The day he had been waiting for finally arrived. At 7 a.m., he parked his four-wheeled car in front of the café, but there was still no sign of the boy. About fifteen minutes later, he showed up, arms full of bags...

"I'm so sorry..."

"It's fine. What are you carrying so much for?"

He had spotted him in the rearview mirror and immediately jumped out to help, stuffing the bags into the trunk ..they were unexpectedly heavy.

"Pastries... ah!"

"Pastries?"

"I made them for my mom last night."

"Last night? Didn't you get home around 11?"

"Yeah, I started baking as soon as I got back."

"Seriously? So you were up all night?"

"Hehe... just once in a while."

"Alright, let's go."

He opened the passenger door for the boy, even shielding his head so he wouldn't bump it. According to the address, they'd arrive in about three hours. At first, they chatted quite a bit, but eventually the boy dozed off, and the car fell into a calm silence.

Halfway there, he stopped at a rest station to fill up the tank, and while he was at it, he dropped by the shop to pick up some snacks, just in case the boy woke up hungry. Before setting off again, he adjusted the AC, then glanced over at him. Those jet-black lashes, gently curled... were almost unreal. Without thinking, his fingers brushed against the boy's cheek.

/...cold? It's not even that chilly in here.../-x

He wondered, surprised by how cold the boy's skin felt. Not daring to think further, he shrugged off his own jacket and leaned over to gently drape it over him. Just a little closer now...

/...there it is. That strawberry scent.../-x

The lashes fluttered..As the boy opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was that handsome face, way too close to his own.

"Wh—what are you doing?!"

He froze, staring up at him.

"Sorry. I just... saw you looked cold, so I put my jacket over you."

"Cold...?"

/...oh. I am cold, huh.../-x

"Thank you..."

"Mm."

He lingered just a moment longer, eyes taking in that face at close range before finally retreating to his seat, exhaling quietly as he started the engine again. The jacket still draped over him smelled faintly of something masculine...it made his cheeks flush pink, even his ears warmed up.

Noticing the silence, Joong glanced over again, only to find the boy's head lowered, cheeks red, hands nervously fidgeting with the edge of the jacket.

"Are you embarrassed? I'm sorry."

"Huh?"

"I asked if you're embarrassed. Your face is completely red."

"I... I'm not... I mean..."

"Really?"

He placed his hand gently over the boy's that was still fiddling with the fabric.

"Re—really..."

"Alright, I won't tease you. I got some snacks and left them in the back. You must be hungry, right?"

"Kinda... What did you get?"

"Sandwiches and milk tea. But the pearls here don't taste great, so I skipped them."

"Hehe, that's plenty."

The boy reached back to grab the food bag and peeked inside. Not just one sandwich, but a whole lot of stuff. He looked at the bag, then looked at Joong.

"Why'd you buy so much?"

"Don't look at me like that ..I just didn't know which flavor you'd like."

"You spent too much... Let me.."

"Just let me come to your hometown, that's all I ask. Now eat."

He eventually chose the strawberry jam sandwich. One quick rip and the sweet scent of strawberries filled the car. His eyes lit up. Taking a big bite, both his cheeks puffed up ..it was adorable.

"Is it good?"

"...ood..."

"Haha! Don't choke. Chew, swallow."

"...hy...you...ask..."

"Alright, alright, eat."

"...ou...at...yet?"

"No, I'm not hungry."

"...ere..."

He tore off a bite slathered in strawberry jam and held it up to Joong's lips. The look on his face said he really wanted him to try it, so Joong went ahead and ate it and was rewarded with the sweetest smile and those still-puffed-up cheeks.

"Okay now, you've got to swallow that. Don't just hold it in your mouth."

"...eating...still..."

"You've been chewing forever! Swallow it!"

"...eating..."

He had a habit of chewing slowly and holding food in his mouth. Joong had noticed it back at the restaurant but chalked it up to the steak being thick. This time, the tiny sandwich was still taking him nearly an hour — by the time he finished it and the milk tea, they'd be arriving.

"I'm so full now."

"Watching you eat feels like watching a preschooler."

"Why?"

"You just hold the food in your mouth. If you were in school, you'd definitely get scolded."

"Hehe, I'm used to it. Swallowing too fast makes me choke."

"There's a difference between eating slowly and just... holding it in, you know, kiddo."

"I'm not a kid anymore!"

"The day you stop doing that is the day I'll stop calling you kiddo."

He'd been doing it for twenty-five years — even his own parents had given up trying to fix it.

"Fix your hair — we're almost there."

"My hair? Hehe, but it's cute, right?"

"..."
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#sapo🇻🇳 ( 12:35/ 230525)