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| December 25th, Friday, 2020 |

  It was currently 9:13 a.m, which meant Annie had spent almost thirty minutes choosing an outfit, but could you blame her? It was her first date after all. Not only that, but she also couldn't make it obvious she was having a date as everyone believed the girl was only going to the shelter as usual.

  After contemplating a lot between the two separated outfits, Annie chose the blue one. Light wide jeans, a blue and beige cotton vest and a pastel long sleeve shirt underneath. To finish it off, she wore white sneakers and got a white tote bag to fit all of her things.

"Jay, I'm leaving!"

  She announced to the only one who was left inside the house.

  Jaein was supposed to go out with Changbin after lunch.

"Have fun! I'll see you later."

● ● ● ● ●

  Annie decided to listen to some music while she organised the storage room. Lee Know had agreed to meet her at 10 a.m, but twenty minutes had passed and there was no sign of him.

  Maybe he's stuck in traffic, it's Christmas after all.

  It wasn't that bad though, she enjoyed working at the shelter – it just would've been better if he was there too.

"Okay! Another section done! I should get something to drink."

  She threw herself at the old sofa, letting out a big sigh.

"I guess I came right on time, then."

  Minho showed up at the door, raising a plastic bag on his left hand.

"Lee Know!"

  Annie immediately got up with a huge smile, but it went away as fast as it appeared.

  Movies had taught her that you shouldn't show how "down bad" you are for someone, otherwise you'll end up hurt.

  The girl quickly cleared her throat.

"Took you long enough."

  He tilted his head while slightly pouting his lips.

"Are you trying to keep the cold act?"

  Annie looked away, acting clueless.

"Even after becoming my girlfriend? I guess I bought all of this for nothing, then…"

  Minho spoke in a disappointed tone, taking the items out one by one. He put a bubble tea on the table, then took a snack bag and placed it beside the drink. As if it wasn't enough, he proceeded to hold a rose in his hand, staring intensely at it.

"Hm…what should I do with this? I guess I'll give it to Mrs. Park, she'll love it-"

"Hey!"

  Annie snapped the flower from his hand.

  Unfazed, he crossed his arms in front of the girl, raising both eyebrows at her.

  What is this? This isn't like the dramas I saw.

"Why are you so prince-like?"

  She mumbled, still in awe by the difference between him and all the incredibly-hot-yet-assholes male leads.

"I hear that a lot."

  The girl felt her pupils involuntarily getting bigger.

"You understood that!?"

"You think I don't understand English?"

"I mean- you- you never speak during Stray Kids' American interviews!"

  Annie stuttered the words out, pointing at him.

"That doesn't mean anything, baby."

"Holy fu…I hit the jackpot."

"I'll believe that's a good thing."

"Did I just say that out loud?!"

She used both hands to cover her face, turning the other way.

  Your plan just went downhill, Haerim.

  Hold on, did he just call me baby?

  Just as the girl noticed her cheeks heating up she felt two arms slowly wrapping around her waist.

  Oh my God.

"How are you?"

  Not fine, what the hell?

  How can he be so natural about it?

"I'm- I'm fine, yeah, good."

"That's great to hear! Should we drink these, then?"

  Minho let go and, despite fearing her heart would stop for beating so fast, Annie kind of missed his arms around her.

"Yeah…"

  She got the vanilla bubble tea and took a big sip out of it.

"You're very different from what I thought you'd be…"

  Annie started the topic after finally getting back on track.

"As in?"

"You're very sweet, and you're also not afraid of physical contact."

"O-oh, sorry, am I rushing things out?"

  The idol's smile soon turned into a worried expression.

"No, no! I'm very happy with how things are going, I just didn't expect it…"

"Well, I can be very sweet when I want to."

  She rolled her eyes.

"I'll try to match your sweetness."

  Annie knew very well she wasn't what someone would call "cute" or "lovely", her members and fans always made that very clear, and it was okay. She didn't like to fake things – aegyo was one of the things she despised about the idol job –, and also didn't care about what others said, she knew her care for friends was real.

  It was different now, though, she wasn't showing what she truly felt because she was afraid that would become a weakness.

"...You don't need to try that hard. Knowing you like me is enough. I told you I have enough love for both of us, didn't I?"

  Minho grinned, messing with her hair.

"Hey! Me not being affectionate doesn't mean I like you less! I like you a lot, you're so amazing and I end up falling harder every time, maybe I even like you mor-"

  Annie stopped her own sentence and stared at him with a blank expression, realising what she had just said.

  What the hell happened to not showing how down bad you are, Haerim??

"I'll- I'll go talk with the kittens."

  The girl tried to rush beside him, but it was to no use. Minho grabbed her wrist with a smile.

"You're going to talk with the kittens?"

"Yeah!"

  He laughed.

"There's no need to be shy around me, Haerim, I'm pretty sure I like you more…and for longer too."

  This time, she actually turned curious to him, all the nervousness from before flushing away.

"Really? When did you start liking me?"

  She spoke in a teasing tone.

"Oh, shut up."

"When? Um? Um? Tell me, when did you fall for me?"

  Annie used her whole body to follow his gaze that tried to avoid her. At the same time, she used her hands in an attempt to tickle him.

"I shouldn't have said that."

  She embraced him in a strong hug, chin resting on his chest as she looked up.

"I'm not letting you go until you tell me."

"Annie?"

  The girl immediately let go upon hearing the familiar voice.

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