sungkyungkwan; the tale part three
Mar. 22nd, 2019 12:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yryumihis is why i do not venture on chapter stories. i can easily get distracted and won't know how to proceed!
THE FIRST CHAPTER
All of the Professors were present when the chosen people entered the common room. The students were surprised with the small feast that was waiting for them.
“A special dinner for everyone’s acceptance to Sungkyungkwan. And for successfully completing your first day” Professor Sung said, holding a cup of alcohol on his hand. The students were still crowding near the door so Professor Jeong went to them and ushered them inside. “Come on, no need to be shy, everyone. We are all going to see each other for a year. This is our way of welcoming new students.”
“However, do not get used to this kind of service from us.” Professor Do told them as they take their seats. “That’s right! Ji Han and Yeon Woo cooked all of this for all of us. And Seojoonie and Hyungsik helped too, they said.” Professor Choi added when the two Park mentioned their contribution. “What I am trying to say is, in our time as students in here, Professor Do Ji Han and Professor Jeong Yeon Woo were the only people who have background in cooking and they are the reason why we are still alive and healthy.”
The students were looking blankly at Professor Choi so Professor Do explained in details, “He meant that, you are assigned to cook your food. The pantry will be stocked with food good for seven days; vegetables and fruits, even meat so you are going to make a list for the food that you want to eat, a list that is good for seven days so there will be no shortage of food.”
As Professor Jeong finished giving everyone their utensils, he added, “In our time, only two people have cooking skills, the others tried to help of course, but we lost a good amount of food because of them. That one time taught us a lesson that certain people can be good at some things but can be the opposite at other things.”
“It is better to talk about kitchen duty right now because tomorrow morning, you are going to cook for yourselves already. And better be honest, having no cooking skills at all is alright.” Professor Seojoon told them.
“He is saying that because he is one of the certain people Yeon Woo mentioned.” Professor Hyungsik added, smirking but not looking at Seojoon who glared at him. “So! Come on, tell us your plan. We might be able to suggest some things.”
The Professors started eating as the students started discussing, well, aside from two people who are already eating and giving each other foods. One says, “This is good, hyung. Try it.” And the other says, “This, too. Try this one.”
Jin only spared them a glance before he said, “I can cook. I am a cook. Who else can cook? Aside from you Jimin, there is no need for you to raise your hand, because I know already.” Jimin rolled his eyes at him and started eating too, Jin looked at the remaining three.
“I cook my own food.” Yoongi briefly said
“My mother and sister always ask me to help them so I have experience on helping in the kitchen.” Hoseok shared
“That leaves me-“ Jungkook said but was interrupted by Taehyung who hurriedly swallowed his food to talk. “Jungkookie can help. Jungkookie can cook. I vote for Jungkookie!” then started coughing. Yoongi who is sitting beside him, pat him on the back while Namjoon who is sitting in front of him offered him a cup of water. “You know, Jungkook can tell us himself. You do not have to hurriedly swallow your food.” Yoongi scolded Taehyung.
“I have too. Because he was about to say the opposite, hyung.” Yoongi raised a brow at him and Taehyung added with a grin, “he dislikes it, helping in the kitchen.”
“You knew but you still told them, hyung.” Jungkok grumbled, Taehyung giggled at him but then suggested “Jin hyung! I can help-“
“No. Just continue eating Taehyung/hyung” Jin and Jungkook said in chorus. Taehyung scrunched his nose at them. He was pouting when he grumbled, “I was about to suggest Namjoon hyung and I can make the list, right Namjoon hyung?” Namjoon solemnly nod, agreeing with him.
Hoseok outright laugh at what Taehyung said while the others shake their heads, grins visible on their face. “Of course, both of you can do that, Taetae” Jimin told them, a fond smile on his face.
“Only that, alright?” Yoongi also said, grinning at them
“You can enter the kitchen and observe us, only observe us.” Jin helpfully added
“You are good on observing and instructing, Taehyungie hyung. And I am certain, Namjoon hyung is the same.” Jungkook also said before he, too, started eating.
“Looks like we do not have to suggest anything after all, you all have this under control.” Professor Seojoon said from the table next to them.
“So for tomorrow, everyone must be awake before seven o’clock in the morning. The morning training starts at six o’clock and for thirty minutes you will be with Professor Do. After that, free time for your daily morning routine then class at 9 o’clock. Oh, before I forgot, sleeping time is at 9 o’clock in the evening.”
“Speaking of that, we are strict about that rule. No sneaking out of your room when it is time for bed. No going out of your compound. Once you get caught, you will be punished.” Professor Sung warned
“Better follow that rule of Professor Sung. His punishments are really punishments,” Professor Choi said, smiling ominously at the students
“That rule was made because of you, of course you would know” Professor Jeong said as the other Professors laughed at the memory and they started to tease Professor Choi.
