Hobi didn't stay with me last night. It wasn't because he didn't want to. I could read how much he wanted to stay from his expression, the look in his dark reflective eyes, and how long he lingered before he finally pulled away and said goodnight. But, he didn't explain to me why he was fighting his own desires to stay. He didn't share with me his reason for spending the night in his own bed.
The first thing I considered was maybe it was something Jin asked him for specifically since it was his day today. The more I evaluated that idea as a possibility the more sure I was that it was probably the truth. Perhaps he had something planned? For the life of me I couldn't figure out what it was though. Hell, I have probably been lying here longer than I should trying to piece it together and figure it out.
I'm just about to give up my mental investigation when there is a knock at my door. I start to attempt to shift myself out of the blanketed burrito wrap I have gotten myself stuck in. It is already open because Tannie has still been being indecisive about who he wants to spend his night with, and I really don't want to trap him inside or keep him out. So, I'm really not surprised when Jin asks, with only the knock as a sort of preamble, if he can come in.
"Sure."
Immediately I know that Jin is still trying to make up for the way our first date ended. In his hands he is carrying a tray and it is loaded with breakfast foods. "Don't get up." He insists before I can move any further than simply propping myself up against the headboard. He places the tray over my lap and I can see for myself that he has made me belgian waffles with strawberries topped with a dollop of whipped cream. There is a small silver pitcher beside the plate which I don't have to be told has some kind of syrup in it. He notices me looking at it. "I made some strawberry syrup to go over them. I thought it would work better than maple syrup."
My brain is saying mmm before my taste buds have even tried it. "Smart thinking. I have never made syrup myself, but when I do get strawberries on pancakes or waffles at restaurants I tend to use strawberry syrup instead of maple." I smile up at Jin. "Knock knock."
He grins back and humors me. "Who's there?"
"Waffle!"
"Waffle who?"
"Would you stop waffling around already and open up the door? I've been waiting around so long you might have to do something to butter me up." Truthfully I heard the joke before, but I added the butter line from the top of my head.
"Cute, Princess." He shakes his head and smiles at me. "And I do plan on buttering you up actually. Today I plan to continuously cater to you. With not just breakfast but the plans I have made for the day also. First, we are staying in this room until lunchtime. No leaving it whatsoever. I want to prove to you that I have no problem being in this room alone with you. But, I figured we could make lunch together afterward, and then I have a surprise."
"You want us to stay in here for hours?" I ask him for confirmation. When he nods I can't help but joke by saying. "Good thing I have a very luxurious bathroom then."
He blushes and chuckles as he realizes I wasn't poking fun at his plan. I was simply still on a humor kick from the previous joke.
"No, but seriously. I do have to at least tell everyone goodbye. It's routine at this point and I am never ever going to skip out on it." I forcefully vow.
He shakes his head. "That's taken care of too. They will be coming in here to tell you goodbye once they are done getting ready themselves."
"Does that mean you made them waffles too?" I ask curiously.
"Um. No. I didn't go to that much effort. There are still some of the frozen yogurt popsicles you made, and besides that they are each having a bowl of cereal.
I nod, but mentally remind myself to make more of those popsicles. Because since they were eaten two days in a row I know they will either be completely gone or almost gone at this point. That's the most difficult part about trying to feed seven males with hearty appetites.
"Wait. What about you? What are you eating?" I ask in concerned driven confusion.
"I already ate. I had to test out the first batch of waffles to make sure I made them okay. I had honestly never tried to make them before." He shrugs his shoulders.
That's when I remember something important. "Wait. We don't have a waffle iron!?!?"
He shakes his head. "I don't know if I should be thankful that I am doing a good job of surprising you, or scold you for not eating already. I sent out someone to buy one while I was at work yesterday. I brought it home and put it in the kitchen before you even noticed."
"Oh." I simply answer then turn to look at the waffles again before I pour the syrup over them. He's right I really should be eating. I was surprised to find this was the first time he ever made waffles. They were delicious and I couldn't help but devour them faster than I intended. Once I let him know I am finished he takes my tray away. I almost joke with him again, before he leaves the room, about the fact that he said we are both staying in here until lunch time, but I don't want to tease him any more than I already have.
While Jin is the one with the father-like sense of humor and windshield wiper laugh that doesn't mean he can take jokes quite the same way as the others. Hobi is easy to pick on, and I have been doing it since day one. I have also known since practically day one that Jin wouldn't take a joke like that the same way. To some degree or another they are each sensitive. But, somehow Jin has always struck me as a bit more sensitive when it comes to joking about himself. I feel like he doesn't have a problem making himself the butt of jokes, but that can't be said for when others make him the butt of their jokes.
