(23) Let Me Take Care Of You

It has been another month and Sinb was now in the middle of her second trimester. As the obgyne in charge of Sinb's condition, Dr. Kang ordered the couple that they should have a twice in a month check-up. Both of them couldn't disagree on Dr. Kang because holy canoodles would their throats be ripped out. 

"Twice a month," Sinb said exasperated. She couldn't believe she would go have her check-up twice in every month. Just when her presence was very much needed in the office because of the Christmas season. "What a pain in the ." 

Yerin was walking beside Sinb. They just got out from the hospital and they were practically waiting for a cab. Yerin was still not a very good driver and she was yet to get her exams the following week. Sinb's car was out for repair too so they had no choice but to go and wait for a taxi. 

Yerin just watched how Sinb would whine and she unconsciously smiled while observing Aphrodite's daughter. Sinb noticed that Yerin wasn't attentive to her today, especially to her whining, that she took a glance at the brunette staring at her. 

"You're being creepy, Yerin," Sinb said as she tried to wave a hand in front of Yerin. "Are you sick?"

Yerin shook her head. "Nope. I was just staring at you. Was it bad?"

Sinb became overly conscious at what she looked like. Oh shoot, was her bangs in dissaray? Sinb suddenly couldn't meet Yerin in the eyes and shied away which made Yerin chuckle. "N-no."

Yerin has been observing and paying more attention to Sinb after the hospital event. She could say that there was something in Sinb that changed. It seemed to her that the cool and chic Aphrodite's daughter was long gone and was replaced by this shy and innocent looking being in front of her. Yerin was very much amused at Sinb's behavior it was now natural for her to tease and openly flirt with the 'once' tough cookie. 

"J-just hail for a c-cab, will you?" Sinb diverted her gaze at the road, her cheeks flaming red. She was sure, that after all those weeks, the flaming of her cheeks was like a broken record already. She lost count on how many times Yerin would make her blush. 

And Sinb would likely blame it to the flirting part she would always fall for.

And yes, the hormones included. 

"I'm keeping my eyes on you and on the road actually," Yerin answered, still looking at Sinb who was busily looking at other things that was not her cute reckless being. "And my, are you embarrassed being looked at? That's so not you, you know?" She teased.

"Of course not!" Sinb argued. The hell she knows she looked gorgeous! "You were being creepy staring at me like that, t-that's why!" 

Yerin chuckled at the display of an adorable face Sinb was making. "Alright, alright. Let's hail a cab." She told her as she grabbed Aphrodite's hand with hers and hailed once she saw a cab. 

Looks like, authornim doesn't have to pause right here. Our little Yerin grew up. 

Once inside though, Yerin told the driver to drop them to an ice cream shop. The one when they first had ice cream. "I thought we're going back to the office?" Sinb inquired.

"You don't want ice cream?" Yerin returned her version of a question. "You're pissed at Dr. Kang just awhile ago, right? So I think we better grab something sweet to eat to ease that temper of yours." 

Sinb doesn't know what to say to that. All she knew was her cheeks were on its red alert again. Geez, it seemed every little thing Yerin does would make her lose her mind. She never knew she could be head over heels over her cute reckless being. 

"Or if you don't want to eat something sweet, we can just go home and have some fun," Yerin teased and when Sinb looked up to her she gave her a wink. 

Freaking frog eggs! 

There she goes again with the teasing! 

Sinb swore that not only her cheeks are burning, even her ears were. She touched them, not wanting Yerin to see how red her ears had become. She shouldn't see this! 

Yerin squinted and smiled. Oh, Aphrodite's daughter was blushing again! "Hey Sinb, are you alright?" Yerin asked albeit teasingly. She put her two hands to the ones Sinb were covering, having hers on top of Sinb's.

"Y-yah! Don't t-touch me!" Sinb blushingly said. Yerin withdrew her hand as she laughed and the driver along with it too. Sinb glared at the driver and scoffed. Who told her to laugh?! "Hey Ms. Driver, can you just focus on the road?!" 

