FALLIN'

[10] Few inches apart

********

Hi guys!

Before starting with the chapter, I wanna say that I'm so sorry for not posting for such a long time..

Had a really busy month!

I'll try & keep you guys updated from now on..

As an apology, I'll be posting 2 new chapters today. I hope you guys like it.

From next week, I'll be posting 1 or 2 chapters a week.

Also, whoever has read my book so far, before 27/03/21, I'll suggest them to once again read it from the beginning as I've changed the storyline a little bit & edited few chapters..

Thank you & sorry! :'(

Love you guyssss!

***********

"It's nice to see that you still haven't forgotten this old man"

Jin pouted, "Why would you say that? I'm so offended Grandpa"

Grandpa patted Jin's back saying, "It's nice to see you after so many days...how have you been? ...and who is this young lady, if I may ask?"

"I'm fine, Grandpa. She's Dr.Annie. Chang's surgeon. Chang's well-being is all thanks to her"

The old man was delighted to meet Chang's saviour, "Oh! We are truly grateful to you for saving our kid.. I cannot express how happy I am. God bless you dear"

These were the moments that made Lucy proud of herself... how she could save lives, bring smile to so many faces, save so families from falling apart.

"It's my p...."

Before she could finish, Chang's Grandmother entered the living room asking her husband, "Who is it, dear?"

Grandpa's "Jinnie's here with his girlfriend" was all that was needed to create a chaos..

Annie & Jin: "!!"

Jin: *whispering to grandpa* "Grandpaaaa!!! She is not my girlfriend!!!! Stop embarassing me"

But Grandpa wanted to enjoy the show that Grandma was about to put up.. Oh! How he loved watching Jin get embarassed.

"GIRLFRIEND? Finally! My boy has grown up... "

"Grannyyyy!"

Without paying much attention to 'nagging Jin', Grandma turned towards Annie asking, "What is your name dear?"

Annie: "Hello, Grandma. I'm Dr. Annie Williams"

Grandma: "I see...so Jinnie got himself a doctor girlfriend so that he doesn't have to go to a hospital after getting beaten into pulp by Brutus!"

Instead of denying & clearing the misunderstanding, Annie burst out laughing at Grandma's sass..

Jin: "uhhh not fair! Not infront of her"

Grandma: "Oh, Jinnie my boy... it's fine! She should know this anyway! Now, you come here...give grandma a hug"

Jin could never stay mad at Grandma for anything.. he bent down & hugged Grandma asking, "Why do you tease me so much? I missed you...how have you been?"

Grandma said laughing, "Just living in the hope of dying someday"

Jin: "Hey! Don't say it like that"

Grandma: "Ha ha"

Jin: "Not funny, Granny!"

Grandpa interrupted their bantering saying, "Your Granny has gotten old & ugly...haha", knowing exactly how this will make Grandma's blood boil in anger.

Although grandma had a great personality, she was sassy & cool as a cucumber but there were two things she hated being called~ 'OLD' & 'UGLY' ...& grandpa showed the audacity of saying both the dreadful words alltogether...

Jin knew what was about to happen.☠

'Only Lord save him now', he thought.

"who're you calling old....and UGLY?????", Grandma shouted.

Jin: "Uh-oh trouble alert!? Sit down now both of you. Stop fighting like kids..Tell me what do you wanna eat? Chef Jin is here at your service! ?"

Grandma: "You! You keep supporting him & he keeps dancing on my head! That old hedgehog gets on my nerves... I'm going to kill him someday!?"

Grandpa: "My tall legs need a lot more space to dance than your pea-sized head"

Grandma: "YOU!!!!"

Jin: "Calm down both of you, else I'm leaving!"

At Jin's sudden declaration, both of Chang's grandparents fell silent...

Jin: "Good, my lovelies! Be nice to each other. Now, tell me, what would you like to eat?"

Grandma: "You come here just for few days, why don't you let us treat you for once?"

Grandpa: "Yes, for once in lifetime I agree"

Jin: "Do you want me to get mad at both of you?"

Grandpa, Grandma: *in chorus* NO!

