59

"Hello."

"Hello. Nice to meet you, Miss Jo." Jungkook bowed, his hand on his chest as if he was a cheap ass Prince from a faraway country. My eyes flicked to Bo Ah, her mouth agape as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. I didn't blame her. I cursed the fuck out of this bastard, swearing that he would be the death of me. And now, I was sleeping in his bed. Seems like a fuckall situation. Absolutely.

She was right to be devastated. For that matter, even her private whore, Jae Hwan, was stunned to see the man I brought along to the lunch in the name of a double date.

I was proud but embarrassed at the same time—if that made any sense.

"Good evening." My boyfriend shook hands with Jae Hwan. "How are you doing today?"

"Yeah, how old are you?" Jae Hwan asked, totally flipping off the question where Jungkook wanted to know how he was doing. Dumbass.

"Twenty-eight."

"Oh. I'm twenty-nine. We should drop the formalities." He suggested, his handshake still going on as he blinked, slightly awed.

I never knew he was twenty-nine. Weird. Bo Ah and I were the same age. So the age gaps were much more apparent now. Unlike me, Bo Ah was not into older men. She treated everyone equally. If they had the potential, age wouldn't stand in the way. And I say this knowing she's not a pedophile. I desperately hope not. I mean, she was dating this twenty-nine-year-old gingerbread man—that had to stand for something, right?

"Sure." Jungkook smiled.

"So this is what you were talking about..." Mr Bo Ah turned to me, his eyes lighting up and I knew exactly what he was referring to. Our last conversation, about how to test the fucking what.

My lips stretched in an unamused smile, "Say that and watch what happens."

"That's right." He smirked and then stepped closer to Jungkook. "Blink twice if you need help. If she's holding something against you and forcing you into this, we'd believe you."

"Huh." I rolled my eyes and craned my neck to Bo Ah for help. "Can you please put the leash back on him?"

"How do you know I had a leash on?" Jae Hwan pretended to be shocked and blinked between me and Jungkook. "I think you're into stuff Jungkook should know of."

"Oh god," I groaned and huddled into the chair myself, fingers skimming over the neat tablecloth. "You're filthy. Just like Bo Ah."

"Haerin..." Bo Ah levelled down into her seat opposite me, sizing Mr Jeon up. "You bitch. You finally have a boyfriend after the three-year drought."

"What the fuck is wrong with you? Act normal!" I hissed.

Well, I shouldn't have asked for that. Because hey, when the fuck have we ever been normal?

Bo Ah's head was already snapping towards Jungkook, "You. If you ever make her beg again, I'm going to bury you under this hotel."

"Again?" Jungkook's brow cropped up. "I have never made her beg."

My brows knotted too. What the hell was she talking about in such a beautiful place? Wait. Did I ever beg Jungkook for anything before? I didn't think so. I had always been closer to fucking him up with my baton than ever begging him for anything.

Anyway, this was the official headquarters' permission to reveal my personal man to the southern headquarters led by Miss Jo Bo Ah. At this stage, I thought I was comfortable showing him and letting them assess him. And so, to fulfil this mission, we booked tables for a pleasant lunch at a garden restaurant on the closest Saturday. Jungkook didn't mind at all. This chap was adjusting faster than the chameleon that climbed on my back in school. I swear that motherfucker was so hard to find. That was the day I sank into a pathological fear of all kinds of wildlife and insects. I love dogs alone. Because cats didn't get on my good side either.

The restaurant was dizzy with white. The curtains, the walls, the chandeliers and the clusters of flowers decorating the walls. Everything was white against the greens of the plants and the shrubs. Dates. I couldn't deny it, I kind of missed this feeling.

Jungkook even offered to pay for everyone, considering this as his official meeting with my friends. Such a huge thing. I know. I didn't just let anyone meet people I knew. This guy had to worship each opportunity he got and I wasn't even kidding. I was that serious about being princessy.

"I meant to say 'too'," Bo Ah blinked, her glare still intact. "Not 'again'. Come on. Be smart."

Jungkook's brows rose, his Jeonalisa powers now at full strength. "Does that imply that she has begged other people?"

I blinked. What?

Where the fuck was this conversation going?

Jae Hwan folded his arms at his chest and I swear I saw a flicker of Bo Ah in that pose. It was disgusting.

"You don't know?" Bo Ah sat up. "What the fuck were you doing when she was getting squashed in the face? Weren't you in the office together that day?"

"Bo Ah, what—"

She fucking ignored me.

"I swear if you pull a Jong Suk on her, I'll rip you apart, director or not."

Oh god! This bitch! She just couldn't keep her mouth shut, could she?

I smacked the back of her hand resting on the table. She gasped and yanked it back.

"Shut up, Tokyo Talkies." I glared. "You're talking too much."

"Isn't Jong Suk the guy who used to call you?" Jungkook turned to me, trying to see my face. I rolled my eyes and nodded, not wanting to dig into it anymore. But I had employed my official ruiners for this job. I didn't even have to open my mouth.

