Kamon nodded his head no. He dusted his legs off.
Ilseong offered him a hand up, and Kamon took it.
He immediately went back to the large metal railing and peered over it. His eyes scanned the river for any sign of the fallen camera. But it was no use. The current had seemingly already carried it away, lost forever to the depths below.
He could feel Ilseong staring into the back of his head. He sighed.
“I dropped my camera over the edge. I am looking for it.” He clarified.
Ilseong ran up to the edge. “What! Seriously. Oh, god, I am so sorry.”
Kamon looked at the nest. The birds were completely fine and unaware of the goings on around them. He smiled.
Ilseong looked at him, then down where he was looking, and he stopped moving.
“Oh, hey, it’s a cormorant!” Ilseong exclaimed.
Kamon looked over at him and smiled. “Yeah, most people wouldn’t know that.” He commented.
Ilseong turned to him and grinned. “I come here to nature watch on Friday mornings.”
Kamon smiled back at him. He was rather handsome with his sharp, chiseled jawline, expressive eyes, and flawless complexion, he exuded an air of youthful charisma that made Kamon’s heartthrob. His slender yet athletic build, showcased in a sleek and stylish, fashionable pair of black pants and a red and black wool see-through sweater overlaid in a thick twill navy jacket, only added to his allure.
He couldn’t help but appreciate his physic and his eyes. Eyes that looked heavy with guilt for causing such a scene,
“ I am, I, gosh, I am so sorry.” Ilseong started to apologize, but Kamon waved it off with a smile. “Don’t worry about it,” he said. “It’s just a camera.”
“Let me make it up to you. I’ll buy you breakfast. Since you are not from around here, I know this sweet little spot tourists have never heard of.”
Kamon blinked at him. ‘Not from around here?’ and then it clicked in his brain. Kamon sucked in an amused breath. ‘Ah, he thinks because I look different, that I am not from Seoul. Gosh, he is cute.’ Kamon smirked. “Sure, breakfast sounds yummy. Lead the way.” He said, gesturing.
Ilseong stepped forward proudly.
“By the way, your Korean is super good, for a foreigner, I can’t even hear an accent at all, Good job.” He said, giving Kamon two thumbs up. Kamon grinned and copied the thumbs up.
‘That’s because I was born here.’ He thought, but trailed behind Ilseong, keeping his mouth shut.
As they walked together through the bustling streets of Seoul, Ilseong pointed out all the sights and sounds of the city, his enthusiasm infectious. Kamon couldn’t help but be drawn in by his charm, his initial apprehension giving way to a sense of excitement even though the places and spots Ilseong was showing him so far were fairly well known and nothing amazingly obscure on the tourism scene. But his care and attention to how he explained everything so that Kamon wouldn’t misunderstand was beyond adorable.
With Ilseong as his guide, he felt like he was experiencing Seoul for the first time, despite having grown up in the city.
Ilseong’s enthusiasm was infectious, and Kamon found himself getting caught up in the excitement of it all. They explored hidden alleyways filled with quaint cafes to grab breakfast in and bustling markets teeming with life. They sampled street food and exchanged stories about their lives, their laughter echoing through the narrow streets.
As the day turned to night, they found themselves standing on the banks of the Han River back where they had started, the two of them watching as the lights of the city shimmered on the water’s surface. It was a moment of quiet reflection, a chance to pause and appreciate the beauty of the world around them.
“Can I take you back to where you are staying?” Ilseong asked.
Kamon nodded. “Sure.”
“Lead the way,” Ilseong said, pointing with his hand tucked into his jacket pocket.
Kamon chuckled and walked in front this time. Heading back towards his house.
As they walked, the closer to his house, the more Ilseong’s face crumpled in confusion, as they headed away from the touristy parts of the city and into the private districts.
Kamon hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to continue.
He hadn’t planned on revealing where he lived, but it was too late now. He walked the last two blocks and stopped. Shoving his hand in his hair, he scratched his head awkwardly.
“We are here.” He said lamely and gestured at the old house he called home.
Ilseong looked surprised. “You live here?” he asked, his voice filled with confusion.
Kamon chuckled nervously, feeling a flush of embarrassment creeping into his cheeks. “Yeah,” he admitted. “I guess I do.”
Ilseong looked embarrassed, “But I thought you, but. Tourist…“ Ilseong fizzed out.
Kamon nodded, smiling still. “Yeah, I get that a lot. My mom’s Thai and my Dad’s Korean. I was born here.”
“Oh, gosh, I am so sorry. I just assumed because you were at the Han River early morning when tourists like to come. You didn’t look like you were from here. Like a cute foreign guy, I thought maybe you might not know where to go except the big spots and so I… well. I.” He stopped talking.
“God, I feel like an idiot.” He said. after a minute. “Of course, first I thought you were trying to jump, then I just assumed you were a foreigner. Ugh, I’m going to stop talking now.” He said, turning red in the face.
‘Cute, he thinks I am cute, huh?’
Kamon chuckled and leaned in, kissing him on the cheek, a gesture of gratitude for the evening.
Ilseong turned in surprise when Kamon’s face came in close and, to both of their surprise, their lips brushed against each other accidentally, sending a jolt of electricity coursing through both of them. Neither of them moved or looked away. The magic of the moment fused them in place so that not even their muscles twitched, or their eyelashes fluttered. And then the magic broke, and they both pulled away shyly, their cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
But instead of dwelling on the awkwardness of the moment, Kamon broke into a genuine smile “Tomorrow,” he asked, offering Ilseong a genuine invitation to repeat the day over, “let me show you some of my favorite spots in the city.”
Ilseong leaned in hesitantly at first, then braver, and kissed him on the lips, when he broke back apart from Kamon Kamon’s heart was in his head, and the throbbing was spreading across him in warm waves as Ilseong’s eyes sparkled at him with excitement. “I’d love that,” Ilseong said, his voice filled with warmth and affection.
And as they stood there together in the glow of the streetlights, leaning in tightly, the magic of the day still wound around them like a happy little cocoon. Kamon already knew in his heart that this chance encounter was just the beginning of something special.
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