The wind goes whoosh. My heart goes boo-hoo

"Mackerels? Do you have more?" a voice asked as Gwan-sik paused, hurriedly pulling on his gloves, a simple smile on his lips and looked up. Only to freeze—

Dragon King will seriously end him one of these days..

He wonders if you were personally hand-made by Dragon King. If you were one of his precious one—No..!

"Uh, we do." he mumbled, standing up awkwardly, "one second—..Let me get halmeoni.." he mumbled, ushering to the side quickly as Ae-sun looked up from behind her book and at him utterly confused. Why does he need his halmeoni?

"Why do you even need halmeo—", "She can help." Gwan-sik said firmly, shooting Ae-sun a look which made her pause and turn back to her book, albeit confused.

You looked back at him. The starry eyes, the sweetest smile, the perfect hair despite the little mess from winter winds and slightly reddened nose, ears and lips. Chapped and trying to preserve heat. Grey-maroon cardigan, likely from school which he used almost all time.

Gwan-sik immediately looked away, rushing to get his grandma. His grandma sat beside the other haenyeo women, sharing a large bowl of bibimbap, mixing rice, seaweed, eggs or mackerel if it's not upto par for sale at their shop. Also to conserve energy in such snowy-cold months of Jeju.

Gwan-sik approaching his grandma, who sat aside silently making herself some sort of roll to chew, using seaweed when she looked up at him, "Aish, what happened? Something wrong at the stall?" she asked, "Can you serve the girl instead of me?" he asked.

His grandmother looked up, squinting her eyes, "What? Why?" he asked, as Gwan-sik silently groaned, "Can you just do it? She's part of some rich family, she's pretty..and she speaks nicely. Just serve her fish, I'll go back then—!" he said, trying to usher his halmeoni up. His grandmother sighed, putting down her spoon as his mother snorted,

"Your mouth gets sewn shut in-front of pretty girls, is that it? Yah, your brat. You're just to sell fish, not admire girls!" she said, waving her spoon as if to make him understand as he nodded nervously. His grandmother, all the while, walked back.

"Yah, what do you need?" she asked, voice gentle, despite it's gruffness. You looked up, awkward and nervous, fidgeting with your bracelet as she looked down, pulling out a slip from the bag you brought with you, reading out what you might need.

His grandmother handed it all and you paid for it quickly. Your eyes fell on the Yang boy. Yang Gwan-sik, that's his name..He was so beautiful, in a rugged but in a soft way. Like his rough palms might be warm to hold, his smile was undoubtedly cute when he troubled Ae-sun or listened to her talk about poets of Korea.

He was nice and kind, didn't bend to the pressure like steal and had a BIG heart to fulfill anyone wants or needs. He seemed to understand one's needs and worked hard. And you desperately hoped you'd see him again as you walked down the market road. He was cute.

—

And again and again. Whenever your grandpa had some things to buy from the Yangs, any sort of fish or abelones. You'd pipe up first. You visited just to see the boy of Yangs. Even if half the time you'd been unable to even try to make eye contact with him. Your eyes flitting on his stall or the cabbages right beside his own rather than the eyes. And almost disappointingly, whenever you came, he'd went and get his grandma or eomma to help you.

Ae-sun would always greet you with a smile, she'd begun noticing the daughter of the rich family in Dodong-rii always visiting their stall when there were a few more around. She could guess why, but never said it aloud for your dignity.

"Let me get my eomma—wait." he said, walking off, his hands rubbing together. You looked at the back of his head, his shoulders broad and smell of seaweed and kimchi lingered on him longer than it should've. Ae-sun hummed softly, reading her book, quickly glancing at you and then awkwardly at the empty chair beside hers, offering you a smile. "Nice day, hm?" she whispered as you nodded, "It's pretty nice." You nodded to the girl,"Reading about poets again?"Ae-sun nodded, "Yeah." "What's the boy's name?" You asked tenderly, picking at your nails and a spare thread on the bag. Ae-sun looked up, smiling apologetically and understandingly, "That's Gwan-sik. He's a bit..weird, but don't worry. He's nice" She assured. You nodded. You and her talked for a few seconds before Gwan-sik's mother walked over, gently hitting his back, "You can't even serve people now. Aish, Dragon King has no need for such useless servants." she hissed, helping you get fishes and everything. You thanked her, packing up stuff and pretending to count, while glancing up at Gwan-sik to perhaps meet his eyes. That didn't work..it was a failure, his eyes more busy staring at the ground, a soft huff on his lips. Perhaps of annoyance..? You didn't like that.

You didn't get a chance to talk to him, no matter how much you tried. He'd always seemed a bit troubled or overwhelmed with something whenever you walked back or smiled at him. When you waved to them in passing, Ae-sun always smiled back with a bright wave of her hand, but Gwan-sik only seemed to stare like you were doing something wrong or out-of-this-world.

You didn't know or perhaps you tried to console yourself that maybe he just seemed to be going through a bad time, but it happened again, quite the next week—

"Halmeoni—" Gwan-sik stood up, wordlessly moving off as his grandmother stood down. His eyes barely looking into your, flitting nervously like he hoped you'd be gone.

Or..

Gwan-sik hummed, nudging Ae-sun to help you. She looked up, utterly confused from her book, not used to being asked to sell. But all the same, she offered it to you, "It's all fresh, don't worry!" she assured. Not that that was thing you needed assurance on.

It was the same, every time. Seriously... you could seriously tell something was wrong, not when he kept moving around to sell Ae-sun's cabbage or his fish without a problem to anyone who wasn't you. Like serving you caused him itches or rashes.

It didn't seem like the Yangs' elder son liked you a lot, in fact, he didn't seem like he liked you AT ALL.

—

And it was a day like that. The sky a perpetual grey, cold and dry. As always, he wordlessly moved as his grandma approached when she noticed you were there. Her hand softly helping as you dug out your grandpa's list from your bag. Insteading of reading, you just handed it to his halmeoni. She turned to get you your fish.

All the while, your eyes roamed his figure again, trying to meet Gwan-sik's eyes too. You cleared your throat, as if desperate to have the beautiful and handsome boy's attention. Not that it worked, he barely looked at you. It put a bit of disappointment in you.

All the while Gwan-sik felt his pulse increase, and skip beats more than he'd like to admit. And you looked down, mumbling out what you got.

"Mackerel, abelones and a few galchis.." you said. His grandmother hummed, weighing everything and counting and wrapping them quickly for you. You quickly counted out the money, offering it to Gwan-sik purposefully.

Gwan-sik looked up, as you shot him a quick, polite smile, but he couldn't find it in himself to smile back unless he just wouldn't stop smiling, so he nodded, taking the money and looking away. Your smile faded with a sigh released from your lips.

You hurriedly walked away, trying to calm yourself while you looked up, but also paid attention to not fall, ruin something, feel more embarrassed which would make you cry. Your feet all the same began hurrying, holding the cloth bag under your arm of fish. While walking, you kicked a stone, rolling it ahead as you strolled, wondering why Gwan-sik seemed to, for the lack of a better word, hate you. You never acted rudely, did you?

You hoped not, you could have been a possibly annoying or bully-ish child. But you figured your grandpa wouldn't let that slide, he said 'a kindness is what brings us to our community and what keeps us human'. And you'd be stupid to not listen to him.

As you gently walked over the one fallen side of the wooden gate which was junked and rusted in place for god knows how many decades. A lot of houses in Dodong-rii have similar gateways. As you entered, you quickly removed your shoes, standing up and getting inside the house—

"Hal-abeoji! I'm home, got the fish!" you said, hurrying in with embarrassed still set like stone in a pit in your gut. Gwan-sik. Does he even know who you are? Most people knew each other in Dodong-rii, but...He clearly didn't seem to like you, at all.

