Complete

19: Dalgona

"Hahaha did you see the owner's face? I thought he was going to faint at how many prizes you won! Serves him right, that cheater. The darts were so dull and the balloons aren't inflated all the way, meaning you'd need more pressure to get them to burst."

Gulf smirked triumphantly, hugging the wolf soft toy that Mew won from the dart booth. They gave away the other prizes that they won to the children who weren't able to win anything.

Sporting a white shirt, baby blue jeans and a white hoodie, Gulf looked absolutely adorable in Mew's eyes. That was why when Gulf wanted the wolf soft toy, Mew vowed to get it. Which wasn't all that difficult. His muscles and the intense training he underwent throwing hidden weapons weren't for nothing.

Hugging the soft toy, Gulf glanced at Mew. With his leather jacket tied around his waist, Mew's black shirt accentuated the defined muscles beneath, his ripped jeans hugging his long legs.

Averting his gaze, Gulf tried to calm himself down. How did I get such a hot boyfriend?

Peering around, Gulf spotted a dalgona-making booth.

"Mew, let's go there! I haven't done it in so long. The last time I made it was when I was a teenager, with my brothers." Gulf exclaimed excitedly,

"Is it fun?" Mew wondered. He didn't really experienced such activities when he was younger. He was focussed on his training to protect Bright and their mothers.

"You never tried it before?!" Gulf exclaimed, eyes widening. "Then you are going to try it with me!" Gulf beamed.

Hooking his arm in Mew's, Gulf pulled Mew towards the booth.

Such a kid, but he is my baby boy.

"I was the best at making it in my family. So sit back, watch and learn from the pro!" Gulf confidently declared.

"But it has been years so take that into account if it is not that good..." Gulf muttered, frowning.

Seeing Gulf look at the equipment in a serious manner as if preparing to go to war, Mew felt his heart do flip-flops. His cuteness is going to be the death of me.

"No..." The little boy who was sitting beside Gulf sniffled, breaking Mew and Gulf out of their thoughts.

The little boy was staring at the broken pieces of candy in his hand, his hands trembling as he cradled the pieces.

Noticing the little boy biting his bottom lip, Gulf knew that the boy was trying hard not to cry. Gulf couldn't help but simper at sight of the little boy trying to be strong.

"Hey, what is your name?" Gulf gently asked the boy.

"D-Damien." Using the sleeve of his jacket, the little boy wiped the tears that threatened to spill.

"Hi Damien, I am Gulf. Do you want to make a candy art with me?" Gulf smiled affectionately.

"I don't want to bother you." Damien mumbled, his head cast down. His small hands fisted on his jeans, his body hunched over.

"You wouldn't be bothering me. Right Mew?"

"Really?" Damien asked softly, peeking up a little at Mew.

Mew crouched down, eye level with Damien.

"Really," Mew replied lovingly, brushing the boy's dark brown locks from his face.

Once Damien was assured that he wouldn't bother them, he scooted closer to Gulf, at the same time tugging Mew's sleeve to sit beside him.

Sitting in between them, he happily looked up at them.

He had eyes that shined like pebbles washed by the ocean waves and a smile that ignited inner laughter in all who saw.

Mew and Gulf melted at this sight, glad that they had reached out to the boy.

To prevent Damien from being burnt, Gulf held the ladle. With the ladle on top of the stove at medium-low heat, Gulf melted the sugar for about 3-4 min until it becomes liquid and is looking semi-transparent. Gulf stirred it constantly with a chopstick while it melts and took it away from the heat anytime it starts to smoke, lowering the heat when necessary.

Once it has turned into sugar syrup, Gulf added a pinch of baking soda to the syrup. Immediately taking the ladle off the heat, he mixed the soda with the syrup, stirring it well. Moving the ladle one more time back on the stove, Gulf heated it up for just about 4-5 seconds, until the sugar mixture starts to puff up.

With Gulf's hands wrapped around Damien's, they carefully transferred the mixture onto the greased plate placed before them by Mew. Using a spatula, Damien scraped it off from the ladle, sticking his tongue out a little in concentration.

Once done, Damien immediately pressed the melted sugar mixture down to make a thin disc like candy. With Gulf's guidance, Damien pressed it for 3 seconds or so and then before it fully hardens, pressed the mold he has chosen on the candy.

Choosing a heart-shape mold, Damien pressed this into the candy while taking care not to press so hard that the mold cuts through the candy.

Together, the three of them made a few, laughing when Mew burnt his and when Mew sulked hearing their laughter.

"Here phi! I want to give it to you!" Damien smiled, handing Mew and Gulf a neatly wrapped dalgona.

"Thank you so much pretty phi," Damien looked at Gulf, "and handsome phi," Damien faced Mew.

"Why aren't I the handsome one?" Gulf pouted hard, trying to hide the tears that clouded his vision. Even though they only met and got acquainted for a few hours, the little boy had already made his way into their hearts.

"Because phi is pretty! Handsome phi, phi Gulf is pretty right?" Damien smiled cheekily at Mew.

Mew laughed, amused that Damien had figured out that he and Gulf are together.

Of course. The prettiest." Mew looked fondly at Gulf, whispering it so softly such that only the three of them could hear.

"Not fair! You two are ganging up on me!" Although Gulf complained, both Damien and Mew could see the evident blush that painted Gulf's cheeks.