"Y-yes Ma'am," the driver immediately said. 

So there they were, going to the ice cream shop with Sinb blushing ever so hard and Yerin taking glances and chuckling to herself. 

----

Sinb ordered the usual and Yerin couldn't help herself but to buy that plain looking mango flavored ice cream. Sinb will definitely be her wallet killer, she thought. But then again, she doesn't mind. If she could see Sinb this cute and whiny while eating, she'll take it. 

Yerin would definitely take it.

Because the cute, whiny, and stuttering mess that was Sinb was all too amusing in her eyes. 

Talk about eye candy. 

Yerin was watching Sinb eat and she seemed to neglect the idea that she has an ice cream too. Well how could she focus on eating if Aphrodite's daughter in front of her was enough for her. She couldn't help but think, "Just where did the cool and chic Sinb went to?" 

Sinb stopped eating hers and looked at Yerin. She raised an eyebrow at what she said. "Are you saying I'm not cool and chic now?" Sinb was starting to get annoyed. Just what did she meant by that?! 

Yerin became wide eyed when she realized that she spoke too loud. That was just supposed to stay in her head! Oh darn..."T-that's not what I meant," she told her, taking a mental note that she shouldn't speak of unneccessary things to a moody pregnant woman. 

"Then what did you mean by that?" Sinb challenged after she took a spoonful of her strawberry ice cream. Sinb wasn't aware that there was a smudge of the ice cream left on the side of her lips. All she cared for at that moment was Yerin's answer. 

So clumsy, Yerin thought to herself as she smiled to the pissed woman. She was about to wipe the smudge using a napkin but then she dismissed the idea. She has a better way of removing it.

"So you won't answer me huh?" Sinb scoffed. Yerin seemed to enjoy teasing her and it wasn't making her a little bit amused. But then she stopped when Yerin leaned over and kissed her...just beside her lips! 

Sinb swore she was like a boiling water inside a kettle. Why did she freaking do that?! 

Her heart ran a mile in a second, she thought and she was red all over. 

"I didn't know strawberry flavored ice cream could be this delicious," Yerin said teasingly but her face remained innocent. She watched Sinb turned red and she giggled. My, what a very very amusing day it was.

"Y-you could use a napkin, you i-idiot!" Sinb stuttered as she wiped the part Yerin kissed her. Trust me, she doesn't really wanted to wipe it, she just wanted to show Yerin that she doesn't like what our duckie did to her. But who was she kidding anyways?

"I'm being environmentally friendly, Sinb. Imagine making a waste of a napkin for a little smudge of ice cream you have on your face. And you won't let me have a taste of your ice cream so might as well take the opportunity right?" Yerin explained and Sinb just couldn't find the words to rebutt on those. 

How could she when she was busy processing in her brain how beautiful Yerin was in front of her. She already knew how attractive Yerin was on their first meeting but God was Yerin beautiful right now. Was it because of the sunset rays striking Yerin's features or those sunny smiles she has been getting throughout the day? Well, Sinb doesn't care.  

"What I meant about awhile ago was that I don't know if I should wish for that Sinb to return or not," Yerin started explaining. "Because honestly, I'm liking the Sinb right now." She boldly said to which Sinb was just staring at her. Yerin couldn't help but pinch Sinb's red cheeks in return.

Did Yerin admit her feelings?

"Well who wouldn't like a cute and whiny Sinb? Plus your reactions to my teasing was just too amusing you always make my day!" Yerin finished.

Oh. 

What a let down. Wait, let Sinb rephrase that. That was like a double whammy.

----

Yerin hailed a cab again for Sinb to ride. They would go on different ways with Sinb towards the office and Yerin towards the flowershop. Yerin sighed a contented one as she watched the taxi disappear. "My, what a day." Yerin mumbled to herself while smiling. 

