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“Omigod,” Jimin moaned, his eyes rolling close in absolute food porn pleasure.Melt-in-your-mouth thinly sliced juicy duck, its crispy skin bathed in dark soy and sticky acacia honey, a dusting of green and white scallion confetti, pickled cucumber and thick hoisin sauce, all nestled inside a puffy bao bun. The mix of flavors on his tongue were bold and bright like exploding fireworks on a hot summer night, the vegetables crunchy and farmers’ market fresh. Slightly sweet, the hand-rolled dough was pillow-soft and steamed to perfection.It was Heaven on a motherfucking plate.Sinful. Absolutely sinful. And they’re all mine for the taking. Bwahaha! The homemade mini duck buns were the first of three chosen appetizers to arrive at his table. The trio of deliciousness was rounded out by a large bamboo steamer basket of xiao long bao (pork soup dumplings) and a bright orange ceramic bowl filled to the brim with cold peanut noodles, doused in hot oil, per Jimin's request.His official lunch order had yet to be served, but judging by the incredible spread of wonderful food already dotting the center of the red and gold tablecloth, Mr. Park was in for a very special treat this afternoon.Before destroying the Instagrammable plates any further, he remembered to quickly snap a few photos with his cellphone to share with his foodie friend from work. Seokjin was always on the lookout for new places to eat at and support and Jimin always kept him in the know when he was out and about the city.Giggling, the young man wiped his lips with a paper napkin and dove right in for Round Two.God, I love my Sundays. I don’t know what I’d do without them…Happily, he sighed between mouthfuls of utter yummy perfection and sips of steaming, sweetened oolong tea.~*~Self-Care Sundays, as Jimin referred to them as, became a much-needed and well-earned routine for him because of his hectic work schedule during the week. Monday through Friday, and on select Saturday mornings once a month, Jimin worked at a neighborhood health center that focused primarily on the underserved members of his local community. He was a passionate pediatric registered nurse who genuinely loved his young patients, their families and fellow staff members. By no means, was it fun in the typical sense of the word, or an easy job, the physical and emotional toll weighed heavily on his heart and body. But, deep down, Jimin felt that his occupation was his true calling. The one constant thing in his life that drove him to wake up every day and go to sleep completely exhausted and fulfilled late at night.Jimin’s solo Sunday dates varied from week to week depending on his mood. The only non-negotiable activity penciled in his day planner every four weeks was a monthly visit to his favorite nail salon on Canal Street. Since he was constantly on his feet, Jimin treated himself to both a basic mani/pedi and a bonus foot and lower leg massage. He always fell asleep in the chair during his treatments and the kind noonas who ran the salon would gently rouse the beautiful man with quiet offerings of hot tea, tangerines and special Korean sweets. From talking to Jimin, the women knew he had no family in the city and very little interaction with his father and older brother still living in Busan, so they spoiled him during his visits as if he were their own.Assuming he was lonely, the ladies tried setting him up on dates with their single nieces, but Jimin politely declined. "I'm sure your girls are wonderful and smart and successful," early on he explained, "but I'm gay. I love being around women, but not in that way." He swallowed hard, nervous about their reaction to the news.Upon hearing this revelation, Mrs. Choi, who was in the back office getting change for the register, called out over the loudspeaker and enthusiastically offered up her very single bisexual grandson as the alternative instead! "My Chanwoo's a good boy! Handsome! Needs to settle down! Gotta stop him from partying every weekend and get rid of that goddamn blue hair!"Other Sundays, Jimin’s plans were far simpler. Weather-pending, and the time of year, he might grab a fancy frozen coffee drink or a bubble tea from his favorite food truck and scour the shelves of the Strand bookstore in the East Village for out of print biographies and wonderfully trashy used bodice-ripper romance novels leftover from the eighties. If it was Christmastime, he’d head to the Winter Village shops surrounding Bryant Park for a mulled wine and an hour or two of free ice skating before dark. The Sunday Brunch Special at his neighborhood pinball café was also a welcome distraction, thanks to its Two for One offer. Jimin would force-feed quarter tokens to his arch nemesis, a loud ass vintage State Fair game, in hopes of finally beating the machine's top scorer, but would fall short right at the last minute. The Tropical Punch Mimosas and thick slices of blue velvet cake helped sweeten the blow though. By two, he'd wander back to his apartment a few doors down, slightly buzzed with a bright smile on his face, ready for whatever the week ahead brought his way.Dining out solo was always a treat, too, and on this warm, spring day, Jimin was craving Chinese food. But, this time, it wasn't in his usual stomping grounds of Lower Manhattan.Randomly, at Times Square and 42nd Street, he changed trains and hopped on a number 7 Local, bound for Flushing, Queens.Last stop, Chinatown.