"Dressing Zico"

A car ride with Zico at the wheel was like being on a carnival ride. I had thought we would be taking a car with a driver but no. Zico insisted on driving himself. He paid about as much attention to road rules and he did social ones. When I mentioned something about him getting a ticket he said, “So. That’s what money is for.” What a pretentious child!
We didn’t talk. It wasn’t because I was still angry, which I was! It was because he spent the entire time on his phone doing business. I found myself watching him and wondering if the man ever stopped. Or even slowed down. Then I began to wonder why he had taken time out of his schedule to go shopping with me. Did he not trust me that much? This wasn’t part of his job and it was highly irregular. He was such a strange man.
The first shops we went to were big name, high priced, and carbon copies of each other. We found a few things that he deemed “acceptable” and then he took me to a few out of the way shops that I never would have known about. They were amazing! We bought so many things and I got a thousand new ideas. This man really knows his stuff! No wonder he wanted to come.
He was still being a smart mouth and a “know-it-all” about most things but as the day went on, he seemed to loosen up a bit and get a little nicer.
“Are you hungry?” he asked after finishing his sixth business call between stores.
“What?” I had been in my own world.
“ARE…YOU…HUNGRY? Food? Eat?”
I glared at him. “A little,” I said.
“Okay then,” he said and shifted gears.
I squeezed my eyes shut and braced for a crash when he jerked the car into the lane of oncoming traffic to pass the cars in front of us that were actually obeying the speed limit. When the impact didn’t come, I opened one eye and saw that we were safely back in our lane. I looked over and instead of watching the road, Zico was looking at me.
“I DO know how to drive you know.”
“You could have fooled me,” I said. I couldn’t help myself.
Instead of getting mad, he laughed and stepped on the gas. I began to pray.

