Drive you anywhere – Yoongi
I didn't normally use an Uber, the company providing security and a car everywhere we went. But now that we were on our personal time for a few years, I was wanting to do my own thing from time to time and meeting friends at the little restaurant we were going to tonight wasn't a big deal. Much easier to just book an Uber spur of the moment rather than contact someone and have them bring a car over. Besides, I was travelling with another member so I wasn't alone even if the night had set in and darkness invaded everything around me.
We walked down as soon as we got the notification that they were only minutes away, Hobi bouncing with each step, effortlessly cheerful. We would be separating soon, his enlistment only weeks away, preparing for my tour keeping me busy during his last month. So when he said we should catch up and meet some of our other friends, I booked in a break for tonight. It was going to be a big year and I wanted to enjoy every minute of it.
"That's it I think," I said, pointing as the car pulled up and we went over, bowing as we opened the back door. "You're here for MYG," I asked, checking we were in the right vehicle.
"Yes, welcome, we're heading to Jungsik?"
"Yes, thank you," I said as we buckled in.
"Do you mind if I put music on, unless there is something you want to listen to," she asked, pulling away from the edge of the road.
"No, that's fine, whatever you want," I answered, hoping it wouldn't be loud and obnoxious but we weren't going that far and I was good at zoning out. "Are you drinking tonight," I asked Hobi and he nodded.
"Of course, aren't you?"
"No, I have some photo shoots coming up and I can't properly drink until after the tour now."
"Oh hyung, I'll drink your share then," he said with a grin and I rolled my eyes, knowing he would. Then I turned curiously to the front as the driver began humming along, tapping the steering wheel in time to the beat, her soft, strong voice flowing through the car. Hobi raised his eyebrows with a small smile, the corner of his lip staying up as we both listened. She was moving her shoulders around in time, seemingly completely oblivious to anyone watching, it was refreshing to see someone being so relaxed. And fascinating.
I kept an eye on her, turning back to Hobi for a moment. "Are the plans all in place for enlisting?"
He lowered his voice a little as he replied, leaning in to answer. "Yes, I think so, I have a few more things to record before I go but I'm feeling good about it all. Are you coming to see me off?"
"I think we all are, is that even a question?"
Hobi lightly squeezed my shoulder, we would miss each other but we knew this was coming for a while. "I was hoping but we're all so busy now days."
"Not too busy to say goodbye," I replied, wriggling a little uncomfortably in his grasp, turning back to where the driver was still jiving in her seat. That was a good distraction, not wanting to think about how, by the end of the year, at least four of us would all be enlisted. Things would definitely feel differently then and when we returned.
"Oh, I love this one," she said, seeming to talk to herself, turning the song up a little and singing along a little louder, completely unbothered by us in the back seat. Hobi was biting his lip now to stop himself from snickering but I was looking at her side profile, visible whenever the lights hit the inside of the car on the way past the street lights. Each time it revealed a little more of the face to me and I built it together into a complete picture. She was cute. I glanced at the name on the tag hanging from her rear vision mirror, Choi Mi Cha. Pretty like she was.
The trip was short, arriving not long after and we thanked her as we went to get out.
"Do you need a ride home after you've finished," she asked, turning to the back and I paused as I slid across the seat.
"Yes but we might be a while, you don't need to wait."
"I have study work with me so I'll be fine. Just message me and I'll come right back to collect you if you want." She handed me a business card and I pocketed it for later.
"OK, that would be good," I answered, thinking it also meant I could leave whenever I was ready. Sometimes tiredness snuck up on me or a song idea and it meant I was ready to leave with little notice.
Bowing my head, she smiled and bowed a little in return, the smile hitting all the features on her face, lighting them up and although mine didn't glow in return like hers did, I'm sure the corner of my lips twitched into the semblance of a smile. There was something a little intriguing about her and I closed the door thinking about that as Hobi and I walked inside the restaurant.
