Chapter 2

I was met with a strong hug the moment MJ found me in the milk tea shop, those smaller arms of hers looping around me tightly as if it's been years since we last met.

For context, our last meet-up was two weeks before. It was a Saturday where we spent all day with each other, and she listened to me ramble about Roy over drinks.

Anyway.

"You keep hugging me like that, I'll really think you miss me," I joked. I gave her back a squeeze before letting go. "It's only been a few weeks, MJ."

"A few weeks is long enough," she said, smiling brightly up at me. She was dressed up today; winged eyeliner, jacket over her shoulders, stiletto heels and all. Even her short hair was curled neatly as if she had just come from a photoshoot. I was sure it made an odd picture how someone so put-together was matched with someone like me, who only wore a button-up and pants even on my best days, but then, I didn't really care.

"What did you want to drink?" I asked.

"Chestnut cream jasmine green tea would be great!"

I nodded promptly. It was a new flavor to me; like always, it was a reminder of how MJ liked trying new things whenever she could, as compared to me, who stuck to one thing once I knew I liked it. "Got it. Just wait here and I'll buy it for us."

She waved me off with a smile right as she took her seat. "Okay!"

With that, I turned to head for the cashier. Though I wasn't as much of a regular here as compared to the café given the distance from my office (and I didn't want to drink milk tea that often, what with the amount of sugar in it), the cashier still managed to make me feel like she was familiar with me.

"The usual?" she asked, smiling knowingly.

"The usual," I agreed. It was either this person had a good memory, or I came here more often than I thought I did. "And one large chestnut cream jasmine green tea, please."

She nodded, and I paid the amount that showed up on the till. I received the receipt with my order number with a small "thanks," before returning to my table with MJ.

The moment I sat down, MJ asked, "I'm guessing you already saw Roy's post?"

I felt my heart being soothed at the mere mention of Roy's name, like an entire day of work was worth it just for the sheer fact that he existed. It was probably extreme of me to think that way, but that was how I felt. "It was a miracle that I got notified the moment it was posted today," I said, grinning. "Right on my break too."

She grinned back at me. "Destiny, then. Maybe the post was meant just for you."

I laughed. "Don't be ridiculous."

"Hey, what if! Just what if that's true?"

"It was 4pm," I chortled. "That's the usual time for a break for anyone."

"Hey, you could at least dream a bit? Where's the romance?"

I rolled my eyes, yet smiled all the same. MJ really had the weirdest thoughts just because I felt some affection for Roy. "I love him as an inspirational figure, that's all."

"I can agree that his face is inspiring..."

She laughed when I slapped her lightly on the arm.

"You keep saying that, I'll start thinking you're the one in love with him," I teased. "Are you just projecting on me?"

"Ew, no."

"Hey, what do you mean "ew"?"

"I mean," she laughed, "He's not my type? I prefer them a bit more...puppy-like."

"He's not puppy-like for you? I think he's cute, though," I said. I thought of Roy, all six feet and lean muscle, with his child-like smile and sparkling eyes. Even the way he treated children made him seem like a child himself, rather than a brother or father figure. "He's tall with a decent build, but his mannerisms make him feel like he's a pure-hearted guy."

"He's like a big dog, but not the cute kind of big dog," she said seriously, tapping at her chin thoughtfully. Her nails, now that I could see them, were done up with intricate nail art. How cute. "He's just. Big."

I raised a brow. "Oh?"

"Oh, you pervert!"

I cackled when she kicked a foot out to hit my leg in the side. At least she didn't use the sharp end of her heels. "You started this!"

"I did, but I didn't mean it like that!"

"Oh, didn't you?"

"Hey now!"

Like that, we fell further into laughter and seemingly meaningless conversation. She told me about her moment as a lucky fan when she met Han Minsoo this morning, all because she happened to be at the same hotel as him—though, Minsoo had been there as a guest, while she'd been there as the hotel owner.

