Chapter Text
Chapter 27
Leaving the shelter of the cove, Jimin lead you along the shore towards a boardwalk amusement park you could just make out in the distance.
Seeing your reaction to the zip line and the massive Ferris wheel towering over the other structures, Jimin gave your hand a squeeze.
"Before you get anxious, you should know that I have absolutely no plans of us riding either of those monstrosities."
"Oh, thank you," you said, releasing the breath you hadn't even realized you'd been holding.
"No thanks needed. I'm not a fan of that kind of thing. The others found that out the hard way."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean for our very first group date the guys took Tae and I to Lotte World Amusement Park. I wanted so badly to make a good impression that I agreed to go on the first ride we came to. Big mistake. Huge."
"Why? What was it?"
"It was one of those horrible swinging pirate ship things," said Jimin, shivering at the memory.
"I'm guessing from your reaction that the ride didn't make you want to unleash your inner Jack Sparrow?"
"Hardly," laughed Jimin. "While alternating between screeching like a banshee and trying not to throw up, I gripped Tae-ah's hand so tight I almost broke his fingers. The only thing that saved me from total humiliation was the fact that Yoongi-hyung screamed almost as loud as I did and Hobi-hyung actually passed out."
"Oh, no! Was everyone okay?"
"Yeah. We were fine once the ride stopped."
"That's good. What about the other four?"
"Well, unsurprisingly it turns out TaeTae and Kookie loved it. They wanted to get right back in line to ride the damn thing again."
Shaking his head, Jimin stopped to pick up a small sand dollar as you said, "I can see that. What about Joonie and Doc?"
"Eh. They can take it or leave that stuff. I mean, neither of them are going to rush to stand in line for the privilege of riding but they'll happily join the others if asked."
The sand dollar must have met his approval because he deposited into the mesh bag with the other items you'd collected for TaeHyung.
"Anyway - once we disembarked the ride and revived Hobi-hyung, it was determined that we'd split into two groups for a while, which actually worked out really well. After a couple of hours we met back up for a meal then spent the rest of the day sharing our experiences and riding the rides we all found enjoyable."
"Sounds like a really nice date - all things considered, that is."
Smiling brightly, Jimin took your hand again.
"You know? It really was."
Continuing on towards the boardwalk, Jimin shared more funny stories of the early days of the group as you both collected more seashells and took more photos, including a few of a sand sculpture in the shape of a cat to send to Yoongi.
Finally arriving at your destination, Jimin made a beeline for small building housing multitude rows of faded purple rental lockers available for storing your things during the day.
Weaving your way through a group of children prancing about to the upbeat marching band music being piped through the overhead loudspeakers, Jimin waved to the young man minding the counter.
"Hello, Yeonjun-ah!"
"Hello, Jimin-ssi! Were the buckets still where I left them?"
"Yep!" exclaimed Jimin, raising the objects in question in triumph. "You did a great job! Thank you so much for your help! Don't tell the others but you are my favorite."
"Of course I am! Who else would be?" laughed Yeonjun. "Just put them on the counter while I grab my signup sheet!"
As he darted behind a bank of lockers you whispered in Jimin's ear, "He looks really young. Is he old enough to work here?"
"Yah! He's older than he looks. And besides being quite the young entrepreneur he's also extremely street smart. Skills that he learned from his halmeoni, the formidable Kim HaeSook."
Jimin grinned as he placed the plastic buckets on the counter.
"She's a tough old bird but she makes the best ice cream you've ever tasted. I'll introduce you to her later."
Just then the boy returned holding a wooden clipboard.
"Jimin-ssi? How many lockers will you be needing today?"
"Just one please, Yeonjun-ah."
Placing the duffle bag he'd been carrying onto the counter next to the buckets, Jimin opened it and removed his wallet, phone, the sunscreen and a shirt along with a small day pack.
Slipping the shirt over his head, he then placed the wallet, phone and sunscreen into the day pack for easier carrying, clipping the small mesh bag you'd been using to keep the shells and other items you'd been collecting onto the day pack with a metal carabiner.
"In case we find some more stuff for Tae-ah," he explained, handing the duffle bag and its remaining contents over to Yeonjun for safekeeping.
"One locker it is!" the boy chirped, placing the bag in a locker directly behind him, making sure it was locked securely before removing the key.
"There you go. All safe. Now, do you want one set of keys or two, Jimin-ssi?"
"Well, since I don't plan on letting this beautiful lady out of my sight while we're here, I think one will be sufficient, Yeonjun-ah."
"One it is. But just to be safe..."
Reaching into his pocket, the boy pulled out a long leather cord, which he threaded through the key, looping it around to form a lanyard that he offered to you with both hands and a polite bow.
"You should wear it around your neck instead of putting in your pocket or in a bag," he said. "People don't always notice a pickpocket or someone rifling through their bag but you'd for sure feel someone reaching for your neck. For extra security you should tuck it under your shirt. That way no one can see it."
As you followed his instructions, Yeonjun winked at Jimin and added, "Well, almost no one."
"Yah! Yeonjun-ah!" fussed Jimin, leaning across the counter to try and ruffle the boy's hair. "What would your brothers say if they heard you talk like that!"
"Yah! Jimin-ssi!" laughed Yeonjun, managing to duck out of the way just in time to save his carefully styled hair. "Where you think I pick these things from in the first place?"
"Aish! Kids today!" sighed Jimin. "Speaking of your brothers, we'll be stopping by your grandmother's shop later. Maybe we'll see the rest of you there?"
"If everyone turns up on time for their shifts, you probably will."
"Then we'll definitely see them," said Jimin. "They're always on time."
The boy rolled his eyes as he shook his head.
"For you, maybe. For me, not so much."
"Perhaps if you showed your brothers some respect, they'd be as punctual for you as they are for me," teased Jimin.
"Maybe," shrugged Yeonjun, picking up his clipboard as a young woman with two small children in strollers approached. "But where's the fun in that?"
With a cheerful wave and promises of talking more later, Jimin slung the day pack across his chest and began guiding you down the worn and weathered planks of the boardwalk, past a mural depicting many forms of local sea life as adorable cartoon characters.
As he had you pose next to the figure of a gigantic crab dressed as a jaunty sea captain, you asked, "So...how many brothers does your young friend have?"
"Five," said Jimin, as he posted the photo to the group chat. "They all work here in one capacity or another, so I'm sure you'll meet at least some of them before we leave today. But first let's get something to eat then I'll show you around!"
Taking your hand he pulled you over to a busy food cart sitting under a large, faded beach umbrella. Next to it stood a foldable sign weighted down with sand bags, with the words Fresh Tteok and Cheese handwritten in chalk.
If the delectable aroma was anything to go by, there was good reason for the line of people waiting to be served. You thought you'd be standing for a while but the middle aged woman in charge was quick and efficient and in no time at all Jimin was pulling out his wallet, bowing politely as he placed his order.
"Greetings, Youngsil-ssi! May I have two large skewers please?"
"Of course, Jimin-ssi! It's so lovely to see you!"
"And you as well, Youngsil-ssi!" he said, handing over the money with both hands before accepting the food from her. "Is your husband in his usual spot today?"
