✨Pairing: Kun x gn!reader
✨Prompt: You and Kun are baking bread and pastries early in the morning for the shop you own together
✨Word Count: 0.5k
✨Genre: Drabble, fluff, non idol au, slight romance, married au,
☀️Authors Note: Just something short and sweet with Kun again, he just really fits with these really short and sweet scenarios imo🥰
It was early morning, the sun had barely gone up when you and Kun got to the pastry shop the two of you owned together. The shop was painted in the very soft orange glow from the morning sun as you both put on your apron tying it to your backs.
Soft gentle music where coming out from the little radio you had bought as you took out the dough you had made the evening before to start shape it into little buns while Kun started working on the dough for some croissants and other pastries.
"What do you want for breakfast today dear? A croissant with whipped cream and strawberries or perhaps a filling of some sort?"
Kun's question makes you look up from the buns you're working on, studying his beautiful face in the morning light. He looked especially soft today in your eyes causing you to lean forward and give him a light kiss before answering him.
"You know you don't have to bake me a fresh pastry for breakfast every day love." You said with a small smile as Kuns face wore a bigger smile after you had given him a kiss.
"You know I like doing this for you. It makes me happy to be able to give you something freshly baked with love every morning. It makes me filled with so much joy seeing you enjoy the start of the day with something delicious." He confessed whilst taking some of the flour on his fingers and painting a little heart on your cheek with a little chuckle.
You stared at him for a while, Kun was working slowly on the croissant he was insistent on making for you. Every day since the day you got together, even before you were married, before you had opened the bakery together, he had taken it upon himself to each morning bake you a freshly made pastry and bread.
He had stated after you had questioned why he did it every single day without failure and if it wouldn't get annoying eventually that when you love someone small acts of kindness like this could never be annoying or tiring. Simply seeing your eyes light up and the way you enjoyed what he had made for you made his heart blossom with even more love than he thought was possible.
You had once mentioned how you felt bad that you never did some big grand gesture like this for him which he had only chuckled and taken your hand whilst saying:
"I am not doing this every day with the expectation that you should do something back. I am simply doing it because I want to love."
The morning simply continued on like it always did. The two of you working in tandem, just enjoying each other's company as the music took over the store.
Before opening the store you and Kun sat comfortably enjoying the breakfast Kun had baked with love and passion for the both of you.
Premise : While you could practically have anyone in the world, there was only one man you could ever see. When would your strict assistant of many years finally see you as a woman, instead of his boss?
You sipped at your beverage from the wine glass coiffed between your fingers, simmering within your own in the most uneventful area of the large hall, the corner by the food. You quietly observed the premise of the room as different business owners, CEOs, assistants, and everything in between were walking around, discussing business matters, propositions: better known to you as the same old crap.
You exhaled as you swirled your drink, recapping all of your encounters from your rounds. You, as the only daughter of the man with one of the most successful, expansive corporations around the world, you had no choice but to take over the fame and fortune of your father some day. And what better way to integrate your daughter into your multi-billion dollar corporation than to drag her around to these boring, ass-kissing business gatherings?
The only thing you appreciated about these experiences were the exquisite dining services. You made a mental note to give the service your best regards later.
“Miss?”
You slowly, but gracefully redirected your attention towards a man who stood neatly in front of you, surely another money hungry bachelor that wanted a handful of your father’s fortune no doubt. A scowl threatened to reveal itself along your brow line, but you composed yourself to impose the image that your father wanted you to portray.
“How could I help you, Sir?” You asked delicately, expecting the usual spiel about how beautiful you were, and how he would like to court you as soon as possible. You would never buy it, and honestly, your father didn’t blame you in the slightest, but he did wish for you to wed a wealthy businessman someday. A man who could benefit the survival of his long-built empire.
You detested this wish, but you couldn’t completely disobey him either.
“I believe you are the daughter of Mr. L/N?”
You suppressed the urge to roll your eyes by biting your inner cheek, instead shooting him a sugary smile instead.
“That would be correct, Sir.”
“Oh, that’s fantastic! I was actually-”
“Excuse me.”
You and your companion were abruptly interrupted by a familiar voice, an involuntary smile bit at your plumped, red lips.
“Ah, hello Mr. Qian.” You greeted, silently speaking to him through your eyes.
“I’m very sorry, Sir, but I have orders to bring Ms. L/N elsewhere for the time being. What is your business with her?” You couldn’t help the smirk lining your lips as you saw the man confronting you immediately crumbling underneath your assistant’s intense gaze.
