Sentience

08

Faintly, Belle smirked from the register of the restaurant as she stole a few glances at Changmin at the table in a corner while she collected her food and made payment for it. He looked clueless and maybe a bit soulless since the first moment they stepped inside the restaurant.

It was fun to tease him, but Belle was aware of one thing: that she couldn't go overboard. Otherwise, Changmin would turn into a zombie chasing after her to eat her brain.

"This is the receipt," the interruption from the cashier was what snapped her back to reality, sending the demeanour behind the counter a warm smile as she took the piece of paper.

Thanking the staff, Belle took a large brown paper bag - pasta for Amy and french fries for her, with a large cup of iced lemon tea from the counter and made her way back to where Changmin was waiting.

He pondered hard as he looked at nothing and his brows furrowed until they were almost sticking to each other. He had been in that state since she told her that she was expecting him to come with her.

"Here... a drink for you," she slid the cup towards him, Changmin weirdly eyeing it before he looked up at her. It was as if he was asking from where this came, so Belle said, "My treat... Because you came with me."

Changmin sighed, he seemed to be sunk in his seat as he sent her pleading eyes. "Seriously Belle... I feel so deceived right now."

The girl laughed. "Because I knew your move?"

"I mean..." he paused, his hands circled in the air to find words to be ejected. "I was just following you because it's raining and you have to bring the food while holding an umbrella - it will be hard... So-"

"You talk too much making my head hurt," she swiftly cut him by dramatically massaging her temples.

"Belle..." Now, Changmin was truly pleading. The drag in his tone proved it and the confusion on his face was too evident.

Truth be told, Belle wasn't expecting him to offer himself to go with her. Because she knew Changmin would've come with her. She knew Changmin wouldn't let her go around alone and lucky enough, she never felt burdened with his kindness.

If anything, Belle was grateful that Changmin was with her. Although only as a friend.

"You are too admirable, Changmin," she spoke up as she walked away first, leaving her friend staggering to match her pace. And as he managed to catch her, she continued, "You don't even realize that you're helping people out. That means you are sincere. I don't understand why you're too shocked when I was expecting. Isn't it a normal thing between us?"

"Wait..." Changmin then stood in front of her, blocking her from walking. "You mean... you are comfortable to have me accompanying you all the time?"

"Mhm..." She confirmed.

"Even it gave... people wrong idea... about us?"

A short silence filled in the gaps before Belle confirmed, "Mhm... But, what is the wrong idea do you mean?"

Interesting, Changmin thought as a soft scoff left his lips.

What he could conclude here was, for all this while, Belle had never cared about what people said about them. In fact, she never tried to care or to listen. Which explained why she looked so unbothered, unlike Changmin.

So, the boy was thinking that maybe he should do the same as well. That way, he wouldn't be engulfed with guilt every time he was thinking about her or talking to her in public.

And right now, like how Changmin was pleading earlier, Belle was doing the same as she pressed him to elaborate. But, of course, Ji Changmin sealed his lips tight. He spun on his heels towards the exit of the restaurant; a faint please come again was heard from the staff.

"What did I not know?" She was still pressing when Changmin spread the umbrella again, cockily sipping on the drink she bought. "Don't you want to tell?"

The sourness from the drink hit his receptor, and Changmin shuddered, almost losing the balance of the umbrella. He frowned as he downed the liquid, glancing down at Belle who was still anticipating.

"No need to think about it. It was just fly noises," he assured.

Belle surprisingly obeyed, concluding her curiosity about it and then replacing it with another one when her phone dinged a notification from a chat app. Unbeknownst to her, Changmin was also curious. He swiftly peeked down, hoping to get just a small hint of the sender.

However, he couldn't see well.

Just as Belle checked the message, she let out a chuckle and this time, the boy couldn't just ignore. The curiosity inside him was now at the maximum level.

"Who?" He found himself casually asking.

Belle showed him the screen; a picture of her and Jinwoo. "Mom sent this."

Changmin squinted his eyes to look better at the detail of the simple photo.

It was taken from behind, which meant the view was from Belle's and Jinwoo's back; they were holding hands in the street. Belle was wearing a white blouse with jeans, while Jinwoo was in a white top and beige shorts. Looking into it casually, he could see that the little boy was actually attempting to glance over his shoulder as if responding to someone who was calling him.

Overall, Changmin would say that the picture was majestic.

"Were you on a family trip recently or what?" He questioned, noticing the message sent by her mother. This looks kind of memorable, it read.

Belle shook her head, locking her phone again. "She was insisting on having a new family portrait. I never knew she snapped this photo on our way back to the car either."

"It came out well. I like it though," Changmin said, taking another sip of his drink.

"She thought so too... She wants me to post it on my social."

Up to that point, the liquid he sipped seemed not to be able to go down his throat. The emotion tinting her face right now was disturbing. She feels forced.

That part...

Changmin could sense the emotion but he couldn't find out the reason behind it. Why must she feel forced just to post a picture? What had he missed again?

"Oh!" Her exclaim cut everything out; it was then that they looked at each other, and Belle's eyes lit up with excitement. "Jinwoo's birthday party is on this weekend. You will come right?"

"I'll see my schedule."

"Why?!" She suddenly halted, and Changmin once again was in trouble not letting the umbrella get out of track. "Did you plan anything with the aunty? An outing?"

"No..."

"You need to come. Jinwoo is insisting on having you," she looked down at the food packs in her hand. Her fallen face wrenched Changmin's heart, he was swayed.

"Alright then... I'll drop by the party first before anything else."

At that, Belle's eyes lit up again as she trailed her gaze back at Changmin's face. Right, she's the cunning one, Changmin thought as he let out a small chuckle.

"Do you want to come with me to meet the aunty today?" He proposed, slowly watching a pout form on her lips.

"Mom said we have to start doing the preparation. Today seems like a big no," disappointment was now painting all over her face. Bright and clear. "But, I really want to go with you."

Somehow, Changmin was recalling the stance of his eldest sister about Belle's situation. It was truly evident that she was weighed by the responsibility. Being the eldest child in her 20s really raised a lot of expectations from her parents. Because they thought she was capable enough to handle everything.

But, no. They forgot that Belle was still their once fragile baby.

"Don't worry too much," he assured. "I promise you didn't I? I'll let you be informed."