Inside Magic Shop • taekook

¹. 1894

the lamp on the desk shed the light on the spread out books. even tho it was daytime, they looked like they were trying to escape the dark with a little help of the light. higher up, a young tall man was tilted up above them. his dark as night eyes were roaming left and right throught the paper. you could tell he was really passionated about his current activity. but what was he even doing?

Taehyung stood up and closed the book. he went towards the door and put up a sign saying "break :) will be back in 30 minutes". it was his favourite part of the day. when he could have a whole place for himself. his introvert side had time to rest and recharge its batteries. Taehyung put a cup and pressed iced chocolate button. he waited for a few seconds and took it back. even tho it was september, it was still really warm with temperatures around 30 degrees. summer deffinitley isn't a good time to visit Korea. Tae sat back behind his desk and looked out of the window. he saw people passing by, not even knowing about his shop being just next to them. shop?

Taehyung is owner of a bookstore cafè with a mysterious name, Magic Shop. months ago, he was thinking a lot about a name. as he tought, a place like cafès or restaurants should have an interesting name which will make a potential client curious and go in. Magic Shop wasn't really a coincidence. in fact, his shop was a bit "magic" for people who exactly knows why. if a client would go outside and look up at the building, he would see small MDCCCXCIV number which means that the building itself has over 100 years old.

as Taehyung was looking back, his life was getting back to the right track. after his grandma died, he was a total mess. then, he got to know that she left him in inheritance exactly this shop. so he needed to back himself up and start thinking about his buisness. he broke up contacts with all toxic people and now they were his past (or he tought so).

after he drank his chocolate, he looked at the clock. still 20 minutes of break left. Taehyung went outside and closed the door. he was standing for a while, breathing warm, late summer air. it was getting near autumn, one of his favourite seasons. the vibe, weather, everything hits just different then. Taehyung was walking for a few minutes and stand by nearest university bulding. as he observed people going around, he remembered that not long ago, he himself was just an oddinary, university student, anxious about his future. he had no idea for how long he was standing there.

"oh, I think I need to go back now. break is over man", he scolded himself and turned to go back. and then, he saw someone he wished was just a play of his brain.

him?

Jeon Jeongguk? Taehyung took a quick look at his face. yes, it was indeed him. his closest childhood friend that he was thinking about a lot these days even if he didn't want to. he was seeing his face in dreams, his toughts, everywhere. hoping that it was indeed his brain playing with him, Taehyung quickly turned around.

when he reached his shop, he was trying to let all this toughts go away. "no, just don't let yourself overthink again. he is past and he isn't here now", he was talking to himself. he turned around the sign and now it was saying "open ♥︎". he turned on his favourite jazz music, not from the playlist but vinyl.

Taehyung was known among his closest ones a a "man with an old soul". in fact, it was even hard to communicate with him in any way. he didn't have kakao or any other apps. the only way was his private instagram account that not everyone even knew about. he was even barley using his phone, still noting everything in a big book.

as Taehyung sat down, he started to pretending that he was doing something as he heard noises downstairs and the sound of ringing bell. then, he saw a group of his friends walking in. two boys and girls stand in a circle around Taehyung's desk.

"so, how is your new buisness going?" a tall girl started talking. "you don't look so happy. something happend?"
Taehyung just rolled his eyes. he loved Yuna but sometimes, she was really annoying. he knew that she was doing it all because she was taking care of him like that but anyways... could she stop yapping sometimes?

"first, it's not so new and also, it's going good. second, what are y'all doing here? you don't have to study? or work?"
a tall, young man laughed in response.
"you know what, since you have that bookstore, you became like an old man. just study, work, no meetings, no socialising. you know that you're getting old?"
Taehyung looked at Bogum. if looks could kill, he definitley won't be standing here anymore, still smiling stupidly at him. after all, Taehyung couldn't be that bad to his friends.

"alright, you can stay and work here. but just be quiet."
after this, Taehyung went out somewhere and came back with many colors. he sat down and started drawing. he used to do bookmarks so that customers will have something in addition.

he saw that Lia was looking at him but played dumb. after few seconds he had enough. why is she staring at me like that? girl, just do something. he just looked at her to let her know to focus on her work but instead, Lia was next to him within seconds.
"hey, I can see it. you're always quiet but not THAT quiet. what happend to you?"
Taehyung looked at her. what should he say? nothing? she won't let him live in peace. truth? that'd be even worse. he took a deep breath and...

"I saw... him. just a few hours before"
Lia just looked at Taehyung as he is in high fever or something.
"him? you mean... oh gosh, wait... HIM? J...?"
but Taehyung didn't let her end and just nodded slowly.
"mhm. I tought that he's somewhere far away or... I don't know. but he's so close. TOO close. didn't you tell me last year that he flew to America?"
"he did but... shit, I forget to tell you. he came back. just before his next academic year started. it was just an international exchange for a year."

the shop filled with uncomfortable silence. Lia looked carefully at Taehyung.
"you know... if anything happens... you have us, remember? you can still talk to us and..."
Taehyung stopped her again. she didn't need to end. he knew it all. he just wished he didn't go out for this break. oh, how he wished now for Jeongguk to be so far away, in his States. or... maybe he didn't? to be honest, he wasn't even sure. at some point, he hated him so much but... maybe some part of him was missing Jeongguk?

maybe?

that maybe was so loud to the point that it annoyed Taehyung. how could he miss someone that he even didn't talk to for years?

wondering like that, he came back to doing his bookmarks. little did he know, Jeongguk also saw him. and promised himself to find him no matter what.

༘˚ 𝟕 ₊˙

hey lovies! how are you? first chapter is finally here! do you like it? take it as a gift, since I have my birthday today :)
soo... Jeongguk is definitley cooking something. wanna see? 🤍🫶🏻
see y'all soon!