Anyone would be intimidated by thee Qian Kun if he wasn’t happy with them.
Anyone.
“Ah, I was just giving her my best regards! See you soon, Ms. L/N.” Before you or Kun could even utter a peep, the man was alright out of your sight, causing your shoulders to slump with relaxation.
“Thanks for saving me, Kunnie!” You squealed quietly, completely out of character of yourself... for those who weren’t Kun.
To put it into perspective, Kun had been your butler since the both of you were in your pre-teens. Kun’s father was your father’s butler of many years, helping him from just being a successful businessman to a global tycoon.
You didn’t like calling Kun your butler, though, so he was officially listed as your assistant in all his records. While Kun was quite icy and brisk with you earlier in your partnership, he soon warmed up to you as you persistently bothered him. You two had a warm relationship, but at times, you wanted more.
Rich, gorgeous men were just not your type, especially since everyone was after your soon-to-be inherited fortune.
No.
The warm, sweet Kun was exactly your type; it had been particularly difficult withholding these sappy feelings whenever you were around the man.
Unfortunately, you really had no chance with him.
As you flirted and hinted at any romantic feelings between the two of you, he always swiftly diverted the topic to something else. It had been hard for you, but you always kept up your perfect exterior regardless.
Besides, no child of your father would ever be caught slipping publicly, or privately.
“It’s simply my job, Ms. L/N.”
Dragged back to your current reality, you were unfortunately met with the professional Kun, the man who was nothing but business.
You pouted, a small whine escaping your lips.
“How many times do I have to tell you, Kun Kun? You should call me Y/N.”
He shot you a wary smile, already telling you your answer.
“That simply wouldn’t do, Ms. L/N.”
You groaned in disapproval, but you didn't’t further your argument. It was a lost cause whenever Kun was dead set on something.
~~~
“We are here, Ms. L/N.”
You quickly opened the car door before your assistant could come and open it for you. The said man gave you a dirty glare, still reaching a hand out for you to take. You decided to humor him by gently grabbing the pads of his fingers, sending a flirty wink his way.
He only humored you by giving you the whites of his eyes.
“Love you too, Kun.”
“Nothing personal, Ms. L/N. I will be going home now.”
You felt your heart sink to the depths of your stomach as you watched Kun swiftly round the expensive vehicle, departing from you as soon as he humanly could. Your teeth clenched down on your inner cheek, your hands balling up.
You couldn’t do this anymore.
“Kun!”
Kun froze as he opened the driver’s door, directing his attention to you. You toyed nervously at the hem of your expensive gown, starting to regret you actions as you observed how handsome Kun looked. His glasses sat nicely on the bridge of his nose, his tie slightly loosened from his activities throughout the day, the button of his navy blue jacket already undone, giving him a sexy, raw, loosened version of him that simply drove you insane.
“Yes, Ms. L/N?”
You gulped down the lump growing in your throat, actively forcing down the anxiety plaguing your mind and heart.
“Could you join me at my place for a little? I’ve been getting a little lonely these days.”
Kun silently examined you, obviously startled by your request. You saw him sigh a little, looking down at his expensive watch before looking back at you. Hurt twinged your heart from his evident need to depart.
“You know what, it’s-”
“No, I’ll stay with you, Ms. L/N.”
Your breath hitched as he locked his car, passing by you with a little smirk as he walked toward your modern accommodations with his hands tucked in his dress pants. You stared his at his firm back, wondering why you even did this to begin with. All you knew was for now was that your feelings for him were growing more clear each day.
“So, what did you have in mind, Ms. L/N?”
You hummed as you prepared the room that you and Kun were in, starting to realize that this was the first time that you had let a man into your residence late at night, other than your father of course. While you were officially a grown woman, you were still a late bloomer at heart, something that you didn’t necessarily know how to feel about at times.
“He’s just Kun, Y/N. Stop freaking out.”
“What was that?”
You flushed, not realizing that you spoke aloud. You cursed yourself out for initiating this whole situation to begin with.
“Nothing! A-Anyways, let’s drink some wine and talk for a little?”
Kun rested his chin on the back of his hand, giving you a look that you couldn’t read.
“Then I couldn’t drive home.”
“You could stay over then! There are plenty of extra rooms here.” You offered with a sweet smile, oblivious to the dangerous smirk that grew on Kun’s lips.
