CHAPTER 7: The Guy With A Stick

According to Jeon Jeongguk, one source of a man's pride is to have a cute person appreciate your beauty, despite that you're only wearing Incredible Hulk hoodie, baggy pants, and 265mm slippers when you are 270mm (all thanks to Jimin's marvelous closet and Jisun's excellent choice). But to hear the latter say it must be put into use to repay his debt, he suddenly remembers that one poor and pretty kisaeng he saw in a sad historical movie.

Jeongguk wanted to retreat as they walked, to run away from her and never come back. He has dignity. He can't afford to do such thing even as a conman. However, as Jeongguk respects his body, he's also not a chicken. The conman is now torn between–

"Here?" Jeongguk deadpans, tilting his eyebrows while eyeing the worn out sign. Jisun has halted her footsteps, and Jeongguk did the same. He should be thankful but he couldn't believe what he is seeing, because of all places, here? "You're telling me to use my beauty here?" He looks over his shoulder with a scoff, turning his gaze to Jisun who is standing right next to him.

"What?" Jisun walks forward and closer to him. There's a sly smile on her lips while gazing up at him that Jeongguk starts to find annoying–  but calm down Jeongguk, he tells himself, isn't this what you want? To repay? "You didn't think of anywhere else, did you?"

"N-no." Jeongguk scrunches his nose and pulls his head away, contorting his face in denial. "Ew." He adds. Jisun snorted.

"Come on." She nods at the direction, walking past him as she entered the building. "Our stall is open already. I told Taehyung yesterday to take my shift because of you, but since you're asking for it today, let's do some work."

Jeongguk huffs out. He was only pretending to ask.

"You work in a marketplace? As a vendor?" Asks he, straddling behind her. She hums in affirmation. The conman had wondered things about this girl, but none of it is close to her being a businesswoman in a wet market.

"I don't own the stall though. I'm just hired to sell the owner's products–  which you will be doing as well." Jisun explains without looking back at him as they continue to walk inside. Jeongguk knows he's meant not to do this job for only one day – "Every Monday and Friday, the only days we open the stall." –  but every Monday and Friday because he needs to repay, until he decides to leave.

It's not that bad though, as he thinks about it. Jeongguk had always like the scent of mixed fruits. Surely, it wouldn't be a bother to sell those. He could secretly eat some too, specially those juicy grapes–

They just walked past the fruit section.

Well, selling vegetables is not bad either–

They walked past that too.

Don't tell him.

"Sunie-yah!" A deep voice welcomed the two just in time Jeongguk accidentally dipped his slipper in a puddle. Jeongguk furrows his eyebrows and groans, lifting and shaking his wet feet before flicking his gaze to the owner of the voice.

There, a tall man stood behind the display tables of various fishes. He greeted them with a smile— a smile so wide, it turned into a boxy grin. His dark hair bangs almost reaches his eyes. He circles the tables and straddles towards them.

"Why are you here, Sunie?" The dark haired questions Jisun not due to dismay, but joy. Jisun has a cute name? Who could have thought? Jeongguk wanted to laugh until the man with boxy grin turn his attention to him. "Wait, spine breaker?" He pinched his eyebrows together, pointing his index finger at Jeongguk.

Spine breaker? Jeongguk eyes widened. Is that his nickname? Really?

The dark haired laughs, turning and pointing his back with his thumb. "You almost broke my back when I carried you from the farm all the way to Jisun's house. So, spine breaker. D'you get it?" Then he laughs harder.

Ah. This is the guy with a stick. Everything happened too fast and it was dark inside the small woody hut that hell of a day, that's why he didn't have the chance to know his face.

"I'm sorry for what I did." Says the guy, smiling sheepishly, as he turned around to fully face him again. "I'm Kim Taehyung." He introduces with the same smile, stretching out his right arm. Jeongguk smiles back – for his don't-be-suspicious agenda –  and accepts his offer. They shake hands.

As Jeongguk thought Taehyung would let his hand go, Taehyung only tightens his hold. Taehyung's eyes widened, looking solely at him, as if the latter was waiting for something in return. Jeongguk is confused.

"He doesn't know his name." Jisun tells Taehyung in all of sudden. The dark haired blinks with mouth agape, and he finally drops the brunette's hand.

"And why is that?"

"You kinda gave him amnesia."

Jeongguk looks at Jisun, eyes widening for the second time. Taehyung had no idea? She leans her head closer to him, "He doesn't have a cellphone." She whispers.

"What? I— whoa." Taehyung covered his mouth, eyeing Jeongguk from head to toe before he brought his gaze up to where Jeongguk had his bump. Jeongguk stiffened, weirded out by the latter's joyous expression. "Amazing. I gave him that? I must be really strong— aw!"

Jisun gives Taehyung's forearm another hit, then another one. "Amazing? It's amazing that you brought a patient to my house?"

Jeongguk only observes them, eyes looking back and forth, suppressing a snort. By the way they talk to each other, Jeongguk is certain they've been friends for a long time. Childhood bestfriends if he calls it. But a girl being bestfriends with a boy? There's no way none of them hasn't – or hadn't – developed feelings for the other, albeit one-sided or not. That unless . . .

