(21) When She Craves

"Nope," Sinb told Yuju. "Not that one." 

"But it's freshly packed strawberries!" Yuju argued. "You said you want these. Now that we're in the grocery store buying authentic strawberries, you have the audacity to say that it isn't what you want?!" 

The duo went grocery shopping that Friday night since Yerin was out of town for nearly two weeks already. After the stressing drama inside the hospital, Tiffany managed to persuade Jessica that the couple should stay together. And despite Jessica still having a cold blood against Yerin, she couldn't lash out her frustrations because doing so would mean Tiffany won't have y time with her. And that thing after the hospital event made Jessica wanting more of it. 

"I said I don't want," Sinb answered her friend while looking at some melons. "I changed my mind, I want these." She picked up two small melons and placed it in the cart.

Yuju scoffed for the nth time. She doesn't know how did she end up being Sinb's grocery partner. She would rather have some party time with Umji or just visit the latter in her gallery. Not accompany her stubborn, clearly craving, pregnant friend. Do pregnant women really crave this bad? 

If it was, then she doesn't want to be the one carrying the baby. 

"Okay, what else?" Yuju deadpanned as Sinb was still thinking of what to buy. She was observing the pink-haired Sinb who seemed to be craving another thing. Oh great. Spare the heavens!

Then as if someone pressed a button on Sinb, the latter went speeding up to the liquor section. Yuju was horrified when she followed her stubborn friend. Oh my. 

Don't tell me she was craving for alcohols?! 

Yuju immediately dialed Yerin's number while putting out the wines and brandys Sinb was putting in the cart. Damn this pregnant woman! "Sinb! Stop putting alcohols in the cart for heaven's sake!" She scolded.

"Hello? Yuju?" 

"Oh thank goodness you picked up!" Yuju exclaimed in relief. She was still putting out wines in the cart and was refraining Sinb from getting other liquors. "Can you talk to Sinb for awhile? I really can't handle this troublesome craving woman!"

"Wait. Did you say craving?" Yerin needed to repeat. She can't hear a thing because Yuju was multi-tasking talking to her and scolding the hell out of Sinb. "Since when?"

"Was that more important than talking to Sinb now?!" Yuju fired back. Gosh, does she need to explain it? Sinb's behavior was so erratic to be normal there was just one answer to that. "Fine. Chief was currently craving for liquors and you know how bad it would be for pregnant women and she was just literally putting in every wine in the cart. Now can you freaking scold her for me since my super nice idiotic friend doesn't seem to listen to me!" Yuju was surprised she rapped those words out in like four seconds. 

"Whoah, calm your horses Yuju. Give the phone to your super nice craving Chief," Yerin said. She was at the farmhouse, instructing the staffs in behalf of Umji since the latter would be focusing on her exhibit on December. Which would mean that Yerin would be left alone managing the business until thw exhibitions opens. "I'll talk to her." 

Sinb was surprised when she looked back at the cart without the wines she picked up. Where did the wines go?! Then she looked at Yuju with a phone in hand and giving it to her. "Who's this?" 

"Your super nice girlfriend wants to to talk to you," Yuju said blankly.

"H-hello?" Sinb stuttered. Ever since she realized that she has a crush on Yerin, she couldn't seem to straighten out her tongue when she would talk to the brunette. Worse than that, her cold aura she got from Jessica was nonexistent when she was with Yerin. It feels like she was in her middle school year squealing and crushing on the hottest girl in school. She swore Yerin might be getting the signs already but just opted to stay quiet to her. 

Geez. Since when did she became like this when she got a crush?! She was so not like her.

"Yuju told me you were craving? Is that true?" Yerin asked softly or so Sinb thought. 

Wait. Did she say crave? 

Why would she crave? She just wants to eat or do something though she can't seem to know what that was. Would that count as craving? 

"Sinb?" Yerin asked from the other line. Oh. Maybe she doesn't know what was that thing. "You do know what's craving right? It's when you want something so bad on that particular day and wouldn't relax once you have it or eaten it. So are you craving?" 

"Nope," Sinb curtly answered. "I'm not. I just went grocery shopping with Yuju, of course I would think about what to eat." 

"Then why are you buying alcohols?" Yerin sternly asked. She doesn't want to sound rude but Sinb must know that it wouldn't do good for the baby. "Was that just some spur of the moment decision?" 

Sinb pouted when she felt Yerin was scolding her. Oh, the hottest girl in school scolding the dead over heels middleschooler. Why was she angry? Sinb doesn't understand why was she even acting like that in the first place. "A-are you angry?" 