Yerin just made her day complete having witnessed Sinb's reactions to her. Her heart was racing too, though she always pinpoint it on how she just like Sinb. She was thinking if Sinb has noticed that, but it seemed the shorter girl was more preoccupied by her own behavior. 

Yerin turned around, deciding to just walk and take a bus. It was more convenient, she thought and going by bus was much much cheaper than hailing herself a taxi. But once she took a step to start walking down the street, she was met by a woman with a pair of eyes that was all too familiar to her. Yerin took a step backward as she had her eyes locked at the woman, pain and feeling of worthlessness started to fill her happy heart. 

"Yerin," the woman said. "Can we talk?" 

Yerin wanted to run away from the pain. Oh. So she thought that that pain already turned into a memory. But seeing her again proved her wrong. It was all there, inside her, just locked away with Sinb and the baby being enough to distract her from nursing a broken heart.

It didn't went away. 

All the longing and emotions that Joy gave her were still there.

"I'll just have a minute of your time. It won't take long, I promise." 

Yerin let out a sigh, while closing her fists. If she were to let go now of these unwanted feelings, then she must close it out with Joy. Find the truth and close it out, she thought. 

"Better be. I still have a lot to do." Yerin firmly said. 

And they went inside that ice cream shop where Yerin just had fun memories with Sinb. And it seemed to Yerin that the place would not just carry light memories but will be a witness of what would happen to her with Joy.

----

"Are you sure they're not official yet?" Umji whispered to Yuju as they were observing their best friends playing the claw machine. Umji couldn't help but pry on Yerin's love affair because she find her best friend's fake relationship with Sinb a real one. Oh how she wished they were real as a freaking couple. 

The six of them together with Sowon and Eunha went to the arcade after hanging out inside Umji's gallery. They were helping the youngest on planning about her upcoming exhibit on December but it seemed she and Yuju were the only ones interested in accomplishing a single plan that day. Sowon and Eunha were making out in a corner (not that Umji cares since they were doing it like breakfast in the morning) and Yerin couldn't focus in planning because of Sinb's sudden cravings. 

Sinb's cravings were a little bit bizarre for Umji though. She was never the type of a pregnant woman who usually crave for something to eat. Umji noted how Sinb would crave for activities where her partner, specifically her partner, was involved. She was even thinking that Sinb just wanted to be with Yerin alone but her partner was tad too numb to notice that. 

And the reason why they were in the arcade was the result of that craving. 

Apparently, Sinb was craving for some plush toys but Umji doesn't have one in the gallery. Well how could she, they were in the freaking gallery! Sinb wouldn't stop whining like a seven years old and everyone, especially Umji, were beginning to get annoyed. Excluding Yerin that is. 

You see, Yerin's favorite past time was to tease Sinb and be amused at the latter's reaction and whines. Yuju even asked Umji if Yerin had a history of being a sadist because she seemed to enjoy how literally Sinb was being loud whining to all of them to give her the damn plushies.

"But I really liked that one!" Sinb whined when Yerin failed to get the tiger plushie. They had been trying to get the tiger out from the claw machine and Yerin was getting annoyed. She was super good at this game but she can't get the one Sinb particularly liked.

"Oh darn it," Yerin muttered under her breath. "This would literally blow all of my coins." 

She would surpass again her expenses for the day if she keeps on losing in the claw machine. Nope. No way that's going to happen, she thought. "Wait here Sinb." She ordered and went to look for Eunha and Sowon.

The couple was seated not far from the claw machines and they too were observing Yerin and Sinb. "What do you want?" Eunha asked with a brow raised. Oh girl, I think I know what it is.

"I got no coins left, can you spare me some?" Yerin innocently asked with two hands already in front of her younger sister. Then to make Eunha give in to her request, she made sure she was pouting and making beatiful eyes. 

"Geez Yerin," Sowon shuddered. "You can't even treat your girlfriend by your own money? Great. Just when will you drop that overly-frugal lifestyle huh?" 

"That claw machine would literally make me poor I tell you," Yerin tried to rest her case. "And this'll be the last time. Promise." 

