[Ps. I don’t tend to proof read, so please bear with spelling/grammatical errors!]
Title: 2GUs Antiques
Characters: You, Yeo Changgu, featuring Kang Hyunggu
The weather forecast had said that it was going to drizzle today, but you did not expect the heavy downpour that had caused you to be soaked, head to toe. You desperately make your way into a quaint looking shop by the corner of the street. ‘Hello, Welcome to 2GU Antiques!’ A sing-song voice called out. You stood by the doormat, too embarrassed to step into the store; drenched. The shop keeper appeared from within the shelves of antiques on display. To your surprise, he was a young man in his twenties. The gentleman was quite a sight to see; he had a head of beautiful black fluffy hair that he casually combed back as he walks towards you. He was wearing a shirt made out of jeans material behind his apron. Just as you were pretty sure you had embarrassed yourself further by being stuck in your position with an ‘O’ shaped mouth. It was then that you notice his beautiful hands with a classy black watch laid on his smooth, veiny hands. Well, you weren’t sure if they were smooth, but you assumed they are. ‘Hello~ Come in, don’t be shy!’ He waved at you with a smile that almost literally lights up the room. In contrast to the dark, gloomy weather outside, his radiant smile comforted you. ‘I’m really sorry… but I am all drenched…I…’ The dazzling young shop keeper motioned you to enter the shop enthusiastically, even before you could finish your sentence. ‘Don’t worry about it, just don’t touch the antiques for now, or you are going to have to pay for the damages!’ He said in a dramatized reprimanding manner, while wiggling his index finger at you.
It turns out, the quaint little shop is much larger than it looks. Apart from being an antique shop, it serves as a small café as well. You quietly make your way to the table furthest from the antiques. ‘Erm… if you don’t mind… you can put this on while you wait for your clothes to dry. Don’t worry, it’s on the house!’ The shop keeper hands you an oversized jumper with a cheesy tagline that read ‘2 GU for you 😉’ You gladly accepted the offer as anything would be better than your soaked clothes. Your hands casually brushed over the shop keeper’s outreached hand as you receive the offer. The jumper was so cheesy it made you giggle, but nonetheless, thankfully it is so large that you could also remove your jeans to dry.
‘Here’s a cup of coffee, while you wait for the rain to stop. That’s right, there’s no free lunch in this world~ You are definitely paying for this cup of coffee!’ He teased jokingly. ‘Of course, I would! I’m going to pay for this jumper as well…it’s just too funny!’ You responded. ‘Rigggggght?! It’s funny right? Hyunggu was so mad at me when I printed 100 sets of these jumpers without his permission. He said it was the cheesiest tagline he has ever heard’. The handsome shop keeper said with a cute little pout on his face. ‘Hyunggu?’ You asked. ‘Oh! Where are my manners! My name is Yeo Changgu, this is my antique shop/café, while my friend, Kang Hyunggu, runs his atelier at the back.’ Changgu explained. ‘Ah… Hence 2 GU for you!’ You had an ah-ha moment as you giggled away.
‘Well, feel free to look around if you like, now that you’re dry!’ Changgu offered. The nostalgic, hopeless romantic in you could not help but take up the offer. You love the idea of antiques; as you imagine the story behind each artefact. You come across trays of gramophone disc records. You remember listening to oldies on one of these gramophones as a child, with your grandpa. ‘Oh, do you like music too? I actually have a working gramophone, pick a disc!’ Changgu suggested as he gestured for you to rummage through the pile of old disc. You excitedly picked up a worn-out cover that read ‘Greatest Hits of the 1950s’. Elvis Presley’s classic hit ‘Hound Dog’ (https://youtu.be/-eHJ12Vhpyc < reference for the younglings) started rolling and you cannot help but move to the beat. Before you know it, Changgu, the odd-ball shop keeper had joined in and you were both strutting every disco move you knew together. The next song that came on was ‘Unchained Melody’ by the Righteous Brothers (https://youtu.be/HbVHq_R3LTc). You cheekily bent forward, with an arm outreached ‘May I have this honour, sir?’ You asked. Changgu played along and pretended to think it through before taking your hand. ‘Your honour indeed.’ He whispered as he placed his arms on your waist. You naturally moved closer to him and place your arms around his neck. ‘This was my favourite song growing up’. You whispered. ‘You were a kiddo with great taste’. Changgu whispered as he casually led you both to sway to the music. You were so close to this stranger that you could smell his breathe. As you both allow the music to soak in, it was suddenly no longer fun and games. Your eyes met Changgu’s. Without even looking at a mirror, you were sure you were blushing. ‘Changgu then closed his eyes and sang along ‘oh my love… my darling…’. It made you blush even more as Changgu was a wonderful singer. His melodious yet husky tone was to die for. You wondered why on Earth is he a café owner instead of a idol. ‘You’re mesmerised by my singing aren’t you?’ He hummed. ‘Uh’ Was all that came out of your mouth. ‘I was debating fiercely between being a café owner or an idol. I decided to go with the former as my family has always been an avid antique collector’. He explained. ‘Well… you will definitely have at least one fan, if you had chosen to be a singer’. You tease as you pull away from Changgu, before your body takes over. Your sudden movement woke Changgu up from his trance and it is his turn to turn beet red.
