The Merchant and The Fool

Chapter 2

Hyejin finds herself at peace as she wanders around the busy streets of Seoul. The sun is still out beaming, casting light where it allows it to. Smiling contentedly she wanders around, occasionally finding customers old and new. She finds herself in an amicable mood despite earlier events. Seeing her favorite waffle stall, she then let her feet lead her towards the tasty treat.

"Yo Hoseok!" Hyejin chirps as she begins to pull out her wallet. Hoseok, her new acquaintance, smiles at her in familiarity and greets her back just as brightly.

"Hey hey hey Hyejin!" he cheers as he prepares her favorite order, chocolate banana flavored waffles.

As they chat warmly while Hoseok prepares her tasty treat, once her waffle is finished, she stays to chat.

"So Hoseok, when will you ever find the lucky person?" she teases loftily, her eyebrows wiggling at him. Hoseok chokes on his spit and coughs, Hyejin moves around the stall to pat his back in a consoling way. He swats her arm away in mock anger.

"Ya look at you, you're like 27 and single?!" Hoseok exclaims, his lips forming into a heart-shaped smile. Hyejin blushes furiously and nearly chokes on her waffle. Glaring at Hoseok, who whistles on the side, she fixes herself and harrumphs.

"Ain't got no time for that, I got the cafe, Nepeta and art in my life Seok," she chastises him, "and besides who would date someone in their late 20s, let alone marry." she laughs, further stuffing her face with the waffle. Hoseok looks at her in slight worry. He sighs and moves onto other topics.

Minutes pass by and Hyejin finishes her waffle. Waving Hoseok goodbye, she then walks away and back into the city streets. The streets are bustling and full of life as Hyejin takes a calm stroll, occasionally selling a few things. A familiar face catches her eyes. Looks like he has been staring at her for quite some time.

It was Jeon Jungkook.

Oh! One of the loud students from the cafe earlier, she recalls, still staring at him.

Seconds pass and the stares turn awkward. She awkwardly waves at him, hoping she didn't come across as oddly intimidating. To her surprise, the student waves back, flashing his bunny teeth at her. She finds the smile cute and walks closer. He notices and his eyes widen in surprise.

"Hi!" she chirrups at him, smiling.

The student flushes and says hi back quietly. Hyejin wonders if he's sick.

"I hope the trouble earlier didn't bother your table," she starts off awkwardly rubbing the back of her neck as she smiles.

"Are you kidding me? You were awesome when you shut that lady down!!" the student from earlier exclaims loudly. No, as in, really loudly. After realizing his volume, and noticing a couple of glances, his face flushes again and he ducks his head in an embarrassed manner. Hyejin chuckles a little bit which flusters Jungkook more.

"Haha yes, customers like her are sadly normal in this world," she says. Jungkook finds himself enjoying her company. A pregnant silence then befalls them. Someone's phone rings. Jungkook feels around his pockets, to find that his phone was ringing this whole time. The caller ID says HOBI. Jungkook tells her it's his roommate and answers.

"Yo Hobi wassup?" Jungkook answers casually, trying to seem cool in front of Hyejin.

"Yo dumbass, did you change the lock on our door again?" Hoseok asks sweetly as he stands in front of their apartment door mildly infuriated despite the bright, venomous smile on his face. Hoseok's smile scares the people walking by the hallway and they seem to distance themselves from the venomous man nearby. Jungkook feels sweat dripping down his face, so that's what he forgot, he forgot to give Hoseok the new keys. Fuck.

"Uh, ok I can explAin-" Jungkook begins before Hoseok interrupts him.

"Explain later, just getcho self home before I break this door down!" Hoseok chirps. This is one of those days where Jungkook truly feels his Hyung.

"Okok, fine I'll get home as fast as I can," Jungkook replies hastily, Jungkook then proceeds to end the call and takes a glance at Hyejin. She gives him an odd look.

"You alright there?" She asks worriedly. He nods and chuckles a little bit in panic. 'Good god Hoseok might break the door,' those thoughts run rampant through his mind as he panics more and more.

"Yeah, my roommate just needs new keys since I changed our locks," Jungkook says, the word 'again' went unsaid and he hopes she doesn't catch on. She nods and gives him a look that he can't decipher.

"Good luck on that," she laughs, she then hands him a small slip of card, "my number, in case you want to talk more!". Hyejin smiles brightly. 'Oh my god, she's so cute when she smiles like what the fuck I think my heart can't take this much serotonin in' Jungkook thinks. Jungkook feels himself falling in love with her more. But he slaps himself before he falls deeper into his thoughts.

"O-ok!" he nods frantically, feeling himself flush. Saying his goodbye to her, he runs wildly back through the streets of Seoul to their apartment before his Hyung decides on murder.

As Hyejin waves the mysterious boy she then came to realize one thing, she forgot to get his name. Hyejin curses herself and slaps her forehead.

Dumbass.

What made her feel even more stupid was that she didn't even tell him her name. Hyejin further feels more stupid at this and winces at herself.

"At least he has my number," she mutters to herself.