Actually, this was Suhwan’s first time eating a macaron since his manifestation. He had tried various other foods until now, but not macarons. Though he generally liked desserts, for some reason he had never been drawn to macarons.
“…!”
However, after one bite, his opinion completely changed. The outside was crispy when chewed, while the inside was sweet yet soft. The refreshing strawberry flavor that filled his mouth was also wonderful. A satisfied smile formed on Suhwan’s lips.
“Is it delicious?”
“Yeah.”
Suhwan nodded and took another bite of the macaron. Before he knew it, the small macaron had disappeared in an instant while he was eating mindlessly. Blinking, Suhwan reached for another macaron.
“Senior…”
“Hmm?”
Suhwan, who had picked up a snow-white macaron this time, turned his head. Seunghyun was standing beside him, tilting his head slightly downward and gazing at him.
“Senior, you look cute even when eating macarons.”
“…!”
C-cute? What kind of thing to say to a big alpha…
Seunghyun looked down at the flustered Suhwan and lowered his head slightly.
“If we were at home, I would have kissed you.”
“Ugh.”
“That’s a shame.”
Seunghyun’s finger brushed Suhwan’s lips, which had small traces of macaron on them. It wasn’t simply wiping something off; it was a deliberately intentional touch.
Seeing Suhwan eating macarons with childlike delight, Seunghyun almost forgot they were outside and nearly showered him with kisses. Why did he have to eat macarons so cutely, provoking someone who was just trying to stay composed? Barely suppressing the impulse, Seunghyun pressed his thumb firmly against Suhwan’s lips.
“D-don’t joke around.”
“I’m not joking.”
Seunghyun tilted his head and removed his finger from Suhwan’s lips.
Why doesn’t he realize how cute he is? Well, that makes him even cuter.
Grinning, Seunghyun planted a quick kiss on Suhwan’s cheek instead.
“…!”
“We’ll continue the rest at home.”
“You…”
Suhwan, his face turning red, looked up at Seunghyun and opened his mouth. Seeing this, Seunghyun’s smile deepened.
“Wait just a little. I’ll be back soon.”
“Mmm.”
Watching Seunghyun’s back as he turned and walked to the counter, Suhwan pressed down firmly on the hat he was wearing. He was glad he had worn a hat. He could well imagine how red his face, which felt burning hot even to himself, must have become.
Is dating always like this? For Suhwan, who was experiencing it for the first time, it was too embarrassing to handle, and the area around his chest kept feeling ticklish. Suhwan pressed his hat down even more firmly, trying hard to hide his flushed face.
Seunghyun returned after his shift ended and he had changed clothes. In beige slacks and a brown knit, he looked so pretty and stylish. Looking at him now, Seunghyun seemed to suit brown-toned clothes well.
Realizing he had just had a sentimental thought, Suhwan scratched his cheek in embarrassment. Seeing this, Seunghyun smiled and spoke:
“Did you wait long?”
“No.”
Time really flew by. Though he hadn’t even read half of the book he brought, time passed like an arrow. Stealing glances at Seunghyun working, occasionally indulging in futile fantasies—before he knew it, Seunghyun had finished his shift and was standing beside him.
“Was work tiring?”
“It’s what I do every day, so it’s nothing special.”
Seunghyun casually extended his hand. Looking down at it, Suhwan reflexively extended his opposite hand. Seunghyun’s hand naturally intertwined with his.
“Where shall we go now?”
“Hmm…”
Their joined hands were warm and soft. And for some reason, they kept feeling ticklish. Suhwan’s interlaced fingers moved slightly.
With his head lowered due to the increasingly embarrassing feeling, Suhwan’s eyes fell on Seunghyun’s shoes. They were black loafers, the kind young men Seunghyun’s age often wore. However, they seemed quite worn out, perhaps from prolonged use. Noticing this, Suhwan muttered softly:
“Shoes…”
“Pardon?”
“No, not an insult, I mean the ones you’re wearing.”
“Ah.”
Seunghyun lowered his head to look at his loafers, then raised it again with a slightly embarrassed expression.
“Now that you mention it, it is time to buy new shoes.”
Living together, it was inevitable that Suhwan would notice. Seunghyun had very few belongings when he came to Jin Suhwan’s house. He didn’t have much to begin with. Feeling a pang in his heart, Suhwan thought for a moment and then raised his head slightly.
Would it be okay to buy him shoes? It had been his birthday recently, and he still felt bad about only having made that… tasteless seaweed soup. After hesitating, Suhwan carefully opened his mouth to ask:
“Should I… buy them for you? The shoes.”
“What?”
“Well, I couldn’t get you a birthday present last time.”
