Booker and Copper had to keep their relationship secret. Whenever the player is logged out, they would take a stroll around the town, either hand-to-hand or arm-to-arm. Hand-to-hand was much safer because whenever they see another villager, they can quickly let go of themselves.

"The air is so fresh," Copper said as he inhaled.

"Yes..." Booker agreed shyly.

"Hey, Booker..." Copper called cautiously.

"Y-yes...?" Booker responded.

"When did you start... having a crush... on me...?" Copper asked with some pauses.

"Uh..." Booker said as he thought. "I... I... I don't... remember... Sorry..."

"No no, it's fine," Copper said. "It's no big deal. I was just curious. I don't remember when but... I started to think your timid and hesitant personality was... cute..." 

Booker blushed, couldn't say anything. 

"What do you... like about me...?" Copper asked Booker cautiously.

"Uh... um..." Booker hesitated. "I... I th-think you're... you're... very ch-ch-charismatic."

"You think so?" Copper asked as his face also blushed like a bright apple. 

"Ye-" Before Booker was able to finish his response, they made eye contact that made them turn the other direction as their face blushed even more. When they saw Margie walking from a distance, they both pretended that they were taking a patrol around the town. 

"Oh? Booker and Copper? Is that you, tootie?" Margie asked. "What are you guys doing out here?" 

"Taking a patrol," Copper answered for Booker. 

"Yeah, f-for..." Booker said.

"For a new policy that Mayor Tortimer is thinking of," Copper came up with something quick before Booker struggles more. "He wants a safer town from possible poisonous plants and suspicious action among villagers."

"Suspicious villager, tootie?" Margie asked.

"Pelly has gotten a few complaints from the other villagers," Copper said. "So we're taking extra cautious in patrolling the town."

"But I haven't seen you guys patrol ever before," Margie said. 

"We will! From... today..." Booker said.

"Oh, okay," Margie said. "Anyway, gotta go to Able's Sisters! See you guys later, tootie!" She ran towards the direction of Able's Sisters.

"Bye," Booker and Copper waved at Margie. As soon as she was out of their sight, they started to hold their hands again. 

"I thought she'd never leave," Copper said as he started to walk with Booker, who was blushing once more.

"Ye-yeah..." Booker said as his face brightened up like a ripe red tomato. 

Copper couldn't help but look at Booker's blushed face. He leaned towards Booker's cheek and gave him a small peck, making Booker's eyes open wide. "Wh-..." Booker reacted as he touched the spot where Copper kissed him and looked at him with buggy eyes. 

Copper was looking forward, with his neck and face a little pinkish color. "What is it? We're dating now, remember? Am I not allowed to give you a kiss on the cheek?" Copper said confidently yet shyly. 

"I... I..." Booker stuttered. He could not speak anymore. The kiss was too quick yet intense. 

"Wanna go to the waterfall?" Copper suggested. "They say it's very peaceful there."

"I... I... I don't see why not," Booker said. 

"Let's go," Copper said. As they were about to go downhill to head to the waterfall, they met Apollo. They also let go of their hands at this time. 

"Hey, Booker, hey, Copper," Apollo greeted, carrying a watering can. 

"Hello," Booker greeted.

"Hey there," Copper greeted.

"What're you guys doing here, pah?" Apollo asked. 

"Taking a patrol..." Booker said.

"For the new policy," Copper finished.

"Okay," Apollo said. "Let me know when the policy takes place, pah." Uninterested, Apollo went back to his house to rest. "See you later, pah." He waved at them without looking back at them.

"See you later, Apollo," Booker said.

"Ah, just a moment," Apollo said as he turned back and walked back to Booker. "I found this lying around. Take it to your lost and found, pah." He handed the pitfall seed to Booker. 

"Another one... thanks," Booker said. "I'll return this to the owner."

"Great," Apollo said as he turned back again and walked away. "Now, really, see you guys later, pah."

"Later, Apollo," Copper said. When Apollo was out of their vision, Copper held Booker's hand again and asked, "Should we head back to the gate? You should put that in the lost and found bin."

"Yes... we should..." Booker said.

"And head to the beach again?" Copper suggested.

"That'd be nice," Booker smiled. Copper smiled back. As they were going back, Copper wrapped his right arm around Booker's waist. Booker's face brightened once again as a red ripe apple. When he peeked over, Copper's face was also red as a ripe apple. Their hearts were beating so fast that they wished that the other did not hear their heart beating. 

Shortly after Booker put the pitfall seed in the lost and found storage, they headed to the beach without being interrupted by anyone in the village. They plopped down in front of the lighthouse, scooted closer together, and Copper wrapped his left arm around Booker's waist. They gazed upon at the sun setting at the horizon. The sun exerted a bright and warm orange light that embraced them from the cold, stinging air. The sound of the ocean waves crashing against the sand, the softened ocean breeze, and the eye-refreshing sight of the sunset created an even more romantic atmosphere. Before things started, they heard footsteps that brushed against the wet sand that even the sound of waves could not diminish. They scooted away from each other as they heard the sound of footsteps approaching them. 

"Well, what are you boys doing here?" Whitney's voice surrounded them. 

"We... we're... we're just..." Booker stuttered. Since he stutters all the time, Whitney did not feel an ounce of suspicion. 

"Just resting, while looking at the ocean and the sunset," Copper boldly finished for Booker. "We were tired so we're doing this while the player is not on."

"I see, snappy," Whitney said. "And if that's not a relaxing sight, I don't know what is." Whitney looked at the ocean. 

