metal straw | ast. cha eunwoo

twenty nine

After a long journey of seeing tiny fishes and hungry sharks, they found themselves walking into an ocean-themed gift shop. It was vibrantly painted fishes of sorts swimming on the walls and ceiling.

The things sold there was as colourful as the shop. There were numbers of stuffed sea animals filling entire shelves, toys were spread across tables to tables for kids to see, and souvenirs were arranged neatly on shelves as they shone under the blue ocean light.

"Is the hat too big or is my head just small?"

Soyeon said as she stood in front of the mirror and stared at the stuffed dolphin staring back from the top of her head. She giggled, realising how big the hat was for her head. It showed only half of her face from her small nose to her lips.

"It's the hat," he smiled before he lifted the hat off and arrange it back on the shelf, "there's nothing wrong with your head."

Soyeon did not seem too convinced by his statement but agreed nevertheless. She looked around once more and eventually, began moving to the next part of the store. There sat all the little souvenirs and all sorts of knickknacks to decorate one's house.

"Hey, look at this one," Soyeon called out, gently pulling Eunwoo closer by his sleeve. They both leaned closer to one of the shelves to where her finger was pointing at one of the souvenirs.

"It's a baby turtle."

His face immediately dropped when he heard those four words. A memory suddenly flashed vividly in his mind and without realising it, he rolled his eyes and let out an annoyed huff. However, he could sense that a smile was already appearing on her face without even looking at her. Soon after, his ears were filled with a girl laughing and snorting beside him.

"I'm going," Eunwoo grumbled under his breath and was already walking towards the exit.

That was until a hand suddenly slid in and held onto his forearm. He stumbled forward as a sudden weight nearly pulled him to the ground. He looked to what was attached to the hand and saw the same face as before, Soyeon was still attempting to stop laughing.

"I haven't even picked something out yet."

"Then I'll wait outside," Eunwoo replied almost immediately before finally walking out of the store.

Perhaps he spoke too soon. Just as Eunwoo was about to exit, he turned too quickly that his foot somehow managed to slam against the edge of the wall. Though it was only a cardboard stand of a shark, the pain was still a menace to him. It gave a loud noise that already showed how hard the impact was.

"Eunwoo!" Soyeon cried out suddenly, making her way through the shop towards the boy, "is your foot okay? Should we find a place to sit down?"

Though his stance did not look like he was okay, with him crouching down to hold his foot, he still managed to nod and reassured her with a quick smile.

"You don't look okay," she spoke worriedly, "you could be bleeding in that shoe, who knows!"

"I didn't kick it too hard, I'm really okay," he said, before straightening himself back up.

She nodded but though she took in his response, that did not stop her from searching for any damages. When she finally concluded that he was physically fine, she looked back to the spot on the cardboard where Eunwoo had kicked.

"What is it?" he asked, curious of her sudden interest in the cardboard. She was staring at it for a long silent moment.

"Were you that angry? You bent it."

~~

i apologise for not updating for two months?????????? ;-;

i had to stop for a while bcs of my exams but then so many things was happening in my household and this country but i apologise for suddenly disappearing and not updating at all

though online classes and my end-year exams r still keeping me up and running, i will try to update this book as much as i can

again, i am so sorry

thank you for still being here and supporting this book !!

stay safe everyone ♡♡♡