The First Meeting- AU JoTae
A weary sigh slipped from TJ’s lips as his light amber eyes wandered over the endless snarl of cars ahead. The muffled cacophony of heated shouts and blaring horns seeped through the car windows, an inconsonant symphony of impatience that seemed to mirror his own restless thoughts. Gridlocked for fifteen interminable minutes, the car hadn’t budged, and the suffocating weight of the day pressed harder on his temples. His fingers moved instinctively, massaging away the tension that coiled like a snake at the sides of his head. Counting silently to ten, he tried—failed—to conjure calm.
The rhythmic thud of his bouncing foot filled the still air of the backseat, a metronome of his growing frustration.
“Sorry, Director,” his driver ventured in a careful voice. “There’s been an accident up ahead. I’ll try another route.” With a hesitant flick of the wheel, the car began inching sideways, attempting to escape the asphalt purgatory.
TJ’s gaze drifted to the horizon, where the sun hung low and bruised against the sky, its light fractured by the haze of smog. His nod was perfunctory, his mind elsewhere—on home, the sanctuary he craved but couldn’t yet reach.
The day had been long, the world unforgiving, and now, even the roads conspired against him.
The faint glow of his phone drew his gaze, a sharp contrast to the encroaching dusk that painted the car’s interior in muted tones. As the vehicle veered into a shadowed, narrow street, TJ’s gaze lingered out the car window, observing the people, some held hands, others kissed as lovers do, some even going as far as full PDA on the sidewalk for everyone to see and others were laughing, chatting amongst their friends. TJ couldn’t help the sadness that had creeped into him, he never had that luxury to meet genuine friends, gang life had not allow that privilege. At eighteen when he had joined, he thought for one second that he had a family in the other members but one night, he witnessed one of the men stabbing another, realizing quickly that there were no friends or family in that life, just strangers trying to survive and make money. He learned to keep to himself after that, trusting no one.
He guessed it had its advantages; he rose up within a matter of years, coming right underneath Jason who had been second in command at the time and a mentor to him. When Jason died, shot and killed, he knew it was time to leave, packing a bag of clothes up with all the money he had made, in another, he left.
“Hey Jo,” A woman’s voice called out, pulling TJ from his thoughts of the past. A girl, a college student, lifted her hand, waving at an unseen individual, her smile wide before she spread her arms out in front of her, a blur of motion zipped by, crashing into the girl’s arms. A few other students stood beside her, some smiling at the interaction and two others who were absorbed in their own conversation to notice.
His eyes shifted back towards the hugging duo as they moved out of their embrace. “Jo” was tall, around 6 feet or slightly above, his face hidden as he turned to the others, greeting them. The girl’s face flushed red, laughing nervously, leading TJ to believe she had a crush on this Jo person. He grew curious, craning his neck in order to view the man’s face.
Ready to give up, he began to shift in his seat until out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jo being pulled back, forced to turn around and see who had pulled on his backpack strap. A sharp breath caught in his throat, enamored by the beauty of the young man. His eyes, a hypnotizing cyan color, twinkled with delight as he smiled.
Despite the somewhat loose green sweater he wore, traces of his physique could be seen, his muscular arms, the peek of his lower abs as he stretched his arms above him, yawning before he slumped them down, leaving TJ dissatisfied with the sliver of flesh gone from his sight.
As he engaged in conversation with one friend, another appeared, wrapping an arm around Jo’s neck. He found himself glowering at the scene. He could see a mole on Jo’s face, right underneath his lips, strands of his black hair flowed in the breeze of the autumn air, a few landing in his face. He pushed the strands back in place.
TJ couldn't resist Jo’s alluring presence, unable to turn away. He was beautiful, handsome. Did he have a girlfriend? A boyfriend? Was he even gay? Would he accept a date from another man? TJ’s mind filled up with questions, before shaking his head, the intrusive questions dissipating into the air.
TJ watched as Jo waved goodbye, stepping inside a small Italian restaurant, his group of friends walking away.
Without much thought, TJ shifted on autopilot, pulling the car door open, his patent-leather dress shoes stepping onto the pavement, gravel crunching underneath him with each step he took towards the restaurant.
His driver demanded to know what he was doing but he waved him off, telling him to park and wait for him.
A bell above rang out as he hurried inside. His eyes peered around, the restaurant was small, cute and clearly family-owned. The tiles on the floor were a checkered black and white. Chairs were a deep red and the walls around were the standard white. TJ continued his search but he couldn't find Jo anywhere.
"Hello, just one?" TJ adjusted his line of sight to a woman, copper hair with a smile plastered on her lips and a green apron tied around her waist. TJ nodded, following behind as she took him to a booth and placed the menu down as he sat down. "Your server will be right out."
TJ flipped the menu open, not really looking at it, as his mission to find Jo became a bust. A whole five minutes had passed and the young man wasn’t anywhere in sight.
He sighed in defeat, missing his chance. A frown etched on his face as he pulled his phone out, drafting up a text to his driver to start the car.
"Hello, I'll be your server tonight. What can I get you?"
"It's alright. I changed my mind about eating," TJ responded coldly, locking his phone and sliding himself out of the booth. He stood up, facing the waiter and finding himself face to face with those dazzling cyan eyes he had been desperately searching for.
"Oh, are you sure? We make a killer lasagna," Jo said, his voice husky yet angelic, that same smile on his lips from outside that caused TJ’s heart to leap out his chest, mouth falling slightly open.