The sudden rut, the blind date, and Ju Geonyul—amidst all these overwhelming events, he had completely forgotten to get a birthday present for Seunghyun. Embarrassed to be thinking of it only now, he scratched the back of his neck vigorously. Seunghyun replied with a happy face:
“Then I want the exact same ones that you’re wearing.”
“Mine?”
Suhwan’s gaze fell to the shoes he was wearing. Today, since he was dressed more modestly than usual and wearing a hat, he had chosen shoes that weren’t particularly eye-catching. They were sneakers from a famous but mainstream brand, and among Jin Suhwan’s possessions, they were relatively inexpensive.
“These aren’t that expensive.”
“That’s fine.”
“But.”
“I want to wear couple shoes with you, senior.”
“…!”
Couple shoes…!
Suhwan’s heart began to race. Seunghyun’s softly whispered voice echoed sweetly in his ear.
“…Okay, got it.”
Almost out of his mind, Suhwan nodded. Seunghyun gently pulled his hand.
“Shall we go then?”
“Y-yeah.”
The two left the cafe and headed to a nearby department store. There was a store specializing in shoes right on the first floor. Holding Seunghyun’s hand, Suhwan entered the store in a somewhat dazed state.
The store was quite crowded. Looking around at the bustling people, Suhwan searched for a staff member in a black T-shirt.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes, are you looking for something specific?”
“Uh…”
A young woman in staff uniform turned around and asked in a lively tone. About to reflexively answer her question, Suhwan suddenly froze. Then, with an awkward face, he lowered his head.
Now that he was about to speak, he suddenly felt very embarrassed. Why was he so embarrassed over something like this? Looking down at his snow-white sneakers, Suhwan said in a small voice:
“Could you show me ones exactly like these?”
“Ah.”
The staff member’s gaze shifted to the sneakers Suhwan was wearing. Then she quickly glanced up, scanning the couple holding hands. Quick-witted, she soon smiled and asked:
“Would you like the same color?”
“Oh, are there other colors too?”
“Yes, besides white, we have black, mint, and beige.”
Suhwan looked flustered as the staff member rattled off the colors. Then he turned to Seunghyun beside him.
“Please bring the white ones.”
“Sure, what size?”
“280.”
“Alright, please wait a moment!”
The staff member turned and disappeared with quick steps. Suhwan actually felt a bit disappointed. He thought beige would suit Seunghyun well with the clothes he was wearing now. And judging by the aura Seunghyun gave off, beige sneakers seemed more fitting than white ones…
Perhaps noticing Suhwan’s disappointed expression, Seunghyun squeezed his hand tighter and said:
“I told you, I want the exact same ones as yours, senior.”
“Y-yeah, that’s right.”
His face burned up again. Watching Suhwan, Seunghyun licked his lips. It seemed like staying outside for long was a bad idea after all. He kept wanting to devour him at every moment. While harboring sinister thoughts internally, he pressed his lips against Suhwan’s ear.
“Should we try something else? If you prefer, I’ll go with that.”
“No, you don’t… have to.”
The fragrant scent emanating from Seunghyun kept tickling his nose. A sweet aroma wafted from his close body as well. Seunghyun, who usually locked his pheromones so tightly that he appeared ascetic in public, was now releasing subtle pheromones.
“Seunghyun…”
“Senior…”
Their lips drew closer. Just as Suhwan, unable to push him away, was staring at his red lips as if entranced:
“Sorry for the wait!”
“Oh!”
As the staff member approached with the sneakers, Suhwan startled and quickly moved away. He had almost forgotten they were in public and nearly did something serious. Suhwan calmed his startled heart.
“Would you like to try them on?”
“…Yes.”
The beta staff member, unaware of the subtle currents between the alpha and omega, asked with a bright face. Seunghyun nodded with lowered eyes. We really need to get back home quickly.
Seunghyun took off his loafers and put on the sneakers. Even with just one foot in, the snow-white sneakers fit his foot perfectly.
Though he had been longing for the beige ones, they suited Seunghyun so well that those thoughts disappeared completely. Watching him, Suhwan’s face brightened instantly.
“Does the size fit well?”
“Yes, it’s good.”
After putting on both sneakers, Seunghyun turned to Suhwan. He tilted his head and asked:
“How do they look?”
“Good…”
“Pardon?”
“No… I mean they suit you well.”
As Seunghyun approached, their identical sneakers faced each other. By the way, Seunghyun’s feet are quite large too. Coincidentally, Jin Suhwan’s shoe size was also exactly 280.
Seeing the same colored, same sized shoes side by side evoked a peculiar feeling. Suhwan, after staring at the two pairs of snow-white sneakers engraved in his vision, raised his head.
“So, shall we get these?”
