Sun and Moon

Nine

"Is the restaurant within walking distance?" I asked, not wanting to have to let him go any time soon. "Mmm, no, it's not far but a little far for walking," he hummed.

"So where do you live in South Korea?" I asked. "I'm embarrassed to say I don't know a whole lot about it, but I've always wanted to visit Seoul."

Hope hugged me a little tighter, smiling down at me. "I'm from a city named Gwangju, but I live in Seoul now. It's beautiful there."

I smiled at him. "I bet it is. Do you miss it when you're not home?"

He looked up at the sky thoughtfully. "Yes and no. I like LA. It's always exciting to get a chance to visit here. I like the vibe and the music here. I like collaborating with American artists and meeting people. And now there's a particular person I'm attached to in LA," he said, tickling my side.

We had arrived at the car and I pulled away from him, giggling as he tickled me and dancing out of his reach, but his reflexes were too fast. He pulled me back to him and hugged me tightly, burying his face in my hair for a second before letting me go and pulling open the car door for me. He helped me in, his hand on my waist again. I didn't think feeling his long fingers on me would ever cease to make me have goosebumps. He gave me a quick peck on the lips and shut the door, going around to his side to get in.

Once he got in and started driving, I brought up my question again.

"So what parts do you miss?" I asked hesitantly, not wanting to make him sad. He was thoughtful for a minute, staring out at the road and turning the wheel smoothly with one hand. "Well, I miss the familiar things that make it home, you know? The food and my family. Right now, it's especially hard because of the holidays coming up. Seoul is decorated so beautifully for Christmas. The city streets come to life at night and there are Christmas trees and sculptures on the streets in the city and places for photo opportunities. I love taking photos." I nodded, having already noticed that about him, thinking it was adorable.

We pulled up to the restaurant. It was a small, but chic looking place. There were dim lights on but no customers were inside. I wondered if this was the right place.

"That sounds magical," I said smiling over at him. And it did. I wished I was going somewhere like that for Christmas this year. As it was, I was looking at a very lonely Christmas in LA. My only family was in Chicago with my best friend and the one person I had known well enough to spend Christmas with in LA was Daniel.

Hope helped me out of the car and laced his hand in mine again as we walked. "Hope, are you sure it's open still?" I asked uncertainly.

"Well technically it is past business hours, but the owner is a friend. I asked him to stay open for us." I looked up at him in surprise, wondering just how little I knew about him after all.

He smiled at me and pulled on his mask, as I pulled mine out of my purse and did the same. I shook my head. "A friend, hmm?"

He laughed cutely and knocked on the door, letting go of my hand. A middle aged man with close shorn hair and a neat black mask opened the door and greeted us.

"Hoseok! How are you, man?"

"I'm good, bro. I'm good. How have you been?" Hope's eyes crinkled above his mask.

"Good now that the doors are open again! It sucks opening up a new restaurant in LA right before the pandemic hits, you know?"

Hope smiled, his eyes tight. "I can only imagine. Glad you're able to be open again!" He turned towards me. "Peter, this is Luna." I smiled and waved.

"It's a pleasure," Peter smiled, his eyes disappearing behind full cheeks. "This way, this way," he waved as he walked us down a small hallway near the bar at the back of the restaurant. I realized as we went, the restaurant was bigger than what first met the eye, as there was a private back room set for two.