♡ ╏ bar + grill

@´☆ kim minjeong. he was no stranger to minjeong's attention or the platonic affections that came with it; something he looked forward to when they connected. but tonight, perhaps because they've inadvertently found themselves talking, in the context of a blind date their mutuals proposed they go on; he finds himself face to face with her newfound deviance. and it leaves him feeling uncharacteristically flustered.

it makes him wonder how far she'd push this new, audacious side of herself. but who is he kidding? he can feel her curiosity, see it in the way her eyes linger on him, the way they roam just below his eyes, grazing his lips. the heat from her gaze makes it hard to focus. this feels like a game. a challenge he’s not sure he’s ready to play—but one he’s already caught up in. surely she doesn't see him that way.....right? jungkook tries to keep his cool but the thought persists and the uncertainty that comes with it.

letting out a self-deprecating chuckle, jungkook goes silent for a moment to diffuse the tension within himself, “god, no,” he replies, his voice carrying a hint of disillusionment. "not the kind of experience i'd brag about. if I had any luck, I wouldn't be going on nearly as many. but..I guess there's something interesting about getting to know someone new, you can just pick at their brain and see what makes them tick."

leaning forward so his forearms rest on the edge of the table, minjeong's mention of a “ on the beach” doesn't slip by him, and his dark eyes catch hers, the faintest smirk pulling at the corner of his lips.“and for the record,” he said, the words rolling off his tongue slowly, “I’m glad you stuck around. but don’t think for a second I’m letting you have all the fun, beautiful.”

his gaze lingers on her person for a few beats longer before a waiter arrives and breaks the spell, ready with a pen and pad. "I'll have a whisky on the rocks." he said smoothly, then turned his attention back to minjeong, one brow arched in subtle provocation. “and my date will have…?”

@´☆ jeon jungkook. Everything hit winter like a freight train. She never expected to be face to face with the enigmatic yet sometimes shy, reserved and quiet jeon jungkook. Yet, here she is indeed face to face with him no less. The silver glint of his lip ring in the ambient lights overhead keeps catching her attention and her soft, doe-shaped orbs keep glancing down to his lips. She's probably going to be labeled as "that girl", the type who keeps eyeing their date's mouth in hopes for a kiss.

With their unpredictable situation, added to their already acquainted semblance of a friendship, it only fueled more of minjeong's embarrassment and shyness as she ducks her head down a little. A huge contrast from her bold and yet persistent question. Wanting to get the man's opinion on his newfound date. Her eyes lift up to check him out and she's surprised by his antics, albeit a small smile plays on her pink brims. Eyes glimmering with a hint of amusement and intrigue as if tempting him to say something bad just so that her little body would have cause to scoot closer onto the edge of her chair and kick at his shin.

"Gee, so many blind dates huh? Now are you flaunting your experience with me, Mister jeon? Is thod what it is?" She scoffs softly, taking a sip out of the glass placed before them, provided while they wait on ordering as she chuckles once. "If I didn't wish to stay when I saw it was you, you know me. I'm quite blunt in my words and actions, I'd be turning heels first and heading out the door. Instead—" She allows her eyes to carefully drag over his features and down his line of body where she can see before the table blocks off. A hint of a smile playing on her lips. "You look hot so. Why not?"

It was out of her character, but this is what living once entails right? Doing things out of the box, garnering new reactions from people who are used to you being a certain way and trying new things that makes one feel good about themselves. At least, that's how minjeong feels right at this moment as she nods once. "What would you be having? I might go for a cocktail.... on the beach is always sweet and refreshing. You?"

@´☆ kim minjeong. it hadn't occurred to him that fate could be so deliberate and force him to confront the consequences of his actions. just moments ago, their texts loomed large in his mind, a persistent reminder that she was off entertaining a night with a handsome stranger. someone her friends couldn't stop praising. and whilst lying in wait for a message to hear how her night went, he half-expected a stranger to walk in, someone unfamiliar he could use as a fleeting distraction. but there was no mistaking it. kim minjeong, the girl he couldn't stop thinking about, made it clear that he was in the spot she expected her date to be.

still in shock, he spun his head around the room one last time; eyes flitting about as if seeking confirmation that he hasn’t somehow stepped into an alternate reality. but no such confirmation came.

