A GUIDE TO DATING MIN YOONGI

Lesson 8: Cafe Date

"I can't believe I'm agreeing to this..." I mumble to myself in both regret and commiseration.
I've unbuckled my seatbelt but I sit waiting in the car staring at the cafe sign in front of me. The almost fall weather fits the woody and homey vibe of it but it's too warm outside for a hot coffee.
They don't open until 9am which is precisely the time Yoongi asked to meet up.
I check the time, it's 8:57.
I scroll on Instagram for a bit while I wait. I only really follow my friends on here and my account is private. I rarely have any posts but that's how I like it. Also I'd rather not have my parents find and stalk my account.
I refresh my home page and my top recommended post was from Jungkook yesterday. It's a photo of two drink side by side and the caption: After work drink with you
I like the post. I'm glad things are going well with him and his situationship. I mentally thank him for letting me borrow his car to meet with Yoongi. I realize I'd totally forgotten about going inside the cafe.
Remembering what I'm here for, I check the time.
9:00.
I quickly get out of the car and I'm about to walk into the cafe until I realize I'd left my wallet in the glove box.
I grab it, lock the car again and head inside.
The ac is perfectly cold and tinkers me onto the edge of getting goosebumps. Contrastingly, the inside smells like warm coffee brewing. It replicates the look and feel of a log cabin.
An employee greets me and I scan the room for an empty seat where I could wait for Yoongi.
"You're late." I hear a familiar voice from the table in the corner.
I walk over to Yoongi, who is the only other customer.
"You said 9, didn't you?" I sit down across from him.
He shows me his phone screen, "It's 9:01."
"Same difference," I reply. Yoongi looks as if he's going to argue but is cut off by the waitress who swings by with our menus.
"I'll just get an iced americano." I say. Yoongi gets one too along with a small piece of some cake.
"You're getting cake?" I ask him as the waitress walks away with our menus and orders. "It's not even lunch yet."
He glared at me with a blank stare as if to ask 'Do you think I care?'
He then quickly changed the subject, "Did you read and memorize the paper I gave you?"
"Uh yeah kinda." I said honestly. I had looked over it a few times with Jungkook, pretty much being jealous over his achievements and status.
"When's my birthday?" He asked.
"What? Uh March? I think ninth?"
"What year?"
"1994?"
"93."
"Close enough."
He let out a deep sigh, "No, you have to know this."
I awkwardly sat there, I felt as if I've done something wrong. If I had known I was going to be tested today, I would've studied.
"Well the date is next week anyways, I'll just have it remembered by then."
He opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off.
"Yes," I sighed, "I will be going. But I really need some quick cash for my schooling."
He stared at me with a slight smirk on his lips.
"How much are we talking?" He asks.
"A thousand...," my lips dry up as soon as I say it. "I know it's a lot. If it's too much, I'm okay with just 800." I don't know why but I felt so guilty even when this man is headed to be one of the richest men in Korea. However, I still gulp and bite my tongue. His deep stare and furrowed brows were also not helping.
"Deal." He said casually.
"Huh?"
"Easy, deal. The money's yours after today." The waitress had arrived with our drinks but I'm so confused by how nonchalant he is that I forget to thank her.
I want to ask him about it but I just quietly sip my americano. I forget he's a Nepo baby sometimes.
"I have something to tell you though, Jimin." He says as he swirls his drink and the ice clink against the glass.
"Yeah?"
"I told you the date was next Friday. But uh," he poked at his cake, "I actually brought you out here today because the plans for Friday got canceled."
"So I can't be paid?" I feel my chance slipping away.
"No you still will be. The hangout got moved."
I sipped my drink, "when did it get moved to? I can't do Sundays no matter what."
He scrunched his nose quickly and looked down at his watch, "It's actually today in about...5 minutes."
I choked on the cold coffee, "What?!What do you mean?!"
He sighed, "I thought you'd never agree to a date so I just forced you here without prior knowledge."
I rubbed my throat through loud coughs which were starting to grab the attention of the very few employees. A few costumers had entered by now and they were eyeing us as if I'd choke and die this instant.
"Why would you do that?!" I asked, frustration bubbling inside me. I started pushing my chair back. "I'm leaving. I came here to tell you what I wanted to. Pick a date for another day because this is unfair." I started to stand but he grabbed my arm.
"Please just stay for today?" He pleaded, "These are kids my age but they're also sons of important people my dad knows. I need to use them."
I looked down at my wrist which he had a good grip on, then to his face. His eyebrows were furrowed but otherwise he was good at keeping a blank demeanor.
"Let go," I said, "I don't care about your situation. You led me to believe this was just a short meeting. There was no reason to trick me like that, I'm leaving." I try to lightly nudge my arm out but he doesn't let go.
His nose scrunches again for a quick second before he looked back up to me.
"I'll pay you. More than a thousand. You need more money for school or church? I'll make it two thousand. How about that?"
I stop my movements, and stare wide-eyes into his dark eyes. Two thousand? He can just drop that much money for one date? I slowly lick my lips in thought. That amount of money would be enough for my dorming and to pay for necessities in America.
Suddenly, a group of three guys appear next to us.
I see Yoongi look up at them with a fake smile.
"Hey Yoongi!" One of them says, "long time no see." The three of them eye me. "Who's this?"
Yoongi lets go of my wrist. He glanced back at me with a smile I'd never seen before. It's not cocky or a smart smirk. His eyes become half moons and his teeth show so cutely. It's lovely. It's just a glance before he looks to his friends again.
"Him?" He says, "He's Jaehyun. Choi Jaehyun. I've met him at church and he's my boyfriend."
The three guys laugh while I bite on the inside of my lip until a bump is formed inside my mouth.
"Is that what you've been up to these days while we haven't met in years? Kissin' boys?"Another one teases.
Yoongi grabs my hand but this time it's not to stop me from leaving. He holds it and allows for the three friends to slowly comprehend that this isn't a joke.
"Nope, just been kissin' this pretty one right here."
I feel my stomach tighten and my ears warm up. If they didn't get it by now, my blushing face definitely gave it away.
"No way, Yoongi are you actually...?"
Yoongi gave his classic grin, "let's move to that table over there so that we could all sit together." He pulled my arm, "Cmon baby."
My insides twirl at the pet name and I blindly follow him to a table a few steps away. I sit right next to him, our hips almost touching. I nervously drink my coffee until there's only a fourth left.
The three guys take their sweet time walking over to the table, their faces in shock. They try to hide it but it's so obvious.
I was taking a sip from my drink until Yoongi brought his face close to mine, his voice in a whisper.
"It's time for you to show off your acting skills, Park Jimin."

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