Chapter 24 - Amuse-bouche
Events like this were hard for Jin. Even with his job, the amount of time he spent in front of the camera and talking to so many new people. But most of that was orchestrated and he was playing a part. Here he was expected to mingle and that was a word he didn't love, the introvert in him coming out when surrounded by this many people. Especially when they were mostly all speaking English.
So he found himself at the food table, taking a couple of tiny sized foods into his palm and easing off to the side of the room, scanning it for someone, anyone he knew well enough to go join. Across the other side of the room he saw Hobi and Jimin laughing with a large group of people but they were too far away and he didn't even want to walk through the room to get to them. He needed a drink so he could survive the rest of the night.
Popping one of the foods into his mouth, his eyes grew big. It was delicious and he made a hum of appreciation. He'd like another the same but couldn't see one, searching the table before he noticed a caterer bringing out another tray of them, strolling over as she put it down and went to remove the empty tray. Looking up as she approached, she gave a small smile and went to leave but he spoke.
"Delicious," he said in careful English, pointing at the one he'd just eaten and reaching for another.
"Oh you like the amuse-bouche," she answered and he looked confused at her word.
"The amuse-bouche," she said again, pointing.
He attempted to have a go at saying it, repeating the word and failing. Looking a little shy, she pointed at her mouth so he can watch her pronounce it properly but, even as he hears her say it again, he's distracted. He's definitely watching her mouth but not to pronounce the word, he no longer cares about the word to be honest, he's just watching her mouth in general. She has full lips like he does, they match his almost completely and when she sees him pause and stare for a moment, she blushes.
"Lets just call it tiny food," she said and he laughed, understanding that.
"Yes, tiny food is good," he answered.
"I'm glad, enjoy sir," she said as she turned to slide away into the crowd, heading back to the kitchen. But Jin kept his eyes trained on her, thinking the event had just gotten a little more interesting.
Jungkook came and found him and the both of them stayed near the food and drink, talking and laughing together, two introverts comfortable in each others company.
"You should try these JK," Jin said pointing, "they're really good. The lady who brought them out called them a moose something."
"Oh, amuse-bouche? Yeah that's just a word for small foods. It's French."
"You know a lot JK."
"When it's about food I do hyung," Jungkook laughed in response.
"I can barely cope with the English we're having to speak here, please don't add another language in as well."
Jungkook just laughed at him and then watched as Jin's eyes trained on and followed someone around the room. Cocking his head to the side, he kept watching, eyes flicking between Jin and the woman, noticing Jin's hand had stilled part way to his mouth. Smirking to himself, he spoke.
"See anything you like?"
"Hmmmm? Yes, the food is all really good," Jin answered, distracted.
"Food huh," Jungkook teased again and Jin finally snapped out of it. Raising his eyebrows at Jungkook's expression, he rolled his eyes.
"So I think she's pretty, sue me," he said, popping another tiny portion of something delicious in his mouth and walking a little away from the table so they could sip their drinks without being jostled by people around them.
Jungkook just shrugged. "Sure, sure, you're allowed. And as an adult, you can look at whoever you want and think what you want. But, are you going to do anything about it?"
"She speaks English, I've already made a fool of myself once. We don't have anything to talk about."
"Your WWH hyung, I'm sure she found it cute when you were trying to talk earlier. Use some of that charm on her and see what happens."
Jin half listened to him, watching as she flowed through the room, hair tied back away from her face, smiling as she held a tray out for people to try the foods on it.
"Well, lookie here, she's coming this way," Jungkook said, grinning as Jin chocked down the food he had in his hand, quickly dusting the crumbs off. "Here's your chance," and he hushed up, glancing down at the floor as she came up to the both of them.
"Would you like to try," she asked, holding out the tray, smiling at them both. Jungkook reached for one with a quick bow of his head in thanks, a little tongue tied as she stood there. He had been teasing but he was still learning how to talk around pretty women too without feeling shy.
"What this one," Jin asked and Jungkook pursed his lips together to hold in a smile.
"That ones duck breast, cranberry and arugula," she answered, looking a little amused. She knew it likely wouldn't make any sense to him based on the chat they'd had earlier. One she'd enjoyed even though it was brief. He was very attractive and her eyes were drawn to his lips. She'd always had a thing for tall, dark and handsome guys and he definitely fit the bill.
"Ori hyung," Jungkook said quietly, explaining it was duck.
"Oh gamsahabnida, I mean thank you," Jin said, stumbling over his words a little.