“Don’t be so loose, Ms. L/N. You simply can’t just offer to let men stay over at your house, even if you do have an uncountable number of rooms.”
You reeled at his implications with a gasp.
“Kun, don’t be weird! You’re my assistant, my father trusted you, so I trust you.”
Kun’s smirk grew soft, a twinkle lighting his brown irises in the dim setting.
“Of course, Ms. L/N. Let’s have some of that wine you you spoke of.”
You two did just that, drinking and comfortably chatting from the sunset to the emergence of the night’s stars, breaking down certain barriers that you never thought could happen.
“Hmm, Kun, could you answer something I have been wondering for awhile?”
He chuckled, that beautiful beaming smile that you had grown so fond of over these years lit up his features for the millionth time this evening.
“I have been this whole time, Ms. L/N.”
You, on the other hand, were not so relaxed as you silently plucked up the courage to do something that you would have never done while sober.
“Are you seeing someone? Romantically, I mean. Like earlier, it seemed like you were in a rush to see someone.”
The smile slipped off of his face as fast as the palms of your hands became sweaty. You gave him an awkward, lop-sided smile, but you were only met with a serious look in return.
“Would it matter if I was seeing someone right now?” He said cooly, stealing all of the warmth in the air around you two, suddenly replaced by a chilling atmosphere. Your face screwed with perplexed guilt, scrambling for your response.
“N-No, I-I was only curious! Sorry for bringing it up, Kun.” You apologized with the aura of a kicked puppy as you stared down at your reflection within the red wine you held.
“Then let me turn the question onto you, Ms. L/N. Are you seeing someone at this current time?” He muttered eloquently, leaving you speechless. You looked at him past your wisps of deranged hair.
“I believe you already know the answer to that, Kun.”
“And why’s that?” He questioned mercilessly, sensually leaning back onto the arm of the sofa you two sat on. You didn’t know why his whole demeanor changed, but you were intimidated like the very first time you met him, but for a whole different reason.
“I can’t say I’m into gold diggers if I’m going to be honest. Besides, you see me every day, I think you would have met any potential suitors by now.”
“I can’t say I blame you, but I was under the impression that you were already infatuated by someone?”
Your eyebrows pinched together in pure confusion as you digested his words. Did he already know you were into him?
“It’s just I’ve noticed that you have been acting differently lately. Am I reading too deep into it?”
While his words were innocent, his tone was definitely not.
You couldn't tell if Kun was fully aware, and intentionally lowering his tone to a growling octave, or if he was under the alcohol’s intoxicating submission. All you knew was that his voice was doing things to you, sending you into a tingling frenzy emotionally, mentally, and most certainly physically.
Trying to wade through your unhinged mind, you knew you were going to spill something in a matter of seconds, whether that be your wine or your feelings, you didn’t know.
“Well, I guess I have noticed someone recently.” You started, hesitant of your words even in your drunken state. Kun nodded along with you, effectively urging you to say more.
“Would you judge me if I told you who it was?”
“Not at all, Ms. L/N.”
You sucked in air through your teeth, giving a weak attempt at calming your racing heart. The flush at the tips of your cheeks were effectively masked by the fact that you were under the influence of alcohol, thankfully.
“I-I like you, Kun.”
The room you were in stilled in a pregnant pause, allowing you to bask in the aftermath of your confession. You set down your wine glass as you were scared that rejection would rip your heart apart in a matter of milliseconds. You wordlessly watched his features remain stone cold, his whole being exemplifying a living statue.
You were taken aback as Kun gently set his empty wine glass on the glass coffee table beside you, mimicking your prior motions, not removing his eyes from your figure for even a second. Your throat became plugged up as you saw Kun slowly remove the navy dress jacket he wore, quickly rolling up his white long sleeves to his elbows, exposing his toned forearms.
Really a sight to behold.
“I’m glad to hear that, Ms. L/N.” He stated calmly, giving your poor spine whiplash at the serenity of his state. Your eyes widened to their capacity as Kun leaned forward onto his hands, crawling to your side of the couch. The nature of his movements reminded you of a predator encroaching on its prey before pouncing.
He stalked his way to your stiffened posture before ending up face to face with you, his hands planted by the sides of your curled up legs.
You slunk back, admitting defeat in this hunter and hunted game.
“But I guess it’s unfortunate that I’m just a measly assistant, then.”
