Love Is Not Over {Editing}

Garden

We walk over and enter the garden. "Let's go down to the pond."

When we arrive we see four red ear slider turtles sitting on the rock as if they were sunbathing.

I smile in Jimin's direction and state "You know, I used to have a turtle like that. Well, it was my eonni's but I played with it sometimes."

"And how do you play with a turtle?" he inquires.

"You know sometimes I would take her on a walk at the park or we would play catch with a frisbee."

He glares at me playfully. "That was a genuine question."

I giggle. "From what I remember it wasn't so much playing but more like me and my little sister would bug the turtle a couple times a day. Like we used to hold Pebbles- that was her name- and try to pet her but I'm not entirely sure she could even feel that. Besides that we would take her out of the tank and let her walk around the apartment for a while. Ohhhhh my god! I remember this one time I took her out of the tank and I forgot to put her back so she was out of the tank for like a whole day. Like we took her out and she walked under the couch and then I just went on with the day and completely forgot Pebbles. Then the next day like I hear little scratches from under the sofa and bam! she walks out."

I try holding in a laugh.

"Me and my sister start busting up laughing cause neither of us put her back. Like poor girl, her scales were looking dry, her hair was a mess; like I could tell sis had an interesting night. And when we put her in the tank she immediately starts gulping in water. Imagine how parched she was! And then she hella ate her little shrimp food. Omg I remember I loved watching her eat because she went into hunter mode. Like she didn't treat it as dried food, she would move her neck in this angle as if she were attacking a live shrimp. It was kinda cool."

I pause abruptly.

"Wow umm.. I'm just blabbering here and you don't even give a crap about Pebbles. You should have told me to shut up."

"What? No this is great. I was intrigued in your story but what really captured me was your enthusiasm. You got really excited with all the descriptions and you had this sweet smile on your face. Your dimple on the right side stands out."

I bite my lip out of embarrassment and give him a double take when he says the last sentence. It usually takes people months before they notice the subtle dimple on my right cheek and I cannot believe he picked up on it so quickly.

"Sooooo" I reply timidly "enough about me. Please tell me about the Park Jimin."

"What would you like to know?"

"Anything you are comfortable sharing. Oh! Let's do like a 20 questions-type thing. Okay I'll start off super simple: what's your favorite season?"

"Hmmm I think Spring. It's not too hot or cold but enough to feel cozy. And I look great in coats and turtlenecks. Yours?"

"Summer for sure. I thrive on sunshine and long days. I am not a huge fan of getting tan though since I get toasty pretty quickly and I don't tan uniformly so that's the only con. But I love the heat and pick sweating in 90 degree weather over the cold in a heartbeat. Okay your turn."

"Do you have any siblings?

"Yes three sisters but I did want a brother sometimes. And I'm the second youngest so I'm like a middle-ish child. You?"

"I have a younger sister, five years younger. She is back in Busan with my parents and she's currently waiting to hear back from colleges."

"Well good luck to her! Okay my turn. How old are you?"

"24. I took a few gap years after high school for my enlistment before starting college. You?"

"Wow you completed it already? You really have your life in order."

"You know about the mandatory service?" he asks curiously.

"Yeah, remember that I took two quarters of Korean? I learned about the culture and some fun facts about the society. Plus I uh.. have watched dramas and listen to some artists so I know a thing or two."

His eyes perk up in amusement.

For fear of him thinking that I am some dumb Koreaboo, I quickly change topics.

"Oh" I clear my throat "and I'm 21, finally legal and always down to have a drink!"

He grins. "Good to know. Hmmm favorite movie?"

"Definitely Harry Potter. I read all the books beforehand too and my adolescent mind went bananas. I wanted to get my acceptance letter to Hogwarts so bad."

"Maybe it got lost in the owl mail" he responds sympathetically.

"I appreciate the optimism. Are you an HP fan?"
"I'm not super into them cause like I've only read the first two books or so and I have only watched a couple of the movies."

"See I watch one of the movies each month."

He chuckles softly "That's dedication. What's your house? I'm guessing you did the quiz."

"Honey I know my house, patronus, and wand. I'm a Slytherin."

"Yikes a snake, I'll keep my distance."

"Okay we get a bad rep but honestly there are some good folks in there."
"I'll take what you say with a grain of salt but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt now."

"Great" I say laughing.

We spend the rest of the time asking more questions and getting to know each other. After a couple of minutes we both look at the time and decide that we should get going.

"Well it was a nice surprise. Take care and I'll see you around."

"Cool, I'll see you later then. Annyeong Jen goyangi."

I turn and smile at his new nickname. Wow this guy was incredibly charming.