The mall buzzed with activity as Minho and I walked inside, the hum of voices blending with the occasional beep of registers. Minho’s eyes were wide, darting between the bright displays in each shop window.
“We could check out that one first,” he suggested, pointing to a store on our left.
“Sure,” I replied, following his gaze. “Let’s go.”
We made our way to the store, Minho staying close beside me. As we entered, I turned to him, noticing how he hesitated just inside the door.
“Do you want to buy from here? We could look for something more high-end if you’d like—”
“No, no, this is fine!” he interrupted, waving his hands between us as though to stop me.
“Alright,” I said with a small smile. “Go ahead and look around. I’ll grab a cart.”
He nodded, shuffling toward a rack of sweaters, his hands brushing lightly over the soft fabric. I returned with the cart and trailed behind him as he moved through the aisles, occasionally glancing at me for reassurance.
“This one! Can I get this?” Minho asked suddenly, holding up a beige sweater paired with white cargo shorts. His eyes were wide with excitement.
I smiled at his enthusiasm. “Of course. Let’s find a few more things, though.”
I took the outfit from him and placed it in the cart. We spent the next half hour exploring the store, pausing every ten minutes to let Minho rest his legs. He couldn’t walk for long stretches without tiring, but his smile never wavered.
By the time we reached the cashier, the cart was filled with clothes. As the woman scanned the items, I glanced at Minho, who was staring at the pile with a grin that reached his eyes.
After paying, we left the store, our arms full of bags. I turned to him as we stepped into the mall’s main corridor.
“Where to next?” I asked.
He furrowed his brows in thought before shaking his head. “I don’t think I need anything else.”
“Well,” I said with a smirk, “we’re going to the shoe store anyway. You need new shoes.”
He blinked in surprise but didn’t protest as I led the way to the escalator.
Once inside the shoe store, I gave him free rein to pick out two pairs he liked. He wandered the aisles, scanning the shelves with care.
“I think these are enough,” he said eventually, holding up a simple pair of sneakers.
I nodded, and after paying for the shoes, we left the store.
As we walked back into the main mall area, I heard a soft growl. Turning to Minho, I saw his cheeks flush pink as he wrapped his arms around his stomach.
“Hungry?” I teased, biting back a laugh.
He pouted, mumbling something incoherent, and I chuckled as I steered us toward the food court.
We chose a table near the edge of the seating area. “How about tteok-bokki?” I asked.
Minho nodded eagerly, his eyes lighting up at the suggestion. I went to place the order, returning a few minutes later with the steaming dish. We ate in comfortable silence, his initial embarrassment fading as he dug into the food.
After finishing our meal, we decided it was time to head back home. The day had been long, and I could tell Minho was starting to feel the effects of all the walking.
---
The drive back was quiet, the soft hum of music filling the car as Minho rested his head against the window. Once we reached home, I parked in the driveway and stepped out, grabbing as many bags as I could manage. Minho followed, taking a couple of the lighter ones.
“Go ahead and put your things away,” I told him as we entered the house. “I’m going to shower.”
He nodded, disappearing into his room with the bags. I headed to the bathroom, letting the hot water wash away the day’s fatigue.
After changing into comfortable clothes, I slipped into bed. The room was quiet, and I should have been able to drift off easily, but something felt… off.
I tossed and turned, my mind restless. Checking my phone, I saw the time: 2:51 AM.
Closing my eyes, I tried to force myself into sleep, but every time I did, an image of Minho’s face appeared in my mind. His shy smile, the way his cheeks flushed when he was embarrassed, the sparkle in his eyes when he found something he liked—it was like he had taken up permanent residence in my thoughts.
I groaned softly, flipping onto my side.
What was happening to me?
I tried again to sleep, shutting my eyes and focusing on my breathing. But no matter how hard I tried, his voice, his laughter, his everything kept playing on a loop in my head.
Minho.
Lee Minho.
LEE. MINHO.
I opened my eyes with a frustrated sigh, staring at the ceiling. My chest felt tight, my thoughts a chaotic mess. Why couldn’t I stop thinking about him?
The memory of him holding the beige sweater flashed through my mind—the way he’d hugged it to his chest like it was the most precious thing in the world. Then there was the look on his face when he was picking out the sneakers: hesitant but hopeful, like he was still getting used to the idea of being able to have something for himself.
My heart clenched.
No matter what I did, where I went, or how hard I tried, he was always there, occupying my thoughts.
The rest of the night passed in a haze of restless movement, my mind caught in an endless loop of memories and questions.
What are you doing to me, Lee Minho?
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A/N: This was short compared to the last few chapters-