"Ho? That's good. I made jujube tea." Your grandfather said, barely looking up from his glasses and news channel, sitting on the floor, peeling quail eggs for more of your favourite banchan, machorial jangjorim.

You put down the bag of fish and seafood in-front of him, sighing softly. you looked at the screen for a second, watching some news anchor drone on about 'life of people changing' as it usually does every few months. Your grandpa finally looked up,

"What's wrong, girl-ah? Dragon King hit you or something?" he asked softly, pausing his peeling. You shut your eyes, squeezing them to gather your bearings for a second. "Nothing, just.. something you wouldn't understand." you said, waving your grandpa off with a wave of your hand. Your grandfather scoffed, not amused but also not surprised or annoyed by your answer.

He expected it, almost. But sometimes you tend to forget, he was a guy who also was your age once, who had dated girls and fallen first to impress them and knew the face one has in humiliation of wrong understandings when he sees it,

"Yeah? And where'd you fall? In a pile of pig poo?" he asked, pushing up his glasses on his nose-bridge with her pinkie to keep his lenses clean.

"No.. Nothing—actually, we shouldn't be talking about this! Because it's nothing!" You insisted, "Nothing at all." you said, thought you didn't believe yourself either.

"Mhm, okay—"

"FINE. SINCE YOU KEEP INSISTING!" You said, sitting down while your grandpa sighed, but smiled fondly at you. You grumbled, looking down at the bag and the money in your hand, "I thought this..person at-least knew me or liked him, turns out this person doesn't even care. I bet they hate me.." your voice came out meek and embarrassingly desperate, in your ears.

"Ah, and you feel embarrassed? Well, girl. I'm not surprised this person doesn't know you since you don't even know their gender," your grandpa said in an unimpressed tone, "Hah Yang Gwan-sik. Maybe he does care. He just—he doesn't know how to act. His halmeoni and eomma, both act like witches. His appa, he couldn't care less."

You winced when your hal-abeoji spoke his name. You weren't surprised your grandpa knew you so well, you and him spent majority of your time together. He took you to school and he used to bring you back until you were old enough to return home alone. He made your favourite foods, told stories of his love-story with your halmeoni.

He was your best-friend. In every way one could be a best-friend.

After a bit of silence, just sound of egg shell cracking and smell of soy-sauce and garlic and eggs stood around you. Your grandfather's voice cracked again over the news anchor, "Aiyah, go. Go walk or something, it's time for my show. You'll just blabber around." Your grandpa said, shooing you away.

You knew what he was trying to do, and you knew you needed to get out and maybe move on to get fresh air. You sighed, pulling your shoes on and hurried out. Your feet carrying you further away, outside your fresh house. You sighed, kicking stones as you walked lazily, hands clasped behind you. The sky was filled with clouds, it was snowing, barely, but snowing all the same. A very thin, nonuniform sheen of snow covered the stones and ground.

As you walked, you heard a few murmurs, "Government isn't going to take responsibility for punks and athletes. What is this nonsense?" You heard a girl asked with a laughing scoff, "You don't think the poem's nice? Rich girls have better things. It needs to be good." A voice, you knew so well. The same voice which roamed your mind was in your head..That was Gwan-sik's voice.

Hearing the voice, you softly decided to walk ahead, your foot took a step. But when it did, you hear a soft crunch. You'd definitely be heard. Knowing that, you bent down, pulling your shoes off and trying to calm yourself as your feet settled on the cold cobblestone layered with a in-uniform layer of snow. The cold piercing deeper than you expected it to.

But despite it, you and your feet moving before your brain could ask them not to. Following your heart to walk closer to the man you're in love with, even if he hates you. You held your shoes in one hand, taking careful steps as if trying to not make sounds despite the cold bleeding into the skin of your bare feet. Trying to follow the voice, you found yourself walking close to Dodong-rii pavilion.

As you gently peeked over, you found Ae-sun and Gwan-sik sitting on the steps of the entrance. Ae-sun holding a paper in her hands while Gwan-sik sat, a worried look on his face. Was he in trouble? Ae-sun didn't seem so impressed by whatever was on the paper, as her eyes scanned it. Gwan-sik again looked at her, the back of his head even radiated concern and nervousness.

"What's wrong? The poem can't be that bad, right?" he said softly, "It's not...bad—" Ae-sun tried to soften the blow, "It's just..Whatever." she said, folding the paper. Her eyes scanned the area a bit as if looking for a change in topic. You swore her eyes hit on you, but she didn't say anything nor did she react, so you hoped she didn't see you spying.

"You're going to just hand her the poem? That's what you're planning?" Ae-sun asked softly, eyes round and curious. Gwan-sik hummed, "They come to you every week and you hand them over to your halmeoni or eomma. I bet they hate you" Ae-sun snorted playfully.

"They're from a rich family, her hal-abeoji own a few boats and they're quite good. I can't play prince..." he said, voice slightly hoarse and cracky.

You paused, blinking a bit, your heart sinking to your stomach. Was he going to confess to a girl he liked?

"But they visit the market every week, you don't even bother helping her." Ae-sun pointed out. Gwan-sik sighed again, shaky and breathing out fog. You switched weight from one foot to another, the cold biting at your feet, you swore you'd gotten a frostbite. "Why? Why!? Do you like driving them away, you punk?" she asked, gently nudging him with her foot.

Gwan-sik didn't say anything, "You like them, right? You have to act like it. You have to be romantic, like a novel hero!" Ae-sun insisted, her voice loud and motivating Gwan-sik. "I'll write a poem to her on your behalf, but you gotta be nice to Y/N, you hear me? Otherwise Dragon King will eat you!" she said, as you froze in your spot..

Were they talking about you? Gwan-sik liked you? Oh, that's perfect! But if he likes you, then why did he act so..? So unapproachable, like he was irritated by your presence or perhaps bothered..

"Do you just know how to run your mouth?" Gwan-sik spoke up, even if his voice was fond, "It's embarrassing, to be with a fishmonger's son when they're rich. Why don't you fix the status first?" Gwan-sik said. Ae-sun snorted softly, folding the paper in pristine folds to attempt to make a swan.

"Why don't you ask them if it bothers you?" she said. Gwan-sik kept quiet, he always did. He was more of a listener, his responses came rarely, but when they did, they had power, "They LOVE you. Don't you see? You're starting to go blind too?" Ae-sun hummed.

"I'll stay blind as long as I don't have to see them loving someone else. I don't want to stand in their way." Gwan-sik said. "They're standing right there, why don't you get an answer?" Ae-sun said, nodding to where you were.

You froze, the cold became colder and it felt freezing as you hurriedly put on your shoes, stepping infront of them. Gwan-sik hurriedly stood up and stood straight, completely frozen, "Did you hear it all?"

"I made sure they'll hear it all. You act like a hero in pain." Ae-sun said, getting up and sighing in relief as if she got a workout done, handing Gwan-sik his poem back, "I'll head home first, see you~" she said in a chirrupy voice, waving to you as she walked off.

You turned to him, as he cleared his throat. "You look cold, were you standing there barefoot for so long?" he asked, worriedly. Offering you chicken skewer he got, but you stood frozen.

"I thought you hated me..Why..?" you asked, confused. Not hurt, no..You were bursting with excitement, but it was so overwhelming, it just wasn't coming up to the surface, pressure building in your gut. His hand gently held yours, pulling them up and handing the chicken skewer to you, to hopefully warm you up in any measly way he could.

"I didn't hate you. Talking to you is tough, my voice gets stuck in my throat like a fool's." Gwan-sik said as you scoffed a little, "Is it that tough? It's tough looking at you! You're... good-looking." you said, voice shy but with assurance. Pressure getting stronger and stronger..

"You could have talked to me. I wouldn't bite you or eat you. I'm just from a rich family, not from Dragon King's death servants." You whispered, "You really like me?" He asked, voice shaky. You took a bite of the chicken, it was nice. Salty.