Bo Ah leaned forward on the table, "Guy who you used to call her? More like, the guy she used to sleep with before you, Mr Jeon."

Oh hell no.

"Bo Ah!" I straightened. "Are you nuts?"

"Yeah, no. He's gotta know that so that he knows I'll kill him if he tries that."

Jungkook's brows furrowed. "Tries what?"

Bad question. Wrong question you fucker! My head snapped in Jungkook's direction, warning him to stop probing. His hand met my knee under the table and gently pressed it.

"Waiter!" I turned with my hand up to stop this backstory reveal.

Jungkook didn't have to know how I lapped up water out of Jong Suk's gutters. He was supposed to think I was a high-maintenance bitch that he always had to keep up with. I was the queen of all things. That's right. That's what I had to make him believe.

My torn voice did attract a waiter. He came rushing to our side, holding a sleek tab to take our orders down.

"What about this?" Bo Ah asked.

Jae Hwan groaned. "Nah. Don't. You're gonna get full fast and use me as the trash bin. Try the one below. It has fish." He tapped at whatever the hell he meant on the menu card.

Bo Ah scoffed. "Eat fish and what? Die? I'm going to get a reaction!"

My jaw dropped and I held back a laugh. Bo Ah didn't have any evident reactions from fish. There was no reason she could be refusing that.

Her boyfriend pointed at the next thing and raised a brow.

"I'd rather you feed me laxative, Jae-Hwan." She rolled her eyes.

Me and Jae-Hwan sighed together. I folded my arms at my chest. Jungkook put an arm around my chair and pulled me closer to him.

What the actual fuck?

"What do you want to have?" He said too close to my ear and my face went red just from his breath on my ear. I had flashes of him moaning in my ear when his dick was inside me. Not a good place to think of this.

"Stop!" I punched his thigh.

My eyes met Bo Ah and Jong Suk's eyes that were watching us. Yeah, yeah, I got it. It was because I was too weird to be romantic. And I was, because just look at me. My boyfriend asks me what I want to eat and I punch his thick thigh.

Jungkook didn't even flinch.

"You look so pretty dressed like this. I really feel like your boyfriend now." He balanced his chin on his knuckles, sizing me up. "All short skirt and tucked-in shirt. Cute."

I blushed, forcing myself to keep a straight face. "We're supposed to order, okay? Get a grip, my lord." I rolled my eyes, skimming through the menu. "I'm very indecisive. Pick something for me."

"Absolutely." He smiled, eyes fixated on me. My stomach lurched like I was pregnant. Pregnant with his bitch ass tricks. "You like short skirts, hm? You wear skirts to work too."

My eyes widened, slowly settling on his face. What the fuck was up with this pervert? Why was he being so...so...good?! Why couldn't he just be a bastard?

Jae-Hwan's eyes snapped at Bo Ah, "Just look at that! You fucking let me select something! They're being so lovey-dovey and you can't even decide on the menu."

It felt like the roles had been reversed. I had expected me and Jungkook to break into a quarrel in a moment like this. But he was surprisingly accommodating to all my drama. It felt weird. Why was he not affected by how chaotic I was? Was it because of our last argument?

"We're not lovey-dovey." I glared at them and they rolled their eyes.

Jungkook ordered for me and once we had all selected something, the food arrived. I watched with awe as the food was laid out.

The table groaned under a colorful feast, featuring a sizzling skillet of caramelized Samgyeopsal and kimchi, alongside a bowl of chilled Naengmyeon. Spicy bowls of Tteokbokki and saucy Jeyuk Bokkeum were complemented by crisp savory pancakes and cups of milky Makgeolli. A plume of heat rose from the iron skillet, meeting the crisp coolness of the noodles, while the air hung heavy with the sweet, spicy, and savory aroma of the simmering sauces.

Bo Ah decided to tell Jungkook all of my worst memories of being a human. And I tried to say fuck that but Jungkook was enjoying it. His hand remained on my knees, grazing the lines just above my knee.

He looked like the perfect boyfriend and it was killing me here. Because wow, Jungkook. That's how smooth it was? Was he fucking morphing into my company like he was a chameleon?

We wrapped up lunch and Bo Ah confessed that she hadn't expected Jungkook to be this gentlemanly. I was kind of proud of my choice there. But I pretended like this was the most natural thing I looked for in guys.

"Haerin, you wanna come with in Jae-Hwan's car?" Bo Ah asked out of the blue. "We're going through the same route. I think Jungkook is taking the opposite side, right?"

Oh no.

Something electrical fused in my brain. This was about to be one of those fucking scenarios where I'd be strangled between friendship and love. And I'd want to jump out of the window because no matter what I say, the other will get offended. Oh fuck me.

I sighed, running my fingers through my hair to come up with the most strategic way of running away on my own when Jungkook fell into footsteps.

"She's coming with me."

That. Just that.

Not 'Can she come with me?' or 'I want her in my car' or even just 'I'm going the same so I can drop her'. None of that crap.

