•

        Giving her one last glimpse of his eyes, he pulled her close, placing her hands on his chest whilst holding them tightly, and like a feather against a palm, planted his lips against hers.

•

        Five seconds passed and a pair of lips were still connected.

        Baekhyun was the first to pull away; the feeling of his heart pummeling furiously against his ribcage was overwhelming. He continued to hold Mina's hands against his chest, feeling as though they were bringing life back to his numb ones.

        Mina's eyes were already fixed on him, stirred and confused. Did I kiss back? The connection must not have lasted more than a few seconds, but Mina could swear her mind rocketed through space, thoughts stretching for years.

        Tears.

        The silent works of water caught Baekhyun off guard, frightening him. "I-I... Mina?" But the worn out girl was out of it, only responding with soft hiccups. He was scared that it may have been his actions that triggered this. But she kissed back...

        Did he get the wrong idea during their brief time of intimacy? Was it even intimate?

        This was the second time he's seen her be this emotional.

        He loosened his grip on her hands, thinking that she wants her space, but it shocked him when she responded oppositely. She tugged on his fingers, making sure he doesn't get any farther away. Baekhyun relaxed a bit, seeing how she wasn't pushing him away, although it didn't help make anything less puzzling. Thinking that maybe letting her cry might be the best option, he surrendered to the idea and did.

~

        "No one I know is works here, if that's what you're worried about." Baekhyun explained.

        After a solid twenty minutes of standing in the lonely park, Baekhyun led her back into downtown into a quieter coffee, one that obviously couldn't compete well against Calor's Café, and into a booth where they sat face-to-face.

        That doesn't stop people from recognizing me, she had wanted to answer Baekhyun. "Thanks." She huffed before slouching into the corner of the booth. Knowing that he was aware of the way everyone saw and treated her made her feel... ugly. Not physically, (her self-esteem when it came to her looks didn't exactly skyrocket as much as it dwindled), it was more of the ugliness that founded itself from shame, disgrace, and ignominy.

        To Mina, Baekhyun was a light, kind soul that somehow was able to love and be loved by everyone. 

        She didn't know him well enough to confirm it, but she just felt that way. The thought of his friends "warning" him of her has definitely crossed the girl's mind, and as much as she wished it would never happen, it probably has. Imagine being despised by the kindest person. How rotten would one have to be for that to happen?

        Her sudden change in mood, yet again, did not go unnoticed. Chirping lightly, he looked up to the register. "How about I go order something?" After asking Mina what she wanted and her monotonal reply of "Anything.", he slid out of the booth, leaving Mina alone with his sketchbook across from her.

        A minute later, a chime fluttered in the air and a wind flew in through the door, indicating the arrival of another customer. The impact of the door shutting blew a strong enough breeze to reach Mina's table, flipping the pages of Baekhyun's sketchbook open and landing it on the page he last bookmarked with a pencil.

        Peering, her eyes took in the penciling of each line and the smudging of each shadow. It was obviously a drawing of the abandoned park they came from. The lifeless trees, rusty slide, broken bench, and... is that me?

        This time, she didn't hesitate to grab the book and bring it closer. The face wasn't recognizable because from where he must have been sitting, physical features would have been too small to show; but he did manage to catch the Japanese character for happiness that was printed in white in the middle of her navy blue hoodie.

        "Do you like it?"

        His sudden presence caused her to instinctively toss the sketchbook away from her grip. Startled, she looked to him as he sat down with a tray. "I-I didn't mean to- sorry for touching without permission." Lowering her head in slight embarrassment, she closed shut the drawing, remembering to leave the pencil in there along the way, and slid the sketchbook back to its owner.

        He chuckled with a shy smile, "I don't mind, don't worry." He passed the hot chocolate towards her and held out two giant chocolate chip cookies, while he settled for a cappuccino and a bread roll.

