♬ You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes offa you ♬

- "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," Frankie Valli

4th of March 1978
Jeons' Chateau

Something has gotten into Jeongguk that he's gripping his pen right now and he, at last, writing something on his journal. The plot that has been all over his head is finally having its first chapter. You know, he has brilliant ideas in his mind but he didn't know how to put them into words. But one thing is for sure, he absolutely is passionate about writing.

When he was in high school, his professor had given them a task to write a short story about unrequited love. He wrote such a masterpiece that their teacher himself started tearing up. They eventually let him participate in a competition, and of course, he had won first place.

He was in a very deep concentration of playing with words when he heard a knock. As a response, he shouted, "Come in, the door is not locked." After that, he heard footsteps approaching his way.

He is outside, on their terrace where he can see a scenery that can awestruck people who have seen it the first time. The cool breeze brought pure sereneness in him that he is even more motivated to go on with what he is doing.

"Young Master, your father is waiting downstairs for breakfast," their butler announced. He then stopped writing to face the person. "I will be downstairs in a minute," he said and the butler nodded. He bowed when Jeongguk turned his back, continuing his work, and then went down.

Since food will give him more ideas coming into his head, he started closing his journal and garnering up his things and organizing them properly and brought them to the table inside his room. After that, he went inside the bathroom to wash, because ever since he woke up, he already went outside for fresh air and to write the overflowing ideas he had.

After cleaning himself, he finally waltzed outside his room and took each step in the stairs lightly, as if he was in a film or something. He arrived in the dining area and the first person he saw was his father who sat alone on the table while the maids are all over the place serving the food.

Jeongguk's mother passed away already. She was a sickly person. Since she gave birth to Jeongguk, her body became weak and she became prone to illnesses. She didn't die of communicable disease, but of heart failure. It was something that made Jeongguk more afraid of people. Though sometimes he was seen as an optimistic person, he has been keeping his feelings to himself. He continued blaming himself for his mother's death.

Of course, when the incident was still fresh to them, his father showed hatred towards him. He had told him harsh words and all, about how he shouldn't be born and that his mother would've been alive if he didn't appear. But that was years ago when he was still seven. His father already accepted that his wife is now gone and that there are more things he needed to spend his time on and that includes their business and his only son, Jeongguk.

He joined his seat at the table and placed the cloth on his lap. He waited until the maids are done placing everything. When they did, he started reaching for food and placing them on his plate. Since his father doesn't seem to have anything to discuss, he just remained silent whilst swallowing his meal.

He took a glance at his father as he was wiping his mouth with the cloth, looking like he's about to say something to the helpers. "Have you checked the mails? There are no letters?" he asked them. One of them went near his father and handed him some envelopes and ribboned parchments.

"Oh, this one is for you, Jeongguk," his father said. Jeongguk also wiped his mouth and took the parchment his father was handling him. He opened it and saw his personal adviser's name at the bottom part. He read the words written on it. He sighed after scanning everything. "What does it says?"

Jeongguk cleared his throat before answering. "Mr. Augustin said he will not come to teach me today because he has some errands to do," he said, placing the paper on the chair beside him that the maid took afterward and then continued eating his food. "And? You're gonna stay here and do nothing besides reading or writing?" his father asked him. He didn't respond to that.

Yes, he was being tutored in their mansion, and he wasn't attending regular classes unlike other teenagers like him do in universities. He requested this from his father after he graduated secondary school. He said he doesn't like being around a lot of people and that he prefers being alone. His timid personality was the main reason he didn't gain any friends since then.

"Be thankful that I am pushing you to come outside and wander. Other parents restrict their children to go outside besides going to school. And you're here doing boring stuff. Get a life, my boy," his father exclaimed to him. Though he was offended at what his father said about reading and writing, he chose to remain silent.

"The Kims are inviting us to visit them in their chateaú on the 18th of March, you will come with me no matter what," his father said, making him raise his head with the mention of the surname. He abruptly remembered what had happened yesterday during the meeting of the businessmen all over France. Where he had a conversation with the impressive guy. Though it was short, he finds him fun to be with. He suddenly started feeling his heartbeats accelerating, a new and unusual emotion to him.

