Chapter Text
Min-gi Park is twenty-one years old, living with his family on an estate in the early 1900’s. With the expectation to inherit his father’s business, he trains underneath him as a sort of apprentice. They work alongside a group of investors, and Min never really understands the jargon or even small talk he’s forced to make when they’re around. Discussing with businessmen about investments and avenues for revenue growth easily blew past his ears and left him drained and in desperate need of fresh air.
Recently however, the dreaded conversations Min had with his father on walks to and from town were now laced with a new topic he hadn’t thought too much about before: marriage. He knew he was expected to be wed one day, someday, but he wasn’t particularly keen on it being so soon. The idea certainly never riddled his mind for more than a second, swept away by his other priorities. Piano, visiting close friends in town, and exploring wooded areas easily took precedence when Min wasn’t working.
It wasn’t that he didn’t know what liking someone felt like. He had his fair share of butterflies that pooled a pit in his stomach when a girl got particularly close to him. One time he slipped a note to a classmate in secondary school named Helen, saying to meet by the local forest's river. She actually showed up, to Min’s surprise, but the rendezvous quickly ended in a bug bite disaster in which Min also learned not everyone enjoys the forest like he always had. Other than that though, he hadn’t really tried pursuing anyone. The thought crossed his mind from time to time, but he supposes he just hadn’t found the romance yet.
“And so I just wanted you to start thinking about it— you’re not getting any younger.”
He was only 21, but a lot of other men his age were already married or at least engaged, so he understood his father’s sentiment. Still, he remained quiet, not really sure what to say to his dad of all people about something pretty vulnerable that he didn't even have an interest in.
Silence loomed between the two as gravel cracked beneath their feet, when suddenly Min heard his dad laugh a little.
“And, y’know, it makes life more interesting.” he posed. Min raised his head at that, curious as to how. “There’s things you love in the world, and then you figure out that sharing them with someone else makes it far more special than you ever could have imagined.”
Sharing the things you love ? Min wasn’t totally sure where his father was going, as it kind of just sounded like having a friend. Maybe that’s what marrying someone is supposed to be? “I guess I could start thinking about it…?”
Finding someone like that for yourself would definitely be easier said than done, Min thought, I guess that’s why some of his friends have gotten themselves wrapped up into—
“Great! You know one of my business partner’s actually has a daughter I think you’d really get along with. You’ve met him a handful of times at meetings, Kenji Akagi? I believe his daughter goes by Alice. Kenji and I were discussing how it could be a great way for our businesses to come together!
Min grit his teeth. Just what he was starting to suspect. “So it’d be kind of… arranged, I guess, then?”
“Min-gi, son, trust me when I say it’s a lot easier this way. It’s how I met your mother, you know! You don’t have to go through any courtship and can both just get straight to working and supporting a new family of your own. A little Min-gi to pass the family business onto when you’re his old man.” He threw in to try and be charming, elbowing his side a little.
Oh god, a family of his very own? Min was starting to feel nauseated, he did not like the sound of this conversation. “uh, I don’t know, dad…”
Min’s father stopped at the wooden back porch of their home once they arrived, standing between Min and the door as he placed a hand on his shoulder and looked at him hopefully.
“Will you at least meet her? I have an event at their family estate this Saturday and Kenji’s whole family will be there. It’ll just be during the day, but you can visit and see how you like her.”
The thought of meeting someone new with the intention of possibly marrying them shot nerves through Min’s gut and rattled anxiety in his brain. But he could tell by how earnest his father was being that he clearly wanted this for him. For him to move forward with this life, and actually start something for himself. Min released a huge breath he didn’t even know he was holding. “... Alright, yes, I’ll meet her.”
---
Saturday morning Min stood at the mirror, straightening his button down shirt before tucking it in, looking himself up and down. He honestly felt really good today. After having some time to think about it, the idea of getting set up with a girl seemed less intimidating. One of the biggest deterrences to dating has always been Min’s discomfort with the whole courtship aspect, he guesses his nerves got the best of him. But if she seems nice, and she likes him fine, then they can just skip all the pain and go straight for gold. Easy peasy.
