A/N: Just a head's up. I don't have the last date fully written yet, and because how I am feeling this week I don't know if I will get it finished by Friday. If I get it finished between now and Sunday I will post it after I am happy with it. If not it will probably be posted next Friday. I apologize about that, but I am just not feeling 100% this week.
Once again there will be links to her outfit in the comments of the image. I also used a lot of resources for this date so. There will be a link for resources too at the end.
Alternative Title : Jeong Gyu's date
On Wednesday I realized that I haven't heard too much involving my date with Jeong Gyu on Saturday. I'm not worried about what we will be doing, but I would like to know what I should wear at least. That worry alone has me picking up my phone and texting him.
Me: So what do you have planned for our first date this weekend? Should I plan to wear anything specific?
I have to wait a little bit for him to reply, which doesn't surprise me in the least. He does work on a farm after all, which means he was probably busy when I first sent it. About fifteen minutes later I received a response.
Jeong Gyu: I wanted to show you something I'm passionate about here on the farm. You should probably wear something not only comfortable, but that you wouldn't be worried about getting messy. I also definitely recommend boots of some kind. Preferably Wellingtons.
Me: How long will it take to get there?
Jeong Gyu: Err. Roughly about three hours.
Me: Yikes. Wait, what time are you picking me up?
Jeong Gyu: I was hoping we would get here around noon, so about 9.
Me: ...Doesn't that mean you have to be on the road by 6 at the latest?
Jeong Gyu: Yes, but it's not a big deal. I wake up at 4:30 every day.
Me: ...Once again I say, Yikes! The earliest I am up is 6, and that's usually on the days I have an early shipment arriving at the boutique.
After our text conversation is over I double check what he said regarding my outfit. I mentally groan and commit to the fact that I am absolutely not about to wear Wellingtons on our date. I have to draw the line somewhere fashion wise, and that's it. Luckily, I do have an old pair of soft faux suede thigh high boots; that I don't have a problem getting dirty. I also have a pair of denim overalls that I painted both sunflowers and (chuckle) daisies on sometime during high school. They are soft and worn, but surprisingly don't have holes in the knees yet. I pair that with a peplum yellow gingham top which I highly doubt will get messy at all. It's probably only my lower half I will have to worry about, and the overalls will at least cover up part of the top.
I look up the weather for this Saturday and note that it's going to be sunny, so I pull out a straw boater hat to partially shield the sun from my eyes. I also keep a pair of sunglasses on me at all times in whatever bag I happen to be carrying, so if need be I can wear those as well. Actually, I will need them on the car ride alone. Three hours in a car... I hope that the ride doesn't drag in silence. Not that I think it will. I anticipate the conversation to probably be just as easy going as the ones I had with Jung Hyun last Saturday.
I glance at my reflection in the mirror as I consider what to do with my hair. My gut instinct is to once again wear it in pigtail braids, but I really don't want to replicate the same hairstyle I wore for my date with Jung Hyun. Something about that idea just sits wrong with me. Instead I search for ideas for hat hairstyles, and I smile when I come across a low dual bun hairstyle that will work perfectly with the hat. I've always liked the dual bun hairstyles I've seen, but I have honestly never been adventurous to wear my hair in one myself. Throughout the week, at least once a night, I practice replicating the hairstyle so I can train my hands to at least somewhat remember the methods to perfect the style. Not that I think every single strand will behave, even after applying hairspray.
One minute the next two days are going slowly, at a snail's pace, and then suddenly, before I know it, it is Saturday. I will never understand how time can sometimes pass that way when you are looking forward to something so much. With how smooth my date with Jung Hyun went I am honestly put at ease for my date with Jeong Gyu, instead of nervous like I was for the first date I shared with him. The one that does concern me is the fact that I know practically nothing about farms, or even rural living. I also can't help but be curious about what he is eager to show me on the farm.
The knock on the door when he arrives has me double checking the full length mirror on the back of my bedroom door once more. I grab my phone from the bedside table and happen to notice it is a couple of minutes before 9. That fact has me smiling before grabbing my purse and answering the door.
