âSo,âŚ.Robin.â
âYes?â
Grinning cheekily as he and Robin walk down the path the director sent them down, Himchan glances at her and teases, âYou really think Iâm that good looking?â
Robin laughs, reaching out to playfully shove his shoulder. âWhat do you think?â
âI think-â His eyes lighting up as they pass a gift shop, he stops, plucks a plastic tiara from a rack, and kneels in front of her. âI believe my own humble appearance is nothing but a dim lamp compared to the shining star of your beauty. Please accept this precious crown as a symbol of my admiration.â
Her widened eyes crinkle at the corner as she bursts into laughter again, hugging her stomach.
Himchanâs own mouth quirks at the corners as he tries to maintain his serious expression. âIs my request so deserving of your ridicule?â
âOf course not, oh prince,â Robin replies with a chuckle, pursing her lips as she regains her composure. With a delicate curtesy, she lays a gently hand on his. âI accept your gift with the utmost gratitude. Will you in turn do me the honor of placing it upon my head?â
âBut of course, my lady.â Quickly giving her hand a light kiss, Himchan rises and places the tiara amongst her rowdy curls. âPerfect.â
âGrease-ball.â Chuckling, she shakes her head. âWe need to find one for you too.â
âHmmâŚwhat about these?â
Laughter bubbles from Robinâs lips again as Himchan plops the bright pink, floppy bunny ears on his head and begins bouncing around, almost bumping into the camera in the process.
Obviously pleased at her reaction, Himchan gleefully preens. âReally brings out my eyes, doesnât it?ââ¨âYou look fabulous, darling!â
âDonât I always?â he winks.
Pretending to fix the ears, Robin nods and pulls out her phone. âPicture time!â
As the two present countless poses to the camera, Himchan whispers, âGuess we look cute together, huh?â
Glancing in the direction of the chuckling staff, she shrugs with a smile. âI definitely think so.â
After buying the ears and tiara and setting off once again, Himchan asks, âIs there anything in particular you want to ride?â
âNot really. Iâm up for anything.â
âMe tooâŚ.So, howâre promotions going?ââ¨âGood. Weâve gotten good responses so far, but weâre still trying to get more activities. Spread the word, you know.â
âMaybe you all can do something else with us too. Like a joint project since both groups need more promotion.â
Robin raises an eyebrow. âYouâre kidding, right? B.A.P has to be one of the biggest groups out there. I mean, youâve already had a world tour and Iâve lost count of how many albums. You guys are amazing at everythingâŚ.Are you blushing?â
He hurriedly turns his head. âNo.â
âYou totally are!â Giggling, she pats one of his cheeks. âYouâre so adorable, Himmie!â
His retort dies on his lips as he looks past her.
âHimchan? You okay?â
âWhat the heck is this?â Himchan starts laughing in disbelief, swinging around to point an accusing finger at the following production staff. âYah! I knew we wouldnât get off that easy! You sneaks!â
âWhatâre you talking about?â
Lightly gripping her shoulders, he turns her around. âThat.â
Directly in front of their path is a harmless looking wooden booth not unlike those at any carnival that deserves the name. The sign above it and the surrounding cameras arenât quite as innocent.
âOh.â
âYah! You didnât tell us weâd have to do tasks!â Himchan scolds playfully. âA kissing booth? Seriously? Are you a nineteen plus show now? We still want Zelo to be able to watch this!â
âYou donât actually have to kiss,â one of the assistants explains, barely suppressing his laughter. âYou just have to roll the die and bite a pepero stick below that number.â
âAnd Iâm guessing we canât move forward till we do?â
âItâs all for variety, right?â Robin chuckles lightly, nudging Himchanâs shoulder when he gives an exaggerated huff at the assistantâs nod.
âYes.â As they walk towards the booth, he covers his mic and shyly adds, âI wouldnât actually have been upset if we had to- âŚyou know,âŚkiss.â
âMe neither,â she whispers back.
The lip biting smile he gives her sends a flock of butterflies soaring through her stomach and sheâs glad her face is temporarily out of camera range.
Himchan lifts the oversized die with one hand, offering it to her. âLady's luck?â
Chuckling, she obligingly blows on it before he tosses it into the air and leans over the boothâs counter to see their fate. âOne? Is that one centimeter?â
âI guess?â
âYes,â comes the reply from the assistant.
