Hana:

I walk into the school, still feeling flustered and embarrassed about last night's events. Minho walks beside me casually, incredibly relaxed considering we slept together.

Well, we didn't sleep together in the suggestive sense. When Minho asked me to cuddle into him on the couch, I wasn't expecting to actually fall asleep so easily.

In elementary school and high school, I had sleepovers with Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook, but my parents always ensured we were separate. The guys would sleep on the couch and in sleeping bags, while I would be in a separate room. Or they would just simply sleep in a sleeping bag on my floor. My parents have a lot of trust in me.

This is the first time I have slept in the arms of a man. Part of me is a little sad it wasn't Namjoon, but I push that thought away as soon as the feeling of guilt bubbles up like a snake raising its head.

If I am being honest, I'm more confused than anything. I feel like I've done something sexual, or intimate. Minho, however, looks calm as if it was a normal occurrence.

Does he often cuddle his friends to sleep?

I have seen him cuddling with his other friends, so maybe he is just a physically intimate person. But, then again, it could mean something to him. Should I just ask him? Would he find me weird?

But, what if he's waiting for me to say something about it? Should we just pretend it never happened?

But I liked cuddling him.

"Are you okay?" Minho chuckles. I blush, looking up at his hooded eyes as if he can tell what's running through my mind.

"Yeah, just thinking," I shrug, laughing awkwardly.

"What are you thinking about?" He asks, gently stopping me from continuing to walk towards the classroom. I watch him for a moment, unsure whether I should try to clarify what last night meant to him.

"Are you thinking about last night?" He asks, "Or seeing Namjoon today?"

I didn't even stop to think about seeing him again today. It hadn't occurred to me yet.

Damn, Minho is a really good distraction.

"No, not Namjoon," I clarify. Minho cocks his eyebrow, folding his arms as he smirks.

"So you are thinking about last night?" He mutters deeply. I flush again, looking down at the ground.

Man, my shoes are really interesting...

"It's okay... I liked it... but if you want to just be friends or... yeah... I'm cool with that too," Minho mumbles, his confidence slipping away as he rubs his neck awkwardly. I look up to find him looking to the side, his ears red with embarrassment.

"You... liked it? In what way?" I ask, looking for confirmation. He flushes darker, pouting as he looks back at me.

"You're really going to make me say it, huh?" He responds.

"Say what?" I frown, "Like... rejection?" I murmur. He sighs, straightening up and turning to face me fully. He looks up, a glint of certainty in his eyes.

"I like you, Hana. I liked last night because I like you," Minho says firmly, "I'm not asking for anything, or expecting you to reciprocate my feelings after Namjoon... I just want you to know I am an option,"

"Option?" I laugh, "You make it seem like I have a few to choose from," we start moving towards the school again, conscientious of the time. I try to ignore my beating heart, feeling nauseous by how easily it is swayed.

"Why wouldn't you?" Minho frowns, "You're attractive and nice... don't you know how many guys like you?"

"Yeah right, not even Namjoon likes me," I sigh, "Just because you like me, doesn't mean everyone does. What makes you think more people like me?"

"Because I have overheard people... or I've heard of people liking you," Minho shrugs, "I'd tell you, but I'd prefer you didn't know your options,"

I smack him playfully on the arm.

"Wow, listen to you..." I laugh at his expression, "So, you really like me?"

"I do," He responds, suddenly serious, "If you want... we could have a date on the weekend? See how you feel?"

I consider his proposition for a moment. I'd be lying if I said I had no feelings for him, but I would also be lying if I said this wouldn't feel like a rebound crush. But what do I have to lose? He already understands that I've only just recently been rejected.

What do I have to lose?

"Alright," I smile shyly, "What should we do?"

Minho lights up as he begins listing different ideas he has had for the date. I choose a simple option, dinner at a cute little restaurant, then a movie at home. He agrees reluctantly, wanting to do more within the few hours we have.

We enter the classroom, so I leave his side to sit with my friends.

"Woah... Hana," Jungkook grins, "Why did you two enter together?"

"Yeah, you weren't on the subway today," Taehyung frowns, "Are you okay?"

"Where were you?" Hoseok leans forward, joining in on the interrogation.

I blush, looking between the three guys exasperatedly.

"I... stayed with Minho... we lost track of time watching that drama," I mutter embarrassed.

"Woah, seriously? You slept at his house?" Seokjin asks loudly, overhearing my quiet explanation.

Jungkook and Taehyung laugh as my face blushes darker. I pout at Seokjin.

"Yah..." I mumble. I glance at Namjoon, who is already watching me. My heart skips a beat at his expression. He looks cold, his face empty of emotion. His eyes, however, narrow in annoyance.

Is he mad at me? Why would he be mad at me?

His eyes turn to Minho, who sits a few rows in front of us. They narrow even more as his jaw tenses.

