The next morning Sam had to go to work again. He worked at the mall Starbucks full time, and gave the extra income to his struggling parents. Before heading out the door, Sam checked his appearance in the mirror. He couldn’t help but wonder if he’d see the guy again. He spent longer than usual fixing his hair, and even put on some lip balm.

When he got to the mall, he noticed a tricked out neon green super car parked crookedly in the mostly empty parking lot. It was before sunrise, no costumers were there yet. The car had a custom license plate that read ‘yeet.’ Sam scoffed as he walked by. Behind him he heard the door click open and he turned around. It was none other that MinJoon. The handsome boy was wearing leather pants, a white tee-shirt, and dark shades. He was dripping with silver jewelry. Sam was caught between running towards MinJoon or away. In the end he just stood there staring. MinJoon whipped off his shades smiling hugely. When he smiled his eyes turned into little crescents that made Sams heart thump.

“Sam!” Cried MinJoon happily, striding towards the uncertain blonde boy.

“Hi MinJoon.” He said uncertainly as the good looking young man escorted Sam across the mall parking lot to the doors. He pulled open the doors for Sam and bowed.

“Stop...” mumbled Sam, feeling shy. The two boys walked side by side through the empty mall towards the Starbucks.

“Your license plate is stupid.” Said Sam, breaking the awkward silence. MinJoon chuckled and nodded his head.

“Yeah...that was a bad choice...I’m replacing it.”

MinJoon followed Sam into the Starbucks, and leaned on the counter while Sam tied on his green apron.

“Sam?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you hate me?” MinJoon asked, watching Sam with a serious face. Sam was surprised but he didn’t look up at MinJoon. He shook his head.

“No. Why would I?”

MinJoon hesitated before answering.

“Well, a lot of people hate me. And I probably annoy you so much.”

Sam started preparing the Starbucks to open, leaving MinJoon awkwardly standing at the counter.

“You don’t annoy me,” Sam finally said, “I guess I actually kinda enjoy the attention. I’m just not used to it.”

MinJoon smiled.

“Well I’ll stop bothering you for a second and go grab some things, but I’ll be back, ok?”

Sam shrugged. MinJoon watched Sam for a couple more minutes and then finally drug himself away, walking towards an Apple store.

It was only twenty minutes or so before Sam saw him again. MinJoon waltzed into the coffee shop with bags hanging from his elbows and a big smile.

“Sam!” He called in a sing song voice.

“What?” Said Sam suspiciously.

“I bought you something,” Said MinJoon proudly, rummaging around in one of the bags, “I noticed your phone was broken, so...” MinJoon proudly whipped out a white Apple box, with a picture of the latest iPhone in rose gold on it. “

No, no,” Sam refused, waving his hands, “I can’t take that.”

MinJoon’s face fell.

“Come on Sam, who refuses a free phone?”

Sam sucked in air. His mother would hate it if she knew her son was excepting expensive electronics from strangers. But MinJoon looked so disappointed...

“Ok,” sighed Sam, “I’ll take it.” MinJoon smiled and

chuckled , bringing the new phone over to Sam.

“I knew you’d take it.”

There were no costumers in the store at the moment, so Sam came out from behind the counter to receive his new phone and talk to MinJoon.

“Are you trying to bribe me?” Asked Sam as he opened the lid to admire his new phone. MinJoon chuckled.

“It’s called wooing. But, yeah, it’s pretty much bribing...”

“Why can’t you have a regular roommate? Why are you trying to make me like you?” Sam asked curiously.

“Well its a long story, but I thought it would be easier to get a roommate this way...in reality I think that’s backwards but it was too late when I saw you.” MinJoon winked at Sam, making the shorter blonde boy blush furiously and almost drop the new iPhone.

“MinJoon?”

“Hm?”

“Thanks for the phone and all but...can you put wooing me aside for now?”

MinJoon’s face froze in a weak smile. Sam gulped and continued.