"O-okay." He stammered out, internally groaning from the way he sounded. He sat back down. Jo smirked, reaching into his apron for his pad and pen.
"So you want the lasagna then?" Jo asked. TJ nodded, suddenly unable to speak. What the hell? Why am I acting like this? He never struggled before with his confidence, often swooping in on someone attractive without much effort and taking them home after. So why couldn’t he just do the same with Jo?
Jo chuckled, writing his choice down. "What about to drink?"
"Wine is fine," TJ said, calming himself down. He needed a game plan to gain control of the situation. "Merlot."
Jo wrote down his wine order before taking the menu.
"'ll be right back with your wine." He turned, walking away. TJ noticed the way Jo’s stride was relaxed yet purposeful as he moved around the room. His movements were unhurried, fluid, typical of a confident, handsome young college boy.
For the first time in his thirty eight years of living, TJ felt out of his depth, embarrassed at being so mesmerized by a younger person and stupid for thinking he’d have any chance with someone like Jo at his old age. He wanted to smash his head against the table.
"Here is your Merlot," Jo returned, setting the glass of wine down on the table. "Anything else I can get you?"
TJ was about to tell him no when the words spewed out before he could even process what he was asking. "How old are you?"
Kill me now! He winced, closing his eyes for a brief second, cringing internally at the question.
"I'm twenty seven, sir," Jo said. From somewhere around the restaurant, he heard glass shattering or maybe it came from his head, he wasn’t quite sure. Sir? He knew Jo was simply just showing respect but to be called sir kind of stung. Then again, Jo was a full eleven years younger than him. Eleven fucking years.
TJ’s mind flashed back to when he was 27 years old himself, drunk off alcohol, high off drugs, he had been wild and reckless, deep into the gang life, his skin covered in tattoos, killing people without remorse, a criminal record stacked up beyond belief and here was this kid, fresh, clean, not a record on him most likely, going to college to better himself. Jo is the complete opposite of how he was, a good boy.
That’s when it hit him, the reason for his lack of confidence, he wasn’t good enough. He felt ashamed of his past now when before it hadn’t really bothered him, it wasn’t something he could change and he turned his life around, opening a business and becoming successful, the legal way.
His cheeks grew hot as he tugged on the collar of his suit jacket, hoping his neck tattoo hadn’t been peeking out.
"That's all," TJ said, unable to look at the young man.
Jo nodded, taking his leave.
The more he thought about Jo and his past, the more ridiculous he thought his doubts were. He never once felt like this about himself or his past, never lost confidence around anyone he found attractive. All he had to do was ask for one night, that’s it. Just one night of sex and he’d washed his hands clean of Jo and these dumb emotions that were playing tricks on him.
Three minutes later, his meal arrived. He thanked Jo, before taking a bite. Well shit, the kid wasn't lying. It really is good. He thought.
He scarfed down the rest of the flavorful and delicious lasagna, gulping down his Merlot afterwards.
Now that he had finished, those same doubts began to resurface, a sudden anxious panic filled him.
Slapping a hundred down on the table, he peered around the restaurant, and took his chance. Shoving his arms into his overcoat as he headed out the door.
Since when did I become such a pussy? He thought, strolling down the sidewalk, heading towards the parking garage where his driver was waiting for him. He chickened out, too afraid to face a college kid. It was almost comical, really.
"Hey, wait up!" A familiar voice called out from behind. TJ peered over his shoulder, finding Jo rushing down the sidewalk towards him. He stopped walking, unsure if what he was seeing was actually happening.
Jo stopped in front of him, breathless. "Here.” Jo lifted his hand, waiting for him to open his palm out.
He held out his hand, not taking his eyes off Jo. Jo placed something slightly rough and flat in his hand. He glanced down in confusion, finding his hundred dollar bill.
"An exchange," Jo interrupted, his smile grew wider, causing him to appear more innocent than he already was.
"Keep your money, in exchange for your number," Jo pulled out his phone from his pocket, placing it right on top of the money. He stood there speechless, wondering if he had heard Jo correctly, then wanting to scold the kid for being so bold yet so stupid to not see that he wasn’t someone a good kid like Jo should be hanging out with.
"Besides you have my scarf and considering that it's my favorite, I want it back the next time we meet." Jo said as he wrapped his red scarf around TJ's neck, tucking the ends inside the collar of his overcoat.
He couldn't help himself then, smiling and chuckling at the fact that this kid ran out here and delivered such a cheesy line and that it worked although he would never admit that to Jo or anyone for that matter.
He added his number, both his work and personal, to Jo’s contact list before placing it back into Jo’s hand, However before he fully let go of the phone, he leaned in, now standing closer to Jo.
"Next time we meet, don't call me sir." He smirked with a raised eyebrow.
He released the phone, putting his hand down. Jo's smile morphed into a mischievous grin.
"Ohh, you prefer Ahjussi, then?" He teased, his tongue sticking out between his teeth as he chuckled. TJ shook his head at that, turning around to walk away from Jo and towards the garage.
"You're lucky you're cute," he called out, hearing Jo’s laugh afterwards. He didn't have to look behind him to know that Jo was still standing where he left him, watching him as he entered the parking garage. His driver held the door open for him as he climbed inside.
He glanced down at the scarf, burying his nose in it and took a deep breath in. The smell was a combination of cologne and Jo's natural scent. TJ spent the rest of the car ride buried in that red scarf, smiling at the chance to see Jo again.
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