If I can get this rock to hit the trash can before you do, you go up and work it out with Bonita."

"And if I do it first?"

"You go up and work it out with Bonita," said Bang Chan, causing Minho to chuckle.

"What are you? My therapist?"

"No, but I'd like to be your friend," said Bang Chan. "I know what it's like to lose everyone and as much as being here frightens me, I would like to not be alone anymore."

An awkward pause hung in the air between them as Bang Chan found a nearby rock, placing it against the side of his foot as he stood beside Minho.

"Now, lets settle this like men."

Hearing his words thrown back at him, Minho smirked causing Bang Chan to do the same.

- - -

AN: The whole "360 no scope" idea came from this video I saw on Youtube (the specific part is in the second half of the video around the 1:20 mark). As you are watching that part, just picture that is how Minho got hit by Bonita and the pasta box. 😂

(If you haven't checked this channel out, you really should. It has made me laugh so many times). 😂

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

See you in the next chapter!

(I don't own this video).