"You're very welcome. Did you want anything else?"
"Your phone number," Jungkook said under his breath but enough for Jin to hear, stretching out his foot to rest it heavily on top of Jungkook's.
"That is all for now," Jin replied, sounding formal in his own ears, wishing he had more words in English so they could talk for longer. He'd been focused on her mouth when he'd been close to her last time but now, he saw her eyes and he felt like his own were stuck open, staring. They were a vivid shade of green, not contacts but they looked surreal.
"OK, well come find me if you need anything and I'm sure I'll be back this way again."
"Thank you," they both answered, understanding enough to know what she meant before Jin took his foot away while they watched her continue round the room.
"She's cute hyung," Jungkook said, popping the duck in his mouth.
"I know and I wanted to say more to her. Her eyes, wow."
"Oh you mean, something more than 'that is all for now." He cracked up as he teased, Jin not finding it nearly as amusing.
"OK, so what would you do then," he answered, sounding a little frustrated.
"Why are you asking me? You know I can't even look a women in the eyes properly if I really like them. And anyway, you're the hyung! You should be teaching me what to do."
"Well, for now, I need the bathroom, hold my glass," Jin answered, shoving it into Jungkook's hands as he skirted the edge of the room and walked the corridor towards where the bathrooms had been pointed out.
Finishing up his business and washing his hands, he looked in the mirror, adjusting his hair back into place. He was handsome, he knew that but how to talk to women. And foreign ones at that. Back home, the women were all a little more reserved, not asking too much of him but here, the way they looked at him made him embarrassed. Like they were trying to work everything out about him, suck his soul out with their eyes. All he knew was he wanted to talk to her again and he had to come up with a way to do that without embarrassing himself too much. He was thinking that through as he sailed out of the bathroom and straight into someone. More specifically into her.
"Ooof," she gasped, dropping what she had in her hands as he reached out to stop her from falling.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Jin said as the dish she was holding clattered to the ground, dross from the leftovers splattering a little onto his shirt. They looked at each other for a moment before he stepped back, letting her arm go where he held her steady, looking down at the mess around them on the floor.
"Oh no, your top," she said, reaching out to wipe at it before quickly pulling her hand back. That was overstepping boundaries and she wasn't sure why she'd done that. Instinct? Attraction? Something was going on, she'd definitely noticed this handsome man, several times.
"It's OK," Jin said, his forehead creasing a little in a frown because it really wasn't ideal. But then again it was a good excuse to leave the event early. Apart from the fact, standing this close to her, he didn't want to. Whatever perfume she was wearing was filtering into his nose, flooding his brain with all the good pheromones and he was swallowing, excess saliva building up in his mouth that seemed determined to choke out his words if he tried to speak.
"No, it's not really, let me help you."
He didn't fully understand what she'd said and she didn't want to look like she was dumbing it down for him but she wanted him to come with her.
"I can help, come?" She tried, speaking succinctly.
He nodded, knowing somewhere in the back of his mind was screaming at him about all the lectures they'd had over the years not to place themselves alone with females or into situations that could be photographed and used to start gossip. But he didn't care. She's said to come with her and he was following.
Going through a side door, Jin found himself in the kitchen, bustling with a few workers, most looking surprised at the intrusion but too busy to worry, going back to whatever food they were preparing next. Leading him to a sink off to the side, she reached for a few cloths, wetting them and handing them his way. "This might work," she said, indicating for him to wipe at the stains. There were only a couple, not enough to have to strip the shirt off and wash it properly but still needing attention.
"Thank you," Jin answered as he dabbed half heartedly, not really that concerned. In fact, the wet marks on his top would probably stand out more than the stains would have. He was more concerned with how to stretch this out so they had longer together.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going." She was embarrassed, cheeks a little tinted with colour but he found it captivating.
"It is OK, no big problem," he answered, engaging her eyes and smiling broadly. It seemed to strike her silent as she took in the full force of his WWH charm.
"Ah, well, if you say so," she replied looking a little shell shock as she visibly attempted to take a breath.
This gave him a little surge of confidence and he seized on it. "I'm Jin," he said stretching out his hand and she took it, fingers wrapping lightly around his. The warmth flooded them both and it took a moment to notice she still held his hand as she looked at him, having not replied yet.
"Oh, I'm Marley," she said with a laugh, shaking her head a little as she let go. He was instantly disappointed at the loss.