"I thought I was about to get murdered!" Taehyung shots back, interrupting Jeongguk's thoughts, pouting while rubbing his throbbing skin in circles.

"When?" Jisun questions Taehyung.

"Yesterday! When he destroyed– "

"No, since when did I care?"

Jeongguk finally snorts. How old are these people?

Taehyung lets out a strangled noise, "What– What did I do to you?" He queries, letting out a sigh in defeat. Then he directs his attention back to Jeongguk. "I'm really, really sorry. How do you feel? Did you go to a hospital?"

Jeongguk scratches his nape, gnawing on his bottom lips. "I think I'm okay. I don't feel dizzy or anything, so. . ."

"And about the hospital," Jisun interferes. She darts her gaze to Jeongguk for a bit. "We'll save money for that."

"Good. I'll help, since I–"

"No, just save it to yourself, or else your mom would probably beat your ass again for this another mess you made." Jisun sighs. Jeongguk can't protest for being called a mess because he is one. "I don't want to be in between of you ever again."

Taehyung only shrugs. "So . . . is he staying with you or . . .?" He asks and Jisun nods. Taehyung's eyebrows quirk. "Oh. What do you call him then?"

Right. It's funny how it's been like twenty four hours already, yet he still doesn't have a name. What name should he use this time? Justin?

"JK." Jisun utters, facing Jeongguk. "Can we call you that? It's written at the back of your leather jacket, remember? Maybe calling you that can help you get your memories back."

Truth be told, calling him with that name won't help anything at all because Jeongguk doesn't have memories to get back to begin with. But using his English name ain't that bad. It does sound pretty cool. He has nothing to lose for it, so why not?

The conman nodded. "Sure. That could work." He's been trying to hold his breath since they have arrived. The raw seafood fucking sticks. But he knows that he has to deal with it from now on, so he inhales – ack! – and exhales and he does it again until he finally familiarizes the smell.

"JK then . . . JK." He then heard Jisun repeats his name, like she's testing the waters. While doing so, her eyes glued to him–  looking at his eyes specifically. Jeongguk doesn't understand why, but they're staring at each other silently for a while. Her expression isn't dark, but something stirs in his stomach. Maybe it's hunger.

(He's always bad at feelings after all.)

"Okay! JK!" Taehyung clasps his large hands, snapping both of them in their trance. They turn to look at Taehyung, too unison it's almost comical. "Nice to meet you, and again, I apologize for what I did."

"As you should." Jisun emits and Taehyung just ignores her.

"Are you going to help us sell fishy fishy?"

"No, he's going to help me." Jisun darts. Taehyung finally anchors his attention to her. "I think you should go."

"W-why? I'm the one who opened the stall this morning."

"The stall can barely hold the two of us together because you move too much, let alone three."

Taehyung's eyebrows furrowed, sticking out his bottom lip. "But I haven't got to know him yet."

"Neither have I. Now please go." Jisun pushes.

"Okay, okay. Fine." Taehyung surrenders, his hands in the air and he says. "You promised to help in the farm tomorrow." Taehyung reminds her.

Jisun scoffs and Jeongguk just watches them quietly. "I always do."

"Bring him too!"

"Yeah, whatever!"

"Nice to meet you, JK-ssi!"

"Same here." I guess.

Jeongguk shakes his head, chortling. They're funny friends–

Wait, what? Jeongguk's will not only become a fish vendor (Gosh! It stinks!) but a farmer as well?

A farmer?!

Life is good, so fucking good.

And didn't Jisun say she had wronged Taehyung in the past? Didn't she say she's helping Jeongguk because she wants to repay Taehyung? Then why is she treating him like that? Like nothing is wrong, like they're completely fine.

Maybe the issue is small.

Not that Jeongguk is interested about their past beef anyway.

Still, the real question is why is she helping Jeongguk? Jeongguk is utterly not satisfied by her answer – or excuse – earlier.

Jisun's mother had a bestfriend before she died from illness. Her name is Aunt Choi. She's the owner of the stall Jisun is currently working at. Aunt Choi is wealthy, according to Jisun. Selling fishes is just Aunt Choi's additional source of income and something that helps Jisun with her expenses. Having two engineers as her sons explains that. They are working abroad and Aunt Choi only decided to stay in this village because she loves the country fresh air (which is a dumb decision if you ask Jeongguk). Aunt Choi only opens her stall every Monday and Friday, and because of the limited days, they are able to sell all the fishes each day. Jisun has to work for another job, as a cashier in Luv Cafe. She works there every Wednesday, Thursday, and weekends. Then she would join Taehyung at the farm on Tuesdays–

Damn. Jeongguk didn't know Jisun can be this talkative. She sure says a lot.

But despite the mental complaint, she made him wonder nonetheless. Why she has so many small jobs when she's about mid twenties? Jeongguk doesn't have a place to question her, considering his career choice, but isn't it more efficient to work for a single but higher paying job?