Your jaw dropped with anticipation, shock overloading your inexperienced system. You quivered as you felt his large hand graze your calf like he was worshipping a fragile object. The pad of his middle finger drawled up the sensitive skin as if he wanted to absorb every part of you.
“I bet you’re curious as to why I refuse to call you by your first name.”
Confusion overshadowed your excitement for a brief second as you tilted your head like the clueless little puppy you were.
“I am curious.” You said simply, eager to feed your curiosity.
“Hmmm, is that so?” He whispered, trailing off to a wistful sigh.
You wanted to whine at his lack of explanation, but instead, a light squeal stole your voice as his hand landed and squeezed your hip. Striking electricity stole your senses and your skin burned with shame and a hint of lust.
“It’s because I made a certain promise with myself...”
The hand that cradled your hip traveled to the very tip of your chin, Kun tilted your head to parallel his face to yours. His beautifully-proportioned features looked down at you with hooded eyes, eating you up like you were his last meal. You didn’t dare mutter a word under his searing leer.
“That promise being that I could only call you Y/N,”
Your lips parted with shock as you registered the very first time that Kun had ever said your first name to you, a prickling sensation crashing through your extremities. You certainly didn’t imagine this being the scenario it would happen in.
Kun inched his way towards your face at a lagged pace, leaving only a couple of centimeters to spare before pausing. For the nth time tonight, your breath was swept away with the wind leaving you in an asthmatic state. His lips graced over yours, leaving goosebumps rippling over your skin.
Your eyes fluttered closed as your jaw jutted out with need. You were ready to hear whatever he had to say next, the fatal words that would leave you spell-bound
"When a broken heart meets another broken heart, a soul is formed."
A sigh escaped your lips when the warm sand came in contact with your skin as you sat down without hesitation. You didn’t bring any kind of mat for you to lay down, nor cheap flip flops that you can sit on top of.
The sand was a lot warmer than what you remembered, and the beach was certainly a lot more crowded. After making its way into a popular blog under the title underrated beaches you need to visit, it only made sense when thousands of people suddenly popped out of nowhere. You didn’t mind, though. The beach was still as beautiful as it used to, and the ocean was still as blue as you remembered.
A single drop of sweat dripped from your chin, and you squinted your eyes at the shining, bright sun. It was certainly hotter than you last visited. It was almost a year ago, and yet the memory remained crystal clear in the back of your head.
You put on a white hat that you brought, a gift from one of your friends for your birthday a few years ago.
A family of three walked pass you, their cheerful wide-eyed boy catching your attention in a heartbeat. His facial features were somehow similar to a very important person in your life, and the resemblances were so uncanny that you had to look at his father just to make sure.
Glancing around the crowded beach, you noticed that there are a lot of couples and families, and you suddenly remembered that it was a Sunday. A bright sunny Sunday, the perfect day to go swimming in the cold refreshing water. But you weren’t here because of that.
Your lips curved into a sour smile, suddenly reminded of why you were here at the first place. Looking down at your fingers, the gleaming platinum ring around your left ring finger catching your eye immediately. You carefully traced the small diamonds scattered around the ring, and stopped when you touched a particular bump. You already knew what it was without having to look. After all, it was an initial of the person you loved the most.
Taking a deep breath, you traced your finger around the letter, letting a small tear escaped your eye. It felt like it was only yesterday when you visited the beach with him, playing for hours under the scorching heat of the sun.
You remembered everything that happened on that day, down to the small details that you were sure he didn’t even care to remember. The small stain of ice cream on the left side of his black swimming trunks, the scar on his finger that he got from trying to crack open a shell that he found on the seashore, everything remained perfectly in your head. His silver hair that you loved so much, his laugh that you thought was the best sound on earth, his smile that could instantly melt you into a puddle, the memory was well preserved, and as the day passed you start to hate yourself even more for replaying the scene in your head.
A tear streamed down your face, and you quickly took your ring off. Looking at the bright blue ocean, you had a mental argument whether or not to throw it into the ocean, hoping that the memory will sink down to the bottom of the ocean along with the ring.
“If it makes you feel better, I think you should do it.” An unfamiliar voice suddenly said, surprising you.
You immediately wiped your tears, looking at the newcomer. He was young, his blond hair was practically gleaming under the bright sun, and he was definitely overdressed. With a maroon button down shirt, a black dress pants and a black formal shoes, it was obvious that he didn’t come here to swim. He was sitting next to you, and it made you wonder how messed up you were if you spaced out so hard that you didn’t realize someone taking a seat next to you.
