STRAWBERRIES & CIGARETTES

CHAPTER 29

Three months later, they passed the thrilling challenge of hiding their relationship from their parents.

They slipped through holes, ground every corner, and stepped into shadows, just to remain slick and not suspicious, like they were breaking into the biggest heist of their entire lives.

Just three months—still too new of a relationship and still far from finding the essence of true love, like some people might say.

But they knew they loved each other. They're willing to deceive their family just to be with each other.

Three months is definitely not enough for them.

For Chenle, leaving her will be his biggest wound. For Harae, leaving him to be with someone else will be the biggest lie to herself.

They do admit that fear is sometimes crawling onto them, reminding them how dirty their family can be once they've found out.

But not now. Just please, not now. Now that they just found the genuine happiness that they badly craved and long for,

"Le, have you seen my power bank?", Harae called out from their bedroom.

"The green one?", Chenle yelled back from the kitchen.

"No, the red! Green's yours!"

"Uhh no, just use mine!"

"But I need my own too", Harae only mumbled and frowned as she rummaged her pile of things once again.

"Saw it?", she heard the male asking after awhile, followed by light footsteps nearing her.

"I quit. I'm just trying to remember where I've put it", Harae answered while busy organizing her stuff.

"It's fine, let's buy you one later after the groceries", Chenle says as he helps her put her neatly folded clothes in the cabinet that he bought specifically for her.

"Are you done cooking?"

"Still frying the chickens."

"Okay, I'll wash the dishes later."

"Okay, thanks"

Harae just looked up to him with a beaming smile as a thank you for cooking, then quickly finished organizing—thanks for the male who's silently helping.

They were able to eat lunch earlier, and as promised, Harae washed the dishes.

Now they are on the way to the supermarket, and then they walk directly to the aisles where all their needed goods are. Harae is the one putting the goods inside the cart that's being pushed by Chenle.

"Pancakes. Do we still have pancakes at home?", Harae asks as she raises her eyes to the rows of pancake boxes.

"Hmm, I don't remember."

"Let's take four then. We're eating a lot of pancakes recently."

Chenle just agreeably nodded and watched the girl put more food on the cart. A small smile was painted on his lips as he followed closely behind her.