Under the lights tonight || Park Jimin

23

"I can't believe I'm really going to lunch with you guys," I mutter looking out the window of the suburban that was taking us to the restaurant, "I really don't want to." I roll my eyes, it was bad enough hearing all the gossip from those girls while getting dressed up like a doll. At least today Stella dressed me semi-normal, I was wearing jeans and a white off-the-shoulder sweater. Although the jeans are bell bottoms. Stella wore a pair of black cargo pants and a very oversized t-shirt from some rapper, that she listens to which was over a bright red long sleeve shirt.
"They've got a table already," Liliya says looking up from her phone as the car stops, "Let's go." We all file out of the car and onto the sidewalk. I sigh as I follow behind the other girls, who seem excited to see their boyfriends and friends. I on the other hand would rather be anywhere else but here. We walked through the building to the back, where there was a private room that they had gotten for all of us. Noelia opens the door to reveal Taehyung then Jungkook then an empty chair then Namjoon who had Yoongi sitting on his other side, then an empty chair at the end. On the other side of the table had Hoseok sitting beside another girl I've never met then Jin followed by an empty chair then Jimin who left an empty seat beside him at the end of the table.
"Hi!" Noelia waves as she walks in first, taking a seat beside Jin who immediately turns to her to gossip about whatever the two bonds over.

"Hi Lil," Namjoon greets his girlfriend as she comes around the side of the table, standing to kiss her cheek and pull out her chair for her, "I missed you."

"I left you this morning." She rolls her eyes sitting down.

Stella skipped around the table to Yoongi, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, "Hi Yoon..." She smiled before sitting down beside him, it was weird to see him blush as he did.

I sighed as I reluctantly took the seat beside Jimin, who immediately says, "I'm glad you came." I nod in response.

"Hi everyone." I wave.

"Long time no see!" Taehyung jokes, "How are you?"

"I'm alright," I nod, trying to be polite, "How are you?"

"Pretty good." He nods with a smile.
"Wait," Noelia startles the whole table, "Have you met Amelina?"
"I have not," I answer, peaking down the table.

"I'm Amelina," She smiles, "You can call me Mel though."

"Nice to meet you," I smile, "I'm Ana."
"Oh so you're the Ana, Jimin keeps talking about." She giggles and I blush embarrassed that he keeps talking about me.
"Whatever Mel." Jimin shakes his head, blushing at her statement.
"He hasn't stopped talking about you since he met you," Mel adds, "I knew it wouldn't be so long before I met you."
"Jimin was killing me, 'How do I get her to forgive me?' or 'Should I call her or do you think she's still mad?'" Namjoon laughs.
"I wasn't acting crazy." Jimin blushes.

"You literally wouldn't stop talking about her." Jungkook adds, "You were swearing that you were going to get her to be your girlfriend."

"Seems like you aren't doing so well on that front." Taehyung rolls his eyes, bringing his drink to his lips.
"So what brings you to Seoul?" Jin asks, cutting off the teasing of Jimin.

"She's from Seoul remember?" Jungkook cuts in with an eye roll, "Probably visiting family."

"Well, it's something like that." I shrug, "My dad passed away so I'm here for that."
"Oh, I'm so sorry." Hoseok was the one to speak up as everyone else sat with a blank face, not sure what to say next.

"It's alright," I shrug, "I really only came to see the rest of my family." I pause, feeling a hand reach into my lap, to find my hand. I look down and see Jimin lacing his fingers with mine. It was a comforting gesture even though I'm still upset with him. We all pause to order as the server comes over, everyone ordering a mix between breakfast and lunch options.

As soon as the server is gone, "Nice I bet everyone is happy to see you," Namjoon seems to sense my discomfort and changes the subject, "How long are you here?"
"It's undetermined right now." I shrug, "I'm trying to get back to New York as soon as possible though." With that, the whole table dissolves into their conversations. I sit silently watching

Jimin apprehensively, while he talks with everyone at the table.

His hand squeezes mine gently, bringing me out of my thoughts, "You alright?"

"Fine." I smile softly, "Still angry with you." I whisper.

"But you're still holding my hand?" He grins.

"Shut up." I scoff and roll my eyes.

"So Mel you just came back from a trip right?" Jimin looks over to the only unfamiliar person at the table, "I didn't think you were going to be here today. Where did you go again?"
She shrugs, "I went to Italy and saw the sea of D's but I came back early."

"What is the sea of D's?" Taehyung asked, cocking his head to the side.

Mel grinned, "Sea if Deez nuts fit in your mouth." Stella and Liliya burst out laughing, Taehyung just looked embarrassed while everyone else was stunned. I roll my eyes. Great another person to make jokes like a middle schoolboy.
"Anyway," Noelia rolls her eyes, "How's work?" She redirects Mel.

"Well it's pretty boring," She shrugs, "We don't have any comebacks planned so I don't really have anything to choreograph, just make the groups practice."

"Oh, you're a choreographer?" I ask, reaching for the glass of water in front of me, not sure when it arrived.

"Yeah, I work at JYP with mainly their girl groups." Mel smiles.

"You must have studied dance for years," I nod, "That must be a nice job, some of us had to quit our hobbies like that."
"I do love it," Mel smiles, rolling her eyes, "What do you do?"

"I'm a sales representative at a boutique in New York," I sigh, "I'm working on becoming a designer for the boutique too."

"You design?" Jin raises an eyebrow.
"Yeah," I nod, "I went to school for it and I love doing it."
"Her designs are amazing!" Stella hypes me up, "I would love to wear anything she designs."

"You should send me some designs sometime," Liliya says, "I would love to see them and maybe commission some outfits for the next come back!"

My jaw drops, "Really?" The idea of one of the biggest groups in the world wearing my designs would absolutely help my career.

"Of course." Liliya shrugs, "I think it would be cool to put them in one-of-a-kind designs made just for them."

"That would be so cool," I nod, "I'll have to get some designs over to you."

"Yeah of course!" Liliya smiles as Namjoon leans over to whisper something in her ear. The whole group dispersed into their conversations. I finally take a moment to breathe, it feels like I can relax again.

I spoke too soon because as soon as I lean back in my chair, my phone starts to ring, "Of course." I huff, picking it up.
"Who's calling?" Jimin whispers, squeezing my hand.

I flip it over, "Hye."

"Who's Hye?" Jimin narrows his eyes.

"My boyfriend," I lie, pulling my hand out of his, "I need to answer this." I get up and excuse myself from the table.