Minho closed his apartment door behind him, locking immediately as he kicked his shoes off. He sat down on the barstool at his kitchen counter, replying to a message one of his friends had sent. After he sent the message, one more came through from Hanni. He sighed heavily, seeing the words 'coming soon'. He looked back at the living room — he hadn't tidied up the boxes from the day before.

Minho stood up, gathering all of the tied-up boxes in his arms as best possible. He slipped in a pair of shoes easy to take off and unlocked the door again, pushing it open with his backside. He made it to the elevator, staring up at the number above the doors as it finally reached his floor's number.

"Need help there?"

Minho glanced sideways, meeting eyes with a dishevelled Jisung. "O-oh! Hello again. I'd actually appreciate the help, thank you."

Jisung took perhaps a third of the boxes Minho carried, holding them out in his arms. Jisung bowed at the other, seemingly as he had forgotten that they were just acquaintances. The silence was awkward, and Minho didn't have any idea how to revive such a dead atmosphere.

"So you're a student, you said?"

Minho almost sighed in relief, almost excited that Jisung started the conversation first. "Yes, first year postgraduate," he answered as they stepped into the elevator. "Just finished up my degree in literature and world history last year."

"Oh, so you must be busy, then," Jisung hummed. "Do you attend classes in person, or...?"

"Oh, no, it's all online — I work as well," Minho answered with a slight laugh. "My parents cover most of my educational expenses while I cover my living costs. I have no life, essentially, but at least I've got a place of my own."

"This place is terrible, though..."

"I'm quite close with the landlady's daughter, so I practically got first dibs," the older replied. "It's fine, though — I like studio apartments."

The elevator stopped, and they stepped out, walking out the lobby to the recycling bins outside. Jisung yelped as he heaved the boxes up into the bin, leaning against it tiredly. "That was unreasonably heavy. How did you do that?"

"Good general fitness," Minho laughed. "I'm just strong enough for things. Thanks for the help, though. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

Jisung nodded, bowing his head as he walked away. Minho bowed as well, a small smile creeping onto his lips. They always seemed to have the smallest, insignificant interactions, yet they brought a smile to his face. He saw a group of girls standing outside the gates of the apartment block and recognised the Vietnamese girl he was friends with.

"Minho! Open up!"

"Yah, I'm older than you!"

•

"Woah, this place is so cool!"

Minho sat in his kitchen as the group of girls overtook his living room area, squeezing beside one another on the couch and even sitting on the arms. "Mind introducing me to your friends, Miss Pham?"

"Oh, you're right!" Hanni gasped, suddenly standing up. "Girls, this is Minho oppa. This is Sullyoon, Hikaru, Wonyoung, and Bahiyyih."

The girls all bowed their heads, and Minho repeated the action awkwardly. "All high school, huh? Wow, I feel old in this room."

"Wait, how old is he...?"

"1998—"

"WHAT?!"

"Hey, I have an apartment. Did you expect me to be a kid?!" Minho exclaimed, his voice whiny as he complained. "I turn 25 this year. Sad, I know."

"But you look so young—"

"Hikaru, shush!" one of the girls laughed, covering another's mouth.

Hanni walked over to Minho in the kitchen, leaning over the counter. "Do you have snacks for us? I'll pay you back, I swear."

"You don't have to, Hanni," Minho said, standing up to reach into the cabinet above his head. He took out a few packs of chips and ramyeon, putting them on a counter. "I'll make some budae jjigae for you guys as well. All your parents know that you're here, correct?"

"My mom gave me permission to stay out later," the blonde girl said with a thumbs-up. "Besides, it's a Saturday, so no school tomorrow."

"By the way, Hanni asked as she invited herself into the kitchen to help prepare the budae jjigae, "who was that guy you were talking to? Your new boyfriend?"

"You know I won't date this year, I'm too busy," Minho said, shaking his head. "And no, he's just my neighbour. Quiet guy, seems to keep to himself. I'm not that interested in him anyways."

Hanni pouted her lips slightly. "Get a boyfriend already because I want to see you looking all cute with a guy! When do you think you'd start dating people?"

"Hanni, stop being a weird little fujoshi and finish putting water in the pot."

"Yessir."

•

The girls sat around the coffee table in the middle of the living room area, eating and talking together while Minho sat on his couch and delivered input occasionally. The two ended up talking about boys, naturally, and given his queer behaviour, Minho thought he knew a thing or two about a boy's mind.

"I think he's cute," Wonyoung began, "but I don't even know if I can just tell him I like him or whatever. He's not even my type, I just find him very cute!"

"Guys aren't as picky as you think," Minho told her. "Dohyon or whatever his name is sounds like an okay guy. What makes him so special?"

"Wonyoung always had bad taste in boys," Hikaru said, laughing as Wonyoung gasped in shock. "It's true! Dohyon is so awkward and lanky. I'm pretty sure he still plays Yu-Gi-Oh."

"He's so nerdy and cute, though!" Wonyoung exclaimed. "You play card games too, I think you're the nerd here."

"You're correct, I need to reflect on my mistakes as a Genshin Impact player."

Wonyoung humphed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Dohyon is cute, okay? He's not the standard but I like him."

"What about you, Hikaru?" Hanni asked. "Who do you like?"

"Me? Obviously Nishimura Riki."

The girls squealed and shouted in excitement. Minho was shocked that they could get excited for something as trivial as boys. No matter, he still listened intently as they spoke wild compliments about 'Riki'. He suddenly smiled. "And you, Hanni? What boy do you like?"

"Hanni likes girls!"

"Bahiyyih—!"

The girls looked at the blonde girl in shock. Bahiyyih covered her mouth, her eyes softening as she thought she did something wrong. "But Hanni said we could..."

Minho laughed slightly, waving his hand dismissively. "Jeez, I already knew that. You think I'd let Hanni hide anything from me?"

"Why didn't you say anything, Hanni?! I thought I outed you!"

"Bahiyyih, are you crying?!"