"That he is, Jimin-ssi!"
"Excellent!" said Jimin, bowing once again. "We'll see him later and make this a family affair!"
"Thank you! A pleasure as always, Jimin-ssi!" smiled the woman as she motioned for the next customer to step forward.
"Ah, the pleasure is all mine, Youngsil-ssi!"
Jimin gave the woman a friendly wave before handing you one of the skewers loaded with grilled cheese and fried rice cakes.
"Wow!" you said, blowing on the piping hot food. "You seem to know everyone here, Cap. I take it you're a frequent visitor?"
"Yeah. I like this place. It makes me happy. And the folks who work here are all good, honest people."
As he took a big bite of his tteok, the smile on his face and the warmth in his eyes touched your heart, instantly sparking a fondness for this place in you as well.
"Come on," he said, looping his free arm through yours. "I'll give you the tour while we eat."
Strolling down the boardwalk, the first area you passed was a busy row of booths filled with carnival games.
"We'll skip that", said Jimin. "You've already done that with Kookie and while I'm good, I'm no match for him when it comes to that stuff."
Next was a dedicated children's area, where kids below a certain height could slide down giant inflatable slides and enjoy rides scaled to their size as parents stood close by, waving and taking pictures.
Passing the tiny bumper cars, Jimin said, "They have an adult sized version of that at Lotte World. It's the only kind of car Joon-hyung is allowed to drive."
"Yah! You guys are so mean to him!" you said, poking him gently with your now empty skewer.
"Oh, trust me, Noona! It's like his cooking. While I love hyung more than life itself, I can honestly say that the world is a safer place if he doesn't drive in it."
Taking the now empty skewer from you, Jimin deposited both yours and his into the large metal trash can before excitedly pointing to a large covered pavilion with open sides located just off to your left.
"Ah! This is one of my favorite things here!"
Grabbing your hand he began pulling you towards what you quickly realized was a roller skating rink. As you approached the railing, you spotted a young man roughly the same age as Yeonjun standing behind the skate rental counter waving at the two of you.
"Jimin-ssi!"
Reaching the counter, Jimin greeted the young man warmly.
"Beogmyu -ah! We just saw your brother!"
"Really? Which one?"
"Yeonjun-ah," said Jimin.
"Aish. I'm sorry," the young man jokingly sighed. "I hope he didn't give you too many problems."
"None at all," you said. "He was very helpful and polite."
"Really?" laughed Beogmyu. "Are you sure that was my brother? That doesn't sound like the Yeonjun I know."
"That's funny," grinned Jimin. 'He said something very similar about the rest of you."
"Yeah. It's a brother thing," shrugged Beogmyu. "So, Jimin-ssi? Are you and this lovely lady skating today?"
"I'm not sure," said Jimin, turning to you. "I - I forgot to ask - have you ever skated before?"
"I have but it's been awhile. Hell, the last time I skated I was probably small enough to have ridden the bumper cars back there."
"Are you willing to give it a try?" asked Jimin. "It's perfectly fine if you say no. There are plenty of other activities available for us to try if you'd rather not."
You thought for a second then nodded.
"Sure. Why not? I'll give it a try but only if you promise to catch me if I fall."
Lifting your hand to his lips Jimin kissed your fingers as he bowed.
"That's an easy promise to make. Having you in my arms would be both an honor and a pleasure, Noona."
"Damn! You're smooth, Jimin-ssi!" exclaimed Beogmyu, giving the older man an appreciative thumbs up. "You know what? For that, I'm comping the skate rental. Hell, I'll even throw in a brand new pair of socks for each of you!"
"Yah! Beogmyu-ah!" fussed Jimin. "How are you going to make any money giving away stuff for free like that?"
"Easy, Jimin-ssi!" said the boy, making finger guns before opening a cupboard behind him to pull out two pairs of socks sealed in plastic.
"Happy customers almost always come back and when they do, the guilt they feel due to my generosity means they spend more money than they would've otherwise."
"While I'm not sure that's a sustainable business model, I hope it works for you, Beogmyu-ah," said Jimin, accepting the socks from the boy. "Thank you. Don't tell the others but you're my favorite."
"Of course I am! Who else would be?"
Laughing, the young man gave Jimin the socks then asked your sizes before handing you each a pair of well worn roller skates.
Sitting on a nearby bench, as you slipped on the socks and watched Beogmyu store the shoes you and Jimin had been wearing, you whispered, "Cap? I thought you said the kid at the locker place was your favorite."
"Ah, yeah. About that ...." giggled Jimin as you both began lacing up your skates. "I actually say that to all of them."
"You do? What happens if they tell each other?"
"Oh, I'm sure they already have," he said. "After all this time, it's really more of a running joke between us than anything else. I honestly think that if I stopped doing it they'd all be offended."
When you were set, Jimin helped you up then, wrapping his arm around your waist he guided you onto the rink, stopping by the railing so you could hold onto it for balance while he demonstrated the proper technique.
"The first thing you need to do is just relearning how it feels to be on the skates," he said. "So, place your feet shoulder width apart, bend your knees slightly and squat down. Good. Like that. Now hold onto me and I'll pull you around a couple of times until you get your balance, okay?"
Once you were in the correct position, Jimin took your hands and began skating slowly backwards.
You were pretty wobbly at first but after a couple of times around the rink he said, "Wow! You're doing really well, Noona! Let's try the next step. Place your heels together and point your toes out. Like a duck, see?"
Still holding onto you, Jimin demonstrated while you tried to imitate his stance.
"That's good! Just like that! Now push off slightly with your right foot. That's it. Now, with your left. Then the right again. You got it! Do that a few more times and when you feel more comfortable you can push a little harder so you roll further each time."
Copying his movements you began propelling yourself while still gripping his hands.
"You're doing great! Now, try and stand up straight."
Slowly but surely you forced yourself into an upright position as Jimin continued encouraging you.
"Yes! Wonderful! Look at you! You're doing it!"
As you got progressively steadier, Jimin moved from in front of you to the side, his arm wrapped around your waist while you glided around the rink.
It took some time but you eventually got the hang of it and while you certainly weren't as proficient as Jimin, you were able to make your way around the rink without the constant fear of falling.
The pair of you kept circling the rink, gliding along to the steady stream of bouncy pop music Beogmyu played over the loudspeakers until a large group of rambunctious children arrived to celebrate someone's birthday.
"I love kids," whispered Jimin. "But I think that's our cue to leave. While you've greatly improved, I don't think you're quite ready for a roller derby session just yet."
"I agree with you one hundred percent," you nodded as he guided you back towards the bench.
Unlacing your skates, you handed them to Jimin who took them to the counter then returned with your shoes.
Slipping them on you smiled at him and said, "Thank you, Cap. This was a lot fun. You're a really great teacher."
"Nah. You're just an exceptional student. Although there was one big problem."
"Really? What's that?"
"You caught on so fast I never got the chance to catch you," he winked. "Looks like I'll have to find another way to get you into my arms again before the day's over. Until then, let's get something cold and refreshing, shall we?"
