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“As I said before, we’re competing to see who can plant an entire row of rice seedlings the fastest. The fastest person wins the largest and juiciest watermelon on our farm.”
As Lee Soo Hyuk spoke, his scarred fingers deftly tied the ribbon of Kim Rok Soo’s straw hat under Kim Rok Soo’s chin, making a pretty bow. He made sure it was tight enough to not fall, but not tight to the point of being uncomfortable. Satisfied, he smiled and patted the top of the hat.
“There. Now you won’t get sunburned.”
“Thanks.”
Unlike Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo who tanned well under the sun, Kim Rok Soo simply turned red and inflamed instead. They were much better suited to the farmer’s life compared to him. Sunscreen was Kim Rok Soo’s new best friend.
Even though he frequently forgot about suiting up and protecting his skin, his overprotective friends always remembered for him.
“I’m SO going to win again!” Choi Jung Soo declared as he rushed to pick the best spot for himself. “Ack!” In his haste, he fell down on the muddy field.
“Jung Soo, you okay?” Lee Soo Hyuk hollered as he worriedly watched the buff man push himself back up.
Choi Jung Soo wiped his face with his sleeves and raised a hand to wave at them. “It’s all good! My handsome face ain’t scarred!”
“Handsome? Where?” Kim Rok Soo made a show of looking around.
“Hey! I’ll have you know I was very popular in high school!”
“With the teachers?”
“No! With the students!”
“Okay, okay, break it up,” Lee Soo Hyuk commanded with a small chuckle. He gave Kim Rok Soo a look. “Try winning this time, Rok Soo.”
Lee Soo Hyuk’s gaze was knowing. He knew Kim Rok Soo didn’t care about winning at all.
Kim Rok Soo gave a noncommittal shrug.
Lee Soo Hyuk gave an exaggerated sigh. “Aigoo, one is super competitive and one doesn’t care at all.”
Despite his complaints though, his smile was fond.
“Well, go at your own pace then.”
“That’s the plan,” Kim Rok Soo agreed.
“Hurry up!” Choi Jung Soo whined, his hands poised and ready to begin planting.
The two of them moved to the rice paddy field. Lee Soo Hyuk stayed close to Kim Rok Soo, making sure he didn’t fall. He was ridiculously overprotective. Kim Rok Soo might’ve badly injured his leg against a monster years ago, but his leg was still good enough for him to walk.
Soon, the three of them were stationed in their individual rows.
“Ready… get set… go!”
Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo started planting rice seedlings at an incredible speed, but Kim Rok Soo took his own sweet time.
To be honest, he didn’t mind farming as much as he pretended to. It was really nice to go through the repetitive motions and completely empty his mind. Unlike years ago, there was no longer a need to rapidly go through information in his head in a desperate bid for survival as he fought monsters.
Of course, sometimes he still had to use his head, especially if there was an issue with the crops. He saved their crops from pest infestations and overwatering more times than he could count. But other than that, the work was pretty simple.
“Fill me with your love~ My love battery seems to be out of juice~”
Lee Soo Hyuk sang a line from Choi Jung Soo’s favourite trot song, and Choi Jung Soo couldn’t resist singing along. He sang enthusiastically with hand movements, acting like he was in a karaoke room instead of on the field.
“I can’t live with you, I really can’t live without you~ You are my battery~”
It was only toward the end of the song that Choi Jung Soo realized what Lee Soo Hyuk was doing.
“Hey, Lee Soo Hyuk you sneaky bastard! You’re trying to slow me down, huh? You cheater!”
“All’s fair in love and war!” Lee Soo Hyuk retorted with a laugh.
Kim Rok Soo could listen to his friends sing cheesy old songs and say lame jokes as they farmed.
It was nice.
Being surrounded by their laughter. Being able to live their dreams with them.
“Look Rok Soo! I’m twice as fast as you are!” Choi Jung Soo bragged far ahead of him.
“Good for you.”
Kim Rok Soo didn’t care about winning. It didn’t matter anyway— he knew they would share the watermelon with him even if he was done last.
“You’re looking the wrong way, Jung Soo!”
“Ack! Hyung! When did you get so far?!”
Kim Rok Soo hid his smile under his hat.
Soon, Lee Soo Hyuk finished his row, and seconds later, Choi Jung Soo finished his. Choi Jung Soo continued to complain about Lee Soo Hyuk’s tactics, and Kim Rok Soo worked to the sound of his bickering friends.