Two hours went quickly by, the night spent catching up with friends relaxing me just like I needed it to during the stressful season I was in. At some point part way through the night a woman walked by and I had a passing thought that it looked like my Uber driver which got me thinking about her. There was nothing tangible that drew me to her, she had just been fun to watch and listen to, a pleasant car ride. And that return trip was sounding quite interesting as I prepared to leave. Hobi didn't want to leave just yet so it was just me and I text to let her know I was ready to go, saying goodbyes to my friends.
She drove up thirty seconds after I had pulled my mask into place, standing just outside the restaurant door and I opened the back door of her car to climb in.
"Oh, it's just you going back this trip? You're welcome to sit in the front?"
"No, that's OK, the back is fine," I answered and climbed in, mentally kicking myself that I'd spoken without thinking. Although I had a nice view from the back, sitting next to her would've been more, well, more something. What exactly I wasn't sure though.
"Back to the address I picked you up from," she asked, waiting to punch it into her GPS.
"Yes please," I replied, going to buckle in. Then I stopped and did something uncharacteristic for me, changing my mind. "On second thought, I might sit in the front after all."
"Sure, no problem," she said as I opened the front door, smiling as I buckled in next to her.
She pulled away from the curb in front of the restaurant, reaching for the radio. "Is there something you wanted to listen to while we drive," she asked, pausing before she turned it on.
"Ah, anything is fine." Part of me thought if there was no music, maybe we'd talk. I didn't know what about or how to start that but maybe music would be an ice breaker. Considering what I did for a living and how many people I met, talking to people should come more easily than it did. It didn't help that I thought she was pretty, not stunning in a super model way but pretty in a cute, relaxed, sweatshirt and jeans kind of way, her nose button like, eyes flashing with a little fire when she looked my way.
"Great, KPop then or are you sick of that by now?"
I inhaled, taking it as a sign she knew who I was. Maybe sitting in the backseat would've been better after all and I thought about grabbing my phone and sending a snapshot of her Uber ID to management in case anything happened. Then I remembered my phone was tracked anyway and for once I was grateful for that.
"Maybe something other than Kpop," I replied, skirting around the obvious and she twiddled with the stations until some mellow music came out.
Silence settled over the car between us and I felt fidgety, itching to do something with my hands so ended up rubbing them across my jeans. "Did you get much study done," I asked, attempting to start a conversation, hoping she wasn't a stalker if she did in fact know who I was. Especially as she knew where I lived. I didn't get that vibe from her though although most serial killers were probably very appealing, that's why they got away with it. My thoughts had turned morbid.
"I did, the whole time I waited actually. Mostly just readings in preparation for some things I need to write up."
"Oh, what are you studying?"
"I'm doing my masters in molecular biology," she replied, indicating to turn into a less busy street as she drove towards my home.
"Really?" I was surprised. It didn't line up with the picture he had built of her which was stupid as he'd had only minimal interactions with her so far.
"Yes really," she laughed. "Don't worry, I get that all the time. Not exactly an interesting subject to most people."
"I think it could be interesting," he answered, not really sure exactly what that entailed but he was always reading and learning and expanding his mind so he was sure there was something amongst it all that could be classed as interesting. "What do you hope to do with it?"
"Well, I'm really interested in DNA so I'm hoping to conduct some research that helps delve further into what makes us unique individuals."
I smiled to myself at her words, DNA had always been one of our more popular songs. "That does sound intriguing."
"I thought you might be interested in the fact I work with DNA," she replied, raising her eyebrows with a grin and I realised she did in fact, know who I was.
"Yeah, it sounds like something you'd have to put blood, sweat and tears into," I joked, trying to acknowledge that I knew she knew who I was but mentally kicking myself the moment the words left my mouth. It sounded so lame.
So I was surprised when she started laughing, the sound pretty and catchy, drawing a small smile from my lips which had been twisting uncomfortably from a slight wave of nerves.
"That was funny Yoongi. Oh I mean Min Yoongi. Oh, I don't actually know how to address you." She sounded flustered and that made me feel weirdly more comfortable with the situation.