"Nice to meet you Marley," he said, handing back the cloth, marks somewhat gone, tiny wet spots visible where he'd tended to them. He was grateful for the few phrases Namjoon had drilled into them over the years, racking his brain for others he could use to continue talking.
"You could use the dryers in the bathrooms to finish that off," she said, indicating his shirt. When he stood still, concentrating on deciphering her words, she broke it down.
"Hot air in bathroom?"
He got what she meant straight away but played it off confused, hoping to drag out whatever was happening. He didn't want to imagine anything that wasn't there but it felt like there was attraction on both sides. Jin could see it in her eyes, he'd looked into the eyes of many ARMY over the years. It was probably vain to admit but he knew, it was part of his job. And that made this a little easier, a little more like he wouldn't make a complete fool of himself if he was to shoot his shot.
"I don't know sorry," he replied, feigning ignorance.
"I can show you," she said, indicating again for him to follow her which he did, carefully eyeing her so noone would see, a professional at schooling his expressions when in public, not that there were many people around back here.
They arrived at a stand alone bathroom designated for wheelchairs, door sliding open when she pushed a button. Walking inside, he was aware how dodgy this could look, surprisingly not bothered. Pointing at the hand dryer on the wall she smiled. "I'll wait outside," and she stepped away, leaning on the wall outside but leaving the door open.
Jin was a little disappointed at that, not sure what would've happened, after all, it was a public bathroom, not exactly conducive to romantic encounters. Usually reserved for more seedy ones and that wasn't him. But his luck changed when he went to try and dry off, couldn't get it working and saw it was all written in English.
"I don't understand," he called out, knowing that might make him appear a little clueless but willing to give it a go.
Marley walked back in with a small smile, pushed on a button that was very clearly the one to make it work and hot air blasted out onto her. Stumbling back at the rush of heat, she reached her hand out to steady herself. Resting on the wall. On a red button. Which shut the door behind them.
As it slid closed, she panicked, reaching for the green one, pressing it multiple times, getting no response. There appeared to be a locking system that meant you had to wait for it to shut properly before you could open it again. Flaw in the system for sure, embarrassing given how they found themselves but Jin wasn't bothered. In fact he was quite amused.
"Thank you for helping," he said, untucking his shirt a little from his waistband, holding it out under the torrent of air to dry it, maybe knowing he flashed a little skin as he did, maybe not.
She was flustered, not sure where to look, needing to say something.
"I'm so sorry, this is embarrassing."
"I am liking it actually," Jin replied with a grin, biting down on his lip as he smirked at her.
"Oh you are, are you? Planned it all?"
"Not this," he answered, waving his hand over his shirt, "but it did work well."
"Should I push the green button? Or do you need more of my help?" Marley was aware they had progressed whatever was going on, a brief flirtation of some kind that made her heart beat a little faster.
"I need more help," he said, raising an eyebrow at her, one she returned.
"Oh you do? How?"
"Can you push the button again? My hands are ummmmmm," preoccupied, busy, he struggled to find the word he needed.
"My job is to push the button and you hold your top? Sounds like a two person job for sure," she said, amused as she came over to press it again.
"So Jin, since we're here and it might take a while to dry," another smirk, "we should get to know each other. What do you do?" She had to raise her voice a little over the noise of the dryer, moving a little closer to be heard.
"Music," he replied and she nodded, knowing the event she was working at was centred around the music industry. As she moved closer, his senses were again invaded by her eyes, her smell, her voice near his ear.
"Singer?" He nodded. "Dancer?" He shrugged. "Actor?"
"Sometimes all of that."
"And you're visiting from what country?"
"We're from South Korea."
"We," she asked, pushing the button again, it only seemed to last 20 seconds, taking another step infinitesimally closer.
"My members, we are seven."
"Sounds busy," she said, noticing his lips, not noticing the dryer had stopped again and that his hands were still busy holding out his top, water stains almost gone. She definitely also didn't notice the sliver of caramel skin showing just above his belt or the broad shoulders that stretched his shirt out at the top. Didn't notice at all. Or how his eyes had a shade of brown that if she tried to describe them, would leave her brain floundering. So she stuck with just alluring. Actually, everything about him was drawing her in.
"Yes busy. We don't really stop," he replied, finally dropping his hands and tucking his shirt back in, aware he was being watched, taking his time.
"I'm sure it's fun at times too," Marley continued, trying to focus on his face and not anything else that was going on.
"Of course, travel is fun. Here is nice," Jin said, meaning the country but also here and now. She understood.
"Yes, I like it here too."
