Comes and Goes + Junghyuk
A deep laugh rippled from his throat as the male tossed his head back a little. Fingers rapped along the wooden surface of the table, he cracked an amused grin, laughter ceasing. It seemed like a normal occurance to him to tease those younger then him just to watch their reactions. After all, he knew how it’s like to be introduced into a view beyond that of the four walls of his studies or the training space for his swordmanship.
Junghyuk waved him off with a flicked of his hands, head shaking, “and neither have I. Have your family been well? I occasionally hear from your father via my old man, but I’ve yet had the chance to meet him after being back in the capitol. Please send them my regards as well.” He nodded once more, firmly, getting all the formalities out of the way. Besides, he was sincere too - the Nang family had been close to his for a long while, and they were kind to them and vice-versa. “I heard you’ve dropped by every now and then, from Yukheon’s tutor. You should drop by some day, for me to repay the favor.”
The orders were made with quick succession - maekgeolli and easy snacks to match, food that he recalled eating after joining Sungkyunkwan as a boarding scholar, comfort food to push through hours of non-stop practice and studying. Those were still the fine ol’ days, days he recalled with a mix of fondness, nostalgia and reluctance. But such were the ways of growing up, and Junghyuk knew better then to harp on the past.
Eyes watched as the servers made haste to the kitchen, delivering their orders, he snap the gaze back onto his young friend. Junghyuk recognize that expression anytime, one that he wore when he was Bongki’s age, one that was mirrored on many of his peers as the examination date draws near. “Is it that time already?” he asked softly with a hum. Hands removed from the table and rested on his knees, he nodded - worries were common, and not a sign of weakness as they were a manifest of the will to achieve greater heights.
“It’s only to be expected,” he commented, “there is very little wisdom I can part with, but the examination is merely just one measurement of your knowledge. I’m sure you know what the examination asks for, but let me just add one bit - the final stage isn’t a test of how well you regurgitate old texts, nor is it simply how well you could understand it. It’s a test of your attitude, in life, and to the court. But one step at a time, young man.”
The elder smiled, rapping against the table with his knuckles once, “have you already decided upon the kind of path you would like to pursue?”
He was slightly embarrassed by the older’s hardy laugh. Even if he loved the older male dearly, as if he was his older brother, he had a habit of making Bong Ki very conscious of his actions. “ Yah hyung come on...” He trailed off, his cheeks reddening as he stared down at the table, before coughing a bit.
“ My family’s well - my mother’s birthday was a few days ago, so I went to visit them during the event.” He paused - a grin forming at the name of the older man’s son, he enjoyed the young boy’s company, he was cheerful and sweet, and well innocent. “ I was teaching him some archery, I hope you don’t mind that, after all archery is a skill all noble men should have.” Bong Ki said a bit sheepishly, perhaps it was a bit odd that he actually taught Junghyuk’s son archery, hopefully he wouldn’t get mad.
The conversation, he mulled over that would get serious rather quickly. It was Bong Ki’s own fault. But the thought of the exam was getting to him, gnawing at the scholar’s stomach. He was distraught. So he assumed that would be better to tell Junghyuk than to mull over it and suddenly pop.
Fingers wrapped around his chopsticks, eyeing the food before him with a slight frown. “ Yes, I mean I don’t have to take it yet, I’m still young, but my father wants me to get into my position as soon as possible, i have to get in younger than my brother did.” He muttered, with a soft sigh as he took a piece of the pancake.
Bong Ki’s eyes darted up to the older’s face, listening intensly to the older’s advice. He must of been looking rather frazzled, he respectfully took a moment to take a sip of the rice wine.” You sound so calm about it now, I can only hope i do as well hyungnim.” He did slightly feel better though by Junghyuk’s words, the older really had a calming affect.
The younger male nodded his head firmly - swallowing a piece of food he had just bite into before answering. “ Yes, I;m supposed to get into a military position, as I was trained for.”
