Somewhere in Time || A VKook Saga

[Six]

1955, The Beginning

Jung-kook remembered their initial meeting as if it was just yesterday. It was actually Jung-kook who had approached Taehyung, albeit shyly at first. Jung-kook's desire for human interaction, especially those close to his age, had prompted him to search for someone that he can relate with.

For most of his childhood, he had been restricted to the grand halls of his household as instructed by his parents, who feared for his safety as the war in Korea went on. Only when the battle ended in 1953, did they later permit him to venture out of his own home.

Jung-kook's curiosity for friends led him straight to the farm where the head farmer was tending to the fields. There he saw a little blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy helping the old man round up the chickens.

It's not the first time that Jung-kook had passed by this part of their property, but most times he had seen the farmer by himself. So the presence of a new face, especially one as tall as he was, intrigued him.

Slowly he approached the two figures that seemed oblivious to his existence. Jung-kook cleared his throat and the old man turned his head to the sound of a feeble voice.

"Oh, Hi there, young master," the head farmer smiled at the raven-haired boy. "What brings you here to this neck of the woods?"

"Woo... woods?" Jung-kook was unsure if he had heard it correctly. He's almost certain that they were standing in the middle of the farmland that his family owned. No trees were in sight for it to be called "the woods."

The head farmer threw his head back and produced a hearty laugh. "Oh, I'm sorry, young master. It was only an expression. Forgive this old fool."

Jung-kook released a sigh of relief, happy that the rancher did not treat him like a stranger that he could not approach. He returned a smile and said, "That's okay, Uncle Nam."

Beside him, the young helper listened to the conversation and looked expectantly at both men.

"Oh, I'm sorry, young master, have you met my son?" the head farmer asked.

"Yo... your son?" Jung-kook stammered, glancing at the fair-skinned lad and back at the older man.

"Yes, my son, Taehyung." The rancher responded. "He's ten, almost the same age as you, Young Master."

Uncle Nam turned to his child and instructed, "Please greet the young master, Taehyung."

The boy with the mop of blonde hair just kept gazing at Jung-kook like a deer caught in headlights. Jung-kook shifted uncomfortably, looking at the soles of his own feet, and twiddling his thumbs not knowing what to do with this awkward silence.

Taehyung's stare, however, was broken when Jung-kook offered him a handshake. "Hi Taehyung, my name is Jung-kook, and it's nice to meet you."

The former took the latter's hand and firmly gripped it, causing Jung-kook to wince. "Nice to meet you, young master," Taehyung finally said.

Jung-kook's face broke into a wide grin and responded, "You can call me Jung-kook."