Stirring The Soul

Chapter 5

The next day, you briefly open your eyes to check the time. Your phone tells you that it's 7 am and still dark outside. You have no intention of moving from your bed as it's a Saturday and you deserve a lie-in after the hectic first week back at school. Also, you convince yourself, the longer you sleep, the less likely your mind will have a chance to think about him.

Your exhausted body allows you to sleep for another five more hours before you open your eyes again. You lay on your back and give yourself a nice long stretch, extending your arms and legs as far as your muscles will allow. Letting out a satisfying sigh, you check your phone again. There are no new messages. Is that a hint of disappointment you feel? You shake your head and tell yourself it's time to think of more important things like what to have for lunch.

The dullest part of living alone is wondering what to have for meals. You're a good cook, but there's rarely any motivation to spend time cooking for just yourself so you mostly end up just snacking on whatever's around. You could probably get away with that in your twenties, missie, but your thirties body will not be so forgiving, you remind yourself. You make a mental note to include more fruit in your diet from now on.

You check the contents of your cupboards and decide that cereal will have be your lunch today, and once you are done eating, you will go to the supermarket to re-stock. You lazily finish the cornflakes on your sofa whilst you reflect on the last few days. School had been as enjoyable as usual. You always feel alive in a class full of eager students whose company you look forward to daily. And   ow you have a new student. When Mr Brown said he had a job opportunity for you, all you thought about at the time was how novel it would be to meet a K-pop idol and how you could top-up your bank account. You didn't imagine you'd be so taken by Jungkook. This is the problem with music, you rationalise, it just does things to me and Jungkook is simply a talented pianist. But he is also polite, humble and pleasant to talk to. On the other hand, though, how can you claim to know his personality when you've just met him? He could be putting up a front just to get you to help him. Yet somehow, he doesn't seem like that kind of person......

You suddenly jump off your sofa, telling yourself to snap out of thinking these pointless thoughts and get on with your day. What did you imagine was going to happen with Jungkook? He was just your student and some boundaries were not meant to be crossed. You shower and get ready to head to the supermarket before it gets too busy. You quirkily enjoy walking through supermarket aisles at a leisurely pace while you concentrate on the important task of choosing your junk, er, healthy food.

Just as you head out the door your phone rings. Marvelling at the perfect timing of this caller, you look to see that it's Jungkook. After the mild berating you gave yourself earlier, you now debate whether you should take his call or not, but then decide it might be something important.

"Hi Jungkook!"

"Noona, hi! Is this a bad time? Are you busy? Maybe you're with your family? Am I disturbing you?"

You laugh at his introduction and reply, "No Jungkook, I'm not with anyone, but I am on my way out to do some shopping. Is everything ok?"

"Oh, sorry! I actually just called to ask your opinion about what piece to start practising, but I don't want to interrupt what you're doing," he explains.

Realising that this wasn't anything urgent or important, you wonder what to say as you step out and lock your front door. "Why don't you choose something from your favourite composer that you haven't played in a while and see how that goes? You might find that you play it differently now compared to before. You can note down what has changed and we can discuss it on Friday. How does that sound?"

You're now walking down the corridor and stairs to the ground floor. There is silence at his end so you say, "Jungkook are you still there?"

"Oh sorry Noona, I was just thinking of a piece. That's a good idea, I think I have something in mind that I'm going to try now. Is it ok if I call you tomorrow to update you? Oh sorry, it's Sunday, you must have other plans. I'm just so excited to get started, I'm sorry for being a bother!" Jungkook replies without taking a breath.

You smile as you reply, "No it's fine Jungkook, I'm glad you're enjoying playing the piano and are so committed to it, but remember to take a break as well. It's your first time without BTS in London, why don't you go explore with your friends? There are so many things to do here."

He goes quiet again. "Jungkook?" you ask.

"It's just that I don't really know anyone other than my peers at the Academy. Those guys are cool, but I see them every day and I don't think I can spend the weekend with them too. They're kind of exhausting."

You laugh to yourself at this strange 21 year old. You also kind of feel sorry for him; it must be lonely being here without his family. "How about this, I'm actually free tomorrow, why don't I take you on a very touristy open-top bus tour around London? There are great places to eat here as well." you suggest.

"Really? Oh my god, that sounds amazing! Are you sure though? It's your free time, are you sure you want to spend it with me?" he asks, sounding astonished.

"I'd be happy to. Like you said, you don't really know anyone here. Besides I owe you for dinner last night," you say, incredulous at the words coming out of your mouth.

You end the conversation saying you'll text him details of where to meet and when. You smirk as you replay the conversation you've just had. Did I really just offer to give up my Sunday to spend it with Jungkook?