Jungkook's POV

"Here, you can share mine." A sweet voice suddenly spoke from next to me. I turned to thank the woman properly.

"Thank y-" I stutter as I notice the woman on my left.

She wore tan heeled boots which made her tall enough to be around my height - perfect enough to share an umbrella, she also wore a flowing white summer dress - which definitely did not suit this kind of weather!

Her hair was a delicious chocolate brown and framed her face beautifully. Her eyes were big and bright, as rich in colour as her chocolate brown hair.

However, as soon as we stepped out of the stall's shelter, the rain had stopped and the sun began to shine as suddenly as the rain had disappeared.

"I - uh..." I stammered again, feeling and sounding like a complete idiot.

"Well I guess we won't be needing the umbrella now." She smiles sweetly as she gently shakes off the water droplets that still clung to the surface of the material before closing the umbrella.

In the bright sunlight - the kind that seems golden after a shower of rain; and makes you feel renewed and pure - I noticed something twinkling on her left wrist.

She had worn a gold bracelet which had tiny leaves hanging off the chain. The bracelet complemented her wrist beautifully.

I felt myself stare at her wrist intently for a few seconds, before I forced myself to look away, feeling embarrassed by the fact that she had caught me staring at her.

"Yeah..." I grinned sheepishly at her, unsure why all of a sudden, I began to feel so shy around her. "Hey, uh... What's your name?" I managed to ask her, now that I've regained the ability to speak in front of her.

"Park Soo-Ah." She answered with a smile, then asked: "And what's your name?"

"Jeon Jungkook." I reply to her, running a shaky hand nervously through my tinted hair. I wasn't sure how she'd take to my name - most women either attempted to snuggle closer (which was sort of creepy) or they ran for the hills. I eyed her enigmatically, hoping she didn't do either of those things.

"Jeon Jungkook..." She said my name out loud slowly, as if recalling where she heard it before.

"The Jeon Jungkook?" She asked me as her eyes widened with realisation. "As in the renowned artist and youngest head curator at the Welsh Gallery of World Histotical Arts and Crafts?"

"You memorised the entire name?" I chuckled, jesting more freely now that we had started a conversation.

She hadn't run off then...

Hmmm... let's hope she doesn't run after she sees me gobble this delicious vermicelli infront of her. Just the smell of the cardamom and cinnamon have my taste buds warering.

Perhaps I should have bought some papad to go with it. The sweet, creamy vermicelli with the crunchy, spicy papad is so delicious.

Oh yeah... I should focus on the conversation I started...

"Ne..." She began to blush. "Actually, I am a big fan of your work Jungkook-ssi. Your work is so versatile and you promote, not just the Korean culture, but all Asian cultures and I love that. "

"Arrasso... thank you!" I bowed to her un return start to blush too at the compliment.

"I uh- I just got some vermicelli, would you like to join me?" I gestured at the polystyrene bowl in my hand.

"Ne, I also bought some. It's just so delicious!" She replies emphatically.

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Since the sun was out again, we decided to sit on the park benches that overlooked the river nearby. All sorts of birds populated the area, including geese and ducks.

It was somewhat magical. Simple, yet magical.

"I should have gotten some papad." I grimaced, looking at at her as she took a bite of her food.

"You can have some of mine. The aunty gives me extra sometimes..." She trails off, probably shy from the casual tone in which she replied.

"I mean, I always go there, so she sometimes slips me an extra something whenever I buy from her." She smiles, the blush increasing on her cheeks is too adorable.

"I know what you mean. I buy a lot of her snacks too. I've come to really like Indian foods since I lived there." I say casually as I break the papad she had offered me moments ago, trying not to look like an excited child.

Something people should keep in mind about me:
I love food.

So when I'm eating, my inner child shines out. I just hope she doesn't run away though.

But... why would she? I'm just having a snack with a girl I just met.

What is wrong with me? I've changed!

Shouldn't life begin at forty?

I'm only thirty!

Hey! What's going on here?

I shake my head slightly to free myself from my thoughts and clear my throat.

"Hokshi... are you going to be at the high tea later?" I asked, liking her already, hoping that by chance she'd be attending the event.

Something about Park Soo-Ah makes me want to talk to her for the rest of eternity. I don't want to stop. Everything about her is captivating.

