The Quokka and The Beast // Minsung

Chapter One

Near the rolling hills and wispy mountains of the countryside, there lay a small, humble town, home to bumbling residents determined to make small change off of soliciting freshly-made goods. Though this village appeared uneventful (and to be honest, it was), its gorgeous location made up for its mundaneness. Bright flowers bloomed everywhere, and small brooks lay here and there. However, the chirping bluebirds and fluffy white clouds lining the sky didn't distract Jisung from the fact that today was just a day like any other. As the boy, arms full of overdue books, headed off in the same path towards the village library he took every other day, it somehow occurred that every villager the boy knew greeted him on his daily route.

    There goes the baker with his tray like always... the same old bread and rolls to sell. Every morning just the same—as the morning that we came—to this poor provincial town-

    "Good morning, Jisung!"

    "'Morning, Taehyun."

    "Where are you off to?"

    "The book shop. I just finished the most wonderful story— about a beanstalk and an ogre and-"

    "That's nice. YEONJUN, THE BAGUETTES, HURRY UP!!!"

    Jisung giggled, sighed, then continued towards his destination. The faint sounds of conversation flooded Jisung's senses, like they always did. Many of them included judgements about his obsession with reading, or his overwhelmingly good looks, or how these two traits contrasted each other greatly.

    "Look, there he goes, that boy is strange, no question. Dazed and distracted, can't you tell?"

    "Never part of any crowd, 'cause his head's stuck on some cloud..."

    "No denying he's a funny kid, that Jisung."

    These foolish remarks didn't bother the boy, though, for he didn't care what anyone thought of him in the slightest.   

    "There must be more than this provincial life," Jisung muttered to himself as he stepped into his oh-so precious book shop. Jisung adored the place more than any other villager, apart from its owner JYP, of course.

    "Ah, Jisung!" The shopkeeper smiled upon the sight of his favorite and most frequent customer.

    "Good morning! I've come to return the book I borrowed."

    "Finished already?"

    "Oh, I couldn't put it down! Got anything new?"

    "Not since yesterday," the clerk chuckled with amusement.

    That's alright. I'll borrow..." Jisung scanned the shelves for an appealing option, finally landing on a choice. "This one!"

    "That one? But you've read it twice!"

    "Well, it's my favorite," Jisung gushed, "far off places, daring sword fights, magic spells, a prince in disguise!"

    The clerk handed the leather-bound fairy tale to the boy. "If you like it all that much, it's yours."

    "But, sir-"

    "I insist," JYP responded matter-of-factly, his eyes crinkling into a warm smile.

Jisung beamed at the shopkeeper and what was now his book. "Why, thank you! Thank you very much!"

    Voices seemed to float through the air like a current of joint song, following Jisung as he strolled in search of a scenic reading spot.

    "Look, there he goes, that boy is so peculiar. I wonder if he's feeling well..."

    "With a dreamy far-off look, and his nose stuck in a book, what a puzzle to the rest of us is Jisung."

    Jisung's favorite spot to read was the charming fountain in the middle of the town square, surrounded by ever-growing flora and curious animals.

    "Oh, isn't this amazing? It's my favorite part, because, you'll see..." Jisung teased a squirrel that had wandered onto the edge of the fountain next to him, picking up the book and flipping to his favorite chapter.

    "Here's where she meets Prince Charming, but she won't discover that it's him 'till chapter three." The little animals that had seemingly caught interest in Jisung's fascination with the story were perched on different spots around the boy, entranced by the peaceful aura that surrounded him. Townsfolk shuffled past this sight hurriedly and darted dubious glances that way, as they always did.

"Now, it's no wonder that his name means beauty, his looks have got no parallel."

    "But behind that fair facade, I'm afraid he's rather odd. Very different from the rest of us-"

"He's nothing like the rest of us-"

"Yes, different from the rest of us is Jisung."

°°°

    Just on the grassy hill that lay above the town, Sunghoon, the tall, muscular, and extremely douchey hunter was successful in another wild duck shooting. Beside him, cheering him on, was his yes-man and extremely short companion.

    "Wow, you didn't miss a shot, Sunghoon! You're the greatest hunter in the whole world!"

    "I know."

    "No beast alive stands a chance against you— and no guy for that matter, haha!"

    "It's true, Changbin, and I've got my sights set on that one." Sunghoon whipped out his telescope to enhance the view of his 'true love', leaving Changbin to catch the rifle that had slipped out of Sunghoon's grasp. Unfortunately, the boy tripped and face planted into the soft grass.

    "Who- the painter's son?" A muffled voice inquired incredulously.

    "He's the one- the lucky boy I'm going to marry," Sunghoon smirked, lending his chiseled arm to lift his fallen helper off the ground.

    "But he's so well-read, and you're so..... athletically inclined."

    "Yes... ever since the war I felt like I've been missing something. He's the only guy that gives me that sense of-"

    "Mmm... wae kurra ji mollaaaa?"

    "I dunno what that means."

"Yeah, me neither. I heard that JYP dude singing it..."

"Right from the moment when I met him, saw him, I said 'he's gorgeous' and I fell. Here in town there's only he- who is beautiful as me. So I'm making plans to woo and marry Jisung."