"For few months now" You nodded, looking upto meet his eyes. His round eyes stared into yours, lovingly if hoping this wasn't some joke Ae-sun built up. You glanced down at his lips. Gwan-sik breathed in and out to calm his nerves, gently reaching out, but his hand paused midway and he pulled his hand back.

You don't know why fate was testing you and why destiny was being troublesome and crackling between you in the moment. The pressure was building more, it was threatening to burst out, as you tried to not smile like a kid, that would be kinda embarrassing, no?

you two could barely look each other in the eye, continuously glancing down or around. Eyes flitting for some way to fill the awkward silence and gap. The pressure of giddiness and happiness that feelings were reciprocated, despite the brash behavior was building more.

Till it broke, you and him could barely keep it together. But, it didn't matter much when the pressure burst out, both of you leaning close. The distance closed in abrupt manner to press your lips in a kiss. Gwan-sik's hands clenching by his side, nails digging in his palm so he wouldn't touch you.

Your hand very hesitantly touching the edge of his pocket, barely noticeable, fingers tightening till they were white around his maroon practice jacket. Kiss stiff, sloppy but filled with so much love..

You knew your eyes told everyone you met that you adored Gwan-sik; your grandpa, Ae-sun, perhaps even his own halmeoni with the way she stared sometimes when you visited their shop.

Gwan-sik's eyes all the while never left you, his eyes showed and told you that he wasn't letting go. Not now..Not when he hopefully had you for him. All for him.

© Mxkyu--e9e. I do not give permission to modify, translate, copy or repost ANY of my works. Reblogs are very much beloved!

And the haang-nuel fete for upcoming Jinhae Gunhangje — The cherry blossom festival — were popping up all around the cities, held by communities or even some government funded ones.

You gently plucked another another snail, putting it in your mouth, wind crisp and nice against your skin, but the sun was turning on that harshness, but it was still early morning so it wasn't too brash on your skin.

You looked down, admiring a tiny handloom dress with seashells stitched on it, a little admiration.

You wondered if Cheong-Seob's mother would like it.. He told you he'd introduce you to her one of these days, and you wanted to put on a good impression, you really did.

Silently you looked at it, wondering if it would fit or something, if not you wondered if you could keep it yourself and instead offer snacks, the bustling of customers around you, asking about objects and products a little white noise. The lady beside you, smell of sandalwood and rose strong from her, but also ignored in favour of your train of thoughts.

To get the dress for his mum or not and if his mother does not like it, could you keep it? It really was the most adorable one you've seen in a while. You were leaning towards not buying it. Yet your hand nonetheless reached out to stroke the shells anyway—

"Buying for your sister?" a voice asked.

The middle aged woman beside you with strong perfume of sandalwood and rose, round and soft and a kind smile as she looked at a few scarfs, skirts and dresses too.

You turned to her, wiping your free hand and closing the paper packet of snails to put it in your purse, before picking up the dress, "For my boyfriend's mother, actually." You mumbled softly.

The lady nodded in realisation, "Ah, nervous?" she asked, smiling at you as you nodded. Somehow middle-aged people knew everything, maybe cause they had stronger experiences..

"It's okay, I was so nervous meeting my mother-in-law, I vomited multiple times a day." the woman offered with that old understanding but cheeky grin you wished you could master so people would feel at ease. You chuckled softly,

"I eat a lot when I'm nervous" you hummed, looking the newspaper packet of snails, the woman laughed softly,

"Aigoo, you really are adorable. Your boyfriend is lucky-ah! I wish my boy had a girl like you. He's dating one, about to bring her around today!" The woman smiled, looking at another skirt you thought was adorable.

"Ah-Hm. You-You're not buying for your daughter?"

"For my boy's girl. Want to make sure she doesn't feel bad marrying my son and leaving her own family." The lady smiled,

"It's hard to suddenly leave your eomma's cooking just because you married a guy and then become his family's servant."

You smiled, that was a thought-process you wished Cheong-seob's mother had, understanding of the nervousness and to not just gain a daughter-in-law to serve her. Not just a breeding machine for her son. You dared to hope.

"You'll be a good mother-in-law to any girl. ANY girl would want someone like you.." You hummed softly, picking up the dress with shells and scourged for something else, jewellery or something.

The lady laughed gently, "Aiya, I'd want a daughter-in-law like you! My boy would do well with someone like you."

You smiled, picking up the dress and paying the money for it, "Say..What do girls your age like?" she asked softly, almost tenderly, a bit embarrassed but also determined to make good opinion on her future daughter-in-law.

You looked at her, folding the dress gently before smiling,

"If only you'd help me with jewellery my boyfriend's mother would like?"

"Deal," she hummed, picking out a few pieces of jade, pearl necklaces, earrings, dangly ones and small ones and glass.

And you picked out pretty skirts, short and long, scarves, sweaters, cardigans and all, something within budget but pretty enough. You smiled, handing them to her as she handed those to you.

"You're such a darling girl. You'd be just a good daughter-in-law one day! If your mother-in-law doesn't like you, call me! I'll beat her for you" the lady winked as you giggled, both of you paying for your stuff. You hoped it was all good enough.

"You like skewer chicken? I'll get you skewer chicken! It's like finding gold within stone to meet a darling girl like you." The lady hummed, pulling you despite your insistence that it wasn't needed.

The middle aged lady and a young girl formed a bond in a Jinhae Gunhangje fete while buying things for their future in-laws. Life gives you choices like that, you took it with glee of a girl wanting guidance...

A spring of new years and smiles, people are kinder.

After a bit, a bit of a tearful goodbye and somehow getting the lady's house telephone number on your old flip phone, you got a few art supplies and anything else you might've needed.

And before you knew it, you were rushing to meet up with Cheong Seob. He wanted to invite you to get ramen and meet his eomma today and you were left just rushing to the place you and him planned to meet.

He wanted to change it because it was on the opposite end and at quite a distance form the fete you were at, but you told him the best dishes were there even if it took more time and money to get there.

Your legs crunched over the pavement as you rushed, arms clutching a few plastic bags in your left hand and right forearm, your purse under your arm and a bottle of green tea in your right hand as you rushed. You were waving your hand to stop the bus to the street of that restaurant.

Your left hand somehow digging in your pockets to pull out a few coins as the bus screeched softly to a stop, puffing out smoke and dust as you pulled yourself up, putting the three to four coins in that slot and walking to sit in a seat silently, sighing in relief.

Placing the bags down, you cursed inwardly, pulling out your pocket mirror, wondering if you looked fine, your clothes weren't the most restaurant worthy, no..You'd never look dressed correctly.

Grumbling, you ran a hand through your hair to tame it, putting the shopping bags down on the floor of your single seater, zipping open your purse and putting in the bottle of green tea, the tiny packet of snails still there.

Sighing, you pulled out the only lipstick you currently had, it will have to do as you gently applied and all.

To be presentable with limited resources was hard, it wasn't too much as you got off the bus, only a few feet away Cheong-seob stood, rushing over to you as he took a few bags.

"Was it too much? You look so tired, ah-I told you we should've moved it. Eomma wouldn't mind!" he sighed, cupping your face and pushing back your hair, holding your hand in one of his own to gently rub it.

"Your eomma will think I'm a cheapskate, who wants an impression like that on their in-laws??" you clicked your tongue as Cheong-seob took the shopping bags, pulling you in the restaurant.

Face almost flushing, not just from hurrying here, but also from how under-dressed you felt in such a good restaurant. You looked down, hands awkwardly fixing your clothes as Cheong seob put down the things before noticing you.

"What's wrong? Feel bad? Eomma is a bit late, don't worry, okay?" he whispered softly, pushing back your hair,

"Feel under-dressed? It's okay! Eomma doesn't care!" he whispered, trying to assure you, but still dug into his own bag.