Yuju who was clearly pissed at having to tail around Sinb was taken aback at what she heard. Did she heard it right?! Sinb asking cutely if Yerin was angry at her? 

Yuju looked at Sinb with opened jaw. She couldn't believe it, her Chief who was called the ice princess, fearing and asking cutely if Yerin was mad at her...for picking wines?! 

Oh. My. God.

What was happening to Mother Earth?! 

"No Sinb. I was just asking if that was just some brash decision you made on your own. Because if it isn't and you really want to taste liquors that bad then you must really be craving," Yerin explained. "So do you really want to have alcohols now?" 

Sinb was sulking. Yerin was mad at her, she believed. The brunette was just so overflowing with good manners, she was putting every word with care. But nonetheless, Sinb knew Yerin was mad. "I-I really want it. I haven't taken a single drop ever since I got pregnant. Can I taste just one?" 

Yerin heaved a sigh. So Sinb was really on that phase where pregnant women craves for something. Now, why of all things Sinb could crave for was the one thing she mustn't take? Talk about being difficult. "Sinb, I'll video call you. Answer your phone alright?" 

Sinb puffed and ended the call. Yerin was really mad, she thought. Can't she just have at least a taste of it? She really wanted to have a taste of wine. 

She gave the phone to Yuju who was asking her what did Yerin told her. "It was nothing." 

Then her phone rang and she immediately answered it. She doesn't want Yerin 'scolding' her again. "Y-yes Yerin?" She greeted awkwardly. How could she? She was seeing her crush though Yerin didn't greet her with her eye smiles. 

Sinb gulped. Yerin getting mad at her was the stupidest thing she would ever do and right now, she was sure that Yerin was mad at her. 

"You know drinking would be bad for the baby, Sinb." Yerin said. 

"Just one gulp, please?" Sinb begged and to convince Yerin, she tried her hardest to pout. (Sinb was swearing that she had been possessed by someone at this moment since she would never do aegyo.) 

Yerin was surprised at what she saw. She couldn't believe Aphrodite's daughter could be that cute. Even Yuju gasped when she saw what Sinb did. Oh Good Lord, what have you done to Jessica's daughter?!

"Oh god," Yerin whispered to herself as she felt her cheeks redden. What did she do to deserve this cool chic doing aegyo in front of her?! She must have been super good, Santa Claus gave her an early present. But she mustn't give in. Nope. "Let's meet at the middle Sinb. How about w--"

"No please! Just one gulp and it's enough," Sinb argued back. She really wanted to drink. She's far too long away from Bacchus she might go insane, she thought. "Please, pretty please." 

Yerin scratched her nape. This was hard than what she thought. "Look Sinb. How about I'll give you what you want EXCEPT those things Dr. Kang prohibited you to do? I'll do or give anything you want." 

That made Sinb stop whining. Anything she want? Yerin would give anything she want? "Hmmm..." 

Yerin was getting impatient. She still has a lot of work to do left at the farm and on the shop. But she couldn't vent out on Sinb. Not on Sinb, if she still wants to have both of her ears intact and away from Dr. Kang's grasp. 

What I want? 

"I-I think I know what I like," Sinb said which drew Yuju and Yerin to listen to her. Sinb was blushing all over as she tried not to sttuter her request. Okay, so this might not be really me right now, but I don't know when could be the next time she will ask me this. "I-I want you to come back h-here."

Yuju sure was dumbfounded at what she heard. Damn. When was her friend this bold to Yerin? She knew well how Sinb flirts and saw how she does it to Yerin, but that was when the latter was still not crushing on the brunette. Ever since Sinb admitted to her that she might have a tiny weeny bit of crush on Yerin, she never saw her 'cool' friend again (only when Sinb was interacting with Yerin though. She's still the daughter of the spawn of Satan at work.)

"W-what Sinb?" Yerin asked while having her own shades of red.

----

Three weeks. Three weeks since Sinb started craving and three weeks with Yerin still outside town. Three weeks and Yuju, along with Jessica, and Tiffany was sure to lose their sanity at the craving woman. 

Everyday at work, Sinb would request for different kinds of fruits and when Yuju would get them for her, she would always changer her mind. Yuju badly wanted to whack her friend and maybe chop her friend's brain out just so she could choose. But no. Doing so would mean another outburst from the pregnant dragon and it would mean another tiring overtime. 