He smiles coyly down at me while raking his fingers through the back of his hair nervously. "Sorry, I'm a little bit early."
I roll my eyes up at him before giving him a bright smile. "You're only early by a few minutes. I'm far more sorry that it took me so long to answer the door."
I'm not really surprised when he escorts me to a truck once we get outside. He opens the passenger door, grabs my hand to help guide me up onto the step beside the door since the truck is lifted a bit off the ground. His face does this cute grimace thing. "Sorry about that. I honestly didn't think about how high up the running bar is above the ground. I'm just so used to it that it didn't occur to me."
I love that he is worried about how I felt about the struggle and inconvenience, but I hold off and wait until he climbs in on the driver's side to apologize. "Don't worry about it. I get how useful a truck would be on a farm, and honestly this is a really nice truck." I add with a flirtatious giggle as I run my hands over the dashboard.
It's barely noticeable due to his tawny skin, but I see traces of pink toward the back of his neck climb up to his ears. The blush is not only adorable, it also adds a cuteness that I have only known of regarding one other human being before; his brother. Not that the other members aren't cute themselves in their own way, but Taehyung is especially unique regarding his level of cuteness. Although apparently it's possible that his younger brother could give him a run for his money.
Due to the long three hours that it takes to get to Daegu I almost feel like it's up to me to make sure we have constant conversations going on while in the car. Not that I mind. After all, his primary focus should be on the road ahead of us. Not me. "So, tell me what I am going to see when we get to the farm. I'm surprised I don't already know anything about it."
I'm honestly taken about by the way his voice changes as he essentially gives me an educational lesson. Before his words were shaky and unsure, so I find it odd that talking about agriculture somehow sounds interesting and sexually alluring with his newfound confidence. "Well, about eighty percent of the acreage is used for the farm itself. Only about thirty percent of that eighty is dedicated to livestock. We have two cows, which are primarily used for dairy products. I believe there are about fifteen adult pigs right now; don't ask me to include the piglets. A sow can have anywhere from seven to fourteen piglets per litter. If I remember correctly we currently have three litters right now. One litter in particular that was only born a couple days ago."
I'm quite thankful he has to keep his eye on the road, because as he was talking about pigs and piglets my brain took it upon itself to remind me of a random fact I noticed about pigs. This random fact was that people had acquired enough data to know that a boar's orgasm lasted for at least thirty minutes, but could be as long as ninety minutes. I would have to admit, at least to myself, that I did double check the facts about it, because it was something I simply found myself disbelieving. That paired with the sultry sound of his voice is making me multiple shades of uncomfortable.
I realize that this whole time my brain is conjuring up the memory of facts about pig orgasms that Jeong Gyu is still talking about his farm, luckily I am able to catch up to his words and fill in the blanks I might have missed. "We also have several chickens. Once again, don't ask me to give you an actual number. I don't honestly know for certain, because once they reach about five years old we end up buying more chicks to replace any that come to the end of their life. They can live as long as ten years, so sometimes there is some overlapping." He pauses to think. "You already know that there are three dogs and a cat."
"Let's see if I can remember their names. Tannie, or Yeontan, of course, Sangdol, and Soonshim are the three dogs. The cat is named Kkanji." He takes a moment to glance at me with a broad smile as his confirmation that I was correct before he sets his attention back on the road stretching out in front of us.
"Seventy percent of the eighty percent is of course dedicated to crops. More than half of that is reserved to our rice patty alone, but we also have an orchard that takes up the rest. We grow a variety of citrus fruits. Grapefruits, tangerines, mandarins, lemons, and limes. We also grow pears, flat peaches, persimmons, and apples as well."
"That's a lot of fruit. So, what about the other twenty percent of the acreage?" The minute he said 80% of the land was used for the farm itself I made sure to tuck away the other 20% and ask about it later.
"On the other twenty percent of land you will find the house. There is also a small garden behind it where you can find cabbage, radishes, potatoes, carrots, and strawberries to name a few of the crops grown for our own family's consumption. Further off behind the garden sits a greenhouse."