“Changed your mind?” He glanced at you from the corner of his eyes, still facing the ocean. You looked at him for another second, ready to shut him down and leave. However, you realized that this stranger is up for a talk, and as much as you hate to admit, it was what you need at the moment.
“I haven’t decided yet.” You replied quietly, looking back at the ocean. There was no reply for a while, only the sounds of the waves and the loud laughs of your surroundings can be heard.
“I have.” He suddenly said, standing up. You looked at him in wonder, trying to see what he’s doing. He pulled out a small, gold ring from his pocket, looking at it with unreadable gaze. Your eyes widened when you see the ring, immediately clutching the ring in your hand. Is he here for the same reason as I am?
Your question was answered when he threw the ring to the ocean, using a good amount of force to ensure that the ring won’t end up on the seashore. After a few moments, He sat back down, a proud smile plastered on his face.
“Aren’t you afraid?” You unconsciously asked, too stunned to even think twice before asking. He looked at you, slightly surprised that you took the initiative to speak first. He then shrugged, the smile still prominent. “Why would I?”
You glanced down at the ring in your hand, and then back at him. “What if she comes back? You’ll have to buy another set of rings.”
It was certainly not the question you wanted to ask, but then again, you weren’t sure how to word it out either.
He stayed quiet for a while, as if he’s thinking of the perfect response. Letting out a small sigh, he then shrugged. “It doesn’t matter if she does.”
“Huh?”
“If she ever comes back—which is highly unlikely—then its already too late.” He said in a calm voice, leaning back slightly. “Because I won’t be the same.”
You tilted your head. “Don’t you love her?”
“I used to.” He looked at you and smiled. “But even if I still love her, I won’t let her into my life ever again.”
You looked down at your folded legs, suddenly feeling small. He was strong. He was able to overcome such a huge event in his life with a positive mind-set. He was the complete opposite of you, who couldn’t even think about your ex without tearing up.
“You’re strong.” You quietly said, clutching the ring in your hand. He shook his head, looking at you with a hint of despair his gaze. “Trust me, I’m not. I’m currently sitting on the same beach where I proposed to her years ago, I’m anything but strong.”
Letting out a humourless laugh, you shook your head. “This beach really is the perfect place to propose, huh?”
“He proposed to you on this beach too?” He asked, looking a little bit surprised. You nodded, letting the memory replays itself in your head. You remembered vividly when the sun was about to set, he disappeared so suddenly, only to come out with a sheepish smile and his hands behind his back. You remembered his cracked, nervous voice when you asked him what was wrong. You remembered how he suddenly dropped to one knee, a small blue velvet box in his hand. You remembered how you teared up upon realizing what he was doing, how your heart beat violently against your ribcage. You remembered how happy you both were at that time. You remembered all of it. It was truly the most wonderful event in your life.
You snapped out of your thoughts when you felt a soft material on your cheeks. Looking up in surprise, you found the stranger carefully dabbing your cheeks with a black silk handkerchief. You instantly flinched, clearly surprised. He immediately pulled back, but still offering you his handkerchief. “Sorry, I just think—um...I’m sorry.”
“Its okay.” You answered quietly, taking the handkerchief from his hand. You carefully dabbed the handkerchief on your face, thinking about how you didn’t even notice that you were crying. “I’m just..”
He shook his head, his smile turning into a sympathetic smile. “Its okay to cry. I think its good for you to let your feelings out.”
“I’ve been crying for months, I think I’ve let out any sorts of feelings by now.” You chuckled humourlessly, neatly folding the handkerchief into a smaller square. You were unsure of what to do with his handkerchief, holding it loosely in your hand. “Its kind of sad how I’m still crying over him while he’s probably having the best time of his life with that woman.”
“If it makes you better, I’ve spent months crying over her too.” He offered you a small smile, looking at you with nothing but fondness in his eyes. You glanced at him, lots of questions running through your mind. In the end, only a word passed through your lips. “How?”
He tilted his head. “How what?”
“How can you tell any of these without tearing up? How are you so strong?” You asked him, frustration clear in your tone. For a moment, it seemed unfair how he managed to stay strong, while you were barely holding up. How he could still smile so genuinely, while your facial muscles hurt from fake-smiling too much.
He looked a little bit surprised, but he stayed calm nonetheless. “You have to know that moving on is a long process.”
