She invoked inwardly and prayed for someone—specifically, Jinki—to come and save her. No, she wasn’t scared of what Minwoo was planning to do on her. She was more terrified with the fact that there’s a possibility that maybe, Jinki played indifferent of what’s happening.
“Please, Jinki.” She muttered softly, almost inaudible.
Just then, someone sent the door flying away—imprecisely speaking—right before her eyes. He was there. The one she kept on asking for. This rather infantile scene was what she was wishing for.
Minwoo groaned in pain when Jinki smudge his face with a punch; though his lips formed into a smirk when he witnessed Jinki getting mad, fleeing away with Mari. “You’ve finally made it.” He mumbled to no one in particular.
He caressed the swollen part of his face as he walk out of the kitchen.
“Was it worth the act?” Key mocked the younger one.
“Yeah. So this is how it felt like to star in a movie” he joked, pulling a sit in front of Key.
“It was a nicely made, that dramatic scene. The director here was perfect, as expected.” Key pointed himself cockily, proud as usual.
“Nice show.”
“I enjoyed it too.” They laughed and gave each other a high five. Who said these two would make a really good combo?
“As for your talent fee, I’ll let you meet my friends.”
“It’s okay. I have no interest in artists. Or let me say, no one in particular.”
“Wow, you have a good heart huh?” he chuckled in disbelief.
“You can say that too.”
____________
Her heart fluttered with the genuine care he has shown on her. All of those embarrassing acts were totally worth it. She was playing safe, of course. She had to be precise as of what his real feelings were. And now that she is sure, she can say it.
“Jinki, I like you.” These words caused Jinki to stop on his tracks. It was some kind of addictive music to his ear.
“Wh-what did you say?” he stuttered. Maybe he heard it wrong, maybe his ears were too infallible and he will end up disappointed. But all along, he wished it was true.
“I said I like you.”
Without wasting any time, Jinki hugged her then replied “I like you too, more than you ever know.”
As if they have longed each other for years, they stood there, hugging each other. Jinki has now completed the puzzle and the missing piece was her. All these years, he have been generally sad and incomplete but now, it was as if he won the Daesang award, Best male artist, Best male dance performer, lottery, or even Candypang. All at once!
When the hug broke, everything got awkward. It wasn’t negatively awkward at all. Silence enveloped their rather long walk back to the café. They would only dare to steal glances at each other. Usually, male leads would initiate skinships at these moments. Not in Jinki’s case though. Although he hugged her abruptly moments ago, it was on impulse since he was happy to hear her say those words he was longing for.
On the other hand though, Mari was armed for it. She knew that Jinki was rather shy and unfamiliar to relationships.
“Should I –uhm drop you home now?” Jinki asked as soon as they reached the doorsteps of her pastry shop.
“Sure. Just wait for me; I’ll have to close down the shop.” She tried to sound as casual as possible so it would be less awkward.
They moved inside, seeing Kim Kibum—Minwoo didn’t need to be punched again just to leave— As usual, he is using his I’m-judging-you stare to analyze the situation. But it was unreadable. Jinki didn’t look mad anymore but they looked so obstinate against each other.
Jinki cleared his throat as soon as Mari went inside the kitchen to clean up. “Kibum-ah. Go take a cab. I can’t drop you as promised.” His eyes weren’t sure where to look.
This was a good omen for Key. This means everything went well. “Got it. I’ll leave everything to you now, then.” He went closer and brushed off some imaginary dust off Jinki’s shoulder. “Make sure to straighten things out.”
Jinki cannot manage a poker face right at that moment. Just the thought of it makes him smile from ear to ear. His fingers fidgeted making an unknown rhythm above his knees. If he feels uneasy, he would raise his hands on the table then back to his knees. It was an unfathomable situation, just like a reverie he never want to wake up from.
“What do I do?” he squealed to himself like a teenager girl, covering his face.
“What do you mean by what do you do?”
He gasped in surprise when he heard her speak. Knowing Onew Condition, he almost fell off the chair. Well, almost since he had managed to stand and let the chair stumble on its own. Take note, he barely managed.
She chuckled off at her boyfriend’s action. Wait, boyfriend?
“Lee Jinki-ssi.”
“Yeah?” he replied as he takes the chair back to its rightful place.
“What are we..now?” she hesitated at first but she knew nothing will happen if she won’t pursue it.
Jinki was taken aback with the question. So this is what Kibum means by straightening things out, he thought. Okay, Lee Jinki. It’s now or never.
“Kim Mari-ssi.” He licked his dried lips, finding the right words to say. “Will you be my, uhm, girlfriend?”
Mari ferociously nodded and hugged Jinki again—which by the way, left him startled—He needed someone like her. Someone he can depend on. Sometimes, he’s stubborn and he’s slow to pick things up. That’s why he needed someone who could take initiative; who could lead him.
Just like that, a new couple was born.
But this was just the start.
Just like how others said, happily-ever-afters are unfinished stories.
A/N: Okay so i wasn't prepared for this. I was just scanning the dictionary when I decided to update this. Hope it satisfied you, though. Hehe! ^^
