Alex's pov

"So let me see if I get this straight, you two talked, right?"

"Yes."

"And he says it's all good?"

"Basically, yes."

"But you're still sad?"

"A bit."

"'Cause he was too nice?"

"Exactly!"

"...there's just no pleasing you sometimes."

Mingyu just didn't seem to understand what I was feeling no matter how many times I explain myself. 

Yesterday, after me and Jun talked, Mingyu took the time to give me a lecture concerning 'the dangers of walking alone at night' and how 'if I ever attempted to do such thing again, he would lock me inside the house forever without wifi'. But sadly he wasn't the only one, since Minghao, Seungkwan, Hoshi and even Dokyeom decided that just one lecture wasn't enough, so they took upon themselves to crush me on what I think it was meant to be a hug and started screaming at me. Although I'm flattered that I have so many people caring for me, having four boys plus 'Mama Mingyu' delivering pretty much the same speech when all I want to do is sleep, just wasn't very ideal for me.

Of course, with all this commotion and scoldings, I never had a chance to tell my best friends what exactly me and Jun talked about. So in the morning after, while the three of us were sitting on the kitchen table, Wonwoo and Mingyu decided to inquire me on that matter.

"It's just...if he was an absolute asshole, it wouldn't hurt as much."

"But you guys didn't break up right?"

"Not really. I mean, we agreed we would make the most of it before he leaves."

"But you're not willing to try a long distance relationship?"

"He did suggest it but...I don't know, I guess I rather have him as my friend if he's not here. Am I being too selfish?"

"I don't think so. And it's not like you guys are gonna lose contact right?" Wonwoo attempted to comfort me. 

"Yeah, I mean, I told him that I really didn't want him out of my life."

"I'm sure everything will be fine." despite Wonwoo's comforting words, Mingyu didn't seem very pleased, but I decided not to push it. Once I finished breakfast, I got up from my sit to put the dishes in the sink, not wanting to piss off Mingyu and Wonwoo for 'leaving my mess for them to clean' like I did many times before. 

" I gotta go to work."

"You're gonna be okay?"

"Yeah, don't worry about me."

I grabbed my bag and made my way to the door.

"Bye guys."

"Bye Alex."

"Have a good day."

 ________________________________________________________________________

I don't know if I'm really that unlucky. Perhaps I am cursed or something, but things just didn't seem to be going my way today, since the elevator, of all days, it's out of service. Great!  So after spending five minutes wondering why the universe likes to play practical jokes on me, I forced myself to go down the seven sets of stairs. Needless to say, I wasn't in my best mood, but I'm sure my former gym teacher would be very proud of me. When I finally reached the lobby, I was blessed with unexpected sight.

 Standing at the entrance of the building was Jeonghan pinching Dino's cheeks while making baby noises, refusing to stop despite the younger boy's protests. Next to them stood a  very amused looking Seungcheol, who didn't seem to intend to do anything to aid poor Dino.

I couldn't help but laugh loudly at the three of them. That seemed to catch their attention since Dino started giving me pleading looks.

"NOONA HELP ME!"

"What are you guys doing?" I just couldn't stop laughing at the poor kid.

Lee Chan, or Dino as we all call him, was probably the best accident that happened to this place. Last year, this boy arrived at the complex looking for Hoshi, since apparently, they were friends, but, like Jun, he failed to find his apartment because he asked around for Soonyoung, Hoshi's real name that no one really uses or knows. Of course, Dino ended up getting lost, but lucky for him, even though he's still not very sure if it can be considered luck, he ended up bumping into Jeonghan. The older boy basically fell in love at first sight and made his life mission to take care of Dino even if he's unwilling to accept it. Long story short, Jeonghan took the lost boy to his apartment and then forced Seungcheol to look the 'Soonyoung' guy. Eventually, everyone took a liking for Dino and he basically became everyone's baby, much to his dismay.

"Hi Alex, how's life?" Seungcheol asked trying to contain his laughter.

"Life is fine, thanks. Oh, and I also wanted to thank you guys for all you did yesterday." unlike him I couldn't really ignore the commotion next to us.

"It was n-"

"Did you and Wonwoo got to talk?" Jeonghan interrupted while still pinching Dino's cheeks.

"Yeah, we did."

"And?"

"He made me feel a lot better and helped me calm down."

"And?"

"And then Mingyu came in and we grouped hug?" I'm really not sure what Jeonghan's point is.

"And?!"

"And...Jun came in?"

"Goddamm it! When are two ever going to realize?!"

" Realize what?" I asked confusingly. Jeonghan, who was still holding Dino's cheeks, gave an 'are you serious' look.