He tucks his tongue between his lower teeth and lip. Somehow I already know that this expression means he doesn't want to say any more. That he wants to keep that bit of information a secret for now. I could pester him about it, but I can be patient. Not to mention it's really not the time to jokingly annoy him when he is trying to remain focused.
The rest of the trip we continue to talk about random things, and honestly I can't help but be astonished by how easy-going the conversation is. I don't know if it is because I knew my soulmates beforehand, or if this is actually part of the soulmate bond itself. Perhaps I will have to ask Daisy about this later on. If I remember about it that is. It's highly possible that I will completely forget.
Once we finally pull into the drive beside his parents' house I am surprised by the sigh Jeong Gyu lets slip. Due to both the dejected sound and the way his shoulders crumble forward I can tell that he has grown a little upset about something that just occurred to him. "Sorry, I just got momentarily depressed that most of our date is going to be spent driving. I considered asking you to simply stay overnight, but that just didn't seem proper for a first date."
"Jeong Gyu, it's fine. Really." I lightly touch his shoulder to offer him comfort, and smile when he turns his head in my direction. "I'm actually thrilled that we had this time to just talk and get to know each other. I didn't even feel like we were simply stuck in the same space for hours, and the time passed really quickly because of the delightful conversations we had." My stomach of course breaks the tension by making itself known.
I can't help but mentally thank my stomach when his mood does an about face and he chuckles jovially. "I guess my time organization skills are on point with the fact that I knew we should get here right when eomma typically has lunch ready."
Once we get inside his sister shouts from within the house a chipper 'annyeong.'
He turns to me and smiles. "Admittedly, I was hoping they were all back outside working. I guess we are going to share at least part of the meal with my family. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all. When you said you wanted to bring me here I fully expected to see them." I lean in and whisper. "I will admit that it makes it easier since I already know them though."
"Unnie!" Eun Jin shouts excitedly as I come through the entryway leading into the kitchen. She pulls herself up from the table and wraps her arms around me, which surprises me since I would have never said that we have been close before now. She whispers to me. "I'm so happy to be getting such awesome sisters due to my oppas soulmate bonds."
Their mother, Eunjoo, sighs before she gives Eun Jin an exasperated look. Then she turns to me. "Jiwoo dear. My husband and I would both love to spend more time with you, but we just finished and really should get back to our farmwork." Then she looks at Eun Jin once more. "Typically, you know the rules that I wouldn't let the dishes sit until later, but I don't want you in here bothering them while they are eating. So, just this once, you are excused from the table." Eun Jin jumps up from the table excitedly. "That doesn't mean you still don't have to at least rinse off your plate. Nor does it excuse you from your other chores." The youngest Kim groans in annoyance before picking up her dishes and doing exactly as she was told.
Jihyun and I took the only two seats that weren't occupied at the table. We both begin fixing our plates and I can't help but be thankful that the food is still warm. I would still eat it cold if necessary, but why when I don't have to.
After we eat we spend a little bit of time inside on the living room floor playing with both Tannie and Sangdol. Kkanji makes an appearance to rub her body on us and receive loving scratches before she disappears once again to wherever she had been hiding.
"Would you like a tour of the farm?"
The next thirty minutes are spent mostly visiting the animals. We first dropped by the cows. Then we headed over to the building where the pigs were kept. I was surprised by the trip because I never thought I would find myself cooing over piglets, and yet that was exactly what happened. The only thing I couldn't get past though was the smell. Jeong Gyu chuckles at the way I wrinkle my nose at the off putting aroma. I don't want to name it even though I am quite aware of what is causing the stench. I frown and ask. "Why doesn't it bother you?"
He shrugs. "I'm used to it." He gets a thoughtful look on his face for a moment. "Every time hyung comes home he has the same expression on his face. It tends to take him a few days before he grows at least semi used to it once more."
The trip through the orchard is amazing due to the season. All of the trees are in bloom, and the mixed fragrance from the variety of fruit flowers is awe inspiring. "I'm definitely thankful that our first date fell this time of year when you could see this."