“Did all of the Professors met at the same time?” Taehyung shyly questioned. Professor Sung easily answered his question. “They did. Actually, it was a year I cannot forget. Aside from the brilliance and knowledge they showcased, they are also the noisiest and even the most problematic students I have met. I tell you, they cannot be called kids because all of them are at the right age already, but no, if one would ask me what youth is, I would just point at these students of mine and they would understand, no more follow up questions needed.
Everyone laughed and Professor Yeon Woo offered to refill Professor Sung’s cup as he said, “Admit it, Professor Sung! You love us! We are your precious students! You even cried when we finished our one year in here!”
“Who wouldn’t cry when the people who caused me headaches and joint pain finally finished their one-year study under me?– ” Professor Sung continued his story
“Do not worry though.” Professor Hyungsik interrupted as he told the students who seemed nervous. “We are not going to restrict you. We are your Professors now, so do not be afraid to be yourselves in here. Just follow the bedtime rule, only that. All of you have your own characteristics and potentials. You are alright.”
“–two of you already left this world and it pains me that they left before me. But I am glad you are all – “ The whole table seemed to quiet down at that and Professor Yeon Woo took Professor Sung’s cup and put it on the table. “Professor Sung you are already drunk. Come on, it is time for you to go to bed.” Professor Ji Han helped Yeon Woo on carrying Professor Sung Il Woo who is still babbling about his students.
On the next table, the new students stopped eating. Others looked like they want to say something, Namjoon, in particular, opened his mouth staring right at the next table’s remaining occupants. “All humans die. It is just a matter of when and whether one has lived his life with his purpose done. And even if one died with an unfinished purpose, the people that he surrounded with, would finish the purpose he has started. Because great mind thinks alike, they said”
Hidden in Namjoon’s words, is the comfort his Professors; the people he has known since he was a baby, the comfort his uncles needed to hear from him. Hidden in his words is the promise of continuing the purpose his father and his sworn brothers has started. They need to hear it from him and he is thankful he was finally able to say it.
Namjoon received grateful and somber smiles from the next table and when he glanced at the people he surrounded himself with, Taehyung was also doing the same and he caught his attention as the younger looked at him but was addressing everyone, “Humans live with purpose, even death has a purpose. The only difference is death takes tomorrow and future away from humans, leaving us with only the past. Even then, the people who died before us still lived. They live within us. They live in the memories we have of them within us. It hurts to be left behind. But it also gives you strength to continue on moving forward, just so when you got to see each other again, you have a whole journey to relay.”
“Ah, now that you mention it, we have many things to share to the both of them. Minho’s antics for example, Seojoon’s and Hyungsik’s love-hate relationship, Professor Sung’s tough but soft personality, and Yeon Woo’s nagging.” Ji Han rambled, taking his seat again. Both him and Yeon Woo caught the ending of the conversation and tried to liven up the atmosphere.
And it worked.
“Why are you leaving yourself out? You are not actually a mysterious person; in fact, you are the easiest to read.” Yeon Woo playfully argued, adding “we know they always baby you but we don’t, so you better be prepared to hear many things about you from us.”
The rest of the dinner was full of laughter, with the Professors sharing some memories of them back in their student days and some memories after they finished their studies. The melancholic atmosphere has been lifted and was even forgotten by the retelling of memories.
They bid each other a good night (and a promise to wake up early) with a happy and full stomach and happy and grinning faces.
Namjoon has already found a comfortable position after minutes of twisting and turning on his own futon (he cannot help it, he is not in his own room) when Taehyung called for him. “Namjoon hyung?”
“Yes, Tae?” he replied, eyes closed
“You are quite close with the Professors. Is your father-?”
Namjoon sighed. Of course Taehyung figured his connection with the Professors. The younger is very observant after all, so he answered, “Yes, Tae.”
“I did not mean to pry, but, your reaction earlier was a big hint for me.”
“It’s alright, Tae.” Namjoon mumbled. He is prepared to say facts about him because he cannot lie to them (not the fact of him being the next King though, not yet). He just didn’t think that it would be now. “I have known them since I was a child. All of them are my teachers. They taught me everything and they motivate me and lead me on the right path. They opened up my child mind and it was from them that I learned that Silla is not a perfect and safe place. People suffer, people harms other people, people lusts for power, for money. I have realized that I am blessed to be born on the family that I have, but only for now… because greedy people, people who lusts, will do anything to get what they want. And to counterattack those kind of people, I need to be here… to gain more knowledge and experience, to have people who thinks the same as I. When I took the exam and was accepted, I only thought of those things, but then, minutes before I entered Sungkyungkwan, I was suddenly told that the teachers I have known my whole life are my father’s important friends, my father’s sworn brothers. Hearing that though made me yearn for the same thing.”