You clicked your tongue at his insistence, sighing softly and in relief that his mother wasn't here yet. But then again, it was like he is blind to how people act with those who have money and those who don't.

"Your eomma will tell you she doesn't care, she does! Every eomma care on how the girl dating his son looks like!"

"If you feel that bad, I brought your favourite and nice dress from your home, you can change in the restroom." He whispered, handing you the dress.

You looked up at him, confused, bewildered but thankful at him thinking ahead, "Who thinks like this?" You asked, holding the dress, ironed, pristine, clean and somewhat fancy. Your words made Cheong-seob sigh before he smiled sheepishly,

"You won't feel nice if you weren't pretty to your standards, I know. So I went home early to get you a dress you might want to wear. I'm sorry for getting you to meet my mum so abruptly, okay?" he whispered, tucking your hair behind your ear as you walked to the restroom.

By the time you had changed, Cheong-seob was on the phone as he turned to you, smiling brighter and feeling better now.

Sure, his reassurance was great and you looked amazing in the clothed you wore prior, but sometimes it's not reassurance what you need, it's a change..literally.

You were glad Cheong-seob knew that.

"Eomma is here, i'll bring here up here, okay? Relax. She'll love you" he whispered, gently pulling a chair for you to sit down. You sat down, putting your clothes you changed out of in his bag silently and putting the shopping bags aside.

"Better?" he smiled, pressing a kiss to your head, "You'll really do well as a future queen one day. Eomma wouldn't have enough of you, just relax." He assured, fixing your clothes for you, brushing off non-existent dirt.

he hummed, smiling against your head before he walked off. You could almost scoff at how enthusiastic he was about you meeting his mum. He was sure his eomma would love you and that his appa would too if he was still alive. But right now, his eomma was his biggest priority.

As you sat straight, mumbling a good formal, yet close greeting, but too close like you're family too. You can never be too careful—

"Darling girl??" a voice spoke as you immediately stood up, turning around to face Cheong-Seob's mother and bowed 90 degrees, eyes squeezed shut in nervousness, despite confusion before you stood straight and faced her.

The lady from the fete..

"Cheong-Seob-ah! You didn't tell me you were dating darling girl!" she claimed, gently hitting Cheong-Seob's shoulder as you blinked a few times, trying to process it all.

"Ma'am from the fete?"

"You know each other?" Cheong-seob asked smiling as he helped his mother sit before helping you sit down too as his mother smiled,

"Aigoo, this girl—She was just so sweet! She told me she wanted ANY GIRL would be lucky to have as a mother-in-law, such a sweet talker, hm?" his mother grinned at you as you confusedly but felt glad, that kindness you wanted was the one you exactly got.

Cheong-seob smiled, sitting beside you, his hand taking yours under the table and stroking the back of your hand with his thumb. Before the food was served, "That's nice that you met, it's like fate, yeah?" Cheong-seob smiled.

You hummed, as you all began eating. Your hand reached for the soups, looking for the bigger pieces of meat; crabs, lobsters, fish, anything in it. Anything that was better as you poured in a bowl, passing it to his mother.

Before you poured another bowl for Cheong-seob and then pouring leftover for yourself, not minding the measly bits because his mother deserved the niceties she got from your end. She got from putting in effort most wouldn't for wives of their sons.

His mother paused from her bowl of rice and stew, looking at you, before looking subtly, "You're not hungry?" she asked softly, wiping her mouth with a napkin as you looked up, "hm?" before realising her words as you smiled awkwardly.

"You must be hungrier form the fete this morning. It was sunny out, the sun was scorching and you were looking for gifts for me." you mumbled silently with a smile as Cheong-seob paused, hand tightening instinctively.

A tradition passing down tradition.

his mother sighed softly, "So, you must be hungry too!", "Not as much as you, Mrs. Park" you hummed, ladling some more soup to her with a satisfied hum.

Defying tradition was always legendary, especially when you're not left alone on a battlefield.

Cheong-seob hummed, "Eomma, were you busy?" he asked silently and subtly, pouring his soup gently back into the pot like he didn't want it—

"What are you doing?" you asked, but he didn't answer, giving you a soft look and fixing his suit's tie as he turned to his mother, as if waiting for an answer.

His mother paused, before regaining control and speaking, "Ah-..it was fine. A bit hefty, but okay!" she said as you tried to get him to eat his food and silently assure him that you'd ladle, he didn't budge.

His hand tightened around yours before letting go. He gently poured your bowl back in too before ladling the bigger pieces in your bowl, placing the somewhat leftover to his own. So you'd get the more meat and he'd get the more measly soup.

A choice you knew was correct when you knew his hand wouldn't leave yours

"You will be doing household work on top of your job?" His mother asked softly as you let go of Cheong-seob's sleeve, turning to her, "Ah-Hm..Yes."

"Don't work yourself to the bone like a cow, hm? He's an adult." she spoke softly, passing you a bowl of rice with a motherly smile, alongside the pieces of squid or anything that was good.

"He can cook, he has to cook and he has to clean and he has to care for you. Decide everything on nice settlement, even the marriage date." she hummed softly,

"Yes.."

"Scorched rice soup?" Cheong-seob whispered, as you stood up, not wanting him to ladle it. You had some responsibility as a daughter, didn't you?

"Mrs. Park, scorched rice soup?" you offered, but she shook her head, gently standing up and gently urging you to sit.

"Sit." She whispered, gently fixing your clothes and sitting you down. A tenseness you weren't sure should exist was in your spine as Cheong-seob gently pushed your bowl closer to his mother.

"Please, let me help-" you whispered with a small smile as his mother hummed gently, a smile of nostalgia or happiness, but mostly important of a mother who saw you as someone who should be seen just as much as a man.

"You must be precious to your parents like he is to me. They'll be heartbroken to give you away, be happy and nice with us, okay?" she whispered as you looked down, hands clenching on your dress as you nodded.

His mother smiled, ladling the soup and passing it close to you as Cheong-seob hesitantly lifted a spoonful upto your lips.

You subtly shook your head, not wanting him to be yelled on later but he subtly motioned again, one hand cradled a bit under the soup to catch the liquid and hesitantly, you opened your mouth, letting him feed you.

"Eat well, you're vanishing." he whispered and put the spoon back in the bowl. He again reached for your hand, holding it tight as his mother continued to ask you questions and dig deeper into both of you and your relationship.

In a little while, you were heading to the restroom as Cheong-seob sighed out, using his chopsticks and shovelling a large piece of meat in his mouth before he put them down.

Face unusually nervous and almost scared for his mother's reaction—

"You approve?" he asked softly as his mother looked at you and smiled softly, nodding as she ate a spoonful of rice.

"Who won't approve of such a darling girl? She's amazing. Yah, Cheong-Seob-ah, be nice to her, hm?"

© Mxkyu--e9e. I do not give permission to modify, translate, copy or repost ANY of my works. Reblogs are very much beloved!

Gwan-sik gently admired the newborn, gently stroking it's cheek with his hand before placing the newborn in the squat crib as Ae-sun rolled out the mattress, already warmed earlier with the tiny metal bowls kept with coals as you sat, sighing in relief—

"Does it hurt that much?" Ae-sun softly sat down as Gwan-sik hurriedly sits down, gently holding your feet in his lap, massaging them as he looked at you.

Your eyes watered, gown loose and scarf tight around to warm your ears and nose, as Ae-sun sighed, yawning softly. She had been the most excited, offered to take you the moment your water broke. Gwan-sik silently admired you, humming softly under his breath—

"you're strong.. Do you want something?" he asked gently, eyes slightly watering seeing your teary ones as he sighed out, gently rubbing his palms to warm them before he massaged your feet as you shook your head.

