“You should eat yours before it gets cold,” She urged, reaching for her fork.
“Just a few more bites,” He promised, gathering another roll on her fork. After he helped her finish her food, he brought his own plate back and started to work on finishing his own meal. Claire fed him fries over her shoulder while he cut bites of the meat for himself. When everyone was done, they piled the plates on the cart and put it back in the hallway to be picked up. By the time the movie was done, everyone was ready to head to bed. Claire said goodnight to the boys before heading out of the room to her own. Cheol would follow when they were sure the staff and the managers were all asleep or at least in their rooms.
Just before eleven Jihoon knocked on her door. He had an idea for a scavenger hunt in the museum for the next day and needed her help.
***
The museum day provided a fun and relaxing day, between events, that they got to share with fans, even if they wouldn’t get to see it right away. The members had a blast wandering through the halls with the stuffed animals, looking at little meteorites, and walking through a history of the universe. For lunch they walked to a nearby pizza place to grab big slices of pizza they could finish quickly before walking through Central Park to the art museum.
Claire played tour guide off camera, leading them through strawberry fields, bethesda terrace and past the fountain, the Hans Christian Andersen statue, and the Alice in Wonderland statue before arriving at the steps of the next museum. Because of the size of the museum, they decided to split into groups to try and finish a challenge Claire had created for the day. The members were split into four groups and tasked with finding a piece of art on display in one of the galleries and get a selfie with it before heading to the temple on the first floor and see who did it fastest.
The first group, with Minjun and Jaejin, were tasked with finding the reconstructed courtyard from Morocco, located somewhere in the second floor Islamic arts section. The second group, Wonjung and Hyunwoo, would have to find the room designed by famous early modern architect Frank Lloyd Wright. FX, Kitae, and Changho were tasked with locating the large panorama of Versaille, somewhere in the first floor of the American arts. And that left Cheol and Seunghoon to find the Renoir painting in the European arts section on the second floor. A staff member was assigned to follow each group as they completed the task, filming their frantic scurry to locate the objects or rooms and get pictures to prove they found them.
Claire was worried she had made some too easy and others too hard, but the members surprised her by all finishing at nearly the same time and the tasks she thought might be hardest finishing in first and second place. The Renoir was found first, followed by the Moroccan courtyard, then the panorama, and finally the Wright room. The boys were given free reign to explore the collections after that, this time splitting into groups of their choice to wander and look at whatever interested them.
Cheol, Seunghoon, Changho and Kitae decided to have Claire as their tour guide for the rest of the afternoon. They started with a quick walk around the sculpture court in the Greek and Roman art, something Cheol was eager to see. The space was bustling with tourists, half of whom were oblivious to the world around them as they listened to their audio guides. From there they strolled past the Assyrian and Babylonian art. They made a quick pass through the Islamic art and then the 19th and 20th century European paintings to see Claire’s beloved haystack. Changho wasn’t sure that he got the fuss about it, but both he and Cheol were glad to see that same look appear on her face when Claire looked at the painting in real life.
In the courtyard of the American arts wing, she sat down on the edge of the fountain to just enjoy the little art nouveau alcove while the others wandered around to look at the sculptures and building facade in the bright open area. Cheol came and sat beside her, hiding his hand taking hers with the excess fabric of his overshirt.
“Are you getting tired?” He leaned towards her and asked quietly through the din of the people around them.
“A little, but mostly I just really love this style,” She gestured towards the little columned recess. “Art nouveau has always been a style I loved.”
“The windows are really pretty,” He agreed, taking a closer look at them.
“Look at the colors they used on the tiles and the columns,” She pointed to guide his eyes to the architrave. “They are colored like the sky with the iridescence of butterfly wings or the ocean. Imagine what it would look like when the sun hits it. And, did you notice that the flowers on each column are different?”
“I actually hadn’t, but you’re right,” He looked more closely. “They are real flowers, aren’t they? I mean based on specific species, not just things that look like flowers in general.”
“Yeah, exactly,” She nodded excitedly. “The funny thing is, in the two hundred or so years of architecture before this, it had sort of become common to make elements like columns all look the same, and keep them identical. But, if you go back to the medieval period and even up to the early renaissance period, it was really common to make each column into an individual work of art. This is sort of a return to that, but they keep even the different elements harmonious enough that it doesn’t hit you in the face with it. It’s more like it just leaves texture and variety for those who bother to look long enough.”
“When we get back,” Cheol asserted. “I want to take you to the historic village. I want to show you how amazing the art and architecture there is.”
“I know it’s amazing,” She bumped him with her elbow and gave a low chuckle. “I would like nothing more than to do that with you but, realistically…”
“Just pretend for me today?” He entreated.
“Okay,” She gave in after a moment’s pause. “When we get back, we’ll go. We’ll dress up at the cultural center, we’ll tour the alley ways, we’ll visit the palaces, and stroll through the parks. Just like we are nobodies.”