"He's an idol so it's expected that he's handsome, but his face really is my type," she gushed, hands to her blushing cheeks. "He's just so pretty, you know? I want to take a bite out of those cheeks."

I snorted on a laugh. "I mean, you're cute enough that he'd probably let you."

"You think so?"

"Mm, of course. My standards for beauty are pretty high, after all."

"We'll see," she said, a determined gleam to her bright eyes. "I won't look for him, but if destiny declares it, we'll definitely meet up again."

"Are idols even allowed to date?"

"Who says we have to date?"

I hid a laugh into my fist. This woman, she really was something. "You call me the pervert, and yet?"

"I'm being realistic here!"

I shook my head at her argument. "Alright, if you say so."

"Order 76!"

I stood up at the sound of the cashier's voice. "That's our order."

MJ smiled, and gave me another wave to see me off.

I didn't know if it was just me overthinking it, but somehow, it felt like there was a strange light in her usually-bright eyes. As if there was something she was holding back from saying, and she'd only been momentarily distracted by our conversation from earlier.

Though I never understood her reasons for visiting me so often, I knew enough to accept that she just had her own whims. It wasn't something I questioned because it was just how she was. What if it was different this time, though?

Was there actually a reason that she suddenly dropped by to see me this time?

When I returned with our drinks, she let out a sigh and rested her chin on her steepled fingers. She didn't say anything even as I sat and set both our drinks down, however, so I figured I'd let her take her time to say what it was she needed to say.

I ended up getting distracted along the way, focused as I was on looking through the old photos Roy had posted on his social media account. A photo of his cat as she hung over his shoulder, a photo of him working out, a photo of his favorite line from a book he'd been reading, a photo of his latest sketches...

Then MJ nudged my hand down, and she dropped a bomb on me.

She knew Roy.

She's known Roy for a while now, and she wanted me to meet him.

She knew that I loved Roy, and so, wanted to give me a chance to see him in person.

I sighed, and fiddled with my fingers as I considered her words.

"Then, I'll..."

She looked expectantly at me.

"...I'll think about it."

MJ's expression fell at my unenthusiastic response. Of course, why wouldn't it? She'd been offering me what would've been any other fan's dream, and here I was, rejecting her easily.

"Look, it's nothing serious," I said, smiling awkwardly. "It's just, I'm still trying to digest that you really know him."

"Oh!" She smiled again, resting her cheek against her clasped hands as she kept her elbows on the table. "Then, that's okay! You can take your time to think about it, I don't mind."

I took another long sip of my milk tea. It was cool in my mouth, and the tapioca balls falling onto my tongue were a welcome distraction for me to chew on as I processed the reality she was trying to present to me. I ended up asking, "How did you meet?"

"Through work, like always," she said simply. "There was a shooting—you remember his drama two years ago? The one with the heiress and the medium."

"Ah, Oracle Hotel? That was in one of your hotels?"

"Got it in one."

I nodded. It made sense then, that they met up. "And you hit it off?"

"Oh, no. There was actually something that happened," she said, voice trailing off into a thoughtful silence. Then she smiled in a way that I couldn't quite read. Like she was hiding something, maybe. "Well, I'm sure he can tell you himself. It was a minor argument."

Well, that wasn't at all concerning. "You got into an argument with Roy?"

"He was very tall."

I paused.

MJ looked away as she drank her tea. She didn't say anything for a minute, then another, and another.

It took me a moment to understand what this all meant, and when I did, I laughed.

How could I have forgotten? I've known MJ for years, and if there was one thing she had a complex about, it was her height. "You fought with him because you didn't like how tall he was? You're so petty!"

Her eyes widened in betrayal, and her small lips curled down into a frown. As she gently, yet firmly, set her drink down onto the table, she complained, "He tried to crouch while talking to me, like I'm a child! That jerk was too much!"

I laughed again. That sounded exactly like Roy. For all his maturity and intelligence, he could certainly act like a brat at times.

That made him cute in my eyes, though.