        To his relief, he saw a hint of appreciation sprinkling in her eyes. Amused, and quite proud, Baekhyun remembered back when she was resting in his apartment when it first clicked to him that she had quite the indulgence for chocolate. She ate all of the cocoa cereal and only ate the chocolate filled cookies that he offered.

        "So," he began when glanced at his sketchbook again. "What do you think?" He pushed his coffee aside to make room for the drawing. "I'd like to get some criticism before I add the finishing touches and turn it in." Mina shrugged, not moving her gaze whatsoever. "C'mon, it's an assignment. I could really another pair of eyes to take a look at this." Baekhyun was grateful of the fact that he managed to catch his tongue in time before blurting out, "a pair of gorgeous eyes." It would've made things intense again.

        She looked up with her lips still attached to the opening of her cup and noticed a smile on him probably sweeter than both the cookies and hot drink she was consuming. "I'm not all that artsy."

        "It's okay, just tell me what you don't think fits." He encouraged.

        "Nothing, everything looks fine." She set down her gaze once again.

        "You're lying."

        "I think it's a pretty dra–"

        "What don't you like about it?" He insisted, loving the flow of the slight argument.

        "Nothing."

        Sighing, Baekhyun took a sip of his coffee before glancing at his work. "You know, it'd be very helpful and I'd probably get an 'A' on this if you–"

        "The swings." Mina blurted.

        His eyes met hers before they focused back on the sketch. "What about them?"

        "The person on the swing." Baekhyun nudged for her to continue. "She– or he –doesn't really "fit" in the picture." Mina didn't want him to think that she knew who the person was.

        "Really?" Baekhyun pouted slightly, eyes not leaving the sketchbook. "But she's supposed to be my main focus, the punctum, the center of it all."

        Mina nearly choked on her hot chocolate, earning a little smirk from him. Why was she his focus? What a little bastard, she thought when she noticed his amused look. "W-well you asked, I just answered."

        "Well, I think she's too cute for me to change."

        This time, she really did choke. "You can't even her face, though."

        "Doesn't really matter, she's absolutely beautiful? Want to see a picture of her?"

        More concerned than bashful at his words, Mina raised a brow. He has pictures of me? After nodding slowly, she waited for him to take out his phone, praying that he doesn't end up as a creepy stalker.

        "Here." He showed her the screen.

        Mina brought her face closer to the phone, only to be met with her own reflection. When she realised that her eyes blinked the same as her face on the screen did, she immediately shot a gawk at the boy. He did not just pull that move on me.

        Not knowing whether his stupid smile or her stupid reddening cheeks pissed her off more, she swung her leg across, hitting his shin.

        Baekhyun hissed, bending down to grab hold of his leg in pain. "What?" He half whined and half laughed. "I know you're aware that that is you in the drawing." He smirked playfully. "So why–" The college boy had to end his sentence with another grunt because her foot came in contact with his other leg.

        "Shut up."

        "People hug after they kiss, not abuse each other."

        She didn't think it was possible for her to blush even more, but when she thought about the kiss and how warm and tingly his lips were, her mind changed. Extremely flustered, she sought for the first thing in front of her, which was a napkin, crumpled it up, and chucked it at his face. "I said, shut up."

        Baekhyun blinked, first in confusion and then seconds later in later delightment. "Was that supposed to hurt?" He teased.

        "Do you want it to?" She gritted, sending a daggered look.

        Sighing with a fakingly, he then noticed the biting of the inside of her cheek, indicating that she was probably holding back a smile. It sent his heart jittering thinking about it. The last time he witnessed her doing so was when he sang to her back at the apartment. He remembered it being the most benign thing he'd ever seen and, wanting to catch glimpse of it again, he decided to find a way to make her smile enough for her not be able to hold it.

        He hoped it won't trigger anything that will make her leave.

        After the atmosphere between them settled peacefully and while Mina was on the last bite of her cookie, Baekhyun took initiative. "You really like chocolate, huh?"

        She took a sip before answering. "You could say that."