At home, Jessica and Tiffany decided to accompany their daughter through this phase they call 'delicate and sensitive situation.' Tiffany would try to give Sinb what the latter wanted but Sinb would always turn down the offer, sulk at one corner and eat ice cream. When Tiffany would ask what her daughter wanted though, Sinb would cry. 

"Oh please moochie, don't cry!" Tiffany said. She was in a panic mode since it was rare for Sinb to cry and if she does, Jessica would always be there. "I was just asking you." 

"What happened here?" Jessica asked as she ran down the stairs. She was just changing clothes when she heard Sinb cried. She saw Sinb in her usual place, beside the fridge and with a pint of ice cream in hand, and crying like a seven years old. She immediately went to her daughter. "Baby, don't cry please? Tell mom what you want. Your mom Tiffany would provide." 

What?

Tiffany stared at her wife. And here she was thinking that Jessica would really comfort their daughter. Or was just her way of comforting? She shook her head. 

Tiffany felt like a bullet ready to be shot by the pistol. Drat her life. 

Sinb wiped her tears as she continued eating ice cream. Why was she even crying in the first place?! Really, her freaking hormones will drive her crazy. 

"Sinb baby," Jessica cooed. Jessica was confused on her daughter's behavior. She was not like Sinb when she was pregnant. "C'mon tell mom." 

Sinb stared at Jessica warily. If she would tell Jessica what she wants, will her mother be able to give it to her? Because ever since that shopping spree, she was sure that there was something she was craving. "You'll really give it to me mom?" 

"Yeah, Tiffany and I will," Jessica answered to which Tiffany just rolled her eyes. 

"Well, I want some beer," Sinb started. 

"Wh-no!" Jessica roared. "Anything except that!"

Sinb couldn't help but cry again when Jessica scolded her. Really, Sinb was even thinking that she was regressing to a toddler. The heck with this hormones! 

"Yerin also told me that so I changed my mind when she told me she'd give me anything too," Sinb said while she sobbed. Her parents turned to look at each other. "And I told her I want her to come back here but it's been three weeks already! I really, really, really want to see her mom!"

Tiffany looked at Jessica who wore a weird expression on her face. Oh girl...

"You wanted to see your girlfriend?" Jessica asked. "And what did she say to you?"

"She told me that she'll look time for her to come back here but...I really want to see her." Sinb explained. 

Jessica straigthened her position and so do Tiffany. The cold mother heaved a sigh and placed a finger in her temple. "Is that why you're sulking, baby?" 

Sinb looked at her parents with those puppy eyes and nodded innocently. Tiffany raised an eyebrow when she saw that. Sinb was rarely seen being cute. What happened to her daughter?! 

----

It's been days since Sinb requested her mothers for Yerin's presence and it seemed Aphrodite's cravings changed from bad to worse. Sinb would always want for strawberries and melons, but every time Tiffany and Yuju would buy her the requested fruits, she would always say that she doesn't like the taste. If it was only possible for them to ignore the woman, but hell no. For Tiffany, there will always be Jessica to nag her around. For Yuju, well... she has her dear friend Umji that will nag her as a promise to Yerin. 

"Oh my Lord," Tiffany said exasperated as she went inside Sinb's house. Sinb wanted a different kind of melon and Jessica ordered her to go buy all fruits with 'melon' on its name. Despite her not wanting to buy anymore since she has been in and out of the house just to satisfy their daughter's cravings, she couldn't stay. Not when Jessica was giving her the death glare. "I'm sure after this phase of Sinb, I would really lose my mind."

"Me too, Ma'am," Yuju agreed. Yuju (against her wishes also) accompanied Tiffany on buying the said items. She got no choice when the Chairman called out for her company. "Makes me not want to carry a baby."

Tiffany looked at Yuju and rolled her eyes. "Believe me, you'll be wanting to carry the baby and just order what you crave rather than do these errands."

----

"You looked tired," Umji commented when Yuju took a seat beside her. They were in the gallery with the former painting what Yuju could describe as a lunar eclipse. "Did Sinb made you suffer again?"

Yuju blankly stared at Umji. "I don't even know what's worse with loaded paper works and Sinb's cravings. But I guess the latter was way way worse."

"Aww, poor you," Umji teased as she put down the paint brush to examine her work. 

Yuju placed her head on Umji's shoulder and sighed. "Remind me why I'm doing these things again for Sinb?" She asked.

Umji chuckled. "Uhm, because you made a promise with Yerin unnie? You know how long my partner would be gone in the city."

