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Walking into the grocery store is always when things tend to go wrong.
They write lists, they talk about what to buy before hand, both Jisung and Jeongin always agree that they will not buy any more than necessary. And somehow, they always do.
Not drastically, and it’s never wasted. Plus, they have enough money, so that’s not an issue anymore, but it means that a thirty-minute trip to the grocery store for the same weekly shop and a few extras because they’re feeling fancy that week can take almost two whole hours. Which is ridiculous.
That’s why this time, they agreed to stick together. No splitting up, no galavanting off. Definitely no buying fifty energy drinks or trying to win the lottery or that one time where Jisung decided he needed every easter egg in the store. This time, they are holding each other accountable.
It was either that or get one of their friends to follow them around and make sure they don’t go off script, but that’s too drastic. It’s fine. It’s not as if they’re deeply in love with each other and would do everything to make each other incredibly happy or anything.
“Jeongin-ah!” He turns around at his name being called to find Jisung holding some coconuts. Then he diligently checks the shared checklist on his phone and nods, bringing the basket over so Jisung can place them inside.
The basket is another preventative measure. If you have a cart, you fill the cart. They’re two people, they eat out for lunch all the time, breakfast is always a bowl of cereal or some fruit, so it’s really not necessary to have anything more than a basket. Unless they’re entertaining guests, but this week is quiet. So, it’s fine.
“Hmm…”
“What?”
“I want tangerines.”
Jisung sighs. “Not on the list.”
“I know.” He frowns. “If there’s space at the end, can we get some?”
“Dangerous.”
“Not really.”
“Only if I get that option too.”
That’s fair. As long as it’s not a giant thing, or something they both want, or Jisung doesn’t want anything and Jeongin gets stuck without his tangerines. “Fine.”
“Only a ‘fine’?” Jisung whines, booping Jeongin’s nose. “You don’t love me.”
He boops it once more and Jeongin swats his hand away. “Don’t test me, I’m sulking.”
Jisung huffs a laugh. “Baby, they’re tangerines.”
“I want them,” Jeongin pouts.
“They’re not on the list.”
“But I want them… Please?”
“Jeonginnie,” Jisung raises an eyebrow, “we need to stick to the list. We’re not overspending today, we made a list and that’s what we’re buying.”
“Fine. But. Tangerines.”
“We have tangerines at home.”
“No, we don’t.”
“Yeah, we do.” Jisung leans over, kisses Jeongin’s lips then fluffs his hair. “You.”
“Jisung. I am not a tangerine.”
“Yes, you are!” He spins around and continues walking further into the store. “Come on! Things to buy, things to yearn for.”
With a soft huff, Jeongin follows his boyfriend through the aisles.
Next stop is the refrigerated area for some yogurt and meat. They don’t see anything of additional interest there, Jisung does spend too long staring at the chocolate milk though. He doesn’t say anything, just wearing a soft pout as they walk through the rest of the dairy stuff and picking out some vanilla ice cream.
Jeongin checks the list after they’re finished in the section of the store, making sure they have everything they need. He hums, satisfied, and asks, “Do you wanna buy the chocolate milk?”
“What?”
“Do you want t—”
“No, it’s fine. Just…”
“Just…?”
“If- Okay, if you buy tangerines, I’m buying chocolate milk.” Jisung smiles and bats his eyelashes like he has to actually win Jeongin over with this suggestion. “Please?”
“Yeah, sure. Because I love you.”
“Because you love me, I know.” Jisung reaches over to take the basket, tugging it out of Jeongin’s hands before he can complain. “Come on, next part.”
Shopping is almost enjoyable like this, which is surprising. Like, they’re literally just walking around a shop with a list like normal people. Being able to tick things off and seeing them disappear feels so satisfying, Jeongin never thought of it like that.
They normally have a list, it’s just more fun to do it together. Wandering around, playing eye-spy and watching Jisung’s eyes sparkle whenever he gets a chance.
Eventually, they’ve gotten through most of the list, almost everything bought and packed into their little basket. They pass through the snacks aisle, being extra careful to not pick anything unnecessary. It’s normally the most dangerous.
