𓍯20𓂃

Dove's

I stare at the vending machine in disbelief.

Seriously?

I press the button again. Nothing. I try another. Still nothing. My snack-my much-needed, well-deserved snack-is stuck, dangling from the coil like it's mocking me. And my money? Gone. Just like that.

I let out a long, dramatic groan and lean forward, resting my forehead against the cold metal in defeat. "Of course. Of course, this would happen to me today."

"I'm almost afraid to ask, but... what's wrong?"

I don't even have to lift my head to know who it is. That voice-soft, amused, laced with just the right amount of curiosity-it's him.

"Nothing," I mumble, still pressed against the machine. "Just bonding with the one thing in this school that hates me more than my math grade."

There's a small pause, then a chuckle. "That bad?"

I finally lift my head and turn to see Minho standing there, arms crossed, eyebrows raised. There's no teasing in his expression, just genuine amusement.

"The vending machine ate my money," I sigh dramatically, pointing at the still-unmoved snack. "And now it refuses to give me my food."

Minho hums thoughtfully, stepping forward to inspect the situation. "That's annoying." He tilts his head. "You want me to get it for you?"

I blink. "You can do that?"

His lips curl into a smile. "I can try."

I step back, crossing my arms. "Alright, vending machine whisperer. Go ahead."

Minho rolls his shoulders, sizing up the vending machine like it's some kind of opponent. Then, he lifts his hands and gives it a little shake. Nothing. He frowns and shakes it harder. Still nothing.

Determined, he crouches slightly, leans one shoulder into it, and gives it a firm shove. The vending machine whirs, but my snack? Still dangling.

Minho steps back, squinting at it like it personally offended him. "Okay. This thing is evil."

I snort. "Oh, so now you believe me?"

Ignoring me, he sighs, places both hands on the glass, and glares at my stuck snack. "Fall. Just fall already," he mutters like he can intimidate it into submission.

It does not fall.

I bite my lip, trying so hard not to laugh. "Minho-"

"No. I got this." He rolls up his sleeves like he's about to go to war. Then, in one last desperate attempt, he lightly kicks the side of the machine.

Nothing happens.

Minho slowly turns to me, looking deeply betrayed by both the vending machine and the universe. "...I don't got this."

That's it. I lose it. A fit of laughter bursts through me. Minho groans, dragging a hand down his face, but I can see the smile creeping onto his lips despite himself.

"Alright, fine," he sighs. "You win. But in my defence, this thing is clearly rigged."

Still giggling, I take a deep breath and nod. "Agreed." I press the return button, hoping for a miracle-

And suddenly, the vending machine whirs to life.

We both freeze. Then, with a loud clunk, my snack drops into the tray like it was never stuck in the first place.

Minho blinks. I blink.

"... Are you serious?" he deadpans.

I grab my snack, grinning. "Guess it just needed to see you suffer first."

Minho shakes his head in disbelief but chuckles. "Unbelievable." Then, as we start walking away, he glances at me, eyes warm with amusement. "At least tell me that was very impressive."

I roll my eyes, unwrapping my snack. "It was definitely something."

Minho just smiles, nudging my shoulder lightly. And somehow, the vending machine fiasco doesn't feel so tragic anymore.

As we walk away from the vending machine, I tear open my snack and take a bite, humming in satisfaction. "See? All that suffering was worth it."

Minho scoffs beside me, hands in his pockets. "For you, maybe. I'm still recovering from my public humiliation."

I nudge him playfully. "Oh, please. You were so confident. The vending machine just humbled you a little."

"I was robbed," he corrects, shaking his head, but there's a small smile tugging at his lips.

And then-

Dae.

He appears from the other side of the hallway, slowing to a stop the moment his eyes land on us. His expression freezes for just a second-like he wasn't expecting to see this. Me. Minho. Together.

I meet his gaze, offering a small smile and a wave.

For a moment, his face softens, the corners of his lips lifting into that familiar, warm smile. But then his gaze flickers to Minho, and instantly, his expression shifts-cool, unreadable.

Minho notices. Of course he does.

There's a beat of silence, like we're waiting for someone to speak, for something to break the tension. But before Dae can react further, Minho shifts beside me.

"I should go," he says casually, turning to me. His tone is light, but there's something in the way he says it-like he's giving Dae space, like he knows it's better this way.

I blink up at him. "Oh. Okay."

He gives me a nod, his usual smirk absent for once. Then, without another word, he turns and walks away, his footsteps fading down the hallway.

I glance back at Dae, whose eyes are still locked onto Minho's retreating figure. His jaw is tight, his expression unreadable.

I shift awkwardly, gripping my snack. "So... vending machines hate me."

Dae blinks, finally snapping out of it. He looks back at me, his face relaxing just a little. "They what?"

I laugh, shaking my head. "Long story."

And just like that, the tension eases-if only a little.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

Dae and I sit on a bench in the courtyard, the late afternoon breeze rustling the leaves around us. The air is cool, but the sunlight peeking through the trees makes it feel warm enough. I shift slightly, staring down at the half-eaten snack in my hands, trying to find the right words.

"I should've told you," I say finally, my voice softer than usual. "About me and Minho."

Dae glances at me, his expression unreadable. "Told me what?"

"That we're... on good terms now," I admit, peeling a piece of the wrapper between my fingers. "I figured you wouldn't want to talk about it, so I just... didn't bring it up."

I risk a glance at him, expecting tension, maybe irritation. But to my surprise, he just smiles.

"It's fine," he says, his voice light and sincere. "Really, Dove."

I blink. "Really?"

Dae chuckles, shaking his head. "Yeah. I mean, was it weird seeing you two together? A little." He shrugs. "But if it means you can finally spend life here at KISS without all that stress? Then I'm happy for you."

I stared at him, the weight I hadn't realized I was carrying slowly, lifting from my chest.

"You're really not mad?" I ask because a part of me still expects him to be-even though this is Dae, and Dae has always been this person.

He smiles again, nudging my shoulder lightly. "Nah. I think we've all been through enough drama, don't you?"

I let out a small laugh, nodding. "So much drama."

Dae grins, leaning back on the bench. "Then let's keep things simple from now on."

I look at him, warmth blooming in my chest. "I'd like that."

And for the first time in a long time, it feels like everything is exactly where it's supposed to be.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

🥹 Dae...

He's genuinely so sweet!

And Minho! Omg the way he 'helped' Dove and just gave Dae space.

Also, you know how when you've had a big fight with your friend/boyfriend/girlfriend and y'all apologize but are still awkward, but one day you just begin talking and acting like before? That was the vibe I was going for with Minho and Dove in this chapter.