Umji sensed Yuju wanted something from her. Yuju wouldn't initaite contact with her if there wasn't anything she needed. "You need some energy boost?"

Yuju smiled as she looked at Umji while pointing a finger in her cheek. "Yeah, I need it so bad."

----

"That's it!" Tiffany complained at Jessica while banging the door behind her. She looked liked a tired cow from all the milking and she was more frustrated to see her wife just reading a magazine. "You! I mean us, we're going to get Yerin and do these...these errands!" 

Jessica peeked and raised an eyebrow from the magazine she was holding. "Are you complaining Tiff?"

Tiffany huffed. "Hell yeah I am!"

"Okay," was all Jessica replied before she went back to reading. She knew Tiffany would suggest that kind of thing and she was against it. That was why even if Sinb requested for Yerin, they never contacted the other girl from going back. Though she may have cold blood for Yerin after the hospital event, she understood how important was business too. She knew Yerin was having a hard time balancing her work and love life.

"C'mon Jess, you're literally killing me off here," Tiffany complained once again. "I've had enough of these crazy cravings of your daughter. First, she wanted strawberries and melons, the next day she wanted to watch --and take note, not your regular Jess--the one that includes an--"

"Ooh I like that too," Jessica commented. "I remember you're fast asleep while Sinb and I were squealing while watching. Can we do that, maybe later?"

Oh great. 

Tiffany couldn't help but to pinch the bridge of her nose from what she heard. Geez, her family was like running on wild hormones lately. "Jess, can we not talk about it?"

"The what?" Jessica challenged. "Your idea of blindfolding game and the spanking? You know what Tiff, I never knew how pleasurable was until you gave me that."

Oh. My. God. 

"Why did I even brought that up?" Tiffany muttered to herself, resting up her case, with Jessica talking about the they had that night Tiffany requested for Yerin to stay at the hospital. Looked like Jessica was more interested on the rather than her wife's whining.

----

It was a usual day for Sinb to crave. And there she was again at her corner, the one beside the fridge with a pint of ice cream in hand. Of course, she was sulking with her 'craving' for Yerin being denied by the spawn of Satan, that was why her intake of ice cream doubled since that day. "I really need to work out," she murmured as she still took a spoonful of strawberry flavored ice cream. 

She was counting the hours (don't blame the author when she should count the weeks, she really likes to complicate her longing) Yerin was not in the city. Their calls every night was not satisfying Sinb anymore. Don't get her wrong, seeing her crush via video call was like having her stomach swirling of butterflies. It was just that, she was wishing for more. 

She wanted Yerin to be physically present.

Like 'real' present. Not on calls or pictures. She wanted to touch her, and maybe a little peck on the cheek would be enough.

Wait.

Why did she even think of that?! But then a kiss on the cheek sounds pretty amazing to her. Sinb cupped her reddening cheeks from the thought. Oh damn, so she was craving for a kiss. All this time, she thought strawberries and melons are her cravings if ever that she was craving (She was still in denial as she believed she was the type that never craves). 

A kiss from from crush, but her crush was still out of town.  

"Ugh! I can't take this any longer," Sinb muttered. She has decided, if Yerin won't come back to the city, then she will go out of town. After all, she's Sinb. And what Sinb wants, Sinb gets.

She immediately put back the lid of the ice cream, dropped the spoon in the kitchen sink and went upstairs to pack her things. 

----

"Yes Sinb?" Jessica said as she answered the phone. "What do you want?" She was not aware that her daughter already left the office early to sulk inside the house that she was still using the 'intimidating tone.'

"Don't go to my house tonight mom. Tell Mom Tiffany too," Sinb said to her mother while packing her things. She was even contemplating on what kind of shoes to wear while talking. "I will not be home tonight. Possibly for the week or so. I'll just inform Yuju to make a leave for me. Okay? G'bye mom!"

"Wait!" Jessica practically shouted over the phone. What was running to her daughter's mind again?! "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to get what I've been craving these past weeks," Sinb replied. She was done packing her things and was ready to go out. "And mom, just to remind you, No one's going to stop me. Alright? Ciao!"

"Reme--" Jessica was cut off by the dial tone. Jessica's eyebrow twitched in annoyance. She couldn't believe it. Her hell of daughter dared to hang up on her! The nerve! 

Just where will Sinb go, she thought. then a light bulb idea came to her. Oh shoot. "Don't tell me, she's planning to go over that woman's house?!"

-oo0oo-

(22) Women OnMission