Work Text:
"It's really lovely, don't you think?”
Keeho looked up, seeing the older woman's warm smile. He smiled back, still in the same stooped posture to check the bracelets laid out on the cloth on the floor.
“It is," he replied, touching the handcrafted jewelry.
The woman bent down slightly as well, looking at her own accomplishment.
"Not to over-promote," she started, with a chuckle, "But I collected all the pieces to make these bracelets myself. I spent nights putting together and painting each little piece." She picked one up on the right, running her fingers over one made of mother-of-pearl pink shells. "I poured a lot of love into them.”
Keeho raised his eyebrows, his smile widening, "So a bit of over self-promotion is only fair.”
She stared at him, then her eyes narrowed until they were crinkling at the corners.
“I think.” She chuckled more.
Keeho pressed his lips into a small smile and looked at the bracelets once more. They were all very cute and pretty. None of them really matched his own style, though. Lately, he had preferred simple, silvery pieces, and those bracelets made of seashells, little buttons, and colorful beads, while adorable, were perhaps a bit too kitschy for him. A real shame.
He's thinking of a way to politely decline the very nice saleswoman before his eyes land on a particular bracelet.
“....How much does this cost?”
The older woman followed his gaze, then her eyes lit up.
“Oh, you'd like to buy this one? It's a great choice." She picked up the bracelet and offered it to him, "I found the charm lying on the floor at the back of a bus. I thought it was too cute not to repurpose into something new.”
Keeho carefully picked up the bracelet, running his fingers over the small wooden beads. Then his thumb caressed the attached charm, a happy giddy feeling on his stomach as he admired the piece.
A particular someone would love.
“Is this for your girlfriend?”
The question made Keeho redirect his attention.
He blinked, looking at the smiling woman.
“Oh,” he pressed the beads slightly against his hand. "Well…”
A very familiar question. Too common, almost, every time he bought a gift like that. Perhaps too nosy, too annoying.
Too confusing.
Keeho opened and closed his mouth many times, his gaze wandering.
Noticing his sudden demeanor, the woman's smile faded slightly before she clicked her tongue.
“Oh, ignore this nosy aunt." She shrugged off, waving her hand, "It really doesn't matter. A gift is a gift, isn't it?”
He relaxed, the corners of his mouth lifting again.
The relief was great as he picked his wallet, "I'll take it.”
The woman basked with joy.
Unsurprisingly, he was leaning against their car when Keeho found him after leaving the market, attention fixed on his phone.
One hand was typing quickly while the other fidgeted with the keys attached securely to his so precious worn-out carabineer. The keys he had confiscated the moment Keeho said he was going to stop to look around. Something about him being easily distracted and unreliable with important objects or anything like that.
Considering he only lost them once, that was simply unfair.
But he knew better than to argue with a bossy Jongseob on their day off. All he wanted was to buy some silly trinkets and then enjoy their free time together. He could sacrifice his pettiness in exchange.
For today, at least.
As he approached, the other's eyes slowly lifted.
“Finally.” He finished typing with a press of his lips before giving him his full attention. His gaze traveled up and down, eyebrows rising. “Only two bags?”
Keeho scoffed, placing the bags on top of the car.
“Yes, honey.” He drew out the word, reaching to ruffle his hair.
Jongseob ducked away, slapping his hand aside with a huff. But when Keeho reached for him again, his chuckle escaped, eyes curving into half-moons.
“Stop it,” he said, grabbing Keeho’s hand. He was still smiling.
“With what?" Keeho asked as he intertwined their fingers together.
“Being annoying.”
“But then you wouldn't love me...." He leaned closer, pressing a kiss against his cheek.
His laugh echoed again. A joyful sound — one of Keeho’s favorites, especially with the brief flash of a canine that came with it.
Jongseob turned his face and pecked his lips in return.
Keeho hummed in satisfaction.
“Feeling generous?" The other pulled slightly, nodding to the bags.
“Mmm....” He glanced at the bags, then leaned in to wrap his arms around him. “There were a couple of nice things, but not all of them matched my vibe.”
