"HELP ME?!" Dea's doe-shaped raven orbs stared at Ji Hoon in desperate plea.

He didn't answer but continued watching her sort out various sweet treats his foggy mind can't remember for what occasion. He woke up earlier than usual, and he was sleepy from last night's scheduled late-night streaming. Since he cannot go back to sleep and in an hour, mister day will grace their winter season, he went down their pantry and got something to wake him. This is where he saw her and sat beside her as his curiosity was piqued by what she was doing so early in the morning.

"Earth to Rogue. Don't space out on me, please. I'm desperate because time is running out, and there's a lot of stuff to do." He was mesmerized while staring straight into her eyes. Can't help but notice how expressive and gentle they are, clearing his head from somnolence.

"What's it for, anyway?"

The all-around errand girl of Phoenix Gaming League of Lemuria Professional Gaming Team gaped in disbelief at the resident midlaner. "Heo 'Rogue' Ji Hoon, it's high time you let go of your...'-she shifted her gaze whom he followed, towards his untouched tea. 'and convert to strong, bitter coffees. It will aid in waking you from your soporific stupor."

"Leave my chamomile tea alone and save me from your nerdy wordplays. Get to the point, woman." His sable, elongated eyes disappeared as he squinted into a scowl.

Dea bared her teeth into a mischievous smile. The stainless braces attached to it glinted in the well-lit room. "Do the colors red and green, stars and candles ring a bell?"

"..."

"Fine. How about silk slippers, drums, bulgogi, and Haraboji?"

"Ah!" His face lit when he got what she meant.

"You're a hopeless case in anything or everything not related to video and online gaming, oppa. Take my advice and give the therapy our organization offers a go. It's for your own good." She giggled as Ji Hoon grimaced at her suggestion and tugged a stray ebony wavy locks on her right temple as a reprisal for her gibe.

"It's today?"

"Tomorrow. But our team will have a Christmas party tonight and I'm recycling these left-over candies and chocolates from Halloween as one of the prizes for the parlor games. I can't believe you've forgotten when you're the one who sponsored this."

He scratched his head to cover the discomfiture of his absent-mindedness and asked, "So, what is it you need help for?"

"Um..." She pursed her lips. "I'm hesitant if I'd include this one," she motioned at one of the segregated piled packs of candies on her right.

 Ji Hoon eyed it with keen interest. "Jelly Beans?"

 "Yep. I'm bothered by its flavor."

"Why?"

She pointed at said sweets. "Read the label."

 He did, and it made his hawk-winged brows raise in question. "Zombie-Flavor?"

"Should I include it?"

  "Why not?"

 "You're ok eating weird flavored foods? I mean, I'm open to exotic nom-nom, but there's a limit to what I can tolerate. Munching on rotten meat-flavored foodies is off my list. It's ew."

 Ji Hoon's curiosity at her reaction turned to full-blown amusement by her blabbering. "Ew?"

  "Yes. Ew." She wrinkled her adorable nose in pure revulsion.

  Dea saw that familiar shine in his elongated eyes, telling her he's up to something no good.

  "What are you exactly thinking?"

  He didn't respond. Instead, he opened one packet of said chocolate. "Let's do a taste test and find out if it really is ew."

 "You don't like sweets."

 "Yes, but I'll humor you and dare you to do what you find-" raised his hands and motioned "quote unquote" in the air with that huge boyish smirk plastered on his face. "Ew."

  "Thanks but no thanks." Dea adamantly responded.

 "Scared?" the living LoL legend taunted.

  "It's just..." she did that pursing of lips again where he finds adorable.

  "Just...?" Ji Hoon's chinky eyes glinted smugly, as most people call it, but for her, it's his playful side where the innocent boy he keeps hidden within is shown. She's a goner when she witnesses rare moments like this and makes her agree. I just hope he won't dare me to jump off a cliff wearing that kind of expression on his handsome mug or I'll be dead in a heartbeat.

 "Fine. But you'll pay for my hospital bill if it spoils my stomach."

  He ignored her attempt at empathy and motioned to start the challenge. "Shall we?"

  "Pfft!" Dea bared her teeth in an attempt at defiance, bubbles of saliva coming out of her braces as she produced such a sound. This made Ji Hoon break into a boyish grin.

 "We'll take turns at biting a piece and say what flavor after we taste it." He picked one of the round chocolates coated in orange.

 "Hmmmm..." Ji Hoon savored the flavor and wrinkled his nose, but still continued. "Orange. Your turn."

  Dea followed picking the green one. "Apple."

 "Lemon." Ji Hoon said after tasting the yellow one.

  They continued taking turns at taste-testing until it was Dea's turn, reaching for the blue-coated chocolate. Thinking it was bubblegum flavor, she expected to savor her favorite, only to take a long pause as the putrid taste of a week-old dumpster hit her taste buds. She tried to stop herself from heaving the abomination in her mouth.

  "Well...?"

 "..."

 "Mary Deatriz Jeong..." He was cut off when he heard the owner of name moaned like a wounded penguin, rather, DYING penguin!

  "Ahhhhh!!!" she croaked, eyes turned glassy.

  Ji Hoon didn't know what reaction he would entertain as it all gushed inside him --- amusement, hilarity, or panic. She stopped functioning as if her battery ran out of power. He wanted to laugh at the funny expression plastered on her face and take a picture. Blackmail material for later, then an impromptu idea popped in his thoughts. He chuckled and did the unexpected. He kissed the side of her mouth. No reaction. So, he moved his lips to peck hers with his, smirking, only to turn it into a sour expression. Their eyes met, then paused.

 What happened next was witnessed by his surprised teammates as they just entered the pantry for their breakfast.

Faster than a cheetah, they stood up and sprinted for the nearest restroom, competing for who'll use it first. Dea reached for the doorknob and was about to turn it when Ji Hoon scooped her petite form up. She screamed and flailed like a fish out of water.

  "Me first you walking log post!" she elbowed and pushed him but was too strong to drive away.

 "No!" He set her aside so he could take first dibs on the nearest sink, reached for the faucet and wrenched it open for water, then washed his mouth.

  Deatriz followed suit using the sink beside his while roaring obscenities in various languages he's not even sure if he understood.

 "I can't get the rancid taste out of my mouth. I think some bits are still stuck between my braces. Argh!!!! I can't believe you made me eat a pile of garbage."

 Ji Hoon wanted to correct her, but he couldn't help and let out a hearty laugh instead.

 She faced him, face flushed, probably from running or screaming earlier. "You have the audacity to laugh at my face when this is all your fault?" She attacked him with successive light punches in his chest.

  He released another enthusiastic laugh as he caught her hands and held it. "Mianhe! I didn't know it was that bad." He pulled her into a tight hug. "How about we share our misadventure with those colleagues guilty of misbehavior and make it their giveaway later?" After all, misery loves company, right?"

 "Ouch!" He yelped as he felt the sting of her bite on his left arm, sending currents of electricity within. "What was that for?"

 "For putting me through that gross experience, you secret bully." A muffled voice came out, her face still buried in his chest, making him feel all the better. "One more laugh and I'll bite harder."

 "No more, promise." He raised both his hands in mock surrender and stared at her with fondness. "Let's go?" He motioned for the door. "People outside are sure wondering why we, all of a sudden bolted like that."

 "K. And yes, I approve of that idea, wicked Haraboji." She let him go, mirroring the same mischievous gleam shining in his sable elongated eyes.

  They left unknowing that they're still holding hands, not caring if others waiting outside are giving them curious stares. It was a given since they both came out in a man's restroom.