Grocery Jin

Grocery Jin (Part 2)

Imagine this:

After entering the house of the Kim family, you are now in their spacious kitchen to help cook a Korean-style lunch.

Jin starts mincing some garlic for the bulgogi while his mom and your mom are in front of the refrigerator, getting ingredients for the japchae and kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew).

You offer to help Jin with the bulgogi and he clears a part of the kitchen counter, giving you some space to work on.

As you slice onions on the wooden chopping board, you see Jin looking at you in your peripheral view. Knowing that he is a cooking master, you feel a bit conscious and face the side of the kitchen that's opposite to him.

"Wae geuraeyo? (What's wrong?) Don't be shy. You're doing good," he says encouragingly with a smile.

He probably sees you start getting teary-eyed because of the onions you're chopping, but what he doesn't see is that you're feeling all giddy inside because of him and his charms.

Jin checks on the beef sirloin he's boiling and you, having Jin as your bias in BTS, couldn't help but stop what you're doing and look at his back view.

He starts softly singing Awake and it creates such a perfect background music to your dreamy feeling.

Yeah it's my truth

It's my truth

ontong sangcheotuseongigessji

But it's my fate

It's my fate

geuraedo balbeodungchigo sipeo

His shoulders are broad and he really looks jal saeng gyeosseo (handsome) from any angle, you think to yourself.

"Omo!" you say, as an onion falls on your foot and brings you back to reality.

Jin turns around to see if you're okay and he chuckles with his smiling eyes and round cheeks.

After an hour and more of cooking, all four of you - you, Jin, and your moms - are now seated at the six-seater dining table.

Your mom starts getting servings of bulgogi, kimchi jjigae, and japchae and she passes the dishes around the table.

"Jal meoggeseumnida (I will eat well)," you say, looking at Jin and his eomma (mom).

You take your first spoon of bulgogi and you find it really delectable compared to what you ate back in your country.

"Mmm, bulgogi masisseoyo! (The bulgogi is delicious!)" you say looking at Jin, with a thumbs up.

"We did well, (your name)!" Jin exclaims, giving you a high five.

Your mom and Mrs. Kim talk about how delicious the food is, the difference of the food and the culture between Korea and the Philippines, and more, including you and Jin in their conversation.

After finishing your serving of bulgogi, you move on to the kimchi jjigae. As you take your first sip of the orange-colored soup, you let out a cough.

"I never thought it would be this spicy," you say, fanning yourself with your hand.

Seeing the state you are in, Jin kindly pours some water into your glass and hands it to you.

"I forgot to lessen the spicyness of the soup. Mianhae," Jin's eomma tells you, with her hands folded on the table.

You drink your glass of water and cool yourself down and Jin moves closer to you, patting your back.

"Gwenchanayo?" he asks, with a concerned look on his face.

Seconds later, Jin remembers that your moms are with you at the dining table, so he moves back to his place and continues eating."Is it just me or is it really so hot?" you say to lessen the awkwardness.

You expect that there would be silence in the room after that, but your moms just end up laughing.

You feel yourself blushing inside because of embarrassment and think that maybe Jin feels the same way.

The hours pass by and now all of you are standing at the gate of the Kims's house.

"We had a really good time today," your mom says.

"We feel the same way. It was fun getting to know people from a different country. I learned a lot," Mrs. Kim replies.

Just before you start heading home, you realize that you're missing something.

"My phone!" you exclaim. "Jamshimanyo (Excuse me)," you say as you rush to the interior of the Kims' house.

You quickly look for your phone in the dining room, the kitchen, and in the living room. Not knowing Jin followed you, you get surprised as he walks up to you and hands you your phone. As you take it, your phone buzzes and a photo of Jin on your lock screen shows up.

"Wow, I really am handsome! You even have a photo of me in your handeupeon (cell phone)," he says, laughing.

As you both walk back to your mothers, you talk more about your plans in Korea for the next months. You tell him that you'll be taking some Korean language classes for several months to add to your knowledge of Korean words and continue your studies in a university in Seoul. On the other hand, Jin tells you to watch out for BTS' comeback this year.

You finally reach the gate where your mothers are and all of you say your goodbyes.

"Annyeonghikyeseyo (Goodbye)," you say, waving to Jin and Mrs. Kim.

Just before you cross the street at the end of the street, you hear Jin call out your name.

"Bye-bye, (your name)!" Jin shouts.

From where you are, you look back to say farewell to him again. Being the sweet person Jin is, he makes a heart sign with his hands, gives you some flying kisses and stands outside his house with his mom until you hail a cab for you to ride in going home.