“You do not have to worry, Namjoon hyung!" We have many months ahead all of us to share with and make memories with! Many days to make the basic foundation of our friendship, many months to solidify our bond, and years to gain experience as we continued with our journey in life, by then, the trust that we have for each other would be as hard as a diamond. I am certain everyone feels the same, hyung.”
“But Tae, diamonds are hard but are brittle, they are easy to break.”
“As hard as a diamond and as tough as a nephrite. What about that, hyung?”
Namjoon let out a big laugh, he even curled up because his stomach started hurting, he cannot stop laughing. Amidst his laughing fit, he was able to say, “Better, Tae, better.”
The first one to wake up was Yoongi. Waking up at five in the morning has been ingrained in his body that no matter what time he sleeps at night, he would always wake up at five. Whether it is thirty minutes after five or forty-five minutes after five. It had helped him though, because working in the market, one needs to be up even before the sun has risen, to be able to prepare for the first batch of consumers. But, right now, in his new environment where everyone else are still peacefully sleeping, he wished his body let him sleep for more too. Yoongi sighed, it is still too early to wake Jin and the others (even if Jin instructed him to wake him up if he woke up before him)
After doing some stretching, he sat on a bench near the flower garden and stares. This time of the day is his favorite. He loves the scenery that the early morning always shows; calmness, serenity. He was so lost and too comfortable on his seat that he did not hear the sound of footsteps behind him. He only noticed he is not alone when a hand was suddenly on his shoulder, so how he reacted to the added weight is just a normal reaction, he argues.
He jumped, hastily turning around.
And was greeted by a smiling yet still sleepy Taehyung.
Yoongi let out a sigh of relief as Taehyung let out a breathy laugh and sat on the bench. He, too, sat back, saying “at least announce your presence loudly.”
“I cannot do that, hyung. It’s too early to make loud noises even though I would like to disturb the sleeping ones. Hmm maybe later when it is time to wake them up.”
“You woke up early, why?” Yoongi asked, the younger has his eyes closed and has already leaned on Yoongi’s shoulder
“Body clock. Wait for fifteen minutes and Jungkook will wake up next.” Taehyung mumbled. Then he straightened up and patted his lap. “Lie down hyung” Yoongi stared at Taehyung for a moment before he tapped his shoulder and said, “You are the one who look sleepy. So, rest.”
Taehyung shook his head as he said, “No, I’m alright. It seems like body clock for you too, hyung, but I offered my lap first, come here and rest already before Jungkook comes out of their room and steal me away from you, only for him to rest on my lap.”
“You are a good brother.” Yoongi uttered before he sighed and resignedly rest his head on Taehyung’s lap. As soon as his head hit the younger’s lap, Taehyung started running his fingers on his hair, giving his scalp a gentle massage. With closed eyes, a soft sigh escaped his mouth as he said, “now I know why Jungkook likes this. Sadly, for him, I will not move from here and give him this. I will only move when it is time for Professor Do’s morning routine.”
Taehyung chuckled and Yoongi did not hear another person walking towards them (again). He only knew someone came and took a sit on the second bench facing the flower garden when Taehyung greeted the said person. “Good morning, Namjoon hyung.” Yoongi greeted Namjoon too, with his eyes closed. “Morning, Namjoon. I am not sleeping, I am just resting.” He added as an afterthought.
“Good morning to the both of you.” Namjoon greeted them back, then he stretched and said “I am glad my body knows how to wake up at this time of the day.”
“You too, hyung? I am used to this because back home, I have my own morning routine.”
“I, too, have my own morning routine. And with the same Professor we are going to be with later. Though I always sleep afterwards.”
Taehyung laughed as Yoongi opened his eyes and leaned his head upwards to look at Namjoon. “You have morning routine with Professor Do?” he asked questioningly
“Oh, that’s right, you didn’t know. I just told Taehyung last night that all of our Professors were my father’s friends. They have been my teacher since I was young, you see.” Namjoon replied. Yoongi seemed to caught the hidden message, so he didn’t ask more about his father. After what they talked last night, he had an inkling on where Namjoon’s father is. Namjoon looked grateful at him as he replied “that explains it” and did not expound more about it. Their morning should not start by talking about painful memories. Yoongi asked instead, “So, how tired are we going to be after we finished with our morning routine?”
“We will be starving afterwards.” Namjoon answered, laughing.
They talked for ten minutes more before four different voices of greetings floated towards them. Yoongi did not even bother on moving his head, too comfortable on his position, he only muttered his greetings but was surprised when the greeting he received in return sounds close. He opened his eyes and found three pair of eyes looking at him while Jin lifted his feet so he can sit on the bench both him and Taehyung are occupying, before rearranging his feet on the said roommate’s lap. “I told you to wake me up, Did I not?”