Not long after he leaves the others all come in for their goodbye loves and well wishes. I wait for a few minutes and become momentarily confused why he isn't back yet. That's when I quickly deduce that he must be washing the dishes since it is a Thursday and Dasom won't be here today. I take the opportunity to quickly get a bit cleaned up before he returns. There is a part of me that wants to wear something feminine for him again, but since we are just lounging around the house it seems kind of silly to do so. I do decide to wear one of my newer hoodies and a pair of the leggings that Jiwoo had helped pick out on our initial shopping trip together.
Once I am properly dressed and cleaned up a bit Jin finally pops back in my room. He has his laptop with him so I imagine he has ideas in mind about how to spend the time, but I decide to let him introduce them to me rather than ask him directly. I want him to feel confident enough to take the steering wheel in the decision making for the plans for today. "I wasn't sure what you wanted to do, but I brought my laptop in case you wanted to watch a movie or listen to music."
I shrug. "What do you want to do?"
His gaze immediately falls on my lips, but instead of sitting down beside me and following his obvious desire to kiss me he clears his throat. I want to tell him that there is no reason to be shy or to be worried if he kisses me so early on today it could lead a direction he is not ready to go. But, I truly want him to feel in control, and I fear if I say either of these things that I would be unintentionally driving the date a certain direction without intending to.
"Sorry, I promised to spend a few hours here, but I honestly am a bit nervous being here when there is no one else in the house."
"Like I said, Jin. I won't pressure you into anything you aren't ready for yet. Also, I love and appreciate how you want our first time together to be special. I think it is sweet and romantic just like you."
He takes a deep breath. I'm glad that my words immediately put him more at ease, but I have said something similar before so I am a bit curious why they might have more impact in this moment then before. In the next instant I sort of think I answer my own question. It's different saying it downstairs near the kitchen than saying it here in my bedroom. For him it gives the words more conviction and certainty.
We end up watching The Great Muppet Caper simply because Jin mentions how he is curious about the rest of the Muppet movies. When he made the decision I didn't have the heart to tell him that I didn't like it as much as the original movie. It wasn't until after it was over that I admitted it.
"What? We didn't have to watch it if you didn't like it. You should have said something, Princess."
I shrug my shoulders. "You suggested it, and I wanted to do something you wanted to do today. Besides, it's not like I hate the movie. I just never was able to get a grasp on it like most of the others. I mean they don't even know Miss Piggy in the beginning. It made me exceptionally confused watching it when I was little."
He nods. "I get that. But, please weigh in on the decision making." He glances at the time. "On the good side it was only an hour and a half long. Are there any other movies you want to watch?"
I end up picking one of my favorite movies of all time, which I know he will appreciate because it truly has a little bit of everything for everybody. After it's over he gives me a shocked expression. "How? How did they fit nearly every genre in one movie like that?"
"Princess Bride is special like that. Family, Romance, Fantasy, Comedy, and Action." The sigh I release is one of pure content. I'm thrilled that he enjoyed it so much.
"I'd be hard pressed to tell you my favorite part. Heck, I'm even torn between my two least favorite moments."
"The eels and the R.O.U.S.es?" He blinks in confusion and repeats the acronym. "Rodents of Unusual Size. That's what Buttercup refers to them as when they are in the Fire Swamp."
"Oh yes those two parts. Both creatures were creepy."
I nod. "Agreed." My stomach growls announcing to both of us that we have locked ourselves away long enough. It's definitely time to stop being hermits and work on lunch.
I'm about to ask what we should make for lunch when Jin gets out two sealed one serving sized dishes from the fridge. "I thought you said we would make lunch together."
He panics for a second, but when he reads the teasing on my face he immediately calms. "Originally that was my plan, but then I remembered how much you like the cold noodle salad we had on our first date. So I replicated it. However, that got me to also think that you might want to learn how to make the dish yourself. So, I thought after we ate we could do that."
Oh, honestly that's pretty clever. "If we do that we should make enough for everyone. Then it can be a simple meal on Saturday for lunch."
He nods. "Good idea." Then he pauses for a moment as something occurs to him. "I also think this Sunday when mine and Yoongi's parents are here that we should make lunch for them."
I arch an eyebrow hoping he will elaborate on his reasoning, but when he doesn't I realize that I will just have to ask him straight out. "We just ordered out the other two days. What made you suddenly decide we should cook this last day?"
He sighs. "Please don't take this poorly." Of course now that he said that I am immediately worried. "Out of all of our families mine and Yoongi's might be the least receptive. But, that isn't a reflection on you. Our families in general just weren't receptive of our career choices in the beginning. So, we are both concerned that might be the case regarding our soulmate too. I just thought if they saw how we work so well in the kitchen together it might help them understand how you fit with us in general."
