0 7
𝕾𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖓

THE MORNING GREETED CHAEYOUNG entirely unexpectedly. She had been sure that she would never fall asleep in a bed that was not her own. One moment she has been lying here shifting positions and the next thing she knew, she realized she had in fact slept through most of the night in the arms of a man she had recently met.

Chaeyoung sat up cautiously, not wanting to disturb him and not sure what she should do. She looked down at him sleeping. His arm was out wide which she had laid on throughout the night. She had a flash of every detail from last night. How her head was cradled in the crook of his left arm as her hand laid upon his arm. She wanted to facepalm herself. What is wrong with you Chaeng?

Suddenly, Chaeyoung heard someone calling her from the other side of the shoji screen door. She recognized the voice of Fuyu. Her heart began to race as her brain was waking up in a panic mode. "Oh no, it seems like she wants to come in."

Chaeyoung turned to him and whispered, "Jungkook, wake up." She grabbed his pillow and smashed it against his body. Jungkook quickly sat up.

Chaeyoung pointed her finger toward the door. They exchanged nonverbal communications with hand gestures. Gestures would pose a question such as 'what are we going to do?' Jungkook finally came up with a solution and motioned her to lean towards him.

"Dōzo haitte kudasai (Please come in)," Jungkook said. Fuyu slid open the shoji door, slipping off her sandals and stepping inside the room. She brought a lacquered tray covered with dishes of food and a small chime.

Jungkook put his arm around the shoulders of his 'wife'. She forced her lips into a smile. Jungkook whispered in her ear, "Uh-uh. Not very natural. Looks like you just backed into a prickly pear. You were fine last night." She fought hard not to slap him in front of Fuyu.

"Did you two sleep well last night?" Fuyu set the tray down in front of them with a smile, "I brought a tray of food. It is good to enjoy your breakfast with the outside view."

The two of them both bowed with a short nod, as a common courtesy, thanking Fuyu. Fuyu turned her attention to Chaeyoung. Fuyu held her hand, "I want to take you to the market later today. They sell food and clothes. I always wanted to go with someone."

Chaeyoung looked at him, waiting for him to translate back. "Kanojo wa issho ni kite shiawase ni narimasu (She will be happy to come along)."

Fuyu's smile became wider and joy travelled to her eyes, "I will leave two to enjoy breakfast together." With that, she left the room.

Chaeyoung asked, "What was that about?"

Jungkook stood up to slide the shoji door open. They were able to get a view of the garden amid a scene of cherry trees, the pink and tiny peddles falling slowly. Chaeyoung was in awe of the flowering plants and trees, their vivid colors, their scents, and the bridges and ponds near the cherry trees and bamboo groves.

Jungkook sat the opposite of her and in front of the low-legged dining table. "Fuyu wants to take you to the market."

Her eyes widened and her voice went a little higher in panic, "What? I cannot talk to her when I do not know how to speak Japanese."

Jungkook placed a pair of chopsticks on top of her bowl. "You will be fine. Just nod, shake your head, or just smile."

Chaeyoung gritted her teeth and said sarcastically, "Thanks for the tip."

"Let's eat, I am starving." Jungkook said to her. She pouted her lips, staring at him angrily. Her worries regarding the 'date' with Fuyu disappeared as she looked down at the tray. Chaeyoung's mouth opened slightly, practically drooling. She brought her face close, closed her eyes, and inhaled the heavenly mix of foods steaming on the plates. The food smelled so good, she moaned and then dig in.

Jungkook took his first bite of perfectly-cut rolled omelette. He raised his head as he chewed, looking at the view outside. When he looked around the room, he stopped chewing. His gaze settled on Chaeyoung. She kept eating happily, oblivious to her surroundings. Was she going to eat all these food? The thought amazed him. The eyebrow still raised as an amused smile appeared on his face. He watched her for a few moments longer and then turned his attention to the food again.

❀ ❀ ❀

"You should rest a little."

Jungkook turned around to see Chaeyoung smiling at him. His lips parted slightly. Chaeyoung blushed when she saw his reaction to her new look.

The date with Kuyu was fun as they roamed around the market. Chaeyoung saw a model with dark brown hair from the hair salon shop. From that moment, she decided to change her hair.

"Wow," was all Jungkook could say. He leaned on the shovel. He was totally speechless. "Brown hair does suits you really well."

"Thank you," Chaeyoung mumbled, hiding her rosy cheeks behind her hair. She handed him a quart jar of cold water. Jungkook laid down the shovel and grabbed the jar from her hold as he drank deeply from the jar.

"What are you doing right now? Do you need help?" Chaeyoung asked.

Jungkook wiped the sweat from his forehead as he glanced around the greenhouse, "Masao was not able to start planting vegetables and fruits from the other side of his greenhouse. I asked if I could help him since I want to thank him for his hospitality. I just got done shoveling. You can help me plant some seeds if that is okay with you."

Chaeyoung nodded. She squatted down beside him. She began making small little rows with her fingers along with him.  She glanced over at Jungkook time after time. She had never seen him like this before as he narrowed his eyes in concentration. He poked his finger into the soil, setting the plant into the hole and pressing the soil around it. His muscles bunched and flexed as he was working. His tank top drenched in sweats, hair dark and matted.

Jungkook's eyes met hers as he caught her staring at him. Chaeyoung jerked her face away. He chuckled, "Is my face amusing to look at?"

Chaeyoung looked at him again and smiled. "I cannot believe I was able to witness this side of you live with my own eyes. One moment, you were fighting with people in a bloody suit. The next thing I knew, you were gardening and planting seeds."

Jungkook chuckled, "Well, life is full of surprises." He rose, dusting off the dirt from his jeans and hands before switching on the watering can to drench the dirt. "I like to garden. It has been one of my favorite ways to relax, to create and to feel one with nature. I love to watch things grow under my care and how something would grow from nothing to something. I always planted flowers in the garden so the house would not look so plain."

