Author's Pov
As the two walk beside each other inside the mall, the atmosphere remained awkward and silent. Aya would try to divert her attention by looking around, while Namjoon is deep in thoughts on how he could make this day better for the two of them. He wants to make this day special, a day she won't forget. But as a man who doesn't know the basics of courting and dating, since he grew up focusing on his studies, Namjoon is quite uncertain on what to do. So, he looked around and tries to find a couple. It didn't take him long to spot two teenagers that he assumes as a couple, holding hands while they walk and chat. He noticed that the girl is happy with it, so maybe Aya will be happy if he will do that. Right?
And Namjoon gave it a shot! He glances at her and her hand before doing his motive. At first, he tried to swing his hand closer to hers while being casual, as if he's unaware. He glanced for the second time and when she wasn't reacting, he proceeded to get a little closer until his fingers are brushing against hers. But little did he know that Aya is getting the idea of what he is trying to do, yet she just let him be. And in a matter of minutes, Namjoon finally had the courage to hold her hand. His hand perfectly engulfed hers, as if they're carved to hold each other. But his action made Aya to face him.
"Why are we holding hands?" She innocently asked, but deep down knowledgeable on why.
That question made Namjoon panic internally as he looks around to find an answer. And from afar, he saw a plackard which gave him an idea.
"Huh?— Oh, uh.... Cuz you might get lost. Yes, lost. Like that." He reasoned out after seeing the Lost and Found booth.
"Lost? Me?" She repeated, slightly offended at some point.
"Yeah– I mean, you're small-ish than me, so, yeah." He shrugged, trying to be reasonable.
"As the person who shops our groceries ever since, I don't think I'm the type of person to get lost in the mall." She replied in dismay and pulled her hand off his grip.
Namjoon felt disappointed, because he didn't succeed again with his attempts. He hates himself for being so awkward, where in it's obvious that he just wants to be sweet to her. On the flip side, Aya felt dismayed with his responses. She just want him to be honest. Yet, she also scolds herself for acting that way. She just can't help but to be curious on why he is acting so strangely today, that he even decided to come with her.
In less than a few minutes, they finally reached the supermarket and since it's early in the morning, only few are inside. A smile flashed on Aya's face, for grocery shopping is one of her favorite hobby. Meanwhile, Namjoon is just following her while also thinking of other ways to pursue her. He looked around and like before, he is trying to find another couple. And while he is busy for his couple-hunting, Aya went to where the push carts are without his notice. She's getting curious on why Namjoon kept on looking around as if he is trying to find something. On the other hand, Namjoon successfully found a couple, which made him smile in victory. He noticed that the guy is the one pushing the cart, so he immediately went to Aya who just finished pulling out a cart for herself.
"Can I push the cart?" He asked with a hint of excitement in his voice, which made her question what is exciting on pushing a steel with wheels.
"Uh, okay." She shrugged and let him hold the handle.
She now started to walk to the very first aisle as she pulls out the list of things she must buy. First off are the bathroom necessities: toilet papers, toothpaste, new pair of toothbrush, and such. Aya is quietly checking her list as she gets the items one by one and puts them in the cart. Meanwhile, Namjoon is just silently following her and watching her as she does the shop. It felt quite fulfilling for Namjoon, since he never had done this with anyone. He would occasionally try to catch her attention, but she's too focused to even notice him. So it came to Namjoon's mind to find a way to somehow make this shopping exciting.
Now that they're off to the aisle of packed goods, such as the instant noodles, chips, and etc, Namjoon then decided to get some items and put them on the cart, thinking it might be helpful to lessen the work for her. But, will it?
"Did you put this?" She kindly asked while holding the pack of spicy chips, "And also these?" She added while motioning to the foreign items on the cart, which are not on her list.
Namjoon then nodded his head as he looks at her innocently. Sighing slightly, Aya smiled at him.
"Are you going to eat these?" She asked, but Namjoon bit his lip as he slowly shake his head. "Then why are these items in our cart?" She queried.
"I just thought that it would be helpful to put some items, so that you won't look for them anymore." He explained, "Should I bring them back?"
"No, it's okay. But next time, tell me beforehand so that I could check. I'm trying to stick to the budget, so as much as possible, we're only shopping for our necessities." She informed, so Namjoon nodded.
"Sorry about that. I'll tell you next time if ever I'll put an item." He agreed.
It's a surprise for Aya after hearing him apologize. He never does that, but she appreciates that he did it. So, the two now continued their grocery shopping. They're now at the aisle of canned goods. And like what she reminded, Namjoon started to look for items and asked her if it's needed or not. Aya appreciates it, even though it's not that helpful for her since she already knows what to buy. On the other hand, Namjoon noticed that she's smiling everytime that he asks her about an item, so he thought that he is doing good for making her smile. He likes her smile, it's so cute and contagious, that it makes him smile in secret upon seeing hers.
