Chuseok

author's note: a happy one written a few days after Korea's Chuseok festival.

**from wikipedia:

Chuseok (Korean: 추석), originally known as Hangawi (한가위) (from archaic Korean for "great middle"), is a major harvest festival and a three-day holiday in Korea celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. Like many other harvest festivals, it is held around the Autumn Equinox. As a celebration of the good harvest, Koreans visit their ancestral hometowns and share a feast of Korean traditional food.

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Running from the set of IG, she settled herself inside her van and checked whether her Hanbok was in place. She wiped off the lone sweat on her forehead. She could not believe she agreed to this whole plan. She couldn't believe she suggested this whole thing.

~~

4 days ago

I WISH WE COULD DO SOMETHING TRADITIONAL ON CHUSEOK, she said as she turned off the television. She was bored and in dire need of a break, even for just a few days, not even a week.

AM I BORING YOU?, he gently put down his guitar and turned to face her.

It was one of those free nights at the SS501 dorm. HJ was still recuperating from the dreaded flu, so HB volunteered to visit him there instead. The boys were out, so they had the whole apartment to themselves. They promised themselves to spend every free time they had with each other especially after HJ's hospitalization and HB's series of accidents.

IT'S NOT THAT...HB explained. I JUST WANTED A BREAK FROM THINGS AND DO SOMETHING FUN.

I KNOW, WHY NOT COME OVER FOR CHUSEOK?, he happily suggested. He just loved it when she comes over to the dorm. It felt rather good to take care of her for a change.

HB wrinkled her nose after hearing the suggestion.

OKAY, MAYBE, I CAN GO TO YOUR HOUSE?, he quickly volunteered, but instead, she shot him that stare.

YAH! KIM HYUNJOONG, I SAID SOMETHING TRADITIONAL. WHAT'S SO TRADITIONAL ABOUT ME COMING HERE OR YOU GOING TO MY APARTMENT., she was in a foul mood, and his genius ideas were not really helping.

He gave a small giggle. It amused him when she turns into a grouch. SO, WHAT DID YOU HAVE IN MIND?, he stood up and sat beside her.

I DO NOT KNOW. WHAT DO PEOPLE USUALLY DO ON CHUSEOK?, she set her head on his lap.

VISIT THEIR PARENTS, EAT, DINE, WEAR HANBOK...were HJ's suggestions.

HB stayed quiet, contemplating, trying to come up with some non-boring traditional relaxing activity for the both of them to enjoy.

I KNOW!, in one quick motion she sat up almost hitting HJ's chin with her forehead. WHY DON'T WE VISIT MY PARENTS, EAT AT HOME, AND WEAR HANBOK?, she had that childlike, very innocent smile that made her eyes twinkle with glee.

HJ swallowed the big lump on his throat. SHE DID NOT JUST MAKE THAT SUGGESTION, DID SHE?, he asked himself. NO...NO...he protested.

HB looked at him with a frown and crossed brows, WHY?

He needed an idea. Fast!, DON'T YOU HAVE GUESTINGS THEN, IT IS CHUSEOK AFTERALL., brilliant excuse.

She nodded then stood up and picked up her phone.

OPPA, WHAT'S MY SCHEDULE FOR CHUSEOK?

AH, REALLY?

OKAY!!

She smiled. OH NO! I'M IN TROUBLE, HJ thought.

I HAVE NOTHING THEN., she happily announced, I SAW YOUR SCHEDULE EARLIER AND YOU'RE NOT SCHEDULED TO WORK UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER.

He let out a panic stricken tiny grin, he needed something to counter her idea. AHA!, he thought. BUT BEFORE WE GO TO YOUR HOUSE, MY OMMA CALLED ME EARLIER AND INVITED ME TO HAVE BRUNCH AT HOME, MY BROTHER AND FATHER'S BEEN BUGGING ME ABOUT YOU, YOU KNOW. THEY LET MY OMMA ARRANGE THIS BRUNCH, SO THAT THEY COULD MEET YOU. He was not lying, his Omma did call earlier to check on him and invite HB to brunch on Chuseok, but he declined thinking what a riot it would be when his younger brother meets her and how his mother would pressure him to marry her soon.