âOne centimeter. Okay,â Himchan shouts enthusiastically, turning to Robin with his usual cheeky grin. âOkay?â
âOkay,â she laughs, already taking a pepero stick from the tray on the counter and putting it between her lips.
Holding up his fingers, the assistant counts off. âThree, two, one, go!â
Himchan begins nibbling, trying to concentrate but almost laughing at the determined look on Robinâs face as she delicately nips at her end. He shakes his head, shifting his eyes from her eyes to the pepero. Unfortunately for him, he quickly discovers that was a mistake as he becomes mesmerized by her rosy lips only centimeters away from his.
âHimchan!â
Glancing up at his muffled name, he realizes heâd stopped moving. âSorry, Romi.â Quickly recovering, he starts again, trying to concentrate on anything but Robinâs lips. The possibility of an embarrassing penalty spurs him on. Only a few more bites.
Suddenly, Himchan feels a hard shove against his back, causing him to fall forward. The snap of pepero stick is inaudible, but Himchan can almost hear the steam whistling out of his ears as his cheeks redden. Robinâs rounded eyes stare back at him as their lips press together, smooth and warm.
Youngjaeâs laughter breaks the spell as Himchan whips around, his eyes quickly finding their target already at a safe distance. âYoo Youngjae, you little brat!â
Youngjaeâs only response is to stick out his tongue and take off running, his laugh trailing behind him.
Knowing itâs useless to chase after him, Himchan turns back to Robin with a sheepish chuckle. âUmmâŚ.sorry about that. He- he pushed me.â
âItâs okay,â she replies, trying to laugh it off as well. Shaking her head, she picks the piece of pepero off the ground and holds it out to the camera. âDid we pass?â
Accepting the ruler from one of the staff, Himchan holds it against the pepero. âWe did! Half a centimeter! Guess that Youngjaeâs good for something.â
Robin chuckles with him. âI guess.â
âWeâre good, right?â He whoops when the assistant shakes his head. Moving closer to Robin, he asks, âWeâre good too, right?â
She nods.
âBetween you and me, I kinda liked it,â Himchan adds with a wink.
âEnough to try it again?â Robin invites with a small smirk.
The resulting grin on Himchanâs face gives her all the answer she needs.
âHyung?â
The two turn to see Jongup standing beside the camera crew with a hopeful smile.
âHi, Jongup,â Robin smiles, waving.
âHi, noona,â he cheerily answers. âCan I hang out with you guys?â
âWhy not?â Giggling at the somewhat exasperated look on Himchanâs face, she squeezes his hand underneath the counter. âRight, Himchan?â
The teasing glitter in her eyes providing enough promise to make up for the lost alone time with her, Himchan gives Jongup an easy smile. âRight. The more the merrier.â
âAwesome,â Jongup smiles, happily dancing over to them as they walk away from the booth. âI was with Youngjae hyung, but he ran away after he pushed you.â
âYou saw him about to do that? Why didnât you shout or something?â
Jongup shrugs. âYou didnât look like you wanted to be interrupted.â¨Himchan sighs, the corners of his mouth quirking up at Robinâs stifled giggle. âThanks.â
âYour welcome,â the dancer replies, the sarcasm completely lost on him. âOh, can we go on the cable cars over there? It looks so fun!â
âSure. Lead the way, Jongup,â Robin replies, falling into step beside Himchan as they follow the skipping boy. âHimchan.â
Distracted by the enticing smell of her perfume that heâs suddenly noticing, his response is a little slow. âHmm?â
âWhat did you call me earlier?â
âWhen?â
âWhen you were apologizing for kissing me.â
With a sheepish chuckle, he answers, âRomi.â
âRomi?â
âA spur of the moment nickname, I guess?â Himchan shrugs, carefully watching her face.
âRomi,â Robin repeats slowly before a smile brightens her face. âI like it. Itâs cute.â
He smiles back. âSo, can I call you âRomiâ?â
âYouâll be the only one,â she says, offering up her pinky finger. âPromise.â
âMy Romi, then,â Himchan chuckles, joining their pinkies and pressing their thumbs together.
âHyung, noona, whyâd you stop?â Jongup looks back at them with a puzzled look. âThe cable car entrance is over there.â
âSorry, Jonguppie,â Himchan apologizes, sharing one last smile with Robin. âWeâre coming.â