Chapter 30 - 30: What Do You Think?
Time flew so fast the next day that evening finally came. This also means the time for Kim Eunji and Nathan to meet finally came.
Dressed in her black denim jeans, black boots and leather jacket over her white top with her hair on a a high ponytail and sporting a red lips, Kim Eunji arrived in front of the agreed place boarding the car Nathan had arranged for her.
It was a fancy restaurant on top of a hotel overlooking the night sky of Osaka.
Kim Eunji wanted to arrange their meeting place but Nathan rejected it. He insisted that since he was the one who was pursuing her, he should arrange their meeting place instead.
Kim Eunji let him be then.
Standing by the entrance of the building was the hotel manager who became flustered the moment he saw her alighted from the car. She was wearing a less feminine set of clothes. In fact, it was a bit boyish but she looked sophisticated and cool in the outfit.
The manager thought the woman was so beautiful. No wonder she made the king of the business world to book the entire restaurant up stairs. Therefore, he never dared underestimated the woman.
He then bowed down his head as he greeted her. "Konbanwa."
"Konbanwa." Kim Eunji greeted back.
"I am the general manager of Saito Hotel, Manager Yamamoto. Jonson-san requested me to accompany you upstairs. Shall we?" He invited. Kim Eunji gave a polite nod as he followed his lead.
Kim Eunji was silent the entire time making the entire trip to the top floor a bit awkward.
The elevator chimed which means they had finally arrive.
The manager went out first and then Kim Eunji followed.
After Kim Eunji walked out of the elevator, the manager accompanied her until the main entrance of the restaurant and told her to continue as Nathan was already inside. He then bid his good bye while Kim Eunji moved forward.
As soon as Kim Eunji pushed the huge glass door open, what greeted her was an almost empty and dark room. Only the moonlight and the lights from the cityscapes below was the source of light that illuminated the room.
But as she walked inside, the a candle like LED light suddenly lighted up illuminating her path.
The lights continued to open and they illuminated the entire place revealing a romantic scene that every woman would love be with.
The candle LEDs were arranged in a huge heart shape. There were scattered rose petals on the floor and in the center was the table where Nathan dressed in his black tuxedo, looking so dashing and handsome as always was standing with a bouquet of roses in his hands.
He then slowly made his way on towards her. The sounds of violin playing live on the background which added the romantic vibe.
"Good evening My Lady." Nathan greeted her as he handed the bouquet of roses to her and Kim Eunji accepted it.
"What's this?" Kim Eunji asked him.
She was expecting it to be a simple dinner. But she never expected him to pull something like this. Therefore, she didn't know how to react as she didn't know what to feel.
As Nathan looked at Kim Eunji's unimpressed reaction, he was not disappointed at all. He somehow had the feeling that Kim Eunji would react like this.
She ain't an ordinary woman after all.
Nathan flashed his smile and said, "I was just hoping that you would be moved by the set-up. But I think I have to exert more effort just to impress you."
"Oh. Is that so?" Kim Eunji asked back.
"En!" Nathan then looked at her beautiful face and thought that she became more beautiful every time he saw her.
Kim Eunji suddenly felt like blushing as soon as she saw Nathan's gaze towards her.
"Are we going to stand here all night?" Kim Eunji suddenly asked as she tried to divert Nathan's attention.
"Eh?" Nathan who was puzzled by it asked her.
"Aren't we going to eat? I haven't eaten dinner yet. Therefore, I'm hungry." Kim Eunji honestly confessed.
"Sure. Come." Nathan offered his hand for her to grab but Kim Eunji rejected it as she said, "Don't be so optimistic Mr. Johnson, I haven't given my answer to your proposal yet."
"I know. But I'm a hundred percent sure that you will say yes before this night ends." He simply remarked and gestured for Kim Eunji to lead the way.
"Don't raise your hopes up Mr. Johnson. Hmmp!" Kim Eunji harrumphed as she walked towards the table.
Nathan followed as he shook his head.
As soon as the two settle down on their seats, the waiter came in with the menu in his hands.
The two made their order in silence and handed back the menu as soon as they finished.
Kim Eunji could feel that Nathan was looking at her which made her a bit uncomfortable.
"Stop staring." Kim Eunji reprimanded.