Jisung stares at some chocolate. There seems to be a theme here today, first the chocolate milk and now a giant bar. Jeongin smiles fainty, a bit fond over him.
Okay, more than a bit. More like very fond over him. But he’s not admitting that. Even if they’ve been dating for two years, have their own apartment and want to retire together already.
“Do you want it?” Jeongin asks, pointing to the bar of chocolate.
“Hmm… If I get it, then you have to pick another thing.” Overly methodical approach. “And that means we we’re overspending again.”
“It’s a chocolate bar.”
“You’re a bad influence.”
“Honey—”
“You are!” Jisung interrupts before Jeongin can defend himself. “You wanted the tangerines, you asked me if I wanted the chocolate milk and now this incredibly delicious looking chocolate bar… Ugh.”
“But you do want it though, right?” Jeongin smiles sweetly. “Right?”
“Ughh!” He picks it up and throws it into the basket. Jeongin neatens it up for him as Jisung complains, “Everyone always thinks it’s my fault, but it’s actually yours.”
“It’s both our faults.” They both turn to look at the array of chocolates and sugar filled sweet treats available. “We enable each other,” Jeongin says, picking up a packet of chewy candies. “If it wasn’t me, it would be you, and that’s so much worse, hyung.”
“It would not, stop lying to yourself,” Jisung mutters, pulling Jeongin towards the next aisle. “You’re about to buy six brands of soda.”
“Am not!”
“We’ll see.”
He almost wants to buy more, even though that doesn’t prove any point whatsoever.
The next few minutes are full of playful bickering interrupted by Jisung stealing kisses every second he can. An elderly couple stare at them over how loud they’re being, both then correcting their volumes to a shouty whisper.
They secure only two brands of soda. Both of which were on the list, so Jeongin giggles at Jisung’s grumbling over being unable to complain.
They check the list together, then head back round the store to find some fish sauce. “This one!” Jeongin calls over to Jisung at the other end of the aisle, rushing over to place the item into their basket. “Done.”
“Done,” Jisung echoes with a smile. “Do you wanna go get the tangerines?”
“Yeah…” Jeongin sways from side to side, smiling in the most pleading manner he can manage. “Please?”
“Of course, baby.”
Jeongin drops his act and smiles properly, pulling Jisung in for a kiss. “Thank you.”
“Hmm, you’re welcome,” he says against the younger’s lips. “Do I get chocolate milk?”
“I think…. We’ll both drink it anyways, and eat the chocolate bar, so… yeah. Go get the chocolate milk, hyung.”
Jisung kisses Jeongin once again – they should really start a counter for how often they kiss – and rushes off to the refrigerated section again. Jeongin heads to the fruit, at the front of the store, trying to ignore all the 2-for-1 deals he sees on the way there.
Picking up a healthy handful of tangerines, checking them over for any bashes or bruises, he walks to meet his boyfriend. Five tangerines, that’s fine. One for each weekday, Jeongin thinks, which means he’ll eat them in two days. Probably.
Jisung presents the bottle of chocolate milk with a cheesy grin, and the couple walk over to the checkout to pay for their food.
It’s pretty successful, not too much over budget, and they add a packet of gum each to their shop without guilt. Jisung packs everything into bags while Jeongin pays for the food with the card linked to their shared bank account.
“Jisung-ah?”
“Hmm?”
“Do you want a receipt?”
Jeongin looks for the reaction, which is a scrunched-up face and pinched eyebrows. “Uhh… Why?”
“For the occasion,” Jeongin explains. “We didn’t go over budget.”
“Oh my god, bragging rights!”
“Exactly!”
“Get one,” Jisung says excitedly, picking up their bags. “I’m going to annoy Chan and Seungmin for weeks.”
Jeongin giggles, waiting for the paper to print. He rips the receipt from the self-checkout machine and takes Jisung’s free hand, swinging it in the air out of happiness at finally (mostly) succeeding at solving a tiny problem in their lives.