She is such great company! And frankly, I can not remember when was the last time I had shared a meal with someone I actually enjoyed spending time with.

Sure, I hang out with my six hyungs, but they're guys after all. And hanging out with your older brothers isn't always cool - especially if I'm now going to suddenly be inviting a girl over for a meal.

"Aniyo, I wasn't able to purchase a ticket in time. The vendor was sold out by the time I got to the booth." She bowed her head, upset by her luck at not being able to get a ticket.

"Well, you know Soo-Ah, I am allowed to bring guests." I casually supplied, hoping she'd cheer up, and at the same time, I'm looking for an excuse to see her again.

"You are?" She looked up at me, her eyes shining with hope, perhaps she feels the same?

"Ne, would you like to be my plus one?" I hand her a business card and point out my personal number. "If you're up for it, let me know by 1pm today and I'll pick you up by 2pm?"

Soo-Ah accepts the card and reads it over for a few seconds, just as we do back in Korea.

"Arrasso, Gamsahamnida Jungkook-ssi." She bows, thanking me profusely, then tucking the card into her handbag.

"No need to thank me. You like my work, why wouldn't I give you a chance to attend the high tea?" I explain, returning the bow to her.

"Thank you so much Jungkook-ssi. I've heard of your humility, I finally get to witness it today." She bows again to me, but this time, I stop her. It feels weird having a pretty girl bowing at me in the middle of a marketplace in Cardiff city.

"Aniyo, Soo-Ah-ssi. There's no need for a pretty girl like you to bow. Besides, we're friends now, right?" I say, hoping she'd say yes. "Oh and the event is formal, so you can wear any formal attire you have."

"Ne. Thank you Jungkook-ssi. I've actually been excited about the event since I found out and already picked out an outfit." Soo-Ah exclaimed to me happily.

"Arrasso. And you can call me Jungkook, miss Soo-Ah." I hold out my hand to shake and she accepts.

We finished our desserts and talk a little more about her work and my art.

Her phone begins to ring, which to my chagrin, meant that she had to leave.

"I'm sorry Jungkook-ssi - I mean Jungkook, I shall call you later on. For now, I really need to take this call, it's my little sister you see." She apologises, excuses herself and rushes off, taking my heart with her.

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Soo-Ah's POV

An hour later...

It was now, around half and hour until two o'clock and I was still so unsure whether to go to the high tea event with Jungkook.

I was so nervous.

He's even more handsome in person!

Never in my day dreams at my office desk, have I ever dreamt that he'd ask me to be his plus one at such a prestigious event.

By fluke I'd met him earlier, thinking it was one of my ex-university friends standing there waiting for the rain to stop.

Tae was just like that at university. He'd forget to carry an umbrella or forget his hoodie in his car.

Next thing, it was raining and he'd wait like a sad kitten in the hallway for me to walk by with my umbrella.

I miss those days...

Today's Jungkook's birthday. I should get him a gift.

But what could I possibly gift an artist - more to the point, how can I get him something in twenty-five minutes?

He'll be here by then.

I called him an hour ago, after confirming with my mother that I'll actually be going to the event I wanted to attend.

I didn't tell her that the guest of honour would be picking me up though...

She just might have a heart attack.

My mother thinks he's so handsome and should marry already. She doesn't know I already have an enormous crush on the man.

I had to keep that to myself.

Though I think the girls at the office have noticed... I'm going to have to be careful about how I word this if I tell them that I attended the event.

Argh... what do I wear?

I feel so bloated after eating!

I hate being a girl!

Oh no... it's 13h45!

Sigh... I should just wear a hanbok.

Yeah... right. And look like I walked straight out the bloody TARDIS, while standing next to the bleeding weeping angels.

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10 minutes later...

All dressed up, in a cute black formal dress with a pair of pearl earrings and my good luck bracelet, I slip my feet into a pair of black court heels.

My phone rings, just in time, as I dabbed on the last bit of the red lipstick I was applying.

I'm not usually one for make-up, but I figured, I should make the effort, since Jungkook was kind enough to offer me to join him on his birthday at the event his gallery is hosting in his honour.

"Yeoboseyo?" I answered his call, feeling my cheeks turn crimson.