Even though Beogmyu was inundated with eager children trying to find skates in their sizes he managed to give you a cheerful wave as you departed.
Stepping back onto the boardwalk, Jimin adjusted his hat then pointed to another food cart sporting a painted sign proclaiming Frozen Watermelon! for sale.
"Ah! There's Youngil-ssi's husband! Come on! You're in for a treat!"
Hustling you over to another lengthy line, you were once again pleasantly surprised at how short the wait time actually was.
"Greetings, Yeongcheol-ssi!" exclaimed Jimin, upon reaching the front of the queue. "Two, please!"
"Of course, Jimin-ssi!" beamed the older man, reaching into a refrigerated compartment. "How are you today?"
"Excellent! We saw your good wife earlier and enjoyed some of her delectable Tteok and Cheese!"
"Good! I hope it lived up to your expectations."
"It exceeded them. As always."
Handing over the money with both hands and a polite bow, Jimin accepted two large slices of frozen watermelon, using the wooden popsicle sticks stuck in the rind as handles.
"Thank you, Yeongcheol-ssi! May your future be as bright as the sun shining upon us!"
"Same to you, Jimin-ssi! Hope to see you again soon!"
"Absolutely! You can count on it!"
Jimin handed you one of the watermelon slices then the two of you strolled slowly along, passing families indulging in oversized sodas, gigantic pretzels and great swirls of candy floss until you arrived at an area featuring a tremendous view of a long pier stretching out over the water.
Taking a seat on one of the many ornate metal benches lining the promenade, you enjoyed your frozen treats while watching the dozens of people fishing from the pier and the seabirds swooping around them, trying to score a free meal.
Once you'd finished your watermelon, Jimin deposited the rinds into a nearby trash receptacle before taking a few photos of you with the pier in the background.
After posting them to the group chat, he announced, "Alright! One to the next stop!"
Taking your hand, he lead you back down the boardwalk to a building advertising photo booths. Eagerly ushering you inside, Jimin greeted the attendant who - from his appearance - you assumed to be yet another of Yeonjun's brothers.
"Hello, TaeHyun-ah!"
"Jimin-ssi! Hello! Good to see you again! How is everyone?"
"Doing well! I'd ask how your family is but we've already seen Yeonjun-ah and Beogmyu-ah. I'm hoping to see Soobin and Kai as well before we leave?"
"If you're planning on visiting halmeoni's shop then you should at least see Kai. Soobin is taking over for Yeonjun later this afternoon," smiled TaeHyun. "Until then, how can I help you today?"
"Well, I'm hoping you have a booth free so this lovely lady and I can take some photos together."
"But of course!" he said, gesturing towards a set of neatly organized bins and shelves filled almost to overflowing with all matter of props, hats and other bits of costumes. "You go ahead and pick whatever accessories you like while I get one ready for you!"
"Will do! Thanks, TaeHyun-ah!"
While the sheer amount of options were a little overwhelming, you and Jimin finally settled on four items - a fluffy pink feather boa and an oversized pair of heart shaped glasses for you and a captain's hat and a plastic sword for Jimin.
Immediately taking control of the situation, Jimin managed the activity as if it were a professional photo shoot, placing you in a variety of positions, some funny, some serious, ending with a surprise kiss on your cheek.
After taking what seemed like dozens of photos, what followed was the most challenging part of the entire process - choosing which of the myriad of pictures you'd taken would be included on the final cut sheet.
It took a while but you and Jimin finally whittled the seemingly endless options down to six poses and by the time you'd reached the counter to return your props, TaeHyun already had two copies of each sheet printed and read for you.
"Here you go, Jimin-ssi!" he said, offering them to you with both hands and a deep bow. "And, I must say, these are the best photos I've seen all day!"
"Thank you, TaeHyun-ah! Don't tell the others, but you're my favorite!"
"Of course I am!" laughed the boy. "Who else would be?"
Jimin paid for the photos then took a picture of you holding the cut sheets, posting it to the group chat before slipping everything back inside the day pack.
"Alright! Thanks again, TaeHyun-ah! We're off to see your halmeoni!"
"You're welcome, Jimin-ssi!" the boy called out as you exited the building. "Tell halmeoni to give you and your lovely friend each an extra scoop! On me!"
xx
Winding your way into what seemed like the very center of the park, you eventually found yourself in front of what seemed to be one of the oldest structures there - a little, free standing building with the words The Smeraldo Garden Sweet Shoppe painted in flaking gold leaf paint across the main window.
Guiding you past a handful of unoccupied picnic tables, Jimin pushed open the heavy glass door, causing a little bell to ring, announcing your presence.
As you both entered the shop, he waved to a diminutive older woman standing behind the counter.
"Greetings, Kim HaeSook!"
"Greetings, Jimin-ssi!" said the woman, tipping her head down so she could peer at you over her half rimmed glasses. "I see the boys were right."
"About what, HaeSook-ssi?"
"They said you'd brought a friend with you today, however none of them could share any pertinent information about her, other than she was pretty."
She cast a side eye at the two boys busily cleaning tables, one of which was Yeonjun.
"Yah! Don't look at me, halmeoni!" fussed the one you hadn't meet. "This is the first time I've ever laid eyes on her!"
"And it's not my fault Jimin-ssi didn't introduce us!" added Yeonjun, walking over to set something beside the cash register. "I can't force him to be polite."
With a speed that belied her obvious age, HaeSook grabbed the tea towel draped over her shoulder, rapidly twisting it before using it to flick Yeonjun on the backside.
"Yah! Watch your tone! Both of you!" huffed the woman, winding the cloth back up in case she needed to use it again. "You'll not disrespect me or my customers in my shop! Do I make myself clear?!"
As both boys began repeatedly bowing and apologizing, you completely understood why. Even though the woman was at least a head shorter and over five decades older than anyone else in the room, you wouldn't have messed with her for love nor money.
"Ah! HaeSook-ssi! Don't go too hard on the boys," said Jimin, giving the proprietor a deep, respectful bow. "Yeonjun-ah is right. I should have done this earlier but I thought it only proper for her to be introduced to you first, seeing as how you - and this place - are the very heart and soul of the park."
Taking your hand, Jimin lead you forward, as if he were presenting you to royalty.
"Kim HaeSook, allow me to introduce you to Y/N. Y/N, this is Kim HaeSook, proprietor of this fine establishment and the only remaining original business owner on the entire boardwalk."
Unsure of whether you should bow or courtesy, you opted to bow a full ninety degrees as you said, "It is an honor to meet you, Kim HaeSook. Jimin speaks very highly of both you and your ice cream."
"Hmmm..... he does, does he?"
Pursing her lips, she gave you another once over before asking, "Tell me, Y/N. Do you eat sweets?"
You glanced at Jimin before answering, "Y-yes, ma'am. I - I do."
The woman's eyes narrowed, as if she were assessing the truthfulness of your response.
"What's your favorite? Not just what you like," she emphasized. "I want to know, what sweet do you love best in all the world?"
You thought about saying ice cream but realized that this woman, much like Mama B, would not appreciate a lie, no matter how well intentioned it might be.
