Winter Hearts

Codename: Dessert

Siana, get a hold of yourself!

Maybe Leo wants me.

It would be really something if Leo wanted me.

Wouldn't it be cool if a pop idol were to fall in love with me? Those were more accurate ways of thinking that errant thought.

Who was she kidding? ALL those thoughts made her insides churn.

But all she had were her thoughts and just interpretations of his actions. There was no real definitive action on his part that proved that he wanted her to be his.

She was seeing things that any fan who had alternately loved and lusted after her idol would naturally see, especially after spending only a few hours in close contact with him. But had he ever said anything? No. Had he really ever sought her out to be with her? Well... she couldn't tell if their hanging out together that day meant anything to him. It certainly meant a lot to her - but she could only presume to be a good acquaintance to him, that was all.

In real life, if Leo wasn't someone she had admired from afar, who was famous, gorgeous and now living in the room upstairs, would she feel the same way about him? If he was just some cute kid whom she had known for a day?

YES, Oh my god, YES, look at him, he's so beautiful! she screamed to herself internally.

A Serious Siana thought butted in: But can he make you happy?

Siana suppressed a giggle. She felt like she could skip to the balcony and do a flying double flip into the darkness and start flying, that's how happy she thought she could be.

Then again, she was only thinking about the now. If she really looked ahead to an imaginary future together, she saw a bleak, heartbreaking tale of crossed cultures, long distances and bad exposure to the public.

She shivered. She didn't want to put her life on display. She was happy with her work, her small but meaningful and purposeful dreams, and her family and friends.

She chewed on some fruit. Just a day ago she was daydreaming on the flight over here that she had bumped into Vixx in her imaginary workplace, imagining Leo noticing her as they got into the cargo lift together. She smiled a little, thinking of how in her fantasy, Leo had leaned in towards her in the elevator, almost as if to kiss her, but had really played a silly trick on her by pressing all the numbers in the lift before getting out in time for the doors to close.

Her daydream had gone from full-fledged crushing on one hot idol, to being pranked, punked, and trolled by him.

She spooned a mouthful of honeyed yoghurt into her mouth, still smiling, as Hakyeon sat down in his seat again with a happy thud.

She turned to look at him questioningly. He smiled at her then looked down at her lips. Before she knew it, he had cupped her face with his hand and used his thumb to wipe at her upper lip.

Surprised, she used her napkin to dab at her mouth, just as N sucked the yoghurt and honey off his thumb and smacked his lips loudly. She could only gape at N, surprised that he was quite casual about it. Well, some people were, though she didn't feel comfortable sharing straws and cutlery herself.

"Mmmm, that's delicious. Leo-ssi, have you tried some?" N smiled innocently at Leo, spooning some fruit into a small bowl. Leo seemed to be glowering at N as he held out the bowl to him.

Hyuk laughed. "So childish, hyung. Don't worry, Siana-ssi, N-hyung does this indirect kiss thing with everyone, including me. It's tiresome."

Siana laughed it off, but she saw Hongbin's eyes go wide as he locked eyes with Hyuk. He reached out to get the bowl that N was holding out, and placed it in front of Leo.

N continuted, speaking pointedly to Leo. "See, I've had some already. What are you waiting for? Or maybe you wanted some but were too shy to ask? Or have you already had some, Leo-ssi?" N seemed to be laughing, but Siana wasn't watching him.

She was perplexed to see a flush creep up Leo's neck and into his cheeks. She could hear N idly continue chattering as he served up another bowl. She felt a strange tension in the air, and it was hanging between N and Leo.

"It's rare to come across lovely things like this. You shouldn't be shy to have some. You must take the opportunity now, while you can. There won't be anything like this back home. "

N held the bowl out to Hongbin, all the while looking at Leo. "Hongbin-ssi? Would you like some?"

Hongbin seemed hesitant to take it, looking between N and Leo.

Suddenly Leo reached out and grabbed the bowl, placing it squarely in front of Hongbin.

"Your point?" Leo's voice had a dangerous edge to it. Siana couldn't bear the tension, and stepped in to try to placate him.

"But he's right. You won't find this anywhere else, it's a local delicacy. There would be nothing like this back home. It just wouldn't taste the same."

Siana felt all eyes on her. Hongbin seemed to be holding his breath. She thought she saw a vein pumping blood in Leo's temple as he turned to look at her with wolf eyes. She almost flinched, he looked like he was going to devour her.

What the heck was going on with these boys? They were so k-drama emo.

"Is something wrong? What's up?" She asked them all.

Mikhalis suddenly appeared by her side and put a hand on her shoulder as he sat down.

"Young N here is a playful fellow, isn't he? But I don't think all his friends appreciate his sense of humour. Me neither."

He smiled warmly at N. N bowed, saying sorry with a smile.

Mikhalis turned to Leo and put a hand on his shoulder. Siana saw Leo's face soften and relax. He forgot all the previous tension and was responding to her father's gesture.

"But, N is right. We go through a life full of opportunity, but we don't take them because of our belief that maybe it's not ours, or we don't deserve it. But all we have to do is reach out to take that opportunity. That's what you mean, don't you, N?"

N nodded. Mikhalis continued.

"Did you think he meant something else?" Mikhalis waited patiently for Leo to answer.

Leo looked briefly at N before answering, "Yes I did."

Mikhalis didn't press him for an explanation, but simply nodded.

"I can see why and I think perhaps even that was deliberate on N's part. However, to avoid bloodshed, let 's believe he was speaking of loftier things."

Hongbin, Hyuk and N laughed as Leo nodded politely with his eyes downcast. He looked relieved that he was let off the hook, as if he didn't really want to explain what all the angst was about.

Siana, on the other hand, was feeling agitated. She felt increasingly like she was being locked out of a little boys' club where everyone spoke in silly code language so the girls couldn't understand what was going on.

She pouted into her yoghurt as she chased a grape around her bowl with her spoon.

She was going to have words with her dad tonight.