2:25pm
Mina's POV
We ended up talking for quite some time. Hoseok had so many questions to ask. He truly seemed interested and I could not be happier about it.
I told him about why I wanted to leave Korea, what my fears towards staying are, what my parent's opinion about all of this is and what my childhood was like. We talked about how I met Joo, how Hani approached me after she realised I struggled to find my way through Seoul and how I managed to make a living here after all.
What caught him most, was the story about the dance groups I got rejected from and of that one girl that later came up to me later, deeply apologising for her group leader. She said, she was very thankful for letting me watch her dance - but he does not want me with them because of 'specific reasons'.
JHope: "Seriously...I can't stand people like that. Dancing is for everybody. I can't believe they can call themselves a dance group after rejecting you because of your appearance." I see him balling his fists in anger. "I should pay them a visit."
I giggle at his serious expression and decide to calm him down.
Me: "Aw come on! If you have some free time, you can teach me, ne?" I kept on joking. "What if it was just a bad excuse and I'm bad at dancing after all?" Laughing further, this time more to myself, I looked up to Hoseok that suddenly jumped from the bench.
JHope: "Ya-ha-hahaaa~!" He sounded like a hyper-Korok from Zelda. "That calls for a special improvising-demonstration-dance-battle!"
Me: "Huh?" I watch him, dazzled, as he professionally begins moving his body.
JHope: "Yup, like this. Ba- babababaa, ba, bababa baaa... Come on Mina, don't leave me hanging!" He holds out his hand. I did not hesitate for a second to take it and join him in dancing.
Me: "But we need music! I have nothing to dance to!" I say under my breath while oddly moving around him.
JHope: "You can dance to me!" I can't even, it's too cute. He started beatboxing before I break into laughter but kept on dancing with him. I don't care what we look like. Stupid, cute, like a couple, like dorks, whatever. Being here with him is all that counts.
However, after a while I felt my stomach complaining about its emptiness.
Me: "Uhm Hoseo-"
JHope: "And then we can do something like...ba...babababaa- one and- two and-... or something different? Maybe if I-"
He was still fully into his dance moves, I could already see him building up a choreography in his mind. Seeing Hoseok dancing so passionately is so...hot. But since I'm hungry and planned to take him out to eat in either way, I decide to tease him.
Me: "Hoseok-Oppa!" I yell before he stops at an instant. Good. I giggle as I try to do aegyo. "I'm hungry! Let's go eat something!" This is actually so not-me, but I do want his attention.
JHope: "Oh my-," I see him blush, but he stays in his serious stare. "Say it again." He grabs my wrist. "Please." He was breathing heavily from his moves.
Me: "Hehee~ nope, maybe later." Smiling at him, I take his hand that still was holding on to my wrist, dragging him away from the bench we sat before. "Come on, I'm hungry! Remember? I got to plan our day!"
I stick out my tongue to a disappointed Hoseok as I wander off.
All of this feels so natural with him...the teasing, dancing from scratch, having fun and talking seriously about anything. I think I really fell for him. And... not like a fan. What I originally knew from him, was the person he was in front of the camera, on stage or what he was like with other people. But even though I can now say that I love both, I like Hoseok much better than JHope.
3:03pm
JHope's POV
It's been quite some time since Mina left me here. I'm getting nervous. Where is she?
Me: "Uhm, excuse me, Miss? Over here!" I wave at one of the waitresses. "Uhm, I'm sorry, but have you seen a girl with white sneakers leaving this place?" I get up as I speak. "She is about this tall and super-cute."
Instead of answering my question, she giggles softly.
Waitress: "Despite of your poor description, I know who you're talking about." She winks at me? "Just be patient. You surely won't regret it." With that she walked off behind the bar.
I sat down again. Be patient, she said. I thought Mina was the hungry one? And now I will end up starving alone. Whatever, I will wait for her.
To kill some time, I decided to describe the restaurant for me. Well, let's see. It's... small. No more than ten wooden tables maybe, each one with two red chairs in front of it. The tablecloth is beige-ish...something, with a red napkin to match the chairs. Many windows, it's not crowded, only one person aside from me is in here, typing silently on their laptop. Probably working. To be honest, this looks more than a café than a restaurant with the cakes displayed in the glassy fridge behind the bar...I gaze at the empty chair in front of me. Her Jacket is still there, at least.
"Hoseok!"
Mina's voice called out to me. Finally. I sigh a little in relief. I'm so hungry.
I turn left to find her approaching me with three bowls, a water bottle and a small flower vase on a tray. One bowl she places in the middle of the table. Soup?
The other one on her side and the last one in front of me. This smells awesome. After adjusting everything nicely and placing the tray on another table she turned to me.
Mina: "I'm sorry it took me so long. Enjoy your meal!" She flashes me a bright smile as she sits down, waiting for me to dig in, but I just stare at it. "Mhh? What's wrong?" She tilts her head.
Me: "Uhm..." Wait, did she cook this? "Is this...?"
Mina: "Yup! Made with love~ hehe. My former boss allowed me to use the kitchen for today. I'm sorry it's just Bibimbap and nothing creative."
She cooked for me! Omg. I suddenly got embarrassed about being so impatient.
Me: "Ah-! No! No, no! It's perfect...Uhm-," Ahh shit, I need words! "I don't know what-, thank you." I mirror her bright smile. Never did a girl cook something for me. And...Jin doesn't count.
Mina: "Hehe, you should try it before you thank me. Tell me what you think!" She gestured me to start eating and she definitely won't need to tell me twice.
I lift my chopsticks and started to whirl around in my bowl, grabbing out some rice and carrots to place into my mouth. Oh, wow. I quickly swallow before speaking.
Me: "Mina-," I stare at her in awe. "This is delicious! Thank you for taking me here and cooking for me."
Mina: "I'm so relieved! Ahhh,-" She thankfully throws her hands into the air. "Glad you like it!" I can see her blushing a little before she turned silent again. "My brother once said I'm the best cook in the universe for him. That made me really proud." She said sheepishly after a pause as she looked down at her plate. "I wanted to know what you think, too." Oh how cute. But her voice somehow had something sad in it. She surely must miss him.
Me: "Your brother surely knows what's good!" I wink at her, smiling. "And he has a very talented and beautiful sister." I blush a little at my own words before eating more of the food she cooked for me. For meeeee and only meee.
I giggle at the thought that she still was part of ARMY and how often I talked about myself liking home-made dishes. She has done her research.
Mina: "Hoseok!" She finally gasps, her cheeks turned bright red. Hehehe. Gotcha. "Don't say such things, you make me nervous!" She's so cute when she's embarrassed!
Me: "Ohhh, but I like it so much when you're nervous. Call me 'Hoseok-oppa again'!"
She laughed at me in embarrassment, her face still dyed in red.
Mina: "Hee, you should eat instead of asking for more entertainment! I put much effort into this meal!" She was still giggling. At me, and probably herself not being able to shake it off.
Me: "You're right. I mean...you said, it was made with love."