"Why should I?" Nathan asked back. Nathan was happy to see another kind of reaction from her therefore he had the urge to tease her.
"You're so beautiful that I can't resist not to look at you."
He thought that Kim Eunji would be happy but on the contrary, Kim Eunji's expression changed.
"Do you think I am beautiful?" Kim Eunji chuckled as she continued, "Is this the reason why you decided to pursue me? Then, if I'll disfigure my face in front of you, would you still have the guts to say you would still pursue me?"
Her question stunned Nathan. He became speechless not because Kim Eunji hit the spot but because he thought how can someone had a wild imagination. Also he felt like she was looking at him as such a shallow person.
Seeing Nathan's reaction, Kim Eunji was about to stand up as she was not on the mood to stay when the waiter came back with their respective orders.
She thought it would be a waste if she would leave without eating them.
She might be upset but filling her empty stomach was far more important than venting her anger.
Kim Eunji ordered Rosemary Braised Lamb Shanks, grilled asparagus and passion fruit juice for her drink.
On the other hand, Nathan was enjoying a Japanese dinner with Tempura, kataudon (rice dish served in a bowl topped with simmered ingredients), temaki (a hand-rolled type of sushi characterized by its conical shape often made at home) and awamori for drink.
The two had a harmonious dinner as they eat in silent.
Nathan was surprised by how Kim Eunji cut her meat. It looked like she didn't exert any force on the knife just like how a calligraphy artist would hold his brush and made those delicate stroke.
Though Kim Eunji did not exert mych effort, the cut was clean and neat.
He also observed Kim Eunji's table manners. She was eating her food elegantly. Though they had shared a couple of meals in the past, it was more or like someone would interrupt on her eating or she's shy sharing a meal with other people.
Because his attention was on Kim Eunji rather than on his food, Kim Eunji finished his food first before him.
Kim Eunji waited for him to finish before she decided to leave.
Nathan saw that therefore he finished his food as quick as he could causing him to almost choke.
Kim Eunji chuckled as soon as she saw that but tried her best to keep it to herself.
"Are you okay?" She asked him as she handed a glass of water to him.
"Arigato." Nathan thanked her as he took the glass from her hand and drank the content in one go.
"I never thought Mr. Johnson could be such a comedian, too." Kim Eunji commented but it was more of a tease.
Nathan was taken aback by her comment.
"Ahem!" He cleared his throat as he tried to refocus himself.
"If you like me to be one, I'm willing to embarrass myself if you're happy with it."
"--__--"
Nathan's smooth talking made Kim Eunji to be speechless once again.
"What?" Kim Eunji said after she recovered from being speechless.
"Are you even serious?" Kim Eunji asked him.
"En. In order for me to get my goal, I had to compromise if the situation was unfavorable to me." Nathan explained.
"Why are you doing this?" Kim Eunji asked him.
"Because I want to." Nathan sighed as he continued.
"About your question earlier, I would still pursue you even if you'll ruin your face. What I want is your heart not your physical appearance. I want a woman to love and be loved, not a woman to show off on every events that I would be attending in the future. Your attitude towards me was the one that caught my attention second was your appearance."
"--__--"
Silence answered Nathan.
"Would that be enough reason for you to agree?"
"Then why would you want me to be your lover for a month?" Kim Eunji asked.
What difference was this one compared to those contractual relationships that he had with other women?
"A month would be enough for us to know each other. As promised, if you won't learn to love me within a month and this relationship would fail, I'll keep my word to not look after you again. But if after a month and you decided to stay, I'm more than happy to be your man."
Kim Eunji then thought of Kelly's words last night.
So far, she's impressed with the man's answer. In actuality, she didn't hate him nor like him. But she could not deny that there was something with him that made her to be drawn towards him.
However, she would never dare admit to herself that his charm had pierced through and penetrated her barrier.
"Alright. I want you to know that if I'll agree to this, I'll have my own rules, too."
Nathan smiled as soon as he heard her. The chances are high this time and he could feel it. But he still showed a smug face to hide his joy.
"En! Sure, we could do that. As long as you agreed to my proposal."
"Good." Kim Eunji was somehow satisfied with it. As long as she had some sort of control, she's okay with it.
"So Miss Kim, will you be my lover?" Nathan asked her once again.
"What do you think?"