After a thirty minute ride from their home to the Akagi estate, Min and his father arrived in the late afternoon. The long house was grand, pillars bordering the front door and a sea of windows spread across either side. The landscaping surrounding it all was exceptionally clean and lush, with vibrant pink and blue flowers detailing the porch. It was incredibly pleasing to the eye, even if it was over the top. Min wasn’t foreign to some wealth, but definitely not to this standard. Taking a slightly nervous breath, he followed his dad inside.
The home was bustling with loud conversation, laughter, cigar smoke, and some guy around Min’s age frantically running around and offering horderves. He knew this was a proper party, but a small part of him was convinced this was pure chaos.
Shaking hands with a few of his father’s friends and partner’s, he slowly eased into his nerves and embraced the lighthearted small talk. It was slightly painful, sure, but not that bad. Min took advantage of a break between conversations to grab a small dumpling off a tray, politely but quickly stuffing his mouth so he didn’t feel like he had to talk for a second. Not even a moment later, however, his dad clapped a hand on his back, causing Min to choke a little. “Min-gi, Alice is over with Kenji in the sun room right now, come with me so you can meet her!”
Min firmly hit his chest a bit before clearing his throat, looking at his dad a bit disheveled but sincere. “Y-yeah, sure..!”
He followed his father and he felt his heart skip a beat a little. What was she going to be like? Was she nice? I mean, that would probably be a dealbreaker. Maybe she'll likes music, or even piano? That’d be really cool. Rounding the corner to the sunroom, Min’s eyes landed on a slender, tall woman with dark brown hair, glowing by the window while chatting with a man he vaguely recognized from a business meeting once upon a time. As they approached the pair, Min could feel the nerves revving their engines, but his dad was already putting a hand on his back and pushing him toward her. There was truly no backing out.
“Kenji, what a pleasure it is to see you again!” Min-gi’s father exclaimed, to which the larger man next to her, who Min now realizes is her dad, looked over and immediately lit up.
“Ji-hoon, you made it! Min-gi, you look so grown up, I don’t think I’ve seen you since our meeting last year!” Mr. Akagi shook each of their hands firmly. “Perfect timing— this is my daughter, Alice! Doesn't she look beautiful?"
Min (hopefully not too obviously) winced a bit at the forward remark, feeling embarrassed not only for himself in being expected to answer it but also Alice for being the subject, but then he looked over at her and she was just smiling as cool as ever at him, totally unfazed. She offered a gentle handshake to both his own father and him, but kept her gaze primarily on Min. “Good afternoon! It’s so nice to meet both of you. I’m Alice Akagi, the eldest daughter in the family. You are the owner of Park Estates, the Ji-hoon Park, right…?” Min’s father laughed heartily and nodded, to which she then turned to directly face Min. “And so you are…?”
“Oh, Min-gi Park! It’s a pleasure to meet you, too.” Min shook her hand before pulling it away, shoving it into his pocket for some reason. With her easy demeanor, Min was starting to feel like this girl was way too smooth for him.
“Min-gi, what a nice name. I assume you know my father, do all of you work together?” Alice looked to Min who was opening his mouth to respond, but then his dad was stepping forward, already on it. “Yes, we’ve worked on a couple projects together. Speaking of," he shifted an inquiring gaze to her father, "I actually was hoping to discuss the plans for the dam construction with you and Sung-ki Jeong…?”
“Sung is here?! I didn’t think he’d make it! Yes, please, let’s be off. Alice, will you be alright here with Min-gi?” Mr. Akagi makes sure, to which she lightly rolled her eyes and gave him a gentle push, “Yes dad, we’ll be fine. Go on.”
They quickly fled to another room full of bustling conversations, laughter, and ideas, and Min’s gut twisted again at the sudden silence between them and thought of making conversation. However, Alice was already ten steps ahead of him, stepping a bit closer with apparent interest. “So tell me about yourself, Min. Do you like your job? Do you do anything for fun?”