"Have you ever had a s'more, ma'am?" you asked.
"No," said HaeSook, arching an eyebrow. "What's that?"
After describing the ingredients and the process of making them to the shop owner, there was a brief moment of silence before the elderly woman turned to Jimin and said, "Yah! Jimin-ssi! You've had one of these ... s'mores?"
Jimin nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes, ma'am. They're really good."
Staring off into space, HaeSook tapped her fingers on the counter before addressing you again.
"Tell me, Y/N. These s'mores you speak of. Does anyone own the rights to them?"
"No, ma'am. Not that I know of."
The woman gave a decisive nod.
"Then it's on the menu. Kai! Make sure to add all those ingredients to the shopping list."
"Yes, halmeoni!" said the boy, scribbling furiously on a small notepad. "Whatever you say, halmeoni!"
"Good boy," smiled HaeSook, patting him on the head before shoving a wet dishrag into his hands. "That's why you're my favorite. Now go clean those windows."
As the boy scampered off to do as he was told, Jimin pouted, "Yah! HaeSook-ssi! That's my line!"
"Yah!" shrugged the woman. "My shop, my rules."
She then leaned against the counter and sighed.
"Although it may not stay my shop if business keeps on like this."
"I was going to ask but I didn't want to be rude..." said Jimin, surveying the empty space. "Where is everyone, HaeSook-ssi? Normally we'd be fighting for a place to sit."
"Aish! Some young punk is selling what he claims is some sort of fancy homemade ice cream but it's actually just cheap, store bought crap with bits of ground up pocki sticks stirred into it."
"He circles around the parking lots in a custom made refrigerated van covered in artwork featuring all kinds of popular animated characters," said Kai from his spot by the window. "He catches people before they even enter the boardwalk so by the time they get here they've already had ice cream."
Looking over at Jimin, you could see his mind working overtime.
"Huh? I wonder if he's acquired the proper copyright authorization to use those characters likenesses for business purposes?" said Jimin. "Or if he even has the necessary permits to sell food in the first place?"
"I don't know about the characters," said Yeonjun, folding napkins behind the counter. "But we're pretty sure he isn't officially licensed to sell the ice cream because every time the code enforcement people show up for their periodic inspections he races out of that parking lot like a bat out of hell."
"Oh really? Isn't that interesting," said Jimin. "Yeonjun? Kai? The next time any of you see this guy I need you to take as many pictures of him and the van as you can get and send them to me ASAP. Try and get a good clear shot of the license plate and registration tags while you're at it. Until then, Noona? Would you please hold this for me?"
Handing you the day pack he'd been wearing, Jimin began striding towards the door, signaling for Kai to follow.
Slipping the straps of the bag over both shoulders like a backpack, you hurried after them, curious as to what was about to happen
By the time you'd walked outside, Kai was pulling up something on his phone as Jimin climbed on top of the nearest picnic table.
After getting a thumbs up from Kai, Jimin cleared his throat and announced in a loud voice, "Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to today's show! Brought to you by the one, the only, the original - Smeraldo Garden Sweet Shoppe!"
With that, a bouncy instrumental track burst from Kai's phone and Jimin began to dance and then - without missing a beat - he started singing about the wonders of the ice cream being sold inside.
It didn't take long for large group of people to gather, everyone jockeying for the best spot to enjoy the impromptu show. Standing in the midst of the crowd, you got jostled a few times but you were too enthralled with Jimin's performance to either notice or care.
When the song finally came to an end, the crowd burst into wild applause.
"Thank you! Thank you very much!" said Jimin, bowing humbly. "Please show your appreciation by tasting the best ice cream on the planet - made fresh daily inside this very establishment!"
As he hopped off the table, a line began to form that quickly wrapped around the building.
"Wow! Cap! That was incredible!" you said, throwing your arms around him. "Now I can tell everyone at Hobi's club that I finally got to see the Jimin effect in person! And I must say, it did not disappoint!"
"I'm glad you liked it," said Jimin, returning the hug. "And if this is my payment, I'll do it every day."
Just then, Kai came scurrying out holding two brightly colored cardboard bowls filled to overflowing with handmade vanilla ice cream, covered in a delicate caramel sauce and sprinkled with bits of fresh caramel corn.
"Here you go, Jimin-ssi!" said the boy. "On the house!"
"Yah! Kai! No!" said Jimin. "I didn't do this for a handout!"
"Sorry! Halmeoni's orders!" said the boy, thrusting the bowls at him. "And - no offence Jimin-ssi - but she scares me a lot more than you do."
Realizing the truth of that statement, Jimin accepted the ice cream with a reluctant bow.
"You are a wise young man, Kai," he said. "Don't tell the others but ..."
"I know," grinned the boy, already hurrying back inside to help with the ever growing crowd. "I'm your favorite!"
After waving goodbye, Jimin handed you one of the ice creams.
"Go ahead," he urged. "Give it a try."
Admittedly now very curious about the item causing all this fuss, you scooped up a health serving and popped it in your mouth, closing your eyes as the heavenly flavors hit your taste buds.
"So, what do you think?" asked Jimin.
"What do I think? I think I might have a different answer the next time she asks what my favorite sweet is because this is - by far - the most incredible ice cream I've ever tasted!"
"I know, right?" said Jimin, starting in on his bowl. "We can't figure out what her secret ingredient is but it's fantastic! Not even Jin-hyung has been able to duplicate it!"
Leading you away from the line of customers still forming at Smeraldo's, the two of you continued savoring the ice cream while Jimin showed you the only bit of the park you hadn't explored yet, which consisted of rides like the Ferris wheel and the zip line as well as a few more carnival style attractions.
"What's that?" you asked, passing a large building with a line of people waiting to go inside.
"The fun house," said Jimin, making a face. "Hope you don't mind. I'd rather skip that place if it's all the same to you."
"Sure. No problem. Never been a big fan of them myself. May I ask why you don't like them?"
"I don't like the mirrors in there."
"The ones that distort the way you look?"
"Yeah. They creep me out."
He shivered as he scooped up the last bit of his ice cream.
"After I see myself in them, the images get in my head and I start thinking that's how I really look."
"Oh. I - I never would've guessed that. You always seem so comfortable in your skin. Literally and figuratively."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"What do I mean? Come on!" you said, shaking your head. "You just hopped up on a table and danced in public! And you performed at Hobi's club! I can't even imagine the amount of confidence that takes to do either of those things. Hell, I couldn't even do that when I'm by myself, much less in front of other people!"
"Yeah - but doing that stuff doesn't necessarily means that it comes from a place of confidence."
He let out a deep sigh as he licked his spoon clean.
"You see, Noona, I figured out early on that when I looked a certain way I got attention. And since I didn't get a lot of that when I was a kid - at least not in a positive way - when it happens, it triggers stuff in my brain. Which leads me to sometimes do things, not from a place of confidence but actually from a place of insecurity."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Sometimes I'm happy with how I look. Sometimes .... I'm not."
"So the exotic dancing and .... the stuff at the house?"
"The stuff at the house?"
His brow furrowed in confusion before he realized what you meant.
