A Wistful Summer's Night

Chapter 9: What are we?

It's been two weeks.

Two whole freaking weeks!

And nothing has happened, absolutely nothing more has developed between Jimin and me. The date at the beach was beyond perfection but that's been it, just one date. We're still talking and we're still extremely flirty with each other but...where do we stand exactly?

Movies make it look so easy, you go on a date, you kiss, you spend the night together...

And everything ends happily!

We're good friends but I think I'd like to be more than that with him but does he feel the same? He's an actor, a celebrity and I'm just a nobody.

He's the one who asked you out on a date.

That doesn't mean anything though! People go on dates all the time and it doesn't lead anywhere. I've got first-hand experience in that department. Urgh!

"There you are!" I hear Jin call but I don't move from the bench. We're shooting on location at a park today.

"Here," He holds a bottle of iced tea in front of my face.

"Ah, thank-ow!" He drops the bottle and it lands square on my big toe. I pull my foot up onto the bench and rub my toe. "What was that for?"

He joins me on the bench and picks up the bottle off the floor "Cuz you're in a mood."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are. You're stewing over something." He eyes me carefully "Spill."

I open the iced tea "It's nothing..."

"Layla."

I sigh "Fine! It's a guy, okay?"

"A guy!?"

Shit! No, it's okay, I just won't mention it's Jimin. I cough "I-uh went on a blind date."

"When!? Why wasn't I informed?"

"I didn't think you'd care." I take a sip of my drink.

"You remember the fact I'm your friend right?"

"Sorry, anyway we went on this date a couple of weeks ago but..."  I look away.

"What's wrong? Is he an ass? Want me to beat him up?" He raises his fist in the air.

I laugh "As if you'd ever beat someone up. No, he's not an ass I'm just confused is all."

"Confused about what?"

"How am I supposed to know if...if things are going in the direction I want them to go in?"

"And that direction is?"

"Well, I guess I'd like it if we were official..."

"So what's the problem then?"

"We've been on one date and that was two whole weeks ago!" I pout.

"He ghosted you?"

"Wha-no! We're still talking and we're flirty..."

He puts his hand on my shoulder "Layla, Layla, Layla."

"What?"

"It's quite obvious what you need to do." He stands to his feet.

"And that is?"

"You need to ask him on a date!"

"Why do I have to be the one?"

He pulls a face "This is the 21st century you know, you can't expect the guy to just organise everything. Show him you care, ask him first. He'll like that, shows you're interested."

I groan and put my face into my hands "Ugh, why is this whole dating thing so confusing."

Jin laughs "So you like this guy huh?"

My cheeks burn "Yeah...I do."

"Layla likes who?" Jungkook pipes up from the bottom of the path and joins us.

"Uhh."

"Dogs! Labradors to be precise, we were just going over our favourite dog breeds." Jin says quickly.

"Ooh, in that case, I like Dobermans. They're cool looking." Jungkook replies.

"Dobermans? They're kinda scary."

"No, they're not!"

Jin winks at me and I mouth a 'thank you' at him. I sigh. Ask Jimin on a date. I can do that, I can so do that...

...

I peer around the bush and see Jimin talking to his manager "So after today's shoot you've got a photo shoot and an interview."

Jimin groans slightly "Hey, c'mon it's for the drama." Hobi scolds.

"I know it's just last time the photographer was kinda weird..."

"Weird in what way?"

"He kept insisting everything had to be perfect. I was there for nearly four hours only for him to pick two pictures!

Okay Layla this is it. You can do this, just be casual. Casual, casual...

"Ji-"

"Jimin!"

I throw myself back behind the bush and land hard on my butt. I quickly put my hands over my mouth. "Oh Esther," Jimin says.

Esther!? The Esther!? I carefully peek from behind the bush, gosh no wonder she's the main actress in this she's drop-dead gorgeous. Long voluminous luscious black hair that frames her perfect v-shaped face and her doe-like deep brown eyes.

"So Jimin, I thought we could go to dinner together and practice our lines?" She holds her hands together and smiles sweetly.

"Oh, tonight is not such a good night sorry..."

"Aw please, can't you free up your schedule for me?" She pouts and wraps her arms around Jimin's arm. He looks off to the side, his face unsure of what to do. My chest twists slightly at seeing Esther holding Jimin like that.

"Okay, then how about this?" Esther holds her finger up in the air "A lot of the cast including Han-Wool and Man-Shik are going for Korean BBQ this weekend, would that be okay?"

Jimin rubs the back of his neck "Oh really? I'll see if I can make some time." He looks at Hobi.

"Ah right, we really need to get ready for our next appointment. It was nice seeing you, Miss Lee." Hobi says politely.

Esther lets go of Jimin's arm and waves him off as he and Hobi walk down the path, she also turns on the spot and walks back from where she came from. I sit down behind the bush pull my knees to my chest and rest my head on my knees.

I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. I mean who am I kidding, compared to Esther Lee? She's a far better choice than me.

This sucks.