Under the lights tonight || Park Jimin

16

Aunt Mae has gone overboard getting me dressed, a tight dress, taller heels than I ever thought I could walk in, a full face of makeup and she straightened my bleach blonde hair perfectly. I was more dressed up than I intended but after checking out the place that Jimin said to meet him at, I'm glad she did. I would've been out of place, not that I cared but I would rather not have Jimin get embarrassed by me and make a scene. The taxi ride was making me more anxious by the minute, I just hope that Jimin doesn't see this as a date. We are just two adults getting drinks. The taxi speeds to a stop, I pay the driver before getting out and approaching the door nervously. I don't like this kind of stuff, I would rather be asleep right now. I open the door and I'm greeted with the low lights of the bar, the place wasn't a place I would frequent. It was way above the price point I would normally stick to but knowing Jimin, he picked this place because a place like this was a way to guarantee more privacy.

I wander through the bar, the walls painted a charcoal grey and a black accent wall was behind the bar where the bottles and glass are lined up. I couldn't help but marvel at the beautiful place, it was surely an expensive place. I wander over to the bar, taking a seat on the corner where I could keep an eye on the door for Jimin. I sit at the bar, placing my clutch on the counter before moving to fiddle with my phone anxiously. I don't know why I'm so nervous, this was just adults being friends. This is just a friendly occasion.

"Hi there," The bartender greets, "What can I get you?"

"Oh um..." I trail off awkwardly, "I'm waiting for someone."

"Ah," The man behind the bar nods, "Sounds like a first date to me. I'll get you water while you wait."

"Oh, it's not a date." I correct and he rolls his eyes, "But water would be nice."

"What's a lovely lady like you doing alone tonight?" A deep voice, one that obviously doesn't belong to Jimin greets me. I look up thinking it's gonna be the bartender speaking to me but instead, I turn to the side to see a handsome man standing beside me. He was quite tall, had dark hair with the kindest eyes, who was dressed in a lovely all-black suit with no tie. It was casual like he just got off work, although it was a bit late for that.

"Oh hi..." I barely squeak out with a wave.

"Is this seat taken?" He gestures to the stool beside me.

"I-" I stutter, not as confident in my Korean as I used to be, hoping I wouldn't be stumbling over my words, "I'm actually waiting for someone."

"Well," The man looks around, "Doesn't look like he's around?" The man raises an eyebrow and takes a seat.

"He's gonna be here soon." I glance over my shoulder looking around the bar, placing my hand over the top of my drink.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Ana. Yours?" You asked trying to be polite.

"Kihyun," He nods, "Let me keep you company until then," His hand finds its way to the exposed skin of my knee and I shrug my leg away but his hand keeps finding its way back, "Just let me wait with you a little longer..." His hand shoots up my leg, almost at the hem of my dress.

"Can you stop?" I swat away his hand and the man gets irritated at my rejection of his advances.
"What's wrong Ana?" The man sneers, "Why-"

He was cut off by another voice, "There you are baby..." Then I felt a hand on my lower back, I flinched a little before turning to look at the person beside me. There stood Jimin, wearing a fitted pair of black slacks and a white button-up tucked into the pants. The sleeves were rolled up and his brown hair was touselled like he was in a hurry to get here. I relaxed into his touch realizing it was him. Normally I wouldn't be alright with him touching me like that, but after the other man's advances, I was relieved for it to be him.

"You're late..." I sneer, irritated with Jimin's tardiness.

"I know," He pecks the top of my head while I fight an eye roll, "Rehearsal ran late."

I flick my wrist up to see my watch, "30 minutes late?"

"Sorry baby," He kisses my head once more, easily taking advantage of the fact I wasn't going to stop him, "Who's this?" He gestures to the man beside me. The nickname irritates me more than anything. Who does he think he is?

"Oh, this is Kihyun." I force a smile out and Kihyun looks uncomfortable, "I met him here."

"I-" Kihyun stutters, "I should be going. It was nice meeting you." He practically runs away.