"You could start with sir," I answered sternly and her face pivoted to mine, noting the serious look on my face, hers falling instantly and I couldn't keep it up, lips pressing together to hold a grin but the smile hitting my eyes. Hers showed instant relief when she realised I was kidding.
"Oh my goodness, I thought you were serious. I mean, I can call you sir if you want?"
"I'm not sure this situation is the right time for that," I replied, looking away and out the window at the city lights flashing past.
"Oh, what situation should I call you sir in then."
"Maybe think about that a little more and get back to me," I answered and I could feel the cogs spinning as the realisation of my words dropped. Turning back I saw her blushing, it was captivating, watching the pink spill over her cheeks.
I decided to change the subject, giving us both a break. Her face might be pink but parts of me were starting to heat up too at the hints within the conversation we were having. There was lots to consider and I couldn't really act on anything without worrying about it making the news.
"Do you do this a lot, Uber drive?"
"It works well for me, I drive with my study things and so in between jobs, I sit on the side of the road and work. It means I'm getting my study done and I can make my own hours."
"Is that safe?" It sounded like it could be dangerous to me, a young, pretty woman alone in a car at nighttime.
"There's always a risk but so far I've been fine."
I frowned, so far sounded too much for me. "Maybe I should get you to drive for me a bit."
"Why? Are you needing a driver for later this week," she asked, a lilt going up at the end of her sentence. Dare I think it sounded hopeful?
"Maybe, I'm thinking about going out." I wasn't or at least I didn't have anything planned yet.
"You could always contact me directly. No wait, we're not allowed to give out our numbers."
"But I have it already through the card you gave me, I messaged you to come pick me up just now?"
"Oh yes, I know but well, you're not supposed to do it that way."
She sounded flustered and I felt like teasing. "Do you always stick to the rules," I asked and she shot me a look, trying to gauge what I was meaning.
"Don't you have to?"
I sighed. She had a point. "Only because it's in the contract. We are quite restricted but it's for our safety and our career and all that." One of things I'd never enjoyed about my job.
"Exactly, so sticking to the rules isn't always a bad thing." She was chewing her lip and I found it endearing. I was also aware we were almost at my house and I didn't quite want it to end yet.
"In that case I'll give you my number before I leave and then you can send me a message, as a friend not a driver and on the off chance I need a ride, I can text you and maybe, if you're free you can take me. I'd pay of course and more than Uber would pay."
"Are you trying to find a way around my contract? And are you even allowed to give out your number?"
"Like I said, do we always have to stick to the rules? And no, I'm not meant to." The idea of her being available to drive me was appealing. Not that I expected her to drop everything and be on call for me. But if she was available she was a better version than a stranger and easier than getting the company to sort it. Plus, she was definitely pretty.
"We'll see," she answered, not committing and I actually liked that. She was keeping me a little on my toes and I needed that spark, she was feisty.
"Can we stop to get something to eat on the way, go through a drive thru?"
"Of course," she answered, taking a different route to travel towards a strip of takeaways close by. "Take your pick."
"I feel like a burger, how about you?"
"Oh, I'm working."
"But are you hungry?"
"A little. OK, maybe I'll get something," she replied, her hand resting briefly on her stomach and I wondered how busy she was and if she'd eaten lunch. Why did I care but I definitely did.
"My shout."
"Oh, no, you don't need to." She turned to look at me and looked away when she found me staring.
"I know I don't but you waited for me when you didn't need to so it's my turn to do something for you."
"Well, thank you Yoongi," she said, probably not noticing she'd settled on a name to call me and it didn't matter that it sounded casual because I wanted her to be comfortable with me.
She pulled into the burger drive thru and checked my order before adding her own small burger to the list. "Is that all you want? Get whatever," I said, reaching for my wallet.
"I'm only a little hungry, that will be fine," she answered and I couldn't tell if she was just being polite as she wouldn't look at me.
Once I'd handed her the money, turning my head away from the window as she paid so I wouldn't be recognised, we drove away back towards my place.