You just wanted sleep, desperate sleep. Apparently so did Ae-sun, since she shifted and fell asleep near the crib on the warmed mattress. Gwan-sik softly stood up, "You want water, food, anything..?" he asked softly, gently shifting to sit beside you.

He placed a hand on your back and the other on your tummy, now tender if you had to admit as he gently rubbed your back. You shook your head, as she shifted back, he placed two pillows under your head, softly letting you lay down,

"At-least eat something before sleeping." he urged gently, holding your hands as you turned, eyes bleary and hummed simply as he softly turned his head to admire the newborn, his hand gently fixing their shawls and blanket.

"Hm, he's right, you know?" A voice hummed as you and Gwan-sik turned to the door. For the first time in likely your entire life, you felt glad to see Gwan-sik's family.

His dad, tired as hell and utterly unimpressed that his mother and grandma woke him up tonight to see the newborn when they can see the kid tomorrow. His grandma hummed silently, sitting on the floor as his mum rolled her eyes.

"Eomma, halmeoni, Appa. What are you doing here? Don't make them uncomfortable again." Gwan-sik mumbled as his mother waved him off,

"You take care of their feelings so much.. Who's gonna take care of me?!" his mother grumbled as Gwan-sik nodded to his dad, "Appa is there. Complain to him." he mumbled as his mother sighed, standing up and glaring his dad before walking to the kitchen silently.

"Really should've raised dogs." She scoffed, pulling herself up to the kitchen to silently make something for you to eat.

"Eating is important after an affair such as child-birth"

His mother called from the kitchen, voice tough and stern but after Ae-sun and your rebellious nature to go against her and his grandma, she's used to it.

"Don't touch that Chonggak kimchi-no-ah!" you huffed, turning over as his mother scoffed, shutting the pot and shifting it, "Won't touch your precious kimchi, don't worry." she mumbled in a mocking voice, but didn't go against your wishes and let the kimchi ferment.

An almost tender solitude raised as you tiredly sat up, Gwan-sik putting down a huge pillow for you to not aggravate your pelvis as Gwan-sik's dad hummed silently in approval of the baby.

"Healthy?"

"Mhm."

You nodded softly to your father-in-law. Ae-sun smirked, gently pushing the crib so it'll swing slowly,

"You should've seen her scream in the hospital, it was like she got possessed by Dragon King and got ancestral worth of anger."

She smirked in your direction as you scoffed,

"It wasn't that bad!" you defended softly while Gwan-sik gently pushed back your hair, fixing and tucking it behind your ear before gently fixing your clothes.

"It was! You screamed so loud, I thought my ears were gonna burst!!"

Ae-sun motioned to her ears while talking to Gwan-sik's dad, like it was still ringing as you grumbled silently, but supposed Gwan-sik's grandma came to your rescue. While Gwan-sik's father, who was petting her head rhythmically alongside the baby's tummy like parents do to lull their children to sleep, nodded along to her.

He didn't smell like cigarettes anymore, so he must've put down his cigarettes a while back as he nodded to her talking. Ae-sun had become one of the Yangs, even if she was still an Oh.

"Ae-sun-ah, you never gave birth, don't bother them." Gwan-sik's grandma hummed, gently throwing beans at you as you sighed, world still felt so tiring.

"Can't you all keep quiet? It's so late at night." you mumbled silently as his mother scoffed from the kitchen. Gwan-sik rubbed your back gently, massaging as you sighed, rubbing your eyes as Ae-sun hummed, mumbling an apology.

"Did you purposefully needed to visit now?" You asked, softly stretching your shoulders. Gwan-sik hummed softly with a smile as he fixed the newborn's shawls gently before shifting and sitting beside you.

His grandmother gently putting on the tiny stove to warm some tangerines on it for you to eat. Gwan-sik knew you still weren't feeling great, it had only been a few hours since you left the hospital and yet here his family was, likely bothering you as they do.

"I tried to stop them, I really did." he assured you, round and bleary eyes as you sighed, waving him off in assurance you weren't mad at him,

"You stay holed up in the room anyway, so when were we going to see the new child of the Yangs?" his grandma called, softly cooing to the baby in the crib,

"I wasn't holed up in the hospital! I was trying to sleep. The baby doesn't even let me sleep!" you complained softly.

You turned to your husband, pointing at the newborn as if it was causing you personal problems as Gwan-sik smiled sweetly, gently tucking your hair and cupping your cheek,

"You should've told me, I would've taken the baby from you for a while, so you could sleep." He whispered with a smile as you pouted, almost childishly with your lower lip stuck out in disgruntlement.

"You coddle them a bit too much. They're not a child." his mother called form the kitchen, "They just gave birth, do you have to be so brash?" Gwan-sik asked softly.

His hands soft and the house warm. Smell of tangerines and miyeok-guk, cinnamon, milk and others. It was the moment of peace a family like yours, with people like in your family don't usually find.

With superstitions, beliefs, imagination and life taking quick turns without realisation of it befalling on everyone. Gwan-sik's grandma silently peels the cooked tangerines for you, which she usually would never do that, a special favour.

His mother in the kitchen, cooking for you and his father gently patting Ae-sun's back and the baby's tummy, comforting the two to sleep.

Promising and loss of dreams, this is what you never regretted leaving your dreams for. A moment of genuine peace as you smiled to your husband who smiled back,

"Are you happy?"

He asked in a whisper as you silently nodded, eyes shiny despite the soreness of birth, but alongside the gladness of a newborn in your life, to start a journey.

"So happy."

He smiles, gently pressing a kiss to your head. Gwan-sik stood up, noticing the smell of the food almost being done as he put down the little eating table infront of you before he walked back to the kitchen. His mother sighed, handing him different things to take—

"You're acting like they're glass. You will have more kids, won't you?" his mother scoffs, putting down two glasses of two different drinks for you. His grandma chuckled, peeling the tangerines.

Now on the table sat miyeok-guk, that seaweed soup, a small bowl of quail egg noodles, jujube tea in a crystal cup.

Alongside the tea was an empty metal glass one cup with milk, which smelt rich and silky and was made of cinnamon, star anise, a little bit of cardamom, sugar and stuff.

His mother shifted and sat down, putting down a tiny bowl of rice, banchans like marinated quail eggs (mechurial jangjorim), pickled radish, jorim, abalones and kimchi, very small amounts since eating sour was not recommended postpartum.

"Of-course they are. You can never get a moment with them after 9. Lights turn and they get 'busy', eh?" she smiled, looking at you with a glint in her eyes, before turning to the newborn.

And of-course, on the table now, there were a few pieces of the cooked tangerines which his grandma personally peeled for you.

His mother took the glass of milk and the empty metal cup, pouring all the milk into the empty metal cup before back into the original glass and repeating.

You remembered your father used to do that when you were tiny, sitting on the porch, the wind cold on your cheeks and smell of cabbages and kimchi from his shirt.

He would pour milk from one glass to another and back in the original to cool it down, before he would hand it to you, brushing back your hair.

You remembered it perfectly.

It was warm back then in Dodong-rii, in the familial sense. That didn't change now, because Gwan-sik didn't allow it to change.

"You want something else?" he asked softly, gently mixing the miyeok-guk before extending the spoonful to you.

You waited a few seconds before opening your mouth, shaking your head with a smile.

"Isn't it a bit much? We can't come to you right after 9 pm. Lights turn off and it gets loud. Get control over yourself, hm?" Ae-sun smirked silently, as she sleepily turned.

"no wonder this one came out and it's only been eight months into their marriage."

"The fertility goddess will be tired of visiting them with how 'busy' these two get."

You sighed, rolling your eyes but didn't deny it. It was a part of marriage and everyone already knew, so why hide.

"I was bothering him and wanted to be 'busy', don't taunt him." you grumbled, "Who doesn't want to be 'busy' when their husband is so nice?"

