𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 ᵗᵐʳ ᵃᵘ

Chapter 27: Not in control

I feel like this story is very fast-paced. What do you guys think? Here's 1900+ words in apologies to my last two short chapters. This chapter is cringing the fuck outta me btw.

I don't like him. Period.

"I know something's up," Teresa said. We were currently walking around the mall with the others, mostly looking for Christmas gift ideas because we were merely days away from it.

"I don't know what you mean," I said as we walked around with iced coffees and no, I don't care that we sound basic.

"Yes, you do. This is day three of you and Minho ignoring each other. I haven't seen you speak to him since three days ago," She explained.

"We spoke once, excuse you"

"Right... Even though you two are like in denial it's weird seeing you two not arguing," She said.

"I agree," Brenda added. At least I didn't tell them about what happened in the bathroom. They would have been strange about it. Like they would have squealed so loud if I didn't know the situation I'd think I was just proposed to by my celebrity crush or something.

"Nothing is going on between us," I groaned.

"That's not what Aris said," Teresa mumbled and I turned to face her.

"What?" I asked.

"I heard from a little birdie that there was a kiss." She said and my face instantly turned red.

"A kiss, eh?" Harriet asked.

I scoffed. "No. Aris probably made that up," I said.

"He heard it from Minho so don't even try lying," Teresa said.

"Oh..." Goddammit, Minho. WHY?!

"So... you got anything to tell us?" Harriet asked again.

"No," I responded quickly.

"Hm, I think you do." She said, raising her eyebrow. I looked over at Hana and her expression was unreadable. Like I couldn't tell if she was mad, shocked, or just didn't care.

"It was nothing. Something happened and he tried calming me down." Worry flashed across their face immediately.

"What happened?" They asked in unison.

"Nothing to worry about, I swear. He said he read that kissing someone helps calm them down."

"Correction, if you're close to that person or if you trust them, then it works. If you kiss a stranger when they're having a panic attack, I don't think that'll calm them down," Hana said.

"I guess."

"So, you like Minho?" Brenda asked.

"Is that all you got from the conversation?" I asked.

"Definitely," She responded.

"Well, no... I don't." Okay. That may be a lie. They don't need to know that I'm lying.

"Right, right, and you didn't push him away either," Teresa said.

"It was for the three seconds," I scoffed.

"Your reflexes are faster than three seconds, Anika," She said again.

"I'm aware," I mumbled.

"So why didn't you push him away?" Brenda asked.

"I don't know," I muttered.

"Or, maybe because you actually like him," Harriet said.

I nod slightly. "I think so." They all froze and looked at me.