Yoongi did not answer for the three people who shared a room were eyeing him curiously. Though he is sure that if Jungkook could send messages to him through telepathy, the messages will contain “Move, hyung. My turn now.” on repeat. Jimin by then turned to the unsuspecting Namjoon. Yoongi looked as Jimin smiles wide before he went to Namjoon and plopped his head on his lap.
“Wha-I was just about to do that, Jimin-ah!” Hoseok whined. Namjoon stared at them amused before he started running his fingers on Jimin’s hair too (well, he had too because the younger took his hand and demand him to do what Taehyung is doing to Yoongi’s hair)
“Sorry, hyung. there is no special treatment here, the first on the line will always be the first to be served” Jimin cheekily said. And Yoongi could not help but tell Jungkook who hasn’t move from his crouching position yet, “You heard Jimin, Jungkook. It is first come, first served.”
Jungkook grumbled “I will beat you tomorrow, hyung” before he went to Jimin’s side and did what Jin did. Hoseok has started stretching then, trying to warm his body.
Five minutes before six o’clock, Professor Do is already walking towards their building with Professor Choi Minho, Hyungsik, and Seojoon in tow. “Good, everyone is awake. Let’s do some stretching now shall we?”
Professor Do lead them all from the stretching to the different exercises that are part of their morning routine. The group become more alive and alert as time goes by. With competitive
- Professors
“I can do more than you, Seojoon.”
“Ha! You only wish!”
- and students
“You cannot beat me, Jungkookie!”
“Too easy, Jimin hyung!”
“What are the both of you talking about? You cannot beat me! Jung Hoseok wins!”
- and talkative people plus the people who likes to listen to them
“Jihan-nah, do you think I can escape from Yeonwoo later? I would like to-“
- “as long as you escape without me watching you. I do not want to be blamed that I let you escape. Again.”
“Yoongi hyung, won’t you agree seeing the sunrise rejuvenates you? The pigment of -”
- “Taehyung-ah, do not keep on looking at the sky or you’ll trip
“-carrots, lettuce, cabbage, and onions. Jin hyung is it really necessary to add garlic? I dislike-“
- “Namjoon, I am going to feed you garlic until you say you like it”
who wouldn’t be awake then?”
Time flies fast and their morning routine was finished without accidents. The students and Professors part ways as the Professors went to their building while the students went to the common room’s kitchen, talking about their lives and status in life to pass the time.
“Alright, before we proceed to the kitchen, the two pure nobles who have the tendency to do harm to themselves than good, stay here.” Jin instructed, pointing at the chairs he arranged near the kitchen’s door. Yoongi and Jungkook stood behind Namjoon and Taehyung who sat on the offered chairs. “I did not recall saying four nobles, I only said two.”
Jungkook argued, “but Yoongi hyung and I are also nobles.”
“So?” Jin only replied.
Taehyung jumped from his seat and exclaimed, “A chance! Let me and-“
“Denied. Come on, Jungkook, the Princes are waiting for their food.” Yoongi playfully said as he entered the kitchen.
Taehyung looked at the kitchen door with longing as he said aloud, “The universe know how I tried to help and make my own food, Jungkook has been my witness since the first try.”
Namjoon was looking at the others inside the kitchen as he also said aloud “And my sister has been my witness. Sadly, that was the only chance they gave me.”
“To tell you the truth, Jungkook only gave me a second chance. After that, he watches me like a hawk whenever I enter the kitchen.”
“Not my fault you managed to lit yourself on fire.” Jungkook answered from the other side of the door. There were outbursts of “What?!?” before Taehyung repied, “It was just the sleeve of my clothes, Jungkook-ah!”
“Yet you only watched the fire with fascination! Did not even look for a water to douse his burning sleeve” Jungkook grumbled aloud as he chopped the vegetables that Jimin and Hoseok has washed.
“Is that the second chance or the first chance?” Hoseok asked, curious then added “Taehyung-ah, you cannot play with fire.”
“That happened at the second chance I gave him. The first time I allowed him to help, he set the table on fire.”
“How did that even happen?” Jin asked incredulously, Yoongi was laughing loudly and Jimin and Hoseok just said, “Oh, Tae”
“I did not notice that I elbowed the lamp. Then, yes, fire happened.” Taehyung answered. Everyone inside the kitchen noticed Namjoon and Taehyung has moved their seats and are now inside and right next to the door of the kitchen, but they pretend they did not notice anything at all.
“Because Taehyungie hyung normally knocks things in accident, I let the incident slide. But after entering the kitchen and saw his arm on fire, well, no more chance on trying”
“Taehyung-ah, let me set you as an example to my sister so I can finally be allowed to enter the kitchen again.” Namjoon asked seriously. Taehyung just blinked at him, not really believing that the reason why he cannot enter the kitchen is that bad to be set as an example.
“And what did you do that you were only able to help at the kitchen once?” Jin asked wryly “Did you set things on fire too?”
