the fact minho didn't want chanmi to know who the girl in the polaroid was only intrigued her more but she decided to not push at it. instead, she dragged the boy out to get a new phone since she needed one in order to talk to others.

"so you're telling me a college student just has the money to get a new phone when she pleases?" minho strolls alone beside chanmi, staring off every now and then.

the girl begins setting up her phone as they walk out of the store, "i save my money."

minho sends a look towards chanmi and laughs in the cutest way, "with the amount of freeloading you and your friends did in my apartment, i'm sure you do."

"i don't do that all the time," chanmi mutters, embarrassed at the fact minho called it freeloading.

minho hums, satisfied with the results of his comment and continues to walk along the sidewalk next to chanmi. the small girl fiddles with her new phone and decided she'll restore everything later when she is back at home.

"do you want some coffee before we go back? we should start working on the project since we wasted time yesterday." minho questions, not looking at chanmi.

chanmi nods her head, "yeah and who's fault was it that we didn't get work done?" the girl obviously referring to the fact the guys were playing games and watching soccer.

"maybe it was the girl who stepped on glass and worried the shit out of everyone? hm?" with that comment from minho, chanmi sheepishly turns the other way to avoid his stare.

chanmi pouts and crosses her arms, "i got it, im sorry for worrying you guys."

"by the way," minho lightly laughs as he ruffles chanmi's hair, "how is your foot feeling?"

"good, thanks to you, but do you get hurt often or something? you handled the situation pretty well and you bandaged it up pretty quick too." chanmi asks, turning her head to the boy with a questioning look on her face.

minho pulls his arm away from the girl, putting them in his pockets, and stares off at the path in front of them, "i use to know someone who always got themself hurt so i'd have to help them. at one point they got so hurt i couldn't help so i decided to look into first aid and so here we are."

"who?" chanmi becomes intrigued and wonders if the person he is talking about was the girl in the polaroid.

minho grabs chanmi's hand and begins to run in a certain direction, "look, it's a cafe, lets go get coffee."

"you didn't answer my question," chanmi frowns at the boy leading her to the cafe.

minho glances behind him and smiles, surprising chanmi, "it's a secret."

the two make it to the cafe and chanmi is slightly out of breath, minho chuckling at this fact. when it's their turn, they order what they want and minho is quick to pay, not even giving chanmi the chance to pull out her wallet to pay.

"why'd you pay? i'm the only reason you're out because i am a dumbass." chanmi sighs as she places her wallet back into her purse.

minho nods, "i'm glad you acknowledge that you're a dumbass! but i payed because you already spent enough on that new phone of yours, besides, i came of my own will."

"i'll pay next time then," chanmi makes her way to a booth and makes herself clear as she looks over to minho.

"next time?" a mischievous smile grows on minho's lips, "ah so little miss chanmi wants to hang out with me alone more often then? i didn't know you were so smooth."

chanmi watches minho slide onto one of the booth sides as her face grows hot and red, "you know what i meant minho!"

"no need to get embarrassed, i'd want to hang out with natural beauty like me too." the smirk on minho's lips never seemed to leave, so chanmi takes a seat in defeat as her cheeks grew mildly warm.

the two sit there in a silence, chanmi trying to calm down and reduce the redness in her face while minho only stared at the girl. not the type of staring of judging or endearment, but just staring. a type of staring as if he was studying the girl to try to understand her in a way.

but when she shoots her head up because a woman came with their drinks, minho quickly looks at the waitress. the woman smiles at the two and lightly placed their drinks onto the table and slightly bows to them.

"enjoy your date," the woman says with a wide smile, as if she believed chanmi and minho were the epitome of young love.

"we aren't-"

before chanmi could correct the woman, minho speaks up, "thank you ma'am."

she walks away and goes back to doing her work and chanmi sends minho a look, "why'd you tell her we were on a date?"

"i didn't tell her, she just naturally assumed," minho corrects chanmi's accusation.

the girl lets out a heavy sigh, "well why didn't you correct her?"

"there was no point in it, we'll probably never see her again anyways," minho shrugs and takes a sip from his iced coffee.

chanmi leans back in her spot and drinks her coffee, "you're weird, minho."

"why do you say," minho tilts his head, almost resembling a curious cat looking up at someone, but of course he was looking a little down at chanmi.

"i can't read you, i don't know if you hate or like me. one moment you're acting bitchy over a polaroid picture and the next you're coming with me to get a new phone and buying me coffee." chanmi looks minho in the eyes and tilts her head, "you're treating me like an old friend, but also like the stranger next door."

"cause you're both," minho stands up with his coffee, "and i forget how i should treat you sometimes."

"what do possibly mean by that?" chanmi stands up and walks behind minho.

minho doesn't answer right away, instead he walks out of the cafe and takes a deep breath of air. chanmi is right behind him, staring him down and watching every movement he makes.

"you remind me of someone, you're so much like her, but i've never met you before so you're just my neighbor who's a stranger." minho turns to look at chanmi, a devoid look covering his face, "so how should i treat you, chanmi."

"minho," chanmi's voice is low and weak as she doesn't know how to respond to the boy.

"let's go home," he quickly turns around and begins walking back towards their apartment building.

the two say nothing to each other as the make their way back home. whether it be to the timidness or awkward tension that was now building, neither of them wanted to or could talk. so instead the two enjoyed the nice weather and cool breezes that passed by, trying their best to avoid an even more uncomfortable situation.

when they eventually make it to their building, they take the elevator up to their floor. it was just them and the heavy atmosphere still loomed over them.

this is when chanmi spoke up for the first time after the cafe, "i'm sorry, i'm being so nosy in your life and it's none of my business. i just wanted to get to know my neighbor and parter for our project a little more. so i'm sorry for pushing your buttons, i know it's annoying."

"you're fine," minho responds, a breath of relief leaving chanmi's lips, "i'm just not use to people trying to get close to me. it's been a while for me."

and with that, the odd feeling between them lifted. though there was still some underlying tension between them, but it takes baby steps for two people who don't fully know each other.

they make it to their floor and the doors open to see something they did not expect to see. there in front of minho's door was a rather short boy banging on his door. when the boy realized the elevator doors had opened he turned and locked eyes with minho.

quickly the boy makes his way to the elevator and as he walks, chanmi noticed a sticker placed on his shirt and it read 'VISITOR PASS: SEO CHANGBIN.' a surprised gasp leaves chanmi's mouth as the boy she assumed is changbin grabs minho's arm abruptly.

the unfazed look on minho's face became one of worry and surprise when he listened to what changbin had to say. "she's awake, yubin is awake."