16. Ruwon
Mama knows best.
They all glared at me, but my mother’s glare was the worst. Guilt slowly seeped in after my shock that the woman who was here with them spoke Korean.
“Naega neoleul geuleohge kiujin anh-ass-eo.”
I raised you better than that.
I looked at the floor, taking a deep breath.
“She was a lovely girl and didn’t deserve your ire,” Jaques said in English.
“We invited her to sit with us after she was stood up.” Maya raised her brow at me.
“Now I regret inviting you to spend the afternoon with us. I thought she could use a friend, but I see my son has lost his manners,” my mother said.
“Mom, you know—”
“Save it Nae-saekki,” she snapped.
“I’m sorry,” I said softly.
“We aren’t the only ones who deserve an apology,” Maya said, taking a drink of her coffee.
“We will see you later.” My mother dismissed me.
I stood there like I was a teenager again, unsure of what the hell I was supposed to do. My mood had been shit since I had woken up, having to read emails and two manuscripts that needed to be read by today.
“I’m sorry,” I muttered, leaving the restaurant feeling everyone's stares.
I took a deep breath taking in the briny air as I reached for the keys to my motorcycle in front of the restaurant. The day was beautiful and a ride along the coast sounded great, maybe it would lift my mood. I slid my sunglasses on when I noticed her.
She was gorgeous in a revealing top and long skirt that accentuated her body.
If I had seen her somewhere else and I was in a better mood I would have wanted to talk to her, but years of my mother wanting me to settle down had triggered a bad response.
I was already irritated and that was the match to my explosive mood.
Guilt simmered again and I was walking towards her before chickening out. She looked up as I stood next to her, glaring,
“Following me now? You think I need to hear more insults?” She snapped her attention back on her phone.
“I’m sorry. What I said was out of line,” I said, running my hand through my hair. “I had a shit morning. I took it out on you and you didn’t deserve that.”
She looked up, raising her brow. “Did your mom tell you to say that? Or was it the fact that I knew you were talking shit about me.”
“No, she basically said I was an asshole and I’m no longer able to hang out with them anymore,” I sighed. “I reacted badly and yes, you knowing what I said made me feel even worse. I can assure you that my mother would have translated some of what I said to embarrass me.”
“Well, good for your mom,” she said, looking back at her phone.
I caught a glimpse of her screen as she looked for a taxi.
“I can give you a ride if you’d like?” I pointed to my motorcycle. “As an apology, anywhere you want.”
“Thanks for the apology, but I don’t need your help,” she sighed, scrolling down her screen.
“Please, I feel bad,” I said, admiring her.
“Don’t feel bad, just be nice to your mom, not all of us have moms like yours,” she said, looking up at me. “Were you going to meet her here anyways?”
“Yeah, I was going to—”
“So why would you think she was setting you up? We looked at my Rendezvous app and they swiped right and left for me,” she said. “So don’t flatter yourself that I was here just for you.”
“My mom used Rendezvous?” I scowled.
“For me, you idiot,” she sighed. “We were having fun, and she knows I wasn’t looking for forever, but a good time.”
She was sassy, and it had been very amusing.
“I’m not looking for forever either,” I said, unsure why I said it. “My mom knows that and I swear she’s always telling me I need to settle down, so it struck a nerve today.”
She studied me for a moment, face softening slightly the longer she studied me.
“Your mom loves you very much,” she stated. “You should go easy on her.”
“She’s amazing,” I said. “I wouldn’t be here without her.”
She nodded, smiling softly.
“So, can I give you a ride?” I smiled.
“Anywhere?” she asked.
I should have said no, but I felt like I owed her.
“Anywhere,” I agreed.
“Is it too late to go to Pompeii?” she asked, and it felt like a test.
She was fucking with me, but I was feeling generous and a little guilty so the joke was on her.
“If we go to Pompeii you won’t get the full experience, but if you like ruins I have a place in mind. It’s called Paestum and—”
“Oh my god, yes!” she squealed. “I would love to go to Pompeii, but Paestum was on my list.”
“Great. Then let's start over,” I said, holding out my hand. “Hi, my name is Ruwon.”
She grinned, shaking my hand. “Nice to meet you, Ruwon, my name is Violeta.”
I kissed the back of her hand.
I grinned. “Let’s go before it gets any later.”
I didn’t let her hand go, leading her to my bike. Opening my saddle bag, I pulled out my extra helmet, giving it to her. I got on, started the motorcycle, and held my hand out for her to get on.
“I can’t get it on,” she said, frustrated.
“Let me help.” I pulled her closer, threading the loop through the ring and tightening it. “Have you ridden a bike before?”
“Yup, not my first rodeo,” she grinned.
I might have fiddled with it for longer than necessary, admiring her more than I should have before I helped her onto the back of my bike.
“If I had known I was going to be riding a bike I would have worn pants,” she said, scooting closer to me.
My back was flushed to the front of her body and her breasts squished between us.
“We can stop for a wardrobe change,” I offered.
