peach blossoms

Episode 2: Clouds Floating on the Water

Seokjin sank helplessly. No matter how hard he struggled, his breath was suffocating and his body felt heavy. As if he had given up on life, he closed his eyes, his dark, thick eyelashes fluttering, and exhaled his last breath. The waves engulfed his entire body, the hem of his robe swaying leisurely in the water like fallen cherry blossom petals from a riverside tree.

“Excuse me. Bring me some dry clothes.”

Although I wasn't fully conscious, I saw a man in a white robe in my hazy vision.

“Hey, are you awake? Where is your friend?”

My vision cleared as the morning sun evaporated the fog, but I still couldn't make out the man. His low voice rang through my bones, and I frowned, placing my index finger on his lips.

"My head is ringing, please stop talking..."

He nodded quietly, and Seokjin struggled to his feet. He shook off the wet sand, lifted his crumpled black lip, and looked around, but there was no sign of Jimin.

"Where am I?"
“Naruto. Don’t you remember?”
“Ah... I’ve come to where I boarded the ship. Excuse me, but could you take me to the ferry terminal where I got off? My friend is there.”

The man smiled in an inexplicable manner, said something to the bodyguard, and then put on a lavender-colored iron robe that the bodyguard had brought.

“I don’t know why, but it’s all over the place. At least cover that.”
"Thank you..."

As I slowly followed him, I started to see Jimin. Jimin ran over and hugged Seokjin, then examined every nook and cranny of his body.

"Are you okay? I thought you were dead."
“It’s okay, Tangza. That person saved me. Now that I’ve met my friend, it’s okay to go back. Thank you.”

As he bowed his head in greeting, Seokjin and Jimin prepared to go back.

“Get well soon. If you catch a cold, your grandfather and grandmother will be very angry.”
"...I see."


-

Seokjin went home, took a bath, and looked at the peach blossom blooming on his right shoulder in the mirror.

“Ha...I hope I didn’t get caught.”

The peach tree that has grown by taking root on Seokjin's shoulder and growing with each passing day is soon approaching its 'blooming' season.
If you live as a Chinese person, you will definitely become enlightened, but if you do not fulfill your desires at that time, you will suffer as soon as the time passes and your life will end.

“It’s not easy for the eldest grandson of a noble family to live as a Chinese person.”
“Master, Master Tangja is here?”
“Tell them I’ll be out soon.”

Seokjin quickly put on the iron jacket he had received earlier over his underwear and opened the door.

"Come in."
“I found out who owns those clothes. Would you like to hear it?”
“Okay. I have something more important to do.”

As Seokjin hurried inside, Jimin followed him with quick steps. As soon as Jimin entered, Seokjin locked the door.

"What's going on that makes you so impatient..."

Seokjin's expression was one of pain. He kissed Jimin with a sad expression and groaned, and he didn't let go of Jimin's sleeve, seeming more desperate than ever.

“Somehow... I thought the scent of the flowers was strong.”
“Haa...haa...I’m sorry. I hoped last time would be the last.”

As Seokjin untied his shirt, Jimin simply stared. A luscious tangerine tree, its branches reaching toward his collarbone, was bursting into flower buds behind his jacket.

“You don’t have much time left to bloom either.”
 "..."

Jimin further intensified the peach blossoms blooming on Seokjin's body. He barely managed to overcome the pain of blooming, and before he knew it, the sky was turning black.

"Wait, wait...Park Jimin..."
"But why...?"
“Night is coming.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to go home? Your mother will be looking for you.”
“Isn’t this your house? Just jump over the wall.”

When Jimin hugged Seokjin, who was wearing only pants and a top over his lower body, Seokjin blushed at the memory from earlier.

“...That...Tangja.”
“Why are you calling me?”
“It seems a little loose, so let me do it one more time…”
“I’m having a hard time too?”
"I'm sorry, just once is enough."

When Seokjin acted proactively, Jimin sighed and grabbed Seokjin's waist from behind as he looked out the window.

“Okay. In return, promise me that you will continue to help me with Gaehwa in the future.”

At Jimin's earnest gaze, Seokjin quietly nodded and smiled. At Seokjin's calm yet deep answer, Jimin kissed Seokjin's tree and firmly locked the door that had been wide open to let in the moonlight.