~*~The forty-five minute subway ride was pleasant with no major delays. Outside, skies were clear and sunny and the temperature was mild for this time of year.Since it was a Sunday, the train car was sparsely filled. High school-age girls busy texting on their phones and taking selfies sat to Jimin's left and a few elderly men and women with black shopping bags, bucket hats and canes lined the seats on either side of the automatic door. Per usual, Jimin turned his notifications off and pocketed his cell once he disembarked from the train. Exiting through the turnstiles, he followed a narrow hallway leading to the escalators, his stomach roaring in hunger the entire way. The rickety contraption lurched forward, carrying him up to street level from the station underground. He slipped his sunglasses on, adjusted his leather messenger bag and weaved his way through the afternoon crowds, his nose guiding his footsteps along the narrow sidewalk.Flushing was a bustling and vibrant enclave well-represented by a diverse community of East Asian cultures. Every time Jimin visited, he felt right at home.Other than eating lunch, he had no real plans or directions for the day. Jimin simply walked and wandered, passing discount shops and dollar stores chock full of goodies and gadgets and salons offering trendy K-Pop idol-inspired haircuts, colorful dye jobs and hair extensions. 'Fresh from Seoul' so advertised a sign taped to a shop window featuring smiling TWICE members Jihyo and Momo, EXO's Kai and Lee Taemin from SHINee, all Photoshopped together on a stock photo of some random sandy beach. Coffeehouses, Korean barbecue restaurants, fish, fruit and flower markets, pharmacies specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine and temporary boutiques selling imported platform shoes, sky-high pumps and costume jewelry spanned several city blocks. The aroma of freshly made dumplings, rice rolls and sugary bubble waffles made his mouth water and his stomach ache in need.Jimin turned left off the main drag and headed down a quiet tree-lined side street.Just beyond a pair of gated apartment buildings and a 'Closed on Sunday' barbershop, a lone A-frame chalkboard sign resting on the sidewalk caught his eye.He plowed ahead, excited to see that it was, indeed, something food-related.Oh, hello! The sign read,
🌶️ Sunday "Build Your Own" Dry Hot Pot Special 🌶️Noon-4 P.M.Your Choice of One Protein and Up to Three Mix-InsServed with Unlimited Rice, Pickled VegetablesAnd One Non-Alcoholic Drink$15.99 + tax & tip (Dine-In Only)
Ooh, sounds yummy! "What's the name of this place?" Jimin quietly asked his shadow. Sidestepping, he pushed his sunglasses back and glanced at the hot pink neon sign above his head for answers.The Dancing Red Crane, huh? Established 1996. He nibbled his bottom lip, Never heard of it. What a cute little gem though! Wait 'til I tell Jin what I found.Smiling, Jimin stepped up the landing and passed through the restaurant's glass door. A gentle tinkling of glimmering gold bells, pink seashells and delicate red paper cranes hanging from the doorway announced his presence to the waitstaff that a guest had arrived for lunch.Right off the bat, his senses were assaulted with an array of wonderful sights, sounds and smells.Overall, the space itself was small, but warm and inviting. Traditional bamboo flute music played over the stereo system and a portable Zen water fountain trickled peacefully on the front counter next to the register. Twin lacquer boxes painted in soft pink cherry blossoms and bright green leaves and vines overflowed with starlight mints and individually-wrapped toothpicks. Behind the hostess stand, chunky fantail goldfish of all colors swam inside an elaborately-decorated fish tank. A cheeky maneki neko, perched high on a shelf, hungrily watched over them and the patrons seated near the kitchen.Family-size round tables filled the center aisle of the dining room and a line of black banquettes bordered the creamy white walls. Decadent reds and shining gold accents added depth and detail to the room. Beautiful wall art showcased traditional wood block prints, calligraphy and intricate woven good luck knots. Please Seat Yourself, a tall metal sign kindly requested and Jimin obliged. The plush burgundy