“Nah, I don’t want to waste daylight,” she said, wrapping her arms around me.
“Ok, let’s go,” I said, pulling out onto the street.
I didn’t think my day would turn out like this, but it was a welcomed surprise. Maybe my mama did know what was best. I just wouldn’t ever tell her that.
Violeta and I settled into a comfortable conversation during the day.
She was enthralled with the ruins and we spent most of the day in comfortable silence even if I had some burning questions that I wanted answered.
Violeta was alluring, funny, and as much as I thought we wouldn’t get along, she was a breath of fresh air.
“That was amazing,” Violeta said as we stopped at a stoplight. “Thank you so much for taking me to see those ruins. They were stunning and dinner was great. That view was stellar.”
“I’m glad you liked them. I had never been before,” I said, putting my hand over her knee.
It was getting cold now that the sun had set.
“Yeah, I figured when you were just as amazed as I was,” she chuckled, holding me tighter as a shiver rocketed through her.
“We still have a thirty-minute drive. Should we stop somewhere and see if we can get you a sweater?” I asked as I took off.
“No! Let’s just get me home,” she yelled.
The drive to the place she was staying at was calm and therapeutic. I put her hands under my shirt for warmth. She kept her hands still for a moment before she rubbed absentminded circles on my abs. It was tantalizing and my body liked it too much. I was half hard most of the drive.
We pulled up to a hostel that I was not a fan of. It looked shady as hell and I had a bad feeling. I pulled the bike into a spot, letting her get off first, shutting off the bike. I helped her with her helmet as she shivered and I felt bad.
“Come on, let's get you warm,” I said, threading our hands together. “Are you sure this is safe?”
“Yeah, I only stay in the girls' dorms,” she said, shivering again.
I threw my arm around her to warm her up more.
“Oh my god, you feel amazing,” she said, snuggling closer. “You don’t have to walk me in.”
“I just want to make sure you’re safe,” I said, holding the door open for her.
She scurried inside, turning around quickly like she was going to say goodbye, but I walked in.
“Lead the way,” I said.
“Ruwon, I’m in a girls’ dormitory,” she huffed. “You can’t come in.”
“I just want to make sure you’re safe and then I’ll leave,” I said quickly.
“I’m a big girl,” she said, crossing her arms across her chest.
“I know, but for my peace of mind.” I might have pouted a bit.
“Oh my god, you're a pain in the ass,” she said, walking away.
I chuckled, following her as I looked around, looking for random people walking about. Hadn't she ever seen the movie, Hostel? We walked down a hallway that said women’s, and I didn’t like that it was so accessible to everyone else.
“This is me,” she said, opening a door with a card that made me feel slightly better.
The room was empty. It looked like she was the only one here. I walked in.
“Ruwon, you said you would just check and that’s it. You can’t be in here,” she whispered, like we were going to get caught.
“I’m almost done with my inspection,” I said, looking around for god knows what, but seeing where she was going to sleep made me feel better. “It looks nicer than I expected.”
“It's good for the price,” she said, standing next to me. “We all can’t be hot Korean actors.”
She shocked me again. “I didn’t think you knew me.”
“You looked familiar and the girls at the restaurant confirmed it for me,” she grinned. “Then I looked you up in the bathroom just to be sure and to see what you’ve been in.”
I chuckled. “Why didn’t you say anything or ask like most people do?”
She shrugged. “I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
“So telling me now doesn’t make me uncomfortable?” I raised my brow.
“Well, you’re making me nervous for coming in here so it was only right for me to get some payback,” she grinned.
I laughed. “Ok, I see how it is.” I walked her back into the wall, looming over her.
“I don’t think you do,” she said, looking up at me with big eyes.
“Tell me you don’t want me to kiss you.” I leaned down, hovering over her mouth.
“Now, why would I do that?” She leaned up.
Our lips brushed before she pulled back quickly. “One kiss and you leave.”
“Then, let's make it a good one then,” I said, capturing her lips.
She moaned as I brushed my tongue against her lips and she let me in.
Her hands settled at the nape of my neck, playing with the edge of my hair.
I deepened the kiss, pushing her against the wall, more tempted to lift her up so I could get closer, but I didn’t want to get ahead of myself.
Violeta ran her hands through my hair and I groaned into her kisses.
I pulled back abruptly. “Do you have plans for tomorrow?”
“No,” she murmured against my lips, before kissing me again.
“Spend the day with me?” I asked in between kisses, as my hands roamed above her ass that I desperately wanted to grab, but I kept my hands in the appropriate places.
“Ok.” She kissed me one more time before leaning against the wall, looking up.
“I’ll pick you up at eight,” I said, kissing her neck and stepping back.
“In the morning?” she grimaced.
“It will be worth it. I promise,” I said, kissing her on the nose, turning to leave.
“It better be!”
I chuckled, leaving her room, seeing no one in the hallways as I made my exit. Leaving her made me uneasy, but I got on my bike, heading to my mother's home, not ready for the, I told you so. I should know better. My mother and her friends were never wrong.