Eunha gave her sister the coins and was hugged by the latter before returning to the claw machine. "Aish! this unnie really." 

Sowon chuckled when Eunha's eyes followed Yerin. "But you still gave her the coins. What's there to get pissed at?"

----

It was now afternoon and the six of them went separate ways with Sowon and Eunha deciding to go shopping; Umji and Yuju to return to the gallery; and Yerin and Sinb to go gome at the latter's house. 

After like a hundred times, Yerin managed to get Sinb the tiger plushie. Sinb was so amazed that not a single second would she drop the stuff toy. She even made a name for it! Yuju was perplexed seeing how childish her chief has become and Yerin just laughed at Yuju's reaction.

Yep. Yerin was sure that she liked this side of Sinb more than the former. 

Sinb noticed that Yerin was staring at her. Again. Gosh, why would her crush like to stare at her?! Didn't Yerin know yet how her heart may come out from her chest everytime she does that?

Sinb cleared . "Uhm, you're being creepy again," she said while playing with the tiger plushie. She didn't dare make an eye contact for what would happen to her heart if she does that? 

"You don't really want to be looked at huh," Yerin simply stated and pouted. "I'm just jealous that's why." 

What? 

"W-why would y-you be?" Sinb stuttered. She doesn't know but the feeling of having someone getting jealous of you seemed nice to her. Holy cow! Now her heart was really going to come out from her chest! 

Yerin pouted even more when Sinb was still focused on playing the plushie. She put her hands on both sides of Sinb's cheeks and directed the latter to face her. "You're more focused taking care of Eugene. I want that too!" 

Sinb was stunned to see Yerin doing aegyo again. And what did she say? Oh Mama Mary, spare the heavens from going down, Yerin wanted her to take care of her too! Sinb unconsciously smiled at the thought she was having. 

That was the third time Yerin asked or wanted something for herself. Sinb had taken note of those times and throughout those times, Sinb felt excited. Why? Because all those three times Yerin was unconsiously being selfish, the reason was her. 

Yerin was damn lowkey wanting Sinb for herself too.

"W-why are you smiling?" Was Yerin's turn to stutter. She still couldn't adapt to that smile. She was even beggining to think that she will never get used to it. 

Sinb held Yerin's hands without removing the latter's on both her cheeks. If Yerin was amused at her silly reactions, then she was too at Yerin's uncalled jealousy. Now it would be Yerin's time to stutter, Sinb said to herself. 

"Because you're childish too," Sinb answered. "And you're not on fluctuating hormones huh." 

"Wh--n-no I'm not!" Yerin said, her cheeks turning red. 

Sinb courageously leaned forward to Yerin. Oh my, was she trying to kiss her?! Suddenly Yerin's mind went blank. 

"Then let me take care of you, Yerin." Sinb whispered. "Sometimes you need to give yourself to me so I can try my best to take care of you. Until then, you wouldn't even think of getting jealous...over a plushie, that is." Sinb winked.

She was boldly teasing her?! Yerin couldn't believe it. Was Sinb giving her a taste of her own medicine? Damn, she was being good at it, huh. 

But before Yerin could argue, Sinb had pecked her in the cheek then abruptly leaning away while hugging the plushie. "H-hurry, we still n-need to get home." A shy Sinb spoke. 

And to all the things Yerin has to know about Aphrodute's daughter, she has one that she would likely to keep for herself.

That Sinb was made up of impulses--good and bad--something that always takes her by surprise.

----

Sinb woke up in the wee hours of the morning only to crave for something sweet. Ah, ice cream! But she remembered she just finished eating a pint of it yesterday. Were there still left? 

She looked at her right side and saw Yerin fast asleep with her back facing hers. Sinb felt lazy going out of bed but she was freaking craving for ice cream! Ugh, drrr...

"You're craving for something again?" Yerin suddenly asked albeit with a sleepy tone. "What do you like?"