Jungkook stopped short in the middle of his talk and looked back at her. She stared at him observantly, waiting to hear whether he would say anything more.

He put the watering can down and grabbed the shovel, jabbing it into the pile of dirt. "I had always dreamed of moving to the countryside, away from busier cities or towns where the lifestyle would be peaceful. Just a garden full of vegetables and plants along a farm. It would be wonderful to have friends and families close by as well."

A smile pulled at the corners of her mouth as she poked the mound of dirt with her finger. She never thought he had this sweet side in him. Cute. She gazed back up at him. Her cheeks had flushed a bright pink. Jungkook, leaning on the handle of the shovel, studied her face for a moment.

He seemed to be studying her closely. "Something wrong?" she asked. He held her gaze and moved within inches of her face.

"You have something on your face," Jungkook ran his fingers across her hot cheek with dirt, a smile edging the corners of his mouth. Chaeyoung's jaw dropped wide open in shock. He chuckled at her reaction to his teasing.

"Hey," Chaeyoung pouted her lips. "I believe what you did just now was out of hand. Perhaps you have something to say to me?" She folded her arms.

"Right." He smiled. A fake, bullshit smile plastered across his face that still somehow looked effortlessly charming. "I'm sorry for my action."

Chaeyoung was not buying his 'heartfelt' apology so she looked around for something, grinning wickedly when an idea pops up. "I know how to make you behave," she whispered. She reached for the hose with high pressure spray nozzle.

Jungkook knew exactly what she will do. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," he warned her.

Jungkook felt the cold, wet spray of water hit him square in the front and traveled downward. She squirted him with the garden hose. She let out soft giggles.

Raising an arm to shield his face from the water's spray. He said, "You are playing with fire."

Another giggle. "Just letting you know that I am the one who has the garden hose."

"Too late," he said as he charged and grabbed a hold of the hose.

She gave a war cry, securing her hold on her portion. Jungkook twisted the nozzle and aimed it in the direction of Chaeyoung.

"Hey!" she shrieked, one arm folded over her head. This time he was the one chuckling. Being the stronger one, Jungkook twisted her around. He tackled her to the ground. Pinning her beneath him, he took some of the dirt and smeared it all over her cheek. She closed her eyes and scrunched up her face.

"Stop! Stop! I give up," she yelled, laughing. "Don't mess up my hair. I just got my hair done."

"What will you do for me if I don't mess up your hair?" Jungkook asked, pulling away from her so that he could look into her face.

"I'll buy you a drink," she bargained, her lips twitching from the effort to keep from laughing.

"That's not good enough." He smirked. He cocked his head to review his handiwork. "Maybe you need a little more makeover."

"You name it, I will do it," she said desperately.

"You owe me big time, princess." Jungkook realized that he should not lay on her much longer. With her squirming and bucking to throw him off of her body was not helping at all.

Jungkook stood up and offered his hand to help her up. He should have been warned by her mischievous smile, but he was completely taken off guard. As soon as she rose from the ground, she caught a handle of mud and smeared it across his cheek.

He chuckled, showing off his pearly white teeth. "You don't give up, do you?"

Chaeyoung shrugged, "I'm sorry. Something came over me and I wanted to get even. Beside, I got you a little wet. Stop making such a big fuss."

Jungkook arched an eyebrow at her, amusement dancing in his eyes. "I'm soaked to the bone, in case you haven't noticed."

She'd noticed all right. His T-shirt stuck to him like a second skin, showing off every bulge and ripple of his broad shoulders and sinewy chest.

"At least I am not alone," Jungkook eyed her wet shirt. A glance down and she smothered a gasp. She realized her own clothing was in no better shape than his, her shirt was practically transparent, revealing the white lacy bra she wore and the puckered tips of her breasts.

Chaeyoung tried to cover up by hugging herself. "This is embarrassing," she mumbled as she began to let out an embarrassing laugh. Jungkook draped a flannel shirt around her shoulders, "Wear this in a meantime. It can help you cover yourself until we are dried off before heading back inside." She nodded, grinning.

They sat on the wooden bench. They glanced at each other and grinned. Dirt smeared on both sides of their cheeks.

Chaeyoung laughed just a little at first. "You look like a mess." She commented on his current look. "You look even worse than me." They looked at each other laughing and they laughed even more.

Chaeyoung observed his face, thinking how different he looked when he smiled. Nothing like a cold-blooded mafia leader. She spoke quietly, "Why did you become a leader of a criminal organization that enforces illegal activities?"

Jungkook's face went all serious. Oh no, Chaeyoung realized that she should not ask that kind of question. Way a go Chaeyoung. You just had to ruin the mood. Chaeyoung's mouth opened, ready to apologize but Jungkook answered before she could.

"It is my responsibility."

He clasped his hands together, the muscle in his throat working as he focused on his fingers. "Where else can I do what I'm trained to do. My father was the leader. Most people expected my older brother to follow in our father's footsteps," There was a long pause. "Somehow, I was announced to be the next leader." He explained, his jaw clenched as he was remembering unpleasant memories.

"I was young and inexperienced. I wanted to quit living as a leader of a well-known Mafia in Korea. However, I was supported by many people. They stood by me even when I was a young, unsuitable leader. They've helped me become the person that I am today. We may have different stories come but we hold common goals. I am responsible for the lives of these people. I cannot leave these people behind. They also have families to take care."

THIS BOOK IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THIS
CHAPTER IS CURRENTLY BEING RE-EDIT. PLEASE DO READ ANOTHER STORY AND COME BACK LATER OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE CONFUSED IF YOU READ FURTHER.