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5. Trust Me

"She called out today?" asked Minho surprised as he stared at the exasperated barista in front of her. "Do you know why?"

"Nope, I'm not her boss..."

Minho smirked, nodding his head as he moved to take his leave from the coffee place. He had been planning to check on her during his morning break like always, but she wasn't there. It was odd to him that Bonita would call out and especially even odder that she wouldn't tell him. If anything, this caused him to be concerned that something had happened to her during the storm the other night. Digging out his cell phone, he dialed her number as he walked off in the direction of her apartment.

- - -

After eating the eggs she had prepared for breakfast and calling out of work so she could try and help Bang Chan like she promised, Bonita went into the living room to look at her unplugged DVD player. Bang Chan sat on the couch behind her as she tried to plug it in to see if it was well and truly fried — and of course — it was. She knew it would be after seeing the smoke come out of it the night before, but she had to check.

"So, you're saying my life is a television show?" asked Bang Chan.

"Yes," said Bonita. "I was watching your show and had left it on pause last night before I passed out. The storm fried my DVD player during that time."

'Could it be possible the storm had something to do with popping him out of the show and into my apartment?' thought Bonita.

Her cell phone rang to break her out of her thoughts then. As she picked it up from where it sat on the television stand, she saw it was Minho calling her.

"Hey, why aren't you at work? Are you okay?"

"I umm...I'm okay."

"Um okay? Not just okay?" asked Minho. "What's going on?"

"Nothing. I'm fine."

"Bonita, I know you..."

"Look, you're being paranoid. I appreciate the concern, but I'm really fine," said Bonita as she turned to look at Bang Chan sitting on her couch.

"Well...I'll find out for myself in a matter of minutes. I'm almost at your apartment."

Bonita paled. She knew she could trust Minho, but at the same time, she didn't want him to find out about Bang Chan yet, especially when she was still trying to make sense of the situation for herself.

"You're almost here?"

"Yep. Right at the stairs actually."

It was then that Bonita could hear footsteps up the metal staircase outside, causing her panic level to soar through the roof. Putting her phone back down on the television stand and getting up, she grabbed Bang Chan by the arm to tug him quickly to his feet as she made her way towards the laundry room.

"Stay in here," she begged as she moved to shut the door. "I just have to get rid of my friend first...okay?"

"Get rid of him?"

"Yes," said Bonita, not able to explain more as a knock suddenly came at her front door.

She shut the door on Bang Chan, moving to open the door to see Minho standing there with the phone still to his ear.

'Crap I didn't hang up.'

"I um...hi...Oh!"

Minho entered her apartment without waiting to be let in, casting his gaze about the place.

"Who are you trying to hide from me?" asked Minho. "I could hear you talking to someone."

"I um..."

Minho turned to face Bonita as she shut the door to her apartment, her face flushed from having to keep up this charade with her best friend. Minho misinterpreted the blush thoughts he hung up his phone and put it in his pocket.