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        Baekhyun stared at his blank canvas with a poker face.

        He was currently in art class and the instructions were to sketch something that represented a plot twist that had occurred in your life. It couldn't be obvious nor blunt, no, the drawing had to be, as the professor described, dicey. How students took that word completely depended on them.

        But while most of the more ambitious artists seemed to have immediately known what they were going to do, Baekhyun was part of the lesser amount that were still trying to define the word 'dicey'.

        The boy shook his head. The assignment wasn't all that puzzling, and he knew that. Draw an unexpected moment in life but be unpredictable and creative with whatever you draw. That was the basis of it.

        In irritation, Baekhyun tapped his mechanical pencil on the side of his knee. He's been like this all day. He was so restless.

       I know she'll be fine, but I'm still worried.

        It's been a week since Mina was able to walk properly again, for it hadn't taken her knee that long to heal. And it's been a week since Baekhyun's thoughts been filled with mainly her. He could not make sense of the reason why.

        Maybe it was because of the fact that she had left without him knowing when.

        He knew she was healing fast, but still, he wanted her to linger around for a bit. Without realizing it, he missed waking up earlier than usual to make a good breakfast and just waking up for someone in general, despite the short amount of time she spent with him. He had hope to at least see her their writing class, but she hasn't been showing up.

        Baekhyun blamed his desperation and confusing feelings on his loneliness. Maybe I should find a roommate?

        In the midst of his pondering of ways to deal with these unwanted emotions, he saw his classmates pack up and begin to leave. Class was over. Baekhyun shoved his belongings into his bag, discontent that his small canvas was blank. I'll think of something soon, he thought as he trotted while the cramping emotion chewed his heart.

~

        "So, are you ever gonna tell me where you went missing for like 3 days?"

        Mina glanced up from her drink to look at the boy questioning her. "I told you already."

        "Uh, no, you actually didn't."

        "Sehun, just drop the topic, please." She huffed, resting her head on the dining table. They both were at Sehun's house, with neither of his parents to be found because they don't exactly approve their son hanging around with a girl, let alone a girl like Mina. Not to worry though because even Mina herself understood this as well.

        "You showed up at my house a week ago, on your own, without responding to any of my calls or texts, looking awfully beat up and you just want me to drop it?" He was baffled at her.

        "I can leave if you want." Her voice was serious as she deadpanned at the kid. The reason she considers him a kid is simply because the boy Oh Sehun was still a senior in high school.

        Through his stare, it seemed to Mina that he was taken aback by her words. He rested his elbows on the table as his hands held his cheeks while sighing. "You know I don't mean it that way."

        Sehun did not receive a response, but he expected that from the stubborn girl whose buttons were easily pushed. Wanting to lighten the mood, he pouted. "Noona~" he cooed, earning him a hard slap. "Ow! What the hell??"

        "You ass!"

        "What did I do?!" He shouted back, biting the insides of his cheeks to refrain from laughing.

        "I told you not to ever call me that." She mumbled the last part.

        "Fine, bitch."

        "Asshole."

        Sehun laughed at her annoyed expression, shaking his head. Despite her tough, hardcore image, he knew about her softer, jokester side, in which he liked to poke at occasionally.

        The room they were in gradually became silent. Nothing but the rhythm of Mina's finger tapping the table could be heard. Sehun's eyes never left her face, as he examined the faint but noticeable scars. Sometimes he really hates this tough armor that Mina shielded herself with. He wants her for once to admit she has a problem to him, so he could help her.

        "Was it Jun?" The tall, young lad spoke softly but careful. He wasn't a hundred percent informed on everything going on in her life, but he a gist of what went on.

        Jun. That name echoed through Mina's mind. Shudders slid down her spine, but she stayed put. Based off her silence, Sehun assumed the answer was yes. But worried him the most was her expression. He couldn't describe it other than being fearful and full of anxiety and discomfort.

        And it has stayed like that since she came to him a week ago. Why does it look like she wants to cry this entire time?

        Fearing of the disgusting thoughts that trickled in his mind and hoping that none of them were true, Sehun stood abruptly, fists clenched and heart beating rapidly in anger. "What did he do to you?!"

        His actions startled Mina. Her vision sunk into his eyes only to find rage and panic. She's never seen him like this before. "Hey, calm down–"

        "F-ck no." He slammed his hand on the table, making her jump. "You can't stay quiet about shit like this."

        "Sehun, I–"

        "Look, I know you know how to fight, and it's pretty obvious that's what you two did." His voice much softer after that. "But let me ask you this... did he, in any shape or form, touch you in a way that was out of line?" He spoke with delicacy.

        "No!" Mina understood exactly what he was talking about. "I-I... Jun isn't like that. Sure he's immoral and plain sickening most of the time, but I don't think he'd go that far. I would know." She said with barely a whisper. The last part confused Sehun, but she continued, "Plus, it was one of his ugly-ass men that I fought.

        "Did he bother you?"

        "Indirectly." Her fists were sweating in anger and anxiety. "He was bothering an innocent girl on the streets. He was touching her and just trying to do things to her. Absolutely horrifying and disgusting things. I couldn't stand there and do nothing!"

