“No, go ahead.”
Myles took out his phone and Ji-Su got ready for the camera.
RAUL WATCHED AS JI-Su smiled for the clerk’s camera, tilting his head to the side and tucking the tip of his index finger into the crease of his dimple.
“Hi, everyone! It’s Ji-Su.” His voice was suddenly pitched higher and he waved with both hands. “I’m shopping today at Whitman’s for all new computer and gaming systems. Maybe I’ll do a live stream of the setup and build. Let me know in Myle’s comments if you want to see that on my channel. Annyeong! See you later!” Then he giggled and covered his mouth with his hands, the sweatshirt sleeves draped down nearly to the tips of his fingers.
Raul was stunned. Ji-Su looked and sounded so...cute. He wanted to pick him up and hug him and give him whatever he wanted and fuck him all at the same time. What the hellwasthat? He didn’t say anything, not wanting to interrupt as Ji-Su and the store employee discussed what was needed. But whenthe clerk scurried off to get a small flatbed shopping cart, he had to ask.
“What was that earlier?”
“What was what?”
“That thing when your voice changed when you were on camera.”
“Oh, that!” Ji-Su laughed. “That’s aegyo.”
“Aegyo?” He didn’t understand Korean and he’d never heard aegyo as a loan word.
“It’s like showing your charm and cuteness.” He held up his hands, using them to form a little heart. “Thank you for taking care of me, Raul-hyung,” he said in that high, sweet voice. “See?” he asked with his voice dropped back to its normal pitch. “Like that.”
“It’s cute.” It was the most adorable thing he’d ever seen in his life.
“Thanks.” Ji-Su grinned. “My fans love it when I do aegyo but it pisses off the gamer bros I play against in Delta Combat Force. I make sure to do it every time I beat them.”
From what Raul knew of gaming culture, he could imagine how it must anger some of the players to have someone as cute and delicate looking as Ji-Su best them in game play.
The clerk returned, pulling the flat bed cart behind him.
“Ready to get started?” he asked excitedly.
“Yep.” Ji-Su nodded. “Let’s do it.”
Raul followed behind them as they went up and down the aisles, reviewing computer systems and specs. They stopped in front of a display where the computer was built into the desk and covered with a clear glass top. The visible computer parts looked like something out of a science fiction movie, especially with the interior LED lights casting a red glow over everything.
“Now the desk PC case is the coolest way to go,” Myles said. “We have red lights for the display model but since you’re doing custom you can have any light arrangement you want.”
“I do love it,” Ji-Su said as he ran a hand over the glass desktop. “I wanted one for my last system but it was out of my price range.” He leaned down to read the price card. “Yeesh. And it’s still out of my price range.”
Raul frowned at that. “What do you mean it’s out of your price range?”
“It’s eighteen hundred dollars for the base model. And that’s before we include the PC.”
“Nothing is too expensive for you when I’m paying for it. If that’s the system you want, get it.” He looked at the clerk. “And whatever custom add-ons he wants or needs as well.”
The clerk grinned. “Yes, sir.”
Ji-Su was standing there with his mouth open. “I thought you were helping me get this as a loan,” he finally said.
Raul’s eyebrows shot up. “A loan?” he asked incredulously.
“Yeah. Sort of like an advance on my blood pet payments.”
Raul pressed his lips together to hold back the smile that wanted to break free at Ji-Su’s misunderstanding. He didn’t want to laugh and have him take it the wrong way. “No. You’re with me now and that means I’m taking care of you. Besides, you wouldn’t be in this situation replacing your equipment if it wasn’t for me, remember?”
“That wasn’t your fault.”
“But I’m accepting responsibility for it. Get whatever you want. Don’t look at price tags and don’t even think about paying me back.”