⤿ the park

@✶ kim youngdae *totally oblivious about the darker side of your thought process, I spend the ride back home thinking of all the good moments and talk we shared in this date up to the little tease by the way to the car and that kiss, that damned kiss that still burning within me and Im impatiently patiently waiting to snatch once we are home*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /realising that my actions might not be consensual, I gulped nervously as I approached the driver's seat, mentally reprimanding myself for it. Getting in the car after I hear you entering and closing the door, I peek towards you to gauge your expressions again. Turning away to pull my seatbelt over me, I switched on the engine and waited for the car to start up before I started our journey home.

@✶ kim youngdae *when you stop me for a second time, this time when I'm hiding how touched and shy I am from your previous words, I almost whine when you grab my reddened face. Though, when your lips touch mine, my eyes flutter shut at the brief-lived smooth contact. Looking between your eyes, I was late to wanting to kiss you back but you are already walking to your side. Holding the urge in, I get inside the car, close the door, and fasten my seatbelt*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /gulping after expressing my thoughts to you, I retracted my hand when I felt you tapping it away. Sensing that you no longer look angry or sulking as I watched you turn towards the car, I gave a quick nod before I let my intrusive thoughts get the best of me. Lifting my hand up to cup your chin and direct you to face me again, I quickly leaned forward to give you a peck in the corner of your lips.
This is my thanks.
/Leaning back just as quickly, I released my hold of you, muttering before I briskly walked towards the driver’s side.

@✶ kim youngdae *while well aware of your hold of my shirt which instantly send thrills to fill my chest, I dart my gaze between your eyes as I listen to you. Despite urging for exactly this and dramatically playing sulky, I can't help but feel flustered when you respond to my attitude with your sweetness. I tap your hand off my shirt playfully as Im not very well with bold statements, I turn to the car again*
Its late let's go-

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /tugging the hem of your shirt to hold onto you without actually touching you yet, I darted my eyes between yours when I see you facing me.
I’m kidding, you should know you’re more than that. And.. I like doing this with you-
/indirectly referring to the date we have.
Let’s do this often-

@✶ kim youngdae *opening the door, Im stopped from entering the car by you, i raise a brow and turn around to face you, arms crossing over my chest and speak with sass*
May I help you?

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /taking the basket and placing it in the boot, I closed the trunk of the car before noticing that you left my side and towards the door to the passenger seat, I bite my lips at how cute you look even when you are seemingly mad before rushing over to your side and try to hold you back from entering the car for the time being.

@✶ kim youngdae *when you don't coax me further and instead confirm my playful assumption, I gasp loudly in feigned and exaggerated offense, rolling my shoulder away from yours. I hand you the basket with a click of my tongue and goes to open the door for myself in continued dramatic act*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ You just realised?? Took you long enough.
/fake a gasp as I nudged you on your shoulder with mine. Reaching the car, I pressed my key to open the boot of the car. Placing the mat in it, I lifted my hand to indicate for the picnic basket you are holding.

@✶ kim youngdae *bites my inner cheeks to hold back a smile, totally loving how we can alternate between romantic setting just moments ago to playfulness now. For that, I push it further just because*
Always having fun? Am I a toy to you??!

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /with the corners of my lips lifted upon hearing you clicking your tongue, I hummed.
Then why am I always having fun whenever I’m with you?
/I asked a rhetorical question as I walk along side of you, gauging your feelings based on what you are displaying to me.

@✶ kim youngdae *not hearing your mumbling with how I basically stormed off, I side eye you again when you are visible from my peripheral vision before I roll my eyes at your coaxing*
You are not being smart now, Youngdae. You getting nothing to play with. *clicks my tongue*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /catching your sharp look before I watch you walk ahead in a faster pace, I brought my fingers up to my lips, mumbling as I look at your back view.
Maybe they either marry the most entertaining one or they search for the most entertaining one after.
/walking faster to match your pace, I peeked at your expression, thinking of ways to coax you.
I only play with you now. So you’re gonna play harder with me?

@✶ kim youngdae *hearing your words, I pause my walking to give you a side-glare and then retort as I walk faster ahead*
You play and I'll play harder.

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /watching your facial expression, a chuckle slipped past my lips as I walked along the well-lit path with you towards the car.
Who knows, do I not look like a player to you? What if it’s two generations of players? I can’t be certain about the future.

@✶ kim youngdae *looks between your eyes once you stand before me after you hold the folded mat and reply me. Hearing the brief explanation, my brows furrow as you seem to go further to the great grandfather which make me have to calculate but somehow can't seem to focus*
So its alternating generation? One player, the next not? *turns to have us start walking back toward where we parked*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /packing up the mat as I listen to you, I chuckled, knowing very well I wouldn’t believe my grandparents being romantic either but the fact that they lasted together and continuing to do so speaks volumes, compared to my parents. Taking hold of the handle of the folded mat before standing up, I considered my reply a bit more before looking towards you, smiling subtly at the word “we”.
I’m not sure if we are following the pattern,
/using the same word you corrected.
But it seems like for each era, they are either in love with their spouse or in love with their mistresses. My great grandfather was a womaniser but his father isn’t.
/reveals a bit more of my ancestry’s relationship status.

