CH 4 Lip service pt 1

Mino was running so hard to get to the coffee shop, he forgot he had a plan to meet up with Lizel today. He tried to say his sorry but not a word could come out of his mouth, as it was busy trying to grasp some air. Lizel had him seated as she gets her a glass of water and gently wipes his sweat.

Mino was expecting her to be angry, he expected her to be loud and even nag at him but Lizel wasn't a bit of that, there she is getting him water and wiping his sweat with a soft smile on her face.

"What happened Mino? You ok?" she said as she hands him the glass of water.

Mino gulped down the water in quick succession, he never felt his throat so dry before.

"I'm sorry I'm late I--" Mino paused and looked at Lizel, trying to get a clue on what she may be thinking right now. However, there was nothing other than anticipation in her eyes.

"I -  umm  I went to the gym and went to set up some things earlier then I forgot the time and I --" Lizel shushed Mino's blabbering and forced a smile. Mino said he is sorry already,  what's the point of her trying to get his excuse? She is not that person anymore.

"It's fine you're here anyways, so --" Lizel stood up from her seat and offered a hand to Mino "Let's go?"

Mino knew that what Lizel meant by 'let's go' is to go to his place and help him review some skincare products. But there is something about her that time. Maybe it's how the light shined on Lizel or perhaps it's her soft spoken voice.

At that moment Mino finds her so inviting, that all he could do is take her hand and let her lead the way.

An angel leading him to heaven.

As soon as they stepped out of the shop Lizel turned to Mino. Mino's eyes are glued to Lizel and so fixated that he didn't hear what Lizel is saying.

Lizel waved her hand infront of his face.

"Mino? Hello? I said lead the way to your apartment?"

Mino snaps back to earth and nods

"Oh yes of course."

As he leads the way, Lizel lets go of his hand. He was hesitant to turn around and held her hand again. He wanted to hold it for a bit longer.

Mino liked the way her hand fits his, the warmth it gives to his icy palm.

As they approach the door Lizel's heart was racing,  she took a deep breath as Mino is opening the door.

Lizel is uncertain as to what she is so nervous for, maybe she's just excited?

As they enter the room the first thing Lizel notices is the ring light with a  stand on it. Lizel couldn't help but wonder what the stand is for, she was never invested into social media not even one, her mother is invested in facebook though. Always sending her articles on how to survive and articles about cases of people dying in their location.

"Why do you have so many unopened boxes here? Are those from your fans?"

Lizel points  to the stack of boxes beside the door.

"Oh those? those are from some companies that wants me to test out their product."

"Do your fans send you mail to?"

Mino turns to  grab a new change of clothes on his cabinet.

"I actually don't give my address to my followers, for business only. Can you pass me the towel on the couch?"

Lizel picks it up and hands him the towel.

Mino sniffs himself and says " I reek of sweat. I'll just take a shower real quick, feel free to look around."

Lizel's ear shot up, did he just he'll take a shower? Lizel felt herself smile and cheeks getting hot.  Lizel tries to remember, 'when was the last time she saw Mino topless?'

As Mino was walking to the bathroom, Lizel immediately blurted out .

"At the gymnasium second year!"

"What was?"

"Topless Mino~♡✿" Lizel froze the moment she realized she was talking to Mino.

Lizel felt her lips tremble, she want words to come out of her mouth.

"I - "

"I?" Mino staring with anticipation

"I - I"

"I - What Lizel?"

Lizel could see a smile forming in his lips.

"I don't know what to say."

"You know what I say to do that right?"

Lizel tried to think for a moment but quickly gave  up.

"What is it?" Her head tilting a bit.

Mino smirks as he slowly pull takes off his shirt, his eyes not breaking contact with Lizel. 

Lizel was mumbling as Mino was taking off his shirt "1. .2 . .3 . .4. . 5 almost 6?" last she saw it number 3 and 4 is not even showing properly.

In just a year Mino became had an athletic built? It looks like his muscle is now chiseled to his body.

Mino bit his lower lip and continued to smirk however Lizel wasn't looking at him at all. He heard her murmur something

"What is it Lizel?"

"I said 'cute' "

"What is?" Mino looks at Lizel with his brow raised, she should be saying hot not cute.

"You're nipple, its taut. They look like a pair of angry eyes." Lizel laughs softly and presses her lips to form a smile.

Mino embarrassed by his words began to cover his chest and immediately went to the bathroom shutting the door as soon as he entered.

He took a deep breath before he looks at the mirror.

"Do they look like angry eyes?"

He can feel his ears and face getting warmer. The Mino that he is looking right now in the mirror is as red as tomato. Mino then slaps his face and heads to shower.

As soon as Lizel heard the shower noises in the bathroom she stood up and began to skim through the room.

Typical apartment with pretty much less appliances, he has a TV stand but all that is there is a router and a multi outlet extension cord. A wooden display cabinet with the top shelf full of  glass novelty items, his plates and bowls are all glass as well. Lizel checks his drawer where the spoon and forks are to her surprise they are either porcelain or wooden even his cookware, no stainless steel which she very finds odd at this date and time.

Next Lizel goes to Mino's room and the first thing that she notices is there is no bed at all but anither sofa, in front of it is a table with a pile of shirts with the logo Mizel and cute chibi drawings below.