“Like tourists,” He smiled with satisfaction. “You know, there is probably a lot I haven’t ever seen back home, too. It would be a good excuse to go see it.”
“That’s how it usually goes,” She laughed. “If it’s too close to home, you just never get around to it unless you have a guest who wants to ‘see all the sights.’”
“It’s almost time to go,” Changho’s voice came from beside them. “Is there something else we can see in the next half hour before we leave?”
“Mmmmm, the historical rooms?” She suggested, trying to think of things that they wouldn’t be able to see elsewhere. Changho gave his assent in the form of a brief nod. At a somewhat brisk pace, they walked through the section of historical rooms in the American section before hitting a few in the European section on the way to the entrance. Everyone made it to the exit around closing time, having seen at least the parts of the museum they had most wanted to see.
***
The next few days passed in a blur, filled with more interviews, another concert, and a day of walking around the most iconic places in the city. Claire didn’t go along for that bit of tourism or to the second concert, and opted to take a few hours on those days to visit a few friends who wouldn’t be attending the party for one reason or another. She did help Jihoon plan out the sight seeing the evening before, planning out a walking and public transportation route that wouldn’t take more than a half a day. The members got to spend the rest of the day doing something most of them loved…shopping.
Cheol shopped for himself and for a little gift for Claire. He wanted to get her something to remember their time together on the trip. He, FX, and Wonjung wandered around together looking at everything from clothes, to jewelry, to even more perfumes. Last time Cheol had gotten her little tourist nicknacks, being a bit unsure of how she would receive gifts from him. This time he wanted to get her something nicer, something that would really show her how he felt.
He found himself in a small jewelry shop while Wonjung and FX were distracted in a nearby clothing shop. A friendly young
woman approached him as he looked at all the things in the glass cases that circled around the outer edge of the room.
“Can I help you?” She asked in a bright voice with a smile to match.
“I’d like to get something, but I don’t know what.” He confessed, overwhelmed by how much there was in the small shop.
“Sure, that’s no problem,” She gave him a reassuring smile. “Let’s start with: girl or boy?”
“Girl,” Cheol gave a relieved chuckle.
“Okay then,” She glanced around at the cases closest to them. “Is this for mom or your sister or someone else?”
“Someone else,” He replied firmly. “Not someone I’m related to.”
“Good, good. Are we at the point we are looking for one of these things?” She gestured towards some rings that were in a display case just to one side.
“Ah, ummm, no,” He could feel color flushing his ears and cheeks. “Not yet at least.”
“Alright, how about necklaces?” She offered, moving down a couple of cases.
“Yeah, that sounds good,” Cheol eagerly looked into the case in front of her.
“How big are you looking for?” She started pulling out some small pendants, followed by a wreath-like full necklace of crystals or diamonds. It was pretty, but as he tried to imagine her wearing it, it just didn’t fit. Where would she possibly wear it? To the office? Definitely not.
“Something simple but pretty,” He knew he sounded dumb, but this wasn’t exactly something he was good at. He looked at the selection she had laid out on the glass and one caught his eye. It was a thin chain that had two diamond shaped crystals in it a few centimeters above the main pendant made of a larger diamond shaped with a teardrop dangling from it. It was pretty but not ostentatious and he could imagine it on Claire on special occasions, at least.
“I like that one,” He pointed at it but was afraid to touch it. “Can I hold it?”
“Of course,” She pulled it off the velveteen holder and draped it over his open palm. “It’s a very popular piece. Understated but elegant.”
“It’s very pretty,” He blushed as he gave her a grin.
“We do have earrings that go with it as well,” She mentioned. “Would you like to see them as a set?”
“Uh, yeah, sure,” He nodded, feeling a little overwhelmed again. “Do people usually buy them as a set?”
“Not always but more often than not,” She confirmed gently. “You can just look and see what you think.”
“Right, yes, of course,” He tried to relax. “Let’s see.”
“I take it you aren’t from around here based on your accent,” She tried to make a little small talk as she pulled out a couple of the matching earring sets. “Do you live here in the city or are you just visiting?”
“Just visiting,” He confirmed with a laugh.
“Where did you come from, then?” She asked as she set them in front of him.
“Korea,” He replied.
“Is that what a Korean accent sounds like?” She sounded surprised for the first time in their conversation.
“Oh no,” He chuckled. “I grew up in Australia but I live and work in Korea now.”
“Ah okay, that makes more sense,” Her face broke into a genuine smile. “Now do you like any of these?” She laid out two pairs of earrings with the same dangling motifs as the pendant. One seemed to have a regular post back and the other a sort of lever that held it on a hoop at the top.
“I think these,” He pointed at the more traditional looking post backed earrings. She gave him a smile and laid the earrings out on a display with the necklace for him to look at them together.
“What do you think?” She asked after a few seconds. “Do you like the set or do you just want the necklace?” After a brief pause, she added, “If you take both, I can give you a ten percent discount.”
“Both,” He finally decided.
