‣ coex

@baek juho ❜ ᶻᵘʰᵒ i sure hope so. otherwise i've been wasting a lot of money. /a soft laugh leaves my lips, though i cant help but wonder if i've been oblivious to those kinds of things, especially when i know i've been like this plenty of times before; pursing my lips in thought, i scan along the shelves before my eyes falls to you once more, nodding in understanding
oh, yeah. thats why i dont collect too many anymore... i dont want to be the reason why it's messy at the dorms.

@hirai momo ❜ that's sweet of you. she must appreciate that. /at one point i manage to catch that look on your face, pure wonder, and it has me grinning to myself and giving your hand a small squeeze in return; the question of whether or not i like the different toys and figurines, or at least something like them, in the store has me giving our hands a small swing between us
i do. but living in the dorm- i try not to bring in things which could lead to more of a mess.

@baek juho ❜ ᶻᵘʰᵒ i used to, me and my sister used to have all this stuff all the time. sometimes i send her stuff when i remember to. /the smile on my lips never wavers as i look up at you, then around the store with wide eyes, my lips just barely parted while i let out a soft sound, that simple moment enough to have me squeezing your fingers
do you like this stuff, too?

@hirai momo ❜ and you won't. /nodding once, quite confident in my estimation of how our day could go, i walk with you into the store, being tugged in just so by the hand; my fingers give your own a small squeeze between mine, and i step up alongside you, coming close to your side once more and glancing along the shelves; the mention of awe has me looking to you, grinning, wanting to catch that look potentially on your face somewhere among perusing the shelves
it does look really cute. do you collect stuff like this?

@baek juho ❜ ᶻᵘʰᵒ huh? oh, you're right. i dont wanna ruin this. /smiling softly up at you, i allow myself to relax for a moment while i walk with you, deciding then and there that i'd much rather focus on the positives with you than worry about anything else, even while still being vigilant; excitedly, i step forward to lead you into the store, my hand slipping from your arm to your hand, fingers curling around your own as i give a little tug
they always have super cute stuff in here! im always in awe, i think.

@hirai momo ❜ i mean it's not like i would be going through it alone, right? i wouldn't want you to go through it either, but let's not let the worry ruin our whole day. /walking with you, i make sure to stick close to you and keep you alongside me, preferably out of view of others who might try to pry; after all, if we were to get caught i would much rather it be my face that gets out rather than yours; when you point out the store through the window, the colors and shapes of the figures catching my eye, i nod once and lead us toward the open entrance
we'll cross that bridge when we get to lunch. now- it does look cool. it's been a while since i've been into a place likes this.

@baek juho ❜ ᶻᵘʰᵒ i mean, still. it’s not right, even then. i just... i dont want to put you through something like that. /even though there’s that bit if nervousness, i smile and brush it aside for a moment, in favor of looking up at the store signs to enjoy my time with you; giving your arm a little squeeze, i lift my free hand to point to one of the stores lined with little toys and figurines, a small smile on my lips
let’s go in here, look here for a bit? it looks like there’s some cool stuff. but dont worry, im okay with paying!

@hirai momo ❜ hey now, that's not something you need to be sorry for. that's out of our control at that point. /meeting your gaze, i offer you a fleeting smile before looking ahead, eyes drawn up toward the signs that we come to pass by; the others visiting the mall are of no concern to me other than as obstacles to avoid for both our sake; the mention of food has me nodding a little at the thought
we'll make sure to get some lunch then. we can go wherever you life. but you really don't have to pay-

@baek juho ❜ ᶻᵘʰᵒ i mean... im sorry, if people do. ruin it, or something. /murmuring a little self consciously, i lift a hand to adjust my hair under my ball cap, tipping my head back enough to look up at you from under the bill, a small smile on my lips; pressing close enough to you that i feel like i could hide, i walk along with you, glancing up along the stores with a soft hum
hmm... i’unno, what about you? we should swing my the good court a little later for sure, for lunch. or something. i brought money for food!

@hirai momo ❜ let's hope for the best- and prepare for the worst. /murmuring quietly, there's a hint of humor in my tone, albeit sarcastic humor; my arm drops a little closer to my side, hiding the presence of your hand there beneath the fabric of my hoodie sleeve, in about the most gentlemanly way that i can; taking a step, i make sure not to make long strides as i lead you away from the plaza and the people that slowly migrate in and out
so, where should we go first? what do you want to see?

@baek juho ❜ ᶻᵘʰᵒ oh, ha. well, that's good then. /smiling softly, i wait just a moment while you hold up your hand and move to get rid of the cup of water, my eyes following the movement of your hand before i look up at you with a small smile on my lips; when you offer me your arm, i step close, adjusting the bill of my hat before my fingers curl into the sleeve of your hoodie, my hand hidden somewhere between your arm and side
we shall! its... good to be out here. i... really hope no one ruins this.

@hirai momo ❜ not long, no. i just wanted to make sure i wasn't late. you're right on time. /the implication that not having been at a point where numbers are exchanged would make this anymore difficult is there, but unspoken; not risking another sip through the paper straw, i hold up a finger with my free hand, begging a moment to toss the cup into a bin just two steps away before returning to your side and offering my arm as discreetly as i might
shall we?

@baek juho ❜ ᶻᵘʰᵒ oh jeez— you scared me, you know. but no, no one followed me, i think. /after having gotten spooked from you seemingly appearing there next to me, i spare a glance over my shoulder, all smiles when i turn to look up at you again, pulling my glasses down a little before rocking on my feet; it takes a minute, but after checking the time i clear my throat and hook a thumb over my shoulder
were you waiting long? i really tried to get here on time.

@hirai momo ❜ /the paper straw is pressed against my lower lip, offering up one of the last feeble sips in a cup mostly comprised of ice by that point, when i spot you walking in; the features of your face are almost unmistakable, at least that's my hope when you come to stand so close, seemingly without realizing, and i turn my head toward you like the only illuminated point in the room among the crowd; peering over the top of the frames, i offer a smile that only manages to thin my eyes a little with my mouth still hidden behind a plain black mask, until i hook the index finger of my free hand just inside and draw it down to hook beneath my lips
hey- did you make it out okay? no one followed you, did they?

@baek juho ❜ ᶻᵘʰᵒ /with a pair of sunglasses resting on my nose, a simple ball cap perched atop my head as if either would be able to mask the excitement on my expression just with the idea of coming here, i made my way into the mall, pushing the hood of my sweater off of my head as i glance around; it wasnt too cold, thankfully, so wearing just a hoodie wasnt too bad, but i still tucked my hands into my pocket to reach for my phone, as if i could give you a call or something, and as i make my way over to where you're standing, im still looking for a sign of you, unaware that you're standing right by me

@hirai momo ❜ /after arriving twenty minutes earlier than we had agreed via bongeunsa station, and wandering around asem plaza, a mask over my face, a pair of shades perched on the bridge of my nose, and my hair tousled from the hood now resting on my back, i had decided to stop at the starbucks just off the plaza; a flicker of worry that you might choose the other entrance sent me back to the plaza to stand, idle, just outside of the brightly lit windows of the p.fchang's and across from the exit from the station, with only a cup of ice water with a very recognizable logo emblazoned on the side to make it look as if i wasn't completely aimless