Okay, she wouldn't lie, she was starting to panic, HE'S BLUFFING, I KNOW HE IS!, she convinced herself. As if all the pressure from his bright eyed and young female fans were not enough to push her past sanity, then he announces a meeting with his family on Chuseok of all days. HE'S JUST NERVOUS ABOUT MEETING MY PARENTS AND BROTHER, HE'S BLUFFING, she continued to coax herself.

FINE, she bravely announced. Hyunjoong could sense the panic and thought, SHE'S GONNA GIVE UP ON THE IDEA AFTER A FEW DAYS.

~~

Now, here she was on her way to the Kim's residence fully dressed in Hanbok. It didn't really help that she has not had sleep. She cursed at him silently, HE EVEN MADE HIS MOTHER CALL TO CONFIRM, she said to herself. Her heart was pounding. She never thought meeting her boyfriend's family would be this nerve wracking.

When she finally arrived at the address, she saw him patiently waiting at the gate. He looked so cute in his traditional clothes, and for awhile, it made her forget what she was doing at that very moment. The bow. Some small talks. At brunch, it was no surprise to Hyunjoong that the conversations started to flow easily. There was even some laughter from Hwangbo, and not the nervous kind. He smiled at her mischievously as she offered to slice the fruits. She just smirked, knowing that she was defeated in her plot.

In the afternoon, Hyunjoong found himself parking in a not so familiar driveway. His hands started to shake when he heard a man's voice from the heavy doors, HYE JUNG!! He was right. It was her father. He met Hwangbo's Omma a few times and he was very at ease with her, but meeting her Appa and Oppa was making him dizzy. She gave him an evil grin before running to the door to give her Appa a hug. And as if he was not nervous enough, another man came out to greet them-her Oppa.

LET ME GUESS, SHE MADE YOU WEAR THAT, Hwangbo's Oppa laughed. DON'T BE FOOLED BY HER ANTICS, he added, patting his shoulder. Hwangbo approached him, gave him a peck on the cheek and whispered, I LOVE YOU, SHILLANG, then hurriedly went inside after sticking out her tongue. CHILDISH BRAT, he silently cursed at her.

It shocked him. He didn't feel nervous even after just a few minutes inside the house. It was like dealing with 2 other Hyejungs. Both men were funny and really easy to get along with. Hyunjoong found Hwanbo smiling at him while he was sharing stories with her father and brother.

They went home later than expected. Hyunjoong didn't think he'd enjoy their company so much, while Hwangbo was animatedly described her experience that the Kim's to her Omma.

While Hyunjoong was concentrating on driving, Hwangbo comfortably settled her head on his shoulders then let out a sigh. YOU IMPRESSED ME KIM HYUNJOONG. YOU DID A GOOD JOB., she whispered.

Hyunjoong let out a hearty giggle. YEAH, ME TOO. I ENJOYED IT SO MUCH, BUIN. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ME THERE AND ACTUALLY GOING TO MY HOUSE EVEN IF I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO MURDER ME WITH THOSE DEATH STARES OF YOURS.

Hwangbo's cheeks turned red, IT WAS NOT A BAD IDEA, RIGHT?, she chuckled.

Hyunjoong parked the car at the main entrance of her Apartment Building, Hwangbo quietly stepped out of the car and went to the driver's side. He opened the window for her. Hwangbo stooped to give him a kiss on the cheek. She turned to leave without a word. She took a few steps. Hyunjoong watched her, but she turned around and walked back to the car. AREN'T YOU SPENDING THE NIGHT?, she announced in the sexiest voice she could muster. She turned around and started walking towards the lobby again. Hyunjoong found himself grinning from ear to ear. He immediately climbed out of the car and followed his Buin. THIS MUST BE MY REWARD FOR BEING A GOOD BOY TODAY, he thought. THANK GOD FOR CHUSEOK AND TRADITION, he said loud enough for Hwangbo to hear.