"Oh! You mean walking around naked?"
When you nodded he chuckled then shrugged.
"I'll admit that when I like myself, I do those things to show off. But when I don't like myself, I do it to seek praise and approval. Not necessarily the healthiest way to handle things but it is what it is."
You pondered that as you finished up the last of your ice cream.
"I think I get what you're saying, Cap. But - to be honest? I still envy you."
"Envy me? In what way?"
"When you want something you find a way - either directly or indirectly - to ask for it. I - I've never been very good at that. Especially in relationships."
"Really? Why not?"
"Dunno. Too scared?"
"Scared? Of what?"
"Rejection, I guess. If I don't ask for anything, then I can't be told no and if I don't get my hopes up there's less chance of being disappointed, right?"
"Hmmm," said Jimin, taking your now empty ice cream container and placing it in the trash. "I guess we'll just have to work on that by using some positive reinforcements, won't we?"
xx
Having now seen the entire park, you started back to the storage lockers to retrieve your belongings.
Approaching the building, Jimin called out to the young man now standing behind the counter.
"Hello, Soobin-ah! So glad to see you! I was afraid we might miss you!"
"Hello, Jimin-ssi!" replied the boy, bowing deeply as he did so. "Yeonjun-hyung told me you were here! I was hoping to see you as well! I understand you were able to see halmeoni?"
"We did! And all your brothers as well!"
"Ah! I'm sorry to hear that part," said the boy, giving you a shy smile. "I hope you had a pleasant visit anyway."
"We did," you answered. "Everyone here has been very kind. And your halmeoni's ice cream is divine!"
"I'm glad you liked it. We are all very proud of everything halmeoni has accomplished," he said. "Now, if you have your key, I will fetch your things?"
Placing the day pack you'd been carrying over your shoulders onto the counter in order to better access the lanyard tucked under your shirt, you gasped upon realizing that while the key was still safe, the little mesh bag holding the shells and other items you'd collected was no longer attached to the day pack.
"Oh, no! Cap! The shells!! They're gone!"
As you made sure nothing else was missing from the pack, Jimin explained the situation to Soobin.
"Where was the last place you know you had it?" the boy asked.
"I'm sure it was still attached when Cap handed me the bag at the ice cream shop," you said.
"Okay. And where did you go after that?"
Jimin detailed the route you'd taken as Soobin typed furiously on his phone.
"Got it! Don't worry, Jimin-ssi! We're on it!"
After sending the text informing his brothers of the path you'd taken from the shop to the lockers, Soobin dashed off to join them in their effort to see where the bag might have been lost.
When Jimin saw you fighting back tears, he wrapped you into a consoling hug.
"Shhh! It's okay, Jagi. Those kids now every millimeter of this place. If the bag is still around, they'll be able to find it. And if they don't, we'll just find even better shells on the way back, okay?"
After waiting for what seemed like forever, a dejected Soobin eventually returned.
"I'm so sorry, Jimin-ssi. We didn't see any sign of your bag between here and the shop. We even checked the trash cans but no luck. But we'll look everywhere you went today, just in case it fell off somewhere else. We'll even get the janitor and the grounds crew involved."
"Oh, please! No!" you said, waving your hands. "I don't want to cause everyone so much trouble just because of a stupid mistake on my part!"
"Yah! Stop that! You're not stupid!" fussed Jimin, appearing genuinely offended by your choice of words. "Losing a bag of shells is nothing to be ashamed of! Why, I can't even tell you the number of times Joonie-hyung has lost important documents! Including his passport! On multiple occasions!"
"And it's no trouble at all, ma'am!" insisted Soobin. "We scour this place pretty much every night after closing anyway! You won't believe the stuff people leave behind and never reclaim! Electronic toys, expensive sunglasses, phones, cameras, car keys!"
Leaning over, he whispered, "One time, a member of the grounds crew even found a set of false teeth that no one ever came back for. I always wondered how the person who lost them ate after that."
Even though you were still upset with yourself, the earnest expression on the boy's face combined with Jimin's reassurances managed to lift your spirits somewhat.
"Thank you, Soobin-ssi," you said, handing over the key to the locker. "That does make me feel a little better."
"You're welcome, ma'am," he answered, retrieving the duffle bag and handing it to Jimin. "And I promise, if any of us find your shells, we'll let Jimin-ssi know right away."
"Thank you, Soobin-ah. I appreciate all your help," said Jimin, transferring the rest of your things back into the larger bag. "Don't tell the others, but you're my favorite."
"Thank you, Jimin-ssi," said Soobin. "And don't tell Seokjin-ssi or any of the others, but you're my favorite."
"Of course I am!" laughed Jimin, hoisting the duffle bag over his shoulder. "Who else would be?"
xx
After another round of genuine thanks for all Soobin and his brothers' help, you and Jimin began the long trek back to your vehicle, keeping your eye out for any new shells you might find along the way.
Passing by the crumbling remnants of the sand castle you'd built earlier in the day, you picked up a piece of abalone, sighing when it just wasn't quite as nice as the first one you'd found.
"I really wish I hadn't lost that bag. There were some really nice pieces in it."
"Don't give up hope just yet, Noona," said Jimin, pocketing a bit of sea glass that had been part of the castle's stained glass window. "Like I said, those kids know every last millimeter of that place. If it's there, they'll find it. Trust me."
"They all seem very fond of you. Can I ask what you did for them?"
"Yah!" teased Jimin, inspecting then tossing aside a small piece of driftwood. "Not all of our relationships are transactional, Noona. Some folks simply find me charming."
"I'm sorry," you said, embarrassed that you'd asked the question. "I - I didn't mean to imply that people only like you because of what you can do or have done for them."
"Hey! It's okay," said Jimin, taking you by the hand and leading you out of the cove.
"It's the nature of the business we're in. And you're right. It can be tiring trying to figure out who's really on your side and who just wants something. That's why when we do find people we trust, we take care of them because they're a rare commodity. And trusting the wrong people can be disastrous."
"I get what you're saying. I've certainly been guilty of trusting the wrong people before."
"Really?" asked Jimin, clearly intrigued. "Anyone specific?"
"You could say that..."
When you didn't elaborate, Jimin guided you over to where you'd seen the crabs. Taking a seat next to the tide pool, he pulled you down next to him and gently nudged your shoulder.
"Noona? How about I make you deal? If you tell me your story about trusting the wrong person then I'll tell you mine."
Thinking back on how much personal information he'd shared with you today, you decided it was only fair to repay his trust by showing the same kind of vulnerability, even if it meant revisiting an unpleasant memory.
"Okay, but you have to promise not to laugh or think less of me."
"Never," he said, making a crossing motion over his heart. "I swear it."
Taking a deep breath, you focused your attention on the crabs burrowing in the sand.
"One time this guy I was dating talked me into trying something new."
"Something new?" asked Jimin.
"You know ...in the bedroom."
"Ah. Got it. I take it this 'something new' wasn't something you were especially keen on trying in the first place?"
"Exactly. But it seemed to mean a lot to him so I finally gave in."
As you kept watching at the crabs, you could sense Jimin tensing up beside you.
