Jeju Boys (2)
Title: Jeju Boys
Author: Lolcat
Pairing: Duseung
Rating: PG - Very fluffy, a little angsty and eventually quite romantic.
Summary: Hyunseung feels like everything in his life is right. Dujun is finally his, Dung-dung has recovered and high-school is almost over. Little does Hyunseung know, his life, and the lives of all of those important to him, are about to take a dramatic turn in a wild and crazy direction.
Author's Notes: This is the sequel to the story Seoul Boy. Please read that first :D
A/N:
Jinjja majayo? - lit. Really True? (Is that really true/right?)
Jinjja - Really/seriously?
Kwaenchana - Okay/all right
Kamsahamnida - Thank you (honorific)
Komawo - Thank you (informal)
Shigeuro - Shut up
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“Well, Dongwoon, you just successfully brought a horse into the world,” Dujun said, but Dongwoon was too engulfed in watching the colt to do any more than nod at him. Dujun smiled at Jinri.
After the foal had attempted to stand a few times, Jinri said we should leave him and his mother in peace.
“He’s getting better every time,” she said, placing a hand on Dongwoon’s shoulder. He nodded at the little black colt. “You can watch from the fence if you’re quiet.” So we all wandered towards the gate, filing out one by one so we could sit on the other side and watch him. The red mare was still resting on the ground, but she often turned to sniff the foal and nicker at him gently. It was a bit of a tear-jerking event and I couldn’t help but watch in awe.
“Boys, do you want to go for a ride or should you be letting your horses go?” We all looked at each other.
“I sort-of want to ride,” Dongwoon said while he was rinsing blood from his hands at the tap.
“Same here,” Junhyung said and Yoseob nodded at Jinri. Dujun stretched as he spoke.
“Well, the colt should be up by the time we get back.” I smiled at the sound of his strained voice and shot a hand out to tickle his underarm. He doubled over with a shout of annoyance, but by the time he stood up, I had jumped the fence into the stable yards.
“Calm down, love birds, you’ll upset the umma and agi,” Jinri said, making her way back towards the house with the towels and spray.
“Can I stay and watch the foal?” Gikwang asked.
“You should go too, Gikwang-ah,” Jinri said. “You’ll appreciate him more when you get back.” With a sigh and a slightly disappointed face, Gikwang stood and headed towards his tied horse. I smiled sympathetically at him when he met my eyes.
“You’re so lucky,” he said, his disappointment more evident now that Jinri had left. My face fell at his expression.
“Wae?”
“Jinri Gomo’s going to give that colt to you - I know it.” I didn’t know how to respond to that.
“Are you jealous, Giki?” Yoseob mocked, turning his pony away from us with a witty grin.
“Yah, shigeureo!” Gikwang shouted at him, though he seemed not to care too much - Seobie’s trolling was as common to us as Junhyung’s frowning or Dongwoon’s hyperactive eyebrows.
“Gikwang-ah,” I said, trying to be as gentle as possible. “Do you want that colt?” Gikwang was silent while he stretched his gelding’s front legs and checked the girth. We mounted and then looked at me.
“I’ve never had my own horse before… it was just really cool seeing him born and… his sire is such an incredible stallion…” I smiled as we turned our horses to walk towards the back gate. I put an arm around his shoulder.
“Gikwang; if Jinri gives me the colt, he’s yours.” Gikwang looked at me.
“Jinjjayo?”
“Ne, Giki, and I told you to talk down,” I reminded him.
“Hyung,” he said and I looked at him. “Komawo!” I didn’t expect him to hug me then, but I was glad when he did. I laughed and patted his back. I had always felt more distance from Gikwang than anyone else, but maybe this would change that.
In all honesty, I wanted the colt, but if he was Gikwang’s, at least he would be close all the time and he would be in reliable hands that I trusted. Either way, I still had Cheondung, and getting another foal wouldn’t be too much of a problem.
I waved at my golden stallion as I rode out with the others and Cheondung whinnied at me. I promised him I’d spend some time with him that afternoon, so after my ride, I would go sit with him for a while.
A couple of days passed, most of which were spent with Cheondung or watching the tiny black colt find his legs. School was like an irritation obstacle around which I had to fit my life. I was going to be finishing soon - only another month and I would be free - but until then, I had to keep studying for finals and keep caring about it, which made spending time with the horses difficult.
