Did I Do Well, My Love? (56)
Tonight you planned to go out for hot pot with your close friends after deciding on a meeting place after a long time apart. A hot pot restaurant in an alley on the side street, with a casual atmosphere and old wooden tables and chairs, but always crowded because of its fragrant broth and prices suitable for students and office workers.
Initially, you thought you'd go alone, but your close friends suddenly decided they wanted to meet your boyfriend, Pierrot, whom you'd talked about before. You could sense this wasn't just ordinary curiosity, as their messages sounded like they wanted to know if Pierrot was a good boyfriend for you. For them, it was more like a meeting between Pierrot and your family than a social encounter with Pierrot.
Well… you can't blame their curiosity and caution, because they're used to seeing you as the one who always takes care of others, always yielding, always handling things behind the scenes like a silent caregiver. And it's precisely because of your gentle nature that those you once loved have taken advantage of you so much. That's why your close friends suggested meeting your sweet boyfriend, Pierrot, on this occasion.
You hesitated a little before agreeing to your friends' suggestion, then decided to text Pierrot for his opinion. When he replied that he would go with you, you felt both relieved and a little worried, fearing Pierrot wouldn't be used to noisy gatherings or meeting so many strangers on a short outing. But he agreed, as if being by your side in front of the people important to you was more important to him than his own shyness.
As you two entered the hot pot restaurant, the atmosphere inside was as lively as ever, filled with laughter, conversation, and the fragrant aroma of food. Even though Pierrot had changed into his everyday clothes, shedding his familiar clown costume, his tall stature and broad shoulders still drew admiring glances from everyone.
Your close friends' eyes widened in admiration; one nudged your shoulder as you approached, whispering in your ear, "Wow, your boyfriend is so tall!"
You could only manage a forced smile and nod in agreement, sitting down at the hot pot table with everyone else before pulling up another chair and gesturing for Pierrot to sit beside you.
Your group of friends immediately greeted him with a very natural tone, as if they had known him for a long time. They offered him food, serving him all sorts of things like they'd taken care of a grown child, helping him pick up items like beef, fish balls, mushrooms, noodles, etc.
"Eat as much as you like, buddy! Make yourself at home!"
Pierrot was a little flustered at first by their enthusiasm, but he gradually calmed down, smiling and nodding in thanks to each person, slowly dipping food into the pot, always checking if the broth was boiling, and checking if anyone needed more bowls or vegetables. He ate very slowly, often serving his friends first, gently placing their food in their bowls with a reminder to eat more before he ate his own.
After observing for a while, your close friends started whispering in your ear. "I can't believe it, he's truly a sweet boyfriend."
One of them whispered closer to your ear, "We know you're always taking care of others like a foster mother, and now your boyfriend is like that too."
Another guy giggled, teasingly, "So now we have a 'foster father,' huh?" The more you listened, the redder your face became at the teasing mixed with a little praise from your friends, but you also felt a sense of pride.
Pierrot heard everyone whispering something, but didn't know what they were saying because he only saw you smile. He turned to you and whispered, his face close to your ear, "Is everything alright, my love?"
You nodded quickly and replied softly, your hand gently gripping his arm under the table as you reassured him, "Everything's fine, Pierrot… and just relax with everyone, okay?"
After a while of chatting, the guys in the group started suggesting Pierrot have a beer. You tried to stop him because you knew he didn't like spicy food, but Pierrot looked at you reassuringly, then at your group of close friends, as if to prove that he wasn't a stranger or difficult to get along with. He picked up a can of beer, gave a slightly forced smile, accepted the offer, and drank with them.
At first, it was just one can, then two, then three. The laughter at the hotpot table grew louder, and the conversation became increasingly disjointed as each person shared stories of the past and what they would do in the near future, until the dishes on the hotpot were all gone, at which point things quieted down a bit except for the sound of boiling water.
As the gathering meal drew to a close, the restaurant began to empty. Some members of the group had left early, while others slumped over their tables, full and drunk. Pierrot finally had some time to sit closer to you. He wrapped his arm around your waist, pulling you closer. His head tilted to rest on your shoulder. You felt the warmth and the faint scent of beer from him. You gently stroked the top of his head, sighing softly at his stubbornness in wanting to show off to your friends.
He was silent for quite a while, until you leaned down and whispered in his ear, "Are you tired? Let's go home, Pierrot?"
His hand tightened around your waist as if instinctively holding you close. His voice was so low you could only hear mumbled words, not quite clear, but because you were used to it, you could guess he was saying he loved you, asking if he'd done well today, then chuckling softly to himself proudly as he repeated the compliments your friends had given you, saying you two were a perfect match.
You giggled, reaching back to gently pat his back, reassuring him, "Yes, yes, you did very well. Everyone liked you a lot. And… we really are a perfect match, we're a beautiful couple." Pierrot giggled innocently at your words, burying his head deeper into your shoulder.
Afterward, you got up to pay your share through your friend, then returned to put on his coat and help him up. He was still alert enough to walk with you, but he was clearly clinging to you more than usual.
On the way home, he barely let go of you, his arm always around your back, occasionally leaning down to whisper softly, “I love you so much, my love… Why are you so adorable?”
You giggled softly in response, even though you knew he might not remember everything by tomorrow morning. “I love you too, my love… and why am I adorable? Hmm… maybe it’s because your love for me makes me adorable in your eyes?”
Hearing this, he leaned down and gently kissed your cheek, lightly rubbing his forehead against yours, then his hands cupped your face as his golden eyes gazed directly at you. You could see your reflection in his eyes, and you smiled softly as you wrapped your arms around his neck and leaned in to kiss him lightly on the lips.
“You are my warm light, and I love you, Pierrot.”