𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 - 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒇 (𝑨𝑴𝑩𝑾)

52: sweet surprise

Liliana’s POV

The craving hit me hard—red velvet cake with ice cream. The kind that melts perfectly in your mouth, rich, soft, and sweet. I needed it. It was already 7:30 p.m., but the pastry shop down the street stayed open late. No excuses.

I threw on a cropped hoodie over my tank top, pulled on some cargo pants, and grabbed my phone. As I stepped out of my building, my eyes immediately landed on someone near the entrance.

A familiar figure.

A tall guy in a loose, patterned shirt, big baggy black pants, and stylish sneakers. He had a beanie pulled low over his head and wore shades, even though the sun had long since set.

My steps slowed.

I had seen him before. A few days ago, in the complex. It was brief, just a passing glance, but I remembered thinking, Is that who I think it is? Now, as I stared, my gut screamed the answer.

Before I could fully process it, he cracked open a bottle of soda—only for it to betray him completely, splashing straight into his face.

“Ah, f—” he yelped, ripping off his shades as he wiped his face with a handkerchief from his pocket. He hissed in annoyance, then looked up.

My heart stopped.

Dafuq?!

That was Song Mingi. From ATEEZ.

Standing right there, in front of me, wiping soda off his face like this was just another random Tuesday evening.

My entire system glitched.

I froze, my mind racing at the speed of light while my body remained completely useless. My mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out.

Mingi’s eyes flickered to me, and I knew the moment he realized I recognized him. He gave me a polite, almost apologetic smile—the “oh shit, I’ve been spotted” kind—then turned to walk away casually.

I just stood there, staring.

Cake? What cake?

By the time my brain caught up, he was already disappearing down the sidewalk. I fumbled for my phone with shaky hands and immediately called Sarah.

She picked up instantly. “Lili? What’s—”

“Girl!” I whisper-yelled. “Mingi stays in my apartment complex.”

Silence. Then—

“EEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHH?!!?” Sarah shrieked so loudly I had to yank my phone away from my ear.

“Are you for real?! Song Mingi?! As in, ATEEZ Mingi?! My Mingi?!!”

“Yes! He’s right here—well, not anymore, but he was! He was standing right in front of me, looking all tall and fine, and soda just betrayed him!”

Sarah was losing it. “Did you talk to him?! Did you say anything?!”

I winced. “Uh… no.”

“WHAT?!”

“I WAS IN SHOCK, OKAY?! My brain shut down! Do you know what it’s like to see someone you’ve only ever watched on your screen, just standing there like a normal person?! In your neighborhood?!”

Sarah was practically hyperventilating. “You better become besties with him, Liliana! This is your moment! Befriend him! Flirt! Do something!”

I groaned, rubbing my forehead. “Sarah, please.”

“I don’t care! If you don’t get close to him, I will fly to Korea myself. I’m not playing.”

I snorted. “You don’t even have a passport.”