Thaïs | TaeJin, KookJin

Chapter II

SeokJin had grown quite accustomed to that new life in the quaint town of Gwangmi, alongside his husband, living their married life finally.

He enjoyed, despite his earlier protests, dedicating time to the care of their home. Seeing that neither curtains nor rugs got dusty and that dinner and lunch were prepared to greet Taehyung when he returned, tired, from the clinic.

He was used to the hustle of a big city as was the capital, however, and in a small town such as that one, it had been a been a bit of a bore for him to adapt in the beginning.

But a month had gone by and, even though not many people sympathised with him living with his husband —dismissing it as a 'vice come from Seoul' instead of love—, the friendly brunet was quite popular as a new resident among that nice townspeople.

That was the reason he, when his chores were done, and his house was perfumed with the sweet scent of the orchids and blossoms he had plucked from his beautiful garden, Jin had a habit of wandering out, around the town so he could see what it had to offer and if he could, too, find a friend in the process.

And so he was, strolling down the small boulevard of shops and convenience stores. That summer afternoon was quite a hot one, and SeokJin —with a baby blue shirt and a sinful pair of the shortest shorts made of denim— was starting to lament the loss of that fan his husband had given him as a wedding present.

"Well, heyo, there!" greeted a red haired smiling cutie with a heart-shaped smile, against the door of a nice shop or boutique named Maison Jung.

"Hello, stranger!" Jin smiled, and proceded to walk over to the shorter red haired "You are the owner, I trust?"

He bowed to the brunet, who returned the gesture "Pleased to meet you. Jung Hoseok" he introduced himself with that same smile "You are the new resident, I trust?" he used his same words, mockingly.

"Yes. Kim SeokJin is my name" the brunet introduced himself as the red haired one allowed him inside his shop.

"And what's your game?" the shorter one asked with an amused smile at the confused face the cute brunet pulled at his words "Mine's sellin'!"

Jin was confused. He was still getting used to that Satoori of theirs. Quite slowly.

Hoseok showed him around a boutique which seemed too 'urban' for a town which, in a certain aspect, resembled one of those traditional villages of the Joseon Era.

There were all sorts of luxury items displayed all round that charming shop —from satin scarves and blouses to sweet perfumes; from delicate china to utensils or chopsticks made of engraved silver.

"This are beautiful" Jin sighed as he traced his fingertips, in a delicate fashion, over hand fans of satin painted with the motifs of Oriental landscapes.

"Of course! I do 'em myself!" Hoseok exclaimed with that blinding smile and took one from the shelf, showing it to an awed SeokJin "This is the one I feel you'll adore!"

It had a light blue satin screen with a painting —in a deeper shade of blue— of a mountain that seemed to be Jirisan* and it was held all together with a delicate mother of pearl.

Jin was breathless upon such beauty and elegance "I-it's... a bit too much for someone like me, I believe" he admitted, in a pained tone, as he felt how his heart was shredded as he handed Hoseok the fan.

"Nonsense!" the latter chirped with the same smile as always "You are beautiful, and boys as beautiful deserve presents as beautiful!" Hoseok said, no ounce of embarrassment.

Jin, nonetheless, blushed and smiled at that "But, I'm afraid I cannot..."

"You gon' take this as my gift to welcome you to the town!" he went behind the counter to put the folded hand fan in a small box, decorated with a rose of white satin "As they do in the United States, eh?"