Garden Days

Dimple

"You cheated." Irene accused while dropping the bowl onto the counter, flustered.
Jin laughed from his stool, watching her move about the kitchen in a red apron. "I'm a farmer. What did you expect?" He retorted teasingly before she turned around with a pout.
"Then I'm right- you cheated... Cheater."
Jin leaned over the island counter. "If you don't want to cook, I can do it."
"Who said I don't want to?" Irene started to turn red, arms crossed in slight panic.
"You." Still, he smiled.
She stayed silent, holding his gaze with an almost equal steel regardless. However, the young woman broke it and defeated, answered: "I c-can't cook."
Jin tried not to grin in amusement; not at how she couldn't cook, but at how she acted and put up a ruse to make him think she could. It was a cute and valiant effort. "That's nothing to be upset about."
"But I'm your fiancée-."
"It wouldn't matter if you're my wife or a passing stranger. Not everyone is born with the ability to cook nor are they taught. Heck, I cooked for my friends for years because they didn't know how."
The reassurance brought a smile to Irene's face. "I can teach you, if you'd like."
"Thank you, Seok-jin. That would mean a lot to me."
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"You've never been here?"
The young duo went into town for lunch instead, Jin promising to teach Irene at dinner. "Well, not exactly. It's been a long time," Irene answered, stopping at an open vendor to take a look at their diverse stock. "After the incident, my father didn't want me being around...'the less fortunate', as he calls them. He was afraid something like that might happen again- How's this look?" A baseball cap hugged her head, her red lips popping against the dull, blue colors.

"Wonderful." Jin answered in short, almost unable to look away. "I was wondering...if I could purchase a few outfits while we're here." Currently, he was wearing Sehun's clothing- or what had been left behind, and it made him feel uncomfortable. He couldn't stop worrying about Irene, of how the clothes were little reminders of last night and of Sehun himself. "I don't have much money at the moment, but I'll work to pay you back-."
"Don't worry about it." Irene handed a few dollars to the street vendor for the cap and led Jin down the street. "Now that you mention it," She stopped in her tracks, thinking. "You didn't really arrive with anything else except that...suit." She jokingly mocked. "Let's grab lunch and then we can start your wardrobe."
Trying not to burst from excitement, Seokjin started. "What are you in the mood for?"
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"They have really good kkori gomtang." Jin and Irene sat on the restaurant's terrace, watching strangers go about their day, shopping and talking with each other.
"It seems very relaxing here."
"Relaxing?"
"Usually I favor the quiet and calm scenery around me, but sitting here among these people....I like it." A small smile graced Irene's lips. "I think it's because," A careful pause. "I'm with you."
Jin scratched the back of his head, suddenly bashful, and looked down at the table. "I never expected something so...ah, I just didn't think I was that type of person."
"You've been very kind towards me." The young woman stated. "You may or may not be the person I think you are but I'd be glad to call you my friend- at least for a moment." She stretched her hand out over the table for a handshake; he noticed immediately but waited to take it seeing she had more to say. "I want that moment to turn into something precious, something real and the only way for that to happen is if we are honest with each other." Joo-hyun was very sure and kept her arm outstretched with a pretty, red smile.
Seok-jin was feeling a mix of emotions as he stared at her face. What could he say to match such beautiful words? How could he take her hand? He had secrets that, if found out, she would want nothing to do with him. Slowly, he lifted his right hand, hesitating. "Irene, I-."
"Jin," Said man whipped his head around, looking for the owner and finding a boy's chest blocking the view. "Is this the lady you told us about?"
Jin frowned and pulled the young boy to his level. "Be respectful you little-!"
"He's just teasing you." Another man called out, his voice much more authoritative.
"Namjoon..." Jin released the boy when the man came into view. "What are you and Jungkook doing here?" Namjoon pulled up a chair and seated hisself.

"We were headed home but saw you; didn't realize you had company until now."
Jin glanced at Irene, hoping she wasn't as uncomfortable with the situation as he was. "This is Bae Joo-hyun." Irene was lightly gripping his right hand with a smile, trying not to show how anxious she was.
"Bae? You mean, Ji-cheol's daughter?" Namjoon was good at hiding emotion- almost too good, so it was difficult to say what he was feeling. Ji-cheol was not favored upon in the slightest by people of Namjoon's societal class. Once asked about his views on socio-economic backgrounds, Ji-cheol shamed the poor and broke, blaming them for their own misfortune.
Of course, this didn't sit well with many people and Bae apologized immediately. Namjoon refused to forgive the man of his ignorance and it appeared Joo-hyun knew, if not assumed, of the grudge.
"She's not like him, if that's what you're thinking." Jin assured quickly, before changing the subject to a more personal and important matter. "If you could stop by my house and-."
"No." Namjoon refused.
"JK?" Jin hated asking Jungkook to do things for him, but he just needed one thing.
"Your parents took everything they could sell and left- that includes your stupid sh-." The older answered.
"I'll look for it myself then." Jin cut him off and turned back to Irene. "If you have nothing good to say, then leave."
"Hey, you're the one who asked." Namjoon looked at JK and stood from the chair. "Let's get home."
"Will you visit us?" Jungkook asked, genuinely worried and curious while he clung to his hyung's shoulder.
Jin smiled and peeled the boy's hands away gently. "Who do you think I am? Of course I'll come see you- you still owe me after I footed your bill."
"Then I guess you'll be seeing us forever." Jungkook teased, hitting the man on the shoulder before joining his friend at the gate. "Ms. Joo-hyun," he added, suddenly hyper and full of excitement. "When you and Jin get married, can I come? Sana wouldn't-."
"JK, we're leaving." Namjoon snatched Jungkook by his collar and dragged him away, the atmosphere suddenly a little heavier.
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Done. I struggled with this chapter for a long time. Next one should be easier. Also, I'm using predebut Jungkook for anyone confused on why he's referred to as 'boy'.