Is this how it feels when you have a crush on someone?
Haon thought, trying to hide his upturned lips by puffing out his cheeks. He realized that hiding his feelings in front of someone he liked wasn’t easy.
“Would you like some chocolate?”
“Yes, thank you.”
After arriving at the department store parking lot and unbuckling his seatbelt, Inho took out a small chocolate from the console box. The square chocolate, wrapped in gold foil, was the perfect size for a single bite.
However, Haon nibbled at the tiny chocolate with his front teeth. He had a habit of eating everything in small bites when he didn’t have much of an appetite.
“…Why are you smiling?”
Haon tilted his head, noticing Inho’s suppressed smile as he let the chocolate melt in his mouth. Inho was looking at him with interest, as if Haon had done something amusing, even though he was just sitting and eating a snack.
“I was wondering if there was something to nibble on.”
Inho raised one hand in an apologetic gesture, his expression cheerful. Haon, forgetting his embarrassment, felt a surge of joy at making Inho laugh. Today, Inho’s appearance was particularly troubling for Haon’s tender heart, perhaps due to his slightly changed hairstyle.
“Is something wrong?”
“Hmm?”
“My hair. You kept looking at it.”
Inho pointed to his bangs with his long fingers, grinning. He seemed to be trying to glance subtly, but it only made his gaze more noticeable.
“Oh, that… It’s b-because it looks good.”
Haon mumbled, stuffing the rest of the chocolate into his mouth. The sweet aroma filled his nose, the most luxurious scent he had ever smelled in a chocolate. Perhaps because it was a gift from Inho, even the small chocolate felt special.
Haon lowered his head and glanced at Inho from the corner of his eye. He was worried because Inho hadn’t reacted after asking the question.
“Shall we go?”
As their eyes met, Inho naturally turned his head and opened the car door. The smile on his lips grew wider.
***
“Oh, there’s Haon.”
Inho, holding a white paper shopping bag, suddenly pointed to a large billboard. The two had just picked up Haon’s pre-ordered phone and were taking a short walk.
Haon had only chosen the color from the phone models Inho had picked out. He wanted to ask about the price, but the staff had already packed it, and he missed his chance.
“Me?”
Haon looked around, confused, not sure what Inho was pointing at. All he could see was a large billboard playing an animal video. The department store had an aquarium inside, and the billboard was repeatedly showing a performance announcement video.
“The one on the screen now.”
“Where….”
Inho stopped and pointed at the billboard. His fair face held a playful expression. He put his arm around Haon’s shoulder and turned him to face the billboard directly.
“That sea otter. The cutest one.”
Inho singled out a sea otter floating alone in the water. It seemed to be the smallest of the group, probably still a young sea otter.
“That… That’s supposed to be me?”
Haon stared at the billboard in disbelief.
Soon, the screen changed to a beautiful mermaid video. Inho, uninterested in the mermaid, watched Haon and waited for the sea otter video to come back on.
“It’s cute, right?”
“Well, yeah… It’s cute, but…”
“It reminds me of you, Haon. Not the looks, but the vibe.”
Haon wanted to ask, “How so?” but seeing Inho’s enjoyment, he held back his words. Before long, the sea otter video came back on, and Inho walked up to the billboard, fumbling with his pockets. He seemed to be trying to take out his phone to take a picture.
“Did you leave your phone behind?”
Haon asked, seeing Inho’s empty hand come out of his pocket. Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen Inho use his phone all day.
“Could you take a picture with yours, Haon?”
“Oh, sure. I’ll send it to you via text.”
“Thank you.”
Haon turned on the camera and took several photos of the sea otter from different angles. Inho’s eagerness to take a picture, even with a borrowed phone, was somewhat endearing.
What’s so pretty about that silly-looking sea otter? To Haon, Inho looked a hundred, no, a million times more beautiful.
After taking the photos, they got on the escalator to buy clothes for Haon. Haon planned to buy a nice knit sweater similar to the one Inho had given him. He wasn’t sure about the price, so he didn’t dare to think about buying two.
“Don’t you like animals, Haon?”
Inho, standing one step higher on the escalator, turned around and asked. Haon had to tilt his head back even further to look up at Inho.
“I do.”
“Which animal do you like the most?”
