Stay With Us

Jimin and I started walking to the front door when Jin popped out of the kitchen.

“Where are you two going?” He asked with a bowl in his hand.

“V wanted me to show her around the city since he got called into work.” Jimin quickly answered.

“Are you guys going to be back for dinner? Or am I only cooking for five then?” He asked trying to decide if he was making too much.

“We’ll make it back.” Jimin says to him opening the door before we got caught by anyone else. We walked to the bus stop around the corner waiting for it to get there. “So what do you want to see?” He asks me as we sit on the bench.

“I don’t really know what there is here.” I admit. “I have only been to Daegu and Busan.”

“You’ve been to Busan?” He asked excited.

“Yeah?” I say confused.

“That’s where I’m from.” He says smiling making his eyes disappear which made me smile too.

“That’s awesome. We went for a family day when Tae and I were little. I think I was six? It was the first summer after I moved back to the states. I remember we went to this place called Alice Table? It’s this small café. It was kind of hard to find but our parents had heard about the deserts and our moms wanted to try it. The guy working there was so nice! He gave me and Tae each one of those little cakes on a stick. My mom told me he never even charged them for it. I was so sad though. When we got back to Tae’s house I realized I left my bunny at the café.” I hadn’t realized the look on his face while I was talking. I looked over seeing him go almost red and smiling so hard. “What is it?” I ask confused and now smiling because of nerves.

“That’s my parent’s café.” He says blushing. “My dad would have been the guy.” He then starts to laugh.

I started thinking back to that day. “Where you the little kid then?” I asked pointing at him. “This kid about our age was following him around. He had stitches on his eye.” I tried describing.

“Yeah that would have been me.” He says laughing again. “I had fallen in the bathroom and hit the toilet and had to get stitches. If you look my right eye looks swollen.” He says pointing to his eye.

“That’s so funny. Does Tae know this?”

“If he does then he hasn’t said anything to me about it.”

“Well that might be because you wouldn’t play with him.” I say laughing. “Every time he went up to you, you would hide behind your dad.”

We both start laughing harder. “Well I will have to tell my parents the next time I talk to them.”

“Small world huh?”

“Yeah I guess so.” He breathes in controlling any leftover laughs. “What did the bunny look like?”


“It was tan with wavy fur, blue dress, and a white bow on one of the ears. I was so sad I was crying the whole night.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Maybe you will find it one day.”

“Maybe. It was a long time ago though. I doubt it would still be there.”

“True. So where should we go then?” He asks himself. “Let’s start with the shops. They’re fun to walk around in.”

“Sounds good to me!” The bus then pulls up and we wait for everyone to get off before boarding. We took two empty seats in the back. We continued our casual conversation while riding the bus. Jimin would point out different things for me to look at every few moments and would tell me about each. We finally got off after about thirty minutes.

We walked around a few different shops looking in the windows for anything that caught our attention. We walked into a few of them acting like fools trying on hats and sunglasses. Jimin and I each bought a few things. Jimin checked the clock when we realized it was dark outside.

“Wow. It’s already 8:00. Looks like we missed dinner.” He says laughing. “Should we go somewhere? You must be hungry.”

“Food sounds amazing.” I say looking around. “Where is good?”

“Hmm. There is an Italian place on the next street. They have really good deserts too.” He says pointing in the direction of the restaurant.

“Sounds good to me.” I say following his lead.

We walk in seeing there is hardly anyone there this late. The hostess seats us giving us menus. I was looking everything over trying to decide what I wanted.

“Let me know if you need help with the menu.” Jimin said seeing the troubled expression on my face.

“Oh! I can read it.” I say laughing. “I just don’t know what I want.”

“Ok.” He says nervously laughing. “I think I’m going with the penne all’arrabbiata.” He says putting his menu down.

“I’m gonna get the gnocchi di ricotta.” I say putting my menu down too. The waitress finally comes over to take our drink order along with our food order.

It surprisingly didn’t take long for it to get there. We continued our casual conversation through dinner. I ended up getting a to go box for half of mine. The waitress then came back over asking if we wanted anything for desert.

“You want anything?” Jimin asks me looking at the dessert menu.

“I can’t eat a whole one.” I say laughing.

“Well let’s split something then.” He says looking through the options.

“Oder whatever you want. I’ll just take bites of it.”

“How about tiramisu?” He asks looking up at me.

“That works.” I say smiling at him. The waitress leaves to put in our order. “I can’t believe you still have room for dessert.” I say laughing.

“Hey I told you they had good desserts! We were gonna get one.”

“True but we didn’t have to.”

“I know. But I wanted to make sure you got everything you wanted today since V left me in charge.”

“Oh you’re in charge of me huh?” I say jokingly crossing my arms in front of me.

“I’m sorry.” He says laughing. “I only meant V trusted me to show you a good time so I wanted to make sure that happened.”

“Well you have done an amazing job. I had so much fun today and I really thank you for it.” I say smiling at him. I see his face turn slightly pink before he put his hand over his face hiding his smile.

“I’m glad you came here.” He finally said looking over to me. “V was not wrong you are an amazing person. He talks about you all the time and I see why.”