carpet below his Chelsea boots-clad feet put a determined bounce in his step. He chose well, a quiet booth in the far right corner.The tablecloths were red and gold and wrapped silverware, bottles of soy sauce, wooden chopsticks and overturned glasses awaited hungry guests.Hey, this place is really nice! Jimin thought, impressed. He took a seat, crossed his long legs at the knee and wiggled the table in closer to his middle.Curious eyes scoured the colorful laminated menu for specials and one-of-a-kind dishes. I know I want that BYO special I saw advertised, for sure. I've gone out on a few dates for classic hot pot, but I've never seen this spicy stir-fry kind on a menu anywhere before. Jimin snorted at a random memory, Those dates were something else entirely! My meal was basically THE highlight of the evening. Sparkling, witty conversation? Hardly! More like, weird guys telling me weird, braggy, TMI stories about themselves, thinking they can charm their way into my pants. Hence, this is why I will never go out on blind dates ever again. No fucking thank you. He trailed his fingertip down the page, carefully inspecting each potential ingredient and the taste ramifications for his meal. This list of mix-ins is insane! Um...I think I'll go with my all time faves; shrimp, Spam, bok choi and long onions. Quickly, he flipped the menu back over to the first page listing soups and starters. Appetizers are a must though. I want to make sure that I have enough leftovers to take me through lunchtime on Tuesday.Jimin's eyes widened. Yes! I got it. I know exactly what I'm having today...~*~Minus the handsome blond, the dining room was bare.The lone hold out from the afternoon was a young university-age couple who lingered at their table for almost an hour, giggling and playing on their phones, gobbling up The Dancing Red Crane's free WiFi, until their pot of tea and plate of orange slices were finally empty.Back in Jimin's corner booth, the young man was in absolute foodie paradise.For the price, his main entree was gigantic and Jimin had only just started to put a dent in his plate. One regular order of dry hot pot could probably serve, at least, two or three people. Overall, the individual components in his dish had been cooked and seasoned to perfection. Every chopsticks-ful of spicy deliciousness numbed his tongue and burned his lips in the most satisfying way possible. Jimin's tiger shrimp were plump and sweet and the chunky pieces of chopped bok choi and long onions retained much of their bright green color, texture and shape. Thin slices of Spam had a wonderfully smoky char on both sides of the meat thanks to the hot wok they were seared in. Lunch side dishes of pickled daikon radish, carrots and cucumbers and hot, fluffy rice helped round out his excellent meal.Wow...I need to pause for a sec. Jimin thought, mopping the sweat from his temple and upper lip. I feel like I'm about to explode. He finished off his glass of ice water and leaned back in the booth, his hand resting on his very full stomach. I'm glad I wore my black leggings today. Lots of room to groove and no need to loosen my zipper!Content, he closed his eyes and relished in the quiet for a brief moment, allowing his food to settle. The atmosphere surrounding him, peaceful.Until, that is..."Ahh!" Jimin shrieked. Jesus! What the hell was that?!The saloon doors that separated the kitchen from the dining room burst wide open. The impact of the stranger passing through them was so great, the door smacked up against the wall. The brass handle, no doubt, put a dent in the painted drywall.Jimin cowered, nearly jumping out of his skin. He slid over to the other side of the booth, closest to the wall. Curious, he watched the scene unfold from a safe distance."What the fuck, Donghyuk?!" Jimin heard, clear as a bell.Judging by the red apron his was wearing and the white towel hanging from his belt loop, it was only the restaurant's busboy, yell-talking into his phone.Oh...Jimin blinked, batting his long eyelashes. Or, better yet, who the hell are you?To be fair, 'only' was the understatement of the millennium. Said mysterious, loud-ass and slightly pissed off busboy was hot as fuck.Hel-lo there.From the looks of him, Jimin scrutinized, the guy was fairly tall, 5'10-ish. Lean body, muscular legs. The inquisitive blond at Table Six tilted his head to the side for a better view. Ooh, boy! Nice, round little ass, thick thighs...He dressed plainly in a typical Brooklyn hipster, 'I Woke Up Like This', kind of aesthetic; tight black tee, distressed denim cuffed at the ankles and hot pink Converse with rainbow laces. Lustrous, purple hair was tied back in a stubby ponytail, the ends brushing past a tribal sun tattoo on the back of his neck every time he turned his head."I can't believe you're ditching me tonight for Danny the Personal Fuckboy!" Mystery Man (MM) exclaimed, slamming his plastic dish tub down on a round table in the middle of the room. "So what, if he's in town?!"Jimin knew he shouldn't have been eavesdropping, but he couldn't help himself. He's right there! And I'm over here! Literally, the guy was standing less than three feet away from him and his booming voice echoed around the room. He had no choice, but to listen.And, honey, did he ever. Literally and figuratively, Jimin sipped his tea."I mean, come on! We've had these tickets for, like, almost three months, DK! And, it was your idea for us to go together!""Huh?" Jimin raised a quizzical eyebrow. Hold up! Mic drop! Did he just slip in to Satoori?!"Now, what am I supposed to do?"Yes. Yes he did.Jimin heard the person...DK?...on the other end of the line attempting to plead their case.With a free hand, Mr. MM snatched up every piece of dirty silverware in one fail swoop and threw them in the tub with a loud clang. Deeply, the man sighed, frustrated. "Never mind. I'll figure something out. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Fine. You fucking owe me though, dude! I mean it! Uh-huh." He began stacking the tiny sauce dishes, one on top of the other. "Enjoy your big, fat, veiny dick. I'll see you back at the house tomorrow. Later."Mystery Man disconnected the call and pocketed his phone. "You'd think by the time I turned 24 I'd be used to disappointments in life by now." He grabbed an empty water glass from the table, "Hardly," and tossed it in the dish tub a little too forcibly.Jimin heard the unmistakable sound of glass breaking."Oh no," his broad shoulders slumped. "Please don't tell me."The drinking glass must have knocked into something hard. Because whatever it was, cracked the rim, splitting the whole thing in half down the center."Great." The stranger picked up a large chunk of glass with his fingers and held it up to the light for inspection. Its jagged edges sparkled from the mood lighting. "Just...fabulous." He mumbled. "Something else that'll be coming out of my teeny-tiny tips purse today." Mr. MM breathed out another long, frustrated sigh, "I just wanna crawl back in bed and forget everything about today."Jimin frowned. He truly felt for the poor guy, We've all been there, my friend. Believe me. His pouty pink lips and the sadness in the man's eyes really showed his youth.He watched the busboy gather up the pieces of broken glass using the towel he carried around with him. Mystery Man bundled the chunks up and gave the terry cloth a twist, gently placing the whole mess in the corner of his wash tub, away from the other dishes.Feeling both emblazoned, and empathetic, Jimin asked, "Rough day?""Uh," Mr. MM slowly turned around. The blond made eye contact with him and smiled warmly. "Oh, my God! You overheard that entire exchange didn't you?" Awkwardly, he bunched his apron in his fists. "I'm so sorry! I thought everyone had left! I-""Hey, it's okay!" Jimin waved his gold-rimmed tea cup at the other man. "I'm on the tail-end of my meal anyway." He took a sip of oolong tea to illustrate. "I stand by my original question though. Having a rough Sunday?"Damn! He's a cutie! All bright-eyed and bunny-toothed...I think he has dimples!My Kryptonite.If I could only get him to smile again."Yeah. You could say that.""Black cat cross your path?""No." He chuckled, charmed. "No broken mirrors either. Just an unsuspecting water glass and a bruised ego." Mr. MM bit his lip and kindly answered, knowing the man sitting across from him meant no harm. "Well, I woke up late this morning. I was supposed to clock in here at 9 to help Mrs. Tsai make dumplings for a wedding reception later on in the week and that didn't happen. I..." the stranger scrunched his nose, "tripped on the subway platform, dumping my Iced Americano all over me and, uh, missed my train because I thought I had enough time to run home and change clothes. Newsflash! I didn't. Lastly," he paused, "at least, I hope that's it for today, I had plans with a friend tonight and, per usual, he canceled on me because of some guy he's chasing after. So, yeah, my Sunday in a nutshell.""I'm sorry. Honest, I am."The young man smiled weakly. "Thanks. As they say, tomorrow's another day and I'm completely off from work, everywhere, so I get a break.""Is Mrs. Tsai...your relative?"He shook his head. "No, not at all. This place is owned by a friend of mine's family. Specifically his older brother, Mikey. Mrs. Tsai is his great aunt. She handles all the Red Crane's catering business."Jimin shifted in his seat and folded his hands prettily on his lap. "Are you a regular here?"Mr. MM returned to his task of clearing off the table. "Here and there, just another side hustle. One of many.""Ah, I remember those days. Far too well.""I think anyone whose ever lived in New York City feels that financial pain down in the depths of their soul." He