Then, the two later on finished shopping and are now at the cashier. Namjoon helped her on putting their groceries in the bags that Aya brought. And when it was time to pay, Aya insisted. Even though Namjoon wants to do it, he just let her. But he noticed that she didn't use the card that he gave to her when they were newlyweds, instead she paid the groceries with cash. When they were done with the cashier, Namjoon decided to ask her.
"Why didn't you use the card I gave you, for the payment?" He asked.
"I don't use that card for grocery shopping." She uttered, innocent.
"Then, whose money were those cash?" He questioned, curious.
"Don't worry," She smiled as she face him, "Those money were mine. They're from my salary and savings."
"What about the card I gave you? What do you do with that?"
"I never use it, unless it's an emergency that I don't have cash with me. But if ever I use it, I always pay the money back on the same day I borrowed it." She said, then looked around the surrounding to avoid more of his questions.
After leaving the groceries at the package counter, Namjoon asked her to have lunch. She agreed without saying anything. They're currently walking around the mall to look for a place to eat. While they're hunting for a nice restaurant, Namjoon is low-key having the urge to flirt with her. He wants to have his arm around her shoulder, so he sums up his courage and brought his arm until it found her shoulder. That action startled her, causing for her to look at Namjoon's hand and to him, who is now trying to be casual.
"If you're still thinking that I'll get lost, stop it." She mocked, earning a chuckle from him.
"I just want to hold you...." He shyly confessed, finally realizing that this was the answer that Aya was looking for when he held her hands a while ago.
She just nodded quietly and walked closer beside him. Hiding her now blushing face, it made her heartbeat to quicken its pace. It may seem unreal, but she's happy that he became honest with his answer. But as the great happiness come to her, the fear never left her. What if he's just playing with her heart?
—
Lunch was great for the two. They ate at Aya's favorite restaurant and for the first time, it seemed like they are just dating. Now, they're inside the department store, because Aya has something to buy. Namjoon is just quietly following her while pushing the small cart, with Aya's bag hanging on his shoulder. It just so happened that he saw a guy awhile ago, carrying his girlfriend's bag, so Namjoon insisted to carry Aya's.
"Where are we heading?" He asked.
"We're almost.... There! I can see it, let's go." She held his arm and carefully pulled him with her until they stopped in front of a section for baby stuffs.
It confused Namjoon after realizing why they're here. Is she pregnant? But, he never touched her. Nothing has ever happened to them ever since they got married. Unless she cheated on him. But, that's impossible, right?
"Which one is better, love?" Aya asked enthusiastically while flaunting two different colors of mittens for babies. "The cream one or the plain white one?"
"Uh, the white one?"
"Hm, yeah, I think so too. We still don't know the gender, so I guess white is the best option." She replied as she put back the cream mitten and placed the white one in the cart.
"Are you.... pregnant?" He asked, anxious of what she will answer.
"What? Me? Pregnant?" She chuckled, "That's so impossible. I'm a virgin, you know?" She joked and it made Namjoon sigh in relief. "Why? Did you think I'm buying baby stuffs for our baby?" She snickered, making Namjoon blush.
"I mean, I-I was confused. You're suddenly asking me which is better and those are baby things." Namjoon explained in a fast pace, making her chuckle at his embarrassed state.
"It's my bestfriend, she's the one who is pregnant." She replied, before going back to looking for baby stuffs. "Yet, I wish that I am too...." She mumbled to herself as she hold her tummy.
While she was in her thoughts, a cute giggle caught her attention. Behind the stand of baby mittens, was a couple with their toddler. The father is keeping the toddler entertained while the mother is making the milk formula for their child. It gave her a bittersweet smile as she watch them. That's what she wanted, a simple life and family. And while she was busy looking at the family, Namjoon was busy watching her look at them. He noticed how sad her eyes were, so he looked for something to ease it.
"Aya," He called, taking her attention. "Which do you prefer? This koala or this panda?" He asked while holding two small stuffed toys.
"Both are cute though...." She answered, so Namjoon nodded and placed both in the cart. "Are those for my friend?" She asked, but Namjoon shook his head.
"These are for you." He informed.
"But those are for babies, love." Aya then checked the stuffed toys in the cart. "It'll just get dusted if you buy these for me. No one will use it." She stated while holding them, eyes observing it.
"Then let's have someone to use it." Namjoon spoke as he glance at her tummy, she didn't notice since she was looking at the stuffed toys but it made her heartbeat to pound from what Namjoon said.
"Uhm, let's look for other baby stuffs." She answered and turned around to act as if she's looking, but the truth is, she just wants to hide her blushing face.
It made Namjoon smile to see her flushed expression. He meant what he told her. If she wants to, he will give it to her. That's what he told himself this morning, that from now on, he will start to pamper her with everything she needs and anything she wants. But it might take him a while to tame her.