Min could feel himself still sweating a little, but realized just really doesn't want to slip up their first meeting. “It’s okay, I mean it makes great money,” he laughs a little, rubbing the back of his neck, “which is amazing, but I’m actually more interested in piano? You know, writing music.”
Alice smirked a little, sipping her glass of… Wine? Probably wine, Min assumes. “Oh really? You’re like my brother, Ryan, then. I don’t know a thing about making music, but I do love listening to it! Always sets the mood, right?” she laughed softly, but Min honestly didn’t really know what to say to that.
“Yeah, aha, for sure…” He shifted a little in place, doing his best to keep things flowing. “So then, uh.. What about you? What do you do?”
She leaned in closer, sighing tiredly. “Well, it kind of feels like I’ve been getting stuck with a lot housework as of late, but I actually really love sewing! I get commissioned to make dresses, oh wait, look, I made this dress!” She exclaimed, twirling around before laughing what Min could only describe as delicately. He felt so out of place for some reason. Her very presence just felt too high above him, and he didn’t really know a thing or two about clothing or fashion. “Oh wow, it really looks amazing!” he finally spoke, trying to not look too much as he gives a genuinely sweet smile. “You should start your own shop in town. I bet you could do it.”
Min noticed a glint in Alice’s eyes, as if she was contemplating something before she stepped even closer, now a few inches past what Min considered was normal conversation distance. She swirled the wine (he’s certain now, he could smell it) around in the glass, looking up at him hopefully. “You really think so?
There they were, the telling butterflies. Min never understood why the feeling was called getting “butterflies,” that made it sound like it was a positive experience. Heavy and fizzy, It was more nauseating than anything, really.
In fact, Min actually thought he might throw up. Before thinking too much about it, he gave her what he hoped was a comforting thumbs up. “Yeah, for sure! …. Uhm..” he shifted a little, subtly stepping back. “I’m sorry, where would the restroom be?”
The glint in her eyes had vanished, Min noticed, but she was still smiling cooly. “Oh, it’s just down the hall there to the right. Well, wait, actually…” she squinted in the direction and bites her lip. “It looks like that area is a bit crowded, there may be a bit of a wait. Ok, here,” gently scooping Min’s arm, Alice pulls him over to the next room that has a swirling staircase, gesturing up it. “We always keep our socials downstairs only, so you won’t run into any trouble if you go upstairs. The bathroom is down the left wing’s hall, it’ll be the third door.”
“Third door, hall on the left, got it.” Min repeated backwards before promptly yoinking himself out of there before further exchanges could ensue. Reaching the top of the steps, once out of sight, he kind of revelled in the newfound pocket of privacy, letting out a sigh. This sort of silence was comforting, the non-judgemental kind. Alice was fine, he just felt a little out of place talking to her for whatever reason. He began traveling down the left side’s hall, counting doors.
In front of the third door, Min was about to reach for the nob when he picked up on a peculiar sound coming from the other side. Not a human noise, he deduced, listening closer, but rather… Min closed his eyes for a moment. Something with strings? Perhaps a guitar… But wait—
“In a bathroom…?” he whispers to himself, perplexed. The guitar continued, softly muffled through the door. He could definitely make out the instrument at this point, but the style of the music wasn’t like anything Min had ever heard. He thought he probably maybe definitely shouldn’t interrupt whatever was going on in there, and then subsequently realized he actually needed to pee. Min's mind flashed to the bathroom downstairs and how crowded the area was to get in, and then he quickly scanned both sides of the hall he was in for the possibility of a third option. The endless walls of doors looked daunting, and there was no telling if there was even another bathroom in the house. Taking a deep breath, he tried not to feel too bad about interrupting the sweet melody, I mean why were they playing in the bathroom anyway, and brought his hand up to knock.
“Hey, uh--” at the sound of his voice, the music stopped all at once, almost as if to a screeching stop. Min paused, his hand hovering above the door as he heard some shifting around from the other side.
He stood there for a few seconds, and briefly considered just giving up right now and waiting it out downstairs, but then he heard the lock click and he froze in his place, the door opening.