@✶ kim youngdae Jade jewelries- such a fine taste, jade is really pretty one. *smirks lopsidedly as I didn't expect any less from your sassy and demanding grandmother but what you say next stops me and makes me think*
Anything for your grandfather? She likes when others consider her husband? I....wouldn't think of her to be cute- *finds it difficult to see her a loving person in general and specifically a loving romantic partner. What you say next intrigues my interest even further as I watch you told the mat*
Pattern? And what is that? Are we- you following the pattern? *questions curiously but can't help but halts myself at the "we" part, feeling rather shy to say it out and "fixes" it to 'you' instead*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /maintaining the smile as I shifted out of the mat, my eyes glanced up to think of what my grandmother would like.
She… likes jade jewelries or… anything for grandfather. People compare them with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
/gives a metaphor as I start folding the mat.
There seemed to be a pattern in my family tree’s relationship.

@✶ kim youngdae Ugggh your grandmother- *grumbles at that part and could feel headache seeping in already just thinking of up to her for sake of peacefulness of that meeting*
You'd have to tell me what she likes to woo her.
*straightens up and starts packing up with you and I hold the basket and step out the mat to allow you to remove it and fold it*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /blinks at you when I see your surprised reaction, I nodded at your answer.
That’s right. Take all the time you need to be prepared. Especially a bribe gift for my grandmother.
/I chuckled, recalling the events that happened last November. Nodding when I hear your suggestion, I lifted a smile before releasing your hand to rise up to my feet and helping out with the packing, realising we didn’t really touch our food that much.

@✶ kim youngdae O h *my eyes shoot wide at the revealed next meeting, leaving me rather shocked*
In May??! /THIS/ May? I-i... Didn't realize its that soon again-
*my state of almost panic is calmed down when your hand hold my own and rub it warm, which leave me sighing softly*
Mhmm, let's go and get warm under the covers.

(yes!! That makes total sense)

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /hearing your reply, the corners of my lips lifted higher, feeling quite anticipatory to that potential meeting.
Remember what I say about having a biannual family meeting? The next one is probably in May. Still plenty of time to be prepared for it, if you’re interested.
/I attempt to pass it off as a casual invitation. Feeling the cold breeze on my cheeks and fingertips, I held your hand and rubbed between mine.
It’s getting colder, let’s go home.

(Should we take this event as one of the days in their trial?)

@✶ kim youngdae Right? *chuckles when you give me the confirmation of my own reading of your grandfather. A confused yet curious smile appear on my face as I watch yours and I wae about to ask what's on your mind but you speak and I listen instead*
Yeah? If your mother and grandmother don't kick me out on sight, sure~ *snickers and shrugs, though falling quietly anxious at that possibility, to get close with an integral family member of yours and build with them, to integrate myself into your family, to be part of it*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ I guess that’s true.
/listening to your reply, I nodded slowly in agreement. Looking at you longer, I try picturing what type of conversations you would have with my grandfather, having no doubts the both of you could strike up a topic and talk for hours. Smiling at my imagination of that, I blinked in realisation that I’ve never thought of anyone who I could find engaging well with the family member I respect, wondering if it is an indication that you are really the one for me.
If you have the chance again, talk to him more. Maybe you’ll see the hidden lunatic in him.
/I teased, indirectly hinting for you to test that hypothesis of mine and get his proper blessing.

@✶ kim youngdae *supports an amused and fond smile at the way you talk about your grandfather and "expose" how actually talkative he is privately and on the down low. Chuckling along with you, i purse my lips when you direct a question at me*
Hmmmm let's see. He sure seem the most normal out of everyone in your family. I can't have an obvious stance when it comes to him because I didn't get any strong reactions from him like others...?

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /catching your eye contact when I hear the question, I thought for a while, wondering if ‘close’ is the correct word.
I respect him, yes. Don’t let his stoic look fooled you, he talks a lot when you are alone with him one on one. I won’t be surprised that grandmother lets him do the talking when they are by themselves.
/a chuckled escaped my lips as I recalled some conversations shared.
What do you think of my grandfather?

@✶ kim youngdae *catches my heart falling to the pit of my stomach with a painful squeezing sensation in my chest at the very first words of your answer. Its only when you add more to it and clarify its your grandfather that I inhale in deeply in relief and feel the pain dissipating and I glance off to the side, embarrassed of myself with how much affected I am by such minor thing /in the past/*
You are very close to your grandfather, huh? *turns my head to look at you, already expecting a 'yes', having that vibe ever since the annual family meeting*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /hearing your words, my heart picked up its speed as I processed each sentences, feeling extremely lucky to be your first experience. When you returned the question back to me, I glanced up towards the night sky and thought for a while before giving my reply.
Yeah, I have. But that was when I was a lot younger. Grandfather would take me to a riverside in the evening to try and catch some fishes as a hobby then chat with me until night time. We often forgot the mat so we just laid down on the grass.
/chuckling as I recalled a childhood memory, my eyes returned to yours, wondering what you think of my past.