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"What is this?"
Infront of her is a pineapple tart, shaped like a tiny hedgehog that reminded her somewhat of a certain emo inviso agent. The round-shaped treat filled with gooey pineapple jam, coated with golden yolk glaze is held by Ali proudly, grinning from ear to ear.
His smile didn't falter at the harsh tone she used, instead it seemed to grow wider as if he had expected the reaction.
"Pineapple tart! I made it myself!" Ali didn't waver as he extended his hand further, urging her to take the tempting biscuit in his palm.
Alicia hesitantly accepted the hedgehog with narrow eyes, like she's threatening the small treat to move. Suspicious. "Are you sure you're not trying to poison me?"
"Ish, just try it out first!"
Hesitantly, she traced the shape of the makeshift spikes of a hedgehog, except it wasn't sharp but instead curled around the treat, causing it to look less threatening than that of a real one. Still suspicious.
She eyed both Ali and the tart, before popping it into her mouth. Immediately she tasted the pineapple jam that melted along the crispy crust, with the right amount of savory to balance the sourness.
Damn it.
It's good- delicious even.
Alicia hummed, nodding approvingly.
"It's okay."
The boy's eyes sparkled with joy as he jumped out from his seat, cheering happily to himself.
"Yes!" His fist pumped to the air, celebrating his victory. She only raised her eyebrows at him, trying to keep her lips from perking up.
"Now I'm starting to believe you really put poison in there."
Ali rolled his eyes, but the smile never left him. "Can't you trust me this once?" He mocked, sitting back next to her and brings out a round plastic container, filled with more of those hedgehog tarts.
"Here, for you and General," Ali offered, trying to hide the awkwardness creeping up behind him by avoiding eye contact with the neuro agent who didn't flinch nor falter in his eyes.
But in reality, Alicia was panicking- internally. Her eyes widened 0.001 mm from before, and her internal monologues went rouge. She went still, her posture stiffened. For two whole seconds she went completely blank, with her lips slightly parting to speak but no words seemed to made its way out.
Ali noticed the vague look she's giving, and he instantly thinks that she would react negatively. He waved his hands wildly in the air, brushing off whatever thoughts she's having.
"I- I just baked extra! So I thought why not give you some..?" He stammered, searching for approval of his reasoning. Alicia paused, biting the inside of her cheek before accepting the container.
"Whatever."
In all honesty he did purposely baked extra with the intention of giving it to her. For what reason? He wasn't sure himself. Perhaps Ali just wants her to eat more than the normal diet she practices in order to keep fit and in shape. Perhaps seeing her enjoying the treats he made- pure from his mother's recipe and of his own hardwork- filled him with warmth and the comforting thought that someone actually appreciates his work.
"Is that all I get for giving you free food?" Ali teases, with that stupid grin she wants to badly punch at. But two can play the game, and she pretended to look mildly interested at the transparent container filled with the tarts.
"I didn't ask for it- but thanks anyways." She quipped, putting them in her bag.
"Hmph, no problem la."
Again, with the stupid grin that somehow manages to make her stomach churn. Now she was sure he put something in the tart, something she fears far worse than poison. Not to mention that smile of his always seemed to emit rays of light beams that blinded her and threatened to soften her tough shell. It cracked a long time ago, but she's still afraid to let it show.
"Why me?"
She started, testing the waters with her sudden question. Ali blinked, tilting his head in confusion.
"Why you?"
"Yeah. Why gave it to me?"
"Why not?"
Now it's her turn to blink, her nose scrunching at his lingering words.
"Why not to the others? Moon and Rudy would've appreciate it better."
The way he's looking at Alicia makes her think it was a weird question to ask. But it's not- in her opinion anyways. Not when Moon is always enthusiastic with everything or Rudy who would've like to snack on something everytime.
Or Khai, Iman, Roza- anyone else would've been the better choice, but her? Alicia Kheng? The General's daughter? The girl who used to pushed him away and back? Maybe they are closer now than they were before, but gift giving wasn't something that she thought of when it came to him.
...Did she overlook it?
Did their friendship meant alot more to Ali than she thought?
Now she feels guilty.
"You're the first person that comes to mind," Ali explained himself, the words slipping from his lips as if it was natural. As if it didn't cause her to breathe a little faster, catching up with the spiraling thoughts that spills whenever he manages to caught her off her feet. "But if you don't like it then-"
"Don't make assumptions."
"...Okay..?"
Crapcrapcrap-
Alicia looked away, crossing her arms to form an invisible barrier that had a single purpose of shutting him up. The guilt had risen to the pits of her throat and the embarrassment of his own pure and kind intentions humbled her.
This can't be. In order to make it fair she must give something back in return. If she doesn't, Ali will hold it against her all the time!
"Alicia-?"
Without a warning, Alicia stood up, slinging her bag around her with a slight hint of annoyance. Ali, who knows better than to question her sudden attitude zipped his mouth shut, and watches as she scrambled away in a hurry.
Well, that went well. Ali shrugged it off, not thinking much of it and focused on the better things; like how he finally managed to give Alicia the pineapple tarts!
After the embarrassingly amount of times he backed away, either too scared or too angry with her.
Ali then decided to look for the others, since he does have another set of tarts; ones that are a little crooked or imperfect (Yes, he picked them out. No, he's not biased- maybe.) that he planned to give to the other young agents to taste- it's his mother's recipe afterall! Oh, maybe he should give some to his uncle as well.
Jet and Chris had the same thought when they got the biscuits. They glanced at each other, blinking slowly without skipping a beat.
"Uish, it looks like you Rudy!"
"Shut the fuck up."
The said emo inviso agent didn't think twice before bitting onto the pineapple tart and grumbling in annoyance under his breath. The two wheezed loudly besides him, one crouching to hold his stomach while the other cling onto Rudy, losing his balance at the funniest thing he saw.
While the girls fawn over the cute shaped hedgehog tart, snapping a few pictures, with and without Rudy besides them for comparison.
"They're so cute!"
"Can I order more of them, Ali?"
"Eh, Rudy don't take them all!"