"You're welcome to eat in the car," she announced, pulling out into traffic.
"But yours will go cold, how about we stop somewhere and eat so you can have it while it's still warm? I think we're asking too much for it to be hot, burgers from places like that are usually lukewarm at best. I can pay extra since I'm keeping you longer."
"It's off the books anyway," she answered, heading to a side street and parking up near a grass verge. It was too cold to sit outside so we made the best of the situation, opening the wrappers to eat them on our laps. I honestly wasn't that hungry, I was just trying to delay the trip a little longer.
The first bite hit us both and we let a satisfied sound at the taste, my mind going all sorts of places when I heard the sound leave her lips, especially mingled with my voice. I had to clear my throat when I found it hard to swallow, covering it up by reaching for a napkin to wipe the mayo that had been left behind on my lip. And as I reached, so did she, our fingers brushing.
"Oh, you go," she said, blushing a little.
"No, go ahead," I replied and then we looked at each other and starting laughing. She grabbed a couple of napkins and handed me one, averting her eyes as I licked at the mayo with my tongue, capturing the taste before wiping the last of it off. She cleared her throat too. 'Maybe she's effected by me too but doing a better job of hiding it," I thought, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. I wasn't sure why this was even happening, I was usually more controlled than this after years of having to be. Despite what people thought, even if I'd wanted to play the field and have a different woman every week, I hadn't and I still felt shy when it came to expressing myself around my feelings. Which right now were very confusing. But I couldn't stop looking at her.
"This hit the spot, thank you," she spoke into the silence, causing me to look at her again, trying to size up the situation. I liked the tone of her voice, attracted to the timbre and the way it made me feel when I heard it, even briefly. I shouldn't be this attracted to someone I'd only had a few very small conversations with but I was surprised to find I was. And when she reached for her drink bottle, using her teeth to pop the top, I couldn't help but watch out the corner of my eye, faking being focused on eating but watched as she drunk. I felt like a small amount of sweat break out on my forehead as my mind ticked over, dabbing at it just in case it was visible.
"OK, I'm almost finished," I said, even though I wasn't. Now I was just keen to get back to my apartment and I was really hoping she was keen to join me there. For what, who knew. How to voice that was another story though and I might yet not be brave enough to ask.
"I am too," she said, popping the last of her burger in her mouth, seemingly unbothered about eating in front of me, something I always appreciated in a female since I liked to enjoy my food too. I saw a smattering of sauce on her mouth, hand automatically coming up to wipe it. But I stopped short as she realised what I was doing and used her own napkin instead, looking a little embarrassed to be caught.
"Thank you for buying that Yoongi, I was hungrier than I thought."
"I have some leftover fries if you wanted those," I answered as she turned the engine on again and headed away, knowing we only had a matter of minutes left together.
"No thank you, I'm good now."
"A drink then, I know you have water but...," my voice faded away and she didn't answer, as we pulled up outside my building. But she switched the engine off and turned to me.
"A drink?"
"A hot one or a soju or..., are you thirsty?" It sounded clumsy to me and I waited to hear a no, stealing myself for disappointment.
"I might need a hot drink," she said, rubbing her hands together, it wasn't a warm night. "Were you thinking of going through another drive thru then," she asked, a cute and slightly playful look on her face and my smile was instant and broad.
"Maybe or you could come up to my place for one." The words were out and I breathed a sigh of relief that I'd managed to say them no matter if she said yes or no. No, that was wrong, it did matter to me if she said no but she was allowed to. I'd just be disappointed if she did.
"Maybe," she said softly and I was aware my body was moving towards hers, slowly, almost as if a magnetic force was drawing me in.
"Maybe?" It wasn't quite clear enough but I understood her hesitation. We didn't know each other and the fame thing was complicated.
She was looking at me, tracing my features with her eyes and I felt a little stripped back under her gaze, a feeling I was conflicted about, wanting clarification on what was happening. Or what could happen.
