Author's Pov:

Soomin glared Junhui who was walking ahead of her, "Are you sure we are here for your mother's birthday gift?", she asked. Junhui turned around, his eyes wide, "Y-Yeah, you are the only person who can help me right now. Haeun needs rest and there's no way Joshua is letting me take her out".

"How about we gift her a make-up kit or something like that? This store is perfect for it. Let's go", Soomin said, but Junhui pulled her back.

"Why don't we see around for now? Let's check all the stores and then we can decide what to buy and from where?".

Soomin glared at him, "Seriously? This is the fourth time we are walking around the mall, Junhui. One of the worker here thought we were lost".

Junhui hesitantly rubbed his nape, "Ah, I need to use restroom. Wait for me please. Just two minutes?".

Soomin sighed nodding, "Okay".

He smiled, "Won't take long. I'll come back".

Soomin gave him a thumb as Junhui ran to rest room. "Why did I even end up in such situation?", he murmured.

FLASHBACK:

Earlier that day, Seokmin called Minhee to ask her about the preparations.

"Soomin is home and how are we supposed to decorate for her birthday?", Minhee said.

"If you don't mind, We can help too!!", Seungkwan chimed in. "Yeah, I'd love to help in decorating for her birthday", Seokmin said.

"That's a nice thought but the question is how are we going to decorate when Soomin is not even ready to leave the house?", Minhee asked.

"Oh then the answer to that question is Junhui", Jeonghan said nudging him. Junhui frowned, "Why me? What am I supposed to do?".

Jeonghan sushed him, "Minhee-ya, don't worry. Junhui will take Soomin out".

Hanging up the call, everyone looked at Jeonghan while Junhui glared at him. "It's simple. Remember Junhui asked her for suggestions for his mother's birthday? Just use the same excuse to take her out of the house. Go to mall and have some fun", Jeonghan explained.

Junhui groaned, "Fine but let me tell you it's going to be awkward". Mingyu handed him the phone, "Call her".

Junhui reluctantly dialed her number as all of them waited for to pick up. "Hello", Junhui said as she picked up the call.  "Hello, Junhui", she said.

"Soomin, I need your help. Can we please go to the mall today? I need to buy a gift for my mother, and I think only you can help me. Please", Junhui said.

"But Junhui—"

"Please", Junhui pleaded. Soomin sighed, "Okay. When are you coming?".

"Right now—I mean, in an hour? Is that okay?", Junhui asked. Soomin hummed. "Fine".

PRESENT: 

"For how long am I supposed to keep her busy?", Junhui asked, waiting Mingyu to answer. "Umm, wait. Ask the one you sent you there", Mingyu said handing his phone to Jeonghan.

"I'm asking again: how long am I supposed to keep her busy?", Junhui asked. "umm how about another hour?", Jeonghan said.

"For another hour!", Junhui exclaimed, "How am I supposed to do? Just like you said I brought her to the mall far from her house.  Now another hour?".

Jeonghan hummed, "Please, anyways it will take you atleast 45 minutes to reach. Just spend some 15-20 minutes. Everything here is almost done", Jeonghan said. Junhui heard Mingyu's scream through the phone.

"Or maybe not", Junhui sighed, "I will try to keep her busy here". Jeonghan giggled, "If she likes something there, buy it for her".

"Fine", Junhui said hanging up the call. He went back and saw Soomin talking to someone. Slowly, he approached her, trying  to catch a glimpse of who she was speaking to. As he got closer, the woman noticed him and said, "You look a bit familiar but anyway hi". 

"Hi", Junhui replied, a bit awkwardly. Soomin turned to her friend and said, "We will talk later. I need to go now", Soomin said, unknowingly holding his arm. Her friend nodded, "Fine, enjoy your date".

Soomin and Junhui exchanged a quck glance before Soomin immediately let go of his hand, "There's nothing like that. We will talk later". Her friend nodded, with a smirk, "Whatever. Let's meet up again".

