"You have to smile. Smile like you're really excited" – Kim Taeyeon

Taeyeon's POV

When I get out of the shower, I go over my schedule for tomorrow. Just because I have a date tonight does not mean I can afford to slack off, being the head girl, and now a participant in the art contest. I need to finish my drawing by Friday, and there's still the issue with the locker.

And, of course, the incident with the sprayer.

My life would be easier if this kind of thing never happened. And the worst part about this incident isn't that it disgraces the school's image, but the fact that some of the teachers think that Luhan is the perpetrator.

It is a ridiculous notion, of course. Luhan may not always think before he acts – he is a sensitive person, after all – and he does overreact, sometimes, but he would never do something of that scale. This is destruction of public property, not some schoolboy prank. Therefore, it is something Luhan would never be involved with.

Speaking of Lu, he should be coming any minute now, and I still haven't fixed my hair or chosen my clothing for tonight…

I'll go with a red neckholder and jeans – not too classy and not too sassy. Since Luhan refused to tell me what kind of person I am meeting tonight, aside from "Don't worry, he's funny and our age" I'll not dress to impress, but to feel comfortable.

I can hear a car's horn hooting from outside. Luhan, for once in his life, is right on time.

"Gosh, Taeyeon, seeing you dressed up always makes me wish that our school didn't have uniforms."

I roll my eyes. "And you wonder why everyone thinks we're dating"

Luhan snorts and speeds up to cross the road before the traffic light jumps to red. While I'm recuperating from my almost-heart attack, Luhan changes gears and slows down – a little.

"Taeyeon, don't get me wrong, but I'd never date you. I'm not into incest."

It's an insider between him and me, that since we're as close as normally only siblings are, us dating would be incestuous. It still makes me laugh.

"Don't worry, namdongsaeng. I wouldn't molest you."

"What a relief," he replies, voice deadpan.

I enter the café five minutes early. It's just enough time to re-apply some mascara and lip-gloss, nothing too burdensome. I've foregone eye-shadow as well as nail polish, not intent on looking perfect, just, well, pretty.

"Hey, Taeyeon. What can I get you?"

My head turns in surprise when I hear Minho's voice. I didn't know he's working here! Or that he has a part-time job he needs to manage along with his other schedules.

"Minho! Well, aside from some information on how you managed to hide this job from me, mineral water with a sprig of lemon would be lovely"

He gives me a blinding smile. "Coming right up, Noona"

"Don't think I'll let you get away that easily," I laugh, and he smiles again.

"Alright, but if I get fired you'll have to find me a new job" Once again, I find myself laughing, and mentally make a note to thank Luhan for his wonderful idea.

Just when Minho starts explaining how he ended up at the café after getting kicked out of the gaming hall, another waiter calls for Minho's help, leaving me alone at the table on the patio. Some guests leave, others come…among them, a boy I think I've seen somewhere before, but no, there aren't any boys with pink hair attending our school aside from RapMonster one class under me.

Nevertheless, I can't help but smile when his eyes find mine, so open and mischievous.

"Wow. I didn't think you'd actually be pretty."

O-kay.

"Well, I didn't think you'd have such exotic hair."

Just wait, Luhan. You're going to suffer.

The boy smiles sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "No, please don't get me wrong, it's just that my friend, Chanyeol, sometimes messes with me when it comes to dates, and I thought just now that the chances of someone as beautiful as you actually waiting here for me are really, like, super-slim and oh my god, please tell me you won't leave because I don't think I could ever forgive myself for scaring you away, and shit, I really hope you don't mind that I haven't brought you flowers or anything, but as I already said, my friend-"

My eyes are getting rounder and rounder the longer the other talks in a flurry of words that sound like gibberish. All I can actually make out is "beautiful", "leave", "shit" and "flowers", but it's really adorable how he tries to explain himself, even if he sound more and more panicky the longer I just stare.

I clear my throat and smile. "My name is Taeyeon, and yours?"

His mouth snaps shut with a click, and he smiles awkwardly. "Baekhyun. I probably talked too much, sorry about that. But really," he says earnestly, "don't leave. I would never be able to live it down."

"Okay"

"Mineral water with a sprig of lemon, and what can I get your – Baekhyun?"

Baekhyun looks at Minho as if he were a ghost. "Minho, um, hey, how are you?"

"I'm fine. What can I get you?"

Is it just me or are those two not on the best of terms?

"Oh, just water is fine, please"

"Right away" Minho turns, leaving us alone.

