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Kavin noticed the cheeks first. Round, perfectly flushed, and if he brushed his hand against them, he was sure the skin would be softer than a dove.
Chipmunk cheeks, he thought, taking in her red shirt and plaid ribbon. The outfit wasn’t casual nor was it elaborate, yet it suited her, even more than the bright yellow or pastel green dresses that some of the attendants wore. She’s cute.
He should’ve known she would be a little firecracker - demanding the security to let her see Gorya and telling him off about being part of the problem - but when she sent him 4000 baht for the dessert, he was pleasantly surprised and amused. She meant well, but she was walking a precarious line, one that could tip her on the good or bad side with no warning.
Interesting. Kavin smiled at MJ when Kaning left the room, who smiled back for a completely different reason. Very interesting.
Then, he bumped into her at the club, saw the way her chipmunk cheeks scrunched up in defiance when he teased her, and realized maybe it wasn’t just those cute cheeks he wanted to know more about.
“Why are you staring at ribbons?”
Kavin blinked, the shelves of lace, plaid, and animal patterns swimming back into focus. They were at a mall, waiting for Ren to arrive so they could talk some sense into his brain, when he had been sidetracked by a booth selling rows and rows of ribbons. They were pretty, fashionable, and most of all, accessories that Kaning would definitely wear.
MJ laughed and pushed him. “Come on, tell me. Why were you staring at ribbons?”
He slowly shook his head, getting his thoughts back together. “I wasn’t. The ribbons were just in my general direction.”
His friend snorted, hooking an arm around his neck. “You’re getting bored of me?”
Kavin smiled. “Maybe.”
“That’s too bad because you’re stuck with me.” MJ tugged him forward. “Let’s go.”
He nodded, ignoring the urge to dart back and buy the whole booth. It was a bummer, really. Because the ribbon would make her smile, which she needed after that whole fiasco with the asshole, Tesla. And her smile has always been prettier than-
“I’ll be back,” Kavin said, darting away before MJ could stop him. He heard his friend’s surprise and protest from behind him, but he kept on running to the booth.
Towards that smile.
…
Kaning was sure about a lot of things in life. She knew that she was willing to die for Gorya. That she loved working at the flower shop. That her feelings for her arrogant ex-boyfriend had been as deep as a puddle after two minutes of rain. (That, she realized later and because of a certain someone.)
She didn’t know, though, why Kavin was standing at the entrance of the flower shop, a casual smile on his square-ish face (directed towards her) and something silver in his hand. She also didn’t know why she wasn’t annoyed, or why she suddenly felt lighter.
But she didn’t need to know. Some things were better as a secret.
“What are you doing here?”
Kavin strode across the store and stopped in front of a vase of yellow tulips.
Good thing there was a table separating them because she really didn’t think she could handle proximity with a character like him. Everything about him was so deliberate. When he wanted to be annoying, he was the king of teasing people. When he wanted to sleep with someone, even a stone would fall for his flirting. And (a more recent discovery) when he wanted to comfort someone, he knew how to make them laugh.
“I bought something for you.”
“What?” Kaning has always wondered if his way of jumping from girls to girls also applied to his daily way of life. What differentiated his words from lie and truth? Sometimes (one of her more absurd ideas, when her mind decided to go in all directions), she wondered if his glasses were just for decoration and an intelligent facade. How else would he fight perfectly fine without them? Now, she was wondering if he was pulling a prank or not with this whole act.
The hand that was holding the indiscernible silver thing unfolded to reveal a ribbon.
“Ta-da!” He smiled, looking mighty proud of himself. “One more to your collection of ribbons.”
Kaning blinked at the silver lace and intricate pattern, not knowing what to say.
“How many ribbons do you even own?” Kavin asked, leaning against the table, so close that only a little space was left between them. “A hundred? A thousand?”
She blinked more, stepping back. One more thing added to her list of uncertainties: why he bought a ribbon for her. Unconsciously, her hand flew to the mint green one she was currently wearing. “I… Probably fifty?”
That affectious grin of his, the one that every girl probably fell for, grew wide and bright.
Clearing her throat, she took the ribbon, noticing how soft the material was against her skin. “Thank you,” she said, voice quiet, trying to hold in a grin. “It’s really pretty.” When she looked back up at him, he was watching her with those steady eyes, as if he was analyzing and storing every piece of detail.
“I can help you put this on.”
Kaning’s eyes flew wide open, and she jumped back a meter. “No!” She swallowed, speaking with less force this time. “I already have one on, and I can do it myself.”
He shrugged. “Sure. Then, how about you go out with me?”
The ribbon fell to the floor without a sound.
Kavin was wearing the face he used with other girls, a hint of confidence and a higher dose of something thrilling, breathless. “I dare you to say no.” He was famous for that, for the way he carried himself when-
“She says yes.”
Kaning whipped around in shock. “Uncle Ga!”
Uncle Ga laughed, twirling a stalk of rose like it was his twirly mustache. “Girl, I know you want to say yes.”
“Really?” Kavin tilted his head. He winked at Uncle Ga. “Thanks for telling me.”
“Of course not!” Flustered, Kaning pointed towards the entrance. “Now, please leave.”
A pause. Then: “Sure.”
…
Two days later, Kavin showed up at the store again, bearing another gift. This time, it was a box of dessert. “The same 4000-baht dessert that you refused to take the other time.”
Kaning sputtered, closing the door to the cooler. “I didn’t ask for them.”
Kavin smiled, stepping closer and forcing the box into her hands. “I know, but I want to give it to you.”
She reluctantly took the box. “If you think this will make me go out with you, think again.”