when minjeong took a seat across from him and made herself welcome, his expression softened and he found himself giving a small, incredulous laugh, his brows lifting as he gestured between them. “so this is happening. you're actually serious.”while his demeanor appeared casual, the unexpected nature of the situation left him feeling more anxious than he cared to admit. and in needing a moment for himself, he reaches for his glass of water, slowly tipping its chilled contents into his mouth to buy himself time.

however her immediate: 'do I look good as your blind date' catches him off guard. her approach is direct and playful, and it throws him off, but he quickly recovers, admiring her boldness. thus, leaning back into his chair, he brushes his fingers along his jaw, his gaze levelling hers with a quiet admiration. and it's then, in that peculiar setting that he's able to acknowledge his attraction to her. after all, she's probably just looking to have a laugh at this. "you know, I’ve been on a lot of blind dates, but you’ve officially raised the bar—and then some." he chews on the inside of his cheek , using humor once again to fill the cracks in his previously disarmed expression. " so, where do we go from here? do you feel comfortable going through with this..with me? want a drink?"

@´☆ jeon jungkook. the ball dropped and minjeong was stunned speechless. her doe-shaped eyes caught in hindlights travel over the male's form slowly. the beige on him looked divine, his lip ring popped out the most as her eyes zoomed in momentarily. she always forgot about that until she's face to face with the older, being stunned and speechless for the nth time. her eyes are widening as they skim him from head to toe yet again, as if savoring every inch the taller man has to offer. biege really looked good on him - is that biege? she sure hoped it is, whatever color it was? absolutely divine. her eyes glisten a bit and a sense of relief, yet a bit of nerves mix in there started beating around her mind bit by bit.

she didn't know what to expect and froze! especially in front of someone who she would've been happy to have had as her blind date instead - yet when he asked that question, she felt rather stupid. a bit offended too. was he thinking she wasn't worth being his blind date? minjeong felt a sense of dread pooling within her stomach at that. what was once comfort, turn into a bitter, sour taste traveling over her tastebuds as she emits a deep breath before moving over on shaky legs.

"I'm here for my blind date koo, what else it is am I doing," her voice is soft, yet a bit clipped at the end. her mild annoyance rings free in the air as her heels clicked yet again, carrying her over to the male's opposite end and her eyes couldn't help but drag on over his exquisite features. wow- when did jeon jungkook clean up this good? suddenly her tongue felt a little too heavy. she was surprised by the straight strands of onyx framing his handsome features and making his presence even that more captivating than the last time she spent time with him.

he really came here to make an impression and boy was it working. suddenly she felt a tad bit self-conscious as she squirms a little in her seat, a hand delicately tucking a stray curl behind her ear as she nudges her chin to the waiter taking in requests and guiding the other patrons to their tables. "this is the table my blind date is at. so... do I um... do I look good as your blind date then jungkook?"

bold. but yet, deep down, the nervewrecking feeling that claws at her mind and heart was eating away at her. she needed to know if she made an impression or not. friend or not, she needed to at least know, if this was drawing a statement. that minjeong is much more than a delicate flower, quiet, reserved and goal-oriented. even if that's what she whole-heartedly pegs herself as no less.

@´☆ kim minjeong. his look: https://pin.it/Fgd9bBEh1

patrons crossed his line of sight, their forms nothing more than an indistinct blur as he scanned the chic establishment, searching for something, anything, to anchor him to the present. his gaze drifted toward the chandeliers first. taking in how their cascade of teardrop shaped crystals cast a soft glow over the surroundings and allowed the light to diffuse in a way that made the room seem warm and inviting. then he turned and tuned in to the murmurs of the waitstaff huddled in a corner, the lot resembling a colony of penguins in their stiff uniforms, their hushed conversation seeming a momentary respite from the bustle of service. but he sighed in frustration as he found the pursuit meaningless.

this night, like so many before it, had started predictably. once again he found himself agreeing to a blind date, set up by well-meaning acquaintances. one he agreed to more out of obligation than genuine interest. a cycle which has become all too familiar. yet tonight, something felt off. his mind kept drifting back to the texts he’d exchanged with minjeong the night before. his thoughts on a swivel over whether he came across as a disingenuous friend for not seeming as interested in her last-minute blind date. wondering whether his vague answers to her questions were sufficient advice she needed to move it along. but the self-imposed distance, his decision to withhold the truth about his whereabouts, the disguised effort he made to not take the spotlight away from her... he asked himself why he did so in the first place. he didn't owe her anything. yet the thought of her seeing someone else gnawed at him more than he wanted to admit. It wasn’t just about the date; it was something else entirely, something he couldn’t name. he tried to push the thought away, but it lingered—unexpectedly invasive.