“Look, I’ll be your roommate. Just while your parents are here, ok? But it’s just too sudden for me. Too awkward. I’m sorry.”

Sam looked up at MinJoon apologetically, and was surprised to see the wide glowing smile across the handsome boys face.

“Really, you’ll do it?” MinJoon wrapped his arms suddenly around Sam and hugged him tightly.

“Thank you SO much Sam! You have no idea how much this means to me!” Exclaimed MinJoon as he released Sam. Sam felt flustered and his cheeks were hot. He couldn’t believe MinJoon hugged him.

“Ok, ok...” muttered Sam, pushing away from MinJoon.

“Can you come over tonight?” MinJoon asked hopefully, “Then you can be all settled in by Saturday.”

Sam looked around, feeling flustered.

“I’ll text you, ok?” He told MinJoon, mindlessly grabbing the broom and sweeping the floor again.

“Sounds good.” Smiled MinJoon, sitting down and watching Sam. Sam swept the floor awkwardly, feeling MinJoon’s eyes on him. He put away the broom and went behind the counter to dust and stack paper cups. Every time he looked at MinJoon, the handsome boy was staring right at him with a loving a smile.

MinJoon stayed at the mall for Sams whole shift. He ordered a coffee and tipped ridiculously high again, and then just sat at one of the tables on his computer, often looking up at Sam. At the end of Sams shift, MinJoon packed up his computer and put an arm around Sam.

“Your such a good worker, you deserve a treat,” cooed MinJoon teasingly, “let me buy you an ice cream.”

“Oh no...I should really get home...” Sam mumbled, but ice cream sounded good.

“How about I buy you an ice cream, and you can ask me any questions. Then you can go home, talk to your parents, and decide if your coming tonight.” MinJoon suggested, while steering Sam in the direction of the ice cream parlor. It was the nicest, most expensive ice cream shop in the mall.

Everything was colorful and modern, and they had 32 flavors of ice cream. At the sight of the ice cream, Sam forgot about he was nearly 20 and excitedly poured over the choices, quickly spotting his favorite chocolate flavor. MinJoon watched the excited boy with a smile, and ordered for him. He let Sam get as many toppings as he wanted, which meant Sams ice cream had a mound of Oreo crumbs, gummy bears, and chocolate chips on top. MinJoon, on the other hand, ordered a small vanilla scoop with no toppings.

The two boys sat down together at a table and dug into their treats.

MinJoon POV:

MinJoon smiled as he watched Sam eating his ice cream. The shorter blonde boy looked like a little kid, his face glowing and smeared with chocolate, as he eagerly devoured his dessert . MinJoon had an overwhelming urge to wipe the chocolate off Sams cheek, so he grabbed a paper napkin and before he could think leaned across the table and gently dabbed the ice cream off. Sam looked up in surprise, eyes wide and mouth full.

“Sorry, you just had some ice cream there...” MinJoon smiled at the adorable boy and tried to focus on his own ice cream. MinJoon had it bad for Sam, and he knew it.

“Sam, don’t you have any questions...?” MinJoon prompted after awhile. Sam nodded vigorously, and launched into a stuttering continuous ramble of questions and worries, including things like if he got to use the pool and wether the apartment allowed fish. MinJoon did his best to answer all of Sams questions, while skillful avoiding explaining why he was so desperate for a roommate and why he liked Sam so much.

When Sam finally scraped his ice cream cup clean and ran out of questions, the boys got up and MInjoon walked Sam to his car. Sams car was a dented old sedan that badly needed to be washed.

“Thanks for the ice cream.” Sam said shyly, avoiding MinJoons eyes.

“The pleasure is mine!” Said Minjoon in all honesty, the afternoon with Sam had been one of Minjoons happiest for quite some time. Nothing made him happier than making Sam happy. MinJoon opened Sams car door for him to get in and then shut it behind him.

“Text me!” Said MinJoon as he waved bye to Sam. He watched the beige sedan groan along until it was out of sight, and then drove home.