On top of that, when was I supposed to hang out with Dujun? Never, apparently, since I hadn’t had a second alone with him in months. It was beyond irritating. Since my shoulder healed, I’d been dying to go back to his place; sleep in his bed; be with him again. I knew he felt the same, but he seemed to be handling it better than I was. He didn’t stare at me for almost creepy amounts of time whenever we were together, he didn’t try his hardest to make everyone else disappear so we could have a second alone, both of which I did.
He always grinned patronisingly whenever I gave in and just kissed him in front of people, because he knew I didn’t want other people to see, but he also knew I couldn’t let him leave without a kiss. Whenever it was the dongsaengs, they would all look away and give us at least the illusion of privacy, but if we were ever in public, people stared. I didn’t care what people thought anymore - I loved Dujun and I wanted the world to know.
On the morning of the next club day - Saturday - Jinri and I went down to the stables to feed the horses before anyone showed up. Dujun always came early, but recently, he’d been brining Dongwoon with him, which was great, except that it would have been ideal ‘Dujun and me’ time.
I almost fainted in shock when I walked with Jinri to Cheondung’s paddock and saw him and his paddock-mate, Kam, rearing at each other.
“Cheondung!” I shouted, angry as hell that he was rearing up on his leg when only a few days ago he had the plaster off.
“Hyunseung-ah, calm down. He wouldn’t be testing his leg if it was giving him grief, sweetheart.” I swallowed the sick feeling in my throat. I hated that he was such a rebel and so unhappy to just stay still and heal - he had to throw himself around the second he could. “If you like, I’ll call the vet to have a look at him and make sure he’s strong enough to be playing about, but it’s coming out of your allowance.” I nodded. I didn’t care if I never had an allowance again - I was worried for my boy.
The vet came out to check on him about an hour later, and Cheondung, still as impatient as always, had to have me stand there and scratch his neck while the vet felt his leg and back.
“Well,” the vet said, standing up and dusting his hands. “He’s strong as ever, by the feel of it. Not a single sign that it ever broke.” I sighed with relief and stroked the little golden face. “No stress to his spine or other leg, either, which means you can probably be riding again soon, if you like.” I felt a thrill run through my body.
“Jinjjayo? Jinjja majayo?”
“Ne, majayo. Just make sure that you keep an eye on it. If he goes lame at all, give me a call straight away.”
“Kamsahamnida!” I said with a ninety-degree bow and Jinri thanked him also. I looked up at the fence when I realised there were others there.
“So, are you going to ride Super Horse today?” Dongwoon asked.
“Ani, not on a trail, but I might mount him and just test his leg out.” I was replying to Dongwoon, but I found it hard to not look at Dujun. Cheondung followed me right at my back, step for step, as walked to the fence, and his nose rested on my back while I climbed the fence, just high enough to reach over and kiss my boyfriend. When I pulled away, my eyes flicked at Dongwoon and realised my instincts had been correct - he had been watching. I pretended not to notice, but it did bother me a little.
“Annyeong,” Dujun said with his seemingly eternal smile.
“Annyeong,” I said back and leant back, reaching a hand out to stroke Cheondung’s face.
“Are you going to get on now, then?” Dujun asked.
“I guess so,” I said and dropped off the fence. “Dung-dung,” I said and his little golden ears pricked up. “Want to test your leg out?” He nuzzled my shoulder as I tightened my belt. I walked to his side and put a hand on his neck. I felt his whole body tense, as though he knew precisely what I was about to do. I was sure he did. “Stand, Boy,” I said, and then hauled myself up. Cheondung nickered when I got up and turned his head to touch his muzzle to my knee. I looked up at Dujun and he was shaking his head. I turned Cheondung slightly, and before I asked, he knew to walk. It seemed he could read my body language as though it was my thoughts.
He felt as good as new, if not newer. He had a certain spring in his step that begged me to let him out and take him for a gallop. Not today, I thought; certainly not today.
“Hyunseung…” Jinri called from the other side of the fence. Her tone was recognisably thick with discontent.
“Kwaenchana, Gomo,” I said, and then stroked the restless stallion’s neck. “I’m not doing any more than this today.” She nodded, still not satisfied, and walked towards the stable with her arms crossed.
When the others arrived - all but Gikwang - we caught our horses and tacked up. Dujun decided he wouldn’t ride that day, just so that I could ride Beast. I felt myself blushing the moment he said it and Junhyung, Dongwoon and Yoseob’s jeers were expected. Damn Dujun and his beautiful heart. I climbed onto Beast’s broad back for the first time in a while, and he turned his head to nudge me hello. I stroked his neck, reminding myself of this particular horse’s cues and what he preferred. I got comfortable and then rode out behind Yoseob and the others into the arena. It was hard to focus on riding Beast - all I wanted to do was ride Cheondung now he was healed, and by the way he hung his mournful little head over the fence towards us, it looked like all he wanted to do was go for a ride, too.
