# Chapter 34
After entering the watch strap store, Tae Igyeol already had something in mind, and with his firm taste, there was no need to choose.
“Are you going with the white one?”
“Yeah.”
“How about this? Does it look good on me?”
Mo Eunje held the same design strap that Tae Igyeol had chosen but in light green, placing it against his wrist. He loved it. So without even waiting for Tae Igyeol’s answer, he paid for one white and one light green strap.
“Please wrap this one, and I’ll wear this one now.”
“Me too. But please wrap the box.”
When Mo Eunje took off his watch to replace the strap right away, Tae Igyeol standing next to him did the same. It was surprising since he was the type to go home first, carefully examine the product, and then wear it.
“Unlike someone, I have a very generous heart, so I’m just giving it to you now.”
“Yeah. I’m tearfully grateful.”
While Mo Eunje was showing off as he replaced the strap with the clerk’s help, Tae Igyeol had already replaced his on his own and fastened it to his wrist. Judging from his expression, he seemed to like it, which made Mo Eunje feel proud inside. All in all, it was a very reasonable shopping trip.
&
Mo Eunje bought a bouquet of flowers. Not just any bouquet, but a hundred roses.
Perhaps touched by being given a necklace he really liked, as soon as they entered the flower shop, he said, “Please wrap a hundred roses.” With so many beautiful spring flowers available, why would he choose such a trite and unimaginative cliché? Looking at it, the creativity of someone who claimed to be a writer was zero.
Still, it was incredibly cute how proudly he looked as he received the wrapped hundred roses from the florist and handed them over. He seemed to think he looked cool, but…
Fortunately, the flower shop next to the department store was large. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have had a hundred roses in stock. Mo Eunje had been thinking of a small bouquet, so this felt like a windfall.
Since the restaurant was a 10-minute walk from the department store, they left the car in the department store parking lot and walked. Tae Igyeol carried the wrapped hundred roses and the shopping bag with the necklace, while Mo Eunje carried the paper bag containing the two watch strap cases.
When they arrived at the restaurant entrance, an employee opened the door for them. Mo Eunje politely thanked them, confirmed the reservation name, and they were soon guided to a private room.
This was a fine dining restaurant with everything Mo Eunje would like. Although there was a main dining hall, they also had private rooms, so booking a room allowed them to dine in a quiet atmosphere. The food was excellent, and the menu, offered only as a single course with no à la carte options, changed with each season. Above all, the decoration of the plates was so beautiful that Mo Eunje would post pictures on social media. Of course, the food came in tiny portions on large plates, barely a mouthful, but still.
Entering the room, Tae Igyeol pulled out a chair and put down the bouquet and the necklace. When he took off his jacket, an employee took it and hung it on a coat hanger. They sat facing each other at a four-person table set with wine glasses and cutlery.
“This is our signature dinner course menu.”
“Thank you.”
The employee placed an elegant menu showing the plate sequence in front of each of them and left. Mo Eunje was absolutely adorable as his eyes sparkled and he licked his lips while looking over the menu consisting of 10 plates.
“Thanks to you, I’m being treated really well today. I’ll enjoy it.”
Tae Igyeol chuckled as he saw Mo Eunje’s beaming face. If only Mo Eunje would accept it, he could treat him like this every day. After all, that’s what he earned money for. But it was frustrating that Mo Eunje only accepted on rare occasions when there was a good reason. Even if they started dating, Mo Eunje would likely not accept gifts unless it was a special occasion. It was a relief that he at least asked for meals with his cute childish voice and aegyo.
Before the main dishes were served, an employee brought samples of the meat cuts used in the course and explained their characteristics while confirming their freshness. After the explanation, Tae Igyeol ordered additional wine. For himself, he chose a red wine of the Cabernet Sauvignon variety with low acidity and sweetness but rich tannins and strong astringency. For Mo Eunje, he chose a sweet Moscato white wine.
Afterward, the plates began to arrive one by one. Until the main steak arrived, Tae Igyeol wasn’t satisfied. Honestly, the portions were so small that even though he had just eaten, he could barely remember the taste of what he had just had.
However, his mood was quite good thanks to Mo Eunje, who enthusiastically enjoyed every bite despite the portions being too small even for a single mouthful. Tae Igyeol was happy when Mo Eunje was satisfied, rather than when he himself was satisfied.
“By the way, can’t I have my gift right now instead of tomorrow?”
“Why?”
“I want it quickly. Even while eating this delicious food, it keeps flashing before my eyes.”
“…”
“You bought it for me, right? Nothing bad happens if you give it to me a day early. Igyeol-hyung, pweeeease give Eunje the necklace.”
Tae Igyeol stared blankly at Mo Eunje’s face as he fluttered his eyelashes dramatically with a pouty expression. He was being so cute, tilting his head and acting adorable, that Tae Igyeol felt like laughing. Instead, he frowned and handed over the shopping bag with the necklace.
