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| January 5th, Tuesday, 2021 |

"Where are you guys? I'm at gate A."

Annie talked with her brother through the phone as they were supposed to meet after the Festival was over.

"A?! We're at gate D...but we're three and you're one, so you come to us."

"I'll be there in ten minutes max."

"Hm."

Hyoseop hung up.

"My family is in front of Gate D, I can get there on my own, thanks Yujin."

She smiled at her worried manager.

Let's say Yujin wasn't very happy after hearing about the idol's conversation with her partner for the night.

"Are you sure?"

"Yep!"

I'm meeting my boyfriend on the way.

"Alright, have fun!"

"Bye-bye!"

Annie waved excitedly before turning around.

He said he was behind the tree beside the blue banner on section C...

She looked around, moving her head a lot since the view was limited thanks to the mask and cap she was wearing.

There he is!

"Hi-"

Minho walked past her, not even sparing a glance. Confused, Annie immediately looked back, just to find her manager a few steps away.

"Yujin? What are you doing here?"

The girl smiled timidly.

"I couldn't leave you alone in such a big place! Why are you here? This is Gate C."

"Oh! So that's why I couldn't find them!"

Yujin squinted her eyes.

She first met Annie in 2015 and started to get closer to her in 2018. Even though it wasn't that long, being a manager and someone very smart emotionally, Yujin could read her pretty well.

"Haerim, be honest with me. You were going to meet Yeonjun, right?"

Still not well enough, though.

"Uh..."

Now, if I deny it, I'll have to come up with something else.

If I say she's right then she'll think we're more than friends...

"...my little sister wanted to meet him! You know she's a big fan, you even took me to HYBE that one time so I could get a signed album to give her!"

Annie smiled proudly at her excuse.

"Ah...yes, I remember. Why didn't you tell me, though? I could arrange a more secure meeting for you."

"I didn't want to bother you."

Yujin sighed.

"Haerim, when will you understand that I'm your manager and it's my job to take care of you and keep your image intact?"

"Sorry~ I'll tell you next time. I gotta go now."

She turned towards the way leading to the next gate.

"What about Yeonjun?"

"I'll text him so we can meet somewhere more private."

Annie waved one last time before jogging to where the others were waiting.

It was pretty easy to spot her family, but what made the girl confused was the male beside her brother.

"Finally, you're here! Even Minho got here earlier."

Hyoseop said, leaving her with a mouth open, not knowing what to say.

"Wha- why- What?"

"I told Hyoseop that we couldn't meet and he said I should come here..."

Annie glared at her brother.

Not because she wasn't happy to see her boyfriend, of course she was! But it wasn't her plan to introduce him to her whole family this soon.

"So you're Annie's boyfriend?"

Haneul asked excitedly, catching everyone by surprise.

"Oh, no! I'm just a friend. You must be her little sister, right? I heard you are the one who has a boyfriend?"

"An!! You told other people?!"

The youngest spoke with bright red cheeks.

"He was in the room when we were talking!"

"It's okay, I won't tease you about it! I wish I had a girlfriend too."

He smiled before locking eyes with Annie.

"Ahem, anyway. Should we go? This place is almost empty but you never know who could be taking pictures."

"Right, I almost forgot my kids are celebrities."

Their mum laughed.

● ● ● ● ●

"...and then she started chasing the ice cream man!"

Annie's mother bursted out laughing for the third time in the past half an hour, happily telling Minho about her children's embarrassing moments that, to her, were extremely cute.

"Mum! I was six, come on..."

She mumbled looking down, not noticing the endearing gaze her boyfriend was giving her.

"You were probably so cute, I wish I could see your baby pictures."

"I have a few at home! I'll show you the next time you drop by."

Hyoseop joined in the laughter.

"Thanks! I'm going to the restroom, excuse me for a minute."

Is this when I coincidentally also feel like going to the restroom?

Annie looked left and right and, as soon as she got up, her father did the same.

"I'm going to the restroom too."

"Ah! I'm just getting more lemonade."

She grabbed her glass and walked to where the drinks were.

Why did he have to go now?