I turn around, sitting in my seat beside Jungkook and Taehyung, who are now telling Jimin the new gossip.

"Huh, Why?" Jimin stares, wide-eyed.

"The... the drama," I mutter, staring back at him with the same expression. His expression turns cold, but before I can comment on it, Hoseok grabs my attention to ask me about the drama.

Screw it, I won't let them ruin my good mood.

I keep my attention on the others, ignoring the dark, grumpy clouds behind me.

. . . 

"Are you serious?" Jungkook gasps, his eyes wide.

We are sitting at our usual lunch table and I just finished whispering what happened last night to Jungkook, Taehyung, and Hoseok, looking for advice. Seokjin is talking excitedly with Jimin, and Namjoon is having a serious conversation with Yoongi at the other end of the table.

"Yeah!" I whisper, "Now we are going to have a date on the weekend, and I don't know what to do,"

"Do you... want us to help you choose a date outfit?" Hoseok asks uncertainly.

"Huh? No!" I give him a bewildered expression.

"Wait, I'm confused," Taehyung frowns, "What don't you know?"

"Is it... weird?" I ask curiously, "I just got rejected by Namjoon... should I wait? Is it rude to Minho to go on a date when another man was literally just in my heart?"

"Well, he knows, doesn't he?" Jungkook asks.

"Yeah... he invited me over to distract me from it all," I explain.

"So, he knows, yet he still wants to go on a date... that's not your problem," Taehyung says firmly.

"But I could hurt him! What if I'm not ready to move on?" I insist.

"Taehyung is right," Hoseok nods, "He knows what he's getting himself into..."

"What are you guys talking about?" A pair of hands gently grip my shoulders. I look up to see Jimin smiling down at me.

"Oh, we are talking about Hana's date!" Hoseok says, gesturing for Jimin to pull up a chair and join. Jungkook and Taehyung give each other a brief panicked look before Jimin slides a chair over, sitting tensely between me and Hoseok.

"Date?" Jimin glances at Jungkook and Taehyung before turning his eyes to me, "with who?"

"Lee Minho," I say, feeling a little flustered now that more and more people know.

"Oh," Jimin nods, "Why?"

I frown at his demeanour. His expression is blank, but his body and eyes scream anger. Why are Namjoon and Jimin so annoyed about Minho?

"I don't know..." I pout, "He just... he comforted me and makes my heart race..."

Jimin nods but doesn't respond.

"So..." Jungkook clears his throat, trying to ease the tense atmosphere, "Are you going to go on the date?"

Jimin perks up at this, looking at him.

"Go? You weren't going to go?" Jimin looks back at me again.

"I was just asking the guys if it's too soon..." I mumble.

"Of course," Jimin says immediately.

"Why?" Hoseok asks, frowning, "He rejected her,"

"So? She's got to deal with her feelings first," Jimin says firmly.

"Is that so?" Taehyung murmurs slowly, giving Jimin a strange look.

"Yeah," Jimin glares, "It's pretty mean to lead him on like that,"

"I wouldn't lead him on..." I mutter, "I just might need time... I do like him back,"

"Huh? Who do you like?" Seokjin chimes in, joining the conversation once again.

I sigh, letting Jungkook explain to Seokjin the conversation.

"Ahh," Seokjin nods a few times, "So what's the problem? Go on the date,"

"But..." Jimin's voice is drowned out by Hoseok and Taehyung's loud agreement.

"What are you guys talking about?" Yoongi asks, sliding his chair down next to Taehyung.

Of course, with all the commotion happening down this end of the table, Yoongi and Namjoon are bound to notice.

Taehyung fills them in on my predicament. Yoongi gives Namjoon a glance before folding his arms. Namjoon has had the same expression all day – cold.

"So you like him?" Yoongi asks. I nod, avoiding Namjoon's gaze.

"Why?" He asks. I cock my eyebrow at him and shrug.

"I don't know... that's not really important is it?" I mutter, "It's whether... it's too early after... you know,"

"I don't know... Minho is not a good guy," Yoongi says firmly. Before I can respond, a ludicrous expression on my face, Jimin jumps in.

"Yeah, he's not a good guy! You should just leave it," He says quickly.

"Huh? How?" I frown, glaring back at Yoongi, "You don't even know him!"

"I think I know him more than you," Yoongi responds coldly.

"Oh?" I scoff, "Where does he live then? What are his friends' names?"

"Why would I need to know that?" Yoongi snaps, "He's a bad guy, I know he is,"

I stand up, still glaring at Yoongi.

"You don't even know him, yet you say that?" I huff, "I don't know why I bothered asking you guys..."

I sling my bag over my shoulder and storm away. I hear Jungkook and Hoseok call me back, but I ignore them. If they are going to be unreasonable, I'll just hang out with Minho.

Jerks... 

(A/N) 🫰🫰🫰 

What's wrong with Lino, huh? Yoongi?!