One Afternoon in the Park

Mr. Broody

Jaebum waited exactly a week to return to the park, not wanting to seem like a creep, but also thinking that Jinyoung would more likely be at the park on a Sunday anyway. He sat on the bench where he first saw the beautiful man the week previous, notebook on his crossed legs, jotting down some lyrics.

After getting a few lines written, he looked at his phone and realized he'd been there for over an hour, and he kind of felt stupid, knowing that he was probably waiting for nothing.

He decided to stay though, just because the fresh air was so nice, and he really did feel a better flow being out in the warm sunshine and taking in the aesthetic of the slowly dimming light of the evening.

Not sure of how much time had gone by, he'd lost himself in a cluster of lines that had come to him, that he was quickly writing down.

"Wow, is this how out of it I looked last time?"

The voice came out of nowhere, and while it was soft, sweet, and low, it caused Jaebum to lurch out of his seated position and slam the notebook shut. He spun around and saw Jinyoung leaned on the back of the bench, chin resting on his hands. He smiled, eyes looking up at him, and stood up.

"Awfully skittish, but makes sense. You were getting pretty into whatever you were writing." Jinyoung eyed the notebook.

"I was just... writing lyrics. You startled me, I'm sorry."

"Oh don't apologize, I shouldn't have been lurking, but I must confess I was watching you for a bit." Jinyoung pointed his head in the direction of another bench that was about 20 feet across the way. Jaebum's eyes widened a bit and then Jinyoung's did in return. "I mean, just to see how long it would take you to notice me. It was just funny how focused you were, is all."

Jaebum almost laughed. He hadn't seen a flustered side of this individual. Although he hardly knew him, it just seemed like he was too cool to show that side of him.

Seeing this side of Jinyoung gave Jaebum this strange boost of confidence. "Well I can't help that I'm just that fascinating." He gave Jinyoung a bit of a teasing grin, and got an opened mouth in response, in a sort of mock shock.

"Oh... he's got an attitude, I see now." Jinyoung chuckled a bit, and Jaebum followed suit.

"You said you're new here?"

"Yeah, I just moved to Seoul from Changwon. Not really sure why, just needed a change of pace I guess."

"What do you do here?" Jaebum moved closer to Jinyoung, sitting back down on the bench, and Jinyoung leaned down again, their faces lining up.

"Just doing some random things trying to pay the bills. Right now I work at a couple shops at a mall, a coffee shop and a clothing store. Nothing too glamorous." Jinyoung rolled his eyes after this. Jaebum breathed a little chuckle through his nose.

"What about you?" Jinyoung inched closer.

"Ummm, well I'm kind of in the same boat. I work at a record shop to make most of my money, but I also do a bit of freelance songwriting on the side." Jaebum looked down at his notebook, fiddling with the pages a bit. He didn't like talking about his songwriting much with people he didn't know too well, but for some reason this didn't bother him.

"Damn, a songwriter, huh? So that's why you're 'mister broody' in the park absorbed by your work."

Jaebum choked out a laugh and looked down again. "I've been told I get a little too into it."

"Well you should be! I mean it's your art. I think it's cool that you write music." Jinyoung rested his chin on his hands again, looking off into the distance.

Jaebum's eyes traced the features of his face. He hadn't gotten to see him this close the last time, and he found himself getting lost taking the beauty in again. Jinyoung tilted his head and let his eyes meet Jaebum's, causing him to cough and look away quickly, embarrassed.
Jinyoung chuckled lightly. "I know we just met, but I'd love to see some of the stuff you've written some time. I enjoy singing, so maybe you'd let me sing something."

"Oh... yeah I- That- Yeah I think we could- um." Jaebum wanted to say nothing but yes, but didn't want to come off too strong, so all that came out was a string of ramblings.

Jinyoung couldn't help but chuckle again. "You know, you really don't act like you look, tough guy. It's cute."

All bets were off, Jaebum's cheeks grew incredibly hot, and there was no hiding the intense blush all over his face.

"The mall that I work at is just down the street. You should meet me at the coffee shop I work at, we can have a proper... meeting." Jinyoung sounded so casual. Jaebum didn't understand how he could be this nonchalant with someone he just met, but he wasn't really complaining.

"Yeah, that'd be cool. Can I... have your number?" Jaebum shakily took his phone out of his pocket and handed it to Jinyoung, who took is, crooked smile on his face as he entered the digits.

He handed the phone back to Jaebum, who looked at the name he put in 'Park Jinyoung (Park Boy)' He chuckled, and sent a text to the number 'This is Im Jaebum.'

Jinyoung's phone buzzed, and he smiled as he entered the name into his contacts and showed it to Jaebum, which was 'Im Jaebum (Mr. Broody)' Both of them smiled at each other.

"Soooo you want to meet me after work Tuesday? I get off at 7, it's the Caffe Bene in the mall around the corner."

"Mmmm Tuesday at 7? Yeah I can do that." Jaebum tried to keep as calm as possible, but he was sure that Jinyoung would be able to hear his heart pounding in his chest.

"Great! See you then Jaebum, it'll be fun." Jinyoung flashed a smile before standing up and walking off.

Jaebum had to catch his breath when he finally left. Was this actually happening? He wasn't sure if this was just one of his convoluted dreams, but he didn't want to try to wake himself up to find out.