        He reached over caressing her her clenched hands in his palm, "Sit down and relax."

        Not ever realizing when she stood up, nor ever caring, she sat back down and let out a deep breath. "Anyways, no one has to worry about him anymore. The sucker is where he should be now. Behind bars."

        Sehun's eyes widened, not believing what he just heard. "How's you put him in jail?"

        "The girl called in the middle of me beating the shit out of him." Her mind wandered back to that day. "He kept using things to throw and hit me with, which was why it was a pain in the ass." She swallowed some of her room temperature coffee.

        She recalled how he'd smashed a beer bottle against her leg, which was how a glass shard got stuck in her knee. Luckily, unlike most of Jun's men, he was quite small, shorter and less buff.

        Silence once again filled the space, but was cut when Sehun sighed, wanting to change the mood. "Well, that's my girl. Student by day, vigilante by night. Who knew you were this badass."

        Almost choking, she forced her the rest of her coffee down before replying. "I'm not a vigilante, and I am most definitely not your girl."

        Sehun couldn't help his smirk. "That's what they all say."

        "Who's 'all'?" The girl chuckled, allowing her jokester side to peep.

        That was when Sehun smiled internally.

        As they were both teasing and roasting each other, their conversation was cut short when someone came downstairs and walked into the kitchen.

        Mina knew the boy, she's seen him before, but she knew so little about him. All she was aware of is that he Sehun's shorter, older adopted brother who was (at least to her) very shy and quiet.

        He was staring at the both of them, but then averted his attention to the fridge. The boy never left Sehun nor Mina's sight as he looked over the refrigerator. "You guys hungry?"

        After glancing at Mina, Sehun replied, "You're gonna cook for us, Kyungsoo?"

        So that's his name, Mina noted.

        Kyungsoo turned to face them, "Well, eomma called and said she and appa are gonna be late tonight. Seeing as how we have a guest today," he nodded softly towards Mina, "I think it'd be nice to fix something up real quick."

        The girl felt shy under Kyungsoo's big-eyed glance. "So, what about it?" Sehun bumped her shoulder with his. "I guarantee that his "fix something up real quick" is literary a five-star gourmet meal."

        She cleared her throat. "I uh... I'm not so sure I can." Her mind's thoughts scattered all over to look for an excuse.

        Sehun pulled her her arm to snap her from the flustered state she was in. "It's okay to accept an act of kindness, you know."

        In a split second, she witnessed something similar to what she saw in Baekhyun's eyes.

        "Please?"

~

        "That was absolutely the most delicious thing I've ever had." Mina pushed back her plate, and leaned back.

        "More please." Sehun voiced, slurping the last few noodles.

        "There's none left." The older brother pointed out, much to Sehun's dismay.

        "What?! But I'm still hungry." He whined.

        Kyungsoo ignored him and stood up while grabbing a few of the dirty plates. "Eat cereal."

        Sending a disappointed groan, Sehun decided to help clean up instead. "Hyung, who's gonna feed me like that when you go?"

        Mina's head sprung up as she set her own dish into the sink.

        Kyungsoo recognized the confusion and curiosity in her expression. "I was supposed to move out before I started school since the University is kinda far from here, but I haven't gotten the chance until now to plan it." He explained, while Mina nodded her head quietly, understanding the situation now.

        She stood a bit to the side, as she watched the brothers exchange words between each other like family members would. It made her heart swell for two different reasons: the height difference and how close of brothers they seem.

        She wondered if having someone close like that would give her the same warmth Baekhyun did.

        Because it's been a week, and she has never longed for something so badly.

~

        Baekhyun gave his place one more closer look, before knocks were heard.

        "Yo, Baekhy– oh shit, what if this is the wrong apartment." Baekhyun laughed, knowing exactly who it was.

        He opened the his door, greeting his friend warmly with a playful hug. "You're late, Yixing."

        "Wha– Hey look, it was Minseok's fault." The black haired lad defended, as a guy who unfamiliar to Baekhyun just slightly smiled and shook his head.

        "Yeah, whatever." Baekhyun's slightly rolled his eyes.

        In the past week he's gotten much closer with Minseok and Yixing and has opened to them more, allowing him to show what he's actually like. He learned that they're extremely loyal and helpful people. In fact, that was the reason Yixing was here.

         "Oh and of course I can't forget why I'm here." Yixing scratched his hair, looking back and forth at Baekhyun and his friend next to him. "Baekhyun, Do Kyungsoo. Kyungsoo, Byun Baekhyun."

         They shook hands politely and Baekhyun just had the gut feeling that Kyungsoo will make things much more interesting in his home.

         "I hope we become close and learn to take of each other." Baekhyun hoped.

         "Same here, though I feel like we're already on our way. Anyway friend of Yixing and Minseok's, is a friend of mine."

        Baekhyun smiled lightly at his words, as he helped bring in luggage. "Welcome to your new home, roommate."

~ ~ ~

I promise more feelsy and fluffy Baekhyun and Mina moments in the next chapter.

Thank you.

vote, comment, stay beautiful.