"THANK you so much for coming with me to the store, sunshine." Mal turned to Felix with a wide, grateful smile. He sent her a pure, bright grin, stretching his arms wide to hug her tightly. She ran her hand through his soft, dyed-blonde hair.

"You're welcome, Mal. I'll do anything for you."

She muttered a small, sweet reply. Then, planted a kiss over his forehead as a final goodbye before he got out of the car.

"I love you, baby. See you tomorrow, okay?" he spoke, then waved at her.

She watched him go into the apartment building, then remained in the car for a few minutes to regain her composure. After all, he continued to make her heart melt throughout the whole trip to the grocery store.

She glanced around the car, her eyes falling on the rear-view mirror. Through the bright, silver reflection, she could see something on the seat next to her, barely appearing on the surface. She glanced beside her, only to realize that her boyfriend left his book in the car.

She sighed, leaning her head against the steering wheel as she realized that she would have to climb the stairs to the second floor to give him the book.

She strolled out of the car slowly, the book attached to her hand, and walked towards the apartment building.

She climbed the stairs and took her time to allow him to go into his apartment first, to not surprise him right away.

As soon as she arrived on the second floor, she heard a male voice yelling at someone she couldn't see. Stepping closer towards the scene, she spotted Felix standing by the apartment across from his, next to Han, Hyunjin, and Chan, who was talking to a familiar man with a pleading look in his eyes.

"Please, if you'd just give us more time, we promise to get your money as fast as we can..." Chan pleaded, standing between Felix and the man to shield him for some reason.

"Please don't kick us out, okay? We're really struggling right now," Felix begged, tears filling his eyes, "We just need more time, that's all."

"We didn't have time to settle in..." Hyunjin persuaded in broken English.

"I don't care. You said that you pay the rent on time, and I don't see the money in my hand right now! You have until tomorrow to pack your bags, and leave before I call the police!" the man's booming voice towered over them, making chills run down their spines. The idea of them being on the streets, not having money in their pockets, and not having a place a stay in made the matter worse since they didn't know how to handle the situation despite being together.

Mal took a deep breath before coughing to get their attention.

"Felix, sunshine, you forgot your book," she spoke while stretching her arm with the book. Felix reached for it weakly, muttering a small sentence of gratitude. She then turned to the man with a wide smile.

"Hey, Joseph! It's been a while, am I right?"

"Hey there, little Missy! It sure has. Tell me, you know this young man?" the man, Joseph, asked. Mal nodded proudly.

"Yeah, he's my boyfriend, and these are my friends. But, I'm guessing you already know them, right?"

Joseph sighed. "Unfortunately these young men haven't been very responsible when it comes to paying rent."

"Sorry about that. Do you take credit?" she asked, letting out her phone from her pocket.

"Mal, no, I insist!" Chan began, taking a step forward. However, the glance she sent him to stay silent made him obey immediately.

"You bet I do! I was in a hurry to catch a flight to Chicago, and I need the extra rent money to pay for the hospital bills for my wife."

Mal pressed on a few buttons on the screen. "Oh yes, I know! How is she by the way? Have you settled for a baby name yet?"

"Yeah, we were thinking about James or Oliver, the name of my grandfather. I think it would be a great name for a baby boy, don't you think?"

The girl smiled and put her phone back in her pocket.

"Of course! Oliver is such a lovely name. Please don't forget to invite us to the baby shower. You know we wouldn't miss it for the world!" she spoke sweetly, engulfing the older man in a quick, friendly hug.

"But of course, little Missy, you and your lovely family would be the first ones to be invited!" the man replied as he patted her on the back, then straightened his posture as if to declare he was leaving.

"Well, then, I guess my job here is done. Stay out of trouble, okay?"

That was the last thing he said before strolling away from the apartment, leaning on the staircase to take slow steps down the stairs.

Mal watched him disappear from the floor they were on, then turned to her friends, a sad, taken aback expression over her face.

"I don't get it. I thought we told each other everything?" she muttered, mainly to Felix. His voice stopped in his throat for a moment, unable to reply.

"Why didn't you tell me you were struggling with the rent?"

"Mal, I..." he began, but found no words coming out.

"We're really sorry, Mal! But you didn't have to do that. How can we thank you?" Han replied quickly, taking a small glance at his friend, who was still at loss of words. They all nodded.

"Yeah, we're sorry. We didn't want to bother you with that."

She nodded, then turned to her boyfriend again.
"Mal, I'm sorry. Please, don't be mad at me."

She shook her head.
"It doesn't matter. I have to go now, okay? I'll see you guys tomorrow."

She took one last look at their desperate faces, then walked towards the stairs, slowly leaving the building.

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