Jin: *chuckles* "Good. So what would you like?"

Grandpa: " I am tired of your Grandma's cooking. Why don't you make us something simple that you like, my boy?"

Grandma: "You are gonna have to feed yourself for the entire year until Jinnie comes next cause I'm not gonna cook for you"

Grandpa: "Nooo!"

Annie: "Haha"

Annie's laughter caught everyone's attention...

Grandma was pretty much charmed by Annie's charismatic aura, the moment she saw her. She saw the reflection of her own younger version in Annie...

"Enough about us! Tell us something about you, young lady", she exclaimed.

Annie smiled, "Well, there isn't much to know about me... I am a surgeon at SHL national hospital..."

But this wasn't enough. Grandma wanted to know more about the girl whom Jin brought with him for the first time. Moreover, she was eager to know about the girl who not only caught Jin's attention but also the sassy & fussy Grandma's!

"Where do you stay...and what about your parents? What do they do?"

This was the part that Annie dreaded answering. She didn't like talking about losing her parents cause no matter how many years pass by, it always makes her curse herself for being the only one alive..

"Both my parents were doctors. Unfortunately, they passed away in a car accident when I was 11years old. So, I live alone with my best friend, Peter, as my neighbour ..who works at the same hospital as me!

Pete's parents loved me as their own child, so they kind of took me in after you know...my parents...umm..yeah, so that's all about me"

Grandma felt guilt washing over her, "I'm very sorry my child. I didn't mean to..."

Before Grandma could finish, Annie conciliated, "I know. Don't feel sorry. I know they are not here now but both my parents were amazing people. I am so proud of being their daughter. They're the reason that I'm a surgeon today. I always wanted to be like them... to be able to save people".

Grandpa was very impressed by Annie's personality..

"..and you are doing that perfectly fine. Nobody knows that better than us", he ended up praising.

Throughout the entire time when three of them were talking, Jin kept his eyes fixed on Annie. The more he saw her, the more he was captivated by her strength. He barely knew her yet he felt a pang in his heart thinking about how hard it must have been for a 11year old little Annie... He admired her even more now, for being so independant, so resolute..

Annie looked at Jin to find him already staring at her. The way he looked at her, made her feel warm. She weakly smiled at Jin saying, "Enough about me.. what are you gonna cook?"

Jin: "What would you like to eat?"

Annie: "um.. anything is okay with me"

"Okay then. Leave it upto the Chef here", said Jin, winking.

With that Jin left the living room to make some delicious entrées for all of them...

Grandpa: "You girls have a talk. I'll go buy something for dessert while Jinnie is making the food"

Grandma: "Make sure to bring some strawberries for me"

"Anything for my love", said Grandpa disappearing behind the door.

Grandma couldn't help but laugh at her hopelessly romantic yet stubborn husband.

Annie dreamily watched the old couple...soooo in love even after so many years.

Annie: "Grandma?"

Grandma: "Yes dear?"

Annie: "Can I ask you something?"

Grandma: "yes, ofcourse"

Annie: "How did you meet Grandpa?"

Annie's question made her smile. Grandma started recalling her days of youth..

Ann couldn't help notice the beautiful smile she had on her face.

"We met on a rainy day.. It was raining like cats & dogs....", she started telling Annie about her days of love..

"My mother sent me out to buy groceries. I still remember it was a Saturday.

Shortly after I finished shopping, it started raining while returning home. The wind was so strong, it literally blew my skirt... While I was desperately trying to hold it down, my umbrella broke against the wind....I was drenched from head to toe...

My skin could be seen through the white t-shirt I was wearing that was soaking wet by then.. I was too embarassed to walk in the streets like that..

Suddenly somebody put his coat around my shoulders to cover up my body.

I looked up to see the most handsome man I've ever seen in my life. He perfectly befitted the adjectives 'tall', 'dark' & 'handsome'..

He said~ You should've carried an umbrella with you..

I was so shy, I couldn't even say that I had one, few moments ago... all I could do was nod in silence.

I never thought I'd end up marrying that man with a coat, you know?"