━━━

3rd of March 1978
Bordeaux, France

"... Mine's Kim Taehyung."

After the introductions, Jeongguk ran out of words to say. He isn't used to conversing with people. It was his weakness. He is afraid he will make him bored, that's why he started thinking of words to speak. "I- um, nice to meet you?" he said, extending his hand to Taehyung. The other started chuckling at him like he said something funny.

He held his hand and shook them. Jeongguk took his hand back quickly because he was conscious that it will start sweating. "Why does it sound like you aren't sure if it was pleasant to talk to me?" Taehyung smirked, holding his glass.

"Um, I didn't mean to say that in a wrong way or offend you. I-um, actually, I am not used to... um... talk to people often," he doesn't know how to explain himself. Taehyung once again chuckled at him.

"No, gorgeous. I am not offended by your words. Do not worry. Just talk casually. You're doing great," Taehyung reassured him, and Jeongguk only nodded. Out of nervousness, he poured wine on his glass and drank it. He suddenly felt flushed at what Taehyung had called him. Is he trying to flirt with a boy like him? Why would he? But one thing is for sure, many girls would've fallen for his nice gestures and delightful words. Boys like him might've fallen for him too.

If same-sex affection is a thing.

Of course, it is. Same-sex affection means being attracted, right? And being attracted means having a crush on them? And having a crush on them only means you simply find the person appealing, no romantic attraction involved. Yeah, that is what Jeongguk felt at the moment.

"So... what do you do? Are you perhaps... still studying? Or do you do something occasionally? Something you love or something you spend your time with," Taehyung started the conversation since he knew Jeongguk cannot do that. Though it doesn't seem like the boy is uncomfortable. He's just shy towards him.

"To answer your question, yeah. I-I'm still studying. Home studying. M-My father hired a personal tutor for me. And... um... Reading. Reading is a thing for me. And... writing! Yeah, I love to write. I mean write, like write a story, poems, or something."

"Wow, I didn't expect that," Taehyung said. "Though I assumed you are into baking and stuff," he added and laughed afterward. Jeongguk just felt small in front of him.

"I would love that too," Jeongguk replied shyly. "But writing is my passion. My father told me I'll inherit everything someday, but it isn't something I envision myself into. I wanted to become a well-known writer, and I always remind myself that when I read good novels from different authors."

"That's good. I think we will get along because of that," Taehyung said.

"Why? Do you express yourself in writing too?" Jeongguk started fidgeting his finger, looking like he doesn't know what to do in front of Taehyung. Because being in front of him was intimidating? It was foreign to him because for god's sake he's used to being alone!

"No, but it is something like that. I do painting sometimes. What we do are both art-related, that's why I say we will get along well." Jeongguk smiled at him. This means Taehyung is willing to be friends with him, right? Because he's saying they will get along well? Will they cross paths again after this, though?

"Well, well. My boy has finally found his company," a voice came towards them. They both turned their heads at the older men. They were their fathers.

"Funny how our sons are getting along well too," said Taehyung's father, and then all of them chuckled while Jeongguk hid his small smile. They joined the table later. A waiter approached them and offered them another bottle of wine. The older would often include the two in their conversations but after they came, Jeongguk didn't talk that much. He felt nervous and shy in front of Taehyung's father.

"Anyways, I think it is a little late already. We have to go," Mr. Kim said to Jeongguk's father, in which he nodded.

"I think we need to go too. Today is fun but tomorrow's gonna be busy, so we need to rest early." Taehyung and Jeongguk stood before them. They didn't have the chance to talk to each other more because their fathers interrupted them.

"Excuse me, I have to go to the comfort room first," Taehyung said and his father nodded too.

"I think I need to go too," Jeongguk seconded and then they let them go. Both men went inside the washroom to pee. When they're done, they faced the mirrors to wash their hands.

"I'm sorry that our conversation got cut short," Taehyung said while fixing his hair, facing the mirror. Jeongguk shook his head at him. "It's okay. This won't be the last, right?" Jeongguk said after, being hopeful because he wanted to be friends with Taehyung and he wants to know more about him. He hoped Taehyung is thinking the same.

"Of course," Taehyung replied with an assuring smile. He took out his handkerchief and dried his hand. "I will meet you again, soon."