PeteKao running into June while they're on a date and it's the first time June has seen them together since they became official. basically June annoying the living daylights out of them and PeteKao being adorable on a date. but anything with petekao would be great. love you lots ^^ take your time and if you don't feel like it, that's totally fine <3
(We’re gonna do this! I also don’t watch NewTay Meal Date, but I imagine the mess NewTay are in your GIFs is similar to the mess PeteKao would be on a date. So I’m just gonna channel some of that vibe.)
The reconciliation of the entire gang – or at least the reconciliation of Pete and Kao – had been a relief to everyone. June was thrilled. There was enough stress in schoolwork alone. No need to muddy it up with friend drama as well.
June stepped outside and took a deep breath of fresh air. It was a beautiful Saturday, no assignments were due next week, exams had ended, and there were a bunch of cafes that June had been dying to go to at the mall. A quick check of the group chat showed that everyone else had plans and June resigned himself to a solo day at the mall.
June’s first stop was for bubble tea. He was so lost in the menu, he ignored the couple he nearly bumped into, overlooking their obvious sunglasses, messy hair, furious whispering, and linked pinkies as one man pulled the other one along. The one being pulled made noises of protest and kept looking behind him as June made his order.
Thirst for novel bubble tea flavors now sated (”Who would have thought that lavender and white chocolate made a decent bubble tea flavor,” June said around the straw in his mouth), June looked for something savory to tempt his stomach.
The second stop provided relief with several traditional Korean dishes. As June savored his kimchi jjigae, he looked over and noticed a couple sitting in a corner, one man fanning his mouth and the other laughing. Their physiques seemed similar but June couldn’t make out their faces. The second finally offered something on his chopsticks to the one fanning his mouth. The first objected but ate it anyway. June shrugged and continued eating his marinaded ribs.
The couple left before June did. As they passed, June could have sworn he heard someone that sounded like Kao say, “But we should say something!” June took a quick glance around, but no sign of Kao was to be found.
The final stop was for pastries to soothe his over spiced stomach. June walked in and watched as Kao licked pastry cream from his lips before offering a bite of something to Pete. Pete rolled his eyes but ate from Kao’s hand, lips moving over Kao’s fingers in a deliberate manner that made Kao as red as the strawberries on his tart.
“Oh my god…” June stomped over. “I can’t believe you guys ditched me to come to the mall yourselves!” Pete’s expression was one of a deer caught in headlights and entirely uncharacteristic. Kao only offered a weak smile. “Have you guys been to the bubble tea place? I swear, who would have though lavender would be a good bubble tea flavor?”
“Ye-Yeah! Crazy right?” Kao glanced at Pete after his answer but Pete was still staring into space. Kao elbowed him. “Did you try any other things today?”
“The new Korean place was also good. A little spicy though.”
“Too spicy for Pete apparently.” Kao kicked Pete this time.
“Huh? Did I miss you guys there or…” June blinked and finally took in the appearance of Kao and Pete. Sunglasses resting on their heads or on collars, the new and unfamiliar shirts, Kao’s closeness to Pete and Pete’s look of horror. “Oh shit… You guys are on a date.” June looked around and under the table for cameras. “Shit this is a real date. You guys are dating.”
At last Pete snapped out of his dissociated state. “Huh? What? No! We aren’t-”
“You guys are actually holding hands under the table.” Pete immediately jerked as if he’d been shot. Kao bit his lip and looked to the side. “Holy crap. Pete and Kao are dating. You guys are dating.” A massive grin spread across June’s lips. “Congratulations! No wonder there was so much tension!”
“You could say that…” Kao trailed off and looked at Pete who sighed and nodded. “But we’re not telling everyone just yet, Ai June. So if you could-” June wasn’t paying attention, head down in focus over his phone.
Pete snatched June’s phone out of his hands. “Ai June, why are you texting everyone already?”
“They won’t believe me otherwise!”
Pete moved to get up, a snarl on his face. Kao pulled him back down and shoved a spoon of something into his mouth. Pete stopped for a moment and it was all Kao needed to take June’s phone away from him. “Please Ai June, don’t tell everyone yet. We’re still working it out. Kinda.” Kao offered June back his phone. “Okay?”
“Okay.” June glanced at the spread on the table. “Jeez, are you eating all this together? Especially after that lunch?”
“Seventy-five percent of it is Kao’s,” Pete muttered. “He’s put on 2 kg from our date today alone I bet.”
Kao shoved Pete. “Jerk, after all the swimming I did in your pool yesterday, you’re going to tease me about eating?”
At the mention of swimming, Pete’s face turned dopey and June had to pinch himself to make sure he was still in reality. “Oh yeah… Yesterday was great.”
Kao rolled his eyes and pushed one of his treats in June’s direction. “Here, we can share this one.”
“Oi! You’ll share that one with him but not me?”
“I shared plenty with you already today. It’s important to share with all your friends,” Kao said wagging his finger at Pete. Pete lunged to bite the finger and Kao just barely managed to pull it away.
June picked up a spoon and started shoveling the offered dessert into his mouth as Pete and Kao bickered. It was the same as when they were just friends, but slightly different. Their expressions were different. The body language had changed. Pete, no matter how bothered he sounded, kept leaning towards Kao. Kao’s expression was always fond yet chastising. June noted that their feet were still linked at the ankle under the table.
June decided this was much more entertaining than window shopping. Even if it did feel like a weird fever dream, at least Pete and Kao were happy, and that was all June really wanted to ask for.
But another piece of cake wouldn’t be so bad either.