You guys are amazing! Thank you so much for responses and ideas. Wanted to remind you - don't write whole scenes, just a line or two, because I may not be able to write your scenes into the story and don't want you to be disappointed. The new prompts: 1) horse riding; 2) a date; 3) parents visit town; I also want to keep Mr. Kim and Assassin as on going prompts. Be creative and say anything, even if it is crazy. You never know if I can find a way to introject it into the story.
Meanwhile, the next chapter, please comment. Thanks.
. . .
Hee Jun was buzzing like an annoying mosquito hyped up after the day, while Choi Young tried to tune off the noise and reflect on what transpired. He went to apologize, was made into a "model", refused, then was offered a job as a trainer, toured the company, met the actor and worked for half a day. It was busy, but felt so good. Lazy was something that came to him naturally, if somebody paid him to sleep, he would be the richest man in the world – that's what others might say. But it was not true. He liked working and doing something productive. He just did not like to do any unnecessary work. It was nice that the young actor understood and did not complain when his trainer only sat watching. I think we will get along well. He seems only a few years younger than me. I guess if I was born in this time, I might have been like him, playing a role, learning for fun, never lifting a sword to kill… These musings on the contrast between now and then always left him upset. He could never fully reconcile the contradiction within himself about who he is and who he was. It often felt like he was two different people, in a way, one would take over another at certain times and then they would exchange places. There was no full integration yet, and he wished to know when he would begin to feel whole, not like the parts of one person.
Since he had a job now, he planned for tomorrow. I need to see him with a weapon, he has to be trained with the blade he will use because it will affect how he moves. The sooner he will have his own sword, the faster he will gain necessary skill. Choi Young reviewed mentally all the things he would do tomorrow to make the process of training more efficient.
"…and once Noona finds out, she will be on the 7th Heaven!" he heard excited babbling to the side. "Have you thought of how to tell her? Should you take her out to celebrate? Buy her a gift? What are you going to do?"
"I was not planning on anything special. I will tell her I found a job and will soon be able to earn money, so she would not have to worry."
"Dude, its's big! Don't blow it. Chicks die for a man who brings home dough, the more the better. I mean, look at yourself, you are fine and all, but that kind of thing would not keep her long enough. Cash is the magic ingredient."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Choi Young frowned, disliking this idiot's ideas.
"Money, dude, money. It moves the world. You can't survive on love and sex alone."
Choi Young turned abruptly and grabbing the man's coat, pulled him closely. His eyes were dead serious and he looked very angry, barely containing his hands from slapping the dirty mouth. "Money is not everything, cash is nothing. Treat gold like stone – my father taught me that. I've lived well like that. Possessions, money – they way on a man, they drag you down, it is never enough, you will always want more. If you rely on simplicity and necessities only, you will be much happier and satisfied."
"Dude," Hee Jun trembled under his stare, "All I'm saying is what a lot of people believe. Will you put me down, please?"
Choi Young released his grip. After all, this was not the first time somebody said that to him or the first person to believe such things, why was he getting so worked up over it?
"Heung-dude, I am not all shallow and stuff, it's not like you see dollar signs in my eyes flashing, right?" He looked into his favorite man's face for approval. "I'm sorry, I did wrong. Is it what you want to hear?"
"No, I guess everybody is entitled to their opinions. But don't tell me how to live my life. I won't tolerate it." He answered grimly with firm determination.
"I did not mean to, I just thought… Never mind…" he hung his head. His Heung scolded him and does not like him any more. And to think that today was going so well!
Choi Young caught the sour face from a side of his eye, and softened immediately. He did like this idiot. He was not a bad guy. Maybe, he will learn with time. He only got mad because he cared. "Hee Jun, look, this world is different, and you really helped me today and before. I appreciate it. My values, they may be a bit odd to you, but I've lived like that my whole life and never had a problem. I understand that money is necessary, but they are only a means to an end, get it? Do you really think Eun Soo is that kind of woman?" He worried all of a sudden. They never talked about money or wealth or status or things like that. She seemed not to care, but how would he know for sure?
"Eun Soo Noona is a woman, dude. All women like pretty expensive things. Even if she never tells you, I know that for sure. This you can believe. And don't be mad. It does not mean she is a bad person. Of course, any woman would prefer comfort over austerity, right?"
