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Chapter 6: First Date – April 28 – May 1, 2020

The next three days whizzed by.  Hobi had seemed to recover quickly.  He was back to being his sweet and helpful self by the time lunch was over.  He and Minsu finished the week out as partners and friends.  

They fell into a flow at the cafe.  He offered to bus the tables while she ran the cash register.  She knew he was trying to minimize her opportunities to create an accident.  She was grateful to him.  She did seem to have fewer accidents during the second half of that week.  

By the time they walked out on Friday, she was in high spirits.  

He glanced at her.  “Are you looking forward to your date tonight?”

She smiled and nodded.  “Mostly because I know Minnie is moving in with you.”  She turned towards him again.  “Thank you so much, Hobi!”  

She stopped, so he did too.  Then she threw her arms around his neck and landed up against him.  He reached up to encircle her waist with his arms as he bent his head and inhaled.  

There was that sweet something stirring in her tresses again.  What was it?  

Whatever it was, he couldn’t get enough of it.  

But that hug was all too brief.  

She drew back, and he gazed down into her eyes.  “Promise me you’ll take care of yourself, Minsu.  I mean it.  Make sure he treats you right.”

She scrunched up her face.  “What do you mean, Hobi?  He’s a nice guy.”

“Oh, yeah?  I hope so.  But…how well do you know him?”

She looked up at him in consternation.

“What’s his name, Minsu?”

Her eyes widened.  She didn’t know.  She had never asked him what his name was. 

Hobi gaped at her.  “You don’t know his name?  He asked you out on a date, but he didn’t tell you his name?  Don’t you find that kind of odd?”

“I — he was in a hurry to get to a meeting.  And the last two days he was waiting in a long line, so I had to serve him quickly.  He always pays with cash.  I, I just forgot.”

“Well, hopefully, you’ll find out tonight.”

He felt even more concerned now.  “You know you can call me anytime, right?”

She nodded.  Then her lips quirked.  “Thanks, Hobi.  You’re such a good friend.”

Ah.  There’s the rub.  I want to be so much more than a good friend.

He sighed as he watched her head for her apartment.  That guy better take good care of her.

—

He picked her up at seven thirty-five.  So, he was a few minutes late?

That gave her time to peruse her reflection in the mirror.  She had chosen to wear her long, raven hair down tonight.  Over her form-fitting, white dress.  It came down to mid-thigh and showed off her curves to nice advantage.  It was sleeveless too, so she wouldn’t get too hot.  She was wearing a pair of white heels with it.

She smiled at herself.  “You look great, Minsu.”  

But she wasn’t sure she believed her own words.  She grimaced and walked towards the door.  Just then, a knock sounded on it.  She opened it and smiled up at…him.  And thought of Hobi’s words.

“D-Do you realize th-that we’re going on a d-date, and I d-don’t even kn-know your n-name?” she murmured.

He smiled down at her.  “I’m Naru.  Naru Beom.”

She smiled.  “Th-there.  Th-that was easy.”

His eyes slid down the length of her before traveling up again. He let out a long, low whistle that embarrassed her.  

“Don’t you look fine!”

She could feel her cheeks bursting into flames.  His hot gaze was doing odd things to her.

He turned towards her and offered her his elbow.  

“Shall we?” he murmured as he bent low and whispered in her ear.  

She felt his warm breath flowing over her neck and shivered.  Then she took his arm and nodded.  “I c-can’t wait to try Fusion Five.”

He smiled down at her.  “You won’t have to wait much longer.  We have a table waiting for us.  Whenever we get there.”

She gazed up at him.  He did know how to pull strings apparently.  

—

Wow.  Did he ever!  

She stared in awe at the vase of roses that was nestled between them on the center of the tiny, circular table.  A moment later, someone appeared to fill their glasses with red wine.  Then, another someone brandished sleek, black menus before handing them both to Naru.  He passed one to her.  Then he winked at her.

“Get whatever you like.  Money is no object.”

That was easy for him to say.  He was clearly rich.  It was in the cut of his suit coat.  And the crease of his black pants.  His clothes screamed money.  So did his car.  And this restaurant.

She gazed around at it.  The menu was in French.  She couldn’t read a single word of it.

“Do you know what you want?” he murmured.

She glanced at him and shook her head before admitting sheepishly, “I c-can’t r-read the menu.”

“Oh.”  His eyebrows bounced up.  “I will read it to you then.”  

He began to read to her, and she felt amazingly self-conscious.  Small, poor, and stupid compared to this paragon of beauty, class, and intelligence.  She centered in on the word chicken as the rest of the words flowed over and through her.  Passing out to the other side.  Uncomprehended.  And unretained.

He smiled at her.  “What sounds good?”

“The chicken,” she murmured as she sipped from her wine glass.  She didn’t usually drink.  But he hadn’t asked, so…

“Good choice.  I’m going to have the veal.”  He set the menu down and grinned at her.  “So, Minsu, what would you like to do after dinner tonight?”

She stared at him.  She had absolutely no idea.  “W-what would you like to do?”

“Hmm.  Maybe take a stroll in the park?”

“Th-that s-sounds l-lovely.”  

If she could just stop stuttering!  She had believed she would calm down by now.  But apparently not.

If anything, she was more nervous now that they tried to make small talk.  She discovered he wasn’t funny like Hobi.  Naru wasn’t very interesting either.  But he sure was easy on the eyes.  

His own stunning, obsidian orbs kept sliding into hers too.  Making her stomach flip upside down.  And the half-smile he wore on his lips all the time was quite provoking.  It made her want to kiss him for some inexplicable reason.

They stumbled through dinner.  Her stutter was making conversation difficult for her.  And he seldom kept it going.  So they spent a lot of time staring at each other.  He seemed to enjoy looking at her.  And she definitely enjoyed looking at him.

Later, they took a silent walk through the park.  But just a few moments in, he reached for her hand.  She blushed as his fingers slid over hers.  He smiled at her.    Again, he seemed perfectly happy to just be with her.  So she contented herself with the fact that he wasn’t making her talk.  Maybe he was just sensitive to her stutter and wanted to save her from embarrassment.  

What a sweet guy.

She smiled up at him.

He quirked an eyebrow as she turned away.  What was that secret smile for?  Was she anticipating their return to her apartment as much as he was?

—

He walked her to her apartment.  They stood outside the door.  She was nervous again.  She didn’t know what to say or do.  He was staring at her so intensely out of those piercing, obsidian eyes of his.  

His fingers reached for hers again.  As they slipped around them, he tugged her close to him, his other arm sliding around her and drawing her up against him.

“I had a good time with you tonight,” he murmured as he bent his head towards hers.

She widened her eyes as she realized his intent.  His lips brushed hers a moment later, and she was transported.  As his mouth continued to move over hers, she had to admit that she was every bit as happy as she’d thought she’d be kissing him.

His hand released hers and slid around her waist, tugging her even closer to him as, surprisingly, he deepened the kiss.  She hadn’t expected him to open her mouth with his.  But he did.

She’d never been kissed this deeply.  She wasn’t really sure that she liked it.  But she didn’t want to offend him, so she let him peruse the inside of her mouth with his tongue.  But after a few moments, she drew away.

“Th-thank you for dinner,” she whispered sheepishly, feeling somewhat embarrassed now.

“You’re welcome,” he murmured huskily against her temple.

“G-goodnight.”

He smiled at her.  “Goodnight.  Can I take you out again?”

She nodded her head.

“I’ll text you.”  His eyes caressed her again before he turned away.

She sagged against the door.  He really seemed to like her.