"I'll come to receive you at the airport tomorrow" you said on the phone to your friend from your home country and then hung up the call.
You were living in Korea for 2 years. You were an immigrant from another Asian country and were living in Korea on your work visa. You were a model and that led you to meet Jeon Jungkook, an aspiring idol.
You and him started dating almost immediately after only 2 meetings. It was like a Wattpad love story. Too good to be real but it was real nonetheless. After dating for a few months, you and him moved in together.
Jungkook was usually busy with his shoots and practices while you stayed home alone studying about Korea's culture and traditions. But even after staying 2 years among these people, you were still unaware of a lot of myths or traditions of the country.
So when your friend from back home told you he was visiting Korea for the first time and would need you to teach him a little about that stuff, you invited him over for lunch at your apartment.
You knew your boyfriend wouldn't mind having some other man over because he trusted and loved you a lot. Plus he was busy with a shoot for a show (Army Lab) so you had the house to yourself.
You opened the door to your apartment and welcomed your friend inside. He placed his shoes by the door like you and followed you inside. You chatted for a while with him until it was time to start with lunch preparations.
"How can I help?" Mark offered, folding his sleeves at his elbows.
"Just sit there. I can handle everything" you said, smiling. You prepared lunch for both of you, Jungkook and two of his group mates who were going to visit with him.
Right around 4 o'clock, the front door opened and Jungkook entered followed by his friends Jimin and Taehyung. They all talked while you prepared the table. Jungkook greeted Mark happily and then turned down to go to you.
"He seems to be learning fast" he wrapped his arms around your waist when you were in the kitchen.
"I've been trying to get him to memorise most of the things I know. Hopefully he'll be able to survive" you told Jungkook. He hummed and went to the bedroom to change.
He was exhausted so he took a little longer in shower. You waited for him to join you all on the table with Taehyung and Jimin who were chatting with Mark. Once Jungkook was out, you all sat down to dig into the food.
Mark was not very familiar with using chopsticks and was having trouble eating so, you being a good friend, offered to help him. You picked up and seperated a perilla leaf to show him how it's eaten.
What you failed to notice was the furious glares your boyfriend was sparing you with. You kept helping Mark with food without looking at Jungkook who was getting angrier for some unknown reasons.
Taehyung and Jimin saw everything and were too stunned to witness the events. Their hands were frozen in whatever they were doing, food in mid-air or chopsticks holding the kimchi. They actually knew why Jungkook was getting furious at your behaviour. Before they could meddle and say anything, Jungkook abruptly pushed his chair back and stood up from the table mid-eating.
"I'm done," he said, without meeting anyone's eyes. He picked up his half eaten food and went towards the kitchen. He disposed of the food and went straight towards his bedroom without another word.
You looked between Taehyung and Jimin, secretly asking what's wrong with him but they just shrugged their shoulders and continued eating. Everyone finished soon after and Mark took a leave to go back to his hotel room and rest.
"What's with him?" You asked once Mark was gone referring to Jungkook.
"Go and talk to him" Taehyung told you and sat down in your living room with Jimin. You entered your bedroom and found Jungkook leaning on the headboard, his nose hurried in a book. He never reads. Never in front of you so it felt odd.
"What's wrong Koo? Are you okay?" You asked, sitting beside him. He said nothing and turned a little, focussing back on the book.
"Come-on babe! What is happening? You left the table like that! You didn't even come to see Mark off" you were annoyed now. His behaviour was childish.
"Nothing is wrong. I'm just very tir..." he said but you cut him off mid sentence.
"Don't give me the I'm tired shit, Jungkook. I know something is wrong. What is it?" You asked, snatching the book from his hands.
"What do you want me to say, YN? That I didn't like the way you were treating Mark. That you helped him with perilla leaves and it bothered me too much to make me uncomfortable!" He said, his voice a little raised.
"What? Perilla leaves? This is what it's about! A few leaves?" You were speechless.
"They're not just some leaves, Y/N. Not to me" he said under his breath.
"So I helped him. What's the big deal?" You almost raised your voice now.
"It is a big deal. You won't understand" he said and laid down on the bed, pulling the blanket up to his chin.
"It's not like we flirted or that we kissed!" You said, annoyed.
"Still it's the same!" Jungkook was being so difficult. He wasn't even looking at you while giving his stupid reasoning.
"Oh my god! I can't believe this" you stood up from the bed and rolled your eyes. "That is such a childish reason to be angry about" and you exited the bedroom.
You didn't know what the big deal was in helping someone with a bunch of leaves. How could he be jealous over such small silly things? That's unreasonable!!
Meanwhile Taehyung and Jimin were in the living room, playing rock paper and scissors just to decide who'd go to whom to solve the problems; And as always, Taehyung won and chose to go to you. Jimin had to go and talk to Jungkook.
You were in the kitchen when Taehyung slowly approached you. "Can you believe it, Tae? He's mad because I separated Mark some freaking leaves" you wiped the countertop more aggressively.
"You don't know what it means to help with perilla leaves?" Taehyung asked if you should know the story behind it. You shook your head in denial.
"Okay, so today during the shoot, we had a discussion where we were asked if we would like our significant other to help their friend with perilla leaves and you know what Jungkook replied?" Taehyung asked you. You shook your head again.
"He denied it immediately. He said he wouldn't like it. He specifically said that today it's separating the leaves. Next day you're holding hands and falling in love and soon you'll end up getting married" Taehyung said as if reciting a script.
You squint your brows at that. "What is all this bullshit? How will I fall in love and end up marrying my friend over some perilla leaves?" You said astounded.
"His words," Taehyung said, holding his hands up in surrender. "Not mine. But I agree with him. I won't like it either if my girlfriend does this."
You couldn't believe what he was saying. Jungkook was being unreasonable but you can understand where he was coming from. Everyone has different beliefs. One should never judge them by what they believe in. No matter how absurd they are. Like Jungkook believing you'll leave him after helping Mark with a few leaves.
You wanted to laugh. It was so cute of him to be jealous about such a little thing that you wanted to squeeze his cheek and kiss him all over.
"He's so stupid" you said laughing, thinking about the whirlwind that must be roaring in Jungkook's head. Just as you were about to enter your bedroom and tackle him in hugs, Jimin came out of your room followed by Jungkook himself.
He was looking down and fidgeting his fingers. You walked towards him and stood right in front of him. Jimin went to stand beside Taehyung by the kitchen door.
"I'm sorry I was stupid" he said in a low voice. "But I was jealous. It's been around lately and everyone believes that separating perilla leaves will end up with marriage. I was just unreasonable" he said.
"Yah! Not me... and most probably not 'everyone' too. Only you and Tae believes that" Jimin retorted, making you laugh.
"You know you're the cutest when you're jealous?" You asked him. You put your arms around his neck and pulled him down to come at your eye level. "Taehyung told me everything. Don't worry. I only have eyes for you. Even if someone helps me with a whole pile of perilla leaves, I will always love you" you said, almost whispering over his lips.
He smiled and leaned a little to attach his lips to yours. His friends who were standing just around the living room quickly closed their eyes and headed out of the house as discreetly as they could.
"What did you tell him that he changed his mind so soon anyways?" Taehyung asked once he and Jimin were out of your house.
"It was nothing much. I just told him Mark will definitely take Y/N away if he keeps up his nonsense any longer. He's protective as hell. His jealous ass couldn't handle it," Jimin told Taehyung. Both the friends ended up bursting into laughter while walking back to their car.