“I know that, but still! How did you do it? Don’t you feel sad whenever you think about it?” You asked, even more frustrated than before. His answer was nothing but a general quote that you could easily find on the internet, and you needed real answers.
He seemed taken aback by the tone of your voice, now facing you fully. He placed his hands on top of your tensed shoulders, offering you a small smile. He then said in the most gentle tone you have ever heard, “I’ll answer it for you, but don’t let the frustration controls you, okay?”
There was something about his words and the tone that he was using that made you somehow a lot calmer. You let out a sigh, only now realizing that you had been yelling at him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
“Its okay. You’re frustrated, I know. I’ve been there too.” He said slowly, the small smile still sitting on his lips. “But you have to remember to never let it gets to you.”
You nodded slowly, his calming voice and his choice of words making you feel a lot better. You looked up at him, staring at his dark hazel eyes. “Please tell me how.”
His lips slowly turned into a straight line, and you could almost see the sympathy in his gaze. He let go of your shoulders, letting his hands fall to his side. “Moving on isn’t easy. Its a process.”
He looked up at the clear azure sky, slightly squinting at the bright shine of the sun. “I’ve spent months revaluating our relationship, trying to see what I did wrong, or what was wrong with me that our relationship couldn’t make it.”
You could feel your heart skipped when you heard him, feeling as if he was telling you your own life, wondering how did he manage to word out exactly what you're feeling at the moment when you can't even explain it yourself.
He looked up at you with an unreadable emotion, his lips curving up into a joyless smile. “It was the worst time of my life. I’ve spent almost a third of my life with her, and she was basically my everything. I was so lost when she broke it off. We were getting married, why did she ask for a break up?”
Just from his words alone, you could almost feel his pain. You could feel your eyes getting wet, but you tried to hold it in.
“At that time, I was doing so much worse than you.” He shot you a small smile, as if he was trying to reassure you that you weren’t as pathetic as you thought you were. “Interacting only when needed, cutting people out of my life, take-outs almost every day of the week, I was a mess.”
It was odd to visualize him being a mess, such a contradictory with what you’re seeing in front of you.
“I cried a lot too, and I’m not even someone who cries easily.” He chuckled humourlessly, shaking his head. “It took me almost a year to get back on my feet, but I finally realized that the problem is not me. Its not my fault. Its not the other guy’s fault either.”
He took a deep breath. “Its hers.”
“No matter what I do, there will always be someone who is better than me in every aspect.” He added, a hint of sorrow in his tone. His words were almost like a sharp stab straight into your heart, and it was exactly what you needed to hear.
He noticed your change of expression and shot you another smile. “You have to stop blaming yourself for what happened. It wasn’t your fault. It was never your fault.”
You pressed your lips into a tight line, feeling conflicted. His words were everything that you needed to hear, but you were still in denial. “You don’t even know me.”
His smile widened, and he nodded. “I don’t, but I do know that your ex left for another woman. To cheat on someone faithful, I must say that he cheated on himself out of true loyalty.”
You stayed silence at his words, trying to convince yourself that you weren’t the reason why Taeyong left. It wasn’t your fault. It was his fault.
“Thank you.” You mumbled quietly, almost too ashamed to express your gratitude because of how you acted earlier.
“Its nothing.” His lips curved into a genuine smile as he carefully tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear. “All you need to do is find someone who will love you unconditionally.”
“Easier said than done.” You chuckled, fiddling with your fingers. He chuckled as well, but then sighed. “Indeed.”
The atmosphere was silent for a few moments, but it wasn’t awkward nor uncomfortable. You weren’t sure if he was making all that things up just to approach you, but just from his gaze, you knew he was being honest.
No matter what you do, there will always be someone who is better in every aspect. His words rang in your ears, and you suddenly found a courage within your heart. It wasn’t my fault. It was his fault.
You stood up, clutching the ring in your right hand. Looking at the diamond crusted ring for the last time, you traced the initial carved on the ring. Taking a deep breath, you threw the ring with all your strength. You watched as the platinum ring disappeared into the calm ocean, feeling as if a heavy weight has been lifted from your shoulders.
“You should be proud of yourself.”
You sat back down, feeling the warm sand under you. “I am.”
He didn’t say anything for a little while, and you appreciated it. From the moment you saw the rolling waves engulfing the platinum ring, you felt at ease. At first you thought you will regret it, but oddly enough you didn’t feel even an ounce of regret, considering that you just threw a thousand dollar ring into the ocean.
