Bittersweet

"Hey! I hope I didn't make you wait too long!" Ken, dressed in a dark green sweatshirt and gray jeans, walks quickly towards Rebecca who’s wearing an orange sweater and overalls.

"I just arrived myself." She says and Ken breathes a sigh of relief.

"So let's go. Have you ever been to this bar? It just opened so I've never been there myself. People say it's a nice place."

"I've never been there either. I've heard the desserts are especially good."

"Do you want to try the desserts? I'll be offering then!"

"There's no need."

"Come on, it's payment for reps."

"So stubborn."

"Hehe... they often tell me that..."

"It's still a no." The two arrive at the bar before Ken could argue. The bar is a very nice place decorated with bright colors that make it welcoming. They sit at one of the tables at the back so they don’t get disturbed.

"Nice, isn't it?" He asks her resting his head on one arm.

"Very."

"Are you ready to order?" A waitress approaches them.

"Do you want to order first?"

"No, you can go first." She hastily scans the menu as Ken gives his order to the waitress.

"An orange juice." Rebecca gives him a look marveling at how he hasn't even picked up the menu.

"And a strawberry milkshake, thank you." The waitress writes down their orders and leaves.

"You haven't even looked at the menu, there are so many interesting things!"

"I'm not much of a bar type, I prefer energy drinks."

"...I see."

"You look like the bar type, but not milkshakes."

"It's the first time I try one. I usually drink regular or matcha coffees."

"Do you like bitter things? Then the milkshake isn’t for you."

"I-I don't just like bitter things...and a lot of girls like it so I'll probably like it too...But now enough talking and let's get on with studying." Ken sighs.

"Yes ma'am."

Rebecca opens his math textbook and chooses an exercise.

"Do this, let me know if you need help."

"What are you going to do in the meantime?"

"I brought a book to read." She takes a book with a yellow cover out of her backpack.

"Have you done your homework for tomorrow yet?"

"Yes, I finished everything just before our appointment."

"Wow, you're very diligent. I wish I was at least half of you."

"You can start by doing the exercise I assigned you."

A waiter arrives to serve them their orders and walks away smiling.

"Your shake looks good." Ken observes the pinkish color of the liquid and the whipped cream on top.

"Hope it tastes good too." Ken chuckles as she takes a sip of it.

"How is it?" He asks her and she gives him the okay sign as she slurps some more.

"Can I taste it?" And she hands it to him as she opens her book where the bookmark is.

"Too sweet." He just says before starting to solve the exercise.

"True. But I guess I don't mind even if it's too sweet."

"Sometimes it's okay to let yourself be carried away by the sweetness."

"...True that too." Ken turns back to his exercise and Rebecca to her book, each having their own drink.

* * *

A couple hours later, he's left with one last exercise and she's halfway through the last page. A little later Rebecca closes the book and puts it on her lap.

"Have you finished it? From your face it looks like you didn't like it very much."

"I really liked it though. The only problem is the ending... it's bittersweet. It's kind of an open ending."

"Ow. But it's in cases like these that a too sweet shake settles everything!" She giggles at his words and takes a sip of the milkshake before placing the book in her backpack.

"I finished the last exercise." He hands her the notebook and she checks if he has done his calculations correctly, playing with a pen in her hand.

"You did good. You're already making progress."

"Because you're a good teacher!" At this very moment, Rebecca's stomach rumbles loudly.

"It almost looks like you haven't had lunch..." He chuckles.

"I-it's so embarassing..." She covers her face in shame, blushing.

"Do you want to order something else? I think I'll get something else too. I'm still hungry."

She takes another look at the menu, still flushed. "The red velvet looks delicious..."

Ken also looks at the menu before calling for a waiter.

"A slice of red velvet for her and a slice of peaches cheesecake for me." Once the waiter has gone, Ken turns back to Rebecca.

"Looking at the menu I noticed it and had to try it. Peaches are my favourite."

"The things you like match your personality."

"They tell me that often! Wait… are you saying I'm a simpleton?"

"Maybe?"

"Fair. It's quite true. I usually like beautiful and interesting things."

"Like peaches?"

"Well... peaches are beautiful. And their flavor is interesting."

"What does this even mean?" She rolls her eyes, still smiling a little.

"What are your criteria then?" She stops for a moment to think.

"I like bitter things. Like coffee..."

"And?"

"I like books with happy endings..."

"Keep going."

"I like spicy food too..."

"Okay, I mean, what do you like in a person?"

"P-person?"

"Like, what would you like your friends to be like? Or your boyfriend? What do you like most about your parents?" Rebecca's eyes go wide and she starts a slight cold sweat.

"I-I..."

"Here you go, guys." The waiter brings their orders, smiles and walks away.

"Finally, I was really looking forward to try it." Ken immediately starts eating his peaches cheesecake.

"Don't you try yours?" He asks Rebecca, who was staring at her plate of cake with an almost lifeless stare. Her stomach tightened in a way that nearly took away all her appetite.

"S-sure, it looks delicious. Yours looks good too." She chuckles, struggling to bring the first bite of many to her mouth.

—Bonus—

When they finish eating the cakes, they go to the cashier to pay. While Ken is taking out the cash, Rebecca quickly pulls out her credit card and hands it to the cashier as Ken watches in shock.