Chapter 70: I can’t say no when you’re being so honest

Chapter 70 - I can't say no when you're being so honest The Sun was high up in the sky and I was starting to feel hot. I kind of wish I had gotten wet by the sprinklers earlier. "Are you feeling hot?" Jin-Yeok asked and I looked up at him, nodding my head. "Should we get that, then?" He pointed forward. I followed his hand and saw he was pointing at an ice cream van. As soon as I saw it, my face lit up in excitement and I nodded vigorously. Under this hot sun, I could definitely use an ice cream. "Alright then," he was about to signal his guards to go get them but I grabbed his arm, shaking my head. "It's more fun if we go get them ourselves," I said and he stared at me for a while. Seriously, what was he looking at? I darted my eyes away for a while, pressing my lips softly together and then darting my eyes back to him. He was still staring. Was he that surprised that I was being rather active? Or was it my arms around his that surprised him? In that case, I should probably let go. But before I had the chance to do so, he laughed and reached his hand towards my head, taking the butterfly that had landed on my head. So, was that what he had been staring at? But I could've sworn he was staring at my face. Did I overthink it? "I can't say no when you're being so honest," he said and released the butterfly. More like, the butterfly flew away from him. "Let's go." As soon as we got to the van, the ice cream man, who did not expect to meet such a reputable figure in front of his van almost choked at his own words and quickly bowed his head, greeting Jin-Yeok. 'So, even ice cream men know him well.' I thought. "Master Shin, what... What could you possibly need from this lowly ice cream seller?" He asked but wasn't that a bit too much? I understand he was one of the people in power, but to refer to oneself as lowly... What was this world becoming? "Please, be at ease," Jin-Yeok said with quite a friendly smile. "We're just here for ice cream, like everyone else." The ice cream seller stared with his eyes wide. "Pardon?" He must've been surprised that someone like Jin-Yeok licked ice cream as well. Everyone was just acting like they weren't human at the end of the day. I mean, I'm not different. I'm still wondering if my head if they ever fart like other people do. "I'd like a Popsicle, please," I decided to speak up to avoid wasting any more time. The ice cream would be frozen in time if Jin-Yeok simply stood there, smiling at him with no words said. "Do you prefer that to scoops?" He asked and I nodded. "Yeah, I can have scoops when we get home." The maids made ice cream for dessert most times and their ice cream was very good. Because of that, I didn't know if I'd ever be satisfied with any other ice cream outside. So, I decided to have a Popsicle instead. "Then I guess we'll have popsicles," Jin-Yeok said and turned to the seller, raising two fingers as he finally ordered. "Please get us two popsicles," The ice cream seller melted from his frozen state and frantically began to take out the Popsicle. "R-right away!" Jin-Yeok watched me, who was watching the seller move around frantically in his own van as if he were a stranger there. Phew, it must be tough on them. We should better reward the common man for his emotional stress on a hot and fine day like this. "What flavor?" The ice cream man asked and I answered, "Strawberry," "I'd also like that," he said and the ice cream seller stretched them to us with shaking hands. At that rate, the Popsicle might slip from his hand. So, I took them from him and turned to Jin-Yeok. "Pick one," I said, but he tilted his head. "Aren't they the same, though?" He asked and I nodded. "Yes, so I can't decide which one to give you. So, pick one. And hurry before they start melting." I said but Jin-Yeok did not take the Popsicle from me. He smiled, staring at me as I eagerly waited for him to pick one. 'What is he doing? Doesn't he want it?' I wondered and glanced at the ice cream man whose face had gone red from holding his breath. What was his deal? The popsicles had begun to melt slowly and the one on my right hand began to leak first. It was cold. "I guess I'll take this," Jin-Yeok finally said, referring to the one on my right hand. Was he waiting for it to melt all along? Just what was he planning? "Alright then," I stretched my right hand forward and he reached out to take it, but instead of taking the popsicle, he grabbed my hand by the wrist and pulled my hand towards his lips. Wait, what? What was he doing? I watched him with my heart panicking as he stuck his tongue out and licked the melted Popsicle from my hand thoroughly before opening his eyes to grin at me. "I thought it'd be a waste to just clean it off your hand," he said before moving his lips upward to finally lick his Popsicle. My heart was racing, and I could tell my face had gone red, but I couldn't tear my gaze from him for some reason. This man... He was a sin, I tell you. He was stealing my breath away on a hot afternoon with such a simple action. When... Did I become so easy to please? "Shall we get going then?" He asked, taking the popsicle from my hand but I was a bit lost. My head wasn't in the right place and my popsicle had started melting. Yet... I could only look down, purse my lips, and try to calm my heart. "What's wrong?" Jin-Yeok asked but I shook my head. "If you don't lick your popsicle now," he grinned as he pressed his lips on his Popsicle, his eyes provoking me as he said, "...I might just help you lick it all off."