“Did you come here just to throw that ring?”
You turned to look at him, slightly surprised by his question. “Well, yeah?”
“No, what really brought you here?” He emphasized his words, raising his eyebrow. Sighing, you raised your shoulders. “Living out the memory? Probably the same reason as you do.”
“Really? Because I originally didn’t come here to live out the memory nor throw the ring, you know.” He chuckled, making you confused. You looked at him with furrowed eyebrows. “Then what brought you here?”
He paused for a while. “I wanted snow cones.”
“Really?” You shook your head, trying to act angry but in reality you couldn’t hold in your smile because of how silly it was. “You just threw that ring and told me this story, and just now you told me you came here for snow cones??”
“I’m sorry but I’m telling the truth!” He laughed, somehow knowing that you weren’t actually angry. “I wanted snow cones and there isn’t any around my office so I drove all the way here.”
"You work on Sundays?" You can't help but to ask, the idea of working on a weekend sounds horrible in your ear. He looked slightly taken aback by your question, but he then chuckled. "Well, yeah? I mean, I'm not supposed to, but I still had some works to do."
You shook your head in disbelief, quiet chuckles spill out of your lips. "Can't relate. I'd rather do it on Monday."
He chuckled along with you, shrugging. "I guess you can also do that."
There was a moment of silence, but it wasn't awkward nor unpleasant. The silence was somehow comfortable, and you enjoyed every moment of it. A question suddenly popped into your mind, and as much as you appreciate the silence, you can't help but to ask. “Then why did you throw the ring if you aren’t here for that?”
“I’ve had the ring in my pocket for a while. I’ve always wanted to throw it into the ocean but I never had the courage to do it. Until I saw you.” He explained in a soothing voice, the smile he had on was warming your heart. “I saw you fiddling with your ring and I assumed that we’re both dealing with the same condition. I figured that in order for you to get rid of the uneasiness in your heart, there has to be someone who gives you the courage to do so.”
You could feel the warmth spreading to your whole body when you heard him, your lips curving up into a genuine smile. “Thank you for giving me the courage that I didn’t know I needed.”
“No.” He shook his head, the corners of his lips curving up into a small smile. “You gave me the courage first. If there’s anyone who should be thanking someone, it should be me.”
You shook your head, unable to hold in your smile. There was no point of arguing who should be thankful to whom, as you both gained courage from each other.
"Are you feeling better?" He queitly asked, just loud enough for you to hear. You nodded, chuckling quietly. "Considering that I just threw an expensive ring, I feel surprisingly good."
“You know, we could’ve just sold it.” He suddenly said, faking a regretful sigh. You let out a small chuckle, glancing at him from the corner of your eyes. “We could, but I would rather live peacefully than being constantly reminded that my brand new phone is bought using my ex-fiancé’s money.”
He looked at you with raised eyebrow, a playful grin sitting on his lips. “And that’s bad?”
“No, but it’ll make moving on much harder.” You chuckle, feeling a lot more better than when you first arrived. He chuckled along with you, and only now that you realized that he had dimples on each side of his cheeks. “You got a point.”
Looking closely at the man sitting next to you, you finally realized that he wasn't only beautiful on the inside, but he was beautiful on the outside as well.
“What are you thinking about?” He suddenly asked, a small smile gracing his lips. You shrugged, returning the smile. “I’m just trying to remember if you mentioned your name earlier.”
His smile widened. “I haven’t.”
“Trying to be mysterious, huh? Okay I get it.” You chuckled, shaking your head. He laughed, and it was easily one of the most beautiful laughs you had ever heard. “Let’s get some snow cones. My treat.”
You grinned smugly when you thought of an idea and folded your arms childishly, faking a frown. “I don’t know, my mom always warns me about going with a stranger.”
He let out a small laugh as he stood up, holding his hand out for you to take. “Come on, y/n.”
Stunned, you dropped your act and unconsciously stood up. “Wait—How did you—What???”
He circled his hand around your wrist gently, a teasing smile gracing his lips. He put his index finger on his lips, throwing a wink at you. “I’m a magician.”
“Like I’m going to believe that.” You rolled your eyes, but didn’t try to break free from his hold. He chuckled, raising his eyebrow. “Really? Then how will you explain this?”
He pulled out a small item from his pocket, and you had to squint to get a better look at what it was. Your eyes widened when you realized that he was holding your hair tie, the one that you previously wore. “Oh shit you really are a magician.”