“I’m glad it’s all working out. It’s good to have other friends besides him here.” I say smiling at him. The waitress then returned with our dessert. We each ate half before I felt like I was really going to explode from all the food. “I’m gonna go wash my hands. I’ll be right back.” I say before going to the restroom. I get back to the table expecting the check to be there but still no sign of it. “I can’t believe they haven’t brought the check over yet.” I say sitting back down.

“They did. I already paid it.” Jimin says putting his phone in his pocket.

“Wait? You paid for mine?” I ask him shocked.

“Yeah.” He says standing to put on his jacket.

“Jimin you didn’t have to do that. I had money for my own dinner.” I say still shocked.

“I know I didn’t but I thought it would be nice. You flew all the way here today and it’s my fault we missed dinner at home. So I bought dinner.” He then walks around behind me pulling out my chair and holding up my jacket for me.

“Well thank you.” I say turning around. “Next time we do anything you have to let me pay though.” I say smiling and pointing at him.

He slightly laughs. “Deal.”

We walk to the bus stop then head back to the house. I look at the time on my phone. “Wow. It’s already 11:00. I can’t believe I am still up.”

“Did you not sleep on the flight?”

“I did a little but not too much. There was a lot of people.”

“Well now you’ll sleep tonight.” He says opening the door for me to walk in. We are instantly greeted by an angry Jin.

“Where on earth have you two been?” He asks with his arms crossed. “I made dinner for eight people tonight and I ended up with only six. Do you know how much food is left?”

“I’m sorry Jin.” I say to him. “We lost track of time. I promise we will text or call you next time.”

“Well you should. And do you know what time it is? V was about to send a search party. He has been texting both of you for hours.”

I pull out my phone checking it. Sure enough I had a few missed calls and unread texts from him. I then see him walk into the room.

“Oh thank God!” He says upon seeing us. “I thought I was going to have to tell Uncle I lost you on the first day.” He says scolding.

“I’m sorry Tae. My phone was on silent and we lost track of time.” I say walking over to give him a hug.

“No excuses!” He says jokingly this time. “I want you home and in bed before 10:00 pm Young Lady!”

“Yes sir!” I say jokingly too.

“And as for you Young Man!” He says pointing at Jimin. “If you are going to go gallivanting around town with my Little Princess I expect you to bring her home at a decent time!”

“You know I’m still your Hyung right?” Jimin says walking passed him ruffling his hair.

We all laugh at Tae’s expression. “I’m going to bed.” I say to Tae as I start to walk out of the room. After getting into my sleep clothes and getting into bed I hear a knock on the door. “It’s open!”

Tae then walks in and flops down onto the bed. “I’m sorry again for having to work today.”

“It’s fine.” I say smiling. “I had a really good time with Jimin.”

“What all did you do today?”

“Walked around town. Went into a few shops, goofed off. We went to dinner at a little Italian place.” I then got an aggravated look on my face. “Jimin paid for me while I was in the restroom washing my hands!”

Tae laughed at my outburst. “He really paid for you? I’m surprised you didn’t fight him on it knowing how you are.”

“I would have but I wasn’t at the table when the check came.” I rolled my eyes. “But in actuality he was a gentleman all day. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Oh I know. Jimin is a good guy. He wouldn’t do anything to you. That’s why I left you with him. I knew you would have fun.”

“I’m glad. It’s good too that I have another friend here.”

Jimin’s POV

Today was so much fun. I started thinking about everything we had done when I remembered what Maranda had said about her trip to Busan. I started digging through a trunk in my room. Where was it?

I finally found what I was looking for. I held in my hand the bunny Maranda told me about. I didn’t want to tell her about it to make sure it looked like the same one she talked about. But I am almost positive this is it. I found it about the same time that she mentioned.
“When should I give it to her?” I asked myself out loud. I flopped onto my bed with it in my hand still thinking through all the ways I could do it. She will know it was me no matter what. So do I just walk up to her with it? This means I can see the look on her face.

I may just get embarrassed though if I do that. Today was just so much fun I didn’t want it to end. I then hear a knock on my door. I quickly hide the bunny before answering. “Come in!”

“Hey. Sorry were you asleep yet?” V asks walking in.

“No just lied down.” I say sitting up. “What’s up?”

He sits down on the floor by the bed. “I just wanted to thank you again for today. Maranda had a great time. And you were the only one I could really trust with her. She has been through a lot and I knew you wouldn’t mess with her. She is really glad you guys are friends.”

Friends. “What do you mean she has been through a lot?” I asked worried now.

“Just idiots.” He says not really wanting to answer my question. “I just know she is safe with you. You won’t try to pull anything such as hitting on her and shit.”

“Yeah man. Anything for you two.” Friends.

“Oh! And thanks for buying her dinner. I’ll pay you back.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“She told me where you went. I know how expensive that place is. You have to let me give you something.”

“Nah man. I wanted her to have a good time. I don’t mind at all.”

“Well thank you.” He then stands up to leave. “I’ll see you in the morning.” He says walking out the door.

Jimin, what are you thinking. She said you guys were friends. And V is your best friend. He trust you not to do anything with her. I pick the bunny back up looking at it. Maybe you are a bad idea. I shouldn’t give you back. I need to act like a normal friend.

But then again normal friends buy gifts all the time. How is this any different? Ok. I’ll give it to her tomorrow. I’ll just put it in her room. Maybe then it won’t be as strange. I tuck the bunny away again and turn out the light to go to sleep.

Notes