Jinri rode with us on the trail for the first time in a while, only because Dujun didn’t. She was even more talkative than Hyung, which was surprising. She didn’t lead us - Beast wouldn’t allow it, so she rode behind me. The conversation was simple and light of topic until Jinri remembered something she’d seen advertised at the local produce shop.
“Yah, have you boys heard about the Natural Horsemanship competition that’s being held here soon?”
“Aniyo,” Dongwoon said first, and the same was repeated by Junhyung.
“That’s being held here?” Yoseob said with surprise.
“Ne; right here on my stud - it’s the most appropriate venue on Jeju-do.”
“Wait, mwo?” I said, turning my head a little.
“Okay, for those of you who don’t know, there is a round of selection competitions going on around the country at the moment to select teams of young horse riders who want to promote the harm-free, friendly alternative to traditional riding and training practices.”
“So… it’s a competition?” I asked.
“Ne, majayo,” Jinri confirmed.
“That sounds fun, Gomo,” Dongwoon said.
“Ne, I’m good at competitions,” Junhyung said. I laughed.
“But Junhyung-ah, you don’t ride naturally - you use a saddle and bridle,” I said.
“Yah, I can ride naturally! Aish…”
“Then do so,” Jinri said, “you all should compete - you’re competent riders. I think once Cheondung is healed, he will be a spectacular case, especially since Hyunseungie’s training method was particularly noteworthy and the stallion’s loyalty will prove a very handy device.”
“Ne; I think people will be surprised by him,” the magnae added.
“If they believe you,” Seobie said and Jinri went to snap at him. “Aniyo, Gomo, I just mean that it is pretty unbelievable that Cheondung just bonded with Seungie without any training, especially since he wouldn’t let anyone else near him.”
“He was intrigued,” I began, “I was the only one that avoided him rather than tried to get close.” Junhyung laughed.
“We all avoided him after we watched Hyung try to train him over and over.”
“Hyung tried to train him?”
“He didn’t tell you?” Junhyung said.
“Ani,” I mumbled, trying to imagine Dujun with Cheondung. “He said he tried to rope him and stuff, but never that he was persistent.”
“He was in love with that horse for so long,” Gomo said, sounding almost amused, but reminiscent.
“Jinjja majayo?” I said, a little shocked.
“Jinjja; that’s why he got so sour about him afterwards - that stallion just couldn’t be tamed. I’m not surprised he fell in love with you.” I felt myself blush at that. The woods were suddenly silent except for the horses’ plodding hooves.
“You tamed the wild stallion,” Yoseob began, “and with it, you tamed Hyung’s heart…”
“Yah, shigeureo!” I almost shouted at him. I was the only one not bawling with laughter, however, because of Yoseob’s horribly corny and embarrassing mocking. “I hate you all,” I said and asked Beast for a canter. The huge stallion’s body flexed as he mustered up the power to launch us into the gait. I heard the others follow at the same pace, but I wasn’t bothered - Beast’s massive strides were rocking me into a wonderful rhythm - so familiar and so calming, and so much smoother than the choppy canter I was used to riding. Dujun was lucky - Beast’s canter didn’t jerk him backwards and forwards so that he had to be careful not to crush his groin on the horse’s withers. With Cheondung, that was always a worry.
After about half an hour, I led the party back into the stables and we tacked up and washed off.
“So boys, next week, how about we all go natural? No saddles, no bridles, no ropes whatsoever?”
“That sounds excellent.” We turned when Hyung wandered over to us and stopped beside Jinri, crossing his arms. “But wae?”
“We want to try out for the Natural Horsemanship competition,” Dongwoon said, his excitement very evident. Dujun nodded.
“But are you old enough?” he asked. Magnae’s face fell a little.
“M-moleukesseoyo…”
“The competition isn’t for another couple of months yet - it’s in the New Year.”
“So we’ll all be older,” I said.
“What’s the age limit, though?”
“Moleukesseo,” Jinri answered with a small shrug, “I’ll call up and get details tonight, if you like.”
“This is exciting,” Junhyung said with a genuine smile. I laughed.
“Any excuse for you to beat someone at someone, Junnie,” I said. He nodded.
“Anyway, let’s let the horses go,” Jinri said, so we did.
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Uh it's taking me so long to update... TOO MANY FICS AT ONCE!!
LOL
Okay well, I hope you enjoy it.
Komawo, Saranghaeyo~
Lolcat