"Do you want to come up and see my cat," I asked, leaning even closer, eyes flicking across her face and settling on her lips, which I very much wanted to taste.
Mi Cha POV
The whole night had been a little surreal. I hadn't realised who I was picking up but of course I recognised Yoongi and Hobi the moment they got into the car. Now, alone in the car with Yoongi, I was a little lost for words because there was some kind of atmosphere and I didn't think it was wishful thinking. Sure, I'd laid on my bed, in my apartment and dreamt of a moment like this. But those moments never really come true. However, here I was and Yoongi was leaning towards me and it felt like the air was crackling between us, electric and I was buzzing internally not ever thinking I'd be this close to him with his lips coming ever closer to mine. I swallowed.
"Do you want to come up and see my cat," he said, leaning even closer.
"Oh, do you have one," I breathed out, trying to absorb every tiny movement he was making as his body moved closer. He chuckled, deep and short, coming out in a puff of air and a sound that resonated through my body.
"No, I don't Mi Cha," he answered and I blinked at him, hearing my name on his lips, unsure what he meant before remembering the lingo of all the young people in my world that I was slowly losing touch with the older I got.
"Shouldn't it be me asking you that," I said, hearing my words coming out a little breathlessly.
"I don't know, should it? Do you have a cat?"
"Hmmmm, I'm not sure how to answer that." I put the back of my hands to my cheeks, feeling the warmth as the word play got a little too much for me to handle.
"How about we take 'pets' off the table then, a coffee, unless you have more work tonight?"
"I can clock off. And I'd like that," I answered, my voice coming out softer than I was expecting and I wasn't sure if he heard. But he nodded.
"Great, here's the fare for tonight then," he said, handing me far too much money.
"Oh no, that's way too much," I said, looking at what he'd put in my hand, the touch brief but lingering on my palm.
"You're a student, every little bit counts and you made it easy for me to get around tonight. Plus, it was nice. Talking." He'd moved his hand away from mine, flexing his fingers a few times as if he had felt it too, the contact between us.
"It was nice," I agreed, shocked at his words. I'd enjoyed our conversation, it wasn't deep but it had been flirty at times and I liked that. A side of Yoongi you didn't see very often online. "But please, I wouldn't feel right taking all this." I held up half the money to give back to him, a much more realistic fare. He took my hand, sandwiching it between his as he folded mine back over all the money.
"We both know I can afford it," he said bluntly, not arrogantly, just stating a fact and I drew a breath in as his hands stayed on mine, trying to move my eyes from his and completely incapable, looked into their brown depth. "Please don't worry about that."
He saw I was struggling to answer, mind going in 7 directions at once and finally pulled his hands away, leaving mine cold. "Shall we then," he asked, reaching for the car door to open it and I nodded again, gathering my things. As I put the money into my handbag, still feeling awkward about it, he came around and open my door, a straight look on his face as he did like it was no big deal. But it was to me. Apart from my dad, no guy had ever opened the door for me. He was melting me without even realising it and I was drifting away from my OT7 stanning into a whole other realm of possibilities.
"Thank you," I answered, following him through a security door and towards the lift, wondering about the evening ahead.
The couch stretched out as we sat at either end in his spacious living area, a gap between us. That felt safer.
"Thank you for the fare earlier, I didn't actually say thank you," I said over the top of my mug and he shrugged his shoulders.
"Someone should be paid for what they do and I know you don't get enough driving around the city."
"It will definitely help pay the bills. I do like my job though, most of the people are very polite and at night they're going somewhere they want to go. To dinner, the movies, to someones house. It's nice to take them those places. The rides home from those places can be kind of wild but I don't mind that either."
"You don't mind it when things get wild? Hmmmm, good to know." He grinned at me, the ice in his glass clinking as he took a sip and I was glad I'd opted for no alcohol. Yoongi was definitely giving me some things to think about and I needed to be sober to process them. "It would be nice to go all those places, I have to be careful going out. I can drive myself to friends places though but not to the movies, I rarely go out somewhere that isn't completely private."
