Breaking Rules

RULE # 54: SHOPPING IS FOR GIRLS

A Stone's Throw Away

"Dara, that's the wrong lane" Ji told her and reached for her hand "We're looking for cornstarch."

"But this is the baking lane" Dara retorted despite the sudden racing of her pulse at Ji's touch.

"They don't put the cornstarch there because it's not always used for baking" Ji answered and pushed their cart towards the next lane "Are you ok? You're not yourself ever since I picked you up."

"That's because you looked so good in your car when you picked me up and it feels like we're a couple shopping here in the grocery" she almost told him but stopped herself. "I – I didn't eat breakfast" she replied instead.

"You should have told me" Ji looked at her worriedly.

Completely taken by surprise by the way he looked at her, Dara jumped up and bumped with another shopping cart.

"Ommo!" the woman pushing the cart exclaimed.

"Mianhe. Sorry. Sorry" Dara immediately kneeled down to pick-up the noodles and cans of peas that had scattered on the floor.

Ji was down on his knees too assisting the older woman who was carrying a young boy in her arms.

"We're sorry" he explained as he took the noodles from Dara and put them back the cart "She just got surprised."

"It's ok, young man. Thank you for your help. I was also pushing the cart way too fast that's why it toppled over."

Dara watched as Ji completely charmed their way out with the woman and her baby and thought to herself, "He's going to be a good father. I don't like dogs but I have to admit that Gaho does behave really well compared to other dogs... well... sometimes."

She remembered when she decided to take a picture with Gaho as a test of bravery. Her Mai-sunbae ended up laughing on the floor when she ran for the door as Gaho bounded up for her after just two shots.

"What are you smiling about?" Ji asked her after saying goodbye to the mother and son whom she had disrupted.

"Ow! I was thinking you'd be a good father" she blurted without thinking how that would sound.

Ji smiled down at her "Why don't we eat breakfast first before we continue with grocery shopping so you don't knock down anymore carts?"

Relieved that he didn't tease her about the comment, she nodded enthusiastically. "Let's eat bacons, ham, and eggs!"

Ji nodded and took her hand in his "Now, let me show you how I can also make a good husband."

If it had begun to rain stones outside, Dara wouldn't have been able to know. The butterflies inside her stomach had just exploded like granades.

***

Things you wish you didn't know

Bom looked nervously from her watch to T.O.P. The only time she could remember being this nervous was during their stage debut months ago.

"Why are you fidgeting?" T.O.P. asked her.

"I didn't like my dream last night" she answered "I have a bad feeling about what Mai-noona will tell us."

"I do too" T.O.P. told her "I kept thinking last night whether everything was a farce."

"What do you mean?"