“No, I almost stabbed myself. Only that?” Everyone sharply turned to look at Namjoon.
“Kim Namjoon, elaborate on that, now” Jin demanded, eyes narrowing dangerously at Namjoon who let out a nervous laugh at Jin’s tone of voice. While Hoseok and Jimin who has finished washing the vegetables, meat, and fruits, hastily looked around the room for pointy tools to hide from Namjoon (Oh and Taehyung too, just in case). And Jungkook moved an inch away (even though he is on the other side, far side, he still moved. He is holding a knife after all.)
“That day, I was very excited to be able to learn how to cook. Everyone knows it was a big day for me, that is. So they fill the kitchen with ingredients. Aside from me and my attendant, my sister was also around; told me she wants to watch my progress but I was certain that she was only there to tease me. There was a skilled cook beside me as she instructed me on what to do step by step. Then, when I was done and was looking for the bowl for my soup to be served, my sister said her favorite bowls were placed on the shelf above my head. No matter how much I reach, the bowls were not there. But when my sister told me to look for another bowl instead, I felt something solid. I told her, we’ll use her favorites. But instead of a bowl it was a knife up there. I injured my hand and when I hastily retreated my hand, there were more knives on the upper shelf. My attendant was quick to get me out of the way though. She has always been fast on his feet unlike me.” he grumbled the last part
“Thank the Gods for your attendant!” Jin exclaimed, the others finally arrived on the thought of putting every sharp tools on a place that can be easily seen, not to put on high places that can be knocked down.
“That is strange, hyung” Taehyung said, with a deep frown on his face. “When did this happen?”
“A year ago, why? What is so strange about it?” Namjoon, answered confused. They all look confused but more concerned when Taehyung’s frown did not disappear, it only deepened.
“Did someone just tried to kill you, hyung? How often do you experience an assassination attempt?”
“Wha-Tae-“ Namjoon spluttered at the same time as Jungkook called for Taehyung worriedly “Taehyungie hyung”
“You do not have to lie. It happens to people like us, hyung. I will not lie, people wants to get close to me for only one reason, to take me out. It happens often but they are attempts that I can handle myself. And people won’t go to their target directly, they would go to the people we hold dear first. Jungkook knows how to handle himself since I have taught him everything I know about wicked people’s ways. Even so, I want to protect my brother and I do not want him to be on harm’s way, that is why I started having a morning routine, practiced with swords and bows, even martial arts. You said you have your morning routine. If not for your endurance and physical strength, why do you think you are earnestly participating in it?”
Silence answered Taehyung’s question. Namjoon’s mind is in turmoil. It is not yet the right time to tell everyone. But before being a King, he is a noble himself. The last of his line. Just like Taehyung.
It was Yoongi who broke the silent staring of the two. “Taehyung-ah, how often do you receive an assassination attempt?"
Jungkook answered for Taehyung, “Twice a month, more or less. I said earlier that Taehyungie hyung being the last of his line is a burden he needs to carry. The attempts are one of the reason why I said that. Among the men in our big family, Grandfather favors hyung the most because he is the last of his line, a noble son from two prestigious families. Yet, even family turns to each other, wanting power only to themselves.” Taehyung sighed when Jungkook was finished talking and added “That’s right. It’s nothing serious though.”
Yoongi glared sharply at Taehyung as he harshly said, surprising everyone, “Nothing serious because you have survived every attempt?!” He has always hate the wicked ways of people. He has not yet forgot how his parents died with everyone calling it an arson.
Taehyung was surprised but he was quick to walk towards Yoongi. He had seen that kind of reaction from Jungkook many times already, he knows what to do to soften the older. Taehyung softly called Yoongi's name while holding both of his hands, “Yoongi hyung”
Yoongi instantly calmed, surprising himself, he inhaled deeply and exhaled loudly “I apologize for the sudden outburst.”
Taehyung pulled the willing Yoongi towards him and encircled his arms around him, “No, do not apologize when you show how much you care. Friends care for each other, hyung. Friends worry for their friend’s well-being. So nothing is wrong with you showing you care, alright?” Taehyung mumbled, tucking Yoongi’s head on his shoulder and he put his chin on Yoongi’s head. The older just let Taehyung hold his weight, he just let himself be held.
For Yoongi was suddenly very tired. So this is what it feels like? Caring for someone scares him. If this is what he would always feel when he is worried about Taehyung’s well-being, then he doesn’t want it. He didn’t know caring for a friend means him getting awfully scared at the thought of the younger bleeding and dying without him knowing. He felt himself tense again from his thoughts and the younger held him tight in response. “Do not worry please, for I am going to be safe here. All of us are safe here, hyung.” Taehyung softly murmured.
Yoongi let the younger’s presence calm him before he jokingly said loud enough for everyone to hear, “You are terribly showcasing how you tower over me right now.”