“Oh, no, I don’t think that.” He tilted his head, brushing a piece of stray bang from her eyes. “I just hate your crying face. It’s not pretty.” He paused before saying, with a slight smirk, “You can even say it’s ugly.”
Kaning gripped the box tighter, the beginning of a smile starting to form on her face. Kavin was a mystery, but when he did things like this, she could almost forget his playboy status. “You better delete those photos you took of me,” she snorted, feigning annoyance.
“Never.” Kavin winked, backing towards the exit. “I think they’re beautiful.”
A week later, Kaning’s shelf was full of little trinkets and statues that either Kavin had found pretty or thought would suit her taste. Were they things that she would usually buy for herself? No. Was his effort admirable, though? Yes. Even she could admit that.
Uncle Ga was getting frustrated, though. Every morning, he spent ten minutes complaining about her stubbornness, saying that if Kavin was being this nice to him, then he wouldn’t hesitate for even a second. Gorya, on the other hand, would tease Uncle Ga for being a lonely man before saying that she trusted Kaning’s judgment. (Kavin overheard one time and had immediately started whining about him helping her with Thyme, but her not reciprocating the same energy. Gorya had just smiled and shrugged.)
One morning, Kavin came in with a huge chipmunk stuffed animal.
“No.” Kaning looked at the sheer size of the cheeks and tail in disbelief.
“Yes.” He held out the chipmunk’s paws and shook it up and down. “It reminded me of you.”
“You’re ridiculous.” She laughed, though. Hard. “Absolutely insane.”
“And it’s nobody’s fault but yours.” Kavin set aside the chipmunk and leaned forward, bending far enough until they were close again. She could see every single one of his eyelashes and the exact curve of those pink lips. “Go out with me?”
He wasn’t the only one going crazy, though. Kaning was out of her mind for even considering the idea, but there was no way he would be lying after all of these gifts, right? It wouldn’t be that bad, Kaning reasoned. Worst case, this was all in her mind, and she could move on right afterwards. Just like Tesla. No big deal.
“Okay.”
His famous smile was the biggest she had ever seen.
…
Surprisingly, Kaning enjoyed the date. A lot, if she was being honest.
They had gone to the amusement park, a place that Gorya recommended. “Specifically, take him to the haunted house,” she had said, a devious smile on her face.
“Why?” Kaning cautiously asked.
“Just trust me-” She paused. “-and Thyme.”
Gorya was right. Kavin had been exceptional in all aspects of the amusement park - the steepest roller coasters, the hardest basketball courts, and the most classic arcade games - but the moment he saw the haunted house, he freaked out.
“I can’t.” He gulped, hanging onto Kaning’s arm for dear life. Kavin was taller than her by almost a foot and a half, so he was hunched over, as if trying to fold himself into her embrace. “Please don’t make me.”
Kaning laughed.
“This is not funny!”
Oh, it was so funny.
“I’ll protect you.” She patted his hand, wondering why she felt an urge to do more. Maybe give him a hug. “You don’t have to worry.”
The whole entire time, Kavin shivered and clung to Kaning like she was his lifeline.
That was two hours ago, though, and after getting lunch, they had ended up sitting in a park, eating ice cream they bought from a cart. The sun was setting, casting a warm golden glow on his skin, but his popsicle was blue, so whenever he talked, his deep purple tongue flashed out for her to see.
“That was fun,” Kaning said in between bites of her strawberry ice cream.
He grinned. “You’re with me. I don’t expect less.”
Kaning scowled, lightly punching him. “I’m being serious.”
Kavin still had that grin, but now, he was silent and motionless, not even licking his popsicle, just waiting for Kaning to speak.
“As you probably already know, my last boyfriend wasn’t the best.”
He scoffed. “That’s an understatement.”
Her heart warmed. “You get the point.” She took a bite of her ice cream, trying to figure out the best way to say what she was feeling right now. “I don’t have a history of dating the best men, so I promised myself after Tesla that I would be more careful next time. To actually take care of my own heart.”
Kavin nodded.
Kaning laughed. She still couldn’t believe she was telling him this. “So, the fact that I’m with you right now means that I have thought a lot about this.”
“I like you,” Kavin suddenly blurted out.
She almost dropped what she was holding again. She needed to change this habit because she was sure that he would be saying a lot of things that would shock her in the future.
“I like you.” The hand not gripping the popsicle flexed open before closing. “A lot.”
Kaning was a hypocrite. She was ready to hand her heart to him, no questions asked, no hesitation.
He smiled, the sun shining on him emphasizing the crinkles around his eyes and the grooves around the corner of his mouth. It was a force, that smile. “I promise you. My heart will break before I let yours break.”
She didn’t really think. Her body moved on her own. One second, she was setting the ice cream on the bench. The next second, she was circling her arms around Kavin’s torso, pulling him in. The positioning somehow changed, though, because she ended up in his embrace, his warmth and scent crowding her senses. In ways she couldn’t explain, it felt right.
Thinking back to when Kaning had agreed to go out with him, she silently laughed at her own ignorance. “It wouldn’t be that bad” was the safety net she could fall back on if something happened. But, with everything that had happened, she didn’t think that net would be strong enough to hold a potential heartbreak.
In truth, the reason why Kaning had delayed this for so long was because she was scared. Some part of her still delved on the fact that Kavin would realize she was just another conquest and move on, leaving her with a fragmented heart. This was a leap to the moon, something she did only because of the past two weeks. All in all, she had decided to put her trust in him.
And she hoped to all the gods in the world that he wouldn’t break that trust.
“Please take care of my heart,” Kaning whispered.
She could feel his heartbeat against her cheeks, and it picked up, beating fast and hard enough to sustain the two of them.
Kavin’s voice was thick. “Always.”