The Eternal Flower Beggar King Chapter 23 — A First Friend

 The Eternal Flower Beggar King

Chapter 23 — A First Friend

Byeongoh Year, autumn.

A week passed, and Jinhwa counted every day until the next one.

Even while holding a broom at the inn or wiping down a bowl, his thoughts kept drifting toward the market. Hagun's bright smile surfaced again and again, and the warmth of sharing that bowl of gukbap still lingered in one corner of his chest.

Today's the day.

Jang Ikho asked.

"Jinhwa, you seem to be in a good mood lately."

"…Pardon?"

"Your face has brightened up. Something happen?"

"…No."

But that was a lie.

Something had happened. He had made a friend.

When midday came, Jang Ikho spoke.

"Run to the market again today."

"…Yes!"

The answer came fast.

Yu Gapyeong grinned.

"You sure it's not a girl?"

Jinhwa's face reddened.

"…No. I made a friend."

"Sure, sure. Off you go."

Yu Gapyeong glanced at Jang Ikho with a smile, and the two exchanged a nod — both looking quietly relieved.

Jinhwa shouldered his carrying frame and stepped out of the inn.

His steps were light. The autumn wind blew cool and easy, and dry leaves tumbled along the road. The sky was high and clear.

A promise made over drinks… he wouldn't forget, would he?

Reunion

The market greeted him with its usual bustle.

Merchants bellowed over their wares, and the grandmother who sold rice cakes was steaming a fresh batch of chalttteok, its warm, toasted fragrance drifting on the wind.

Jinhwa did not head for the vegetable stall. He looked around first.

Where is he?

That was when he saw it.

Far off, someone waving.

"Hyungnim!"

It was Hagun.

Jinhwa walked over, and Hagun was beaming.

"Hyungnim! You came!"

"…I came."

"I was waiting!"

"…Me too."

He said we'd drop the formalities — must have forgotten. Well, we're both comfortable with polite speech anyway. Doesn't matter.

Hagun clapped him on the shoulder.

"Do you have time today?"

"…A little."

"Then let's eat!"

"…Sure."

The First Meal

They went to the gukbap shop inside the market.

The same place as before. The owner seemed to remember them and welcomed them warmly.

"Oh — you're back!"

"Yes! Two bowls of gukbap!"

Before long the gukbap arrived.

Hot, steam curling thick, with generous chunks of meat. The broth had been simmered milky-white, and sliced green onions floated on the surface.

Hagun picked up his spoon.

"Let's eat!"

Jinhwa lifted his spoon and scooped the broth.

One sip — hot. His tongue burned, but the flavor was deep and savory, spreading rich across his palate.

Still good.

Hagun spoke.

"Hyungnim, how was your week?"

"…I just worked."

"Wasn't it hard?"

"…I'm used to it."

"Still… it must be tough."

Jinhwa shook his head.

"…I'm fine. How about you?"

"Me? I worked too! Running errands for my father…"

Hagun laughed.

"But I thought about you a lot, hyungnim."

"…About me?"

"Yeah! A week felt so long…"

Jinhwa smiled.

It did feel long…

The Second Meeting

For a week, Jinhwa waited for the market day every single day.

Even while working at the inn, Hagun's words came back to him, and he found himself thinking about what they might talk about next. Time crawled.

At last, the promised day.

Jinhwa went to the market again, and Hagun was already there.

"Hyungnim!"

"…You're here."

Hagun looked around and spoke.

"Hyungnim, what do you want to do today?"

"…You decide."

"Then… let's get rice cakes!"

They went to the grandmother's stall.

The chalttteok was steaming, and the grandmother smiled as she served them.

"For the two of you?"

"Yes!"

"Then take this too. Just made it."

She added an extra piece of injeolmi on top.

Hagun bowed his head.

"Thank you!"

The two ate chalttteok as they walked through the market.

Chewy, nutty, melting soft in the mouth. Bean powder clung to their lips, and Hagun laughed and wiped it away with the back of his hand.