He let out a small laugh as he gave you your hair tie back, winking as he puts it in your hand.
“Or just a very skilled thief.” You added, in hope his smile would widen and you get to see his dimples. You got exactly what you asked for when he laughed, the dimples on his cheeks making him even cuter. You could feel the butterflies in your stomach, something that you weren’t used to after a full year of nothingness.
“What flavour do you want?” He asked, pulling out his wallet. You quickly snapped out of your trance, eyes scanning all the syrup bottles on the stall, quickly settling down on one. “Blue Raspberry!”
His eyes widened for a moment, but then his lips curve into a small smile. “2 Blue Raspberry, please!”
You moved to pull out your wallet as well, but he quickly shook his head. “You helped me.”
“But you helped me as well.” You said, still insisting to at least pay for your own snow cone. He shook his head, giving the money to the vendor. “If you were not here when I first got here, I would probably still have the ring.”
You watched as the vendor gave him his change, knowing that the transaction has been done and there was no other way you could pay. Just when the vendor was about to make your snow cones, you got an idea. With a small grin, you quickly pulled out your money. “Extra syrup for both, please!”
The vendor accepted your money, while he stared at you with wide-eyes. He then chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. “Okay, I guess we’re even now.”
You shrugged, grinning smugly. It didn’t take long for the vendor to make your orders, and soon you were both sitting on the nearby benches with blue raspberry snow cones in your hands.
You watched as he carefully ate his snow cone, trying not to get drips on his dress pants. Your lips curve up into a smile, still not believing that the stranger who wears a button down shirt and dress pants to the beach is also the one who gave you the courage to throw your ring into the ocean. Without even knowing his name, you already knew he was going to play an important role in your life. He already did.
“Kun.” He suddenly looked up, smiling sheepishly. You snapped out of your thoughts, tilting your head in confusion. “What?”
“My name.” He shrugged. “Its Kun. Qian Kun.”
With a small nod, you tested out his name. “Kun. It sounds nice. It fits you.”
He chuckled, although there was a slight tint of pink on his cheeks. “Thank you, Yours is just as nice.”
“You still haven’t told me how you did it.” You glanced at him, a small smile sitting on your lips. He stopped eating, smiling back at you. “It doesn’t matter.”
You were about to answer when he suddenly added, “What matters is that you’re now smiling. Not the fake smile that you showed everyone when you first arrived, but a genuine smile.”
You knew he was right, and you didn’t try to deny it. With a small voice, you muttered. “Its because of you.”
He let out a small chuckle, eating his snow cone slowly. “I told you, it has nothing to do with me. It was all you. I was just telling—”
“No, literally. Your smile is angelic.” You mumbled, blushing from your own words. His eyes widened as he stopped eating, the blush started to creep to his cheeks. “Oh. Well—I, um—Thank you.”
You nodded, biting a mouthful of snow cones just to avoid having to talk after that embarrassing compliment you not-so accidentally said out loud earlier.
“Yours is even more beautiful, though.” He muttered under his breath, immediately looking away when you look at him. From his red ears, it was obvious why he tried to hide his face. You found it very charming how he could wink and flirt easily earlier but when given a compliment he immediately blushed like crazy. But with cheeks just as red as his, you couldn’t really say anything other than a small thank you and a small smile.
His lips curved into a smile as well when he heard your response, and he looked at you with such an adoration in his eyes. “You’re welcome.”
With a content sigh, you took a bite of your snow cone happily, knowing that nothing could ruin your day after meeting with Kun. Even though you’ve only known him for no more than a few hours, you knew a person as wonderful as him is someone you only meet once in a lifetime.
From the corner of your eyes, you could see him looking at you with the same, charming smile he had on before. You turned to face him and chuckled, the blush started to creep to your cheeks. “What? Why are you staring at me?”
“Nothing.” He shrugged, still grinning from ear to ear. You shrugged it off, thinking that maybe he was simply thinking of another “magic” trick to show you. “If you say so.”
“Oh, by the way.” He suddenly started, looking up from his snow cone. You looked up in curiosity, ready to hear what he had to say.
“Your name. Its...” He trailed off, taking another bite of his icy cold treats. You looked at him with confused gaze, but the smile on your face started to widen. Is he going to compliment my name again?
He shot you another smile, the dimples on his cheeks making him look angelic.
