Throughout the time the group stayed in Jeju, Jisung did not get to see Minho again. Although he went out to search for the mysterious stranger -- whom he was entranced by -- every day, he could not find him. It felt like Lee Minho's arrival was just a fever dream. 

Meanwhile, Hyunjin and Seungmin found time to truly connect with one another, since Chan and Ahyoung were mostly on their own. 

"So..." Seungmin questioned him, sitting on the balcony of his designated room, staring out at the long stretch of the sea cover, "How did you know that you're not interested in women?" 

"Well, I was dating Ahyoung, and while I wanted to be physically intimate with her, I tried to persuade her a lot about that. But once she left, I finally got time to think and reflect, and I realized that I did not want to be intimate with her, I was just touch-deprived. So I dated a few other girls and made out and did all that, but I was never satisfied. Well, until I got to kiss a guy. I had butterflies like never before," Hyunjin explained, a thin coat of red on his cheeks, totally uncharacteristic. 

"What was the kiss like? You know, with a guy," Seungmin shakily asked, avoiding all eye contact with him. 

"It's as good as a girl's, but maybe even better," he turned Seungmin's chair to face his, catching him off-guard as he did. Hyunjin tried to smirk confidently through his blush but failed miserably as he asked, 

"Do you want to... try?" 

Seungmin's breath hitched in his throat. He blinked at Hyunjin, looking like a surprised puppy, and his cheeks were dusted with redness now. Gulping, he slightly nodded, and his eyes fluttered close as Hyunjin placed a gentle hand across his jaw and cheek and leaned in. 

Sparks flew as the lips met, and although Seungmin was initially nervous, as the kiss flowed on, his anxiety melted away into bliss. He kissed back, and just as Hyunjin had told him, there were, indeed, butterflies. 

The two broke the kiss, and by now, both of their faces were red and hot. Seungmin yet again avoided eye contact -- this time out of shyness -- and Hyunjin smiled, 

"I told you, there'd be butterflies." 

--- 

"Pleaseeee!" Ahyoung pleaded, making puppy eyes, "I really wanna visit the local market!" 

"But crowds intimidate you, and there are gonna be a lot of people there, princess," Chan reasoned, and she pouted. 

"I just wanted to buy a souvenir for my mom..." she sulked, and he sighed. 

"Don't be sad, baby." 

"But I really wanna go!" 

"I can take you, but... I'm worried that you might get anxious," Chan jutted his lower lip out.

Ahyoung held both of his hands and swayed them up and down in excitement, "I promise I won't! I swear!" 

"Are you sure?" 

"Mhm!"

The next thing Chan knew, the two of them were strolling in the local market, hand-in-hand. Honestly, the act of holding hands was to keep her with him due to her exuberance, and also because his daddy instincts had come alive when he had taken her in a crowded market. 

Ahyoung, however, was in awe of the items displayed in the market, and she swayed their connected hands to and fro due to her happy demeanor. She had the cutest, biggest toothy smile on her face, and her eyes were glowing. Chan, who was initially impressed by the market, was now admiring her cutesy behavior. 

"Channie! Look at that!" she tugged at his hand, dragging him along to a stall by the side. Countless sea shells were displayed on that stall, and as the two approached it, she explained, "My mom loves sea shells so much! Whenever she goes to a beach, she makes sure to take one home." 

"Then let's buy her some, hm?" Chan suggested the obvious, and she turned to him, giggling, "I now see why mom calls you son-in-law." 

He laughed, and she smilingly picked out a few shells. As they bought some, a certain shop caught his eye, "Hey, baby, let's check that out." 

"Hm?" Ahyoung picked up her packet of sea shells and held his hand again, as they walked over to the street-fashion jewelry store, and Chan instantly picked out a pair of ornaments that had caught his eye. 

"Rings?" she asked. 

"Soul mate rings," his lips fell into a thin, smiley line -- the one he makes when he is serving as an act of love, or is just slightly embarrassed about something cutesy he does, she had observed. He slipped one on the third finger of her left hand, and one on his own, and then he held her hand. As soon as he did, the rings connected with each other due to the magnet in them. 

She gasped, and he kept that same affectionate smile as he spoke, "No turning back once we're connected, hm?" (a/n: I'm cackling)

Ahyoung then gave him the biggest, most adorable, heart-melting smile, "I love you so much." 

Chan leaned in to peck her lips, and the shopkeeper cleared his throat. The two shook in alarm and straightened up, and as she got all red and embarrassed, he sheepishly laughed, "A-Ah, yes, I'll pay." 

As he paid him the money, the shopkeeper, although still looking sour (god knows why), spoke, "That magnet is very strong, so you two better stay together stronger." 

Ahyoung looked at Chan, who was looking back directly at her, and she shyly spoke, 

"No doubts about that, sir." 

(a/n: YES I PUT CONNECTED BECAUSE THAT SONG FRENCH KISSES ME TO FILL ME UP WITH LIFE- yeah. 

[written during the hiatus: 13 Nov, 2023] 

HOW WAS THISSSSSS? I know it's been a while since this got updated, but here i am!! 

thnaks for reading! i love you!)