To The Market

13

"Hey Dino!"

Dino jerks awake in his seat as Jinhee was making her way back, waving a fist-full of napkins in the air.

"I got the napkins, but I think I got a little too much.." She sheepishly grins, scratching her cheek before sitting down.

She grabs her fork, ready to dig in but refrains to look at Dino, seeing him just idly sitting there.

"Oh, did you pick yet?" She asks, breaking his thoughts.

"I'm sorry, w-what?" He stutters, blinking.

"I said, did you pick your cake yet?" She says, twirling her fork.

"Uh no." He looks at the cakes once again and back at her. He sheepishly smiles, giving a brief shrug.

"I don't know which one to choose.."

"Okay, we'll just share then." Dino's cheeks begin to blush.

He has never shared food with anyone before, nonetheless a stranger, who also happened to be a girl. Not meaning that it was a bad thing, it was just that, he was particularly shy of them.

Jinhee goes to cut into the strawberry cake and eats it.

She suddenly squeals, holding her cheek, which startles the very flustered Dino.

"Are you okay?!"

Jinhee, still holding her cheek, looks at him and grins.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just that the cake was really sweet," She laughs. "Like you know that feeling when you eat really sweet things and you get that twisty, sweet-ache in your cheek?"

He slowly nods.

"It was like that." She slides the platter closer to him.

"Just try it, you might like it."

Dino takes his fork and cuts into the cake. He stares at the piece on the fork and eats it, carefully taking in the taste. His eyes widen.

"It's delicious!" He bursts, quickly covering his mouth and reddens in embarrassment.

Jinhee, who was stunned for a fraction of a second, smiles and laughs.

"Ah, I think that's enough for me, you can have it backー" Jinhee, still laughing, holds Dino's hand from sliding the plate back.

"No," She says in between. "Eat all you want. If you want, I can buy you more, since you're being so adorable." She reaches in and pinches his cheek.

"Kyah! Even your cheeks are squishy! What a package!" She continues to gush as Dino gets even more flustered.

"Uh, Jinhee.." He says, trying to grab her attention, by awkwardly waving his hand at her.

"Oh goodness." Jinhee comes back to her senses and sheepishly chuckles.

"Sorry, I guess I got a little too excited." She picks up her fork and digs into the carrot cake.

"Mmm, it's yummy." Dino tries it but doesn't react the same.

"Guessing you don't like it?"

He shakes his head.

"It's not bad, but I sort of like the strawberry better."

Jinhee cheekily grins.

"Cause it's as sweet as you." She boops him on the nose, chuckling.

Dino shyly smiles, averting his glance to his clasped hands resting on his lap. Jinhee chuckles at his flustered reaction, ruffling his dark hair.

"You're lucky you're cute." She says, pulling her hand away to rest her cheek in it.

"I guess," Dino shrugs, abashed.

They finish their desserts and go out from the store. The door's small bells jingle softly as the door closes behind them.

-

what a cute couple 🌸 i ship