Finest Jin

Movie Night

"So this is a...bang? Room, right?" I was standing just inside a roomy place of media equipment, a large screen tv, speakers, and a floor largely covered by a big mat and a plethora of pillows. My arms held a huge bag of popcorn. Jin entered the room behind me, both sinewy arms hoisting an enormous cold tea drink and a bag steaming with the fragrant scent of the mandu and beef skewers inside, a bag of bungeoppangs dangling from his wrist. He corrected me.

"A multiroom. Gaming, movies, karaoke." 

"Cool." I set the popcorn on the little end table on one side of the pillow line up, then went to relieve Jin of his refreshments. He took a hearty pull on the straw of the drink, then passed it to me, offering. I accepted it, gingerly wrapping my mouth around the straw, tickled to be sharing. I was aware that in Korea, it was commonplace to share. It had more intimate connotations in my own Americanized homeland, and it gave me a little thrill none the less. I arranged the pillows for us both, then sat, watching Jin fiddle with the wall of electronics. He was setting up our entertainment. I was already entertained, enjoying the view of his skinny jeans from behind. He glanced back and I blushed guiltily. I held up the cup.

"This is good. Is this lychee?" I prayed my red cheeks wouldn't ignite. I was no poker face. Jins' one eyebrow went up. His expression lightened. I believe I was caught but he was proud enough to enjoy it and gentleman enough not to mention it. He stared at me, a smirk painted on his full lips. The brat was going to let me squirm. I grinned to myself, resisting a goofy urge. Those perfect lips melted into a full on grin, his white teeth dazzling me. I lifted my eyes back to his with some effort. I was going to have to use silliness to get me out of this one. He knew he had me with my hand in the cookie jar. "Lychee?" I asked, adding the hand motion from the Twice music video of "Likey". "You lychee, lychee, lychee?" I completed the simple dance motions, then glanced up at Jin. 

This broke him up. He burst into laughter, touching my cheek with one hand as he collapsed onto the pillows beside me, his chuckles bubbling out. I couldn't help but join in. Soon just glances at each other set us off again. He repeated the performance, his long fingers tracing the simple hand dance accompanied by his melodic voice staccattoed with laughter. 

When at last we had both found some composure, Jin sat up from the floor position he had contorted into. He reached over and wiped a tear from my cheek. 

"You do aegyo?" He asked.

"I do goober." I offered, glancing shyly at the man holding my face in his palm, stroking my cheek with his thumb. His smile softened. Suddenly, I was very aware of the way his solid body was leaned into and across me. His thick arm formed a bubble around just us two. I could feel his breath on my chest. Warmth emanated from him. I watched his eyes darken and trace my face, pausing briefly on my lips. I bit the bottom one. My face was heating up; I could feel the hot blood racing up my neck, staining my cheeks and lighting my ears in a crimson glow. I couldn't help but steal a glance at the mouth facing me, his lips pursed in decision. His forehead was creased. I knew his thoughts were battling within. The room was silent. Had it been seconds? Minutes? Hours? Jin looked at his own hand, as though seeing it for the first time. He gently squeezed my face, then pulled the hand back as though burned. He sat up, back straight. Locating the remote, he began flicking through options on the screen. I took a long, shaking inhalation. It seemed I had forgotten to breathe. These "almost" moments would be the death of me. 

"Game? Karaoke? Or movie?" Jins' voice was unsettled too. Good. If he was going to torture me, he ought to suffer a bit himself. His shoulder was against mine, I was very aware. Neither of us moved, though. 

"Not karaoke," I begged. "I am not much of a singer. But you could sing to me if you like." I shoulder bumped him playfully. He smiled, but gave no retort. "How about a game? Your choice." That seemed to perk him up. Jin got up to retrieve the controllers and sat back down, careful to return as close as he had been. He was taking things slow, but it was progress nonetheless. No complaints coming from here.

Soon we were engaged in a parade of different video adventures. We fought side by side against alien forces, combined forces solving puzzles to locate treasures under the sea, and battled furiously in streetcars. It had been a very long time since I had gamed, but it was coming back. As we continued, I was beginning to hold my own. When I finally beat him in a race, Jin called a snack break. He pulled out the food and spread it on the bags, picnic style before us. Taking a big bite from a mandu, Jin held it out to me, I leaned forward to take a bite, washed it down with the drink, then held it out to him. Unhesitatingly, he sipped from the same straw, unaware of my delight. 

"These are good. I have never had mandu before."

"No?" Jin was propped on one elbow, his long legs stretched across the mat. I shook my head. He pondered while finishing the food pocket in another bite. I passed him a napkin. He bowed his head in thanks. Reaching into the bag for another, Jin glanced up at me. 

"You have a house in Canada?" 

"Yes. A 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home. It's a bi-level." He passed me a skewer, always making sure I was taken care of.

"You own it?" This information seemed somewhat incredulous to him.

"I do. And 10 acres of gorgeous rural land. We are surrounded by forest. I would love to show you it someday. We have dogs, cats, horses...you could ride." 

"That is very good. You bought it?"

"With my husband, yes." 

"You divorced?"

"No. He was the best man I had ever known. He died. My oldest was 3, the next child was 1. I was 5 months pregnant. I ended up adopting my niece a year later. It was a tough time but we pulled through." Jin was studying me with his dark eyes searching seriously. I was being assessed. I could almost feel the spotlight from the questioning investigator burning my face. I studied my hands before collecting my courage. I had nothing to hide nor to be ashamed of. I caught his gaze and held it. 

"You have 4 children." This was a statement. I nodded. "You had your child alone? With no man around?"

"Yes." I laughed lightly. "In my kitchen. For real."  This caught his attention.

"You had your child in your kitchen?" I wished I could capture his face in that moment, his pouty lips stretched into a perfect "O", the almond shaped eyes pulled into wide eggs. JungShook; I giggled inwardly. 

"I did." He was nodding, his train of thought veiled. He took another drink, then sat up, twisting to stretch his back. He closed his eyes, his dark lashes curtaining the dark chocolate orbs as he rolled his head from side to side. I sat quietly, letting his ponderings run their course. He sat back up, pulling his knees in and hugging them. I could almost hear him thinking. If only he would share it with me. 

"And you? Have you ever been married?" I grinned at my cheekiness. Jins' breath exploded in a guffaw. 

"No. No...not married. No kids....no..." We both laughed. 

"So, you up for another round of Halo?" I grabbed up my controller. Jin stuffed the last of his beef skewer into his mouth and wiped his hands on the napkin. He sat up tall and grabbed his controller, nodding. There was a smear of sauce on the side of his mouth. I instinctively wiped it with my thumb, then popped it into my mouth. Jin glanced at me but said nothing. "Let's add a wager." 

"What's the wager?" He asked, his tone relaxed but happy. I paused to think.

"Umm..." I had decided to push my luck. "The winner kisses the loser. You know, on the cheek, or wherever..." SeokJins' eyebrows went up in surprise, then he smiled. 

"So we both win."

"Yes." 

"Okay." He selected the "VS" setting with a wink at me. We both turned to the huge tv screen mounted on the wall, faces serious with focused concentration.

It was on.