My head snapped up to him, slightly frowning at the fact that I was genuinely beginning to get impressed by this man's boyfriend-powers. As a director, he was the most fuckall situation ever to happen with me but as a boyfriend, I had to say, this guy was pretty neat.

Bo Ah blinked. "Uh, what? She's coming with you?" Her eyes averted to me. "You're going with him, huh?" She teased.

I rolled my eyes. This bitch.

"Yes." Jungkook smiled and kept his hand on the small of my back. "Thank you for your time and it was nice meeting you."

Ah. Yes. The perfect corporate classic front that screamed 'I've had enough.'

I jerked my hip to push his hand off the small of my back. He laughed at me.

"Okay, then." Bo Ah gave me a quick hug and turned to leave with her boyfriend. Jae-Hwan just bowed and waved at both of us.

Once we were finally in the arena for our face-off, I turned to Jungkook, a smirk on my lips. "What? You wanted a chauffeur?"

He simpered, taking his keys out and pressing on the unlock button to make the car squeak on. "You wanna drive, baby?"

I blinked, my hands folded at my chest.

"I can't. I can't drive cars."

"Pretty easy." He opened the driver's door for me. "I'll teach you. Hop on."

My hands fell to my side, eyes wide. "You're serious? Seriously? I'm in my heels. We'll die before we even have babies."

Oh fuck me man. Why the hell did I have to say the baby shit? I was about to get under a running vehicle to kill myself but Jungkook laughed it off without making it awkward.

"We won't. Just get in. I'll teach you." He chinned towards the doors tapping on the door as he waited for me.

"Man..." I groaned as I got into the driver's seat, my nerves kicking at my belly. The sensation felt so powerful in the driver's seat. I examined the steering and dash and the accelerator and everything else I didn't know the names of in the car.

Jungkook got in the seat from the other side, sighing.

"Alright. Let's get you through the basics first."

I bit my lip. "Okay."

He waited to look at me and then softly smiled. "Don't be nervous. You'll do just fine."

I gripped the steering, "How do you even know?"

"Because I know it. No reason."

"But...you're sure I'll learn? I don't even know the basics or what's called what." I look at him.

My question had him rolling his eyes a bit but he held back the urge to scoff. 

"Yes, you'll damn well learn," He growled out gruffly. "And stop worrying so damn much. It's easy. You're a fast learner, aren't you?"

"How would you know that?"

His brow cocked at my challenging question but he's a bastard. He smirked. "If you can deal with me all day, you'll learn to drive in no time."

I laugh at that.

"First things first," he began and nodded towards the dash. "You've got to know where everything is. Point at that." He nodded towards a button but didn't tell me what it did.

"This one? Do I press it?" I asked.

"Press it. Just one time." He leaned over to show me where it was.

I pressed the buttons and the wipers turned on. "Got it what this does?"

I nodded. His perfume was filling me, mixing with the car perfume. When he leaned closer I felt like a desperate little slut for attention.

"See? Not so goddamn hard, now was it?" He looked at me and his eyes settled on my mouth for a moment.

I gulped because I could see exactly where his mind was going.

"I'm not a child, Jungkook. Wipers aren't what's going to make me drive." I rolled my eyes and he smirked.

"This one turns the lights on." He pressed another button.

I nodded in understanding, mentally learning the buttons. "And what's the turn off?"

There was a small moment. He realised what the hell I said and raised an eyebrow. "Just you."

Smart ass.

This bastard.

He was so handsome that I was holding myself back from kicking my feet. I chuckled softly, my face turning red.

"And? What next?" I leaned closer, our faces inches from each other's.

"Do you want to learn or not, babe?" He tilted his head, exhaling sharply, eyes turning darker. He was getting turned on.

"Now, we're turned on." I nodded in approval and he laughed.

I giggled back.

"Haerin, can I ask you something?" His hands gently threaded through my hair, his smile softening as if he was thinking about something.

"Yes, Mr Jeon."

He exhaled once, his thumb gently brushing my cheek. "What if...I told you I wanted this forever?"

My eyes widened slowly. It was slow.

I felt like the entire world was collapsing on me. I blinked at him and raised my eyebrows. It was my turn to be Jeonalisa now.

"We've known each other for almost a year now, dated for around a month and been in love ever since I saw you." He said softly, eyes softening with affection. "I don't want this to go. I want to have this forever."

I didn't say anything. I just stared at his face like I had been slapped.

This question had never arrived in my head. We never even talked about it and the question was right in front of me. I didn't even know what to say.

"If you say you need time to think, I'll wait. I won't pester. If you want to keep it as it is, I'll abide. Just...tell me you're looking for something like this too."

The heat was too much. My chest was tight. I grabbed the handle of the door and pushed it open. Jungkook clearly did not expect this reaction from me.

But he didn't follow. He let me leave in peace.

He let me have the space to realise that he was looking for it all with me.

Jeon Jungkook wanted to marry me.

Bitch, help.