"Sorry, sorry," I wheezed, covering my mouth as MJ glared at me. "That was rude of him, I agree."

"You're still laughing!"

"Because it's so funny?"

"Fia, you traitor!"

I kept laughing even as she smacked me on the arm.

"...he's a jerk, but I love you enough to reconsider my opinion of him," she said eventually. She was pouting as she said it, though. "And yet, you're laughing at me."

I wiped at my teary eyes. "I'm really sorry."

"Well, if you're really sorry..."

"I'm not going to model for you."

Her pout worsened. "That wasn't what I was going to say, but I'm disappointed anyway."

I finished off my milk tea with a long and loud slurp. "Then, what?"

"Let's go on a trip? You're always so busy with work, but I really think you could do with a vacation."

A vacation seemed fine enough, but...

I eyed her warily. "Where?"

"Japan?"

An incredulous laugh escaped me before I could stop myself. "You do realize I still need to have a visa for that? And I can't take that long of a vacation from work. Plus, the budget..."

She sighed, resting her cheek against her open palm. "I told you, you could just quit work and I'd sponsor you."

"I'm not going to be your sugar baby, no matter how much I love you."

"Oh, boo. I'd be a great fructose friend!"

I shook my head at her teasing. I knew she was just joking, but her insistence on the matter would make anyone else think otherwise. "Of course you would. Unfortunately for you, my pride won't allow me to take charity."

"It's not charity if I'm paying for you to act cute for me."

"That's even worse."

We shared a laugh.

Then, once we'd calmed down, she said, "You'll really think about it, won't you?"

I looked over at her, and found her looking hopefully at me.

This wasn't about the sugar baby jokes anymore, was it? Just to be certain, I asked, "Think about what? Going to Japan?"

"I meant meeting with Roy, but that also works."

I huffed out a laugh. "Yes, I'll think about it. As for Japan, I'll think on that when I have more free time."

She frowned at me. "You never have free time."

"Then I guess I'm never thinking about it."

Her frown deepened like she'd been done a great injustice, making me laugh. What a strong reaction for such a small thing. "I'm kidding," I said. "I'll find some free time. You'll just have to remind me, but not that often."

"Well, I figured," she huffed. "Your memory can be a bit weird. You remember the dates for Roy's lives, but you don't even remember your own schedules sometimes."

I smiled serenely at her. "I have great priorities."

"Terrible priorities, you mean." She shook her head. "He's a decent enough friend, personally, but the love you have for him... he's too lucky, that guy."

"Aw, thank you."

"Maybe you shouldn't meet after all," she grumbled, mouth pressed to the rim of her cup. "You're too good for him."

"Well, okay."

She frowned at me again, turning those puppy-dog eyes to me just enough that I felt an odd pang of guilt. "You weren't supposed to agree to that! I want you to meet the man of your dreams, even if it's that guy!"

"He's not—"

"Fia, I just want you to let love into your life," she moaned, reaching out to grip both of my hands in her hold. For someone with such small hands, she certainly had enough grip strength to be a little intimidating. "Not necessarily romantic love! I just—!" She sighed, pulling at my hands until she could rest her forehead on our clasped fingers. "I want you to receive all the love you deserve."

Part of me wanted to blurt out something self-deprecating. That I didn't deserve that much.

I bit my tongue, however. I've grown up enough to learn to shut that down before it could fester. That cruel inner voice might never disappear, but that didn't mean I had to listen to it.

"Thank you," I said instead, shifting my hands in her hold until I could squeeze her hands back. "Really, MJ. That means a lot to me."

"Mm."

"I promise I'll think about it. I'll give you my answer this Saturday, how about that?"

She looked up at me, that sparkle returning to her doe eyes. "You swear?"

I nodded. "I swear."

She smiled widely.

It was cute, but somehow, it gave me the feeling that I just signed a contract with the devil. With that still-wide smile and a tight grip on my larger hands, she told me, "I'll hold you to it, then!"

"Right..."

Just what did I get myself into?