“Shall we go outside and talk about it?”
So Jinhyuk led the little boy out of the bookstore. The sight of the boy, still too embarrassed to raise his head, was so adorable. Then Jinhyuk leaned in and spoke.
"Do you like sweet things? Want to go get some delicious chocolate ice cream?"
The child blushed and stuttered, embarrassed by Jinhyuk's actions and words. The blushing was even more noticeable against his pale skin.
"Yeah..yeah..! Okay..good.."
Even the sight of the child stuttering in embarrassment was so cute. Jinhyuk arrived at the cafe with the child, ordered chocolate ice cream and an Americano, and brought them over.
"Here, eat this."
Jinhyuk offered the chocolate ice cream to the child. However, the child, who was extremely shy, still couldn't raise his head properly and spoke in a small voice.
"..thank you..“
His little hand reaching out to eat ice cream. Why is it so adorable?
"Is it delicious? Haha"
The boy, his face flushed, ate his ice cream little by little. Jinhyuk simply watched the boy's embarrassed expression as he drank his coffee.
"What is your name?"
“Ha..Ha Ji-hoon….”
"Huh? What did you say?"
“….Ha Ji-hoon…”
The moment I heard that child's name, I felt happy. What makes me feel so good? Was it love at first sight?
"My name is Kim Jin-hyeok. Nice to meet you."
“Uh..uh..”
“But are you 18 years old?”
“Yeah…yeah…that’s right…”
Ji-hoon, hearing Jin-hyeok's question, looks momentarily flustered as he answers. For an 18-year-old high school boy, his appearance and small stature are far too cute, making the comparison with Jin-hyeok even more striking.
Jinhyuk mutters to himself and speaks.
“I can’t believe such a small and pretty girl is a high school boy….”
"Huh? I didn't hear you.."
Jinhyuk is taken aback by the words that came out of his mouth.
"Oh... it's nothing. I just think you're cute."
At Jinhyuk's cute comment, Jihoon's face turned red again, as if embarrassed.
“No… no…”
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“Could you please take off your glasses again?”
“Uh…glasses…?”
Ji-hoon is momentarily taken aback by Jin-hyeok's request.
"Yeah, your eyes are pretty, but I think the glasses are covering everything up, so I want to see them again."
“…Okay..okay”
Ji-hoon took off his glasses again and cautiously looked at Jin-hyuk. His large, doe-like eyes with double eyelids, his small, straight nose, and slightly plump lips. His skin was as clear and pale as a baby's. He was so lovely. Jin-hyuk felt himself falling in love all over again at the sight of Ji-hoon without his glasses.
JinhyukHe lowers his head and hides his smile when he sees Ji-hoon.
“Uh..why…?”
Jinhyuk raises his head again and looks at Jihoon.
"I wish I didn't have to wear glasses. What would I do if such a pretty face was hidden?"
“…because my eyesight is not good…”
"Well, I guess there's nothing I can do. But can you take it off for a moment when you see me sometimes?"
Ji-hoon, hearing Jin-hyeok's words, nodded, his face flushed, his head bowed, and his fingers wiggled. Jin-hyeok's heart pounded at the sight, but he tried to hide it and smiled as he continued his conversation with Ji-hoon.
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So, evening came and Jinhyuk decided to take Jihoon to his house.
“We lived closer than I thought.”
“Okay..okay..”
“That’s really great. Will we see each other often in the future?”
Ji-hoon hesitated for a moment at Jin-hyeok's words. After a long silence, they arrived at Ji-hoon's house. Jin-hyeok asked if they'd see each other often, but Ji-hoon didn't answer, leaving him feeling uneasy. Jin-hyeok, however, fearing Ji-hoon might balk at the prospect of further questioning, couldn't bring himself to ask.
In front of Ji-hoon's house, Jin-hyeok says goodbye and tries to leave.
“Go in carefully.”
Ji-hoon didn't go straight into the house, but hesitated in front of the front door, looking as if he had something to say.
“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”
“…See you often, Jinhyuk.. haha. Then.. take care on the way in..!”
With that, Ji-hoon left those words with a flushed face and hurried into the house. Jin-hyeok paused for a moment at Ji-hoon's words, then came to his senses and headed home. Ji-hoon's words, "See you often, Jin-hyeok," kept ringing in his head, and he laughed and jumped on the way home.