Etched In Their Minds

Decem: Look Up

On a good, warm day, Isaac and Ina interlocked hands while walking through a mall.

They went on a shopping date and, as usual, had lots of fun. A repetitive thing that felt good, especially with more people.

The couple just finished lunch at a restaurant inside the mall, and Isaac was about to grab the bill folder when Ina snatched it and swiped her card to pay for the meal.

She had a smug look when doing the whole process while Isaac recoiled his back at the gesture.

"Thank you. You didn't need to do that though, I had it."

"Nope, I like to carry my own weight."

"That's a lie, you probably saw some advice on Reddit or something."

"Ngh.." her brow twitched and she smiled innocently.

"No, no, of course not. Why would I follow advice on Reddit of all places?"

"Sounds like what a Reddit advice taker would say," Isaac grinned.

"Humu.... I did," she looked down, disappointed for whatever reason.

"I'm just playing. Thank you for paying the bill. I love myself a dependable woman," Isaac smiled brightly, which infected Ina.

-jelly-

It had been about a week since the happenings of the previous scene. The two had gotten along extremely well. The stage of hugging have not moved to intimate cuddling yet, but oh well.

Ina walked out of the public bathroom and looked for her boyfriend. She had to go pee for a bit and told Isaac to not go anywhere.

Looking around some more, she saw two people hugging, a brown-haired man being hugged by a blonde-haired woman. The man, which is Isaac, had his hands raised as if police was holding him at gunpoint.

The girl's body was slightly quiverkng, but that fact seemed to fly over Ina's head because she only registered; "Random female hugging boyfriend."

She walked over there hoping to hear a reasonable explanation, but she wouldn't do anything over the top if there was none.

"Isaac," a half-stern, half-calm voice called out to Isaac. As she got closer, she heard sounds of muffled crying from the girl.

He looked at Ina with an awkward face, not sure what to do. She scowled, as if asking what was happening. Isaac shrugged in response.

Ina cleared her throat to get the girl's attention, but to no avail. Clearing her throat until she coughed again made the girl turn her head towards Ina. Her cheek was wet with tears and eyes were awfully puffy.

The blonde had her arms tightly wrapped around Isaac and head and body all up against him.

Ina felt pity and anger towards the woman. Her best guess was that she was grieving the loss of a close person, but that didn't excuse the fact that she was violating her man's personal space.

"Lucy. Please stop crying and get off me, my girlfriend's here."

Lucy was stuttering like a broken car engine.

"Your girlfriend?" she managed to say.

"Mhmm," Isaac nodded.

She let go and stepped back. Wiping her eyes and cheeks, she tried her best to not leak anymore tears.

"S— Sorry... I'm— I'm really sorry," she whimpered in between hiccups.

"It's fine. Just go home and rest, all right?"