Step by Step

Chapter 3

Both of you slept right after because of the tiredness. The sun was starting to rise when you woke up briefly and realized that your left foot was on his shin so, calmly, you tried to move your leg without waking him up.

"Ugh damn it" - you whispered as you successfully returned to your place.

You tried to sleep again but kept thinking why you were still there. The sun was shining outside, it was no longer so cold and you didn't have more reasons to be afraid. And your roommates would probably start to come back home soon. That was when you decided to leave his room and go back to yours. You got up quietly, trying to not make any noise opening the door. You looked back to see him basically with all his body out of the blanket but somehow, he was still connected to it so you decided to leave it behind, hoping Minhyun would be the last to arrive.

You closed the door behind you, finally breathing with relief but little did you know that Jonghyun was already awake. He didn't open his eyes thinking you were going to the bathroom or something and after a few minutes he realized what happened when he heard your steps upstairs. "That was quickly." - he sighed in his bed.

After lunch, you asked him if you could get the blanket to put on Minhyun's bed and when you were tidying up the room, Jonghyun brought up the subject you wanted to forget.

"You left pretty early today, huh?"

"Yeah" - You panicked a little bit because you didn't know what to say. - "I did. There weren't more reasons for me to stay, I guess."

"Wow. Throwing me like that."

"I'm just saying I wasn't scared anymore, JR. Nothing else. The day was already up. I wasn't cold anymore too so I left for you to sleep better."

"But I was already sleeping well."

"Well, I thought I was bothering, that's it, ok? There's no reason for you to be mad at something like this."

"But I'm not mad." - He faced you giving the pillows he was holding for you to put on Minhyun's bed. - "I was just wondering if I was the one bothering you."

"No, you didn't. I've slept well there too but I thought it was better for me to leave, that's all."

"Okay... glad it worked, you know?" - He laughed at you. - "If you need anything, you know where you can find me." - He said leaving the room and bowing like a prince.

"Thanks." - You laughed at his silly ass as you finished making the bed.

Two days have passed after this. You didn't have much contact with him, it felt like everything was in the past. However, your best friend missed the class that day, she was a little bit sick and the teacher asked the class to study in pairs. Jonghyun quickly pointed to you. He did that so fast that you got shocked and everyone was impressed with his reaction, you got a little flustered.

"Fine" - You said looking at him as if that was a massive punishment for you. - "Come here."

He went to you just fast as when he pointed at you, smiling like a small puppy meeting someone he likes.

It was a new subject to study and at the end of the class, the teacher said that the pairs that had been made, would be the duo for the semester's research paper, and those who missed the class would do it by themselves. You thought how screwed you were with this, he was one of the smartest guys there and you couldn't complain about it but you knew it would be a long ass ride.

"Welcome aboard." - He said looking at you.

You sighed so loud but gladly your classmates were even louder discussing who would be their partners.

Jonghyun questioned if it was fine for you to go to this study cafe to start your project right away. You accepted it, especially because the sooner you start it, the sooner you would finish.

It was 5pm and you got in the bus to the city center, he was right behind you. You sat there next to the window, still had several empty seats around you so he stopped for a few seconds trying to decide what he would do. He was going to seat on the other side of the bus yet he sat right by your side.

The ride was going to be quite long and you two were silent as much as it could be.

"You don't remember, right?" - He said watching you admire the sunset through the window.

"Remember what?" - You looked at him but you were still immersed in that landscape. Jonghyun smirked. - "What?"

"You really don't remember." - He lowered his head and look at his hands. - "Me."