“….”
Haon found it hard to choose just one favorite animal because he liked so many. He always carefully considered even the smallest questions, and Inho, used to this, patiently waited and watched Haon’s small face.
“I like cows.”
“Huh?”
“A cow. A cow.”
Haon repeated a little louder, thinking Inho hadn’t heard him. He even mimicked the sound of a cow, “Moo,” and Inho blinked, nodding in understanding.
“Cows have really big eyes, shiny like stars. Plus, they’re very gentle and obedient.”
Talking about it made Haon think of the cows that his older friend Seong-gu raised like his own children. Come to think of it, he had meant to call Seong-gu but had forgotten. He decided to call him as soon as he got home.
“What kind of animal do you like, Inho?”
Haon refocused on the conversation and bravely called Inho by his name, though it still felt awkward.
Inho, who had stepped off the escalator first, burst into laughter but quickly composed himself and turned around. The thought of Haon liking cows lingered, making it hard for him to suppress his laughter.
“I like small animals. Like dogs or cats.”
And sea otters too.
The calm smile that accompanied his words made Haon’s heart flutter, even though he wasn’t an animal. Haon raised his voice to hide his feelings.
“Then why don’t you keep one as a pet?”
“I have severe fur allergies, and I’m not sure I can commit to taking care of one for a long time.”
Ah, he has fur allergies. Haon made a mental note of this important information.
“They say pets get depressed if their owner dies first.”
Haon looked up at Inho, finding it a bit unusual that he was more concerned about the pet outliving him than the other way around.
“Let’s take a break before we continue.”
Instead of going straight to the next floor, Inho pointed to a nearby café. It was an open-concept café with plenty of seating, even if it wasn’t cozy.
“I’ll pay.”
Haon rushed to the café and pulled out his debit card from his wallet. He felt he had to at least buy Inho a coffee after receiving what was surely an expensive phone as a gift.
Although Haon usually used cash, he did have a debit card. Before leaving home, he had deliberately packed it in his bag. He planned to buy clothes and was determined to treat Inho to coffee or a meal.
“Please charge it to this card.”
“Ah, yes. What would you like to order?”
The staff smiled kindly at Haon, who had hurriedly handed over his card first. She glanced at Inho, who had entered behind him, and her eyes widened slightly before she quickly composed herself.
“I’ll have an Americano with an extra shot, please.”
“Would you like it hot?”
“Yes, and what about you, Haon?”
“Um, I’ll have…”
Haon quickly scanned the menu. Inho encouraged him to take his time, allowing Haon to choose more leisurely.
“A warm milk tea, please.”
“That’ll be 11,000 won for both drinks.”
Haon’s face lit up with pride as he received his card back from the staff. Although it was just a cup of coffee, he felt happy to finally treat Inho after always being on the receiving end.
“Thank you, I’ll enjoy it.”
Inho smiled brightly at Haon. His dark eyes seemed to shine brighter each day as he watched Haon.
“Shall we sit over there?”
Inho pointed to a distant sofa instead of the wooden chairs nearby. Haon, who found the hard chairs uncomfortable, felt relieved and headed towards the sofa.
While waiting for their drinks, Haon looked around. This department store felt much more spacious and quieter than the one he had visited last week, which made him feel at ease.
That one had a movie theater, and this one seems to have an aquarium. Seoul truly has everything.
“It’s amazing….”
“What is?”
Inho asked curiously, wondering what thoughts were going through Haon’s mind.
“Oh, it’s just… I think it’s amazing that there’s an aquarium inside a department store.”
Haon felt a bit embarrassed, thinking he might have revealed his country bumpkin side. He glanced at the counter, feeling awkward.
Just then, a staff member brought their drinks on a tray.
“Let’s come back here together sometime.”
After the staff left, Inho leaned on the table and said, “When you’re more comfortable eating, we’ll come back and try some delicious food. And see the sea otters too.”
Haon gripped his mug tightly, taking a deep breath to hide his racing heart. The sweet aroma of the warm milk tea filled his nose, making even the air taste sweet.
“I’d… I’d like that,” Haon replied shyly. His toes wiggled nervously in his old sneakers. His feelings for Inho were growing stronger by the day, helplessly.