Why is he in this stall in the first place? It's clear that his beauty doesn't do a thing. Mothers are attracted to the fishes, not him.

"I don't think bringing me here is helping. We've been standing here for an hour, and only four mothers bought from us." Jeongguk mutters, shooing flies that try to hover the fresh meats by moving his hand above it. "Are you sure you brought me here because of my beauty? Not because you're lonely?" He questions, genuinely puzzled. It's because he's getting bored now. Is this perhaps the good time to plan how and when he would leave and where he would go and hide?

"Oho! Be patient. They always come around late afternoon." Jisun scoffs, then she glances at him incredulously. "Aren't you the one who told me 'Ooh Jisun-ssi, I want to repay you, please teach me'?" She mocks. Jeongguk bites his tongue, internally scolding himself because why the fuck did he say that? "Besides, if I'm really lonely, then I would've ask for Taehyung to accompany me instead–"

They suddenly heard a clicking sound.

At the same time, they both flick their eyes at the noise's direction and from there they see two young ladies standing in front of there stall. One is a long haired girl giggling at the sight of Jeongguk, while the other one is a short haired girl with a horizontal phone and also giggling at the sight of Jeongguk.

Jeongguk blinks and tilts his eyebrow. Did they just . . .

"Yah. Nari and Sena, did you just take a picture of him?" It took Jeongguk a short while to process that Jisun is already approaching the said girls, that she's not standing beside him anymore. "Delete it." Her voice is cold. He is only facing Jisun's back, but he could already feel her icy stare. It seemed like she has a past with them too.

The short haired rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "It's just a picture. He kinda looks like an idol so–"

"I don't care about your opinion, Nari." Jisun mimics Nari's – as she named her – pose. "Are you going to buy a fish?"

Jeongguk raises an eyebrow and snorts. Did she just ask that? He doesn't think it's the right time for her to market the products. His face is about to get exposed to the world because apparently he looks like an idol– he feels proud but still!

The long haired huffs. "No . . ." She says duh. Her name is probably Sena, since Nari is the other one.

"Then give me the phone." Jisun demands. She stretches out a arm, opening her palm to them.

"No." Nari deadpans.

"Give. Me. The. Phone."

"She's annoying. Just give it to her so this will be done." Sena tells her friend, irritated.

Nari tilts her head back and snickered, running her fingers through her hair. "Fine. Whatever." She unlocks her phone and handed it to her, harshly.

Nari heaved a sigh, rolling her eyes for the second time. "You never change. You're still bitter. No wonder everyone likes Park Jimin more than you." She spats.

Jeongguk sees how Jisun freezes as she stopped moving her thumb on the phone screen for a second. He also doesn't miss the way her freehand turn into a tight fist on her side, nails digging into her palm. Jisun breathing is slowing down, Jeongguk is certain that she's trying to calm herself.

"I know right." Sena gives a half-suppressed, scornful laugh. "Why won't you act like your cute brother?"

"But wasn't Park Jimin a waste? Wasn't he g– WHAT THE HELL?" Nari barely catches her phone before it hits the ground. She almost dived just to save it. "What's wrong with you?" Her voice got louder, matching her fiery glare. Passersby finally take notice of their fight. Nari stands up and straightens her posture again, seething.

"Oops, sorry. It slipped out of my hand." Jisun's cheeks widen as she smiled, but it quickly turned upside down. She takes a heavy step forward, and then another, until she is face-to-face with Nari before she spats. "Just say my brother's name again, then that thing is not the only one that'll break." Her eyes are looking at their noses, "Are we clear?"

Sena tugs at her friend's forearm. "She's crazy. Come on." She whispers.

"No matter what you say, you're nothing but a loser . . . Bitch." Those are Nari's last words before she turns her heels and walks away with friend.

Jisun remains standing on the same spot they left her, nails still digging her palms. It's getting deeper, that Jeongguk is afraid that she might be hurting herself. But she turns to face him, avoiding his gaze, he realizes why she keeps doing that.

She isn't only holding her anger, but her tears too.

Nari and Sena haven't walked too far when somebody pulls their wrists, yanking their forearms to forcefully make them look at their backs. It's Jeongguk holding both of them with each of his hands.

"Apologize." He says. His voice deeper than usual.

Nari scoffs, gazing at her friend before landing it back to him. "Well, I apologize, pretty boy. I'm sorry that I took your picture without permission."

Jeongguk is not the type who hit girls, but still he laughs bitterly. "What a stupid girl you are?" He amuses, suddenly tightening his grip that makes them wince in pain. "Apologize not to me–" He scorns.

"–but to Park Jisun, you fucking dumb bitch." Jeongguk spats, gaze darkening.

A/N Sorry this take a while. procrastination at its best. I was planning to do a double update but my eyes says no :(

Hope you like this chapter!

By the way, I've edited the first few chapters LOL so please refresh the book if you want

ALSO i once said that JK is the name of his favorite vocalist, well i changed that, it's now the english name made up by seokjin for him

"-ssi" means mr./ms./mrs.