This is good too.

Thanks to Hagun, Jinhwa was doing all sorts of things he had never done before.

As they walked, Hagun stopped to look at things here and there.

He paused in front of a knife shop and studied the wares closely.

"Hyungnim, how much do you think this one costs?"

"…No idea."

Hagun asked the owner.

"Sir, how much is this knife?"

"Five nyang."

"Isn't that a bit steep?"

"Fine — four nyang!"

Hagun looked uncertain.

Jinhwa spoke quietly.

"…It's normal to start with a high price. That owner knows what he's doing."

"…Pardon?"

"He waits until the buyer shows real interest, then he brings the price down."

Hagun's eyes lit up, and he nodded.

"Ah… so that's how it works!"

"…It's just salesmanship."

"How do you know all this, hyungnim?"

Jinhwa remembered a book he had read in the Mount Hua library.

But he didn't bother explaining. He just shook his head.

"…I just do."

Hagun marveled.

"Hyungnim, you're really smart!"

"…No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are! Way smarter than me!"

Jinhwa smiled.

Hagun was guileless. He marveled at small things, and his delight was always genuine.

This person… is so bright.

The Third Meeting

The autumn leaves deepened to a darker red, and the branches lining the market road were already half bare.

Every gust of wind shook loose another shower of dry leaves that crunched underfoot, and the air had turned cold. White breath rose from the merchants' lips.

The third meeting.

This time, Hagun was late.

Jinhwa waited at the market entrance. The sun sank and the shadows stretched, but Hagun did not appear.

Maybe he's not coming…

Then, in the distance, Hagun came running.

"Hyungnim! I'm sorry!"

"…What happened?"

"My father's work ran late…"

Hagun was panting.

His face was flushed, and beads of sweat stood on his forehead.

"I'm really sorry I'm late."

"…It's fine."

"You were waiting, weren't you?"

"…A little."

Hagun looked apologetic.

"Next time I'll be early for sure!"

"…You can take your time."

"No! I can't keep you waiting, hyungnim!"

Jinhwa asked casually.

"…What was the hold-up?"

"The ledgers were hard to sort… I'm still clumsy at it…"

Jinhwa nodded, then spoke as though a thought had just occurred to him.

"Morning, midday, evening — if you split it into three entries, you'll miss less. That way you're not doing it all at once, and you have room to breathe."

"…Three entries?"

"Yes. In the morning, check the previous day's balance. At midday, log goods as they come and go. In the evening, close out the day."

Hagun stared, surprised.

"Hyungnim, how do you know all this?"

"…I read it in a book."

"A book?"

"…Yes. A long time ago."

Hagun was impressed.

"Hyungnim, you're really incredible!"

"…No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are! You've helped me so much!"

Jinhwa smiled.

He's a good person.

The Fourth Meeting

Autumn had fully deepened.

The wind was turning sharp, and more leaves fell each day. The trees along the market road were almost entirely bare, and the sky hung low and grey.

The fourth meeting.

This time Jinhwa arrived first.

Hagun walked up with a grin.

"Hyungnim! You're early today?"

"…I was worried you'd be late. So I came ahead."

"Ha! I'm not late this time!"

They ate gukbap again.

The familiar seat, the familiar taste. But it didn't grow old. If anything, it felt more comfortable.

It tastes better… when you eat with someone.

Hagun slurped his broth and spoke.

"Hyungnim, it's getting cold."

"…It is."

"What do we do when winter comes?"

"…We still meet."

"Even in the cold?"

"…Yes."

Hagun's face lit up.

"Good! Let's meet in winter too!"

"…Yes."

The Fifth Meeting

By the time the grandmother at the market stall had become a familiar face, the fifth meeting arrived.

This time, they both arrived at exactly the same moment. They saw each other and laughed.

"Hyungnim!"

"…Hagun."

Hagun was holding something.

A small cloth bundle.

