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More than two weeks have passed since Zelia and Minho confessed their feelings to each other. They expected that they wouldn't be able to hide what happened because they knew Newt would immediately tell what's going on between them.

The day after that happened, when Zelia came out of her room when she went to the kitchen, she knew that all the Gladers were looking at her. Even if they didn't speak, she knew they already knew what was going on.

"I kind of didn't expect that, but not surprised though." The girl heard Frypan say as he smiled at her. She just rolled her eyes before thanking him for the food before sitting in the chair where her friends were.

Zelia was not surprised to see Ben because she knew he wanted to tease her about the former Keeper. The girl just took a deep breath and tried to focus on eating her breakfast.

"Is it true? That you and Minho have something going on?" Zelia didn't expect that Chuck—next to Newt on his right—would ask her a question while he was looking at her and waiting for an answer.

"You know, Chuck, try to avoid Newt as much as possible. He's not too good than you think." Her friends laughed because of what the girl said.

"Hey! If it wasn't because of me, maybe we'd all be out here at this place; you still both didn't admit your feelings to each other," Newt said, causing Zelia to just shrug. The girl was about to speak when suddenly Ben called out to someone right next to Newt.

"Minho! Why don't you join us?" If Zelia was drinking something right now, she might have blown it because of hearing the name. Just hearing his name make her heart pounded fast, making her go crazy inside.

Tomorrow will be the end of Alby's punishment for Minho. What did he do for a month? Runs around the Glade every morning, eats breakfast, rests for a few minutes, runs again, eats lunch, rests, simply watches Zelia from afar, jealous when he sees Gally talking to her, what to tell Alby he will do it, sleep in the hammock—since Ben is using his old room—repeat.

Zelia felt that someone sat beside her. No need to look to know who it is. She also doesn't know why her heart rate suddenly accelerated; that's why she's trying her best to act normally, fine, and calm in front of their friends.

"Hey, guys. What are you guys talking about?"

"Us, you shank."

Zelia didn't expect she would say it that out loud. She just pretended that she didn't say anything and ate her food in silence. She also felt that her friends, including Minho, were obviously smiling.

"All the Gladers, just waiting to see who will be the first one to confess to the two of you. I can see that Newt wanted to plan everything just to help both of you to admit the feelings for each other," Kendrix said next to Ben and in front of Winston.

"Minho thought, he's always the tough and sassy one that he won't find his counterpart. Look what happened; he's the first one to avoid since she arrived," Newt said just in front of Zelia. Before the girl could stop herself, she let out a laugh. She felt that Minho's glared at her, but she ignored it.

"Who wouldn't be surprised that he knew what would happen to the Deadheads at that time, but he's willing to go with the flow on their plan, so he's the one who ended up getting Banished. Take note, they didn't pay much attention to each other at that time," Winston said while shaking his head, as if they were not with the person they were talking about.

"The fact that she didn't miss a day just to wait for us Runners to get back, just to know what the news was. It didn't count that I dragged him around because he was too slow to walk," Ben said after drinking his water.

Zelia just took a deep breath and finished eating, but she didn't intend to get up yet. She admits it; she's kind of enjoying it right now, curious what her friends' thoughts are about them.

"Well, at least what happened to the two of them was still worth it. They just need a little push just so they know how important they are to each other," Maggie said, who had been quiet by the girl's side for a while. She also just finished eating her breakfast.

"Gally is not a part of the plan, but still, he is the reason why the other is jealous. He also couldn't stand it, so he confessed at the end," Newt said, and Zelia heard how Minho took a deep breath.

"If the look really kills, poor Gally," the girl said, so the young man rolled his eyes.

"He's too obvious. He didn't even try to hide it somehow."

"At least he's not mean to me in the first place."

Minho couldn't say anything on what Zelia said, so she just grinned. She knew the young man had no rebuttal to what she said.

"Uhm, can I have a question, Zelia? I've been wanting to ask this for a while." Chuck said that he had been listening to their conversation.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Is it true that Newt saw you in the Med-hut yesterday; it looks like you're going to kiss?" He asked innocently.

Newt almost spewed out what he was drinking, so he coughed a few more times. They didn't expect what he would ask.

"I, uhm...better...get going. Yeah, should probably work right now. You know, need to plant; don't want to get scolded by Zart; he's still my Keeper after all. So, see you guys!" Newt said quickly and immediately took what he used to eat before going to the sink. Zelia took a deep breath and felt that all her friends were looking at her.

"If I ever catch him, it's not really just one of his legs that is injured," she muttered.

-----

Zelia is now here in her own room; she has almost finished eating dinner. She did what she had to do and was just waiting for sleep to visit her.

She was about to sit on her bed when she suddenly heard a knock, so she opened the door. She didn't expect who was outside her room.