"I'm sorry," I replied, instinctively reaching for his hand to rub it with my thumb, second guessing myself once I felt his skin under my touch. This was overly familiar. I went to pull away but he hooked his thumb over mine, not letting me let go.
"It's OK, the good parts of my job outweigh all the hard stuff. I have already lived a really amazing life."
I nodded slowly, acknowledging his words. He definitely had and I admired him for it. But here, in this moment I was too distracted by the warmth of his fingers to linger on that for long.
"Look," he said, putting his cup down and running his free hand through his hair. "I'm not good at all this." He moved his hand around in the air, trying to express something and I smiled a little.
"You are good at lots of things Yoongi."
"Not at relationship things. The other members seem to be comfortable with it, most of them anyway. But I, well, I'm just not sure most of the time."
I took a breath, steadying my nerves as I spoke. "This," I wiggled my fingers inside his grasp, "this is perfect."
"Oh, so you don't mind?" His eyes met mine, a little cautious and a whole lot of soft. He seemed blissfully unaware that it was effecting me. I decided to be brave.
"Mind you holding my hand? Not at all. Want to sit closer to you? Yes, I do."
He gave a little shy look, biting his lip and it didn't seem like he did it on purpose to entice me but it did anyway, heartbeat escalating.
"I feel a little nervous," he said honestly, chewing his lip.
"I do too," I replied, watching his face, following his eyes as he ran them over me before meeting mine again. "At least we're in the same boat."
There was silence for a moment and I looked down at our hands, turning mine over in his so they were linked. He smiled cutely at my actions, blinking a few times.
"Yoongi," I said softly, "can I move closer then?"
His answer came in the form of action as he tugged on my hand, pulling me across the couch towards him. The short distance closed so our knees were touching, thighs brushing against as we readjusted how we were sitting, turning more to face each other. "Is this OK?"
"It's more than OK. I can't focus on anything right now other than you being this close to me though," he said and I appreciated he was being more vulnerable than he was normally comfortable with. But I blushed under his words, feeling them flow over me as I fought the need to close my eyes. I wanted to channel my emotions into action but wasn't sure if I should, kind of hoping he'd make the first move if there was a move to make, constantly second guessing if we were both feeling it. However my fingers moved automatically in his hand, without me consciously doing anything, tightening our hold. He looked down at them for what felt like hours while I watched emotions flit across his normally calm eyes.
"I'm not sure what the right thing to do is," he finally said, voice a little gruff. "I want," and he stopped speaking, lifting his eyes from our hands to my face, grazing my features with his gaze. "I want," he said again and this time it felt like the end of a sentence and I exhaled the breath I was holding.
He wanted.
It hit me to my core, a wave flooding over me. His words were simple but heavy and my breathing increased, feeling tingles in my toes as they covered me from the top of my head to my feet.
"Yoongi," I managed to say and he looked a little worried, tucking his lip into his teeth but still looking at my reaction. "Is it OK, can I touch you?"
He didn't answer but instantly moved my hand linked with his towards his jaw, releasing my hand to press it against him and my fingertips traced a line, feeling the softness of his skin under my touch. Maybe a hint of stubble growing and my hands came to rest either side of his cheeks, cradling them. His eyes flicked to my lips and I knew before we moved that we were going to kiss, the air had changed in the room, heating up and I licked my lip, attempting to moisten it.
"Let me do that for you," he said, closing the gap between our mouths, sliding his across my lips and I wasn't surprised at how firm he was or how he took control as his arms came to draw me against him. What did surprise me was how easily the first kiss led into the second, third and fourth, how comfortably the awkward shyness between us had disappeared leaving only breathless want and need.
As we pulled away, lips now wet, eyes glued to each other, my tongue came up to rest on my top teeth, smile spreading across my eyes. "Do you still want," I asked, feeling more confident in his answer.
"Oh yes," he replied, lips reattaching to mine, his hands sinking into my hair, time standing still as we worked out that sometimes words aren't needed to express yourself.