The next day I met Minda for coffee at a place across town. I didn't want to run into any of our friends because it would just lead to more problems.

She understood immediately why I had texted her the address to this place. When she walked in, she slid into the booth next to me rather than on the opposite side. "Nice and private. I knew I could count on you, Seokjin."

I resisted the urge to slide away from her. "Uh, are you going to order your drink?" Customers had to place their order at the counter and wait for their number to be called.

She smiled. "No need. I'll drink from your...straw." She reached for my cup and wrapped her lips around the straw, her eyes never leaving my face.

I averted my gaze, feeling uncomfortable.

She put the drink down in a huff. "Did you already forget? That's supposed to be your line. When she asks for a drink, you tell her she'll be drinking from your straw soon enough. With the right look, she'll get your meaning." She leaned closer. "Just like you got mine."

I rested my elbow on the table and covered my eyes with my hand. "Uh, actually, Min, that's what I want to talk about."

She placed her hand on my thigh. "Did you want me to demonstrate again? I'll be happy to."

"No," I replied. 

She grabbed my chin with her hand and pulled my face down to hers. I felt her lips on mine before my brain registered what happened. And for a few seconds, I let her kiss me. When her tongue slid into my mouth, I pulled away.

"Sorry. I can't," I mumbled, feeling ashamed. "I think that my plan with Bella is going very well now, and...and I don't think we need to continue our, well, whatever you want to call it. I mean that I don't need any more pointers. I've got it now."

She withdrew her hand and stared at me. "You mean, you're sleeping with her again?"

"I hardly think that's any of your business," I snapped. I saw her pout and regretted my tone of voice. "I'm not being mean. I just don't discuss that part of my life because it really is nobody's business. You understand, right? Things are going well, and I don't want any more rumors to start spreading."

"Which rumors would those be, Seokjin?" she asked stiltedly.

I sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "Min, please. You were helping me out a bit, and that's all. I don't want things to be awkward between us. We're both adults here. I defended you against everything that our friends were saying. You and I are friends, and I'm thankful."

Her expression changed. She gave me something between a frown and a smirk. "Thankful, huh? So that's it? You're thankful that I helped you out as a friend." She shook her head. "Huh. I guess you're thankful that this friend made out with you whenever you wanted and got down on her knees and helped you--"

"Be quiet!" I hissed. I grabbed her arm and pulled her closer. "You know that it was nothing like that. We knew it meant nothing. And that other thing, well, it was an accident. We were drunk, and we both apologized, didn't we? You know I feel very bad about it. I never meant for that to happen. I don't even remember it."

Minda pulled away from me and crossed her arms. "Sure. Whatever you say. Yet when you were in my mouth and down my throat—-"

"Minda, please," I said softly. I felt a bolt of panic run through my body. I knew I had already messed up by not telling Bella the entire truth, and now I ran the risk that Minda could potentially ruin everything if she felt I was slighting her. I had to find a way to appease her. "Please tell me that everything's okay between us, that we're friends. Just friends."

She put a hand on my arm. "So, friend, that new movie will be out on Thursday. Will you go with me?"

I glanced at her. Her eyes were shining with a strange glint. It made me want to run out of there as fast as possible. But I couldn't risk making her angry, not if this could buy her silence.

"Sure," I finally said. "Text me the time and place."

She nodded enthusiastically and grabbed my cup. "You're not going to finish this, right?" Without waiting for my answer, she began slurping the coffee.