The place he took me to couldn’t be called a restaurant. It looked like a gas station on the outside except it didn’t have pumps. Inside was very dark. There were tables made of slices of a giant tree. There was also a bar that had the most light but it was still dim. It took a few minutes for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. A tiny little old woman ran over to us and put her arms around Zico and squeezed him tight.
“Jiho! We have missed you! Where have you been young man? You wait too long to come in here and it gets longer all the time!” said the little woman in a crackly voice.
“You know me Vita. I’m a busy boy.” He hugged her back.
“Too busy to come see old Vita! What a bad boy you are! Well, I’m waiting. Introduce me.”
“Oh, Vita, this is my stylist Elizabeth. She decides what clothes I’m going to wear.”
“What? You can’t pick out your own clothes? You are becoming too spoiled Jiho! I’m going to have to make you wash the dishes to bring you back down off that cloud of yours! Well, come here little girl and let Vita get a look at you!” She pushed Zico out of the way and grabbed my hands. Her hands were so soft and gentle. I liked this woman. She twirled me.
“So very pretty Jiho. And don’t tell me you haven’t noticed.” I blushed. “Elizabeth did you say? That’s a good old fashioned name. You make sure you make this boy wear some decent clothes. He tries to dress like a hoodlum and people have the wrong impression of him. Well, come come. Jiho’s table is always ready and waiting for him.” She turned and scurried around tables like a little mouse and we followed.
Zico’s table was away from all the others. It was in the corner with a seat that wrapped around the wall and had a very inviting looking red cushion. At least 10 people could sit here comfortably. The table was long and highly polished with three red candles in the middle which Vita hurried to light.
“That isn’t necessary Vita,” said Zico. I could tell he felt a lot of affection for this woman.
“Nonsense. Now sit and let Vita get you something to eat. What would you like?”
“Steaks and salad?” asked Zico hopefully.
“Wouldn’t we all Jiho? But you’re getting spaghetti and garlic bread because that’s what we got.” She started away and yelled back, “I’ll get your drinks and put on something romantic for you two to moon at each other over.”
“It isn’t like that Vita!” Zico yelled back at her.
We could hear her cackly laugh as she went through two double doors.
“I’m sorry about that,” Zico said.
“Its okay. I like her. She’s sweet,” I said.
“Vita’s like my other mother. I used to come here and wash dishes for a dollar when I was younger. She wants to get me married off.” He rolled his eyes and laughed a breathy laugh that I found extremely sexy.
Vita came back with two glasses of what looked like wine. I don’t drink but there was no way I was going to turn it down. I’ll just sip it.
She sat them down in front of us and gave me a wink before scurrying off. A minute later, very soft romantic music began playing.
“Oh my gosh,” Zico said to himself and gulped his wine.
“I think I’ve got some really good ideas today,” I said trying to steer the conversation to business.
“Let’s not talk about work while we eat,” he said.
“Oh. Okay.” I took a sip of wine.
He was quiet for a minute and then he asked, “So, what’s your story?”
“Uhhh,” I stammered.
“I know that you won that show and stuff but what about before that,” he said.
“Well, I come from the US. I have two parents and one sister and I have always been interested in fashion,” I said.
“Booooring! Tell me something interesting about you. Something no one else knows.”
I couldn’t help but be a little annoyed. “Why would I do that?” I asked.
“Because I asked, that’s why.” He only raised his eyes and looked at me with one of the most sensual looks anyone had ever given me.
That look stopped me in my tracks for a second and I had to take another sip of wine before I could speak again. How does he do that? WHY does he do that?
“Okay. Any particular kind of secret?”
“Something sexy. Something worth my time.”
The truth was that I didn’t have many sexy secrets. I wasn’t completely innocent but I didn’t have much experience either. Then I was saved by the Vita. She came hustling out with one giant plate of pasta and another plate of bread.
“My goodness Jiho! You drank that too fast. Vita will get you another glass but you better drink this one slower.”
She turned to go when Zico called out to her, “Bring two plates too Vita.”
“Hell no! You love birds can share,” she said before she disappeared again with another laugh.
Zico leaned back and slid down in the seat as he rubbed his face with both hands. “Uhhhhhhhhh…” he groaned.
He sat up and said, “I’m sorry. It’s okay with me if it’s okay with you but if not I can get the plates.”
“It’s fine.”
He tore off a piece of the bread and began to chew. With his mouth full he said, “Continue.”
“With what?” I asked.
“Your sexy story.”
“Oh. Ummm… well, there was one time I skipped school to spend the day making out with my boyfriend who was getting ready to leave for the Marines.”
“And?”
“And what?” There really wasn’t anything else to tell. I took another sip of wine.
“Go into detail. Tell me about the sex. Don’t leave anything out.”
I almost choked on the sip of wine I had just taken. When I quit coughing, I looked over at Zico’s amused face and said, “There was no sex. I was sixteen. Anyway, I wouldn’t give you those kinds of details.”
Vita brought Zico’s wine and then hurried off again.
He had stopped chewing and was just staring at me with his mouth full.
“What? I don’t know you well enough to tell you my secrets.” I took a bite of the spaghetti. It was so good.
“No sex?” he asked after he had swallowed.
“No. I told you, I was sixteen.”
“So? He was leaving for the military and you didn’t give him anything before he left?”
“No I didn’t. And I’m glad. He ended up going back to his ex-girlfriend,” I said.
“I don’t blame him!” he said.
Now it was my turn to be stunned. I stared at him as he took a bite of spaghetti.
“I was saving myself for marriage thank you very much!” I said.
“I didn’t know you were married,” he said.
“I’m not,” I said.
He dropped his fork and started to choke on his spaghetti. He took a big gulp of his wine. “You mean to tell me you are a virgin?”
“Of course not. I’ve had other boyfriends since then but I’m not a slut. I don’t sleep with everyone I date.”
“You must not date much.” He looked up while taking another bite to see my reaction.
I didn’t give him one. I was done with this ridiculous conversation.
“Okay. Then tell me the story of your first time.”
He really is something else! “No.”
“Come on.”
I just shook my head and refused to look at him.
“Well, tell me about your kinkiest time. What’s the craziest thing you’ve done?”
I didn’t have a kinkiest time. I hadn’t done anything crazy in the sex department and I didn’t want to admit it. “I’m not telling you anything else Zico. Stop!” I finished my wine and it was starting to make me buzzy.
“Fine. I’m done anyway. Let’s go.” He got up and stretched and when his shirt came up I noticed his abs. They weren’t the best I’d seen but I wasn’t going to look away either. I imagined running my hands over those ridges and then I blushed. It was all the sex talk. That’s all, I thought.
I stood up and started to follow him out when Vita came running out calling for us. “Where do you think you’re going young man?” she said.
“Sorry Vita. Of course I wasn’t going to leave without saying goodbye.” He started to hug her but she swatted his butt.
“You get your skinny butt in there and wash up those dishes Little Woo! Did you think I was kidding?”
“But Vita! I have work to do.” He looked embarrassed and I loved it.
“You most certainly do. You aren’t too good to do real work and I think you need a lesson to remember that! You too Missy! Here’s an apron for both of you. You know where sink is. Now get to washing.” She swatted his butt again.
I hated that I had to wash the dishes but I couldn’t help but laugh when Zico hung his head and headed for the kitchen. I have to admit though, he was damn sexy in that apron. He was also very good at washing dishes. I could tell he had had a lot of practice in this very kitchen. He knew where everything was and where everything went. We finished up pretty quickly and we both hugged Vita on our way out.
“You tell that brother of yours to get his butt back here to see me too! Don’t tell him he has to wash dishes though or he’ll never come by! I love you Jiho!” She threw her tiny arms around him and he kissed the top of her head. Who knew he could be so sweet?
We got into the car and he immediately got another business call. We didn’t get to talk all the way back to the hotel so I tried to put some of the outfits we had bought together in my mind but I kept flashing back to Zico’s abs. By the time we got back, I needed a cold shower and some me time.

Notes