It gained the result he was looking for. Taehyung laughed loudly and laughed for more when Namjoon piped in, sounding seriously shocked, “What? Why did I not notice that Taehyungie crossed the line and fully entered the kitchen!?”
“You cannot talk to Alstroemeria like that, Namjoon-ah” Jin stated as he fully focused on his cooking, (though he did not pause even once with all the earlier interruptions, too used with Jimin’s antics) Taehyung looked at him blankly while Jimin laughed loudly, and asking him, “Jin hyung, what color?”
Yoongi leaned back his head to be able to look up at Taehyung, narrowing his eyes as he asked Taehyung, “What are they talking about?”
“I have no idea” Taehyung robotically answered and Namjoon, upon hearing that, exclaimed “An obvious lie! I have yet to study the language of flowers so I wouldn’t know. But you- ah! I know, Hoseok-ah and I will study it later. Jin hyung will help us right?”
“Alright, Namjoon” Hoseok and Jin answered in chorus, looking resigned but fondness is evident in their voices, sparing the overly excited Namjoon, which by now has walked towards Jimin and Jungkook, a glance.
While with the two people who are still holding each other, Taehyung just smiled wide at Yoongi and said, “Really hyung, they were just hinting about our friendship; about our mutual connection.”
Yoongi, who seemed to accept the given explanation, nodded his head in understanding, and told Taehyung, “We do have the connection, do we not? It feels strange but it is also not” Yoongi questioned, getting out of the younger’s comfortable embrace. “All of you feels the same, do you not?”
“We do understand the connection, hyung. We felt it too.” Jimin said smiling softly. It turned to giggle though when Jungkook, who is standing beside him, muttered lowly “but the other connection is special.” Jimin slapped his shoulder as he chuckled, “That one bond is still in the process of molding. There is no need for us to disturb it, we do not want to disfigure it in the process now, do we? Not yet anyway” he smirked
“Are we talking about pottery right now?” Namjoon chirped in, “Pottery is one of the oldest human inventions, originating before the Neolithic period, it is made by forming a ceramic or clay body into objects of a desired shape and heating them to high temperatures in a kiln which evaporates all the water from the clay and induces reactions that lead to permanent changes including increasing the strength and solidity of the object’s shape. And! Professor Yeon Woo will be teaching us on how to make our own sword, bow, and we are also going to hunt using the weapons we have made, and he will also teach us how to do pottery! Says we can-what?” He asked when the two younger people he is with, leaned towards him in excitement, he swears he saw their eyes sparkle.
“You lost us when you talked about pottery but caught us when you talked about tool-making! When are we going to have Professor Yeon Woo?” Jungkook asked, bouncing on his feet. Namjoon by now has started leaning back because Jimin and Jungkook are still leaning forward. “I did not recall his name being mentioned on our schedule for this month” Jimin added.
“Give your Namjoon hyung his space back, kids.” Jin called. “And get the table ready already, the food will be serve any minute now” Jin added. When they glanced at them, it was then that they noticed Yoongi and Hoseok were carrying bowls and utensils, walking out of the kitchen. While Taehyung is testing the food that Jin fed him with.
“I call for the seat next to Namjoon hyung!” Jungkook announced suddenly, rushing to the common room with Jimin behind him. “Not you! Me! I have questions I need Namjoon hyung to answer!”
“Are you going to follow Namjoon around all day now?” Hoseok asked amusedly, he took the middle seat. They rearranged the tables and chairs so that all of them can be in one big table. Jin took the head seat, since he is the oldest and acts as the parent (I sit here, because I am the single parent of six energetic kids. “Yoongi hyung is not-” “Finish that sentence and I will happily demonstrate how energetic I can be, Park Jimin”) Yoongi took the middle seat, too, opposite of him with Taehyung sitting beside him near Jin’s sit. He had grabbed Namjoon to sit beside him before Jimin and Jungkook can shuffle their sitting arrangement. It left both Jungkook and Jimin the seats at the end of the table, they sat in front of each other instead.
“This will be our sitting arrangement for the whole year.” Hoseok announced, gleefully laughing at the positive comments and “unfair!” he received from everyone. “Seriously though, do all of you agree?” He asked once again and everyone immediately voiced their agreement.
They didn’t linger at the common room after they finished eating because they still need to prepare before going to their lesson. They let Taehyung and Namjoon helped them too, by wiping the table and picking the trash because they cannot sit still without helping the others. Jungkook and Jimin washed the dishes as the others went to take a bath There was only four stalls available and Namjoon and Taehyung let the older ones to take a bath first; the older ones namely Hoseok, Jin, and Yoongi (as soon as the topic about age was opened earlier in breakfast, Namjoon started addressing Hoseok and Yoongi formally. Even Taehyung started addressing Jimin as Jimin hyung too. But the formal addressing ended as soon as it started, with Hoseok and Jimin not liking being called as ‘hyung’ by them, telling them,“We are only months apart! And that's it. That is our argument”)
“Taehyung and I still need to tidy our room. We can join Jungkook and Jimin later” Namjoon told them and got reluctant nods as a response. “We would appreciate if one of you told us the bath is vacant though.”