"H-how do you know that?" Sinb was surprised Yerin knew what she was doing at the moment. 

Yerin smiled with her eyes half closed. "I just know. Remember what Dr. Kang said? I should pay attention to your behavior, so I assume your craving right now." 

Sinb shyly looked at her cute reckless being. God, even the moon light was complimenting Yerin's features. So it was not only the sun that was in love of her too but also the moon, she thought. 

"You want ice cream?" Yerin asked her. 

Sinb snapped out of her reverie and was surprised that Yerin knew that as well. "You're seriously creeping me out, Yerin. Are you a mind reader now?" 

"It doesn't take a second on knowing what you're craving Sinb," Yerin explained. "They were so easy and common. I might be as well included in the list right?" Yerin teased. 

"Who told you that you're included?" Sinb countered though it was the truth.

"Me, myself and I," Yerin answered and smiled. She got out of the bed and got herself a black t-shirt, something that Sinb had worn that day. She was lazy to look for clean clothes in the closet since going out for a little time won't be worth the clean outfit. She changed from her pajamas and grabbed her wallet. 

"Where are you going?" Sinb asked.

"I'm going to get you ice cream since we ran out of stock since yesterday," Yerin explained. "Don't worry, I'll be right back." 

Oh no. Yerin was going to heed her request again. And she was not even requesting anything! And here she thought they had a decent talk that she'll be the one to take care of this selfess being to her. But no, it would always be Yerin who seemed to beat her in every chance. 

Gosh. Her crush was super caring, she was falling deeper for her. 

"W-wait Yerin!" Sinb grabbed her leather jacket and ran to follow Yerin. But Yerin just got out of their gate and was running. "She didn't even bother to grab herself a coat. My...just when will you let me take care of you?"

So Sinb waited for Yerin to come back. The nearest convenience store was a fifteen-minute walk from her house. It was still quite a long time if Yerin would decide to walk it out. "Maybe she did walk knowing how frugal she is." 

Then a clap of thunder jolted Sinb and raindrops can be seen outside her window. Sinb was mesmerized by the rain falling outside her backyard (she was in the living room) and suddenly lost track of the time for Yerin to come back. 

She felt relieved. She felt relaxed. If Yerin was with her in that moment. 

Then it hit her. Yerin hasn't come back for the past hour! "Oh shoot! She doesn't have an umbrella with her!" 

Sinb began worrying and was about to call the brunette when Yerin entered the house soaking wet. Sinb wanted to scold Yerin but froze when she was greeted by Yerin's smile and a hand with her ice cream. The wet look of Yerin and her smile made Sinb's heart race again. Oh girl...

Yerin was making Sinb fall for her...and Yerin was not even aware of it. 

"Y-you stubborn woman! You didn't even bother to take an umbrella with you. Come here," Sinb managed to say as she went near Yerin and took put form the latter's hand the pint of ice cream and placed it over the couch. "Let me help you dry yourself."

Yerin hesitated for a second. "You won't eat ice cream? You don't have to worry about me, I can manage myself." 

"No," Sinb said sternly, her eyes were never leaving Yerin's. "I will eat after I make sure you're dry. And we need to change your clothes before you get a cold. Let's go upstairs."

Yerin didn't budge. "I said I can manage. You should eat the ice cream I bought for you. Okay?" 

"Nope," 

"Don't be stubborn Sinb," 

"I said I'll help you dry. You're the stubborn one here," 

"I said I can manage,"

Sinb sighed. "One more Yerin, you don't get to decide here. Let me help you change your clothes."

"I will change clothes alright but you don't need to help me. I'm perfectly capable of dres--"

Yerin was stopped when Sinb pecked her lips. "Just let me take care of you alright? Now let's go upstairs." Sinb told her as she was being dragged upstairs.

Little did Sinb knew that Yerin's heart raced too. One that perfectly matches the way her heart was pacing.

-oo0oo-

(24) Her Or Me?

-oo0oo-

Advance Happy Halloween people!