Lizel took one up and was going to check what would look like if she put it on in front of the mirror, as Lizel unfolded the shirt and draped it over her she notices that Mino was in the reflection behind her. Towel over his shoulders. His eyes widen as he sees Lizel holding the shirt,

"Oh Mino that was fast."

Mino clasped his hands and still gazing on the shirt.

"Oh right yeah. So . . um. . do you like it?" He said as the points out the shirt.

"Yeah I like it .It's cute." Lizel looks so smitten to it "But why do you have so many?"

"Because I plan to sell them along with some key chains and pins." Mino scratches his head as he answers

"So aside from getting paid to review, you also sell stuff?"

Mino nods his head "Yep, and sometimes I get paid to make a video as long as I show their product may it be start, during or end of video. That one we call a sponsored video."

Lizel's jaw dropped, "You're doing all that while we're studying? Damn I guess I really haven't pulled my life together yet."

Mino smiled at her reply.

" I'm mostly doing this to sustain myself, my mother could only afford my tuition so I have to make ends meet."

"You're Mom only? Why is your Dad not helping?"

Mino bit and pressed his lips together before giving an answer, his hands tightened to a fist.

"My father's dead." There was a slight tremble in his voice and Mino looked up to see Lizel , she was already tearing up.

Mino immediately went to Lizel and wipes her tear.

"I'm sorry if I was insensitive and didn't read the mood. I shouldn't have made you talk about it."

"Don't cry Lizel, it's alright. You didn't know."

"But you want me to know that's why you hesitated. I'm sorry for that."

Mino hugged Lizel and gently rubs her back.

"Hey cheer up, you still have to help me review skincare products."

Lizel replies to Mino  but he couldn't understand her muffled voice. He then pulls back from Lizel.

"What did you just said?

Lizel rests her chin on his chest and said "You're kinda cute when you act like this."

Lizel felt on her chin his heartbeat getting faster, she immediately places her hand to it with a worried look on her face.

"Mino are you ok? Do you have arrhythmia?"

Mino immediately backs away from Lizel

"No, I'm fine. I need to wear a shirt now ok? By the way do you want to wear that Mizel shirt for the video?"

Lizel tilts her head

"Video? what video?"

"For the skincare review."

"You didn't told me we're gonna make a video of it."

"You didn't get what I meant when I said we will do a skincare review?"

"Oh. . ." Lizel scratches her chin "So that's what you meant. All this time I thought we will try some creams and fill up a form to give a rating."

Mino chuckled at her words.

"That's a survey Lizel not a review."

Mino then asked her "So are you gonna wear a Mizel shirt? I'm wearing it if you'll wear it."

"Like a couple shirt?~" Lizel turns red as she asked the question.

"Yeah, this is going to be our couple shirt ok?"

"Ok ~ " Mino notices her cheeks get puffy while she's smiling "oh by the way Mino?"

"Yes?" he answered as he wears the shirt.

"What does 'Mizel' mean?"

Mino felt a brick fell on the top of his head, now he is wondering if Lizel is just naive or stupid.

"That's us Lizel. Mino and Lizel equals Mizel."

"Our couple name?!" Lizel's hands were on her cheeks as her mouth gasps in awe. "I know what should be our couple names now."

"Really Lizel? Let me guess 'baby'?"

"No, want to guess again?"

"Darling, babe, love. . I give up."

"It's so easy" Her hand covered her mouth as she chuckled

" You're nickname is 'Mi' and mine would be 'Zel' okay?"

"That's too plain your friends or family is already  calling you that probably."

"Nope, they all call me 'Liz'. You'll be the only one who will call me 'Zel'.

Mi Zel Mi Zel." her finger pointing back and forth to Mino and her as she says their nickname. "It'll be a name exclusive only to you. "

"You mean I only have the right to call you that?"

"Yep, only you." Lizel nods

"You will not turn to others if they call you that, only me?"

Lizel then leans to Mino, hands behind her back

"Well you are the other half Mi." As she was looking to Mino she notices the clock behind him "I'll go in the bathroom to change, be back."

Mino was stunned by Lizel, she really got him good this time . He felt shy with her words, his never good at receiving affection. His tongue pressed on his cheek turns to a smile as he recall what just happened.

Lizel then came out of the bathroom wearing the shirt.

"I'm ready, where are we doing it?"

"In the bedroom." Mino smiles at Lizel and winks

"Oh, ok do we have to bring the ringlight?"

"Yeah, so we can see better if we're doing it good in the bedroom." Mino bites his lip and winks again at Lizel.

"Is something on your eye Mino? Let me see." Lizel put down the ringlight and goes to Mino "There ks nothing on your eye though, is it itchy?"

Mino couldn't help but laugh at Lizel

"I'm fine Lizel, go bring the ringlight to the room I'll get the box of the things we will review."

Mino could only shake his head as he heads to the room.

"Mino, how do you make sure that this will sell?" Lizel points to the pile of the Mizel shirt.

"Well I use my good looks, personality and lifestyle on the net, if that's not enough I'll partner with someone to sell them better."

"So, are you using me Mino to sell them?"