#vcnom

You told your friend, Childe, who apparently wants to spend time with you, that you were in the mood for ramen, and you knew a good place; thanks to your friends who already went there. And so, with the male wanting his best to make you happy, he did take you to the said restaurant.

With your lips tugged upwards into a bright smile, you thanked the male after hearing from him that he’d be the one paying so you could order all you wanted.

“Hmm, I kinda want this one. Oh, and this one too!” you told him, pointing at the pictures that were shown on the menu.

Childe watched as you were contemplating with what you wanted to eat, seeming more interested in seeing you struggle rather than the food. “Who knew it was this hard to go on a date with someone so indecisive?” He teased, looking at you with that knowing smirk.

You were surprised, not because he teased you, but because he told you it was a date. “Date?! I thought—

“Just kidding.” He was quick to take it back, clearing his throat. “Hang out, [name], hang out.” He corrected himself, but he made it sound like he was correcting you instead.

Childe just grinned upon seeing your flustered reaction, which made him want to tease you more. “But you said date!!” You told the male, avoiding his gaze.

“Did I? You heard it wrong. I said ‘hang out.’ Perhaps you’re the one who wants to go on a date with me.”

“In your dreams..?!”

Some time later, the two of you finally ordered, and you were currently waiting for your food to be served.

The two of you were sitting on the window seat, chair facing each other. You were looking at the view outside, while he was admiring you intently as you watched the vehicles outside run.

A few moments passed and your food was finally served, you looked pleased with the meal you ordered, grinning ear to ear. “Thanks a lot. I swear, I’ll take you out next time, my treat.” You told the male, taking the bowl of ramen you ordered and placing it on your side of the table.

“See, I told you. You want to go on a date with me, you’re just in denial.” He cockily said, obviously flirting with you.

In return, you rolled your eyes at him, and grabbed the spoon and chopstick given to you by the waiter and started eating.

After a few moments, you looked up at the ginger and noticed how his fingers were shaking as he touched the chopsticks. On his other hand was his spoon, and you noticed how there were more noodles than the soup itself.

“Do you not like noodles?” You spoke a question, asking the male curiously.

He froze and shook his head. “No.. I do.” He responded verbally.

“Then why are you not eating them?”

“Uh,” Childe thought of a reason, “I save the best for the last.”

“But the noodles go well with the soup. It won’t be the ‘best’ like what you said if it’s not with the soup.”

“…Just shut up,” he mumbled, cheeks flushed red for no reason at all. Even though what he said was mean, his tone sounded like he was embarrassed. You didn’t want to irritate him so like what he said, you just kept quiet and silently observed him.

You can’t help but be intrigued by the way he eats ramen. You found it interesting yet confusing at the same time.

Childe noticed that you were still staring at him so he sets the spoon and the chopsticks down the bowl. “Are you watching me eat?” He raised a brow, eyeing you up and down.

“No.. I just.. Do you not know how to use chopsticks?” You finally asked the male your conclusion throughout your whole observation. “Your hands are shaking whenever you touch them. And I saw you trying to get the noodles earlier but fail to lift it up.”

At your statement, Childe frowned and scoffed, offended. “I do! Look,” he told you, grabbing the chopstick again and his hands were trembling less this time.

You watched how he tried to lift the noodles but failed again. So, what he did this time is bring his head close towards the bowl, there devouring the noodles he got with his chopsticks.

“You’re not supposed to bring your mouth towards the noodles… you should bring the noodles to your mouth,” you told him, biting your lip to stop yourself from cracking a smile.

“I know that! I don’t think it’s cool. I have a unique way of eating.” He rolled his eyes and set the chopsticks down, resting his back on the chair.

‘Look who’s in denial now, huh,’ you thought to yourself, unable to contain yourself from letting out a soft giggle. “I mean, moving your entire face on the ramen bowl isn’t weird at all…!” You said, voice tingling with sarcasm and irony.

“Leave me alone,” he faced away from you, cheeks tinted red and too embarrassed to admit the fact that he can’t use chopsticks properly.

Shrugging, you suggested, “you can just ask for a fork.”

“No! Absolutely not. That means admitting defeat!” His cheeks were even redder than before, which you found amusing.

You rested your elbow on the table, leaning your head on your palm as you looked at him teasingly. “I didn’t know this was such a sensitive topic that defies your pride.”

“It is, because you’d laugh at me.” He scoffed, a pout forming on his lips.

You were starting to feel like you had this situation under control. Wanting to tease the male even more, you grinned playfully before asking, “what’s wrong with that? Do you not want me to laugh because you don’t want me to be happy?”

“I do, but you’d laugh at my misery.”

“So?”

“You’re mean.”

“That’s not true, I recently just expressed my gratitude to you because you’re paying our meal.” You were now the one pouting this time as you responded.

Childe huffed again, finally facing you. His cheeks were still red but not as red as before. It seemed like he finally got a grasp of the situation. “That’s one good thing out of a sea of bad things,” he told you, playfully rolling his eyes.

“What else have I done?” You looked at him, pouting. The way you uttered those words in a sad tone made Childe feel guilty but he knew you were being sarcastic.

“You told me you knew a good place.”

“Isn’t that supposed to be a good thing?”

“It was. Until you led me to a place with chopsticks.” The ginger responded, finally cracking a smile because of the conversation.

Seeing him smile, you couldn’t help but quietly giggle to yourself. The pout on your face was replaced with a grin. “But you said you knew how to use them?” You teasingly cocked an eyebrow.

“I did. Until you decided to criticise my way of using it.”

“I’ll just teach you how to use them, it’s okay.” You smiled, a genuine one this time.

Childe’s pride still mattered to him and so, he refused. “No. This is a matter of superiority.” He replied at your statement, rejecting your help.

“Okay,” you quietly chuckled and paused for a second, trying to think of what to say next, “I’m sorry. Please keep eating with your chopsticks in your own way.” Said you, emphasizing the last phrase.

“Yeah, I will.” He rolled his eyes yet again and grabbed his chopsticks and spoon once more, eating ramen but not only the soup this time. He finally felt confident eating noodles in front of you, despite his way of holding it and using it overall being improper.

At the sight, you could not help but smile. And this caught Childe’s attention. The ginger pouted at you and dropped his spoon chopsticks again. “Stop smiling or I’m not going to eat..” he frowned, giving you a puppy-dog sad look.

“I wasn’t doing anything bad.” You informed him, pursing your lips.

“You’re about to criticize me again..!” His cheeks were tinted red yet again, something you found cute.

You tried your best not to laugh, biting your tongue. “Pfft.. No, I swear, I wasn’t.”

“Then why are you smiling?”

“Because it feels like you’re finally letting your guard down around me.” You truthfully told him, your cheeks slightly tinted red.

“And that’s a reason to stare at me?”

“Also because you’re attractive, by the way.”

Childe was speechless for a second due to the sudden compliment. In return, he didn’t say anything and just cleared his throat. “…I’m gonna go ask for a fork.”

Sighing, you replied, “man, you were doing so well with your chopsticks.”