Ginger

"What do you wanna get?" Jenny asked when they were finally seated in the cafe.

Kai glanced at the menu on the wall just above the counter and turned back to Jenny,

"Everything's too fancy, I'll just get a caffe latte with extra milk, thank you." Jenny shrugged "suit yourself. Don't come picking at my desert later." She said and stood up to go get their drinks.

As soon as she left, Kai felt his phone vibrate in his coat pocket and he carefully took it out and glanced at the caller ID. He flinched when he saw that it was Aiden calling. He hesitated for a moment, wondering whether or not he should pick the call when it was suddenly disconnected, and Kai unconsciously heaved a sigh of relief. But his relief was short lived as the phone started buzzing again.

Seeing he was persistent, he decided to answer it.

"Aiden –"

"Why didn't you answer the phone earlier?"

"I was in the washroom and my hands were wet." What a flimsy excuse to give and even Kai knew that.

"Where are you?" How did he know he wasn't home? Did he perhaps come home early? But why today of all days?

"Is... anything wrong?" Kai picked at his finger nails... there was nothing to be so anxious about but he couldn't help but feel guilty for not informing Aiden he was leaving.

"I asked, where are you?" Aiden repeated with a stern voice and Kai could tell he was angry.

"If you're home, I'll come back."

"Answer my question, kai."

" I'm out with Jenny. We came to get coffee but if you're home, I'll be on my way."

Aiden sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. At least he wasn't out on his own doing something silly,

"Why are you stuttering so much if you just went out to grab a drink? It made me worried." His voice was much calmer now than before and Kai felt his anxiety subsiding.

"I'm sorry." he muttered and Aiden sighed again. Was he being too strict about the merman's movements? His ankle was healed fully so there was no reason he couldn't go out now.

"Why did you suddenly leave without telling me? Its unlike you, is something wrong?"

"No, Jenny came suddenly and I didn't think about it at the moment." He was lying and Aiden was quick to catch on.

"Anyway are you home? If you are, I can take my drink to go... let's spend some time together since it's been a while." Kai said rather quickly, the anxiety building up in him once more as he waited for his reply.

This was a tempting offer but Aiden had to pass on it if he wanted Christmas to be free. "No, I'm not home. I'll be home late cause I still got some more work to do."

If he wasn't home then how did he know I wasn't around.

"Ahhhh!!" Aiden yelled "I'm so tired and I miss my boyfriend. That damn old man giving so much work to a college student. How could he do that?! This is child labour!" he whined from the other line and Kai giggled,

"Don't talk like that about your father and besides, you're graduating next year and this year is already over. You're not a child, It's just early responsibility."

"Well if responsibilities doesn't allow me be with you, I don't want any! I wish I could just snuggle you in bed all day."

The adorable image popped up in Kai's head and he felt the stinging warmth rush to his cheeks,

"I miss you too, Aiden."

"Hearing you say that makes me hate my old man even more,"

"Who is it that's got you all red like that?" Jenny questioned with a teasing smile when she returned. She placed the cup of latte on a saucer in front of Kai and a vanilla Dulce De Leche cake on her side of the table before taking a seat.

"Aiden called," Kai replied and put the phone on loud speaker so they could both hear him.

Jenny's brow twitched when he told her who was on the other line and she couldn't stop herself from yelling,

"Yah! What are you doing calling him all of a sudden? Can't you let him be for once? We're trying to go on a date here!" Jenny scolded and Kai couldn't help but chuckle.

Aiden clicked his tongue and retorted,

"Let's see how you'd feel when I go on a date with Kevin."

"Then prepare yourself beforehand cause you'd be the bottom."

"Haaa? You're really pissing me off right now you know that?"

"Ugh! Tell your boyfriend to leave us alone Kai, we're trying to have a peaceful afternoon here."

Kai smiled nervously, sometimes he found it hard to differentiate whether these two were just joking around or being serious.

"I guess I'll see you at home. Bye Aiden."

"Hey, Jenny don't you dare lay a fing-"

Click~ Kai quickly cut the call and heaved a sigh of relief feeling mentally exhausted.