“Good choice,” She said brightly. “I’ll put these in a gift box for you then?” Cheol nodded, feeling butterflies fluttering in his stomach again. He really hoped she liked it. When she came back, a small purple and silver box in hand, she rang him up. The price told him it was definitely not real diamonds, which was a relief. Frankly, Claire would probably be far happier with something that sparkled but wasn’t more than her month’s salary.
“If you happen to be in the city again when the time for rings comes around, feel free to come back,” She gave him a grin and a wave as he nodded and ducked out the door. He took the jewelry in a nondescript brown paper bag and went to find the others, who were hopefully still in the same clothing store he had left them in. They were still there, though they were lingering around the exit, looking through the store for him. He jogged up, apologizing for sort of disappearing on them, but didn’t bother to explain where he had decided to go and the others didn’t ask.
They hit a few more stores before heading back to the hotel for another room service dinner. Tomorrow was their free day and the day that Cheol and the others were going to meet some of Claire’s old friends. He really wanted to make a good impression, it was sort of a light version of getting to meet her family. What if they didn’t like him? What if they thought he was too young for her, or that he didn’t deserve her for some other reason? Would she think twice about being with him if they didn’t?
He shook his head, trying to clear the worries from his mind as he headed up the elevator to their floor. His first stop was his room, where he tucked his gift into his bag to hide for later. Kitae and Hyunwoo invited him to join them in the gym before dinner. He agreed, saying that he would follow them down in a few minutes after he changed and had a word with Claire. With any luck, they could have dinner together if she didn’t already have plans with someone else or the staff.
Giving a quick knock on her door, he waited for her to answer. Of course he had a key to her room, but as any of the staff could come in or out of their rooms at this time of day, it was better not to risk having to explain it if they did.
“Hey, 자기야[70],” She looked at him around the edge of the door, a second before opening the door all the way. “What’s up?”
“Can we do dinner, just the two of us tonight?” He felt slightly awkward, asking the question in a low voice, to make sure it didn’t travel down the hall.
“If you want,” She gave him an easy nod. “That’s fine by me.”
“Okay,” Cheol took a small step back. “I’m going down to the gym first, but when I’m done we can order something. Is that okay with you?”
“Sure, no problem,” Her shoulder leaned against the door frame as she watched him back down the hallway for a few more steps before he gave her a final wave and actually started walking away. As she watched him disappear down the hallway, one corner of her mouth quirked into an almost smile. He never failed to be cute somehow and she never could figure out how he managed it.
***
After putting an hour in at the gym, Cheol headed back upstairs to grab a change of clothes and her present from his room. It was as easy to shower in her room as it was for him to shower in his, and if they ordered before he hopped in, the food would be there all the sooner.
Clothes and bag in hand, he threw a quick look over his shoulder to check that the hall was clear before using his key to slip into her room without knocking. He found her seated at the table, feet curled under her as she scrolled through something on her laptop screen. Her eyes flicked to him and she gave him a welcoming smile before getting up out of her seat to come to him.
“Hey, I’m going to hop in the shower,” He gave her cheek a quick kiss before he put down his clothes on the nearby TV stand. “Can you order something for dinner for us? I don’t really care what but I’m pretty hungry.”
“Sure, I can do that,” She caught his face between her hands before he could pull away, bringing his lips down to hers.
He gingerly grasped her wrists, pulling back slightly. “I’m gross and sweaty,” he explained huskily. �
��Otherwise I would…”
“I know,” She rose up on her tiptoes to reach him again. “You smell like sweat and damp cotton. I’m not going to stop you from getting in the shower, but you’re a little sexy like this.”
“I’m sexy when I’m gross and sweaty from the gym?” A giggle of shy thrill escaped him as he let her pull his lips back to hers again.
“That’s not the only place you get a little sweaty from working out, you know,” She reminded him. “The sweat smells a little different, but it still smells like you.” A blush spread up his neck to the tips of his ears as he let out another chortle. “Okay, okay, go on and get clean. I’ll figure dinner out.”
He hopped in the shower and she, after a glance at the hotel’s room service menu, decided to get something delivered from outside the hotel as there wasn’t anything particularly appetizing they hadn’t had a night or two ago already. Using one of the apps she knew only too well from her old life in the city, she put in an order for some Indian food, giving the address to the hotel and the delivery instructions to call when they got downstairs. Luckily she had an online phone number she had kept to let all her friends from back home call her without having to call an international number.
The food arrived not long after Cheol got out of the shower. Claire left him in the room to get dressed as she made the quick trip downstairs to grab the food. She tipped the delivery driver, having pulled out some cash earlier. Checking the bag before she headed back upstairs, she made sure they had the whole order and that some silverware had been included. Satisfied, Claire made her way back to the room.
Cheol was in the bathroom giving his hair a quick blow dry when she came in and so she busied herself pulling out all of the food, setting his on one side of the small table and hers on the other. She could hear the blow dryer switch off as she was finishing up.
The Tutor Page 40