Minutes later, Kim Rok Soo was still farming, but this time, Choi Jung Soo was working by his side.
They usually assigned Kim Rok Soo the easiest tasks, but Kim Rok Soo was always the last one to finish his work due to his lazy speed. Even though he was perfectly alright with doing it alone at his own pace, Choi Jung Soo always caved and helped out with his tasks.
“It’s so hot today,” Choi Jung Soo whined. “I hope the watermelon that hyung is getting is chilled.”
“Me too.” Chilled watermelons were nicer compared to warm ones.
With Choi Jungsoo’s help, Kim Rok Soo quickly finished the row.
They walked over to the pavilion where Lee Soo Hyuk was waiting for them with a huge watermelon on the stone table.
“You guys are done? Good job.”
“Less talk more chop!” Choi Jung Soo demanded.
Kim Rok Soo lifted an eyebrow. “Why are you being so demanding? You’re not the one who won, so it’s not like you’ll be eating it anyways.”
“Nah, I’m sure hyung will share. Right, hyung?”
Lee Soo Hyuk ignored Choi Jung Soo’s fluttering eyelashes and smiled at Kim Rok Soo.
“I feel bad sometimes, Rok Soo. You don’t even like farming, but we always force you to work with us.”
Kim Rok Soo was barely paying attention to Lee Soo Hyuk’s words because he was too busy watching the bulging muscles on Lee Soo Hyuk’s forearm as he swung the blade. As expected, their team leader looked the coolest with a weapon in his hand.
“Well, it’s not so bad. Moving every now and then means my joints won’t hurt.”
“Your joints are already hurting?” Choi Jung Soo gasped, then tsked and shook his head. He started nagging again like an ahjumma. “Gosh, Rok Soo, you’re only in your 30s. I’ll squeeze more milk for you to drink.”
Kim Rok Soo coughed and looked away from Choi Jung Soo’s squeezing actions. He stopped his mind from going down the wrong path and redirected the conversation. “It has nothing to do with age. Your body aches if you lie down for too long. I’ve gotten bed sores before.”
“That happens?!”
“Do you have them now? Does it hurt?”
“No!” he swatted away the worried hands attempting to lift his shirt. “You guys make me farm every day, how can I get bed sores? I’ve only gotten them when I laid down for a week.”
“A week?!”
“Stop asking and start eating the watermelon before the flies get to it.”
“You’re right.” Lee Soo Hyuk lifted a big piece and handed it to Kim Rok Soo. “Here, Rok Soo.”
Kim Rok Soo accepted it with two hands. A smile lifted the corner of his lips as he enjoyed the sweet and cold watermelon. It was even more delicious because of the hard work and sweltering heat.
“Hey! Why are you giving it to him when you’re not giving it to me?” Choi Jung Soo pouted as the two of them ate the watermelon without him.
“How can I not give food to our maknae when he eats so well? Look how happy he is. He’s so cute when he smiles.”
Kim Rok Soo coughed and hid his smile behind his hand.
“I’ll be very happy if I get to eat the watermelon too!” Choi Jung Soo pleaded.
Lee Soo Hyuk laughed and leaned toward Kim Rok Soo. In a low voice meant to still be heard by Choi Jung Soo, he asked teasingly, “What do you think? Should we give him some?”
“Rok Soo~!”
Puppy dog eyes should not look so cute on someone in their thirties, but since he was so cute… Kim Rok Soo caved just as easily as the other two did when it came to him.
“Mm. It’s too big for us to finish anyways.”
“Nice!” Choi Jung Soo started eating the watermelon with them, taking huge bites. “Mm, it’s so good! As expected, food grown by our own hands tastes better!”
“I agree,” Lee Soo Hyuk said as he watched Choi Jung Soo eat. Choi Jung Soo always ate with such gusto, and it made farming feel a lot more rewarding. “I think our chilies should be ready for harvesting soon. We can make kimchi.”
“Nice!” Choi Jung Soo cheered. “I love mustard leaf kimchi!”
It was so peaceful. Sitting here like this, watching the setting sun as they shared a watermelon together.
Kim Rok Soo smiled.
Farming life wasn’t so bad.
And just like this, the three of them shared everything and lived happily ever after.