Gwan-sik smiled softly, trying not to show his giddiness as his mother scoffed, "So shameless for what?"

"Why are you surprised? They're both no worse than the other." his father hummed, gently rubbing Ae-sun's back as he silently turned the tangerines using a pair of chopsticks as his mother peeled eggs to put in your miyeok-guk, an extra egg.

"Starting to like me, are you?" you asked with a grin to your mother-in-law who scoffed, "it's just for the grandchild!"

You pouted at her excuse of caring for you, only leading to the newborn you birthed. You knew she was just being petty and toug-love and all, but you could be just as petty, can't you—

"Why? Hye-ju's mother-in-law cares for her. Why can't you be like her??" you asked as Gwan-sik gently blew on the spoon, feeding you the miyeok-guk as you sipped the jujube tea silently. His mother looked up at you with a almost disgusted look as his father silently smiled.

"Hye-ju's mother-in-law? That lazy woman who naps all day? You want me to be like and leave all work to you and then care for you??"

she scoffed, gently pouring the milk from one glass to another to cool it down enough for you, "Never. A woman doesn't behave like that— she keeps things in order in the house"

Gwan-sik silently fed you another spoonful as you sipped the jujube tea to wash it down silently. "Y/N-ah, don't get ahead of it. She already likes you." his father hummed silently.

"Of-course she likes me, I gave her grandchild and i bring good-luck from Dragon King, don't I?? Who could hate if their in-law was someone like that??" you scoffed with a grin, as you silently ate the warm tangerine.

Not the best texture or taste, fruit shouldn't be hot. But you chose to swallow it down because it meant to bring health-benefits and besides his grandma peeled them personally, it's obvious they were starting to have a soft spot for you.

And in that one night, of that spring. Yangs were there to welcome the new addition, alongside care of the one who brought the new one.

You chewed slowly, watching the steam rise from your bowl and the way Gwan-sik’s fingers brushed yours as he passed you chopsticks again.

Maybe they’d never be genuine soft words or sweet phrases from his mother or grandma, or even his dad...

But this?

The kimchi saved from being eaten (barely), the noodles warmed twice over, the tangerines roasted slow like old folk remedies…

This was love—in Jeju dialect and stone walls and scolding voices that stayed long after dark.

© Mxkyu--e9e. I do not give permission to modify, translate, copy or repost ANY of my works. Reblogs are very much beloved!

Though Ae-sun wasn't close with you, she smiled greeting you with a bow as you returned it with as smile as your relatives sat down besides Ae-sun's uncle's family to talk, leaving you and Ae-sun to your own devices.

Yet you both talked a bit—

"Ah- poetry..? It fits you, you're amazing!" you smile brightly, reading one of her poems as you both walked together as Ae-sun smiled, "You're doing well in school too, I heard." she said. The hint of awkwardness still strong in the air as you nodded.

You both talked, hummed softly. As you walked, the smell of dried tangerines and sea strong in the air as the pebbles crunched under your shoe while you both talked. Fashion, stories, poems, studies, Busan, Seoul and your city and foods, you and her talked about it all.

You both walked, the dirt road and stones under your feet changing into algae and moss covered stones and rocks which she helped you skip softly and walk on them,

"Yah— Ae sun-ah!" Choi Yang-im called, waving the girl over as Ae-sun pulled you with her.

The ladies were distributing the abelones silently but smiled at Ae-sun's presence, the boy— who you learn was Yang Gwan-sik, sitting beside them looking through the stuff as Ae-sun introduced you to the ladies.

All of whom cooed softly to you just like they do with Ae-sun, gently holding your chin and admiring your face, "Ah, such a youthful face! Adorable friends you got, ah?" the women told Ae-sun who grinned and gently nudged you.

Ae-sun smiles, as she motioned to Gwan-sik and when he didn't reply, she gently kicked his back, "Oi! Answer and greet her." she scoffed as Gwan-sik stood up, wiping his hands multiple times on his maroon jacket. Hoping they weren't sweaty, smelly or too rough.

He extended it with a little bow as you smiled, introductions passed as the Haenyeo women snickered and smirked, admiring how Gwan-sik got nervous.

His hand gently brushed the stone where you were supposed to sit, putting down his jacket to make it slightly more comfy for you as you mumbled a quick 'Thank you! You didn't need to do that' as Ae-sun scoffed, sitting down on the bare stone chewing on a tree-gum fruit.

She joined the haenyeo women in watching Gwan-sik pamper you in ways men never did.

She could already feel him falling in love pathetically..And Ae-sun was glad for her best-friend.

"Dried tangerines? Seriously..?" Ae-sun asked, looking at the dried tangerines and the leaves hung up in his house as she plucked on off the strings to chew on.

"He's becoming a dog to his future spouse, ah.." Gwan-sik's grandma said with an amused grin, throwing red beans as Ae-sun, who sat down when his grandma pulled her close and took the tangerine back, instead feeding her some marinated eggs.

"He wants to make sure the house doesn't smell of fish.. God, even dogs don't disrespect family like this..." Gwan-sik's mother scoffed, exasperated. His mother continued to mix the spices and paste into the vegetables, making a brand new, fresh batch of Chonggak kimchi just for dinner with YOU. before you left

Ae-sun nonetheless took in a deep breath, the house didn't, in fact, smell like fish or marinated eggs today. Instead it smelt of earthy, sea-salty, soil after rain and tangerines in a subtly way, but the tiny itchy but nice smell of spices from kimchi mixed in...

Gwan-sik sighed, still continuing to wipe the floors with a concoction of tangerine soaked leaves, rose petals and some cleaner wiping the floors with his hand.

Ae-sun had somehow gotten up to ask you and your family for dinner over at the Yangs, who she considered her 'second family' and your family agreed.

Ae-sun felt far more welcome here than at her uncle's, if she admitted. Though Gwan-sik's grandma threw red beans at her and his mum gave taunts but his dad got her gifts or treats some days and Ae-sun could return Gwan-sik's mother's sass back to her and she wrote poems for Gwan-sik's grandma..

She was already considered a 'sister' and she felt like you'd fit in the family perfectly!

Gwan-sik's mother grumbled, squatting as she worked to mix the spices and shove the done kimchi in a jar to ferment somewhat until dinner time as Gwan-sik wiped the dinner table and sighed.

He felt his hands smelled weird too, he hadn't felt this self-conscious before..but he wanted to look handsome for you..In your eyes. Ae-sun hummed, silently picking off another tangerine which fell into the chilli paste as Gwan-sik's ma groaned,

"Aiyah-girl. I told you-tch.. Be careful..!" she sighed, picking the dried tangerine out and wiped it the best she could with her kimchi covered hands before handing it back to Ae-sun.

Ae-sun grumbled at the spice that now coated the sun-dried tangerines, huffing. Gwan-sik smiled, gently taking the tangerines and wiping it off gently with his own fingers into the bowl. He pulled off a piece, popping it in his mouth and handed it back to Ae-sun as she took a bite, the hesitance melted away instantly..

It was sweet, a bit sour as the always are..but just the tinge of spice.. Who knew tangerines spiced well? Gwan-sik's smile did agree..

Gwan-sik followed you softly as you ranted in annoyance about your parents and relatives setting you up with just about ANY men they deem is doing the bare minimum..

As you both walked in the canola fields, the yellow spreading into a soft, pale moonlight as you sighed, holding a stupid flower you were sure the man plucked from a street side where a dog likely peed.

"And he thinks getting me a single flower—" you grumbled, throwing the flower, "—and then dumping his kids to let me get used to them is romantic or something..?!"

