Chapter Text
Couples. How enviable. Of course, there'll be more of them during this time of the year. Always flaunting their couple status like a badge earned by enthusiastic boy scouts and girl scouts proudly displayed on their merit badge sashes.
Holding hands, matching winter coats, kissing in front of me...eww, get a room! That's not for the public to see!
Tch. Young couples nowadays no longer have the decency to limit their public displays of affection. But...it must be nice to have someone beside you in this cold winter weather. Brrr! My coat doesn't seem to be enough. Good thing I'm finally near our meeting place.
***
I've been craving for my favorite tiramisu which can only be found at a flower cafe just along Nonhyeon Road in Gangnam. It's a fresh herb tea shop called Arriate by La Maison de Fleur. The shop front speaks for what is to discover inside: a quaint interior lavishly decorated with a variety of fresh and dried flowers and herbs. It's Instagrammable and perfect for selfie addicts so it has recently become awfully crowded.
Luckily, Minho and I have to meet early, so I can still enjoy the place peacefully, at least until the influx of visitors begins even before its peak hours. I arrive ahead of him so I order the decadent tiramisu, which is, thankfully, a staple in their desserts menu.
We will be shopping ingredients for the cookies to use on the gingerbread house decorating contest for our Christmas party tonight. He says he wants to accompany me because he feels sorry that the members insisted I take charge of this activity. Anything related to cooking, baking or preparing food is always assigned to me.
To be honest, I'm not familiar with baking desserts, but since I have the most experience in the kitchen being able to cook a few dishes, the members feel I'm the most reliable. Anyway, I found some recipes and a list of ingredients online. If worst comes to worst, we'll just use those DIY gingerbread kits as backup. I'll just grab some later.
While taking a picture of my tiramisu, I see a familiar tall guy wearing all black from head to toe by the entrance excitedly waving at me.
"Bummie!" His smile stretches from ear to ear as he walks towards me.
Ah, Minho. Always the charmer. Every time I see him though, I have this uncontrollable urge to smack him for no apparent reason but, oftentimes, he catches me gawking at him instead. He must have thought I'm deeply into him, bloating his ego, when I'm just trying my best to hold back from unintentionally hurting him. I can't let him see through me and figure out that I've been crushing on him ever since we first met at the company.
"Hey, you got cream here." He points to where it is on my face and, without warning, grabs a tissue to wipe the corner of my lips.
I try to stop him to save myself from an embarrassing situation but it's too late. I feel a strange warm sensation on my ears. They're probably red by now. I grimace to let him know help was unwanted. "I can wipe it on my own."
"Always cheeky, huh, Bummie?" He reaches to squeeze my cheek but I dodge by moving my head backward successfully avoiding him.
"Just sit. I need to finish my tiramisu."
"Arasseo, arasseo. Can I try?" Again, he just does as he pleases without my permission. He uses the only fork provided, take a small chunk and put it in his mouth. "Mmm! It's good."
"Yah! That's mine. You should've asked for another fork." I scowl at him. He gets the message but decides to tease me more by taking another bite and deliberately licking the fork clean. It almost seems like he's inviting me to do naughty things with him. "Hey!"
Smack! I hit him on his shoulder. However, he only chuckles, not even wincing once. He slices a piece and feeds it to me but I hesitated, making him a little impatient. "C'mon, open your mouth. I'll help you finish this faster."
"Choi Minho, let me enjoy my tiramisu in peace-Mm!" As soon as he sees an opening while I speak, he stuffs it in my mouth, muffling whatever I still have to say to him. By now my face may have completely gone beet red for imagining something inappropriate. Plus, it makes me think about the indirect kiss we just shared through that poor little fork.
"Hurry up, Bummie. We can't waste time. You know full well how the holiday rush is. I won't wait an hour just lining up the counter." He offers me another bite but, this time, I grab the fork from him.
"Ok, ok. I get it. I can eat by myself."