She was staring down at her cinnamon roll still. Why had she begun to cry? Yoongi had this burning desire to know. He wanted to cheer her up. The only thing he could think of was rather awkward, yet he acted upon it. But he realized he’d have to be closer to her, so he scooted his chair back, stood up, and moved over to deposit himself into the seat to her right. Startled by his sudden movement, she glanced up at him. He reached out with his finger and slid it through the frosting on her cinnamon roll.
“Hey,” she exclaimed softly, and as she opened her mouth, Yoongi’s icing-laden finger slipped inside to deposit the sugary goodness on her tongue.
“I think you need a little sweetness to cheer you up.” He smiled kindly at her as he spoke.
Instinctively, she closed her mouth around that finger, and she sucked the icing off, dispelling his finger from her mouth at the same time. She wasn’t sure whether this action provoked her or made her feel like a tiny child, but she felt immensely comforted. Could this guy get any sweeter?
Yoongi retrieved his finger and smiled at her again. “Feel better?”
No! I feel like crying again! Where has this tenderness been my whole life? Are there any other men on the planet like you?
She was staring openly at him.
Then she finally answered him, “Are you from another world? I mean, they don’t grow men like you in my country. At least if they do, I haven’t met one yet.”
“What? What are you talking about? Where are you from?”
“Japan.”
“Men in Japan aren’t like me?”
“No man has ever pulled my chair out for me.” Or treated me tenderly.
She looked at him with a strange longing in her eyes. The eye contact held for a long time. Yoongi didn’t know what to say. It had been an impulse on his part. He truly respected and honored women, and he wanted to shower this sweet girl with kindness. He wanted her to be happy. Was this a strange desire to have towards a virtual stranger? Perhaps. Nonetheless, it hurt him to see her upset.
As he considered her, he realized he’d yet to learn her name. He debated whether to ask for it, knowing he’d have to reciprocate. Would she recognize him then? If she did, how would it change their interactions? He decided to put it off for a little while.
“You’re from Japan, but you’re living in Seoul?”
She nodded. “I’m a student at the university.”
“Oh. What’s your area of study?”
“Music Composition.”
Yoongi sat up straighter in his chair. “Really?”
“Yes. Why?” Her curiosity was piqued by his excited reaction.
“I’m a musician,” he admitted reluctantly.
“Really? What do you play?”
“The piano.”
“Oh, wow! Me too! I also play the violin.”
Yoongi smiled. She was a musician! This just kept getting better and better!
He finally decided to jump off another bridge. “So, I could call you ‘Dessert Girl’ or you could tell me your name…” He held his breath.
“Mitsuko.”
“That’s a pretty name. What does it mean?”
“Honey.”
Yoongi started laughing. Of course, it did!
“Why are you laughing?”
“Because your name suits you perfectly. It is the best possible name for a girl who eats dessert first!”
He remembered.
Rather surprised, she asked him, “Is there anything I said last time that you’ve forgotten?”
He tilted his head to the side. “Well, if there is, I’ve forgotten it, right? So I wouldn’t remember!”
She cracked a smile at his grinning face. Then she sat and simply studied him for a few moments. His raven locks were falling in a steady stream across his forehead. On the top of his head, his hair was a little ruffled. She fought a sudden, intense urge to reach up and run her fingers through his hair. She wanted to smooth it for him, yet she didn’t know why because he looked so cute with it going every which way.
Her eyes traveled to his face. His midnight eyebrows were almost completely covered by his hair, yet they managed to peek out at her in certain spots. His stunning, almond-shaped eyes drew her notice next. Why did they appear sad to her even as he smiled at her? Were they hiding an inner sorrow? They were so dark that they were nearly black. She was used to being surrounded by dark eyes, so what quality did his possess that they drew her in? She wanted to lose herself in them this morning, which was, of course, an absurd idea! She found herself sighing anyway as she gazed into those obsidian depths.
Then he grinned anew, drawing her attention downward. She noticed his ever-so-slightly chubby cheeks, revealed when he lifted his lips. That grin had also unleashed a sweet crease beneath each of his rounded cheeks. Her eyes moved onward to slide along the smooth slope of his nose to its adorable, curved tip before taking in the little divot above his lips. Had she ever even noticed that subtle spot on anyone else’s face? Then his lips drew her in. They were a pale pink and generally covered his very straight, white teeth. But right now, they were parted to reveal not only his white smile but also some of his pink gums. Why did she find this view so very precious too?
“So, can I call you ‘Honey’?” he asked with a mischievous twinkle in those dark eyes.
She grinned at him. “If you want…” She paused momentarily before continuing, “So you haven’t told me…”
Yoongi’s eyes flew away for a second before returning to her face. “Told you what?”
“Your name. You know mine, but I still don’t know what to call you.”
Yoongi inhaled a deep breath as he prepared to drop a bombshell.