still somewhat lost in the weight of his own contradictions, the soft click of heels approaching barely registered. but then, a voice, familiar and far too close—pulled him sharply from his thoughts. his head jerked up instinctively, eyes snapping wide, locking with hers before he could think to stop them.

there, before him, unironically stood minjeong. her presence more disarming than he could have imagined. a vision of ethereal beauty. like a forest fairy or a sea nymph, her delicate silhouette draped in a light blue mini dress adorned with sparkling embellishments that highlighted her soft, delicate features. her blonde curls, spun like gold, framing her face perfectly. every detail about her seemed too surreal for this moment, as though the universe itself had conspired to place her in front of him to force him to face his own tangled feelings.

"min...jeongie," he whispered, his voice strained, the words slipping out like a secret he'd been holding too long. what if his date was close behind? what if she were also meeting her date there too? this would make for one awkward introduction. "what...what are you doing here?"

@´☆ jeon jungkook. her look: https://pin.it/5NfQTfBEO

"!" minjeong harshly swore at her heels as it flopped out of her hand for the nth time tonight. she was rushing to get ready, her flight cut late, she had a last minute flight to attend. thankfully it wasn't a layover and she finished up in half a day, straight into the evening. she wasn't going to be working to the bone where her feet aches and stressors of the day gets her worn out, thankfully. but here she is, going in for something far more nerve-wrecking than a spontaneous layover flight.

her friends were akin to a mother hen for minjeong's well being and happpiness. they wanted her to experience all of which life has to offer - of course, she wasn't supposed to be 'seriously' dating anyone. not like minjeong could even keep a relationship to begin with. the woman struggled to hell and back to even handle being committed to someone with her job always putting her ambitions and goals first and foremost. but jieun and minah wanted her to have the best of the best of her time during this little mini vacation — two weeks break from flying the skies. and what better way than to set her up with an ideal blind date. "you'd love him minj! he's your type, I'm sure!"

"fun stuff," she scoffed at her reflection, adding a bit of gloss over her rosy couplets, eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief, albeit annoyance. upon glancing at the clock, she was forty-five minutes late. the bar and grill is right down the road- close to the little hotel she's staying the night at. due to convenience, as she rushed out, she makes sure her wallet, phone and other essentials are with her. a pocket knife tucked into her clutch for safety and a pepper spray can - one can never be too careful. being a trained flight attendant and dealing with passengers safety, not to mention having dealt with some psychos in her line of work— she can't be too careful. she wouldn't wish to face any semblance of trouble. trust issues? check!

she doesn't know the man who she's being set up with, only know the table number he would be at. jungkook texts play through her head as she steals one last glance at her outfit, trying to not pay heed to the "teasing" aspect. the bar and grill was quite luxurious, with staff members waddling through and serving drinks and even little dishes if patrons got hungry. it was a prestigious place, not run down by any means as minjeong finally walked into the area. asking one of the waiters hanging around for the table number her friends told her that her date would be sitting at. "number 3?" winter was pointed in the direction and she smoothly walks over. heels clacking against the floors, even with the music thrumming from the bass speakers, her posture tall and proud, chin held high as her frame made the dress hers as best as her petite frame fits it.

she always managed to dress as a form of comfort and to impress and tonight was no different, even if she wasn't keen on some silly, little blind date. her eyes fixate on the male as she stalked nearer, but his back faced her so she could only see the top of his fluffy strands. he's tall - that was... inevitably attractive to her to say the least. a curl on her lips is given as she walked on over and faces the male before bowing her head slightly. melodious voice tremoring from her parted lips, '"I'm so sorry I am late, I got held back with a last minute gig," minjeong's eyes finally found the face she was speaking to, eyes widening and doing a double take, eyeing the waiter and the guy. this guy being no stranger whatsoever but no other than the one she went to for dating advice. shock, surprise, embarrassment with a tinge of frazzled nerves chases the young flight attendant as she tries to not stumble over words yet failed to do so.

"... jeon jungkook...?"