Music Lovers (Taennie Version)

2

"No freaking way!" Lisa cries.

Jennie and Lisa are standing at a rough-hewn wooden table in the kitchen of Lisa's in-laws' country home making chocolate chip cookies. Since Jennie had explained that in her nervousness of bumping into Tae she had forgotten to bring something back to the house, they decided to whip up some of their own.

"What's he doing here in Gimhae?" Lisa asks, about to lick some raw dough from a spoon before changing her mind and setting it down.

"I don't know. Probably something to do with the family emergency that took him away from work." Jennie picks up the spoon instead, swiping some dough with her finger and popping it into her mouth.

"You can ask him next time you see him."

"I hope I don't see him again actually."

Lisa stops mid-placing a tray of cookies in the oven. "Why not? He could be your 'go on a date with a local.'"

Jennie scoffs on the way to the large farmhouse-type sink to place some dirty utensils. "He's my boss! I am not going to go on a date just to cross that off the list."

Pushing the door of the oven closed, Lisa straightens up and sets the timer on the keypad. "But he's a local."

"He's a music producer from the city who's here to visit family. Doesn't count. And again, I work under him."

"Haven't you always wanted to be 'under him' in a different way," she asks, pumping her eyebrows in a jokey way.

Jennie cackles at the sleazy comment. "As if."

"I can see it now..." Lisa starts, gesturing with her hand stretched in front of her as if she's reading a marquee sign. "Girl meets boy in a small town. Boy saves girl from the evil clutches of her hectic work schedule. Maybe she will learn the true meaning of love."

The two women share a laugh and Jennie rolls her eyes at the cliché Hallmark movie trope being referenced. "You wanted me to find a farmer, remember?"

"Fine. But this is a small town. Don't think you can avoid him the whole time."

"I'm sure I can," she says confidently.

Little does Jennie know, soon enough she'll be eating her words.

~~~~~~~

The next morning the two women find themselves on a trail that curves down a forested hillside for their after-breakfast walk. Following a split-rail fence, beyond which a pasture stretches out, they chit chat and admire the horses dotting the field, their tails swishing at the flies that float and glimmer in the air. 

Eventually they come to a small farm and notice a man standing between rows of green leafy plants. When he sees them, he lifts a hand in greeting.

Jennie squints against the fierce sunlight, her stomach rising as she recognizes him - her boss. Should we slow down, she thinks to herself. Is he going to come over here? Should I call out and introduce him to Lisa?

Instead she chooses a fourth option...she trips over a root and goes sprawling in the mud, one hand landing squarely in something that appears to be poop. A lot of it.

"Are you okay?" Lisa asks, darting her eyes between Jennie and Tae, who is now approaching.

Jennie clambers onto her feet, gaze snapping toward Tae who definitely didn't miss her dramatic fall. For a second, she contemplates turning down the path and running away.

"Good morning, ladies," Tae says, his voice deep and rich.

It's too late. Jennie shudders at the thought of revealing her hand smeared with animal pellets so she tucks her arms behind her as if she's bound with handcuffs. Desperately hoping the stench is far enough from anyone's nostrils.