"I suppose you are correct." He recalled how even Mae Ri, his young fiancé who died, would perk up and her eyes would lit up when she saw pretty things. And she got so excited when he bought her a ribbon… He should get a gift for Eun Soo, even if a little one. "Hee Jun, when am I getting paid?"
"The contract was for the duration of the filming. I will have to clarify. I think it is bimonthly, if I'm not mistaken." He scratched his head, trying to recall.
"Do you have any money for me to borrow?"
"No, remember I spent it all at the store on you. Not that I'm complaining, please don't think that," he hurried to reassure.
Choi Young looked at the bags of clothes Hee Jun was carrying, the ones that he tried at the store yesterday and Do Jin bought for him.
"Are all of these expensive?" he pointed to the packages.
"They are."
"Can you sell them for money?"
"What am I? I can't just sell things on the street. But I can return them to the store for credit or exchange, if you don't like. Why?"
Choi Young smiled and grabbing Hee Jun's hand, announced, "We are going back to the store. I have an idea," dragging the poor guy along.
. . .
"Heung," Hee Jun whined, feeling like a part of him was being taken away, hugging and pressing tightly against his body a bag with clothes. "You look so good in it. And it is a present. Do we have to give it up? Ah? Please, let's just keep at least one thing."
"Just give it to me," Choi Young pulled the package out of the man's hands and firmly planted it on the counter in front of a salesgirl, who was watching the scene with curiosity. "Can we please get store credit," he asked grinning from ear to ear.
"Do you have a receipt?"
"Do we?" he looked at Hee Jun, who shook his head negatively, mouthing to the girl something and waving his hands as if trying to say 'no'.
"It might be difficult to do that," she started looking at Hee Jun, who vigorously nodded, approving, and then turned to Choi Young who was still grinning happily. Who was the customer here?
"May I ask who made the purchase?"
"It was a gift."
"Ah, then I'm able to exchange it for store credit, if they items still have tags and have not been worn. When did you receive the gift?"
"This morning. I did not wear anything. I did not even unwrap."
"Then why are you returning? Would you like to try them on first, to see if you are still unsatisfied?" she was confused, although the customer was always right, but this did not make sense. They sold high quality items here.
"I would like to buy something for my girlfriend instead."
The girl melted, "Oh, how sweet. Your girlfriend is lucky."
"She is too lucky," grumbled Hee Jun, looking longingly at each piece of clothing as it was taken out of the bags and scanned, as if he was saying goodbye to a lover.
"Do you need help choosing items?"
"I do. I don't know her size."
"Why don't you describe for me."
"Well," Choi Young stepped from the counter and imagined Eun Soo in front of him. "When I hug her, she is about this width," and he circled his arms around in the air.
"Aha…" the girl suppressed laughter, but continued, maintaining professionalism, "What about the different parts of her body, like her hips or a waist or chest?"
Choi Young responded in all seriousness, continuing to demonstrate with his hands. "About this size and also her chest is not that large, till about here," and he showed how far it would go from him, if she was standing next to him.
"Her height?" He put a palm horizontal to the floor, "Like that."
Hee Jun marveled at his Heung and how cool he was, so comfortably showing the intimate knowledge of Eun Soo's body.
The salesgirl asked about Eun Soo's style, to which Choi Young answered, "Pretty. She looks pretty in everything. She is very beautiful. She has red hair and white skin."
"Sure. Let me see." The girl disappeared to the right into the racks for women's clothes. She came back with a dress, a skirt, a blouse, a jacket and a pair of sexy heels. "If she does not like it or the fit is poor, you can always come back together for exchange. We carry a wide array of items for any taste. I'm sure we will find something for her liking."
"Then wrap it up. And also, do I have any more money left?"
"Yes, in fact."
"Enough for a pair of jeans?"
"Yes and more."
"Hee Jun, go on try a pair."
"What? Me?" he blushed, not expecting this at all.
"Hurry up. I want to get home."
"Miss, is there some simple jewelry I can also purchase?"
"You don't have that much money left, but maybe something like that? She showed a thin translucent chain with a red stone pendant. It is very popular now, mirage chains."
"I'll take it."