Clash of Colors

City Boy vs Country Girl

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"Ho! So, there you are," a man with deeply sun-tanned skin in his early 50's called out in greeting. He was standing on the doorstep of a lovely bricked home surrounded by patches of grass. Dressed in a thin white shirt and jeans. Diagonal to the house in the back was a barn structure. Faded red with white panels. A green tractor was parked out front. The large black wheels dripping with water from an earlier clean.

"Welcome to Gimje," he held his hand out. Warmly smiling.

Sehun took his hand out of courtesy. Half-heartedly giving it a shake then pulled his hand back. "Where can I change? My shirt got dirty."

"Oh no..." the elder man peeked at his shirt then looked at the rooster. "Sambok, how could you?"

The rooster clucked a tale of innocence.

"Sam...bok?" Sehun's brow dipped. He narrowed a dirty eye at the girl he'd come with. Swearing she had called the rooster Minseok. Sehun scoffed, realizing he'd been tricked.

"What happened to the eggs?" the girl's father stared at the yolk stained basket where half pieces of egg shells were scattered like puzzle pieces.

"I didn't make it in time," she replied.

"Go wash up. It'll start smelling. Go on."

"Come on," she took a step toward the doorway pausing when he was also in the way. Their shoulders bumped. Sehun refused to budge. Shooting her his still nasty stare.

Sambok clucked noisily. Pacing around their legs and purposely stepped on his dear white tennis shoes with his feet. Leaving in his wake a faint brown mark. Sehun made a noise deep in his throat.

"My shoes!" he cried out hurling back.

"You should have worn something more appropriate," the girl chided.

"Now, now," her father cut in waving his hand to urge her inside. Sehun turned in time to see her making a face at him. Attention on him, "I'll show you to your room." He stretched an arm out to help with his suitcase. Offering, "Let me help."

"No need," Sehun snapped grabbing his suitcase. Lifting the baggage, he stepped into the house with his shoes on.

An open entryway on his right invited him into the broad kitchen. A cheery yellow with a cozy ambience. In the middle of the room was a square table with four chairs tucked in and topped with tiny flowers in a jar. On the counter miscellaneous kitchen tools sat around in an organized manner only the owner of the house would understand. Then...his nose twitched. He smelled food.

"Your room is this way," the old man walked past him. Sehun followed.

On the creamy walls were pictures. Each one hung with careful thought from firsts to lasts in a mannerly time frame. Of a little girl shyly posing in front of her elementary class. Then more as she got older. Some with a younger man he recognized as her father. Until they got older together. Sehun spotted the most recent picture of them standing together in front of the wooden gates he'd just passed. Holding a plaque together.

To his right was another cozy room. Decorated with comfort in mind. The blue furniture still plump with couch pillows and a blanket draped over its back. Props for an easy nap whenever they tired. Surprisingly, they had a fireplace. Above it was seven potted flowers. Each of them the color of the rainbow. Sehun deducted it was the girl who had done it.

"You can call me Uncle Kim if that suits you better," the salt and pepper haired man kindly explained. "You're welcome to use anything here. I agreed to accept you on the condition that you at least help around. I promised your father to give you as much as you do."