HEMP ROPE

8. At the mall.

"Wow, there's a Thai dessert event." With sparkling eyes, Team charged headfirst into the lines of dessert booths after taking one step into the mall.

 

"Hey." Win scratched his head. Team was as fast as a monkey. They came to get the things they needed for the swimming club's activity. Apparently, for Team, food came first.

 

"Hia, palm juice is really good, there's also kernel palm fruit."

 

Win came to him, offering a drink.

Win chuckled and tried the drink from the cup in Team's hand. The sweet-scented refreshment helped him beat the heat.

 

"There are Thong Yip and Thong Yod over there. But I can't find the one Pharm made." Team muttered and then drank the palm juice after Win. 

 

"Lod Chong? And Chao Kuay looks like a bit of a hassle to eat; we'll get Khanom Tan then." Team said he wasn't asking, so Win just nodded along. Just let him have his way...

 

The big guy stretched, looking around. Each booth sold similar desserts, the usual: Luk Chup and the ones beginning with Thong. Since they had time, they should check these out. Then Win spotted Khanom Chan with nice layers of green, pink and purple.

 

"What? You'd like this?" Team looked at the dessert, and his senior had his eyes on it longer than usual.

 

"Well, it looks good." Win glanced sideways at Team. "It reminds me of you, Team."

 

Team went still, then he looked away. "How?"

 

"The way the outer layer peels off, and inside the colour's different, fuck!" Win yelled as the little bastard kneed him in the back of his knee.

 

"Hia, you're so vile." Team muttered and waltzed to other booths. He spotted a certain dessert, making him glance sideways at the douche bag senior.

 

"What?" Win frowned, anticipating retaliation.

 

"Hia, this reminds me of you." Team pointed at the colourful dessert. It looked like whipped cream on a cake. "So colourful, like a chameleon changing colours to its surroundings."

 

 

Thong Yip: Pinched Gold Egg Yolk

Thong Yod: Golden Drop Egg

Lod Chong: Cendol

Chao Kuay: Grass Jelly

Khanom Tan: Toddy Palm Cake

 

Win blinked. "Allure®?..Hmm.." Win drawled, creeping Team out.

"What again!?" Team's hair stood on end.

 

"Did you know... the meaning of allure?" Win lowered his head, whispering.

Team broke into a sweat. Damn, what the hell does this stupid dessert mean!!??

 

"Allure means charm. So that's how you see me."

 

Hot lips almost touched Team's earlobe. Team jumped back and away while glaring daggers at Win.

 

"Hia, you fucker." Team mouthed. Win shrugged at that and turned to get said allure. Team bit his lips and looked around. Once he saw another booth selling allure, he dove in to ask.

 

"Phii! What does allure mean?" The female store vendor grinned from ear to ear. She handed Team a tiny sample of allure.

 

"Allure means charming and appealing. You can use it to flirt with someone." She giggled.

 

Yet Win's inside burned so much that he wanted to die. I'm not flirting with him!!!! For god's sake!!!

 

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Allure: jelly sugar candy