“Oh, your vibe,” Jongseob whistled. “So,” he said, his gaze drifting back to the bags, “what did you buy?”
Keeho smiled.
“A few things here and there."
The other gave him a questioning look.
He blinked sweetly, "What, you're curious?”
“No.” Jongseob shrugged, looking away, "But given that you stopped our trip to visit the market out of the blue, it would be nice to know.”
Keeho laughed, shaking his head. He didn't even try to fool him. It usually didn't last with Jongseob. So he just grabbed his arms and let his hands slide down to hold his wrists. He caressed the soft skin there before slipping one hand into his own jacket pocket.
He took out the bracelet and, very delicately, slipped it over Jongseob's wrist.
Jongseob’s gaze dropped.
“Here,” Keeho said, adjusting the bracelet. He looked into the other’s blinking eyes and said softly, "It reminded me of you.”
Jongseob blinked at him, then down at the bracelet again. He released from his grip to feel the piece with his own fingers. They traced over the beads, delicate and slow, before finally settling on the charm.
His lips twitched before he pressed them into a firm line.
"....A cat.”
"It's more your style than mine," Keeho shrugged, watching his face.
Jongseob stared at the bracelet, something flickering in his eyes before it vanished, as if trapped. His finger tapped against the cat charm.
It was so obvious that it was extremely adorable.
Oh, he was so fond of his fake nonchalance.
"But if you don't like it," Keeho reached for his hand.
Jongseob quickly moved away.
“It suits me better,” he murmured. “Like you said.”
Keeho pulled his hand away, smiling.
Jongseob fixed him with a stare, then let out a scoff. He drew his wrist close, his gaze dropping to the bracelet as his fingers absently traced its shape. A smile threatened to escape. And it was cute. So cute.
He let Jongseob admire the bracelet while he turned to gather the bags from the car roof.
“By the way,” Keeho said, opening the car door to stow the bags inside, “the saleswoman asked me if it was for my girlfriend.”
A silence, followed by a noncommittal hum.
“Did you say yes?”
Keeho busied himself inside the car. “No.”
“...Well, it wouldn't have been exactly wrong if you had.”
Keeho sighed, glancing over at him. “Not quite right, though,” he countered, raising a single eyebrow.
Jongseob held his gaze. “So…what did you say?”
Keeho pouted.
The other’s composure broke, a smile escaping his restraint. “You didn’t answer at all, did you?”
“No,” Keeho admitted, a flicker of guilt passing through him. But it vanished as he watched Jongseob’s fingers still circling the bracelet, and his good mood swiftly returned. “But do you know what I should have said?”
Jongseob stared back.
“That it was for my cat.”
Jongseob scoffed, the sound melting into a genuine laugh.
“What, is the closest thing.”
“Okay, I get it,” Jongseob said, the joy now painted openly on his face as he finally lowered his hand.
He took the key from his carabineer and tossed it to him.
“Thank you.” Keeho caught it easily, closing the door to open the front door. He slid into the driver's seat, and a moment later, Jongseob joined him in the car.
Before Keeho could start the engine, Jongseob spoke up.
“Hey.” He waited until he had Keeho’s attention, his hands returning to fiddle with the bracelet. “You don’t have to answer any questions you don’t want to.”
Keeho took a deep breath, then let a soft smile bloom on his lips. “I know that very well,” he answered quietly. He shrugged. “I’ll answer next time, though.”
Jongseob smirked. “Yeah? With what?”
“That I’m dating a person who likes cute things.”
Jongseob hummed amusedly, nodding slowly. He then shook his head, looking down as he fidgeted some more before his eyes found Keeho’s again.
He stared, and Keeho was already waiting the moment he leaned in.
A soft kiss was pressed against his lips before Jongseob’s hands came up to cradle his face, pressing a second, firmer kiss to the corner of his mouth.
“Thank you,” Jongseob whispered, a tender glint in his eyes.
Keeho exhaled, a happy, contented sound.
“You’re welcome.” He turned his head and let his lips brush against the cat charm dangling from Jongseob’s wrist.
Then he said, “It’s a gift.”