Catch 22 - JJK (21+)

Chapter 30 - Busan

ARIA

"We have about a four hour drive ahead of us, so make yourself comfortable." Jungkook looked over at me from the driver's seat, his eyes filled with warmth.

We'd gotten a late start on our day, waking up at almost noon, but after our chat on the balcony, packing a few things at my place and his, and grabbing a bite to eat, we were ready to set out on our little adventure.

"Wow, and you take this drive a couple times a month to see your mom?"

"Usually, I take the KTX when I visit her. The trip is much faster, and I use that two and a half hours to study or sleep. Maybe next time, once I graduate and we're able to be together more openly, and maybe when you're ready to meet my mom," he looked over again briefly with his brow raised and his pouty pink lips curled into a cheeky smile, "we'll take the train so you can have the full experience... and so I can focus all my attention on you instead of driving."

He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, being playful and sweet, but I couldn't help feeling uneasy. I sighed as I averted my gaze to my hands linked tightly together in my lap.

"What's wrong, love?  Why the sad face?"

"It's just that these are the things I worry about. You having to alter your life because of the nature of our relationship. You should be able to take the train with your girlfriend. You should be able to take her to meet your mom. You shouldn't have to—"

"Stop," he interrupted, shaking his head and gently placing his finger over my lips to silence me. "Ari, I'm not missing out on anything by being with you. If anything you've given me more than I could have ever asked for. There's no one in this world I would rather be with right now more than you. Having you beside me makes this drive totally worth it. We are going to have a blast this weekend, so no sad faces or second guessing, okay?"

Gosh, I love this man. He always knows the exact right thing to say to get me out of my head and back into my heart. I blew out a puff of breath reminding myself not to ruin our romantic getaway by over thinking something as minuscule as the mode of transportation we were using to get there. I was beyond thrilled that he'd asked me to go to Busan with him and that we were driving. I'd never been on a road trip with a guy, so this was yet another first I was getting to experience with him.

"You're right."

Leaning in, he puckered his lips, silently demanding a kiss. Cupping his face, I pressed my lips against his, melting into his kiss and allowing it to fully consume me for a moment. "That's my baby," he praised, starting the engine.

We spent what was left of our daylight hours driving. I'd heard the route from Seoul to Busan wasn't the most scenic, but I guess that's all a matter of perception. Or maybe it was just being with Jungkook that made me love every minute of it. Everything I did with him made me feel so young and wild and free.

I captured as much of the scenery as I could on my phone, oohing and ahhing over the ever changing backdrop of mountains and hills and cityscapes and countrysides. The entire scene was so picturesque. I even snapped a few selfies with Jungkook as he drove. Only the side of his face was visible in most of them, but I didn't care. I just wanted tangible memories of moments like these with the man I love.

For the first few hours, we jammed out to music, sang songs and laughed together while I talked Jungkook's ear off in between. I was so excited about our weekend away that I don't know how ever settled down enough to doze off, but I must have at some point because it was dark and we'd already arrived at our hotel when the sound of Jungkook's angelic voice roused me from my slumber.