smiled, wiping up a sticky, saucy mess with a damp rag. Dimple Alert! "Usually, I'm here at the restaurant, like, the first week of the month, right after I paid my portion of the rent. Tips are usually pretty damn good during the weekday lunch rush, so it all helps."Jimin threaded his fingers through the teapot's handle and tipped its chubby body and short spout over his cup. Sadly, nothing but a few brown teardrops managed to trickle out. "Oh," he mumbled to himself. Damn it. An empty teapot was always the universal indicator for Jimin when dining out that his meal was over, signaling it was high time to head home. For a second, he entertained the idea of ordering a refill, but decided against it, remembering from the menu that every pot of oolong was 'brewed to order'.He did have one excuse to linger just a little longer though. Jimin hadn't been served his orange slices nor his fortune cookies yet."Um, speaking of, could I have my check, please? And a few carryout containers also?""Oh, sure thing!" Mr. MM wiped his damp hands on his apron. "Did Mina get your dessert plate yet?""No.""Give me a sec. I'll be right back!"Jimin watched the other man excitedly race back to the kitchen. Quickly, he checked his reflection in the nearest clean knife blade he could find on the table. Front teeth are good! And, so are my bangs! Thankful for the empty dining room, he cleared his throat and crossed his legs, as if nothing was amiss.A few minutes later, the busboy returned with a plate of artfully arranged orange slices, homemade fortune cookies and Hershey Kisses."Hey! It's in the shape of a sunflower!" Jimin squealed."We pride ourselves here in making even the simplest things special," he smiled, setting the lacquer tray down in front of the blond. "Please enjoy. I'll get your check and takeout boxes in a moment."Jimin gulped, his belly overcome by an explosion of rainbow-hued butterflies.Or, better yet, make that a flock of dancing red paper cranes.I'm so done for...Between the stranger's gorgeous dimpled smile, perfect god-tier body and an incredibly warm personality, this guy truly had Jimin at hello.With a nod, Mr. MM politely excused himself to collect his dish tub and set about cleaning up a far milder mess at Table Three.Refocusing, Jimin briefly unlocked his phone and snapped some photos of his special dessert to share with Seokjin later on. He helped himself to a slice of sweet, juicy orange and thought long and hard on what to say next.Deciding on the forward approach, he powered on, "So, um, what were your special plans tonight? If you don't mind me asking.""You know, I nearly forgot about it." The other man said, laying out four fresh Chinese zodiac placemats on the table for the next seating. Blushing, he answered honestly, "I'm a film history nerd, believe it or not.""That's cool.""Yeah, I-I guess so. Anyway, the AAIFF is happening at different venues all over the city for the next couple weeks.""The AAIFF?""Oh, sorry!" he shyly smiled, "The New York Asian American International Film Festival. It's held every May and the fest never fails to showcase an amazing roster of incredible talent and panels and films. Many being global premieres." Mr. MM sighed, "Anyway, I saved up and bought passes for Retro Night because this year is a tribute to Anna May Wong. There's a double feature of her films, one silent and one talkie, and a Q&A with one of her biographers. I think it'll be an amazing night. At least, I thought it would've been fun." The stranger gushed, "I mean, she was a legend and a trailblazer that so few people know about. Anna May fought hard for better roles in Hollywood and battled against stereotypes and racism." He added, "I'm Korean and she was Chinese, but I think her example is universal and something we can all learn from and appreciate." The man snorted, "Thank you for coming to my TED Talk."Jimin decided to throw him for a loop. In general, he loved to flirt, but he also loved flirting using random knowledge and facts he'd picked up along the way. It always kept the other guy on his toes and Jimin thoroughly enjoyed having the upper hand. "Correct me, if I'm wrong, but weren't her and Marlene Dietrich lovers at one point?"The stranger's jaw dropped at the enlightened question. "Yeah, well, who wasn't Dietrich joyfully lusting after in the nineteen-thirties and forties?"Score. Jimin giggled, stealing a fortune cookie from his plate. "That woman had a damn good time, that's for sure.""It's a rumor, but I think they were closer friends than lovers.""Really?" The delicate cookie shell cracked perfectly in half and a soft scent of citrus and vanilla tickled Jimin's nose. "I went through a Classic Hollywood phase in high school. Watched the AFI lists, read biography after biography...You know? The snowball effect." He popped a cookie wing in his mouth and savored the bite of sweetness. The