"Wording it like that makes it sound like he badgered you until you caved."
"I guess that's because that's pretty much what he did."
"I see," said Jimin, his voice a touch more strained than it had been before. "May I ask what this 'something new' was?"
"Being tied up."
Worried that he would think you were kink-shaming you rushed to add, "I mean, I'm not saying there's anything inherently wrong with doing that! I just wasn't comfortable with the idea but he kept saying that it wasn't a big deal and everybody does it and..."
Jimin cut you off before you could finish.
"Hold on. Stop right there. Whoever said that was wrong on both counts. Not everybody does it and it is a big deal. A scenario like the one you're describing requires a tremendous amount of trust between partners for it to work properly."
Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees.
"The one in charge has to be super vigilant, constantly checking for an signs of distress. And the person being restrained has to trust that their partner is fully committed to not only their safety but their pleasure as well."
"Yeah, well ... that might be the way it's supposed to work but ...."
"But?"
"But it doesn't always."
"What do you mean?"
When you didn't answer right away, Jimin turned slowly towards you.
"Noona? What happened? What did this person do?"
Rather than looking at him, you instead shifted your attention to a sandpiper scurrying along the waterline
"As he was tightening the first rope, I - I had a panic attack. I told him I wanted to stop but ... that just pissed him off."
Suddenly, Namjoon and Jin's comment regarding the fact that you didn't have a safe word because you'd not found them useful in the past popped into Jimin's mind. Starting to put two and two together, the result he came up with caused his blood to boil.
"Noona," he growled, his hands balling into fists. "Are - are you saying you safe worded and that son of a bitch kept going?"
"Not kept going so much as began yelling."
"What do you mean?"
"When I said I'd changed my mind he started screaming at me. I tried to apologize but he kept calling me a basic vanilla bitch tease before letting go of the rope so I could untie myself."
In the time it took you to speak those words, Jimin had devised a half dozen ways of quickly and efficiently murdering the person who'd done this to you before reminding himself of the need to get his emotions under control so he could give you his full attention.
Using a process perfected by repetition, he mentally jammed all his unfiltered rage into a big imaginary box, slamming the lid down tight before shoving it aside to deal with later.
"And then what happened?" he asked, forcing the words through gritted teeth.
"He called me a few more names then he left."
"Did you ever see him again?"
"No."
"Did you ever tell anyone?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I felt stupid."
"Why?"
"Because I trusted him. B-because I had a panic attack. Because I made a big deal about something that he made me feel shouldn't have been one."
Jimin took deep breath to steady himself before speaking in a calm and measured tone.
"First off, thank you for sharing that with me. I know it wasn't an easy thing to do and I appreciate the trust it took for you to tell me that."
Reaching out he took one of your hands in his.
"But you shouldn't feel stupid about anything. You were absolutely right to call for a stop the second you felt the least bit uncomfortable and anyone who says differently doesn't deserve your time and certainly doesn't deserve the right to be intimate with you. And while I'm sure he meant his words as an insult, in my opinion good quality vanilla is fucking amazing..."
With great care he placed his fingers under your chin, gingerly tipping your face up to meet his.
"And when basics are done well, there's nothing better. Ever had a really good creme brulee? It's made with only five 'basic' ingredients but when they're combined correctly.....MWAH!"
Raising his hand to his mouth, he gave an overly exaggerated chef's kiss that brought a hesitant smile to your face.
"So you listen to me, Noona. Liking or not liking certain things - in or out of the bedroom - is perfectly fine and it's never going to be a deal breaker. Not for me or for any of us. Got it? "
"Are - are you sure?"
"Absolutely! It's one of the plus sides to a relationship like ours - there's no pressure for you to try and be something you're not or for you to pretend to enjoy something you don't like doing in a some sort of misguided attempt to be all things to your partner. Besides, each of us have our hard no's and firm boundaries. There's no shame in that."
"Really?"
"Yep!" said Jimin, wriggling his toes in the tide pool.
"Can - can I ask about your boundaries?"
"Sure. I guess the biggest hard pass for me is degradation. It might be a turn on for some people but when someone calls me those kind of names they get stuck in my head and live there - rent free - for a really long time and it takes a hell of a lot of work to get them to leave. Kind of like those damn fun house mirrors."
"Yeah. Me too...."
Recalling some of what Jin had told them after his date with you, Jimin gently tapped a finger on the side of your head.
"Noona? You've got some unwelcome tenants living up there as well, don't you?"
You took a moment then quietly admitted, "Yeah. I guess I do."
"Alright. I guess we'll just have to help you evict them, won't we?"
Standing, Jimin picked up the duffle bag then reached down to help you up.
"To start with, don't beat yourself up for trusting that son of a bitch. It's easy to do. Hell, something similar happened to me once."
"But - but I thought you'd always been with Tae and then the others. Did - did one of them...?"
"What? No! Never! It - this ... Aish! I'm doing a piss poor job of explaining this, aren't I?"
Taking a second to get his thoughts in order, Jimin looped his arm through yours as you resumed the walk back along the beach towards the vehicle.
"Not long after Tae and I moved to the city, we got in a fight over something really stupid and we broke up for a few days."
"What did you fight over?"
"I hate to admit this but it was .... dumplings."
"Dumplings?"
"Yah. I said it was stupid, didn't I?"
He sighed as he shook his head.
"Anyway, during that time - in an attempt to make myself feel better about the dumpster fire my life had suddenly become over something so fucking random - I accepted what I thought was a casual invitation from a guy at the coffee shop to grab a bite to eat."
"And...."
"And it turned out this guy assumed that since I'm not as physically imposing as Kookie or Joonie-hyung that he didn't have to listen when I said no. About anything."
Your stomach turned at the thought of Jimin being in such a situation.
"Fuck. What happened?"
"What happened was I forcefully corrected his assumptions about my willingness to participate in what he had planned and in the process broke three of his fingers, two of his ribs and his wrist."
"Good for you. What did you do after that?"
"What I should have done in the first place. I ran back to Tae, apologized for being an idiot and told him what happened. Then we sobbed and hugged it out and promised never let a petty argument come between us ever again."
"I'm glad. Did you ever press charges against the guy?"
"Him? No."
"Why not?"
"Since there weren't any witnesses and he was hurt worse than me there wasn't much I could do. However, once we met the others, Tae told Hobi-hyung that story and before long Kookie had tracked the guy down. Turns out that he'd gotten a job with a firm whose corporate headquarters were in China."
A wicked smile spread across Jimin's face as he paused to pick up a small sand dollar.
"I'm not sure what exactly transpired but shortly after that, the company he was working for unexpectedly transferred him to a remote facility not far from the Siberian border. I don't remember the exact name of the town but I'm sure it's a lovely place. Bit cold in the winter, though. Which, if memory serves me right, lasts about eleven months in that part of the world."
He was just placing the sand dollar in his pocket when his phone dinged.
"Ah. That's Jin-hyung reminding me of the time," he said, snapping a photo for the group chat. "So let's find a few more specimens for that dream catcher before it gets too late, shall we?"
xx
True to his word, by the time you reached the SUV, you and Jimin had gathered a collection of shells and sea glass that was just as nice as the set you'd lost.
