A Night With You: Episode 2

Dong Soo asks Yeo Woon to help him get Jin Yi’s heart. Yeo Woon just smiles but he’s willing to help his friend. Dong Soo also meets Yoon Bok, but he only offers little solution. Dong Soo sighs and leaves him alone. Dong Soo can’t practice martial arts today, his mind is wandering to Jin Yi. He thinks of her and even imagines all the scenario inside his head. His friends tsk tsk tsk him. He goes to nearby mountain and daydreaming instead. He never feels that way before, especially not with gisaeng. 

Yeo Woon comes and attacks him suddenly. But Dong Soo is alerted. They are play-fighting for a while before they get tired. Both are really good fighters, they have high martial arts skills. They always play-fighting like this since they were in childhood. Then aftey they fight, they rest for a while. Yeo Woon asks if that woman still in his mind.

“No one ever moves me like this woman,” Dong Soo says.

“Then you fool, hey fool, woman comes and goes. Nothing to worry about one woman,” Yeo Woon replies.

In the gisaeng house, Hwang Jin Yi dances to entertain the guests as usual. They all praise Jin Yi’s talent and beauty but behind her, they always talk about how she’s such an arrogant and proud lowlife even if she’s just gisaeng.

Today Yoon Bok is in good mood and ready to help Dong Soo. All of his teachers impressed at his sword dance painting. They praises him for using uncommon theme and extravagant colors. He passes the exam and soon will be royal painter. Dong Soo congratulates him. So to pay Dong Soo’s kindness yesterday, Yoon Bok asks what he wants.

“Not much really, just to meet her once again...” Dong Soo says then smiles.

“That’s really easy! Just comes with me tonight. Maybe Jin Yi doesn’t entertain guest today.”

Then they goes to the market. Yoon Bok and Dong Soo plays hide and seek. They plays like kids. At the moment, Jeong Hyang passes the market. Yoon Bok is in awe and awkward in front of her. Dong Soo hits his head because he looks completely like a fool.

“Ah, don’t hit me, hyung! When you’re in love you’ll be like a fool and crazy even before you realize it,” Yoon Bok warns Dong Soo.

“If I don’t bring you back to reality, you’ll still be on cloud 9,” Dong Soo answers.

Their bickering is so cute.

Then in gisaeng house comes Hwang Jin Yi’s regular, Kim Jung Han. He’s a minister and King’s trusted man. He has talent and looks and well-versed in philosophy, arts, music, poetry, etc. He asks if she’s available tonight. He wants to chit chat and exchange poetry with her. Night comes, they both enjoy each other company. Kim Jung Han loves her from long time ago and even wants to marry her, but she always rejects him.

Kim Jung Han makes a move to Jin Yi. He leans closer to kiss her, but at the very last moment, Jin Yi avoids him. Jung Han is disappointed but can’t say anything. He leaves the room, unable to control his feelings. Jin Yi is alone. She takes a look at Jung Han’s poems that is left on the room. She always knows his feelings but can’t accept him.

Dong Soo and Yeo Woon secretly enter the gibang. They enter not from the gate, but through the rooftop tiles. Dong Soo then goes to Jin Yi’s room. Jin Yi is still reading Jung Han’s poem when Dong Soo comes. She’s surprised and almost calls other gisaeng before Dong Soo tells her to be quiet. Dong Soo looks around, clearly there are traces of man before him. His face is sour. Jin Yi asks why he comes, he clearly doesn’t have enough money.

Dong Soo just wants to meet her, every night if possible. He never feels this way to other woman before and he thinks if he meets her everyday he will know what happens to him. Hwang Jin Yi doesn’t buy him. She wants him to leave. But Dong Soo insists to stay there until she says yes.

“Young Master, do you really know me? A gisaeng who never gives her heart or even her mind to anyone else. You know, the guest before you, he has good looks, money, power and even artistic talents to match me, but I always reject him.”

Dong Soo is speechless, unable to say. He’s muttering but can’t say what he really wants. He asks what she wants then, he will do everything even if he has nothing. Jin Yi looks at him, she pities him. She sighs.

“Okay, it seems you’ll always disturb me even if I say no. Go home and write a poem for me. A beautiful poem that will move my heart then I will accept your request,” she tells him as a challenge.

“Really? Oh, thank you. You’re really beautiful tonight!” Dong Soo says, he’s over the moon.

Jin Yi is blushing because his last sentence but tries to hide it. She asks him to leave now.

Dong Soo is so happy, he whistles and sings along the way home. He doesn’t even try to hide it from Yeo Woon. Yeo Woon teases him because he looks like fool in love. Dong Soo straight up says no, but can’t hide smile in his face. 

Then Dong Soo consults to Yoon Bok, but he doesn’t know much about poetry. He’s only rambling about paintings. Dong Soo is annoyed. He decides to write up the poem by himself. But because he never write a poem in his life he’s only looking blankly at the paper. He then asks his friends to write up a poem for him, but they’re basically the same. Dong Soo scratches his head in annoyance. 

He’s back to Yoon Bok. Yoon Bok rambles to just say what he said before to Jeong Hyang.

“Which man will be adequate enough to refuse the kind of woman like you? And which man will be adequate enough to treat you as one pleases?” Yoon Bok says as if it’s a poem.

Dong Soo shivers at that line. 

“Augh... So cheesy and it’s too direct. Do you think she will accept that kind of lines? No, no, it won’t work.”

“Then, just write as you please and don’t disturb me!” Yoon Bok leaves him.

Dong Soo wonders what kind of poem he will write then and what kind of poem she likes. His head hurts just thinking about it. While at the gisaeng house, Jin Yi also wonder if Dong Soo will come again. 

Two weeks passes. Yeo Woon asks Dong Soo if he’s already write a poem.

“Of course! Just you wait, I, Baek Dong Soo, will impress Hwang Jin Yi, “ Dong Soo says with confidence.

***

To be continued...

Writer: kanz

Picture credits: to owner, as tagged