I practically dance over to him from the empty space between the trees where he is standing directly under the canopy of the tree behind him. "So am I."
I don't know when it happens for certain but sometime during the tour we end up holding hands, entwining our fingers together. Once we come to the end of the tour I look up at him. "You said you wanted to show me something you were passionate about. Is it the farm?" I arch an eyebrow. "Or is there more yet to see?"
I'd hate to admit it, but I am sincerely hoping it's not the farm itself. I could never grow accustomed to living a rural lifestyle, and I would never give up my career to even try. I hate what admitting that to Jeong Gyu could do to our relationship, and it's only just beginning. He drags me over to a large sized greenhouse. "This is the project I have been working on." He says while smiling down at me. "This is my passion."
I expected the greenhouse to be full of more produce that could be grown all year long, but instead I find blooming flowers everywhere I turn. I am in immediate awe of not only the bright colors but also the mingling aromas surrounding me. I look up at Jeong Gyu questioningly. He smiles at me. "I have been experimenting with crossbreeding flowers. I've been studying horticulture online with a focus on plant genetics. I want to open my own business selling my unique breeds to florists, or perhaps even open up my own nursery that specializes in the potted flowers, and perhaps even sell the seeds or bulbs so others can grow them. I can't bear to cut them at the stem myself, so being a florist is the one career of the field that I wouldn't be able to do."
I blink. He could do that anywhere. He could pick up and move. I mentally shake that train of thought away before I actually ask him. "Does that mean you would be willing to relocate?"
"As long as I have a sizable greenhouse to work in while at home. Absolutely."
I don't want to get ahead of myself, but if we were to find a place with private roof access we could totally put a greenhouse up there. Or perhaps I can take a loan out from my brother to buy our own house, not a mansion like the one he shares with his group and Daisy, but something sizable. Hell, I'd willingly ride a train to work as long as the trip wouldn't take longer than an hour at most. I mentally stop myself. I didn't want to get ahead of myself yet that is exactly what I did.
Instead I turn my focus back on the flowers surrounding us. I'm unsurprised to find the biggest grouping of flowers is roses, but there are also daisies, lilies, irises, and orchids as well. He smirks at the orchids. "Orchids are one of the most persnickety of flowers. They are not easy to work with, that's honestly why I don't have too many of them."
"Does that make roses easy?" I ask when I point out the large grouping of roses all around us.
He shrugs his shoulders. "It can vary between one rose to the next, but that's not why I have such a large amount of roses. Roses are the most popular flower for a variety of reasons and events. So, I chose to put my primary focus on them."
I take a few minutes to peruse all the different roses surrounding me, and find that I keep getting drawn to one in particular that has bright pink at the end of the petals and a pale goldish yellow on the interior. I feel eyes on me, so I glance back over at Jeong Gyu as he watches me closely with a smile on my face. I don't know why my apt immersion has him so happy, but I still feel a tickle in my chest because of its presence regardless.
"What's your favorite color?" He asks me spontaneously.
I'm drawn back to the paint dilemma on my date with Jung Hyun so I quickly tell Jeong Gyu the same crayon story. He laughs boisterously at that. "Okay, but if you had to pick one color alone what would you pick."
"Sky blue." I answer automatically. "At least that is my answer for today."
He mutters under his breath but I do happen to catch the words 'difficult blue hybrids' regardless. That gives me the idea that he will be trying his hand specifically at making a blue hybrid rose for me. Also, it sounds like it is going to be a pain to make happen. It's making me feel high maintenance when I would never consider myself to be high maintenance at all. No, blue flowers are high maintenance! Not myself.
When he guides me back to his truck to take me home he pulls me in and gives me a kiss that legitimately makes me weak in the knees. "I wanted to get my goodnight kiss before we had to drive. I had a feeling you might fall asleep on the trip back, and I didn't want you to be groggy and potentially forget our first kiss."
He predicted correctly. I did fall asleep. That didn't stop me from initiating a second kiss though when he walked me to my door.
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