Annie: "It's so cute Grandma! I hope, someday I find somebody with whom I can be the way you are with grandpa. You guys seem so real...so in love!"

Grandma: "You will, my dear. There's a time for everybody. Now tell me, do you like our Jinnie?

Annie: "um..."

Grandma: "Don't worry, I won't tell a soul. That'll be a secret between us girls"

Annie: "I..uh.. he's a really nice guy"

Grandma: "So you do like him.. Let me tell you, Jin is a very good kid. Caring & soft-hearted. You must take good care of him"

Annie: "umm.. I do like him but not like that. We just met recently. Though I can tell that he is a good man, I am scared of getting hurt. I've had a very traumatic relationship in the past. I haven't dated anybody since then.. So, before getting into something, I want to know the person in-n-out"

Grandma: "Well, if that's the case then you should get to know the person more...& for that you need to spend more time together..

You need to give yourself a chance to fall in love again, my dear... cause if you don't just because you're scared, you'll never be able to get rid of your past!

You'll never know who's the right one, if you don't even mingle at the first place..

A good man will never hurt you, trust me"

Annie: "...but..."

Grandma: "No ifs & buts! Why don't you go join my boy in the kitchen? I'm sure he could use some company."

Annie: "uh..."

Grandma: "So tell me, will you disobey an elder?"

Annie: "No! I..I am sorry, I didn't mean it like that"

Grandma: *smiling* "I know..take it from your Grandma kido, that is how you start fallin' ...spend some time together.. Heh! Makes me remember my good old days...

*********

Jin was so engrossed in preparing food for Chang's grandparents & Annie that he did not realise when she entered the kitchen.

Annie couldn't help admire a different side of Jin. He looked like the kind of man you see in fairy tales... the caring one....

But, the more she kept staring, the more she started noticing small details..

Sleeves rolled up the elbows...sweat dripping off his forehead.. hair messed up from wiping the sweat by the back of his sleeves...

Suddenly his look didn't feel like that from a fairy tale anymore to Annie...

He looked so sinful...

'Oh no no! Stop it right there, girl. Talk to him, distract yourself', she scolded herself.

Annie: "Hey, whatcha doin'?"

Jin: "Oh, hi. I'm making a grand meal for tonight"

Annie: *smiling* "can see that.. "

Jin:"mmhmm.. I got the fridge restocked by Chang today morning so that I can make them their favourites"

Annie: "You planned it earlier?"

Jin: *stops working for a moment* "Yes, I was going to come here anyway... but, really, thanks for tagging along.."

Annie: *smiling* "It's nice to be surrounded by so many people"

Annie was smiling but there was glint of sadness in her eyes.

Jin: "you okay?"

Annie: "yeah..yeah absolutely."

Jin: "You can talk to me, if you ever need to. Okay?"

Annie: "Yeah, sure. I will..um, so what's for dinner?"

Jin: "I'm making Bibimbap, gimbap, bulgogi with some rice, kimchi jjigae & some baechu kimchi salad"

Annie: "wow! That's a lot of food!"

Jin: "yeah. Those two lovelies, just love Korean traditional food"

Annie: "oh.. "

Jin: "Also, I love eating"

Annie: "mmm"

Jin: "Do you have any preferences?"

Annie: "This'll be my first time trying korean food"

Jin: "oh?? Then I'm gonna make it extra delicious so that you just can't stop eating"

Annie: "...and then will you feature me in your asmr thing?"

Jin: "haha! You took that seriously? Martha was only joking"

Annie: "She was?"

Jin: "mmhmm"

....

...

Annie: "So...do you want me to help you?"

"It's fine, you are the guest here. I'll manage", said Jin.

Annie: "That's sooo old school. Come on, *taking the knife from Jin's hand* let me help. I'll chop these, you do other things. It'll be faster this way"

Jin: *sighs* "On one condition"

Annie: "What?"

Jin: "How about another date?"

Jin's sudden question surprized her. She did not expect him to ask her out on a second date, so early..

What shall she do? Say yes at once or make him wait?

'Ugh', she groaned in her mind.

