Finest Jin

Official (21+)

I took a bus on the way home. The children went straight home to tend to dogs but I had to hit the market first. Korea was wonderfully accommodating for pregnant women, and the cushy bus seat was welcome. My relaxation was short-lived, however, when I noticed that I was attracting stares. A younger guy did a very obvious double take, a rider exiting turned their head to watch me as they left, then stared from the curb as we pulled away and the most disturbing situation was the three teens who were only two seat rows away from me. One gasped upon sight of me, then began whispering loudly to the other 2. She held up her phone, pointing from the screen to me and the excitement spread. I was glad to find my stop and get off the bus, only to find that the tittering trio had followed me. I pulled my face mask on, seeking some privacy. They trailed me through the aisles, being less discreet than they thought, purchasing items that duplicated mine and actually video taping me selecting produce. Scintillating footage, I am sure. I opted to hail a taxi to escape my entourage. As we drove to my apartment, the intrusion of privacy was heavy on my mind. This was my first experience with prying eyes, and it had been very minor. My empathy went out to all the idols that were subjected to this type of violation on a daily basis, and to an extent that ran a thousand fold. It was a sad symptom of a society obsessed with celebrity. Thank goodness I had been given the opportunity to see the boys as the amazing people they were, not just the stage caricatures that they played. 

Once my household was tended to, I headed over to Jins'. He would be along before too long, so I set to preparing a hot meal for when he got there. His timing was impeccable. Just as I flipped off the burner, I heard the door open. 

"Jin-Ah!" I hurried to meet him in the living area, but pulled up short at his accompaniment. I bowed. "Bang PD-Nim, it is good to see you."

The squat man bowed back, smiling jovially. 

"Just the person I was hoping to see. It smells great in here."

Jin smiled, as though the compliment was for him. I caught his pleased, dark eyes under the blonde locks. It showed that he was as proud of me as I was of him. 

"It's chilli. A common Canadian food. Hearty and filling. I made a huge pot. Would you like a bowl?" 

He raised his hand, graciously refusing. 

"No, no. I came to ask your permission to make an official announcement of dating."

Jin put his arm around my waist, his thick lips tucked into a gentle smile. 

"Wow! Really?"

Bang nodded, sitting at the table. Jin immediately pulled a drink from the fridge and passed one to his manager. 

"Yes. While there is always some backlash, it is always worse if things are hidden from the fans. How ARMY hasn't pulled this from a hat already, I am not sure. Still, it needs to be announced sooner than later. Does this sound alright to you two?" 

I looked up at SeokJin, taking comfort from his calm expression. 

"Are you ready for this? Your popularity will go down."

He nodded.

"Yes. I don't care. I am too handsome for my own good anyway." This made me laugh. 

"There is a comeback coming up. Another awards show, then things will be quiet for a few months. The timing is perfect." Bang offered.

"What about Minho?" 

Jins' face sobered.

"What about him?" I had felt the tension in the man next to me and leaned against him, hoping to soothe it.