"Realize that you-"

"That you two should join us for dinner sometime. Oh and bring Mingyu along too!" Seungcheol quickly said, covering Jeonghan's mouth.

"...sure...Anyways I have to work. See you guys later."

"Wait! Noona can I came with you? I need to buy a few books for school." Dino said while trying to break free from Jeonghan's hold.

"Of course."

The young boy happily ran to my side, but before he could go any further Jeonghan called him.

"Wait, Dino. One last thing!"

"Yes hyung?"

"Dino, whose baby are you?"

"Ah, this ..."

"Do it for Alex. Dino, whose baby are you?"

"...Jeonghan hyung's baby..."

____________________________________________________________________________

"So..."

"Shut up Vernon."

"I didn't even say anything!"

"I can sense something stupid was going to come out of your mouth."

You would think that a bookstore would be so much more quiet than this. A pacific place, a sanctuary even, to all sorts of people that are just looking for the joys that only books can provide. Well, not when Vernon decides to pop up! Vernon is a guy who works at the music shop at the end of the street, and honestly, he seems to spend more time here than at his own job. Sure he's really nice and all but he just doesn't seem to know the meaning of inner voice sometimes. Of course, both me and Joshua, my coworker, appreciate the way Vernon always try to improve our mood when we have to stack up books, but occasionally, he can be just a bit too much. 

Currently, the three of us were in the storage room, trying to organize everything in there. Me and Joshua were putting books on the respective shelves, while Vernon was sitting on a box nearby watching us work.

After hearing this exchange between me and Vernon, Joshua laughed and decided to come to his aid.

"I think he's trying to ask what happened last night. Your roommate called us, and honestly, he seemed really worried."

I proceed to tell them everything that happened yesterday, and once I finished they both seemed to hesitate on what to say next. I placed the books on the ground and sat next to Vernon. Josh followed soon after.

Vernon broke the silence first.

"We're so sorry Alex. You okay?"

"Yeah, don't worry about it."

"At least, you guys still have time to spend together." Josh continued.

"Yeah, but what am I supposed to do when he leaves?"

"Don't think about that now! He's still here! That's what's important right now. Besides, it's not like you're going to be alone forever." Joshua said, placing his hand on my shoulder giving it a light squeeze.

"Yeah! You still have Wonwoo!" Vernon said enthusiastically. 

"What?" I looked at him with a confused face while Joshua glared at him. 

"I mean, you still have him and Mingyu! Your roommates, that you love very much!"

"Wait...You told him?!" I screamed at Joshua. In the first months when I started living with Wonwoo and Mingyu, Joshua found out that I had a slight crush on Wonwoo. Of course, he promised me he wouldn't tell anyone.

"He forced me to!"

"I did not!"

"You did too"

"I didn't!"

"Yes you did!"

"ALRIGHT FINE!" I screamed interrupting their bickering session. 

"I'm sorry." Joshua said. I know he didn't mean to hurt me and I also didn't plan on staying mad with him. It's pretty much impossible to be mad at him.

"It's fine Josh. But listen here Hansol!" I said, turning to face Vernon. "If you speak even a mere word about this to anyone, all of your childhood adventures will end up in Seungkwan's hands!"

Seungkwan and Vernon have a very funny relationship you see. They both tease each other to no end so if such videos would end up in Seungkwan's possession, well...let's say he would never let Vernon live peacefully for the rest of his life.

 "No way you have that!" Vernon retorted back, panic evident in his voice.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and looked for the video that could ruin Vernon's dignity forever.

https://youtu.be/dIy9YTQo5o4

Once the video ended I turned to look at Vernon's panicked face. Joshua was trying to contain his laughter.

"And there's more where that came from."

"MORE?!" 

"Oh yes! So you better keep your mouth shut, got it kidney function?!"

"...yes ma'am " 

At this point, Josh was laughing very loudly, while I petted Vernon's head.

Suddenly, our manager Jihoon, or Woozi as we usually call him, came through the door.

"What exactly are you three doing?"

We all got up from our spot and looked at Woozi while looking like a deer in the headlights.

"We were just...you know...working. I mean, I wasn't since I don't actually work here. But they were!" Vernon tried to explain. Despite being considered to be a small man, Woozi can be slightly scary sometimes. But he's really nice honestly, probably the best boss that anyone could ask for.

"Wait, what are you doing here again?"

"I'm just...I mean-"

"You know what, it doesn't matter. Just came to tell you guys that your shift is over. Oh, and Alex,  your boyfriend's here." 

Me and Joshua quickly thanked him, and then we started pushing Vernon towards the exist.

I guess Joshua is right.

Jun hasn't left yet, so I should really enjoy the time we still have left.

And when he has to go back to China, I just have to remember:

I still have my idiotic roommates.