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| January 14th, Thursday, 2021 |

"Do you think she'll be fine?"

"Not sure, I know I wasn't when it happened to me...and it wasn't even exposed to the public. She wasn't a celebrity either..."

Seungmin replied, somewhat upset, being reminded of his past love.

Bangchan, Changbin, I.N and him were inside the practice room before group practice when their fellow label mate's scandal became a topic.

"But it isn't true!"

They turned to Chan.

"How would you know?"

"I mean...uh, I just know? They don't look like a couple at all!"

He brushed it off with a laugh.

Changbin laughed louder.

"'Don't look like a couple'? That's because you've never seen them together!"

"Hm. I've never seen them in the same room, but they looked pretty close in the pictures."

I.N added.

"That's what friends do! We do that too!"

"Come on, Chan, when have any of us taken the other one home? And with such a lovely gaze?"

Seungmin reasoned and the others nodded.

"I always look at you guys with a lovely gaze! Oh, Lee Know, hi."

His tone got softer.

He felt guilty for some reason.

"What are you talking about?"

He sat down next to them after putting his bag on the sofa.

"Flashlight's Annie's scandal."

Minho glanced at Chan.

"Why are you guys talking about her? Don't you have anything better to talk about?"

"We're just worried for our friend! Seungminnie said her punishment could be worse than his."

The maknae's words immediately got to him.

"Why? If it's not even true?"

"Woah, you too? Well, it makes sense since you don't know her."

Changbin laughed.

Oh, how Minho wanted to tell them right here and right now.

"I know Yeonjun wouldn't date her...no one would."

"Trust me, Lino, they're 100% dating. I'm their best friend, I know."

Minho raised an eyebrow.

"How are you so sure?"

"The way they look at each other gives it away! What the article said about them always holding hands when we frequented the academy is true, they also always chose each other for couple dances."

"I hold your hand too, and we're not dating."

He commented, making the other laugh despite his serious expression.

"That's different! Anyway, I've seen them cuddling too, Haerim never did that with me! Neither has she kissed me like she kisses him."

"That's– kiss?"

His mouth stayed slightly opened while his head started spinning.

Was he stupid for blindly trusting her?

Were they actually a thing?

Is she just playing with him?

"What do you mean, Bin?"

Noticing his friend's state, Bangchan decided to speak.

"They've given each other kisses on the cheek when I'm in the room, who knows what they do when I'm not there!"

He chuckled mischievously and the maknaes laughed with him.

"For God's sake, Changbin! A kiss on the cheek isn't a kiss!"

Minho yelled before leaving the room.

"Eh? What's gotten into him?"

"I don't know, maybe he doesn't like kisses on the cheek?"

I.N shrugged .

"I forgot something in my studio, I'll be right back."

Chan quickly got up to follow the younger one.

He found him sitting in a bean bag chair, looking at his phone.

"Hey."

"I won't ditch practice, don't worry."

Minho assured without looking away from the screen.

"You think I'd come because of that?"

Of course Minho knew why he came.

He just didn't want to talk about it.

"Look, I've known Annie for years now. I know she's not a cheater."

Minho sighed.

"And what exactly makes someone a cheater? Is it fine to cuddle and kiss him as long as she doesn't call him "boyfriend"?"

"You know Binnie tends to exaggerate sometimes..."

"Whatever, I don't wanna talk about her now."

He distanced himself a little.

"Is that why you're staring at her picture?"

Chan said with a smile after catching a glimpse of the screen.

"I'm looking at it so I can curse directly at her!"

The eldest laughed quietly.

"You're just jealous, aren't you? You probably told her something along the lines of "I know you wouldn't date anyone else because I'm the best you could have", and now you're too embarrassed to ask her about it because she'll think you're jealous...and she'll be correct."

Silence.

"Do you want me to talk with her about it? I won't mention you being sulky and petty."

"I'm not sulky and petty!"

Minho finally turned to him.

"...but it would be nice if you could talk to her..."

He mumbled.

Bangchan gave him a fatherly smile.

"I'll do that tomorrow."

"Thanks."

He mumbled once again, this time even less understandable.

"Should we go practice now? How about doing a cover of "Good boy Gone Bad"?"

Minho glared at him.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding!"

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