"Hello there!"

Mr. Ahn surprised Minho, who was resting with his back on the wall.

"O-oh, hello! Are you going to the restroom too?"

The boy bowed.

"'Too'? Wasn't this an excuse for you to see my daughter?"

"H-huh?"

He smiled, eyes filled with despair.

"You can chill, I won't scold you!"

"Ah..."

Minho looked anywhere beside the man's eyes.

"How long?"

"Huh?"

"How long has it been since you've started dating?"

The father chuckled seeing the nervousness from the idol.

"Ah! Today marks our second week, sir."

"Hm..."

He nodded, thinking a little before speaking again.

"And who else knows about it? Is your company in favour of this? Do you have any thoughts on going public some day? Why did you start dating her? Who confessed first?"

Minho blinked a few times, stunned by the amount of questions and wondering what he should answer first. Does he even have answers to all these questions? Is saying he started dating her because he liked her too simple? Should he confess all his feelings? Is the father going to be mad if he says the company would never approve? Does he know about the dating ban?

"...my bad, that's too much to answer now, right? It's our first meeting."

Mr. Ahn let out a very fatherly-like laugh.

"I'll ask Hyoseop about it, he may have some answers."

Minho really wanted to say something, but the words simply weren't leaving his mouth.

"Let's go back, shall we?"

"Yes!"

He replied energetically.

"Oh, don't think I approved of you just because I let you go, alright? I'll decide that later."

The man commented before walking to the table again.

● ● ● ● ●

 It was night time already and Annie was laying on her bed – at a nice Hotel and Resort that her lovely brother had reserved for their three nights there –, laughing by herself. The reason? Her boyfriend, of course.

"Your father reminds me of PD-nim" – read his text.

The boy had told her about their meeting earlier and, after apologising on her father's behalf, Annie was now enjoying the comparisons.

"No, really, I almost thought I was shooting for the survival again" – She laughed so much tears were starting to form.

and did you at least enter the team?|

|I didn't!

|Am I supposed to get eliminated and come back again?

Woah, it really is the same|

Noticing the boy was taking a bit too long to answer, she took the opportunity to get up and start her skincare routine.

Just a minute later, her phone started ringing, it was a video call from her brother. She placed the phone on the night table and pressed the green button.

"We saw each other the whole day, why are you calling me?"

Annie asked, not minding to look at the screen since she was busy applying a green clay mask on her face.

"Woah. Minho would immediately ask to break up if he saw you in that state."

"Shut up."

A "click" sound was heard and the girl instantly turned her head to the camera.

"You did not..."

"Yes, I did."

"Delete."

"Why would I? When I can use this to blackmail you?

He laughed mischievously.

"Ahn Hyoseop!"

"Don't worry, I won't send it to him."

"Really?"

Annie tilted her head, a little doubtful.

"Yeah!"

"Th-"

"There's no need to, he's beside me."

The actor panned the camera to a smiley Minho sitting beside him on the bed.

"You-!!"

She turned the phone away so it was only showing the ceiling now.

"You've looked worse, don't worry!"

Minho said while laughing.

I can't even clapback because he looks extremely cute with the fluffy hair and glasses.

"What is he even doing there? I thought he had gone to his hotel."

"I invited him over! He's my friend before he's your boyfriend."

"You literally became friends because I introduced him to you."

Annie commented with laziness in her voice.

"Well, he's here as my friend now!"

Hyoseop placed an arm around his shoulders, pulling the idol.

"Ha! I'm pretty sure he'd rather be with me instead!"

She scoffed

"Oh my, are you two fighting over me?"

Minho entered the scene with an evident sass in his tone.

"You know what, you can keep him. I hope you have fun."

The girl waved to the camera.

"We will!"

Her brother answered excitedly.

"I feel like you two are gonna get caught in a dating rumour before me and him, honestly."

She sighed.

"You're just jealous."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Bye!"

She hung up with a smile.

Such smile only grew bigger when she read the text her boyfriend had just sent.

"Good night, love! You looked very cute, btw"

"Hey, Siri, play 'Heart Shaker' by Twice."

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