"How long has it been?" Paul asked, as he stirred around his coffee, always decaf, always no sugar.

"How long has what been?" Katherine asked admist sips, she was more of a sweet tooth, ordering her usually, double cream, double sugar.

​​

"This, us, just hanging out." He clarified and she sighed inwardly.

'Whose fault is that?' She inwardly accused him as well, not brave enough to convey her feelings.

Paul thought about it, but she hadn't expected him to be so blunt. "Yours actually, not only did you leave for a while you actually got a boyfriend." He said in disdain.

Should she hope? Was that jealousy in his voice right now? "Why? I'm I not of age to date?"

"... well yeah, bu-"

"But what?" She asked.

He sighed, "never mind." He said dismissing the issue but Katherine was determined.

"No, Paul, but what?" She insisted.

"Why did it have to be someone I dislike?" He almost whined.

"What?" She couldn't help but exclaim.

"You could have any guy in the world, why Devon? He's so..." he groaned.

Feeling like her words had become autonomous she sighed. Pushing on nonetheless. "He's so what?" The desperation was evident.

"How I'm supposed to root for you if I don't even like the guy?" He stated.

'Well i never liked any of your ex-girlfriends but you didn't hear me complaining.' She almost said but held her tongue and allowed him continue.

"Really doesn't he bore you out? He's so stiff and annoying always acting smarter than everyone else." He scoffed.

Katherine frowned, "he is smarter than everyone else." She said. "And everything you just said sounds like a very shallow reason to not want to give him a try? Don't you think you are being too unfair?" She asked.

"Unfair? Pfft! I'm not being unfair." He huffed.

Katherine fought the urge to roll her eyes, just realising that he probably didn't have any valid reason to dislike Devon. They had only met a handful of times. "Well better get used to it, he is my boyfriend weather you like it or not." She said, feeling some kind of happy when his expression fell.

"Hmmm..." was all he replied with. "But I'm curious, Devon is your first boyfriend right?"

Eyeing him suspiciously she nodded.

"And you seem like you've been too busy all this years to go on dates." He continued.

"Where are you taking this?"

"Katherine are you an innocent?" He blurted out so casually it actually caused an innocent like her to spit out her coffee and begin to cough.

'What the hell happened to Paul?!' She thought in alarm. 'Since when did he ask such questions?'

She actually coughed till her eyes wear watery and quite red. But the jerk just sat there with a mocking grin on his face watching her, suffer.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" She whisper-yelled.

Wearing an amused grin he sipped his coffee while looking at her from the side of his eyes. "Awwn I can't believe you're still a virgin?" He said in annoyingly sing song voice.

She did know what else to do, other than reach across the table and smack the hell of of him.

Holding the side of his head he pouted. "What was that for?"

"Are you seriously asking me that?" She huffed in annoyance.

He looked at her in playful disgust as he shook his head. "Ouch! You've gotten so violent, what the hell is that Dr. Geum even teaching you?" He whined so shamelessly.

Katherine couldn't help the smile that broke out on her initially stupified face. Was this how he did it? Warmed his way into those women's hearts? Acting coy and cute at the same time? No wonder it was so easy for him? He knew how to make people lower their guards around him, which is why instead of blushing, shy women on his arm. They were usually laughing or gasping at his abrupt ness.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" He had to ask, it was almost becoming uncomfortable but in an oddly good way. It was unusual but he liked it, and that shocked him. He didn't think he should like it, it was odd right? She was his friend. Best friend to be precise.

"You too, why are you staring at me like that?" She replied.

After an awkward but comforting moment of silence the two off them, short of what to do, burst out laughing.

It was strange but not strange at the same time, like there was an inside joke neither off them were aware off yet it seemed very funny.

Soon the moment passed and they were walking back to the elevator. "I had a nice time this afternoon, I realised how much I missed this." She said.

"Me too." He replied, glancing down at her.

"Thank you for not asking about my dad. I know you're very curious." She said again after they entered the elevator.

"I am. But I won't ask until you want to tell." He said and she nodded slightly until he added. "Doesn't mean I don't think that it's a stupid idea to look for the man."

Her gaze quickly meeting his she frowned. "Before you bite off my head, I just think... it's only going to open wounds you never knew you had. Besides what do you want to do with the foolish man that didn't want anything to do with you?"

"You don't know that's the case!" She huffed angrily.

"Oh? Then from what you've found out I'm I wrong?" As she opened her mouth to speak he continued. "Look I'm not trying to fight with you, that's the last thing I would want to do. But Katherine you gone through a lot and I hate to see you hurt. I can just rub off the feeling that this is only going to break your heart."

"Well this is my stop." She said as the elevator door opened. "And don't you think you're the wrong person to give me that advice?" She asked, with venom in her voice.

"Kat-"

"You and your mother have hurt me the most. But you don't need to worry about me, as you can see, I'm quite immune to the pain now." She said walking out of the elevator before he could say more.