Finishing, smoothing himself, checking the mirror, they both seemed to register that they were shut inside the bathroom together. "We should go then, you look good," Marley said, breaking whatever spell had been cast, briefly, inside the small room.
"OK," he said, stepping towards her as she stepped back, leaning in to her as he reached to press the green button tucked behind her back.
It was a slow slide as it began to move open, only seconds left enclosed in this space. Who would say something, do something, finish whatever had started?
"Oh, you missed a bit," Marley said, noticing a tiny, almost invisible, maybe invisible, speck on his collar then she had to reach up and remove, stepping close to him as she did.
"Thank you," he breathed against her face.
"You're welcome," she whispered back.
"Marley," he started, pausing as he heard the sound of footsteps approaching, "ah, thank you again."
Her stomach dropped a little, feeling like they'd been on the edge of something, interruption shaking them from it. And the footsteps hadn't even come their way. "Anytime," she answered softly. "I guess, I should go back to work and you should go back to, ah, work?"
He laughed. "Yes, it is work but you helped."
She blushed, aware there was still something unspoken, disappointed they hadn't gotten there. "Well, I'll be out there again with more food soon, I'm sure."
He bowed at her words, following as they left the bathroom, one after another, ignoring Taehyung as he appeared out of the men's bathroom, did a double take then walked away grinning. That would be on the group chat tonight.
"That will be nice Marley," he answered and looking back over his shoulder once, twice, walked back to where Jungkook was standing.
"That took ages. Did something not agree with you?" He said, sounding a little put out, having been left on his own for at least fifteen minutes.
"No, no, it wasn't that," he answered, scouting the room to see if Marley was already out here again.
"She must be in the kitchen hyung," Jungkook said noticing Jin's eyes roaming. "She's been gone the whole time you were, I was looking out for her for you." And then his eyes grew big and he cocked his head to the side.
"Wait. You have a smile on your face and you were both gone at the same time. Did something happen?"
"If it did, would I tell you here," Jin said, lowering his voice.
"So something did happen, go you Jin hyung!"
"Yes and no. Not enough."
"You know I'm definitely telling the others. You wanting to meet her."
"Tae will already be onto that," Jin replied, Jungkook looking confused, pulling his phone from his pocked as it dinged, eyes widening as he read the notification.
"You were in a bathroom with her?!"
"Quiet Jungkookie," Jin hissed out, pulling him more away from the people near them, thankful the hum in the room was loud. "Yes, but not like that. She was helping me dry my top because she dropped food on it. But that was my fault too, we crashed into each other and her name is Marley."
"Marley, OK. And what does that all even mean? Did you get her number?"
"No," and he sounded disappointed, knew Jungkook could tell, wondered if that was it for the night.
"Well, the nights not over," Jungkook said, slinging his arm over Jin's shoulders.
"No but what's the point? Yes she's pretty, yes maybe I think she might've been into me a little. But we don't even speak the same language and we fly home in 3 days."
"Ah, but what can you do in 3 days hyung," Jungkook asked, eyebrows wiggling.
"JK, what do you know about all of this stuff?"
"Not as much as I'd like but enough to know you can fit a lot into 3 days, or nights, and a lot of it you don't have to speak the same language for."
"Jungkookie! I have LOTS of questions for you now," Jin laughed as his dongsaeng smirked at him.
"I may be the youngest but I know enough," Jungkook grinned back. "Like, how to take an opportunity when it appears," he continued, nodding his head in the direction of Marley as she came their way. "And I'll be off to find Tae," he said, bowing as Marley arrived in front of them, sending a smirk to Jin as he disappeared into the crowd.
"I'm holding this tray very carefully," Marley said, smiling at Jin as she did and he laughed.
"Thank you. But I would do that all again."
Her smile dropped as he spoke, replaced by an expression that sent a zing through him, enough to make him brave, enough to make him speak before he could stop himself. "Marley, can I have your phone number?"
"You mean this one," she asked, taking a piece of folded paper from her pocket and handing it to him.
She'd come prepared, he wasn't imagining the attraction.
"And now sir, did you want to try one of these delicious amuse-bouche," she asked, eliciting a grin.
"Of course," he replied as he took a couple, grinning back as she danced away with a wiggle of her hips. Popping them in his mouth he opened the note, reading the message that accompanied the phone number.
"Next time I help with your shirt, I hope it's with the buttons," and his chest constricted as he took a deep breath. Well now, this event was definitely not as boring as he'd thought and he pocketed the note, looking forward to the rest of the night.