Whilst scratching the back of his neck, Changgu offered, ‘Wanna check out Kang Hyunggu’s work? He might be unknown for now, but I am sure he will make it big someday’! You nodded enthusiastically; anything to wipe the awkwardness off the air. Changgu led you to a door at the back of the shop that led to Hyunggu’s art studio. The walls are white and it was sparsely decorated, with a few paintings leaning on the wall. ‘Hyunggu is currently off to one of his ‘expeditions’, where he simply disappears to seek inspiration’. Changgu explained. ‘Oh, his works are all flowered theme?’ You asked. ‘Oh yeah, he is currently working on a series known as ‘Fleur’, which is apparently flower in French. So tacky if you ask me.’ Changgu added his two cents. ‘I think it’s beautiful’ You chimed in as you allow yourself to observe each painting in details. ‘Daisy, Violet, Camelia and the latest addition, Sunflower’. Changgu explained. From the corner of your eye, a portrait of a girl caught your attention. It was a very candid painting of a girl with dark brown hair and bangs, all cringed up from laughter. ‘Oh, that’s a painting of Hyunggu’s first love, many art collectors had tried to purchase it from him but he simply refused. He believes that he will never be able to replicate the innocence and pure admiration he had for the girl then. ‘Aww, that’s so romantic!’ You swoon as you kneel next to Hyunggu’s painting to take a closer look. ‘Ah, this ALWAYS happens when I introduce girls that I am interested in to Hyunggu. No girl can resist his romantic charms.’ Changgu casually whined as he kneeled next to you.
‘Girls…you’re… interested…in?’ You asked shyly as you take a peek at Changgu’s face. Changgu finally realised his blunter and tried to play it off as cooly as possible. ‘Well… duh. Of course, I think you’re pretty. Why else would I offer to allow you to hang around and dry off from the rain.’ Changgu explained nonchalantly. ‘Oh… so do you chase men out onto the streets despite the heavy rain then?’ You teased. ‘Woman. Yah. This has never happened okay. It is the first time a random lady bashed into my shop, drenched, but somehow, somehow, still looking so beautiful…’ Changgu trailed off as he attempted to finish his sentence. ‘I think you are very attractive too. I’ve always imagined the owners of antique shops to be old men!’ You exclaimed. ‘Ah, see. That’s my selling point. ~Come to the antique shop by the corner of the street to see the handsome antique oppa seller, yknow~’ Changgu shoots you a wink. This strange being is unbelievable. You can barely figure how does he switch from a joking tone to a serious tone within a blink of an eye. You assumed he was just being playful and flirty to get a reaction out of you.
‘Ah, it looks like the rain has slowed down, I should probably get going.’ You said as you stood up from your squatting position. ‘Don’t go?’ Changgu looked like a helpless child begging for your attention as he grab your arm while still kneeling by Hyunggu’s painting. ‘I mean it. I admit, initially, I just thought you’re hot as hell. But then I realised you are fun and introspective as well. I genuinely want to get to know you, if you let me?’ Changgu said, this time with a serious look on his face.
‘Changgu… You barely know me… What if… I’m a crook?’ You asked. ‘My antiques are too heavy to be moved without me noticing anyway, you can take Hyunggu’s works for all I care.’ The man responded. You burst into a fit of giggle at how absurd this man could be. But for some reason, his cheesiness and absurd personality makes him extra charming, along with his already top-notched look. ‘Is that a yes? Will you stay? Will you be keen to get to know me? Not Hyunggu, Changgu, the antique shop/café owner ya?’ It amazes you how Changgu has a tendency to simply rattle on and on. Changgu asked with a hopeful smile.
‘Only if you let me keep this jumper for free?’ You asked. ‘I already said, it’s on the house!’ ‘Come, let’s head back to the café and I’ll put on a movie.’ Changgu muttered as he grabbed you by the arm to lead you back to the café. ‘Don’t you have to run the shop?’ You asked. ‘Some people are worth losing some profit for.’ Changgu said with a wink as he turned the ‘Open’ sign to ‘Close’.
‘Shall we watch About Time?’ You both chimed at the same time, which led to a wave of awkward giggles from both parties. You spend that evening curled up on the sofa with Changgu while watching your favourite film. Both of you seemingly turned on your waterworks on cue and cried at every touching moment in the film. The movie was an emotional rollercoaster, but so was your day with this kooky antique shop/ café owner.
The bell on the front door rattled and somebody called out ‘YAH. Yeo Changgu. Don’t you need to run your shop?’ The man headed to the café only to see you leaning on Changgu’s shoulder and Changgu leaning on your head; fast asleep. ‘Aw, look at this Hyung!’ Hyunggu sigh as he took a snapshot of Changgu and you on his mobile phone.
(I’ll continue with a Hyunggu backstory if I get at least 10 notes/likes! :>)
