November 3, 2019
Jake handed Bella her pepper pork bun once they got settled in the bench. "Here you go, Princess." In front of them, closer to the North Gate, a few people were taking pictures around the gate.
"Thanks, my Prince." She gladly received the white paper wrapper with Mandarin markings on it. Pushing the bun to the surface, she saw that the bun had sesame seeds on top of it. Bella took a bite and tasted its pulled pork filling. "Oh my, this is so good."
Jake bit into his own bun. "I absolutely agree. That is really good."
Bella looked at the North Gate. She remembered how she first met Jake. "Jake, could I ask you something?"
Jake swallowed. "Of course, Princess."
"Do you dabble in Photography?"
"It is one of my hobbies, yes. Why do you ask?"
"I saw the pictures you took at the memorial. They were so amazingly done. Couldn't believe it was from a mobile phone."
"I'll take that compliment." He beamed. "We could take some more pictures here at the North Gate, if you want."
"I'd like that. Throw in a few of us in it too?" She suggested.
"You have a clicker, right?"
Bella nodded and bit into her bun again. "Did you take classes for it?"
"I asked a few friends for tips."
"Hmmm..." Bella chewed and continued to eat the pepper pork bun. Jake did the same.
Having their fill, Jake collected their trash and stood up to throw it in a nearby bin. "I'll be right back" he said.
Bella nodded and went to watch the few people around the North Gate. She reapplied her pink lip tint and sat there in silence, appreciating how peaceful it was even if it was right beside a highly passable road. She closed her eyes to feel the cool breeze on her face. There was something about sitting here in the middle of an urbanized city with the cool wind caressing her face that made her feel a sense of peace and calm.
"Someday, I'm going to come back Taipei. Wait for me." She promised to herself.
"Take me with you." Jake said, coming back with two bottles of water. She noticed that he had worn his face mask again.
"Like on some sort of scientific mission?"
"I'll even volunteer to be the guinea pig." He joked, handing Bella one bottle.
"The real question is if we ever have the same vacation schedule." Bella stated. "I get the impression that you're even busier than a bee with his queen threatening to prick him with his own stinger if he didn't get in line."
"What kind of a morbid reference is that, Princess?" Jake laughed.
She took a sip of water. "One that may or may not describe you."
Jake suddenly turned serious. "I honestly don't get many days off. It's not like my brothers and I can file a leave of absence for a few days. It needs to be approved by our president plus our schedules are set about a year ahead. From what I remember, I won't have even three days to myself well into December next year."
"You did mention that your contracts were a little stifling but I never thought it was that crazy!"
Jake reached for her hand. "If you do come to Seoul, I will pay for everything and I swear I'll try my best to make time for you. It would help If you told me about it at least three months ahead."
"I make no promises." Bella said, honestly. "My next trip is in March to Malacca and then another one to Hong Kong in August. Seoul may have to be in 2021."
Jake's face dropped. "A full year, it sounds like."
"Hey." Bella lifted his chin. "I had no idea I'd meet you here and make a friend from Seoul, which means anything is possible. Before you, Korean culture and music weren't exactly on my radar. A lot of people that I know are into K-pop but nothing really sparked my interest. Well, you and BTS."
"You like their music?"
"I've only listened to about three songs and I got to say I really appreciate their music."
"Did you watch their music videos?" Jake wanted to know.
Bella shook her head. "No, not yet. I'm not too keen on watching music videos honestly. Listening to songs is enough for me."
Jake seemed to release a breath that he was holding. "You ready to take pictures?", he motioned to the North Gate in front of them.
"Yes."
Jake took her hand and led Bella to a spot in front of the gate. He took his phone out and started snapping pictures with the two of them in the frame. Bella adjusted her position depending on the angles.
"Do you mind if I drape my arm over your shoulder?" He asked for permission.
She raised his left arm and stepped into his space, in response. She looked at him and smiled. He smiled right back at her. They took a few more pictures with his phone that way. Gradually, Jake stepped into his role as photographer asking Bella for her phone and selfie stick. Just as they had done at the Chiang Kai-Shek memorial, Jake directed Bella through poses. In some of them, she was close to the tourist attraction. In others, she was a few steps away and looking at it.
Jake jogged over to Bella and placed his sunglasses on her face. "Don't look now but we seem to have an audience.", he bent down and whispered into her ear.
Bella instinctively looked around and saw that a small group had indeed gathered, seemingly watching their impromptu photo shoot.
He held her small face in his hands and stared into her eyes through the sunglasses. "You're doing great, Princess. You take directions very well. Just a few more and then we can go somewhere else."
Bella suddenly felt anxious but nodded.
Jake went back to snapping more pictures. After a few more minutes, Jake jogged back to Bella. "I think we got enough. Hope one or two in there will make you happy." He handed her her phone and selfie stick back. She placed them in her sling bag.
"I'm sure I'll find one." Bella chuckled, removing his glasses.
He stopped her. "Keep it. They look better on you, anyway."
"Jake. This is Balenciaga."
He laughed. "I know, I bought them."
Bella laughed along with him. "I know you did, silly. But they're expensive. I can't take them."
"You can and you will." He insisted.
She stared him down. He held her gaze. They stood that way for several seconds. Jake broke first bending down to kiss Bella's forehead through his face mask.
"It would really make me happy to know that some small part of me is with you, even when I'm not. Accept it, please." He pleaded.
Bella thought about it for a second more. "You promise this doesn't have some sort of tracker on it?"
Jake burst out laughing. "Not that I'm aware of, Princess." He pulled her into a hug and rested his chin on her head. Bella wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest.
The sun was high in the sky and shining brightly on both of them but the wind was blowing and the air was cool. They both stayed that way for a few more seconds. Bella stepped back first.
"I'm glad my hair is in a bun. That wind is pretty strong." She remarked.
"You look beautiful." Jake told her, taking her hand in his. "C'mon let's go over to the park."
"Lead the way, my prince."
They walked away from the North Gate and towards the fork in the road. Jake led Bella towards the street on the right, stopping briefly to throw their empty bottles of water into a bin. They walked in silence, passing a temple and a museum. Finally, they got to a park with a sign that read "228 Peace Park."
