Make Me STAY

JJAM

Minho and Rose continued to exchange letters. Sometimes they were only a sentence or two, and other times they were pages long. After a few exchanges, they were no longer responding to each other, but sharing a collection of random thoughts they wanted the other to know. The letters became precious items that could be kept as memories of the beginning of their relationship.

Little gifts also continued to appear on Rose's desk. She began to realise that Minho was showing her how much he knew about her through the gifts he chose. He knew she didn't like roses, that she limited the amount of sweet treats she had so that she wouldn't overconsume. And he also knew of her love of organisation and stationery, by the gifts that appeared on her desk next. She felt a little uneasy constantly receiving gifts, but it seemed important to him, so she didn't protest.

Today, Minho was taking her out on a date. Their first date. Rose was very curious as to what they would be doing. He wouldn't tell her anything, but that she didn't need to dress up. This made her very confused when they pulled up at an expensive-looking restaurant. She would've felt underdressed had Minho not been in casual clothes as well.

Minho led her inside. Holding his hand distracted her enough that she didn't notice the other couple approaching them.

"Noona!"

Rose's head whipped up at the familiar voice. It was Seonghwa from ATEEZ. She didn't get to see the Idols she used to work for very often, but they stayed in touch.

"Seonghwa? Why... what a surprise! I didn't know you'd be here."

She turned to Minho, whose eyes shifted nervously.

"I hope you don't mind a double date."

Double date, she thought. Her gaze landed on the girl tucked under Seonghwa's arm.

"Zoey! It's been so long."

Rose had met Seonghwa's soulmate on one of her first visits to Seoul and had given Zoey a mini tour around the city while ATEEZ were busy with work. They had bonded over their mutual English homeland and having K-pop Idols as soulmates.

The two couples headed upstairs. It was then that Rose found out they weren't there to have dinner together, but for a private cooking class. The room seemed made for this purpose, with multiple cooking stations. Only two of them were set out for their session.

Rose was looking over the ingredients that had been set out, trying to guess what they would be making, when Minho stood next to her. When she turned to look at him, he raised the apron he was holding and put it over her head.

"Turn."

Once her back was to him, he tied the straps of the apron. Rose breathed in deeply as she felt his hands brush against her back. She looks up and sees Seonghwa doing the same for Zoey, and the girls smile at each other.

The chef who was teaching them introduced himself and explained what they would be doing before handing over the recipe. As the chef talked, Rose looked down at the counter to read over the recipe. Minho stepped closer to her, standing half behind her, almost leaning against her back so that he could see the recipe too. While Rose tried to concentrate on the words in front of her, she couldn't hear anything but the beating of her heart, which had sped up at the feeling of Minho standing so close.

A clang had her look over at Seongwa and Zoey. The Idol was picking a spoon off the floor while Zoey covered her face with her hand. After placing the spoon in the sink, Seonghwa wrapped his arms around Zoey, trapping her arms. Rose just made out their whispered conversation.

"If I hold you like this, you can't cause any more trouble."

"I don't do it on purpose."

"I know."