Desert • Flower | TaeJin || BOOK 3#

XXIV. Similar to its best days

Children run around, euphoric and amused by the situation that is being celebrated. The people in general decided to make a stop to their situation. The war continues, there are problems, there are some possible signs of attack, but there is no need to do it just today. They want to celebrate as much as possible. To have a needed and deserved respite of peace after all these months and years that the situation has dragged on. Dragons are flying around, doing their particular skills; children are playing, having fun; people are laughing, talking, eating, in general it's everything you would expect from a welcome to the new year. Many ask during their meal for it to be a year where the war is finally over and they don't have to worry, not even about their own troops who have also been a threat.

As is no surprise to anyone, the nobles have their own festivities among themselves, however, it cannot be said that they are very different from and the same energy and eagerness to have a different time than usual. Talking a lot, eating, drinking, laughing with each other; even with the servants who, thanks to the small village and relatively remote area, are almost family alike. Despite not sharing the same social status.

The kisaengs there are dedicated to dancing, singing and playing musical instruments with a huge smile, occasionally taking a break to eat or drink something that the servants give them, which they can enjoy equally. Everything looks so perfect that it doesn't even look like there is a war going on and it is really if it is paused until the next day and if possible even the one above.

Yune laughs and jumps holding Taehyung's hands who plays with her, both supposedly dancing to the music of the kisaengs. No one says anything up front and rather they wait until Taehyung is not around to talk about it, the fact that he has an apparently orphaned girl adopted, just as his adoptive parents did, can be a pattern; to some adorable, to others it is pathetic; to a certain very small group it seems a total disgrace to the system.

Obviously Taehyung couldn't care less, he takes a great liking to her. This girl is too charming and in a way reminds him of himself. Yune turns away and runs off with the other nobles' children, she being the youngest and the eldest being barely four years older. Lord Choi gives an affable laugh next to Taehyung.

"What a charming little girl."

"Yes. She's a charmer as whoever brought her to my door to begin with." states Taehyung with a gentle gesture. Yune on the back of one of the dragons back and forth.

"The kisaengs have a good nose for good heirs and good descendants I'm told. In the capital it doesn't happen so much, but rumor has it that around here and in more remote areas, they are taken into account when they get attached to a child because it can bring a lot of fortune." Mr. Choi says as a curious fact.

"Mr. Choi, please stop, at this rate I'll think it's better to have a good kisaeng than to see a kuminho." asks Taehyung laughing and half-bent.

"Just imparting my wisdom to you!" he exclaims just as amused.

The evening continues well even when it comes time for dinner. Finishing it, one notices a greater order among the kisaengs. It is curious, because until now and for a long time, it was possible to notice that there was no organization among them even when it was merited. It begins as a show full of charm and elegance, not only because of the instruments and their facial expressions, but also because of the way they dance. They do buchaechum dances, twirling with their huge skirts that puff out and make the bright colors of the fabric pop. It's an enchanting spectacle that draws genuine applause from everyone present.

Taehyung stops clapping, his lips half-open and the immeasurable fascination that fills him to see who enters when the act is about to wait. This is Jin. Although Jin dresses up a lot, today he gives a different shine. More special, more beautiful, more elegant. The kisaeng takes a seat next to the others who play instruments. Part of her voluminous pink hair with a big and high knot full of floral hairpins to decorate it; the trace of the extensive and smooth hair loose. His hanbok of bluish purple skirt and white top with pink; golden threads decorating in different floral patterns. Eyeliner eyes, red tinted lips and something unexplained.

A sort of confident twinkle in his small eyes. Jin takes a deep breath:

I hold my breath and enter my ocean
I face beautiful yet sadly crying me
Myself in the darkness

I've never heard him sing before. Taehyung thinks. Get to know how melodious his voice is.

I want to find you and tell you
Today, I want to get to know you even more

It is curious, because Jin closes his eyes when he sings. The melody that slides so easily down her throat and lips.

Still, I remain with myself
My voice doesn't come out, I just circle around
That dark place that I wanted to be lost in, I want to go there
I'll be there
Today again, I circle around you

You can see his body press to make his voice thinner and yet, there's not much effort to it. Even how natural it is to lower the pitch and sing low, tenderly and cozily.

The closer I get to you, the more I become breathless
And it feels like you arе getting even furthеr away
Maybe you went deeper into that sea, yeah
Myself in that sea

There's a little smile as Jin sings. Taehyung dares to say that he is having a beautiful memory as he sings and It's true! Because as he closes his eyes and sings as before, Jin remember that he got to do it for Empress Eunji while she was playing kayagum, with Agust half asleep and having to take him to his room to rest properly.

I want to find you and tell you
Today, I want to get to know you even more, yeah

As he did to calm Jimin when he cried and couldn't sleep because he was so scared; playing with Namjoon, Jimin, Jungkook and Agust in a small room away from everything. Before life in general called them.

Jin misses that...

He misses those moments where he felt happy doing what he loved the most: singing.

Still, I remain with myself
My voice doesn't come out, I just circle around
That dark place that I wanted to be locked in, I want to go there
I'll be there
Today again, I close my eyes by your side

Jin receives applause and congratulations for his singing; Jin makes a respectful bow and standing up he walks to sit next to Taehyung. He bends down to meet his gaze and is surprised that the lord averts his gaze with his face so terribly red.

~ * * * ~

Jin grunts and winks. He picks up and looks around Why is he here? He gives a shriek and hits what's next to himself, Taehyung squirms and twitches off the futon. Between frightened and in pain. Jin steps back and notices that he is heavily clothed and apart from his head, nothing hurts. Taehyung hides his face under the blanket, being between comical and strange.

"Why are you hitting me, did I just bring you to sleep here?"

"To sleep!? When!?" To be or not to be glad that Jin raised his voice a little, that's the question.

"Last night. You drank too much, started feeling sick and asked me to bring you to sleep." he explains even from his hiding place. Jin pulls the futon to uncover it and before he gives a squeal of complaint because how can he believe her nonsense like that!

Jin finds that Taehyung is redder than a tomato and can't keep contact with him for more than two seconds without hiding again. Jin remembers him like that from last night. What little he remembers before he went on a non-stop drinking binge for the new year. Not to mention that all the lords there wanted to get him drunk.

Slowly and comically Taehyung hides under his pillow and pretends to sleep for a while. Jin looks around, finding Eunji knotted up in Seok who even snores from how deeply he sleeps. His dragoness gurgles. If she's okay, it means nothing really happened, but what the heck is wrong with Taehyung?