Well, that's definitely an interesting idea, and of course I have no opposition to cooking at all. The problem is now I am going to be stressing a bit more about Sunday than I was initially. Just think though, after this Sunday you will have met all of the families. The first impressions will be over. I want to tack on 'which are always the hardest' to the end of that thought, but honestly I've never met any of my former boyfriend's families. There haven't been many, and I definitely wouldn't deem any of them important enough for me to have ever considered that step with them.
After we are done making the noodle salad for everyone else Tannie comes into the room, looks at the two of us, and whines. I take two steps toward the door and Jin grabs my wrist. "No, no. I'll take him out."
I arch an eyebrow at his insistence, but then I remember that he said he had a surprise for me. So, I can only guess that said surprise must be something he set out on our large lawn outside the side door.
When he lets Tannie inside he basically confirms it for me when he holds out his hand to me. "So, about that surprise I was talking about."
I look down at my house slippered feet. "Should I go grab an outside pair of shoes from the front door?"
He shakes his head. "It should be fine. It's only a few steps from the house."
When I get to the door I immediately see why he was trying to keep me away. Out on the lawn is a huge inflatable igloo shaped dome. "Um, what is this Jin?"
He shakes his head. "Patience. You'll see."
He leads me to an opening that I couldn't see from the other side. Inside he set up much like our picnic date. A blanket laid out with pillows on it for comfort. That's when I realize this is an inflatable planetarium. "Wait, are we stargazing?"
He shakes his head. "I did consider that too, but I have really been wanting to take you to the countryside somewhere. Unfortunately there isn't really any that terribly close to us so I planned this out instead. I wanted to take you basically on a virtual trip to some beautiful spots in Korea."
Before we even get situated comfortably on the blanket I turn to him and smile. "I love this idea. Thank you."
He first shows me images of Naejangsan National Park. The virtual trip spans through a variety of images and transformations of the park from season to season. My favorite of course ends up being Autumn due to the deciduous trees, but I of course also love the Spring pictures too due to the beautiful new green leaves.
The next place he shows me is called Wolchulsan. It doesn't work out quite as well as the previous because of the dome and he frowns at that. "I guess I will have to show you some online pictures too. I was hoping it would feel like you were on the hike, but the bridge photo turned out a bit strange."
I lean over here and kiss him softly. Immediately addicted and craving more of the touch of his soft bee stung lips but sitting back once again. "It's the thought that counts, Sweet Jin."
He freezes for a moment. "That's the second time you called me that."
"It is?" I ask in confusion, because I don't recall ever saying that before.
He nods to me and sighs. "Yeah, it was the night we went to the club. You were saying it as if Sweet Jin were my name instead of Seokjin." He laughs slightly despite the tension that settled into his wide shoulders after bringing up that night again.
I get up and sit behind him wanting to immediately soothe away that tightness from his bunched up muscles. He immediately relaxes with the first roll of my hands. "Just because something bad happened that night doesn't mean I will reflect that the whole night was negative. Sweet Jin definitely does suit you, and I am sure that is why I called you that. Not because I was drugged. I'm glad you reminded me of it, even if I have no recollection of it myself."
We go back to finish the virtual tour he set up for me, but honestly I am not as focused on it any more. I'm more focused on the large hand gripping my own. The last place he shows me is somewhere called Jinhae. The image above us is a canopy of cherry blossoms. "It is a huge tourist debate on the fact that Jinhae may or may not have the most famous cherry blossom festival in Korea."
"It's beautiful."
He squeezes my hand so I turn to look at him. "Nature is beautiful. But the most natural beauty in this world to me is you."
Well that comment definitely deserves to be shown my utmost appreciation. This time when I lean toward him he pulls me closer than before. I'm shocked to find us both sitting up with me straddling his lap. Feeling his growing desire for me has my own desire cranking up, but I let him be in the driver's seat. The kiss starts out slow. His lips are as soft as the blossoms above us, but when a few soft touches of lips alone isn't enough he shyly licks at my lips asking for entrance. There is nothing I can deny this beautiful man. I think if he asked me for the moon I would try to do everything in my power to try to make that an attainable gift. His tongue is both shy and romantic with each soft pass against my own. His hips lift underneath me automatically, and I worry that in the next moment he will be pulling away from me. So, I slow down the kiss showing him my understanding of his own desires with my actions.
"Soon, Princess. I promise."
Soon can't come soon enough Kim Sweet Jin.
A/N: I do realize that I am stretching out Jin and Daisy's first time together and I apologize about that. But I will let you all know that it is coming in the near future. In fact I wrote it out exceptionally recently.