The pair fastened themselves in the car, Jun connecting his phone to the audio system. He then paused for a moment before playing.

"Do you have any music preferences?" he asked her.

"Not really, so long as it's not too abrasive" she responded.

Jun scrolled through his albums and playlists. Finally deciding on one that was a mix of everything he listened to. He put the car in gear, and made his way to Seattle. As he drove, the weather got a little bit worse for wear. The projected rain became a reality. Soon after, traffic began to appear.

The speakers continued playing his playlist, but the car felt silent. In an attempt to make small talk, Jun chimed up.

"Yknow, for a place that is always raining, You'd expect people to know how to drive in it by now." Jun exclaimed as confidently as he could muster.

"Honestly!" Leia responded.

"I've been here long enough to experience the driving conditions. I don't have a license yet so I take the bus most of the time. But every time without fail, there's some bloke who acts like they've never seen rain before and almost crashes into the damn bus!" She spoke verbosely.

"It makes me wonder why your country doesn't invest in public transport more, since clearly they don't teach some of you to drive very well."

Jun chuckled in agreement.

"I could write a whole paper on this. There's so many factors that go into it, it's honestly ridiculous. But at the end of the day, it's down to the same reason it always is."

The two looked at each other and said in unison, "capitalism"

The two laughed. Though the weather was still iffy at best, and the traffic wasn't getting much better. They were very close to seattle. The aforementioned traffic was not getting much better as they neared the city, so Jun made the executive decision to get off at the closest exit in the city, and made his way down to pikes place.

Driving in the city always made him nervous, but he did his best not to let it get to him. Especially not in front of Leia. He squeezed his way through the winding streets and found an above ground parking garage to park his car in. He got through the toll and found a spot on the third floor.

Once he Squeezed his car into the spot. He got out as smoothly as he could. Being the Gentleman he aspired to be. He insisted on opening Leia's door for her. It was a bit of an awkward squeeze between himself and the wall, but he made it work. He opened the door slowly, as to not ding it on the wall. Exclaiming "m'lady" in a mock british accent.

"You dork!" said Leia jovially through a snicker. Right as they were about to leave the garage, Jun remembered something.

“Wait right here” he asked Leia.

He quickly went back to his car and rummaged through his trunk. After some digging, he found it. His little umbrella. He never really used it, but he felt it was appropriate for the occasion. With a rush in his step, he made his way back down to her.

“Thanks for waiting for me” Said Jun, slightly out of breath. He waved the umbrella around to show her what the wait was for.

“Ah, smart thinking! It’s still coming down there a bit” Leia responded.

With that, the two made their way down to the market where they’d be eating. Making small talk and observing the sites as they went along. As they made their way down, the pair began window shopping from store to store. Perusing through the various trinkets and doodads that they came across. then, as they were looking around. Something piqued Leia’s interest. She stopped to look at a bracelet that was very striking to her.

“Something catch your eye?” asked Jun.

Leia paused for a moment. Still looking deeply at the bejeweled wrist piece.

“Oh, um yes sorry..” she was a bit lost for words.

Jun looked at the piece she was viewing intently, quickly understanding, at least on the surface level, why she was looking at it. It was a beautiful pearl bracelet. Connected at the points by what appeared to be small bits of silver. It was truly a beautiful piece.

“Oh my, that is quite nice. I’m not much of a jewelry guy, but I can appreciate beauty when I see it.” said Jun coolly.

“Yeah, it is quite beautiful.” said Leia quietly.

She stared at it for a while before speaking up once more.

“Sorry, it just reminded me of one my grandmother on my fathers side used to wear. She um…” Leia paused for a moment.

“She passed away when I was younger. It was an open casket funeral. She was buried with it”.

The two stood there silently for a moment. Unsure of how to break the silence.

“I was very close to her. I still miss her to this day” she said.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

The silence resumed.

“Ahg, sorry. That was a lot. Just brought back some memories is all.” exclaimed Leia.

“It's quite fine, no need to apologize '' responded Jun.

“I’m glad you feel safe enough around me to share that. I appreciate the trust, means a lot” he followed.

The two shared a smile and looked into each other's eyes for a moment.

A moment that was quickly interrupted by Leia’s stomach making a monstrous growl. Jun tried to hide his laughter as Leia began turning beet red.

“We should probably keep heading to that taco place you were talking about, hmm?” said Leia in a hurried, embarrassed tone.

“Yeah, sounds good” replied Jun, failing to hide a chuckle.

Before they left the store, Jun snapped a picture of the bracelet just in case. The two made their way down to the market, avoiding crowds and un-noticing drivers to the best of their abilities. It was a bit of a squeeze, but they eventually made it to the shop.

“Los Agaves” read Leia, her accent showing through thickly in her attempt to pronounce the name.

“Yep, that's the name!” responded Jun.

“I come here almost every time I’m in the area. One day I was around the market and I was hungry. Looked around for something. Came across this place, and I’ve been coming ever since.”.

Leia looked across the menu, trying to figure out what she was in the mood for.

“Let me know when you’re ready to order. I’m just gonna get my usual.” chimed Jun.

It took her a moment, but she finally landed on something.

“I think I’ll have…the taco plate with chicken. That one looks pretty good.” she said.

“Ooh nice choice, that one's always good.” responded Jun. He ordered their food and grabbed seats next to the stairs adjacent to the eatery.

Once the two sat down, they began making conversation. Talking of various bits and pieces of their lives. Asking each other questions in an attempt to get to know each other better.

