stars × cnblue kangminhyuk

4 : Do You Remember Last Night?

My gaze fell onto my bare, pale thighs. Where the hell did my skinny jeans go? Only then did I realize I was wearing nothing but a short white bathrobe—without even my underwear underneath. Panic shot through me like lightning. My chest tightened as tears welled up, sliding hot and fast down my cheeks.

What had I done with him?
What had he done to me?

Maybe my sobs weren't as quiet as I thought, because Minhyuk stirred. His eyes opened slowly, then widened when he saw me crying. He panicked for a split second before sitting up straighter, his usual smugness nowhere in sight. For the first time since I'd met him, Kang Minhyuk looked... at a loss.

He kept his eyes down, glued to the floor as if it might swallow him whole. His Adam's apple bobbed as he stole a quick glance at me, then quickly grabbed the comforter and wrapped it tightly around my waist, covering my exposed thighs.

He cleared his throat, his voice awkward and unusually soft. "Sorry. I didn't mean to—"

"What sorry?!" My voice cracked, shrill with panic and anger. "What have you done?!"

I snatched a pillow and hurled it at his face with all the fury I could muster. He caught it with insulting ease, sighing deeply. His calmness only made me more furious.

"Shit," I muttered through clenched teeth, wiping my tears roughly. "I don't care if you're an idol. I deserve to be respected, Minhyuk."

The words hung heavy in the air.

He didn't argue. He didn't mock me. He just sat there, letting out another deep sigh. The silence was deafening, pressing against my temples until my head throbbed. I regretted everything. I regretted going to dinner last night. I regretted letting them pour me beer. I regretted trying the spicy jjigae. I regretted the whole damn night.

Finally, Minhyuk broke the silence. His voice was low but steady. "I'll make coffee. It'll help with the hangover. And... I swear, I didn't do anything to you. Nothing happened between us. Take your time to remember."

Then he got up, walked out, and gently closed the door behind him.

Take your time to remember.

The words echoed in my skull like a curse. His tone, the certainty in his voice—it sent shivers down my spine. Why did it sound like I was the one who'd done something bad last night?

I forced myself to think. To dig through the foggy reel of memories. I remembered Yonghwa's question—"Who gave you the hardest time?"—and my instant answer: Minhyuk. Always Minhyuk. I even called him a cow to his face in front of everyone.

I remembered his annoyed expression. The way he kept asking why I hated him. My drunk self didn't hesitate—I told him I hated him straight up.

Then Sunny teased that people often ended up marrying the one they hated most. That's when things spiraled. The laughter, the teasing, the smirks. Then Siwon—oh, that Satan in disguise—smiling like he'd just come up with the best prank in history.

And then the bet.

Everything replayed in my head like a movie, vivid and relentless.

Oh shit.

Now what do I do?

☆

"No no no, this brat won't be a good husband!" I crossed my arms stubbornly, pouting as the others burst out laughing. Minhyuk looked like a ticking time bomb, his jaw tight, his hands clenched into fists on the table.

I wobbled in my seat, the dizziness from the alcohol washing over me. My head throbbed and the world tilted. I collapsed back into the chair with a thud, and the room spun.