"Alright," he said, opening the back of the vehicle. "Crawl in and change back into your sweats and hoodie for the ride home."
"Why?"
"That way if you fall asleep during the trip, you'll already be ready for bed," he insisted, even as you protested that you'd be fine.
It was a good thing you listened to him however, because you weren't even halfway back when Jimin's soft, melodious singing voice combined with the fading light and excitement of the day lulled you to sleep.
Missing the fond smile on your date's face as he used the automatic controls to tilt the seat back into a more comfortable position, you were resting so soundly that you didn't even stir when Jimin finally pulled into the garage and scooped you up into a bridal carry.
"Aish," he cooed as you nuzzled your face into his neck. "I said I wanted you back in my arms but I didn't think you'd make it this easy for me."
He then carried you inside (with the help of a waiting Jin who opened all the doors along the way, whispering 'how precious!' multiple times as he went).
You stirred only briefly when you felt something on your skin, cracking your eyes open long enough to see Jimin tenderly cleaning your face with one of the makeup wipes they made sure were always stocked in your bathroom.
"Cap?" you murmured. "Where are we? Are we home already?"
"Shh.... You're dreaming," he said, giving you a soft kiss. "Go back to sleep."
"But I didn't thank you for my date...." you whined sleepily.
"Ah, but it's I who should be thanking you, my lady," he said, his voice as soothing as any lullaby you'd ever heard. "You gave this silly Prince an outing he'll cherish for the rest of his days. And for that he shall be eternally grateful."
"That's nice. I had a really good time too," you yawned. "Will you at least stay til I fall asleep?"
"Yah. Look at you. Asking for what you want."
Brushing a bit of hair out of your face, Jimin pressed his lips to your forehead as your eyelids fluttered shut.
"I'm so proud of you. And the answer is yes, Princess. I'll stay as long as you want."
xx
Once he was sure you were fast asleep, Jimin scribbled a note for you, leaving it on your bedside before sending a message to the group, calling a meeting with the others in the kitchen.
When all seven were gathered around the table he briefed them on the date, ending with the story you'd shared about your ex.
For a long time the room was filled with a tense silence that was finally broken when Yoongi snarled, "I have a question."
"And that is....?" asked Jimin.
Lacing his fingers together, Yoongi extended his arms and cracked his knuckles.
"Is this fucker still alive or do we get the pleasure of correcting that situation?"
"I don't know," answered Jimin. "She didn't give me a name."
"That's never stopped us from tracking someone down before," said TaeHyung, his usually bright eyes now dark and cold. "I'm sure Kookie could ...."
Before he could finish his sentence, Jin cut him off.
"No. We're not going after this guy."
As the room erupted in protest, Jin hushed them so as not to risk waking you.
"Yah! Keep it down!" he hissed. "Trust me - I want to find this son of a bitch just as much as you but if we do that we'll be like him."
"How the hell do you figure that, hyung?!" snapped Hoseok.
"We'd be like him because we'd be disrespecting a firm boundary she has established and I'm not willing to risk what we're building with her just to make myself feel better. So for now at least, hunting down this sorry excuse for a human is off limits."
"As much as it pains me to say it, hyung is right," said Namjoon, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "If we go against something she's specifically asked us not to do at this point the damage could be irrevocable."
There was still a fair amount of grumbling but eventually all of them grudgingly reached an agreement but as they started back upstairs to get some sleep, Jungkook stopped and turned to Jin.
"Hyung? I know that hunting him down is off limits but what would happen if we ever ran into him in person and she pointed him out to us?"
"Simple, Kookie. In that case," said Jin, patting the maknae on the shoulder. "Then you'll all have to fight me for the privilege of punching his fucking lights out before tying that bastard up in place that I guarantee no one will ever find him."
xx
Next day they let you sleep in and when you awoke you found a handwritten note on your bedside table which read:
Thank you again for spending the day with me, Noona! I would've stayed with you last night but I didn't have any clean pajamas and the outside clothes I was wearing were covered in sand so I never would've heard the end of it from Jin-hyung. :)
I had a word with Ryan and Sir Chimmie before I left however and they assured me that they would watch over you and make sure only the loveliest of dreams filtered into your mind.
Until we meet again I remain your devoted,
Prince Cap
xoxo
Smiling, you gave both plushies a cuddle then tucked the note away with the other mementos you'd been gathering before ducking into a long hot shower. Once you were dressed and ready you made your way to the kitchen to find Jin and Namjoon waiting for you with a simple yet delicious brunch.
("I didn't help cook but I set the table and poured the drinks!" announced Namjoon, looking terribly proud of himself.)
After enjoying both the food and the conversation, the three of you decided to go sit in the backyard, where you were all enjoying a pot of one of Jin's special tea blends when TaeHyung suddenly burst through the door, bouncing across the patio like Tigger from Winnie the Pooh.
"Noona! There you are!" he said, tackling you in an enthusiastic, full body hug that almost knocked you out of the lounge chair you were resting on. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
It took an effort on your part but against all odds you were able to maintain both your breath and your balance.
"You're quite welcome, Tae-ah. But just for future reference, may I ask what it is I'm being thanked for?"
"Last night, after your recommendation, Minnie and I started watching Bridgerton. And you were right! It's so much better than regular porn!"
There was a sharp coughing sound as Namjoon almost choked on his tea and it was only at the last second that Jin kept the cup he was holding from slipping out of his hand and onto the paving stones.
"Ex-excuse me?" spluttered the eldest. "I - I believe I've missed a rather relevant plot point somewhere along the way..."
As much as you would've liked to have stayed and watched Jin and Namjoon's faces for the entirety of TaeHyung's detailed, lengthy (and extremely colorful) summary of Bridgerton's plot and characters, by the time he'd recapped episode three you found it necessary to excuse yourself so you could complete the next day's lesson plan for Yugyeom.
Applying yourself to the task, you lost track of time until you realized you needed more resources. Making your way to the house's library you began searching for a book on astronomy appropriate for the boy's reading level.
Upon locating one that seemed promising, you made the mistake of trying to read while walking past the fireplace which lead to you tripping over one of the chairs next to a table holding an elaborate chess set, knocking over some of the pieces in the process.
Rubbing your knee, without thinking you began addressing the painting staring down at you from over the mantle.
"Ouch! Oops! Sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going and ...."
You stopped mid-sentence as the sheer absurdity of what you were doing sunk in.
"...And I'm talking to a painting."
Laughing at yourself, you placed the book you were holding onto the table.
"You know SiHyuk-ssi," you said, still talking to the portrait as you moved the dislodged chess pieces back into their original position.
"Under different circumstances, I might question my sanity but seeing as how I've recently been seeking relationship advice from a Ryan plushie and a stuffed chick, I suppose chatting with inanimate objects is the new normal for me now."
Picking the book back up, you took a moment to really study the painting, impressed yet again with JungKook's technical skill and artistry.
"Although, to tell the truth, I'm not entirely convinced you're inanimate. There are times when I could almost swear you can hear me."
