I can read your smile - Choi Minho SHINee Fanfic (COMPLETED)

Chapter 10 - Before your date

~2 months later~

~Crystal's POV~

I was in the kitchen lazily making something to eat, when I heard the front door open.

It's been two months since I've last seen Minho, and we haven't spoken too much while he was away, either. Just a quick text here and there where he asked me if the house is okay or if anything interesting happened.

He came through the door with a big luggage and a smile on his face, and despite the blatant rejection two months ago when he broke my heart, I really missed him. The distance helped clear my head, and I was almost sure I was romantically over him, and ready to be just his friend and roommate. Just like before Taemin's birthday.

It was going to be okay.

"Hey!" He spoke happily, seeing me. "It's good to be home."

"Welcome back!" I smiled and went over to him, and we hugged. "How was the trip?"

"It was so fun!" He replied. "The ocean was so beautiful, and the people very friendly. My family and I had a great time!"

"I'm so happy to hear!" I smiled genuinely. It was good that the awkward atmosphere between us didn't seem to stick. I didn't want to remember that suffocating feeling.

"Oh, and I brought you something!" He rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a small, brown paper bag. "Open it!"

Inside the bag was a beautiful handmade bracelet with my name on it, made of small dark blue crystals.

"Oh my, this is so beautiful! Thank you so much!" I exclaimed, putting it on my left wrist.

"I'm glad you like it." He smiled, watching fondly as I was admiring the bracelet.

"So, besides cruising the ocean and swimming the days off, what else did you do?" I asked him as I went to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water, handing it to him once he took off his shoes.

"I... met someone, I think." He said, slight hesitation in his tone.

"Really? Wow!" I exclaimed, surprised. "Nice, that's amazing!"

I tried to feel happy for him. I moved on, and he met someone, and that was good – no, that was great!

Still, I kept thinking... why not me?

It was dumb to ponder on what could've been.

It wasn't.

It isn't.

And it won't be.

So I just have to be happy for Minho and his new girlfriend, and root for them.

"Yea... my cousin introduced us. She seems like a really nice girl. I still have to get to know her better, though."

"I hope it works out for you. Truly." I smiled.

"Thank you, Crystal. How have you been?"

"You know, just the usual. Work, home, work, home... and my summer withered away." I joked.

"Sounds like fun." He laughed.

"Yea. I was making something to eat. Want some?" I offered him, and he nodded so we headed to the kitchen together while I cooked some rice and butter chicken.

Minho told me about all the fun activities he did during the holiday, how he didn't apply enough SPF and got sunburnt the first week, then had to rest inside for a few days until his skin healed, he told me how polite the locals were, and told me more about the girl he started to date.