i want you hyunjin || hyunlix

ice.cream

- felix -

"when i said 'we'll have to be sneaky' this isn't quite what i was picturing," i explain as hyunjin and i step out of our kakao t. i look at the sign above us that reads "gelateria peony". the ice cream shop it belongs to is white with potted plants out front and huge glass windows that anyone passing by could see through. i turn to hyunjin with a concerned look.

     "are we really getting gelato together near your company's building? in the middle of the afternoon? what if someone sees us?" i ask nervously, my questions quickly piling up. we just discussed keeping our relationship a secret last night. i didn't plan on being this risky on our first day. anxious energy creeps into my chest as i glance around, noticing a handful of pedestrians littering the street around us. i feel way too obvious standing out in the open like this.

"don't worry, the owner knows me since i come here a lot," he replies. i feel gears turning in my head as i try to figure out how that could help us. unable to come up with anything, i take a steadying breath and try to trust hyunjin's judgement. i watch as he peeks into the shop through one of the big windows.

"...and i know the best time to stop by to avoid the crowd," he continues, walking in through the front door. i freeze in place, watching with wide eyes as he disappears from view. after a moment, he pokes his head back out the door and gestures for me to follow him. i shake my head to clear it and look around nervously before hurrying in after him.

i sigh in relief when i notice that we're the only people here besides the woman at the counter. the ice cream shop is much smaller than i expected from the outside and only has a few small round tables to eat at. a yellow glow warms the room from the overhead light fixtures and i notice small framed photos of ice cream dotting the white walls.

"mr. hwang!! it's so lovely to see you again! how was your tour??" the woman at the counter says in a cheery voice upon recognizing hyunjin. i follow him as he walks towards her, noticing her cute brown apron and long dark hair tied back in a ponytail.

     "ms. cho! the tour was amazing. the members and i are already looking forward to our next one. but here, let me introduce you to lee felix," hyunjin says gesturing towards me. "felix, this is ms. cho, the lovely owner i told you about. ms. cho, would you do us a favor and close the blinds and door so we can enjoy our gelato privately?"

     "right! of course," she says, quickly moving to put a note on the door before locking it and closing the cream-coloured blinds. now i understand why hyunjin said that he knows the manager; this is definitely some celebrity treatment type thing. "mr. lee, it is wonderful to meet you. where are you from?" she asks, turning back to us as she wipes her hands on her apron.

     "it's nice to meet you too. i'm from australia actually, just visiting seoul for a bit to see hyunjin," i explain, feeling more comfortable now that i don't have to worry about people seeing us.

     "australia! what a long flight! i'm sure mr. hwang is glad you're able to visit." with this she slides back behind the counter and picks up her ice cream scoop. "now, let me get you boys some gelato. what would you like today?" i look over the sign with all the flavor options and feel hyunjin's eyes watching me.

     "do you know what you're getting?" i ask, glancing up at him.

     "mr. hwang always gets the same thing. earl grey, if i'm not mistaken." ms. cho explains, remembering even after many months. hyunjin smiles and nods.

     "yes, i like the earl grey and i look forward to having it again today. thank you ms. cho," he responds. i turn my attention back to the sign. lemon, strawberry, matcha... i struggle to make up my mind. everything sounds delicious.

     "what do you suggest ms. cho?" i ask, curiously.

"if i were you, i'd choose the salted milk. ours is the best in all of seoul. guaranteed," she answers with playful pride, puffing up her chest.

"alright," i giggle. "i'll have the salted milk please, ma'am."

"wonderful! coming right up!" she exclaims as she starts opening tubs of gelato and scooping it into light-pink paper bowls for us. when she's finished, she hands them over to us, mine with a blue spoon stuck in it and hyunjin's with a white one. before i could even reach for my wallet, hyunjin has already paid, leaving a huge tip as a thank you for the privacy.

i follow hyunjin as he moves to sit at one of the small round tables. i sit across from him, feeling myself grin as i soak in this moment. hyunjin just bought me gelato and now we are going to eat it together sitting in a cute ice cream shop.

"thank you for the ice cream," i say, trying to express how grateful i am for all of this. he grins back and i feel my heartbeat spike. then he takes a spoonful of gelato and pops it into his mouth, closing his eyes as it melts on his tongue.

"mmm, it's so good. try yours, baby."

i dig my spoon in and take a bite. my eyes widen when it hits my tastebuds.

"woahh," is all i say before putting another spoonful in my mouth. hyunjin laughs happily at my reaction, playfully nudging my leg with his under the table.

"you like it?" he questions, already knowing the answer. i nod excitedly, now on my third spoonful. "can i try a bite?" he asks and i gladly oblige, scooping a bite for him onto my spoon and holding it out for him. he opens his mouth to take it and looks thoughtful as he tastes the new flavor.

"it's good. here, now try some of mine and let me know what you think." he holds a bite near my lips and i lean forward to accept it. my eyes widen again at the different flavor.

"ohh, that's really good too," i acknowledge, nodding happily. then i meet his eyes again, feeling my heart swell. "i think this is our first official date," i comment, taking another bite of gelato.

"oh, so we're not gonna count the three make-out ses-" i squeak at his bold words, almost choking on my ice cream as i lean across the table to cover his mouth with my palm. he starts laughing under my hand and i remove it cautiously, lowering myself slowly back to my seat. i feel heat in my cheeks as i blush, thinking that ms. cho might have heard him.

"okay, okay. this can be our first official date if you want," hyunjin amends with a smile, placing his hands palm up on the table for me to hold. i turn around to see if ms. cho is still behind the counter and quickly realize that she must be in the back room. hyunjin probably made sure she wasn't there earlier which makes me feel a bit better.

after giving hyunjin a hard look and taking another bite of gelato, i finally accept his hands, placing mine on top of his. he smiles down at our hands, wrapping his fingers around mine.

"your hands are so tiny," he states and i roll my eyes, starting to pull them away from him. "no, no! they're cute! i love your cute hands." at this, i pause and look at him. i've been teased for having small hands before, but no one has ever said they love them. i feel the blush creeping back into my cheeks and allow him to pull my hands back into his.

"thank you," i reply softly. he squeezes my hands tightly and i feel the rings he is wearing press against my skin. i turn his hands over to look at them. he is wearing a few silver ones but there are two that stick out to me. they look like they are made of resin, one brownish-grey and the other white. i gently slide my thumb against them. "i like your rings," i compliment softly.

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tap the star? more like, you're my star ;)

(author rizz)

    

— starlostlovers