"Where are we going?" I ask as we start to walk toward the bus stop. I haven't gotten a car yet, so we always use public transportation unless one of the guys brings their car. "It's a restaurant I think you'll love called Tokkijung. It stays pretty busy, but they have a table waiting for us." Even though I've visited Seoul many times over the last 10 or so years living here is very different than just visiting. I find something new every day.
Yoon-Gi and I walk in companionable silence toward the stop. I stand off to the side a bit, away from the crowd of people also waiting for the bus. A few youngers girls notice Yoon-Gi and begin to whisper excitedly. They couldn't be more than 13. I nudge his arm and nod toward them, smiling. I love watching him interact with ARMY. Of course, they are not allowed to take pictures or anything out of respect, but he normally will talk with them. He gives them a small wave and turns to me. "How was work?" he asks. I am still a bit distracted by the whispers behind him, not so quiet anymore. He takes my hand, noticing my distraction and starts playing with my fingers. "It was fine. Normal work day, people needing to work through feelings and problems," I say, looking at our hands. "How do you like your new office?" he asks.
"She's American. Can't you hear her accent?" I hear from behind Yoon-Gi. I don't look up, but I pause. Yoon-Gi continues to play with my hand.
"It's beautiful. Thank you for helping me find it. The view is very pleasing. It puts my clients and me at ease," I answer.
"She looks old enough to be my mom," another girl says boldly. I look at Yoon-Gi when I hear that, scanning the others in my peripheral vision. Some people in the crowd also notice Yoon-Gi, who is calmly playing with my hand. I see one old lady smile as she takes us in, but most everyone else just looks away. He's so good at this, but it is not something I am used to. I normally fade into the background when I am out with any of the guys for fear of rumors. I don't like when they have controversy, so if I can prevent it, I will. But Yoon-Gi wanted to be public about it, so I gave in to his wishes. I take a breath and follow his lead, "How was practice today? Did you all get the new routine down?" He looks up and me and smiles. I smile back automatically. "Yes, I think we finally got it. Man, I swear Sung is trying to kill us with this one."
The bus arrives just then. We wait until everyone else gets on before stepping on. The bus is packed. There is only one seat. Yoon-Gi still has ahold of my hand and pulls me over to it and sits down. I smirk. "Really?" I say. "What? I danced all day." He says. He smirks back and quickly pulls me into his lap. "What the?" I say in surprise. He can be exceptionally quick when he wants to be. I try to get up, but he firmly grabs my waist. "No, please stay here until someone else moves," he asks. I look at him and almost melt in his brown eyes. "Alright," I say. "But I think this date has too much PDA, Yoon-Gi. We're moving too fast. Think of all the rumors in Fan Café later." He laughs. "I've been looking forward to holding your hand for a very long time. Making you sit on my lap is a bonus," he says quietly. I flush. "It's amazing the things you think about when you let your thoughts wander. I find myself thinking about tracing the veins in your hand often." He holds my hand up, the sunset reflecting a beautiful orange on our skin. "See how soft they look? How delicate? I've wondered for a while how they have so much strength. Then, see here," He turns it over to look at the back of my hand, "See how you can see the veins? How they disappear as your skin gets darker?" I am enthralled at the amount of attention he is giving my hand. He traces my vein almost absently — the bus empties, including the seat next to us. I swiftly move to sit on the empty seat. He miles at my movement, but doesn't comment.
"So, you think about playing with my hands in your spare time?" I say, taking his hand and tracing the veins under his skin. He's paler than I am so the veins not only stand out on his hands but his forearms as well. "What a waste of precious time," I mutter, but feeling flattered. Yoon-Gi intertwines his fingers with mine. We ride in silence, both of us enjoying watching the others on the bus. It's nice to be sitting hand in hand with this man. If I am honest with myself, I have wanted to hold his hand like this for a long time too. If I am completely honest, I have longed to be able to spend time alone with him for a long time as well. He has wished it as well.
I find myself staring out of the window. I love this city. It is so different than any other place I have lived in my life. The bus slows to a stop, and Yoon-Gi lightly pulls on my hand. "This is us." I stand and bow my head as we head off the bus. The little lady I noticed earlier catches my eye and smiles. I bow, trying to remember to be respectful in the Korean manner. She nods back. I don't know what it was about her smile, but it gives me confidence. I raise my head a bit and take a settling breath as we step into the street.