fortune cookie had a lovely crunch and the aftermath melted pleasantly on his tongue. A perfect treat."Awesome! That's usually how it goes. I was the same exact way. The movies I rented from Blockbuster when I was a kid helped me escape from life's bullshit for, at least, a little while."Jimin finished his cookie and kept the fortune hidden in the palm of his hand, preferring to be surprised.And, boy, was he about to get hit with a double whammy.As if struck by lightning, or blessed with a life-altering epiphany, the busboy, hunched over top the banquette, abruptly froze mid-task. Bolting upright, a dirty fork and serving spoon slipped through his fingertips and crashed to the floor.It was obvious an important thought crossed his mind. Biting his lip, he began fidgeting with the apron's bow tied across his waist, trying to process whatever it was. "Um..."Preoccupied himself, Jimin was ready to see his fortune."Listen, uh..." Mr. MM turned to face him, "this might sound really forward, and-"The blond drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, in anticipation.He continued on, "I know we indirectly just met, but since I got this extra ticket-"For a brief second, Jimin closed his eyes, hoping for the best. On the count of three, he opened them."-would you wanna go with me tonight?"The tiny paper fortune and its dainty blue handwritten calligraphy said it all, You Will Meet the Love of Your Life Today.
Mr. MM stepped closer, his voice shaky from nerves. "I mean, I know it's super weird and super random and I'm pretty much a stranger. Basically, this is just an idea, so please know you're not obligated to say yes. I-"
Jimin was spellbound.He didn't necessarily believe in the power of fortunes, horoscopes and love spells, but he wholeheartedly believed in fate and destiny. Jimin trusted his intuition to guide him well today and it surely did. His feet followed his heart from home, all the way to Flushing.Heart racing, Jimin managed to make eye contact with the busboy and word-vomited out an answer."Sure." The words tumbled from his pretty lips long before his brain had a chance to play catch up. "Yeah," he smiled, "I, I mean, I'd love to." Jimin snorted, blanking on what to call this person as, "Wait! I almost forgot! What's your name?""Oh, for fuck's sake! I didn't properly introduce myself." The man outstretched his hand. "Jeongguk. Jeongguk Jeon, formerly of Busan, via Passaic, New Jersey. Please feel free to call me JK. Most people do.""Pleasure." Jimin met Jeongguk's hand half-way and gave it a firm shake. "Jimin Park. Busan-born, NYC raised. A typical Big Apple brat." He kept an iron-clad grip on the fortune in his left hand.I am squeeing on the inside!JK hesitated on letting Jimin's hand go and vice versa."Um, so, Jeongguk, where's the double feature playing at?""The Village East down on Second Avenue.""What time?""Doors open at seven-thirty." JK answered with a smile, his eyes sparkling like polished black diamonds. "I'm here until six.""How 'bout I meet you at the theater? I've been there a few times. You can text me when you get off the subway." Jimin winked, "I'll be waiting.""Sounds good." Jeongguk pulled his out cellphone from his jeans' rear pocket. "Press your number?"Jimin mirrored the action, unlocking his own phone with a squiggle of his fingertip. He handed the device over to JK in exchange for his.With their plans set for the night, the men chatted a little longer. It wasn't anything too exciting; simple small talk, ice breakers and getting-to-know-you types of questions and answers.JK finished cleaning up the dining room just in time, as a young couple and their adorable wiggly toddler entered the restaurant. The gold bell chimes silenced their personal conversation albeit temporarily.Jimin couldn't wait to see the beautiful man again, but first he needed to head home and start getting ready for their date.Hurriedly, he boxed and bagged up his leftovers and slid his special fortune in the back of his phone case.With a tray full of hot food in hand, Jeongguk sent Jimin off with a wave and a warm "See ya tonight, Jimin-ssi!"He made sure to leave a generous tip for the hardworking soul to find later and headed out in the afternoon sunshine. The cheeky maneki neko offered its blessing of good luck with his raised paw.~*~On the subway ride back to Manhattan, Jimin daydreamed about the handsome waiter while re-reading his special fortune over and over again. What a bizarre and wonderfully fantastic Sunday afternoon.I mean, talk about out of left field!A great new restaurant, a delicious lunch and a hot date with a sexy busboy.Who knew?!He rested his head against the train car's metal wall and watched the skyline through his window roll on by, I have no idea what's ahead, but I'm here for the ride, that is for damn sure.C'mon Lady Luck...Show me what you got!~*🥠💘 The End 💘🥠*~