Soomin gave a small smile replying with a nod. As they watched her go away, Junhui glanced at Soomin, his mind racing to come up with something to say.

The situation had already been awkward and now he had to figure out how to keep Soomin busy for another hour without making it more uncomfortable.

"Y-Your friend seemed nice", Junhui said, trying to break the break the tension.

Soomin nodded, still flustered by the earlier misunderstanding, "She is. We haven't seen each other in a while".

Junhui smiled, though his thoughts were elsewhere, "It's always nice to catch up with old friends".

Soomin hummed in agreement, glancing at the stores around them, "So, did you find anything for your mom yet?".

"Uh, not really", he answered, scratching the back of his head, "I thought maybe we could take another look around. You know just in case we missed something".

Soomin sighed, "Fine, one more round". Junhui smiled sheepishly, "Yeah, one last round, hopefully".

Junhui nodded, feeling a pang of guilt,  but quickly pushing it aside, he said, "I promise just one last round".

As they started walking again, Junhui's phone buzzed. Directly checking, he saw Jeonghan's message, "Fighting, you can do it. Don't worry everything is fine here...almost done".

Junhui sighed in relief, until he saw the next message, "Just keep her busy for 20 more mintues...the cake needs to come".

"Only 20 minutes, you can do it", he murmured glancing at Soomin once, "But how?".

As they passed by the jewelry store, an idea popped in his mind. He stopped in front of display, pretending to be interested. "Soomin, how about gifting her a jewelry? Maybe a nice necklace".

Soomin looked at display, her eyes softening for a bit, "Your mom would love this, I'm sure". Junhui grinned, "Let's go".

As they entered the store, a saleswoman immediately approached them, with a warm smile on her face, "How can I help you today?".

Junhui glanced at Soomin before speaking, "We are looking for a nice gift. Maybe necklace or bracelet".

The saleswoman nodded and led them to section with delicate and elegant pieces. As she showed them different options, Junhui noticed Soomin's stuck on a simple but beautiful pendant.

"Did you like that one?", Junhui asked her. Soomim blinked and shook her head, "Ah, I just found it beautiful. But we are here for your mother remember?".

Junhui smiled, "Yeah, but you have good taste. Maybe she will like it too".

Soomin hesitated and nodded, "Okay let's get this one".

Junhui signaled the saleswoman, who began packing the pendant. He watched Soomin with the corner of his eye, noticing she seemed more relaxed now.

'She is not even act like it'd her birthday today', he thought still looking at her. As they left the store, Soomin turned to him with a small smile, "Hope your mother likes it".

"But did you like it? Answer honestly", Junhui asked with hesitancy. Soomin smiled, "I did, it's beautiful and simple".  Junhui nodded with a small smile appearing on his lips. 

"Shall we head back now?", Soomin asked tilting her head. Junhui nodded, glancing at his watch realizing they had almost killed time, "Yeah or do you want to take another round?'. Soomin immediately shook her head walking out.

While driving, Junhui stopped a car infront of a cafe, "How about we grab  something to drink?". Soomin nodded, "Sure".

They made their way inside the cafe. After placing their orders, they settled at a table by the window. The atmosphere was warm, with the soft hum of conversations around them.

Junhui looked at time and realized it was almost up. "I'll go pay the bill", he said, getting up.

Soomin nodded, "But only if you let me pay half", Soomin said.

Junhui thought for a moment before shaking his head, "Consider this as treat for helping me buy the gift". Before she could argue, he walked away to settle the bill. As she waited, her attention drifted to the people around them.

Her eyes landed on a man sitting few tables away from her who was talking on the phone with someone. "You know I love being here and I promise I won't be late today", he laughed. His voice sounded strangely familiar.

"He sounds like-", her thoughts were interrupted when Junhui returned to table. "Let's go, I've paid the bill", he said.

Soomin took one last glance at the man. "What's wrong, do you know him?", Junhui asked as they walked out. Soomin hesitantly shook her head, "No, he just sounded so familiar, like someone I used to know".