The street we are on is a busy, people trying to make their way home after a long day. I don't notice Yoon-Gi stepping away while I am admiring some purposeful graffiti close us until he steps back, a single dark purple tulip in hand. I flush again, hesitantly taking the flower from him. "Come on," he says, grabbing my other hand and pulling me up the street and around the corner.
If the restaurant didn't have a line out of the door, you could miss it. It looks more like a small house instead of a restaurant and is in-between two other businesses. As we are walking toward the entrance Yoon-Gi is quickly typing something on his phone. We only pause for a few moments in front of the door before we are ushered in.
Present
"Leigh?" Yoon-Gi says, snapping me out of my memories. "You ok?" He asks. He is squatting next to me, looking up at me as he lightly touches my face. I smile, "Yes. I just remembered our first date. Well, the events leading up to us coming here." He smiles, stands and reaches his hand out for mine. I gladly take it and let him pull me up. "Do you remember fondly?" he asks as we walk up the stairs toward the exit. "I do. Very much so. I remember you at the bus stop." We bow to the workers as we leave. "Yea? I remember that as well. I was outraged." I raise my eyebrows as we slowly walk toward the bus stop. "Really? You didn't show it," I say, surprised. "Oh yes." He pulls my arm to stop me and turns me to face him. "I couldn't believe those silly children, who look at me and see this beauty, who dream of what it would be like to be in a relationship with me, couldn't see your beauty." He runs one finger from my temple to my chin. I lean my head toward his hand. "I am still in shock that you have never seen my age," I admit. He laughs. "Silly. You are only nine years older than me. That is not a long time. Plus, beauty and love do not understand age." I laugh with him and pull him to the stop since the bus is pulling up.
After getting settled into our seats, I look at Yoon-Gi. "You know that was the first time I saw Bona." He turns and looks at me. "Really? I thought you met her after visiting my house the first time." I nod. "Yes, that is when I first met her, but she was catching the bus that day. She gave me the sweetest smiles when she caught my eye. It gave me confidence. I guess I figured if an older Korean woman could find the feeling to smile at seeing us together then why shouldn't I?" He nods "See," I start, turning a bit in my seat to look at him. "Kayden and my guilt was not my only reason to pause. I had so many. Our age difference, me not being able to give you a child of your own, how your family would feel, how my family would feel, ARMY and, well, the welcome I'd get here, where I wanted to build my life." He looks at me, studying my face with his deep brown eyes. When the days get darker, his eye color almost turns black. It is the most beautiful thing. "I love you so much, Min Yoon-Gi. Thank you for never giving up on me." He smiles. "I would never. You have no idea how much those words mean to me," he says. I lean my head on his shoulder, and he automatically puts his arm around mine.
"I wonder if the kids are home yet," he says after a few moments. I pull my phone out of my pocket. I have a few messages, one email from Kayden's cousin Erin, a message for Marie thanking me again for helping her and Kookie and one from Sidda asking what to do about nausea. I giggle and show that message to Yoon-Gi. He smirks, "Already?" I nod, "Oh yea. If she's lucky, it'll stop in a month or two, but most of it lasts full term and all day." I tell her to try ginger; it was the best. I send a quick message to Marie telling her next time it's 20,000 won. I'll reply to Erin in a bit. I set my phone down.
"I imagine they are probably back. I wonder how Mary liked Sidda's farm. They've done so much work to it that I bet it looks completely different." Yoon-Gi stretches out our interlinked hands as he stretches his arms. "We'll need to go visit before the tour. Ug, the tour," he says, letting our hands drop back into his lap. I laugh. "You love it," I say, poking his ribs. He pulls away, "No, I like it now. I used to love it. But now it takes time away from you." I sit up. "Do you want me to come with you this time?" I ask. He's been on five tours since w officially became a couple. I've always just met him on a few stops, so he wasn't distracted and could have his space like he likes to have when he is tired. He looks at me. "Yea? You'd come for the whole tour?" he asks. "It's about seven months this time, hardly any stopping so we can see as many ARMY as possible." I stop for a minute. The girls are grown, the bakery can handle itself, nothing is making me stay here full term. "Why not?" I ask. "Unless you don't want me to come," I say in a pout. He sticks his tongue out at me. "I've wanted you to come since I admitted I was in love with you," he says, suddenly looking down. This action confuses me. Why would he be embarrassed about that statement?