Therapist • KTH ✔

8. Drop The Honorifics

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There are no accidental meetings between souls.
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Taehyung got us a private dining room even though he didn't make a table reservation earlier. I expected this since he wouldn't be able to eat in a dining hall where many people ate. He spoke at the front desk and asked for a specific waiter—maybe the one who usually served Taehyung whenever he dined here. Taehyung seemed to navigate the place with familiarity.

The waiter guided us to our dining room, and I walked around following Taehyung. The private dining room was small but big enough for two people. Neatly decorated with simple traditional paintings on the wall, the room had a traditional Asian style, low dining table with two seating cushions laid out on the floor on either side of the table.

We both removed our footwear outside the dining room and entered the room, closing the door behind us and sitting at the table facing each other thereafter.

Taking off his mask, Taehyung got comfortable and spoke first,
"Do you like this place, doctor?"

I put aside my shoulder bag and nodded with a smile.
"It looks beautiful and feels like home. I like it a lot."

"I used to come here often. It's been so long since I came here though," he smiled, ruffling his hair.

"That's nice," I smiled back.

"This restaurant is very special to me. I have a lot of memories here, and the food is amazing too," he spoke excitedly.

"Thank you for bringing me to a place that is special to you. I feel so honoured," I placed my right hand over my heart and bowed to him, thanking him for the sweet gesture.

Taehyung chuckled.
"Are we being too polite and formal to each other?" He asked, his soul-stirring voice sounding like honey to my ears.

"Uhm.. yeah, we are being a little awkward. I guess since it's our first time meeting outside?" I stated the obvious as I was still a little nervous.

He nodded calmly.
"Please be comfortable around me."

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I just smiled at him, in fact, I never stopped smiling the entire time.

By now, I mentally confirmed that the amazing smell was from him as I could still smell it inside the dining room.

There was a knock at the door, and the waiter entered with the food. These restaurants usually served food in many parts, but Taehyung had apparently requested them to bring everything at once and not disturb us after that. So, all the food, side dishes, and drinks arrived at once.

"Let's eat well today," Taehyung picked up his chopsticks and said in a cheerful tone. Food really did seem to make him happier.

"Yeah. Let's eat well," I smiled and nodded, picking up my chopsticks.

We began eating, and the silence in the room was filled in just by the sounds of chopsticks clinking on Chinaware, and us munching food, and Taehyung occasionally humming in approval of the flavors.

After a while, he asked me,
"Doctor, may I ask you how old you are?"

After all these months in Korea, I was aware that Koreans usually asked for someone's age so that they could decide whether or not to use honorifics.

But still, please nooo!!

Swallowing the blob of rice in my mouth, I answered casually,
"Why not? I turned 31 this year."

Taehyung's eyes flew from his plate to my face, his eyebrows raised and mouth forming into a adorable little pout.
"You did? I thought you were 25 or something," he sounded surprised.