        Disappointed when she didn't say anything else, Baekhyun asked another question. "What else do you like?" He rested his chin on his palm.

        Despite the simplicity and innocence of the question, Mina paused, suddenly feeling invaded. "Why do you want to know?"

        He responded shyly with, "I kinda just want to get to know you more." But he cursed mentally after noticing the sudden shift in her mood. Was I too careless?

        Like a light, it was as if someone had switched back security mode in her. Mina carried her gaze elsewhere. With slight regret, she began questioning how she even ended up with him in the first place and acknowledged the fact that she had let her guard down. Way down.

        How could she agree to coming here with him and accept the cookies and hot chocolate? Shouldn't she be furious at the fact that he had drawn a picture of her without permission? Did she just simply forget about Jun? If she couldn't do it for herself, she had the man in front of her to think about to say the least.

        "Mina?" Baekhyun waved. When she looked up back, he saw coldness in her eyes once again. Before he knew it, she shuffled in her seat as if to get to ready to leave. He couldn't exactly understand the reason behind this sudden change, but he knew one thing for sure: he didn't want to let her go. "Hey."

        Mina abruptly got to her feet, setting her cup on the tray. "I have to go," she claimed, leaving the table and existing the shop. But Baekhyun wasn't having any of it. He followed her tracks outside and before she could get to far, he ran past her to block her from moving any further.

        Seeing as to how she's not going anywhere anytime soon, she sighed in frustration. He doesn't get it. She wished he did. She wished so damn hard that he could know everything. She wanted to tell him exactly why things had to be this way, but her selfishness was keeping her from doing so. Mina knew that telling him would be the exact same thing as her seeking for his comfort and help.

        But she just couldn't. She didn't want him knowing what she a part of, yet she wanted to keep him aware so he doesn't get into any danger. She wanted to him to leave her alone yet a little piece within her wanted him to continue to cling to her.

        The reckless thoughts made the girl groan internally in frustration. What did a stupid kiss do to me?

        "I didn't think it was stupid." Baekhyun whispered. There a clear wound in his tone, as much as he wanted to mask it. It was impossible to look past him. Mina just couldn't do it. If she hated anything more than the way her life has ended up, it would be the word can't. "You are not just gonna leave like that. You can't."

        That damned word again.

        "Do you resent me that much?" He asked.

        The exact opposite, she wanted to say. Instead her shoulders slightly shifted up and down.

        "So you don't hate me?"

        Another shrug.

        "You like me then?"

        Shrug.

        "Annoyed by me?" This time a slight smile stretching his lips.

        She responded no different than the last three questions.

        "Infatuated?"

        Pretty much, she thought with every bit of strength holding her back from showing it. To distract both him and herself, she rolled her eyes and attempted to step back, but Baekhyun was quick enough to hold her wrist in place. "Please, I want to leave."

        "And I want a chance with you."

        She bit back a flustered reaction. "Why are you being like this?"

        "Easy, I like you."

    Her heart exploded.

Dammit, dammit, dammit. "W-what are you saying?"

        "Have dinner at my apartment. Maybe if you get to know me better, you'll think I'm a decent guy."

        "I don't–"

        "Granted, I'm an awful, but my roommate is the next Gordon Ramsay. No joke."

        "But–"

        "Plus, you owe me." He interrupted again, still not aware of his surfaced habit yet.

        His upbringing of the topic shocked himself more than it surprised Mina. But he didn't really want anything in return for helping her. He had chosen to do so, but he also was aware of her pride and as uncharacteristic as it was for him, he thinks it worth taking advantage of it just this once.

        Just to get her to stay.

        Time froze for Baekhyun as he slowly tightened his cold fingers around her wrists, urging her to make the decision.

        Eyes met, hearts pumped, and breaths hitched before Mina relaxed her shoulders, sighing. "Fine. Only because I owe you." Keep telling yourself that.

~ ~ ~

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