“Thanks. This is my number one treasure for now.”
With a broad grin, Mo Eunje unwrapped the package, took several photos from different angles with his phone, and then took out the necklace. He tried to put it on by lowering his head and bringing his hands behind his neck, but it seemed difficult, so he kept taking it off, checking the clasp, and trying again.
Even his crown is pretty.
Tae Igyeol wanted to go right over and fasten it for him, but he quietly continued eating his remaining steak. Four types of condiments were served, but none were to his taste, so he ate with just the basic sauce.
Even if he puts on the necklace, he should finish eating the steak first, it’s going to get cold.
He thought about saying something, but Mo Eunje seemed so focused that he kept it to himself. After finishing his steak, he waited patiently while drinking wine. Though he had quite a talent for patience and waiting, that didn’t mean it was easy.
On a day like today, he had to be careful about acting differently than usual, as it might make Mo Eunje suspicious. While he didn’t mind being suspected, he couldn’t let the gap he had narrowed to the maximum widen awkwardly again. He needed to maintain the current distance, which Mo Eunje himself felt safe with, even though it was actually dangerous.
Even if he confessed, he would need to calculate meticulously, prepare thoroughly, and then carefully proceed slowly when Mo Eunje was off guard so as not to cause resistance, while making sure to block any escape routes. Isn’t there an English proverb that says:
All is fair in love and war.
Driven to his limit, Tae Igyeol was determined to use any means necessary to win this love from now on. It had been inevitable since the moment he stole a kiss from Mo Eunje’s lips as he slept.
“Help me with this. Why isn’t it working?”
“Do it at home. Why are you making a fuss in the middle of eating?”
“I want to take a photo wearing this necklace here.”
He was consistently bright and cheerful.
“Haaa… you’re really something else.”
“Handsome Igyeol, since you’re already treating me to dinner and a necklace, couldn’t you do it with a smile and a good mood?”
“I want to shoot you right now.”
Tae Igyeol frowned and stood up, acting as if it was a huge bother. He went behind Mo Eunje and took the clasp part of the necklace that Mo Eunje handed him. It was just fastening a necklace, but his hands trembled so badly that he fumbled several times. How could he not? Mo Eunje was acting so cute, wanting to wear the necklace he had bought for him as quickly as possible.
“Is it done? Not yet? Is it not working well? Should we just exchange the chain?”
“It’s done.”
“Then I just need to take a picture.”
Just as Tae Igyeol returned to his seat and reluctantly picked up his phone to take a picture, there was a knock at the door, and an employee brought in dessert.
“Excuse me, I’m sorry, but could you take a photo for us?”
Mo Eunje handed his phone with the camera app open to the employee. Then he came over to Tae Igyeol’s side, put the bouquet in his arms, and sat in the empty chair.
“Make sure your wrist is visible too. The stars right now aren’t us but the bouquet, necklace, and watch straps.”
“…”
Sitting on Tae Igyeol’s left, Mo Eunje pulled his chair close and struck an affectionate pose. Naturally, he posed with his left hand under his chin to show off the watch strap. Tae Igyeol, who had ended up holding the bouquet, pretended to be reluctant but diligently placed the bouquet between them, unfastened his watch, and put it on his right wrist. Then he assumed the same pose as Mo Eunje, resting his chin on his right hand.
Fuck. Anyone who sees this would think it’s a couple’s anniversary photo.
He controlled his facial muscles that naturally wanted to smile broadly and settled for a moderate smile. The perceptive employee took no fewer than four photos: landscape, portrait, close-up, and full shot. If there had been a tipping culture in Korea, he would have given a huge tip.
“Auntie asks if I’m on a date with you.”
Mo Eunje giggled, having apparently sent the photo to Song Yeonhwa and received a response.
“What date.”
“What’s the big deal about a date? This much is definitely a date. A friendship date.”
“…”
“Yes, Auntie. I’m on a date with Igyeol right now. Tae Igyeol flexed today~”
He typed remarkably fast with his thumbs while saying the message content out loud.
Friendship date.
The word attached to “date” seemed like it could be removed, but he deliberately added it, bringing down the mood. Tae Igyeol, almost killed by the stone Mo Eunje had carelessly thrown, let out a silent, low sigh to hide his bitterness and emptiness.
“Why aren’t my parents looking at the photos? Are they still at work? I should check the time difference before sending it to Grandma later.”
“…You can eat this too.”
“I already like everything about you, but I especially like it when you give me your desserts because you don’t like them.”
Mo Eunje, who had taken photos with his phone each time a plate was served, didn’t forget to take pictures of the dessert too. While finishing the remaining steak and devouring two plates of dessert, Tae Igyeol just watched Mo Eunje, as he always did. He drank wine while engaging in trivial conversation. Although he had ordered a naturally astringent wine, today the wine tasted especially bitter.