"Okay, so. I know this wasn't the best start. Yeah. My name is Byun Baekhyun, I love listening to music, I am not as weird as the rumours say, my best friend is Chanyeol, my parents are really annoying me and I don't think I've ever seen someone as pretty as you."

In a way, what he said just now makes him really likeable. He seems to be a bright and cheerful guy, if slightly awkward, if the way he's wringing the hem of his shirt even after sitting down is any indication.

"Thank you" I smile at him, noticing how his cheeks flush just a little. "I enjoy listening to music as well, but I have never heard any rumours about you, are we in the same school?"

He looks at me as if I've just sprouted a second head.

"Of course we are! You're the head girl that's always annoying Suho-hyung about my locker. The smell isn't as horrible as everyone says, they're just over-sensitive!"

Now that's just not fair.

"You are the guy that keeps neglecting his responsibilities? And the smell is terrible!"

"No, not really. It's just, when Yeol and I get back from gym classes, we sometimes forget to take the dirty laundry back home, so we kinda just leave the clothes in the locker until the end of the month and wash it in the restroom with hot water and soap. And then, while it dries – in our locker, of course – the humidity in that tiny space kind of causes some…less pleasant mildew to form. We've been trying to get rid of it with hairspray, but that didn't work."

Nothing can be heard for a few seconds, until…

"Hairspray?"

"It kills spiders, too!"

The offence that's dripping from every letter sinks into me and I start laughing, first quietly and then louder when the image of Baekhyun with a bottle of hairspray in his hand, fending off spiders, forms in my mind. This is the single most embarrassing and hilarious story I've ever heard. I tell him so, and he smiles.

"Really? I've got a lot more!"

His next words, however, are interrupted violently by the sound of water splashing all over Baekhyun's cherry-blossom pink hair, face, and white shirt, which subsequently becomes see-through.

Baekhyun looks so dumbfounded that I'm tempted to start laughing again, but that would be hurtful, so I refrain.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Minho apologizes in a frantic voice, and he attempts to hurry off to find a towel, when suddenly, Baekhyun smiles comfortingly.

"Don't sweat it, Minnie. It's no big deal."

And just like that, he takes off his shirt, displaying his defined arms, built chest and taut abdominal muscles for my – and the entire patio's – viewing pleasure. The beginnings of a blush try to fight themselves on my cheeks, but I refuse to let them show. Keep a level head, Taeyeon.

"Byun Baekhyun, this is a display of public indecency and could get you arrested! At least put on a jacket!"

Baekhyun grins mischievously. "You just don't want the other girls to stare at me, right, Noona?"

Minho gasps scandalized. "Baekhyun!"

"That's not true. I just rather wouldn't have our date end with having to call your parents and explain to them why they have to bail you out."

Baekhyun visibly blanches.

And he puts on his jacket, which counts as a victory in my book.

Minho excuses himself to get some towels to wipe up the water that managed to get on the floor. I could swear I see him pulling out a mobile phone as he disappears behind the "Employees only" door.

"Seriously, you're almost as bad as that stupid unicorn."

He messes up his hair, causing the jacket to reveal another glimpse of his pale skin. Keep cool.

"Stupid unicorn?"

"Lay. From Exo-M. Always looks mildly confused and kind of stoned, is afraid of pigeons – remind me to tell you the story of how Kai and Sehun managed to place him in ornithology – and friends with that flower-boy, Luhan. Like, the guy is the type to cry over broken toys" He scoffs. "Manly, my ass."

I want to interrupt him, but he just waltzes on.

"Seriously, I bet he's just trying to conceal the fact that he has a naturally androgynous face, and when he bats his lashes, everyone thinks he's a girl. Put him in a dress and give him eyeliner, and maybe he'll be able to finally admit to his feminine side. Neither his personality nor his IQ will improve, but everybody will be able to see him as he is: A whiny, feminine excuse of a boy."

Screw interrupting him. Nobody, absolutely nobody talks like that about my Luhan. Especially not in my presence.

"Luhan is my best friend, and you apparently can't help but give him trouble whenever you see him. Just because he isn't under the illusion that showing emotions makes a man weak, he's beaten up by your friends." I glare at him, noticing with satisfaction that my dark stare makes him squirm in his seat. "Also, you will set the whole ornithology-incident to rights, and make sure that Kai takes responsibility as well. It is against the school's rules and policy to force other students into clubs they don't want.

"When you're done with that, you will apologize to Luhan. He's my best friend, we go way back. He's honest, funny, and always cheers me up – he's there for me when no one else is. So what right do you have to insult him, Baekhyun of Exo-K?"