"Hi, Soo-Ah. I just wanted to say, according to the address you've given me, I'm right outside your door." Jungkook uttered, sounding smooth, but I detected a hint of nerves under that.

Smiling to myself, I answered, "I'll be at the door in 2 minutes." Knowing full well that I was already halfway there - we didn't have a very big house - and that no one was home yet, mercifully.

I got there just as he tried the bell, his finger almost pressing my nose, thinking it was the button on the door.

He chuckled nervously, while looking extremely dashing in his black tuxedo. His big eyes grew wider when he met mine, then his eyes travelled to my dress, and his jaw suddenly seemed to connect via Bluetooth to gravity as it dropped to the ground instantly.

"Wow!" He exclaimed, his pupils dilated, and his cheeks turned strawberry pink.

"You look good." I say to him, as he quickly recovered and offered me his arm.

I made sure to check that the door was locked and took his arm as he guided me to his car.

The ride there wasn't very long, perhaps because we spoke about a hundred things before he pulled up at the venue.

Reporters from all the local newspapers and online blog sites were lined along the green carpet, snapping pictures of him as I followed close behind, using my evening purse to block my face from their view.

"I could really do with an umbrella now." I mumbled under my breath to him.

Jungkook caught this and chuckled at my witty comment, assuring me it would be over in a moment or two.

"It's not so bad really, I'm just an artist. You should see what they do to Kpop idols!" He laughed, whispering in my ear.

"So, when's the wedding JK?" Came the squeaky, vulture like voice of a particularly older female reporter. She had the most smug look on her face.

"It's not what you think Sally." Jungkook responds.

Before I could explode with curiosity, someone tugged me into a hidden doorway.

When I turned to see who it was, it was my turn to have my jaw drop to the ground.

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A/n: There are some words I've used here, that not everyone may understand, so I have included some pronunciations and meanings.

Papad: (pronounced pa-par - you roll the 'r' sound at the end of the word - because that 'd' is actually a complicated translation of a complex 'r' sound in Hindi. - I won't bore you with my semantics though...)

A papad, which can also be called a papadam, is an Indian cracker bread (sort of like the melt-in-your mouth chips/crisps you get in the west) made usually with black gram or bean flour, and can ether be deep fried or cooked over a dry heat (flipped over an open flame) until crispy and crunchy.
Meaning adapted from: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papadam

Vermicelli: (pronounced: ver-ma-silly in South African English)
Is a 'pudding of sorts' but is never referred to as a pudding by the Indian community at large - specifically within the borders of South Africa.

Often just referred to as 'vermicelli', it can also be referred to as Vermicelli Payasam (pie-sim), Payaso (pie-sore), or Seveiyya (serv-aiya). All of these words originating from Sanskrit or an Indian language (again I shan't bore you with the linguistics and semantics).

In the city of Cape Town (The Mother City), which is in the Western Cape province of South Africa, this dessert is known as Boeber.

Raisins, sultanas and a variety of nuts can be added to increase the nutritional value of the dessert, however, sliced or diced almonds is the preferred added ingredient to the dish.

Vermicelli is best served hot with papad - which is a blend of sweet and spicy, creamy and crunchy.
Sometimes, vermicelli is braised and served dry - I.e. the extrea cream isn't added to create a saucy texture. The drier variant of the dessert is often eaten on its own.

Meaning adapted from: https://www.google.com/amp/s/eatmeerecipes.co.za/south-african-desserts/creamy-vermicelli-pudding/amp/

TARDIS: Time and Relative Dimension in Space - is the time machine that belongs to the Time Lord, who's better known as 'The Doctor'.
It is a blue police box from the popular 1963 television series, Doctor Who (all my fellow Whovians where you at?) The series is still running with the 60th anniversary being celebrated on 23rd November 2023.

Meaning adapted from:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/TARDIS

Weeping angels: An alien/monster from the television series Doctor Who. These beings are quantum locked when seen my any living form, including each other. They survive of the potential energy of one's life force, which they obtain through sending the person to live a while new life, back in time, while remaining in the victim's previous era to soak up the potential energy.

(Reference: Doctor Who TV series 3, Episode 10, the 10th Doctor and Martha, 2007).