Copper and Booker remained speechless, both desperately hoping that Whitney will leave them alone any time soon. But Whitney wanted to enjoy the warmth of the sunset and the cool ocean breeze for a while. When several minutes passed, Copper stood up and whispered in Booker's ears, "Wanna move somewhere else? She's ruining the mood for us." Booker nodded in agreement. They wanted to be alone with no one else bothering them. 

As soon as he stood up, Whitney decided to head back home. "Well, that's enough eye-refreshing moment for today, snappy. You boys, go ahead and get back to the gate. Good luck at work. See you around, snappy." She left after she finished what she wanted to say. 

"Well... we can... stay here..." Booker said as he blushed.

"Yeah," Copper said, as he also blushed.

They looked at each other for several moments, until Copper decided to place his right paw on Booker's left cheek. As he leaned in slowly for a kiss. Booker shut his eyes tight, waiting for the contact. Copper gently closed his eyes and tilted his head a bit and gently placed his lips on Booker's. 

Booker was afraid of the first kiss in the beginning before the contact, but the soft sensation on his lips calmed his tightened, nervous muscles. Oh... oh... this... this feels... nice... he thought. When Copper wrapped his left arm around Booker, Booker also wrapped his arms around Copper's shoulders. 

Copper slowly moved his right hand, that was on Booker's left cheek, to back of Booker's head and caressed lovingly. Booker gasped, making his mouth open a little bit, and Copper's lower lips entered inside Booker's open lips. They felt that it would be awkward for them to stop now, so they brushed their lips against each other. Whoa... Copper thought as he felt Booker's soft lips teased his. 

They held it for several seconds and slowly withdrew. They couldn't look at each other in the eye. "Um... uh... wanna head back...?" Copper bravely brought his voice out of his mouth. He peeked over at Booker, who nodded. "Let's... let's go..." They both stepped out of the beach and headed back to the gate. 

Neither of them couldn't hold each other's hands, nor even look at each other while walking back. Copper, who was walking on the left side, was looking up left as he scratched the back of his head. Booker, who was walking on the right side, looked downright as he clasped his hands behind his back. 

Even when they returned to their position, they couldn't speak nor look at each other in the eye. 

********

This went on for days. Due to intense awkwardness, they still could not dare speak to each other. Because they distanced from each other for a long time, villagers thought that they got into a huge argument and told them to make up as soon as possible. 

"Shouldn't you guys make up now, tootie?" Margie asked politely. 

"Dunno what happened, but makeup already, pah," Apollo said. 

"Ever heard of 'Teamwork makes the dream work'? Think about it, snappy," Whitney advised. 

"It's scary when you guys are too quiet, try communicating calmly, it'sa me!" Alfonso suggested.

After hearing from them, Copper, of course, stood up and walked towards Booker, who was trying to avoid his eye contact. "Look... Booker," Copper called gently. Booker moved his eyes slowly, then faced the ground, then to Copper, then to the ground, and back and forth. "Booker... I feel awkward too... after that kiss... but you, I mean, we... we should know that we cannot stay this way forever..."

"I..." Booker spoke up bravely. "I know... I... I'm trying..."

"Why don't we... sit?" Copper suggested. Booker nodded in agreement. They both sat on the ground and against the wall. Copper placed his spear on his side opposite of Booker, Booker held onto his spear that pointed the opposite side of Copper. Their heads were tilted towards the opposite side of each other. "Um... I'm sorry... about the kiss..." Copper apologized out of awkwardness and embarrassment that he blushed pink.

"No... it... it's fine..." Booker stuttered. "It... it was... good..." As he confessed, he covered his burning, red face.

"You thought so?" Copper asked.

"I still... think so," Booker muffled through his hands. 

"R-really?" Booker's true confession made Copper stutter in excitement. 

"Y-yes..." Booker said as he slowly uncovered his face. "It was... soft... and warm..."

"You know, I agree," Copper said. He started to blush even redder. "I like the way you embraced my shoulders."

"It felt good when you... caressed my head..." Booker admitted. Copper chuckled gently. 

After confessing how they feel, they felt much better and less awkward with each other. They finally made complete eye contact. They both reflexed a smile. Copper scooted towards Booker and wrapped his right arm around Booker's shoulder. He whispered in Booker's ears, "No more awkwardness?" Booker nodded. 

They wanted to kiss again, but they know for sure that they shouldn't ask each other if they can kiss them. When they made eye contact, it said everything. Copper once again leaned in for another sweet kiss. 

They withdrew after a few seconds. When they made eye contact, they no longer felt awkward. Instead, they smiled sweetly at each other. Before others came in, they returned to their positions as if nothing happened. 

********

Booker and Copper still had to keep their relationship secret. Whenever the player is logged out, they would take a stroll in the woods during the noon, walk down to the beach during the sunset, or have a cup of coffee at Roost, sometimes all of them in one day. They would also have a friendly conversation on the way as they no longer felt awkward with each other. Every time they walked down to the beach after they enjoy the sunset and the ocean breeze, they would hide behind the lighthouse and share a romantic kiss. 

They happily worked together ever since their awkwardness disappeared. The villagers still thought that they argued and they finally made up. 

"You guys look much better now, tootie!" Margie said as she smiled.

"You guys work better after making up, pah," Apollo said.

"Teamwork makes the dream work. Keep it up, snappy," Whitney winked.

"You guys are working happily now! I'm happy to see that, it'sa me!" Alfonso cheered.

Even though they had to hide their relationship, they were still happy together. They were ready to share every moment every day, every week, every month, every season, and every year.