“Excuse me,” spoke a silvery voice that made Min lock eyes with the person in front of him. It was a slightly shorter man with square glasses and, oh wow, long whispy hair down to his shoulders. It held the same dark brown glow that Alice had, and he wondered if this was another one of her family members. “Sorry,” Min began, rubbing the back of his neck again in slight embarrassment at the interruption, but then his eyes fell on the guitar the man was actually clenching in his hands. “Wait— is that a guitar?”
The spectacled guy lifted the instrument for a second and looked down at it, as if to check if it was still a guitar, “Yup, seems to be that way.”
A silence loomed.
“... In the bathroom?”
“I-It has better reverb, okay?!” He quickly spoke, clearly a little embarrassed but still firm with his beliefs. Min started laughing, understanding the great acoustics of a tile room but still unable to get around the fact that this person was just sitting in the restroom playing an instrument. Oh wait— Maybe Min shouldn’t have laughed, he’s squeezing past him to leave.
“Whatever, you probably don’t even get it, sorry for the—”
“Wait!” Min ironically finished, putting a hand on his shoulder, and whoah, what was he doing? “I do get it, I make music, I—I play piano.”
“You have a piano... in your bathroom?” The mystery man questioned skeptically, raising an eyebrow.
“What!! No, no, god, I didn’t mean that. I just meant I understand wanting a nice reverb. Bathrooms strangely have pretty great acoustics.” Min quickly supplied to explain himself, and he noticed the guy thankfully begin to ease up a little, paying more attention to Min now.
“Yeah, right? When I play it in my room it’s fine, but there’s a completely different emotion to the song when it’s bouncing off the walls in there.” He was kind of perking up at the topic, and Min felt drawn in, subconsciously stepping forward.
“For sure... I’m sorry, wait, what’s your name?”
“Oh,” he took a moment to clear his throat and before assuming a dramatically formal stance, to Min’s amusement. “Ryan-- second eldest son of the Akagi family” he presented himself, supporting his guitar with one hand while holding out the other to shake with Min. “Or whatever makes the most sense to you. I prefer just Ryan.”
“Oh, wow!” Min laughed, shaking his hand a little before crossing his arms and smiling. “I met your sister and father downstairs.”
“Oh, yeah, Alice. Sheee’s a wacky one.” Ryan spoke a little offhandedly, looking away to the side.
'Wacky' was not how Min would describe her in the slightest, but he chose to not question it given Ryan’s delivery, carefully biting the inside of his cheek, “So, if you don’t mind me asking, why are you up here instead of downstairs?”
Ryan raised an eyebrow at Min, glancing down the hall toward the staircase. “Uh, have you been downstairs? It’s pure, complete, absolute mayhem— I mean I guess I like zoos and all, but that’s because the animals don’t ask you what direction you’re going in life or criticize your interests.”
Min chuckled, he could not relate more to that. “I absolutely understand that, I mean that’s actually... why I’m up here. Surface level discussions make me want to detach from my bones and ascend to some other realm.”
Ryan laughed louder than Min was expecting and grinned at him, and he felt something roll in his stomach a bit. It was nothing like the painful twinges from before with Alice. It was light, like a fluffy bubble? Wait, does that even makes sense? Before Min could consider the feeling any longer, Ryan spoke up. “So did you want to hang out up here…? I mean…” his gaze shifted away from Min for a second, before looking back at him still with a smile but now a little sparkle in his eyes, “I’ve never met anyone at one of our parties that enjoys making music, and you seem pretty cool.”
‘Cool’ was the last word Min ever thought anyone would use when speaking of him. Ryan had a very interesting vocabulary. He was admittedly surprised that this person was genuinely wanting to spend time at this social with him, let alone someone he’s found himself so easily talking to. He thought for just a moment that maybe he should retreat downstairs to continue conversing with all the other businessmen and probably Alice some more, but every part of him wanted to be right here. And with that look in Ryan’s eyes, sparkling and tempting, he thought why not for a little ?
And so he stayed.