lotus || j.jk.

11

The obvious stares they're receiving only add speed and power to her tapping fingers.

Song-hee tries to focus on the content of the velvet-clad menu, but even skimming through the food choices feels scandalous with the looks being passed at them.

She wants to sigh, but she's worried Jungkook will take it the wrong way and ask if she's alright. Instead, her bottom lip is trapped between her teeth and she rolls the pink flesh to and fro.

She's grown thick-skinned against women's sticky glances thanks to all the years of being Jin's friend, but it's unusual to have it happen because of another man. Dining in a posh restaurant she can barely pronounce or afford, she guesses, only adds to the novelty of the whole situation.

She agreed to his spontaneous lunch invitation because of the kind favors he did for her yesterday. Aside from his impromptu text message this morning that caused her coffee to spill all over her, she didn't have any reason to decline. She had a pleasant time with him, but she won't sugarcoat it, either - her wallet's aching just from sitting here.

"Keep that up, noona, and you could probably make an interesting beat." Jungkook teases her from across the dressed table, his dark eyes never leaving the booklet in his hand.

Although he was just pulling her leg, she stops her unconscious drumming in an instant.

"Oh," she sheepishly realizes her restless action, retracting her hands from the table and resting them stiffly on her lap instead.

Jeez. The urge to cringe and berate herself for acting so petulant this whole damn day is now almost impossible to suppress. It's just barely past noon, yet she managed to make a fool out of herself hours ago.

"No, I'm not kidding. It beats whatever music they're playing right now," Jungkook insists with a nod, raising his pointer finger up as if telling her to listen.

Although she didn't agree, she recognizes the classical piano piece filling the air. Yoongi comes to mind as she's reminded of her brother and the way he plays the same instrument so well.

Her lips twitch. "Not a big fan of Chopin?"

He shakes his head, returning her grin. "Not in a restaurant. I'd rather eat my food with something a little more upbeat than 'Nocturne',"

She titters a bit and, before she could stop herself, she adds, "Would you like me to request for them to play some Big Bang instead?"

Her eyes widen once the words are out of her mouth, caught off-guard by her lame attempt at joking. She blinks at him.

Jungkook mirrors her own expression before laughing softly - a melodic, boyish timbre that deviates from his low, almost smoky talking voice.

"I'm more of an EXO guy though,"

Visibly loosening up, she chuckles, her smile reaching her eyes and the flushing of her skin due to her relief more than anything else.

"Noona, thank you again for joining me for lunch. Please choose anything you want to eat; it's on me." He gestures at the menu.

Song-hee shakes her head quickly at that, the curve of her lips falling flat. Brows furrowed in opposition, she returns her expensive glass of white wine on the table, dabbing the corners of her mouth with the ruby-red napkin after swallowing the crisp, bittersweet liquid.

"No, you don't have to do that. I can pay for myself," she starts to decline, but Jungkook is quick in cutting her off.

"Please, I insist." It's his turn to object.