Gwan-sik sighed, taking in a deep breath, "God, I would NEVER marry a men like that! NEVER..men from Jeju are always so self-absorbed!" you huffed, not realizing what you spouted from anger you felt as Gwan-sik walked, his hands clammy with nervousness—

"I could just ever loo-, "Ya-! Quit your yapping for a little bit, why don't you?!" Gwan-sik snapped, making you flinch in slight surprise as even he didn't realize as he began speaking,

"You keep spitting nonsense over and over and I can't even process any of it!" Gwan-sik gently grabbed your wrist, pushing back her hair, "A brat like you, spoiled and pampered from the mainland, keeps being sweet and nice to me."

Gwan-sik's eyes fell on the bracelets and tiny accessory you always got for him, his heart faster and his mind blanker than he expected,

"Smothering me with gifts and all, you make me want to keep you around me all the time!" he took in a breath, freezing, a soft whisper of devotion on his tongue,

"Why do I love you so much..?"

"Because I love you even more!"

Gwan-sik doesn't realize the moment stop. The smell of overwhelmingly sweet canola flowers, yellow and bright, but unable to live up to your smile or your eyes.

Gwan-sik knew he entwined himself with you in that moment as he ranted, in a place where no one, only you and the stars heard his words. Clear and aviothic in your mind, you both fell deeper into the embraces of stars, the canola flowers and night, hoping to keep each other as close as you possibly could before life returned to pull you back into the main land..

A soft kiss of devotion on your lips, your hand holding his wrist and the collar of his shirt, trembling in delight, the contentment of holding each other even if for a little while you're here.

The clumsy, the sweet and innocence yet laboured ease of your youth in his arms, the star of dodong-rii, rare and beautiful. His hands reverently letting you hold his collar crudely, knuckles white while holding the hem of his shirt as to not keep you tight against him, falling against the soil to spend a night.. The dragon King would promise to leave you together even apart in distance.

The taste of dried tangerines with the kimchi's sour spiciness was the taste of remembrance you know you wouldn't forget..

Your feet trembled, hand trying to straighten his letters to you..the ink browned and pink from the time it weathered in your warm palms, stepping off the boat from mainland to Jeju, Dodong-rii welcomed you with it's signature soil after rain, salty, fishy but fruity scent..

It left you on the dock, alone with a bag, a bunch of letters tied, a few opportunities to introduce to people and fear of things not being the same..You could almost feel the time freeze.

Wondering if The Dragon King Gwan-sik's grandma talked about left him destined with another far sweeter, the one to care longer and the one to pamper him more.. As you're left on the sidelines as a sweet fleeting moment he couldn't help but pay attention to then but ignore now.

Your eyes nervously scan the place, were things too late? Were you too late?

Your worries of being completely alone are erased as you're tackled tightly into a hug by a whirl-wind of Ae-sun, followed by Gwan-sik's mother who ran after her, panting.

Ae-sun's arms were warm and smelt a bit of dust, canola flowers, cabbages and fried fish she used to eat all the time.. The moment took you back to youth as Gwan-sik's mother sighed, her hands on her lower back in the usual motherly fashion,

"Ah-..girl..You're here." she sighed, almost exasperate and apprehensive but Ae-sun nudged the woman who gives a smile as you bow, nodding softly.

You're pulled with Ae-sun pulling your ags despite your insistence you could handle it..your worry in your pit stronger but lighter now as you talked about how life was, which college you were choosing and all.

Your hand clutching a part of life you wished to finally fulfill as you walked. Ae-sun put your bags down at her house, her stepmother greeting you with a small smile, the same snarky one she gave before as Ae-sun motioned for her to tend to her baby rather than you right now..

It leaves you with hours to spare, Ae-sun chooses to take them up wholeheartedly with brightness you missed in her, taking you to parts of island you remembered like a dream.

Being cooed at by the haenyeo women trio; Park Chung-su, Choi Yang-im and Hong Gyeong-ja, the soft pathways between the greenery and nature, the large tangerine trees and the large field of canola field.. Well into the evening you enjoy.

When you finally get home, Ae-sun's mattress laid out in with you, her step-parents, newborn step sibling and half-siblings in the other, soft muffling crying which calmed every few hours and then softly continued, followed by humming..

It's only in the midnight, you softly creeped out, sitting outside and somehow plucked off a tangerine from the tree in her front yard, the branches of which drew into the neighbor's yard.

You getly walked out, wrapping your shawl deeper as you hummed softly, hoping to find yourself leaning against the stone boundary or sitting against them and peeling the tangerine in your hand, watching the moon, hearing the sea crash against the sand and the wind howling softly..

It's only when you get a few feet away did you find the figure you so desperately missed— the reason you bothered to be bold here again, Gwan-sik..

The moment he sees you, he stand straight, brushing his clothes and fixes his hair rapidly as if waiting inspection for being imperfect as you froze, and you had no idea why as your mouth spoke,

"I have all your letters safe."

"...Really..?"

"...Yes."

Gwan-sik's face lit up with a small smile as you took a few steps ahead, already chewing on a slice of tangerine before you put the fruit down on the stone wall as Gwan-sik looked down on you.

His voice catching in his throat as his hands itched to touch you, as his eyes glossed over with memories and tears to hold you close, the nights he missed your presence, the times he had Ae-sun re-read his letters to make sure he didn't make mistakes.

He felt his lip quiver as your hand gently reached for his, a soft smile on your lips—

"Did you get a girl?" You asked, nervousness so strong you could scream into the night in despair of losing him.

But all the while, his glossy eyes stared into yours, ready to demand stars to shine brighter or fade into nothing if you so wished. He shook his head, heart pounding faster and louder and he could breath out in relief as you smiled.

Oh that smile—!

His hand gently took yours, causing you to freeze not that it stopped him as he pushed back your hair with his other hand, still rough and calloused but smelled soft of rose water..which you wondered if it was real, you figured it wasn't..

The realness wasn't always pretty, but it was raw and it was vulnerable and that took time and you'd wait for it if it meant he was always yours. You sighed out with happiness, unable to express more than—

"I missed you." you said, but that word held a stronger 'I love you' than the sonnets of Ae-sun's books, stronger than love of fairy-tales Gwan-sik's mother read to Gyeong-ok these days...

Stronger..than the worry you could feel for the future as Gwan-sik softly nodded, tears slipping down as he grabbed you in a tight hug as you hugged back tighter.

The wind cold, but his arms warm as you gently pulled back, looking up as you softly held his face, wiping the tears off with the tips of your finger. and kissed soft..

Not clumsy as the one in the canola fields nor less loved than it either..But stronger in love, in desire and in passion to keep you around for longer. The taste of tangerine in your mouth mixed with the spice of food like it always did, the similarity which kept you comforted in Gwan-sik's absence..

Who knew dried tangerines spices nicely..? Your love did..

© Mxkyu--e9e. I do not give permission to modify, translate, copy or repost ANY of my works. Reblogs are very much beloved!

Gwan-sik watched silently, he never talked much but he noticed, atleast when he wanted to notice. His eyes falling on a figure, covering their head by their arm and running to hide under the shed of the bookstore owned by some old woman.

His eyes dilated and a single second felt like a whole hour as he watched the figure holding a book tightly to their chest as if protecting it from all horrors of the world; mud, rain, stones or North Korean spies from the ceiling.

You— Oh, you..

What else was there to say about you? He's seen you fair few times, but always at a distance and never close enough. You didn't know him, that's for sure and he didn't know you, not as well atleast. And what way did he have to befriend you..?

Gwan-sik shivered and he himself took a bit of a shelter under a random bus stop shed, eyes still boring in you to admire you. You stood a few meters off, unattainably close. Yet so far.. It was like admiring a dream.

He had no idea what he would have said or done if he did end up talking to you. He had found himself in a way where he, first the first time, couldn't have a way to talk to someone. You weren't close with Ae-sun, she barely knew you.

And he isn't sure he'd ever step into a bookstore, the owner knew you because of how often you visited, even helping them with fixing the shelves, telling them recommendations about books they should have, etc.