"Hyungnim, this is for you."

"…What is it?"

"Jeon my mother made. Let's eat together."

They sat on a bench in a quiet corner of the market.

The wooden bench was old and creaked, its surface worn smooth. Hagun untied the cloth.

Inside was a spread of jeon.

Chive jeon, kimchi jeon, green onion jeon. Each one carefully fried, and still warm. The smell of oil rose, rich and savory.

Hagun picked one up and ate.

"It's good! Try some, hyungnim!"

Jinhwa picked one up too.

Crisp at the edges, salty, with the fragrance of chives spreading through his mouth. The kimchi jeon had a peppery kick, and the green onion jeon was chewy.

The vegetables hadn't been overcooked — they crunched lightly with every bite, and that was the best part.

Really good.

Hagun spoke.

"Hyungnim, my mother heard about you and she's curious!"

"…About me?"

"Yeah! I've been telling her a lot about you."

"…What kind of things?"

"How you helped me. And how kind you are."

Jinhwa shook his head.

"…I'm not kind."

"Yes, you are!"

Hagun grinned.

"She says you should come visit sometime."

"…Me?"

"Yeah! She wants to meet you."

"…"

Jinhwa was quiet for a moment.

Mother…

It had been a long time since he had heard that word.

Since leaving Mount Hua, he had tried to push his parents from his mind. Thinking of them only made his chest ache.

But now it was different.

Hearing Hagun talk about his mother stirred something — a longing. His own mother's voice came back to him. His father's rough, steady hands.

How are they… right now?

Jinhwa picked up another piece of jeon.

It melted in his mouth. The taste reminded him of the jeon his own mother used to make.

Hagun asked carefully.

"Hyungnim… your parents…?"

"…They're alive."

"Where are they?"

"…Mount Hua."

"Mount Hua?"

Jinhwa nodded.

"…I haven't seen them in a long time."

"You must miss them."

"…Yes."

Hagun smiled gently.

"Then someday, you should go see them."

"…Could I really?"

"Of course! If anyone can, it's you, hyungnim!"

Jinhwa smiled.

Hagun's words were warm. They were a comfort.

I'm glad… I have a friend like this.

Winter

The season turned.

Around the sixth meeting, winter arrived in full.

The wind grew biting, and the tips of his fingers stung with cold.

The market merchants had bundled into thick layers, puffing white breath as they called out their wares. The sky was slate grey, and the sun set early.

Hagun came dressed in heavy clothes.

A cloth wound around his neck, something in his hands.

"Hyungnim! Cold, isn't it?"

"…A little."

"Here — have this."

Hagun pulled walnut cakes from his pocket.

They were warm. Freshly bought, it seemed — grease had soaked through the paper wrapping.

"Eat them while they're hot!"

"…Thank you."

Jinhwa took the walnut cakes.

Warmth seeped into his palm. He bit into one — nutty, sweet, the red bean filling spreading soft and warm through his mouth and down into his body.

Hagun spoke.

"Hyungnim, are you happy these days?"

"…What?"

"I've been happier since meeting you, hyungnim."

Jinhwa was caught off guard.

"…Me too."

"Really?"

"…Yes. Really."

Hagun laughed.

"Good. I thought it was just me."

"…It's not."

Jinhwa chewed the walnut cake slowly.

His heart was warm. Warm enough to forget the winter cold.

This feeling… it's been so long.

Snow

The seventh meeting.

That day, snow fell. The first snow.

Jinhwa stepped out of the inn.

White flakes drifted thick from the sky, and the world was slowly turning white. Icicles hung from the eaves, and snow had piled soft on the rooftops.

Pretty.

The market was quieter than usual when he arrived.

The snow had thinned the crowds, and most of the stalls were shuttered. Only the sound of footsteps, muffled and solitary, broke the silence.

Hagun was already there.

Snow had settled on his hair and dusted his shoulders white.

"Hyungnim! First snow!"

"…So it is."