"Am I really doing the right thing getting a job without telling him? I feel terrible."

"Ohh no you don't. Don't go chickening out the last minute just cause you spoke to him. You said the last time you told him, he didn't let you. Do you think this time will be any different?"

Kai shook his head,

"Exactly. Now stop thinking about it and drink your latte."

Kai held the glass tumbler in his two hands and stared down at the perfect towered cream on top not feeling the urge to drink it anymore. He then glanced at Jenny who was busy munching on her vanilla cake without mercy.

"What type of cake is that?" He asked with a small smile

"Ohh, it's a special desert popular in Argentina and the owners husband just happens to be from there so they added it to their menu. Here have a taste, it's really sweet." She scooped a small piece and stretched her arm to the merman and Kai gladly ate it. His face beamed brightly when the milky vanilla flavour bursted in his mouth and he giggled, feeling as if he was floating in sugar heaven.

"It's good right?" Jenny smile feeling quite achieved and satisfied with her taste and Kai quickly cleared his throat and adjusted his expression,

"I don't know, it tasted really bland, mind if I taste it again? Just to be sure it didn't blend with the latte."

"But you've barely even touched your latte! How could it blend?!"

"I just wanna have another taste,"

Kai stretched his hand to grab her plate but Jenny was faster and smacked it away before he could touch it,

"Hands off!"

"Waahh! Come on don't be like that, let me have some!"

"No! I told you not to pick at my dessert!"

"I didn't know it'd be this good! Let me have some!"

"No get your own!"

"I want yours!"

"What are you? A pregnant lady?! Keep your hands off!"

Kai had ended up ordering a plate of dessert for himself as well. He fumed at Jenny all the while he ate and didn't say a word until they were done. He stretched his upper body with a wide smile and caressed his bloated stomach displaying his satisfaction with his meal,

"Do you think I can get free stuffs if I with here?"

"You're finally talking to me?" Jenny said and shrugged her shoulders with a smile.

"They do but... I thought you wanted to ditch it."

Kai's eyes sparkled and his mouth watered at the thought of free dessert meals all day long for as long as he worked here,

"Who wanted to ditch, I don't remember anyone saying that. Come on, let's go as for the job."

In order to gain the favour of the old man and woman working behind the counter, Kai decided to clean the table and take the empty tumbler and plates to the couple,

"Thank you for the food aunty," Jenny bowed,

"We enjoyed it really well." Kai chimed in.

"Oh, thank you dear, but you didn't need to bring it here, you could have left it on the table."

The old lady smiled and took the plates from his hand and handed them to her husband who immediately knew what to do with them.

"Aunty, we couldn't help but notice that the cafe needed some extra hand and my friend here is looking for a part time job –" Jenny smiled politely and the woman seemed shocked,

"Oh dear, I'm sorry but we haven't started hiring. You can come by next week. I'll make sure to remember you." The old lady was about to return to her duties but Kai called out to her.

"Uhhhm... I will wait until next week to be hired but can I keep coming to help, I want to learn how to run the café before I am hired. I can be an apprentice!" Kai said in one breath and quickly drew in his another breath waiting for the old lady to reply but the woman suddenly laughed elegantly, surprisingn the two youngsters,

"My, we hardly see hard workers in this day and age. I'll be glad to have you so please drop by. Well I have to get to work."

"Th... then I will come in tomorrow."

"We will expect you then." She smiled and went on with her work.

Kai beamed proudly

"Damn, you really took this free dessert thing personal." Jenny teased and nudged him on the arm,

"It's not just about the free dessert, they're old and need help!" Kai pouted and Jenny scoffed

"I hear you. Come on let's go to the mall. I need to grab somethings for my brother."

"oh yeah, I haven't met your brother yet."

"Trust me, you don't want to. He's supper annoying."

"You're just saying that cause he's your sibling, I'm sure he's adorable."

"Suit yourself."

On their way out the door, Kai bumped into a ginger haired man in a brown overcoat and he quickly turned to express his deepest apologies before leaving.