“We can do that. See you later!” Jin said as Namjoon and Taehyung went inside their room to start cleaning.
It took them twenty minutes to clean their room. As soon as they finished tidying, the roommates sat in front of the table situated at the middle of their room and started doing their own thing to pass the time. Namjoon is reading a book that his adviser (Professor Seojoon) has gifted him when he got accepted at Sungkyungwan. Taehyung, on the other hand, has a notebook and is busy sketching. They did not mind the silence; and they did not disturb the other.
Namjoon just finished the page he was in and was on the act of flicking the book to the next page when the door was harshly opened accompanied by “We have arrived!” from Park Jimin. Namjoon did not even gave the newcomers his attention, while Taehyung spared Jimin a glance.
“What? No jumping? Getting surprised?” Jimin sulked, letting himself in as Jungkook stayed at the door.
“I am used to people barging in my room. My sister always does that.” Namjoon muttered, eyes on his book while Taehyung only pointed at Jungkook as an answer, Jimin got the gist of it.
“Told you, it won’t work.” Jungkook said, then added “It’s time for us to get ready too, hyungnimdeul!"
The 2nd day’ morning lessons went well compared to the 1st day. Everyone agreed that they learned from yesterday’s experience and now know how to adjust to both Taehyung’s and Namjoon’s extra knowledge that they always share to them. They finished their morning lessons hungry but not tired. The onslaught of knowledge that they had experienced the day before has been a shock, but earlier, they digested the information being shared slowly, hence no one was tired. In fact, they seemed to retain the information that they gained.
With Jin leading them, they manage to eat their lunch on time and they even have more free time to spare.
Hoseok led Namjoon and Taehyung to the library as soon as they bid the physicians and Jungkook goodbye, this time though, Yoongi joined them. Namjoon entertained Hoseok with the books about flowers that they are going to need later. And Taehyung entertained Yoongi by telling him how he become Jin’s patron. Jin is a well-known physician in the west. Some of the people who entered their store to buy medicines went to a physician in the North named Kim Seokjin.
“Eh? Jin hyung is a well-known physician?” Yoongi asked, incredulously. Hoseok and Namjoon who heard their conversation also exclaimed, “That Jin hyung?!”
Taehyung laughed at their reaction.“Yes, that Jin hyung that we know of. For those who are in the field of medicine, they know and would recommend Jin hyung. My grandfather is a physician himself. Through him, I was able to know Jin hyung’s addresss and sent him a letter. At first, it was just a physician helping another physician. Jin hyung is a skilled one, but his studies are limited. So I helped him through my letters, sending him interesting ideas, the studies that Jungkook and I made, and the results and our observations on it, and more things that can help him widen his knowledge on his field.”
“That is another reason why your grandfather wants you to replace him then, because looking at your age, you are young but already very skilled and knowledgeable in many different areas.”
“That might be true but he knew me. That is why he uses Jungkook whenever he can. He knows how to use Jungkookie’s weaknesses. And the only thing I can help him is to give him a new environment that would help on shaping him up, to make him stronger.”
“That is why you entered Sungkyungkwan.” Hoseok uttered. They are near the library now but Hoseok steered them all away from the library and entered a study room right next to it. Inside, there were three tables with four chairs each. Hoseok took the initiative and went to the farthest table and sat. He waited for the others to take their sit before he told Taehyung, “Let’s talk. I am getting this feeling that you badly want to share this to others.”
“Thank you, Hoseok hyung. But you have already planned you-“
“I am all alone.” Yoongi suddenly said, cutting Taehyung’s excuse. He has his hands on his lap, on a fist and clutching his clothes as he continued, “I lost my parents to a fire three years ago. Ever since then, I was left all alone. I never had friends. I do not know how to make friends. Honestly, all of this, you-everyone, is overwhelming me. My only source of physical contact was my parents. And when they died, that too stopped. When I was a child, they push me to make friends, but I just don’t know what to do or say to other kids for them to like me. It’s not that I dislike people, it’s just that I fear people.”
“Yoongi hyung” Taehyung interrupted, because Yoongi was rambling. He gently put his hand a top of Yoongi’s and the older forego his clothing to clutch at Taehyung’s hand. “I only greet people at work and do not talk to them when it is not related to my work. I keep to myself and everyone just got used to me being aloof and they always leave me alone.