"Minho, Chuck. What are you guys doing here?" Zelia asked as she frowned.

"Nothing; we can't still sleep. Even if I did a lot as a Slopper," Chuck said, and he let the two enter inside.

Zelia closed the door and sat down on her bed. Chuck sat next to her—which is not the first time he entered the girl's room—while Minho stood not far from their place and leaned against the wall, arms crossed.

"And why are you here, Mr. Runner?" The girl asked and stared at the young man.

It has been a long time since he returned to being a Runner, but he again denied that he would become a Keeper since, as he can see, Ben is doing a great job as a Keeper of the Runners.

"I'm just dragging by that kid. Again."

"In my defense, you really should spend your time with her, especially you confess to her. How many times have I heard from the two lovebirds that no matter how tired you are throughout the day, you should still give yourself time?" Because of Chuck's words, Minho and Zelia stared at each other. The girl simply smiled while the young man cleared his throat.

After they ate their dinner and Chuck was sure to be done with everything he was doing, he dragged Minho to Zelia's room. At first, the awkwardness between the two of them was still there because they were not used to being the only ones talking with no one else, so the young man made excuses. Chuck didn't give up, so he suggested that he would stay with the two until they were both sleepy and decided to go to sleep on their beds.

That's why here they are, almost 2 weeks. Zelia has gotten used to Chuck and Minho visiting her every night. She didn't complain because she couldn't sleep right away either, so she just let them bother her every night. They're just talking about random topics; sometimes Zelia and Minho would tell Chuck what they're thinking about the outside world, and sometimes they would tell what they think about their past.

"We're still spending time with each other. We just don't want to see it in front of the Gladers. There are already two lovebirds that are almost hard to separate. We don't want to add more," Zelia said while smiling at Chuck, who was now stroking his curly hair.

"And besides, when we don't show everyone that we like each other, it doesn't mean that we don't really like each other," Minho said while looking at Chuck.

"You mean, even if you're just teasing while we're eating, that doesn't mean you hate each other?" Chuck asked innocently as he looked at the two, making Zelia smile even more.

"That's right. There's even a chance that the feelings will deepen if they don't show their feelings to each other too much," the girl said.

"So, there's a chance that your feelings are deep?" Minho coughed at the younger man's question.

"Okay, Chuck. Time to go to bed. You probably need a sleep," the young man said, and he stood straight. He was very thankful that he didn't complain and nodded his head.

"Good night, Chuck," Zelia said and gave him a kiss on the forehead.

"Good night, Zel." Before the girl could speak, he immediately left her room, leaving the two of them with Minho. The young man just laughed softly before sitting down next to Zelia.

"You really like that kid." The girl looked at the man who was now looking at her while smiling.

"He's like my younger brother. I feel like I have siblings; that's why I feel close to him."

Zelia leaned against the wall while she was still sitting on her bed, and she signalled for Minho to lay on her lap. The young man did not think twice, and he did it and let the girl stroke his hair.

"What if you really do have siblings?"

"Well," she said, taking a pause to think. "Be ready for yourself. For sure, they have a lot of questions for you because of me." They both laughed at what she said.

"I will tell them how much I like you, that I want to take care of you until the end. I know you don't need my protection, but still, I want to protect you. I'm ready to risk my life just for you if ever I need to do that," Minho said, and he found one of Zelia's hands to intertwine it with his own hand and gave it a kiss on the back.

"Cringed," the girl said jokingly, making the young man roll his eyes.

"You still like me anyway."

"No, I hate you."

"Just admit it, Warrior Princess."

"What the heck? Where did you get that nickname?"

"What? It's cute though."

Zelia pushed Minho so that he could get out of laying on her thigh. Instead of getting angry, the young man just laughed at the girl. She just rolled her eyes at him.

"I know I'm cute, but the nickname you give me are disgusting." Minho sat on the bed and faced Zelia.

"What do you want me to call you? Shorty? Bossy? Firecracker?" He paused as if he had come up with a good idea. "Firecracker it is! It suits you very we-"

Before the young man could finish what he had to say, the girl threw a pillow at his face.

"Get out. You're talking too much. I'm going to sleep." Minho didn't complain and just laughed softly before standing up.

"Good night, Firecracker!" Zelia was about to throw a pillow at the young man again, but he quickly ran to the door to get out of her room.

The girl just shook her head and lay down on her bed. She didn't realize that she was smiling right now.

After the confession, even though Minho teased her every day, she was aware that there was no hate or negative emotion in the words he uttered. Even though they didn't start well since the very first day that she arrived, she knows he's trying his best to make up for everything he did to her.

But I'm not going to tell him that; I know he'll just tease me and be more happy because I acknowledge his efforts. I know that guy; he'll grin until he looks like a shank.