First Love

Chapter 38

It had been two weeks since she was discharged from the hospital and a week since Yoongi was back from Japan, but she still wasn't be able to see him. Their schedule clashed and he was working his hide off for the upcoming end of year award show. When he get off from work, Jae would be working at the convenience store. The cycle starts over again when morning came and Jae got off work. She needed to sleep and Yoongi would start working again.

After she got the flower from the thugs, she realized that they were truly no longer in sight. It proved that their presence before, was indeed due to their boss' debt towards Jae. It was comforting and frightening at the same time. She felt safe before, when Mr Nam and Mr Gil was around, and now she knew she was truly on her own. She had the uncanny feeling that she was being watched on her way to the store. The hair behind her neck stood and she didn't know if it was due to her paranoia or someone was really watching her.

Due to that, she decided it would be better if she quit that job. Extra cash would be nice but unlike the game characters that she was working with, she didn't have an extra life. She told Yoongi about it and as expected, he was ecstatic about her decision. It was already the end of the month and she needed to give in a week notice before she resigns. She would have to tell the manager and hand in her resignation the next day she go to work. And now Jae was moping again at the restaurant, dishing out sad old soundtrack. It was driving Ki Tae crazy.

"Oh no, she's at it again," complained Ki Tae from the kitchen. "Is she in a fight or something with her guy?" asked Ki Tae to Chan Ri, avoiding from saying Yoongi's name out loud. Some of the staff are still there at the restaurant and they wouldn't want them to catch on Jae's relationship with Yoongi.

"I don't think so," replied Chan Ri. "She was happy when she was looking at her phone earlier but when the customers start thinning out, her moping started."

"I thought they had already returned to Seoul," commented Ki Tae.

"Honey, you know how thing is towards the end of the year. You were in the music industry before and I barely see you that time, remember?" Chan Ri was looking at their last customer for the day.

"Of course I remember. We had a huge fight and broke off," replied Ki Tae

"And then we made up. I doubt that guy even have enough time to eat, much less to sit," said Chan Ri as she took the cash they got for the day out from the cash register. "I think she misses him," surmised Chan Ri.

"At least he was only away for a few weeks. Remember last time when he went for months and they weren't even together yet?" Ki Tae shuddered as he thought back about what happened then. Gloom doom restaurant was the theme for that moment.

The last of the staff went out and Jae was still planted to the keyboard, facing the wall. Ki Tae just shook his head knowing that she would help them close up that day as it was Friday. Ki Tae and Chan Ri would give her a ride home. A person went in, unnoticed by Jae. It was Yoongi and he signaled to Ki Tae and Chan Ri to keep quiet.

He signed to Ki Tae asking what was wrong with everyone looking down. Chan Ri sent him an un-amused look and signed that it was probably because of him.

'Why?' signed Yoongi, bewildered. 'I didn't do anything,' he mouthed.

Chan Ri sent him a sign that Jae misses him.

Ki Tae was mouthing that Jae was playing out sad songs for days and told Yoongi to settle that off, or else.

Yoongi nodded and signed 'Okay'. He even offered to close down the restaurant which Ki Tae and Chan Ri happily agreed.

"That's a sad tune," commented Yoongi.

Jae yelped in surprise and turned behind her to find Yoongi smiling with his right hand in his pocket. Jae blinked in disbelief looking at him and her eyes went around the restaurant. It was deserted and they were the ones left. Since when did everyone leave?

"What? No hug or kiss?" asked Yoongi spreading his arms out.

Without waiting long she went to his arms and hugged him tightly. "I miss you," said Jae.

Yoongi smiled kissing her afterwards, "I miss you too, Jae."

"Where did everyone go?" Jae asked, puzzled.

"You're going to deck me if I tell you about your tunnel vision," he joked. "They already left and we have to close the restaurant."

"I didn't hear you come in," responded Jae.

"That's because you were too busy playing the piano to notice," returned Yoongi. "Ki Tae hyung said you have been playing sad songs non-stop."

"Were you guys talking behind my back?" asked Jae getting peeved.

"Technically, yes. We were behind you just now, talking," explained Yoongi. "Why the sad songs? Something wrong?"

"Nah, just feeling mellow. That's all," Jae sighed. She thought admitting to him that she missed him a lot would make her sound clingy, so she held back that information from him. Guys don't like clingy girls, right?

"Are you sad because you're going to resign from the convenience store?" asked Yoongi as he sat down at the nearest chair.

"No. That would eventually happen anyway," answered Jae as she turned and unplugged the keyboard piano.

"Was it because you miss me a lot?" Yoongi smiled and Jae went red. Yoongi knew he hit the jackpot and Chan Ri was right.

"Have you eaten?" asked Jae, diverting his question.

"Yeah, our manager bought us food after practice and I already ate," said Yoongi.

"What's your plan for tonight?" inquired Jae.

"I thought maybe I could spend my time with you."

"Oh cool, I love that. What do you have in mind?"

"Honestly, I didn't think beforehand. I just know that I want to see you, so you got to help me with this," Yoongi threw the proverbial ball back to Jae.

"Want to hang out with me at my house? I could finally have guests at my place," Jae beamed. Living in gosiwon stopped her from having guests around. Now she lives in a proper house, despite of the small size, she could still invite people over. Not that she have any close friends to invite.

"Guests?" asked Yoongi.

"You catch the drift. Ki Tae oppa, Chan Ri eonnie, their kids. You," Jae rolled her eyes. "Besides I don't think there's any other place we can go at this hour."

Yoongi nodded. He refrained himself from offering her to hang out at his house. The other guys have to be told beforehand if he wanted to invite her. The thought of his group members moving around shirtless with Jae around is disconcerting. ARMY only had a glimpse of what they look like during shows. Other than the shirt ripping Jimin and abs flashing days when they debuted, and the famous Jungkook's abs flash for Fake Love, BTS didn't go on shirtless during shows anymore. Even a glimpse of the collarbone & full forehead hair-do became a twitter trend. He didn't think Jae would be unaffected if she saw them with only boxers around. Not that he doubt her feelings for him, but she have eyes and she would definitely look.

"It's either my house or your house," said Jae.

"Definitely your house," replied Yoongi way too quickly.

Jae peered at him closely, "Something tells me that you are not that keen on having me around at your house."

"Some other time, maybe. Just not now," replied Yoongi. "Besides, I haven't seen your house yet and I want to see how you fit the studio equipment in," diverted Yoongi. He knew how the equipment was arranged. Ki Tae sent him pictures after he was done setting it up, but Jae didn't know about it.

"Okay, my house then. Let's close up and make a move," said Jae, getting up and turned off the lights.

Yoongi breathed out a sigh of relief. He didn't want Jae to be bumping into a boxer clad Jungkook in the kitchen at the time like this. He would usually go to the kitchen for drinks and snacks in the middle of the night.

Mission accomplished.