"Perhaps I can," replied a deep voice from behind you. "And please, use informal speech. You're pretty much family by this point."
Startled by the unexpected response, you let out a short squeak as you spun around to find a bemused Yoongi smirking at you.
"Fuck! Pabo!"
Heart pounding, you leaned against the fireplace, fighting the urge to hurl the book you were now clinging onto for dear life at Yoongi's smug face.
"You scared the shit out of me! For a split second I thought it was him!"
You waved your free hand in the direction of the painting as Yoongi sauntered forwards.
"Sorry, Pabo. I didn't mean to frighten you but that was just too good an opportunity to pass up."
While part of you wanted to berate him for the prank, the expression on his face as he gazed up at his deceased friend made you think better of it.
"But I wish that painting could talk," he said, sidling up next to you. "If that were the case we'd all spend a lot more time in here. We'd give almost anything for the chance to converse with hyung even just once more."
"Yeah, well...." you said, poking his chest with your finger. "If he could talk, hopefully he'd tell you off for scaring people half to fucking death."
"He probably would," chuckled Yoongi, pulling you into a back hug.
As he rested his chin on your shoulder, you said, "Yoongi-ah? Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course. What is it?"
"If you really could talk to him again, what would you say?"
"Aish. If I gave you the whole list we'd be here all day. But I guess the most important thing would be ... thank you."
With a sigh he looked up so he could talk directly to the image of his lost friend.
"Thank you for saving me. Thank you for saving the others. Thank you for .... everything."
His voice then turned thick with emotion as he added, "And I'm so sorry that I couldn't save you."
Setting the book down on the table again, you then wrapped your arms around so they covered Yoongi's.
"I'm sure he knows that you did everything you could," you said. "That you all did."
"Maybe. I hope so. But the bottom line is that I didn't. And I have to live with that."
You paused before gesturing at the painting.
"Is that the way he'd want it?"
"Probably not. But he's not here, is he?"
"No. No, he's not," you said. "But you knew him as well as anyone so I think you've got a good idea of what he'd say to you. And I'm sure there'd be no blame or recriminations on his part. Not if even half of what you guys have told me about him is true."
You let Yoongi ponder that for a moment before continuing.
"I know what I'd say to him if I had the chance."
"What's that?" asked Yoongi.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For finding you. For bringing the seven of you together. Because if he hadn't I'd never have met you. And I'd rather not imagine a world where that didn't happen."
You smiled up at the painting as Yoongi's arms tightened around you.
"And then I would say, wherever he is, I hope Sejin is with him and they're happy. He deserves it. They both do."
There was another pause as Yoongi pressed a kiss against your throat.
"You know what, Pabo?" he whispered, rocking you gently in his arms. "I think I know exactly what he'd say to you if he were here."
"Really? What's that?"
"He'd say, "Yah! You silly girl. What are you thinking? Someone like you could do much better than these seven goofballs."
"Then we'd have words ," you bristled. "Because I don't care who he is. I won't let anyone talk about you guys like that."
"Yah!" laughed Yoongi. "I can actually picture you saying that to him."
"Yeah well if you keep giving me fucking heart attacks like you did before, I might have the chance sooner rather than later."
You'd meant it as a joke but the look on Yoongi's face was deadly serious as he spun you around to cradle your face in his hands.
"Noona? I need you to promise me something."
"What's that?"
"That - no matter what else happens- you'll be safe. I -I can't spend anymore of my life talking to paintings, no matter how beautiful they are."
As he gently caressed your cheeks with his thumbs, all you could do was nod and whisper, "I'll do my best."
"Good."
Drawing your face slowly towards his, he kissed you deeply before leaning back to rest his forehead against yours.
"Now, as much as I'd love to stay here trying to make hyung's portrait blush, it's almost time to eat. Jin-hyung sent me to fetch you and since he missed several meals with you because of Minnie's date, he'll be extra cranky if we're late."
With a nod, you retrieved the book you'd come for in the first place from the table and began following him out of the room. When you reached the door however, you paused then turned back to bow respectfully.
"SiHyuk-ssi? If there is an afterlife, I sincerely hope to meet you there one day so I can express my gratitude for everything you've done in person."
You then narrowed your eyes as you waggled your finger at the painting.
"But if you give me any shit," you teased. "I don't care how important you are. Like I told Yoongi-ah, you and I will have words, my friend. I promise you that."
xx
Later that evening, as you were getting ready for bed there was a sharp knock on the door as a formal yet familiar voice called out, "Message for the Lady of the Manor!"
Intrigued, you opened the door to find Jimin all decked out in his chauffer's outfit.
"Cap?" you said before quickly correcting yourself. "Sorry. I meant .... Jeeves?"
Clicking the heels of his highly polished boots, Jimin bowed as he handed over a thick, cream-colored envelope.
"My lady. I have been tasked with delivering this correspondence to you."
Turning the envelope over in your hands, on the front you found your name written (in both English and Korean) with a fine, cursive script while the back was sealed with an official looking wax impression.
Trying to make sense of what was happening, you stood and stared at the object until Jimin politely cleared his throat.
"Begging your pardon ma'am but I have been asked to wait for a reply..."
"Oh. Yes. Of course. Sorry. My apologies, Jeeves."
Carefully opening the envelope, you pulled out the most luxurious piece of paper you'd ever seen, upon which a message was written (again in both English and Korean) utilizing the same formal handwriting as the outside of the envelope:
My good lady,
May I be so bold as to request the honor and pleasure of your company in two days' time for an evening of conversation and frivolity?
I fear I must not reveal any more details than this, for to do so would remove the element of surprise that I believe to be fundamental to the outing's success.
If you find such a proposition acceptable, please send word via my trusted companion, who has delivered this invitation to you. If your reply is positive, I shall provide you with all the pertinent times and locations upon the morrow.
Awaiting your response with great hope and expectation, I remain sincerely,
Ever yours,
The Honorable Lord Kim TaeHyung
As you re-read the letter for the third time, trying to fathom just how much time and effort it would have taken Tae to work out this translation, much less do the beautiful calligraphy, Jimin gently prompted, "My lady? May I have your answer?"
"What? Oh. Yes. Sorry. My answer."
Slipping the note back into the envelope, you adopted your best high society voice, holding out an imaginary skirt while at the same time dropping into a deep curtsy.
"Please inform Lord Kim that I would be delighted to accompany him wherever he wishes, whenever his schedule allows. Also, please apologize that I could not reply in writing as it would appear I am fresh out of stationary suitable for such a reply. That is, if you think he can forgive such an egregious breach of etiquette?"
"I'm certain that under the circumstances, Lord Kim will be most understanding, my lady," replied Jimin, obviously thrilled that you were playing along.
"If you will excuse me, I was given strict instructions to convey your reply to Lord Kim with all due haste, so now - with your permission - I shall take my leave."
"Of course, Jeeves. Carry on."
With another sharp click of his heels, Jimin bowed a full ninety degrees before marching off down the hall, head held high.
Once he was gone, you closed the door and sat on the bed, gathering Ryan and Chickie your lap.
"Well, guys. One things for sure. I'll never be able to say this place is boring."
