Under the lights tonight || Park Jimin

7

"Ana?" I look up to see Robert, a guy that I met through Stella when she dragged me on a double date a few months ago. Then Stella proceeded to drag me out with them at least half a dozen times. It's awkward because I have been dodging his calls for weeks.

"Oh hi, Rob," I plaster a fake smile on my face, "What a surprise to see you here." It was a surprise since we were not on the upper east side where he spends all his time. Great, now I have to see two men today that I don't want to see.

"Oh yeah," He smiles, "I'm showing some brownstone over on 6th today."

"Oh, that's great."

"Yeah, you know that street is like prime real estate these days." He rambles, "Hows the hotel business?'"

I bite back my tongue from making a snide comment, "That's actually Stella who works at the hotel..." I trail off awkwardly.

"Oh right," Rob nods, "Sorry honest mistake. You work in a shop?" I nod, hoping he would get the hint to leave, thinking that my silence would make him leave. Instead, he asks another question, "How's that?"

"Just lovely," I answer dryly.

"We ought to catch up," He suggests, "Is this seat taken?" He asks, looking at the booth across from me.

"Oh sorry I'm waiting for someone," I put my bookmark into the book and slip it into my bag, "He should be here soon." I look at my watch again. My watch now says half past 9, Jimin was probably regretting even asking and I wasn't going to see him.

"Well, what if I keep you company until they're here? You know since we haven't been able to talk in a while." Robert jokes.

"I guess that would be alright," I give in seeing that he clearly wasn't going anywhere anytime soon, "I've just been too busy."

"Not too busy to meet whoever you're meeting for coffee..." Rob jokes but his tone was a little angry.

"He's just an old friend..." I smile. I didn't want to come to this coffee shop and I knew I shouldn't have but if I was here, Jimin could at least show up and save me from this conversation.

"He? Who is he?" Rob questions, "If you don't mind me asking." He adds with a fake polite tone.

"He's a friend from when I was a teenager," I lie but it was kind of true because I did first learn about Jimin as a teenager but he was not a friend, this was my second time meeting him, "I haven't talked to him in a while." I lie again.

"Seems like you don't talk to a lot of people..." His tone was snide.

"I'm just busy." I snap.

"Clearly," he huffs, "Since you're avoiding my calls."

"I am not avoiding your calls, I'm busy." I lie again.

"Not too busy to answer his calls," Rob snaps and I look towards the door at just the right time to see Jimin come in. I wave and Jimin smiles, coming over, "Oh is that your friend?" Rob follows my eyes.

"Yeah," I smile, looking over to Jimin who now stood in front of the table, holding something behind his back, "Hi Jimin." I greet him in Korean.

"I'm so sorry I'm late," He apologizes quickly, "I had to get Jungkook to cover for me when I snuck out."

"That's fine," I answer before switching to English, "I'll have to talk to you another time Rob, it was nice seeing you." I smile.

"Mhm," he hums standing up, "I see why you like him more than me." Rob snaps.