Hagun held out his palm and caught the falling flakes.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

"…Yes. It is."

Jinhwa looked up at the sky.

The snow fell slowly. White and silent.

Mount Hua came back to him suddenly.

Snow had fallen there in winter too. It piled thick on the training yard, and he remembered the snowball fights with his senior brothers.

Back then… I was happy.

But that was a long time ago.

Now, the feeling of making new memories like those — with Hagun — was something good.

In fact, Hagun felt like a more comfortable friend than any he'd had before. Jinhwa nodded to himself.

Hagun spoke.

"Hyungnim, what are you thinking about?"

"…Nothing."

"You look a little wistful."

"…Do I?"

Hagun smiled.

"It's all right. You've got me!"

"…"

Jinhwa looked at Hagun.

Hagun was smiling wide. Snow had piled on his hair, and he didn't seem to care.

That's right… he's here.

The two walked through the falling snow.

The market was hushed, and only their footsteps sounded, quiet and soft. The snow kept coming, and the world grew whiter and whiter.

Hagun spoke.

"Hyungnim."

"…Yes."

"I've been thinking."

"…About what?"

"What would've happened if I'd never met you."

Jinhwa looked at Hagun.

His face was serious.

"I would've lost that hundred nyang and gotten an earful from my father."

"…"

"And… I never would have made a friend."

Hagun smiled.

"I'm so glad I met you, hyungnim."

"…"

Jinhwa couldn't speak.

His chest burned. The snow was cold, but his heart was warm.

I'm glad too… truly.

The words had felt embarrassing at first — the kind of thing that made him squirm. But by now, that ticklish feeling in some corner of his chest had started to feel quite all right.

The snow kept falling.

The world grew whiter and whiter. The two stood side by side, watching.

Hagun spoke.

"Hyungnim."

"…Yes."

"We'll… always be friends, right?"

"…Of course."

"For life?"

"…For life."

Hagun beamed.

"Good! It's a promise!"

Jinhwa smiled too.

For life…

It was the first time he had promised someone a lifetime.

At Mount Hua, he and Bang Dal had been close — but they had never made a promise like this. Everyone had been consumed with martial arts, and Jinhwa had fallen behind.

But Hagun was different.

He didn't care about Jinhwa's martial ability — or lack of it. He simply liked Jinhwa for who he was.

This person… is a real friend.

The Return

Jinhwa walked back to the inn.

Snow had piled on his clothes, and he brushed his shoulders off. Jang Ikho asked.

"Jinhwa — walked through the snow, did you?"

"…Yes."

"Watch you don't catch cold."

"Yes."

Jinhwa went to his room.

Spread his blanket. Lay down. Stared at the ceiling.

Hagun's face came back to him.

The bright smile. The warm words. The promise — friends for life.

Friends for life…

Jinhwa smiled.

He thought of this time last year. The festival he had walked alone. Standing by himself in the middle of a bustling crowd.

I wish I had a friend.

The wish had come true.

He had a friend. A friend he saw every week. A friend to share a meal with and talk to.

Jinhwa closed his eyes.

His heart was at peace.

For the first time…

He felt that he was not alone.

Since leaving Mount Hua, he had been on his own in everything.

Working at the inn, eating, sleeping. All of it, alone. He had never shared anything deep with anyone, and no one had truly known him.

But now it was different.

Once a week, he met Hagun. That alone was enough. The world felt less desolate, and each day became something he could bear.

And Boss Jang and Head Cook Yu at Chwihyang House — they were good people too.

For the first time, I'm not alone.

Jinhwa pulled the blanket over himself.

Sleep came. Tonight, even his dreams would be warm — he was sure of it.

Outside the window, the snow kept falling.

White snow blanketed the world, and the inn's lamplight glowed in the stillness. Icicles on the eaves caught the moonlight and glittered.

Jinhwa fell asleep.

Smiling.

I've never been this comfortable with someone.

[End of Chapter 23]