"What, I was just being caring," Ji Woo said, pained by the sudden accusation. He was just trying to be nice.
"Does he look like he needs your care?" Soo Jin asked with sarcasm.
Ji Woo's eyes widened in shock, starting to rethink why he had found Soo Jin special before, or why he felt attracted. There was nothing special about him apart from the fact that he was always poking at him.
"That's rude."
"I know. But I didn't lie. Most people don't fucking need your care."
"Like you?" Ji Woo asked, a touch of sadness in his eyes as he looked at Soo Jin.
The sudden eye contact made the words Soo Jin was about to say halt in his throat. "Don't look at me like that," he said, pushing Ji Woo's face away.
"Are we going to talk about this, or are we going to feed your stomach?" Soo Jin asked, giving him an impatient look.
"Feed my stomach," Ji Woo interjected, rubbing his stomach. He didn't have much energy left in him anyway.
Soo Jin didn't respond as Ji Woo led him to the elevator. They both stood in front of it as Ji Woo tapped the button repeatedly.
Soo Jin gave him a look. "I hope you know the elevator won't come any quicker just because you keep tapping the button."
"It will," Ji Woo responded stubbornly as he kept pressing it.
"Stop."
"Never," he said childishly.
A smile slipped onto Soo Jin's lips, but he quickly hid it.
The elevator dinged open. They stepped inside, and Ji Woo tapped the button for the ground floor.
The door closed as Soo Jin rested against the wall.
Ji Woo couldn't stay silent. "What type of food do you like?"
Soo Jin ignored him.
"Answer."
"The type that is quiet," Soo Jin finally responded.
Ji Woo grinned, flashing a smile at Soo Jin. "Like me?" he added with a playful wink.
Soo Jin cringed hard. "Don't do that," he said, disgust evident in his gaze.
"What shouldn't I do again? Winking?" Ji Woo asked as he winked again.
"Stop that," Soo Jin said, using his palm to cover Ji Woo's face.
Ji Woo looked at the palm on his face. A sudden thought came over him, and he poked his tongue out, giving it a small lick.
Soo Jin's eyes opened wide in shock at the sudden wet feeling on his palm.
He quickly withdrew his hand, glaring at Ji Woo. "Did you just lick my palm?"
"Yes," Ji Woo nodded, not thinking much of it. "I usually see it in series. But it's not as sweet as I thought," he said.
"Don't do that to anyone," Soo Jin warned.
"Mm," Ji Woo nodded. "I don't want to lick anybody's palm apart from yours," he teased, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Shut up," Soo Jin said. The elevator door opened with a ding, and he quickly rushed out.
"Wait for me!" Ji Woo shouted after him.
"Pick something," Soo Jin said, looking at the cafeteria in front of him, uninterested.
"Let's go there," Ji Woo said, pointing to the cafeteria section.
"Okay, let's go."
Soo Jin walked to a stool in front of the counter before Ji Woo plopped down beside him.
They picked up the menus.
Soo Jin scanned his silently.
Ji Woo, on the other hand, held his upside down without noticing.
Soo Jin stared at him. "Turn your menu around."
"You can't read it."
"I can."
Soo Jin shook his head, giving up, and called the waiter.
Ji Woo ordered noodles while Soo Jin chose dumplings.
The order arrived.
"Mm," Ji Woo moaned at the pleasant smell. "It smells so good."
Soo Jin didn't respond, already used to Ji Woo's unusual antics, so he ignored him and started eating quickly.
Soo Jin's eating habits captured Ji Woo's attention, and he stared, his eyes stuck on Soo Jin's mouth and the food.
Soo Jin finally gave him attention. "What? Eat your food."
"You eat so calmly."
"It's normal, but it might be surprising for someone like you."
Ji Woo ignored the snarky remark.
He leaned forward, chin resting on his palm, still looking at Soo Jin. "You eat like those young masters I see in my series."
Soo Jin paused his chopsticks and gave Ji Woo a look. "You should stop watching those series. They're not good for a no-brain kid like you."
"Eat your food," he added.
Ji Woo, having been dissed twice, quickly picked up his chopsticks and took a bite.
They ate in silence for about twenty-six seconds before Ji Woo spoke again.
"Do you have a girlfriend?" Ji Woo asked out of nowhere.
"No."
"Boyfriend?"
"No."
"So you're single?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Soo Jin's chopsticks stopped midway. "What do you mean by 'good'?"
"It means… good," Ji Woo said with a smirk.
"Explain," Soo Jin ordered.
"Why don't you guess?"
"I'm not guessing anything. Explain."
"You must guess."
"No."
"Yes."
Soo Jin gave him a glare. Ji Woo quickly shut up, seeing Soo Jin wasn't in the mood to play.
"Fine, I'll explain. It's good because I don't need to worry about your partner getting jealous when I cling to you."
Soo Jin almost choked on his food. "Who said I'm letting you cling to me?"
"But you allow me to follow you."
"Because you don't give me much of an option."
"So you hate me for following you?"
Soo Jin looked speechless. "If I hated you, you wouldn't be here eating with me."
Ji Woo smiled. "So you like me."
Soo Jin sighed. "No, how can I like you? We just met today."
It was true, but why did today feel so long, making it seem like they had spent days together?
"So if we spent days together, you'll like me?"
"Yes," Soo Jin nodded. He didn't want to argue with someone who wasn't ready to understand anything.
"Yeah!" Ji Woo said excitedly, using his chopsticks to take some noodles toward Soo Jin's mouth.
"Ahh—"
"I—" As Soo Jin opened his mouth to respond, Ji Woo quickly pushed the chopsticks into his mouth, filling it with noodles.
Soo Jin had no choice but to accept it and chew.