He didn't have an idea what pulled him to you, he was just a fishmonger's son and really he wasn't that bright or studious. You were pretty studious from what Ae-sun told him whenever he asked about you. His eyes scanned you silently, a little mesmerisation as you leaned against the side wall, hidden under the shed, not wanting to enter the store while wet.

He has no idea what really brings him to you. And he doesn't like it, because he knows you're kinda unattainable to him too. Even if he wanted, what can he say to impress you? He barely knows you.

Gwan-sik's days pass with fruition, as he sits beside Ae-sun who had won the writing competition with you second place. He sat with her on the pavilion stone steps as she stared at his poem.

Before he can reply to her, she snatched his paper and sighs, "I should write to the ministry" Ae-sun grumbled a bit, "They need to make athletes study too. Will they take responsibility for this kid's life???" she complained.

But looked down and read the messy and sort of ugly, blocky hand-writing on the checked paper—

"SPRING BREEZE. MY WIND GOES WHOOSH MY HEART GOES BOO-HOO"

Ae-sun read with an exasperated look, eyes shutting for a little while in grief of whatever she read as she held the paper, one hand holding the books on her lap and the other holding the paper. Ae-sun's forehead silently leans against the side of her wrist of the hand holding the paper before she looks at the paper again.

“…I’m so upset, seriously.” Ae-sun shake the paper gently for her emphasis, frowning at the little sketch at the bottom. “Erase the moth. Why did you draw it here?”

“It’s a butterfly,” he says without missing a beat.

"Butterfly..? Seriously..." she sighed, leaning back in dramatic exaggeration before she hears a soft call, "Ae sun-ah!" she sits straight and proper, blinking her eyes to look who is calling him.

You waved brightly, a simple smile, not too smug about being number two neither disappointed nor was your smile far too friendly or excited to see her. You barely knew the girl, for hell's sake.

Ae-sun waved back, "Congratulations on winning, yeah?" you smiled, nodding your head as she smiled, "You won second place, flex a bit on everyone." she said with her cheeky grin, resting Gwan-sik's paper on her lap as you smiled back, gently hitting her shoulder.

"You make friends like this with everyone?" you asked, as you and Ae-sun talk about how the competition actually went. Gwan-sik looked up, his hands on his lap, clenching around his black trousers, eyes blinking as his tongue lightly licked his lips with how mesmerised he was by you.

He didn't know why, but he was glad he got to see you so close up.

"Is that your draft..?" You asked, motioning to the paper in Ae-sun's lap as she looked down at Gwan-sik's writing, letting out a little disbelief laugh in a bit of embarrassment,

"No..No, not mine. It's his." she motioned to Gwan-sik who gave a soft and polite smile as you looked at him, gently reaching your hand down to silently ask 'Can I read?' as Ae-sun extended it to you.

You read the lines.

"SPRING BREEZE. THE WIND GOES WHOOSH MY HEART GOES BOO-HOO"

and you re-read and re-read. And you re-read a few times till you're sure you've memorised the two lines Gwan-sik wrote and it was weirdly endearing.

"Hey.." you said, pausing before looking up, "Can I keep it..?" you asked softly as Ae-sun stared confused and Gwan-sik's eyes widened slightly, but an almost glad smile arose on his lips,

"Why..?!" Ae-sun asked, confused and worried, "I don't know, it's really cute." you said, giggling and re-reading the lines. Gwan-sik smiled, "Keep it."

You thanked him, gently folding the sheet and putting it in your folder with your own poem which earned you the second place in the competition after Ae-sun.

Gwan-sik smiles sweetly as he and Ae-sun wave at you as you turned to leave the grounds to get home.

And when Gwan-sik and Ae-sun began walking together to get home, Gwan-sik stops at your bookshop to peer in for a few minutes, to pick up the book you're always reading and buy it silently as Ae-sun sighs.

"You won't even read it!" she said softly, scoffing, "it only costs like a 80 hwan or something." Gwan-sik mumbled softly, as Ae-sun nods. To Gwan-sik you still feel away, like a dream land being who doesn't deserve to be in Jeju, where cows are treated better than women like you.

Gwan-sik goes to school everyday, watches you run down with your gaggle of friends to your class right before classes start, watches you read books and then go to the bookstore to read the books there for the 80 hwan your parents gave you.

His eyes always admire you more than they should, more than it should be allowed and more than it is platonic or simple admiration. He doesn't talk to you, can't talk to you. You don't know him, barely know him. Ae-sun doesn't know you enough to call herself your 'friend' or something.

Gwan-sik's admiration spans a few more months. A few months of admiring you, of being entranced by you and of silently loving you even if you had no idea.

Now, Gwan-sik stuck in the school building, he'd been practicing his athletics for a competition and Ae-sun didn't come to school because she was sick, leaving him to do his extra classes alone and now he was stuck half-alone in the school with rain heavy in the middle-late afternoon.

His eyes scanned the grey skies, similar to usual in Dodong-rii's choppy oceans and coastlines. The rain heavy and smell of soil around the air, he tapped his foot, sitting at the school's inner entrance on a bench, waiting for the rain to subside or something.

He waited, till his back straightened when he heard foot-steps, he didn't know why but his gut told him to do so with his hands tightly clutched on his lap, clutching his maroon trousers in his calloused hands.

The person walked and stood right beside him, also noticing the rain and sighing tiredly, also slightly tired and just wanting to go home but likely forgot the umbrella or something.

You..You silently shoved your pencil box in your bag as you looked ahead, Gwan-sik turned and silently admired you and you matched his eyes and breaths hitched—

"A-ah..Yang Gwan-sik." You smiled awkwardly, waving to him as he smiled back, waving to you too,

"Working late for clubs?", "mhm."

Gwan-sik hums silently as you silently sat on the bench, beside him as both of you watched the rain for a while. Silence was awkward, but comforting as Gwan-sik watched the sky. His foot slightly bruised from his athletics, but it didn't hurt, more so just sore as he silently admire your presence without even looking at you.

"Gwan-sik-ah.. D-..uh.." you cleared your throat, not sure how to get words out as Gwan-sik turned to look at you. Your eyes looked right at his, in a way which felt a bit too familiar, but also kinda distant as if desiring something unattainable.

The silence of desiring something that felt too far off, but mesmerised all the same. With the opposite interest to keep the other curious and guessing, neither of you had any idea how to proceed or if you were reading a bit too into the lines as the studious kid you were.

Gwan-sik looked down, your folder in your lap, his poem on top with a gently marking of pencil. His name in your writing, delicate and clear and very abundantly loved, heart around it to know. Underneath the paper, he could read another poem, labelled by his name too, the admiration you kept concealed with stoic looks, but showed off to your books and stationary in fancy, linear words.

In metaphors and imagery you couldn't imagine becoming true, until dreaming was strong. His eyes leaned to you, admiring you and maybe, he wouldn't mind being forward for once. If he had known prior, would he have given the chance to put himself to love more?

"..Uh..there is a rice-snack shop down the dodong-rii market road, you want to go there after?" he asked softly, not sure what else to say as you looked at him. It was awkward, it was weird..but it was something.

And you nodded, "Yeah.." because you knew. Love comes slow, but destiny is a stubborn thing who refuses to let you be alone and you inched your finger close to Gwan-sik, pinkies intertwining gently, as if to convey something words and metaphors and gazes tried, but couldn't.

Not really.

You want to be closer to him, to know him more than just the guy who does athletics, hangs around Ae-sun and smiles like the sun or rain or snow brings him joy all the same and so does he. He wants to know you more than the studious kid, the girl from the bookstore and so, he agrees with a smile.

© Mxkyu--e9e. I do not give permission to modify, translate, copy or repost ANY of my works. Reblogs are very much beloved!