She recorded that wink in her memory to pull up and fantasize about later. Right now, she only had one thing she lusted after. Julia took a big bite of the warm roll and stifled the blissful moan she wanted to let out. Saved.
She looked up to find two sets of eyes on her.
“Julia, I was telling Dr. Park about some of Starlight’s recent accolades. You should tell him how you got inspired to start your own company, especially in the beauty industry. It’s impressive,” Tae said.
Aw, Julia loved this question. She was ready to tell him about all the hard work she’d put into building Starlight. Except... her mouth was stuffed with a fluffy dinner roll at the moment. She looked at Tae and then at Joshua and then back at Tae. She tried to chew as fast as she could, but she had put almost a half a roll in her mouth. She wasn’t expecting to be asked a question.
Tae must have noticed the panicked look on her face and turned back to Joshua and said something that made them both laugh. And just like that, she was no longer the center of attention.
Tae reached over and wiped something off of Julia’s mouth with his thumb.
She almost choked on her bread at the contact.
“Crumb,” he said and then turned his attention back to the chatty doctor.
Julia grabbed the menu and raised it to try and hide her certain blush.
“Jules, looks like they’ve got a good pasta on the menu that’s vegetarian,” Tae mentioned. It was, in fact, the exact thing Julia was considering ordering.
“Yeah, I think I’ll get that.”
The three of them placed their orders, and conversation continued on, mostly the good doctor talking and Tae nodding politely.
Tae, to his credit, got with the program and turned to Julia often, interpreting what the two of them were talking about... music, the food, sports (yuck)... and looked to Julia to jump into the conversation. Julia tried asking some questions for Joshua too. But by the time Tae translated the question,Joshua answered (the man was verbose), and Tae translated back (she appreciated his CliffsNotes versions), she always felt two steps behind.
And frankly, the good doctor could not seem less interested in anything Julia had to say anyways. Despite Tae’s best efforts to direct the conversation topic to Julia, Dr. Park could not muster the attention to listen about her work, her family, or hobbies... nothing.
When their dinners arrived, Julia made quick work of her pasta and turned longingly to see the side of au gratin potatoes that Tae had ordered only half-eaten. As Tae nodded with interest at whatever the good doctor was talking about now, Tae removed Julia’s empty plate from in front of her and traded it with his.
He was an actual angel. She devoured the potatoes.
The night went on with Dr. Park commandeering the conversation, Tae politely nodding, and Julia getting increasingly depressed at yet another failure of a date.
Julia couldn’t see herself having any kind of relationship where communication couldn’t be a two-way street. It wasn’t the language barrier. It was the lack of interest. Joshua Park did not seem the type who wanted a partner. And if Julia had been worried in the past about being too much, a future with Dr. Park would be one where she was likely erased entirely.
What a shame. He was strikingly handsome.
But then again, so was Tae.
Tae, the one shielding her, protecting her, sacrificing himself for her all night so that she’d be spared. He was her knight in shining armor in this battle of bad dating. Tae with his sword lifted high, running across the battlefield, fighting the enemy of boredom to save Julia. And when he’d made his way through the army that captured her, he untied the ropes around her hands, dipped her low as he kissed...
“Julia? Julia.” Tae’s hand waved in front of Julia’s face and brought her out of the scene playing in her head.
“Huh? Oh, sorry... I was just thinking about...”
“Do you want dessert?” Tae asked.
Heck yeah, she wanted dessert. She nodded, and Tae ordered both the chocolate cake and the berry crumble. Julia fought hard not to clap with excitement.
“Tae-ssi, we never talked about what you do for a living. What is your job?” Joshua asked.
Julia worked through Joshua’s Korean to make out the question, understanding some of the words as the inquiry was one of the ones Tae had tutored her on. He’d prepped Julia to be able to speak in Korean about her company a little bit. All that prep had been for naught, considering how little she spoke tonight. But she hadn’t planned on the question being turned to Tae.
And, by his expression, neither had he.
Tae hated this question, Julia knew. It was one of those hard-to-explain ones. Tae was a superhero to many. He offered help and support in ways that didn’t even have to be listed on a résumé; in fact, a résumé could never do him justice.
Just say you’re in business, Tae, Julia pleaded in her head. Men like Joshua cared about prestige and titles. He was a top surgeon. Michael Lee was a lawyer. Mr. Trot was, well, Mr. Trot. But none of them held a candle to the man that Tae was. But they wouldn’t see it that way. Sometimes taking the easier way out in a conversation was the best way. Julia was now learning this.
