metal straw | ast. cha eunwoo

twelve

He watched in amaze as Soyeon took yet another bite of the red velvet cake. She savoured it as the cold sweet flavour melted in her mouth. She carefully took the strawberry off the top before having it vanishing into her mouth.

"I thought you were just going to have a small taste of it."

"I still haven't tasted it, wait a minute," she mumbled, having another spoonful of the cake. He chuckled softly as she did.

A small stop to the pastry shop turned into an adventure to find the perfect cake for Soyeon to try. After visiting three more stores, they finally settled at a small pastry shop when the excited girl spotted what she described to be the most heavenly beautiful cake she had ever seen, though all Eunwoo saw was the last piece of a red velvet cake with one strawberry on top. Throughout the entire journey, he couldn't help but feel proud he took the chance to skip classes and take her out just for one day. So there they were, sitting across each other as Soyeon stuffed her mouth with more spoonfuls.

"How long are you planning on avoiding me?" he asked bluntly, suddenly creating a serious tension between them.

All smiles and sweet feelings immediately dropped. He held no expression or whatsoever. Soyeon felt like he was piercing holes into her if he continued to stare at her. She cleared her throat and placed her spoon down.

"I told you before, you'll get into trouble the more you're with me."

"And this is?"

"That's because you bribed me with cake! You don't do that!" Soyeon shouted, instantly snatching the eyes of many customers and workers.

"You seem to find trouble when we're not together," he snapped.

Soyeon took a few moments to take on what he said and it immediately left her looking rosy. She soothed herself down and took a deep breath, "What do you advise me to do then?"

"Stop avoiding me," he replied, "at least that way, I can help you."

"Thank you but you didn't have to help me—"

"You get a friend to bother."

Soyeon's eyes immediately went softer than ever before as soon as those words escaped his lips. They were nothing romantic or dramatic but it made her feel odd and it wasn't of butterflies or blushing faces but instead the feeling of relief. Relieved to know someone was willing to let her bother them. To let her talk to them.

In one moment, she went silent and seemed like she was thinking everything through but then the next, she smirking as she leaned closer. "You must've missed me so much, you're practically begging me to come back into your life."

"You started this."

"Me? Do you expect me to finish it?"

"I expect you to stay longer."