Annie tried to act cool, not letting a single tinge of excitement come on her face, "...hm? what if I deny?"

Jin: "Well then, *taking the knife back from her hand* I can help myself"

Annie: "Hey! Not fair"

Jin: "mmhm.. you still have your option."

Annie: "What option?"

Jin: *stops working, takes a deep breath* "The date?"

Annie: *giggling* "I'll think about it..... Now give me the knife, Chef Jin"

Jin: "Here you go"

Annie: *while chopping veggies* "So... tell me something about you, Jin"

Jin: "um.. like what?"

Annie: "like where do you stay? How was your childhood? Something about your friends & family....."

Jin started talking to her about his life, carefully, so as not to spill his little yet not-so-little secret,

"ok.. So... I stay in Seoul but I belong from Gwacheon, S.Korea."

Annie: "I've heard it's a beautiful place.."

Jin: "yeah it is... can you pass me the salt?"

Annie: "oh.. here"

Jin: "thanks...so.... I currently stay with 6 of my friends... Namjoon, Suga, Hoseok, Jimin, Taehyung and Jungkook"

Annie: "Namjoon? The guy who came with you to the hospital right?"

Jin: "Yep!"

Annie: "He seems nice..."

Jin: "mhmm, he is"

Annie: "yeah.. he is very... you know..humble... charming... what? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Jin: "You... like him?"

Annie: "Maybe..."

Jin: "oh"

Annie: "So... continue..."

Jin: "...."

Annie: "hey! What happened?"

Jin: "Nothing"

Annie: "well then, tell me"

Jin: "Namjoon has a younger sister... his m..."

Annie: "hey... I asked about you.. why are you talking about him?"

Jin: "I thought you'd want to know about him..since you know..."

Annie: "what?"

Jin: "....like him"

Annie: "I was just joking you i***t! Haha.. you're just like a kid you know?"

Jin: "......"

Annie: "Okay lets forget about it!... Now, how about you let me taste this dish? What is it called?"

Jin: "Bulgogi"

Annie: "Can I have some?"

Jin: "Yeah.. wait... here... open your mouth"

Annie: "... umm.. "

Jin: "what? It's not hot.. you can have it.. I won't feed you if it's hot.. I always have to feed jungkook like this. He has an amazing palate. My personal critique..."

Annie: "ohh..."

Jin: "Now open up.. ahh"

Annie: ".... ah"

Jin took a spoonful of bulgogi & put it inside Annie's mouth.. he was eager to hear her response about the dish... but she was unable to do so with Jin standing inches away from her..

Gradually their eyes locked & the time around them seemed to stop..

Looking straight into her eyes, Jin moved closer to Ann.

He hesitantly placed his hand in the nape of her neck, slowly pulling her closer to the point where she could feel his hot breath on her full lips..

She licked her lips in one swift motion of her tongue.. he stared at them wanting to trace his thumb along the line where her lips connected with her skin..

He gathered courage & placed his thumb at the corner of her mouth, slowly parting her lips...

She gulped hard knowing what was coming for her..

Just the moment their lips were about to touch, they heard Grandpa loudly calling out from the living room,

"Jinnie!! I got us some bingsu..."

Grandpa's voice broke their trance. The sudden realisation hit Annie, 'Damn! We were just about to kiss'..

Jin didn't know how to react. He couldn't read Annie's expression... Was she happy? Sad? Mad at him?

She had a blank face on.

'Does she regret what we were about to do?', he thought.

Jin moved away from Annie,

"I..I am so sorry...I don't know what came over me...please don't be mad.. it won't happen again.."

Jin's sudden declaration made Annie a bit disappointed.

'So he regrets? Won't happen again?', she repeated in her mind..

"Do you regret it?", she asked him on his face..

Jin was dumbfounded, he couldn't decipher how to respond, "I...uh.....n...o"

"It's okay. I understand.. I think I'm gonna wait in the living room with Grandma & Grandpa", she said while leaving the kitchen.

'Ughhhhh! Jin why do you always ruin everything?????', he cursed himself.

************

To be continued...