“Ah, there’s one everyone squirms at.” piped Leia with a look of pure mischief.

With a worried feeling in his gut, Jun poked.

“Oh lord…what’ve you got up your sleeve?”.

Leia chuckled to herself.

“What was your first time like?”

she asked. Jun always dreaded this question. He never had a good answer for it, because he didn’t have an answer. He felt this question was always the death of him. He was always teased for his lack of experience. He never really had a good reason as to why he never had any. He wasn’t bad looking, he had enough self confidence, he didn’t have any jarring opinions on social issues. Realistically, there wasn’t anything truly keeping him from having any intimate contact with someone. He just never had the chance.

With a deep, sullen breath. He admitted to her.

“I’ve…never had sex before”.

Leia looked at him, deeply puzzled.

“You mean…” she paused. “Not even once?” she said, befuddled.

Jun sank deep into himself, practically curling into a ball. He despised telling people about his lack of experience. Especially at his age. People tended to be judgmental when they found out. It embarrassed him, it made him feel wrong in a way he wasn’t sure how to explain.

“Yeah…I don’t like talking about it. People tend to think there’s something wrong with me whenever they pop the question. And every time, I try to explain to them it’s just because I've never really had an opportunity. But…” he paused.

“…I never get that far before they’ve already made their judgements.”

Right as he was about to sink deeper into himself, the lady behind the counter announced that their orders were done. He got up and grabbed them so they could both enjoy it. But by now, he had mostly lost his appetite. He placed the food on the table and slid into his seat with a mild look of sorrow on his face. He tried to hide it, but he felt this relationship, whatever it may have been. Was already over before it began.

Until she spoke.

“Hey, nothing to be ashamed of. Don't look so sodding mate.”

Jun raised his head enough to meet her eyes.

“I can tell that’s something you’re a bit insecure about. I honestly assumed you already had a few body’s under your belt.”.

Jun chuckled, that chuckle slowly turning into a laugh. Through a fit of laughter, he asked

“Now what on earth made you think that!”

he exclaimed as he continued to chuckle to himself.

“Well I mean…” Leia began.

“You look like you could pull! Is that what you Americans call it? Pulling? I mean like…” she continued.

“You’re quite nice on the eyes to be honest with you. And you’re quite funny at times! And you’re honestly a very kind person from what I’ve seen. You really shouldn’t beat yourself up about it so much. I honestly wish I was still in your position.”.

Jun tilted his head in confusion. “Why’s that?” he asked.

Leia took a deep breath and explained.

“Well, it’s honestly quite embarrassing. But since you shared your side I think it’s only fair I share mine.” she began.

“It was a few years ago back in Scotland. I was hanging out with some friends at a party. We were all drunk off our arses, and we had no plan on stopping. Well, the night goes on, and this guy I had shown interest in briefly during my academy years strolls by. Well, he’s equally drunk, if not more so. We get to talking, he gets to flirting, and when I'm drunk I tend to reciprocate that kind of thing. Well, one thing led to another, and well…” she paused, with a sullen look on her face.

“I don’t remember much after that. But I woke up the next day in his flat, wreaking of booze and my clothes strewn across the place. He was still completely passed out, and while I was still hung over, I could at least sort of walk my way up and out. I put my clothes on, grabbed my stuff, and made my way back home.”

Leia had a look of embarrassment strewn across her face. She had a feeling of mild regret running through her mind.

“I’m sorry” she apologized. “That was a lot. I don’t really tell many people about that. It just kind of came out. I didn’t mean to make things awkward.”.

Jun looked at her with a mix of concern and empathy written on his face.

“Leia, It’s fine. You didn’t make anything awkward.” he stated.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that. I’d be pretty shaken up too. There's nothing to be embarrassed about.” .

Leia lifted her head with a feeling of relief.

“Thanks Jun.” she said with a slight smile. “That aside, how’s ‘bout we eat our meals before they’re ice cold?” asked Leia.

“Oh geez, yeah!” Said Jun with a slight chuckle. The two both ate their meals, the unfamiliar of the duo being thoroughly impressed with its quality.

“Oh my god?” exclaimed Leia through bites. “Good, right?” asked Jun. Leia took a monstrous bite from her taco, nodding her head after doing so.

The two enjoyed their meals, exchanging dipping sauces to see which ones worked better on their meals. Appreciating every bite more than the last.

“Yeah I'm definitely coming back here as often as I can, good god these are good.” exclaimed Leia while finishing the last few bites of her plate. Jun looked at her, and when he saw her, he started to giggle. He tried to hide it, but he failed to do so.

“Now just what are you laughing at?” asked Leia, perplexed.

Jun finished the bite of his burrito he had, and said to her in a cheeky tone.

“you’ve got sour cream and grease, like…all over your face” he gestured around his lips and nose.

“Oh Jesus” exclaimed Leia, quickly grabbing some napkins. She wiped her face, but in doing so, only managed to smear some across her face even more. Jun was trying not to laugh, but she just continued smearing it onto her face.

“Leia stop, just let me get it” he asked, feeling almost like a disappointed father. He grabbed a napkin and patted down the areas that kept getting smeared.

“There, all better” he said, as if to imitate that disappointed father. He shook his head and chuckled. He looked at Leia and asked

“You enjoy your meal?”.

“yeah, I did, seeing as I left about half of it on my face.”.

The two had a good laugh about it before deciding to head off to the international village.