To The Market

9

"Dino will be the temporary name that you will be called as of today, my friend," She declares, crossing both her arms and legs. "Unless you decide otherwise to spill the beans. As in telling me your real name."

"I-I mean I can tell you nowー"

"No, no, starting from now, you shall be called Dino. No take-backs or buts," Jinhee interrupts, firmly flexing up her index finger to show that the case had come to a close.

"Besides, don't you think the name Dino is cute? Well, I think it is."

Dino simply shrugs with a sheepish look on his face, and Jinhee lets out a laugh at his quiet reply.

"Don't worry, I'm sure it'll take some time getting used to, but you'll get it," She says, patting his shoulder.

Another bus was heading their way and had come to a stop in front of them. The driver pulls the lever, opening up the doors for the public.

Jinhee looks at Dino and sees him not moving from his spot, but with a rather elusive expression.

She looks from him to the bus, wondering where his thoughts were going to take him.

The old man driving the bus sees the two teens still taking up space on the bench.

"Are you two kids going to board or not?" He impatiently asks, loud enough to grab their attention.

Jinhee briefly shakes her head in reply, as while Dino seemed deep in thought. She nudges him with her elbow, throwing him out of his train-of-thought.

"Hey buddy, are you going on or no?"

"I-I'm not," He stutters, not making eye contact with the driver.

"Should have said so in the first place before wasting my time."

"I'm sorry, sirー" Shut. The doors quickly become shut, and soon the bus drives off.

Jinhee, a bit annoyed at the impatience of the bus driver, sticks her tongue out in the direction of the bus.

"Gosh, what's the hurry with him." She says, turning her head from the bus to glance at Dino. "Did you really want to go on?"

Dino slowly begins to nod his head only then to shake it.

"Hey, is anything wrong?"

Dino was about to shake his head for the nth time, but his stomach suddenly growled.

"Oh," Jinhee points out. "Sounds like someone's hungry."

"No, Jinhee, I-I'm fine." He stutters, waving his hands.

"You sure? I still have more of those popsicles that you seem to like一Crap." She stops rummaging through the bags, as she realized that the popsicles had already melted and turned into juice.

She stares back at Dino a blank look then sheepish grins.

"You know what? Popsicles are overrated anyways." Jinhee gestures to him, standing up. "Here, come with me. I'll treat you to this cool bakery I know that's nearby."

"Uh, I don't know..." He hesitates, a billion sweat drops running down his face.

Dino dear didn't know why he was sweating so vigorously. He didn't know why he was freaking out over a little hunger pang, or the fact that his underwear suddenly felt a bit too tight. The nerves in his body were almost having a mid-life crisis.

"Hey, their coconut cream bread is delish, and the prices are pretty cheap. So, if I were you, I'd definitely take on this offer for a free treat," She continues to coax him.

"No, I'm f-fine一" Out of sheer boldness, Jinhee grabs his wrist and drags him to the bakery. Dino's eyes were as large as jawbreakers as his face became crazily red as a strawberry.

"'I'm fine' my behind! Look, I know you're really hungry, so I'm taking you out to eat with me, whether you like it or not."

Dino was dumbstruck, no words were leaving his mouth. Jinhee looks back and winks at him.

"You won't regret this!" At this, he finally surrenders.

-

no ragrats