At first, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to open up and make friends in here. But then, someone pushed me to the ground. And that someone even introduced himself to me and demanded he wants to be friends with me, enthusiastically.” Yoongi ignored the whine Taehyung let out upon hearing that, he just squeezed his hand as he addressed Taehyung, “I was at a loss on what to do. How do I even respond to that when I just met you? You were even very open with physical contact. I never met someone like you. I was just glad you didn’t leave me hanging there and continued on talking till I was able to make a conversation with you. But then, I met everyone and it turns out everybody are all friendly people, it overwhelms me. I feel like I have personally thirst myself for physical contact that when it was given to me freely, it scares me. It scares me to think that all of this would be gone in a blink when I even haven’t yet fully grasped that all of this is happening to me.”
“I am an awkward person. I do not know how to handle things normally without things breaking or me hurting myself.” Namjoon said, he wants to share this so that Yoongi would know that he is not alone. “Aside from my family and my teachers, I do not know any people my age and do not have people I can call friends. I have the tendency to speak my mind when I want to talk about a certain topic. My sister says what leaves my mouth won’t help me on making friends because once people hear me talk about things that they cannot comprehend, they would leave. The only people who listens to me are my teachers. As a child, I was very curious and ask them about everything and anything.” Namjoon laughed at that, shaking his head he continued “I was very nervous and worried when I came here. I want to make a good impression to everyone but I let my mouth talk anyway. I really thought everything is over. That I am going to be alone for the whole year! But then Taehyung followed my train of thought, and even introduced me to all of you who welcomed me warmly. It was then that I realized, “Why do I need to change who I am to be able to have friends? Why do I have to pretend and make myself suffer? You will meet people who fits you. People who are meant to be friends fit together, no matter how odd each one of them are”
“I do not easily let people close. I am picky when it comes to friends. I am a loyal person. When I trust, I trust with all that I am. That is why I cannot let people easily in. That is why all I have are acquaintances, never friends.” Hoseok shared, staring at the ceiling, he thoughtfully said “I do not know what it is with everyone but the inner child inside of me has been free since yesterday. The trust that was handed openly to me, the genuine happiness and excitement that you carry within and was transferred within me, it let the inner child that I have hidden and suppressed inside of me free. In a family of warriors, I am the youngest and the odd one. I love studying and helping at the house. I am curious and energetic but being always called the odd one, I decided to take a serious side, a serious approach. I repressed myself and changed my view on some things. I forced myself to be an adult, a young capable adult. I admired the wisdom of scholars, they always know how to lift me up. It became a dream of mine to enter Sungkyungkwan then. I want to be like them, to be able to help this land and its people.”
Upon hearing that, Yoongi, who by now has started playing with Taehyung’s fingers, interrupted, “It has been my dream to enter Sungkyungkwan too. I told all of you earlier my parents were nobles. But they are not just nobles, they are scholars too. Every night, before going to sleep, they would read me a book and they would reminisce about the experiences they had. They would also tell me, with a smile on their faces, that they do not regret running away. They were actually the people who introduced Sungkyungkwan to me. They never fail to remind me that Sungkyungkwan is a safe and perfect place to me. Also, they never fail to remind me that the Royal Family are also nobles, they are just fortunate enough that they were born to the family who have the most power, the highest position. They would always ask me, in this land, who can help them? When the people who has the power to help them maintain the peace and bring together the land are also the people who lusts for power? The people who do not want to be stripped out of power are the people who want more for themselves.
When I told them I want to be a Hwarang, Father told me, “as long as you put your heart, soul, and your mind to things you want to do, you can achieve it.” It was then that I promised myself to make my dream come true. The Crowned Prince would soon be the King. I am going to be a Hwarang for him. I am willing to give my life for the King.”
“And I, I am willing to give my life for the King” Hoseok parroted, then cracked a grin as he added “Looks like I am going to be a Hwarang too, Yoongi hyung.”
“I am going to be a scholar.” Taehyung told them seriously, there was a strange look on his face as he added, “Namjoon hyung, we all met here for a reason. We are all different people but we all fit together. We are all here to teach each other things about life, to share and gain knowledge, to help each other and this land. We are all here for our King is going to need every help he could get. The people of Silla are slowly stirring."
“Taehyung-ah, that sounds ominous. Ah, it made me shiver.” Hoseok worriedly said, rubbing his arms in an attempt to warm him up.
Professor Hyungsik sighed as he remained stuck on the other side of the shelf. He was doing some reading when he heard voices near him. There is only one table near the shelf he secluded himself in. He toyed with the idea of letting them know they are not alone. Isn’t it the reason why they chose the table far from the door? They want to be alone. But then, there he was, sitting on the floor with his back on the wall and a book on his hand, intently listening to his students. Not my fault they chose the table near me.
As soon as he heard the shuffling of chairs and set of feet pattering away, he stood up, but waited for a while before he exited the study room.
He has an enquiry to do.
And it cannot wait.