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You’d invited your boyfriend over to your apartment tonight for dinner and a movie, as you usually did on Saturday night, but this time, you had a little surprise in store for him. Just two days ago, you’d gone to the hairdresser and made the big chop. The years spent growing those inches made you a little sentimental over the cut, but hopefully you wouldn’t regret it. You’d been itching for something different for quite a while. Now that you’d finally done it, you’d been running your hands over your hair over and over, still getting used to how light your head felt now.
You leaned toward the mirror in front of you, trying to cement the idea that this was your hair now. Did it look good? You were pretty sure it did. You turned your head this way and that, eyes glued to your reflection. Yeah. Probably fine.
You heard a knock at the door, and you pulled yourself away from the mirror to answer it. Your chest tightened with energy before you swung the door open, already beaming at Herman.
Herman looked down as he adjusted the bag on his shoulder. He had come right from the office, still dressed in his yellow and blue wetsuit. Water droplets dripped onto your welcome mat. When he lifted his head again, his brows jumped up and his posture straightened like a puppet on a string.
“Hey, h- Oh! Wow! Your- short! Your hair is so short!” he said, a smile growing on his face.
“Indeed it is,” You chuckled, stepping aside so he could enter. He walked in and lowered his bag to the floor, keeping his eyes on you as you shut the front door. He leaned in close to you, holding your shoulders lightly as he inspected your new cut. He hummed thoughtfully, then lifted his hands before pausing, hovering over your hair.
“Uh.. can I- is it okay to…?”
You nodded.
He ran his hands over your hair- it was a bit too short now to really run them “through” it- and smiled.
“I’m guessing you like it…?” you asked, a hint of teasing in your tone.
He blinked and his eyes flicked to yours. His goggles tinted his grey eyes blue, and the light in his eyes shined like stars. He chuckled bashfully, his cheeks turning even rosier than usual.
“Uh, yes! S-sorry. I meant to say, it’s good! I like your- always like your hair. It’s so different…! It sort of… changes your face…” he said, hands sliding down to cup your cheeks. His wet gloves felt cool against your skin. “I mean, your face is, it’s the same, of course, and- and it’s a great face! I dunno, it’s hard to… explain…” he trailed off, voice quieting gently as he gazed at you.
“I get what you mean,” you assured him, leaning into his touch.
“Why did- um, what made you decide to- to cut it?” he asked.
“Oh, a few reasons, I guess. I wanted something easier to take care of, you know, less brushing and stuff. And, I thought it might look good on me. I felt bored of my long hair,” you answered, tilting your head down.
He noticed your look down and a small frown crossed his face. Were you not sure about it?
He gently lifted your head, your eyes meeting his again. “Yeah. yeah, those are- that-that makes sense. I think- imagine it will be easier to take care of, with… less hair, there, to… care for.”
You smiled, a hand coming up to hold his wrist.
“Do I still look cute?” you asked, voice a little softer.
He perked up. “Of course!” he answered. “You’re- uh, always, always cute. Yeah. Cute. Cute is the right word for you, aheh!”
You giggled, glowing from his praise.
“Awww, you’re so sweet, Hermie,” you cooed before leaning in and kissing his cheek. His shoulders lifted up instinctively like he was shy, but he adored your kisses more than anything.
“I- uh- it’s- I’m, just being honest! If- I definitely, uh, learned it from you! Being sweet, that is- from you. You’re sweet,” he said, wrapping you up in a (soggy, but loving) hug. He pressed a chaste kiss to your hair.