"The shade suits your tone, Pucca," Ching said, admiring her work after applying the lipstick.
Pucca glanced at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. It really did suit her well.
It was already lunch break, and since they'd finished eating, they had some free time to do this.
"Shall we?" Ching asked, raising her phone. Pucca leaned in, and they snapped a quick selfie.
Click.
"I'll send this to Abyo. Hope he shows it to Garu," Ching grinned.
They both giggled.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and in walked a girl with a striking appearance, wearing a stylish, custom-made uniform.
"Ugh. Like those cheap lipsticks could save you," she mocked in her usual high-pitched voice.
What a brat.
"Ring ring," Ching hissed.
"What? Threatened much?" Ring Ring shot them both an icy look before walking confidently to the sink.
"C'mon, Pucca. It suddenly smells like a self-centered brat in here," Ching said, pulling Pucca out of the bathroom.
"What?!" Ring Ring called after them, her face full of offense.
"What? Agitated much?" Ching retorted, and before Ring Ring could respond, Ching slammed the door shut. The two girls burst into laughter as they walked away.
Ting!
"Oh, look. Abyo replied. He's with Garu behind the academy. Let's go see them!"
Pucca beamed with excitement. The two of them immediately started heading in that direction, eager to meet the boys.
Meanwhile, Garu was deep in meditation, completely unaware of Pucca's approach.
"105, 106, 107..." Abyo counted his push-ups, focused on his workout, having just replied to Ching's message.
He was shirtless, drenched in sweat, but paused after a few minutes. He grabbed his water bottle and took a swig, then poured the rest over his head.
Sigh. Here we go again.
As the water cascaded down his body, starting from his hair, he shook his head, and for a moment, everything seemed to be in slow motion. His hair danced in the air, the water sparkling as it caught the sunlight. He looked... like a water fairy. A shirtless one, but a fairy nonetheless.
"We're here, Abyo! Where's Garu?" Ching called out, interrupting his moment. But Abyo wasn't upset. He smiled and rushed over to give her a hug, but Ching immediately pulled away, disgusted.
"No. Not with all your sweat."
"Aww... sucks!" Abyo groaned.
Garu, who had been trying to stay unnoticed, froze when Ching arrived. He was about to hide, but Pucca had already spotted him.
Garu stood stiffly, like a robot. "I... I'm needed at the office. See you around, everyone," he said in a monotone voice before turning and running off.
Pucca didn't like his reaction, but she was determined to catch him. With surprising speed for someone so small, she quickly chased after him.
Garu turned a corner and pressed himself against the wall, desperately trying to catch his breath.
It was as if Garu completely lost his usual coolness whenever Pucca was around.
He waited a moment, making sure Pucca was no longer near, before finally starting to breathe normally again. But as soon as he stepped out from his hiding spot, someone wrapped their arms around his waist.
Garu's face turned bright red when he saw those familiar buns—Pucca, with her head tucked against his chest.
Lubb Dubb Lubb Dubb.
"Pucca, this is not—" Garu started to protest.
But Pucca looked up at him with a sweet smile, then buried her face back into his chest, squeezing him tighter.
Garu stood frozen, not knowing how to react, or what to feel.
"Haahhh! " Frustrated, he ran his fingers through his spiky yet soft, alluring hair, combing it back as he sighed.
"This is not right," he thought, feeling both annoyed and helpless.
"Pucca," he said, trying again, this time in a softer, more patient voice.
"Hm?"
When Pucca finally loosened her hug, Garu gently took her hands from around him, holding them behind her.
"You can't just hug me like that, Pucca."
Muwah!
Garu froze, staring in disbelief as Pucca planted a kiss on the corner of his lips, leaving a cherry-tinted lipstick mark.
"And you can't just kiss me anytime you want," he said, though it was clear from his tone that he was used to her affection by now.
Pucca tilted her head, confused.
"We're not dating," Garu said, finally managing to say the words. It was harder than he'd expected.
Pucca tilted her head.
"We're both still young, Pucca," Garu continued. He meant that she could still meet someone else. He hated what he said, but he ignored the feeling.
This made Pucca even more upset.
Garu's mouth hung open in shock.
Pucca knew this, but it still stung. A tear slipped down her cheek. Then followed another, and another and again.
Garu froze, his heart sinking.
Tsk. Well done, Garu.
"I... I, stop crying, please." He flustered, quickly wiping her tears away with his handkerchief, but they wouldn't stop.
Sighing in defeat, Garu held her hands gently and kissed them. Pucca stopped crying by surprise.
"This is my answer for now. Let's take things slowly, okay?" Garu smiled.
Pucca smiled back, her nose and eyes red. Garu blushed at how cute she looked, her teary face only making her more endearing.
She pressed his hand to her cheek, their warmth melding together. Garu instinctively rubbed his thumb on her cheek and felt how soft it was.
The tinge of awkwardness dispersed as they both fell into their own space of time. Just focused at each other's warmth.
(づ￣ ³￣)づ muwah~