My Guy

1.

Jeongguk stares at the fluorescent green flyer taped to the telephone pole outside the gym as he finishes his post-workout shake.

GUITAR LESSONS

10+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

₩ 50,000 PER HOUR

TEXT 02-XXX-XXXX FOR INQUIRIES

There aren't any little tearaway pieces at the bottom of the paper, so Jeongguk pulls out his phone to take a picture. Yujin has mentioned a few times now that he's interested in the idea of learning to play the guitar, but has never made the effort to search for possible instructors.

So he shoots Yujin the picture.

As he’s waiting for a reply, Jeongguk eyes the little cartoon sketch of a stickman playing the guitar on the corner of the paper. The way the marker is smudged tells Jeongguk that it’s not a mass-produced flyer—as if the shitty design of it didn’t say as much already.

Yujin replies a couple of minutes later.

from: prodigal son

ooh looks sick

text them

Jeongguk raises an eyebrow as he unlocks his car, throwing his gym bag in the backseat.

to: prodigal son

Why do I have to text them?

You’re the one who wants to learn.

from: prodigal son

yeah but what if they’re some psycho freak

i don’t want them having my number

to: prodigal son

Oh so it’s completely fine for them to have my number, tho.

from: prodigal son

glad you understand, dad

also we’re out of lucky charms

Once Jeongguk has got the bran flakes amongst the other groceries from the store, he heads home. Yujin’s still at school and it’s Jeongguk’s rare day off, so he has the house to himself. He showers first and uses the relaxing time to decide on what to cook for dinner.

Roasted pork belly bossam, he decides once he’s dried and dressed.

Jeongguk gets to work chopping the spring onions, skinning the ginger, and crushing the garlic with the back of his chef’s knife. He feels the tension drain from his muscles even more so than it did at the gym. His hands work deftly at preparing the ingredients, adding everything to a heavy pot along with an eyeballed helping of doengjang paste. Finally, he adds the pork belly and leaves that to boil for the next couple of hours. It gives him time to prepare the glaze, mixing honey, grated ginger, gochujang, and doengjang together before allowing that to sit in the fridge.

Surfaces all cleaned and food prepped, he decides to study the picture of the flyer again while he waits. ₩50,000 per hour isn’t that steep, Jeongguk could probably do some budgeting and find the money to put aside for Yujin. He just doesn’t want this to be another dad, please can I do “insert expensive activity here,” I promise I’ll stick to it!

But he should cut Yujin some slack. He’s 16 now, he’s old enough to make smarter choices. Plus he has been mentioning learning to play guitar for a long time now, it’s not out of the blue. So with that in mind, he types the number into his phone and shoots a message.

to: 02-XXX-XXXX

Hi, I saw your flyer and wanted to check if lessons were still available.

Thanks.

Setting his phone down, Jeongguk doesn’t expect such an immediate reply. But he’s barely made it halfway towards the fridge before his phone chimes. He backsteps to the kitchen table.

from: 02-XXX-XXXX

this legit?

no fucking around?

Jeongguk frowns at his phone.

to: 02-XXX-XXXX

It is, yes.

from: 02-XXX-XXXX

u’d be surprised how many weird messages i’ve had

foot pics GALORE man

to each their own, but damn

Jeongguk snorts, about to reply his sympathies, but the tone of the messages quickly changes.

from: 02-XXX-XXXX

Anyway, let’s discuss business!

Are you interested in learning?

Backspacing his text, Jeongguk types a new message.

to: 02-XXX-XXXX

It’s my son who’s interested, actually.

from: 02-XXX-XXXX

Excellent! And does he have any prior experience?

to: 02-XXX-XXXX

No experience, no.

Will that be an issue?

from: 02-XXX-XXXX

Not at all! I just like to gauge what level they might be at.

That may increase the price.

to: 02-XXX-XXXX

Oh.

How much more?

from: 02-XXX-XXXX

₩100,000 per hour.

Jeongguk’s eyebrows pinch, lips rolling into a line. He’s not sure he can spare that. But he doesn’t want to let Yujin down now that he’s expecting him to come through for him.

to: 02-XXX-XXXX

That may be a little steep for me.

Is there any chance you could reduce it to ₩80,000 at least?

If not, I understand.

The grey text bubble pops up and disappears numerous times and Jeongguk resigns himself to the fact that it was probably a little too good to be true. He’ll have to tell Yujin the truth when he gets home and try to find a cheaper option.

to: 02-XXX-XXXX

₩50,000 IS GREAT

WORKS FOR ME

Jeongguk blinks down at his screen.

to: 02-XXX-XXXX

Are you sure?

from: 02-XXX-XXXX

yep yep, 50k is a deal

how old is ur son?

He has no idea what the fuck is happening, but he won’t question it if it keeps the price down. After exchanging some details and information regarding Yujin, they come to an agreement that they’ll start out a couple of times a week and take it from there. Wednesday and Friday evenings work the best for everyone involved.

from: 02-XXX-XXXX

name’s taehyung btw

here’s a link to me playing the guitar so u can see what ur paying for

lmk if anything changes or u have any questions

✌️

Clicking on the link opens up a YouTube video that’s only a couple of minutes long and shows a guy with an electric guitar propped on his lap, the camera angled low to show nothing but his hands on the guitar and the giant tears in his jeans. As soon as the guy— Taehyung plays the first few chords, Jeongguk knows it as Plug In Baby by Muse. The title confirms it, with the added (SHRED VERSION) attached to the end.

If this is the kind of music the guy plays, then he has no worries about how he’ll get on in this household. One of Jeongguk’s proudest moments as a father has been exposing Yujin to the holy sanctimony that is rock and getting him on board with it. A small flex, he supposes, but one he is proud of.

There’s good fucking music in this household and Jeongguk will die happy because of it.

Yujin returns home just as Jeongguk’s basting the pork belly with the glaze.

“No way,” Yujin mutters once Jeongguk gives him the good news. “I’m really having guitar lessons?”

“Yep,” Jeongguk confirms, feeling just a little bit like Superdad in that moment. “The first one is on Wednesday.”

“Holy shit!” Jeongguk can hear Yujin pacing around behind him. “We gotta go buy a guitar.”

Jeongguk pauses his basting. “What?”

“Yeah! How can I learn to play without a guitar?”

Shit. Fuck. Jeongguk hadn’t thought of that. “Leave that to me,” he says, stepping over to the sink to wash his hands. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Sweet. Thanks, dad. You’re the best.”

Once he hears Yujin retreat to his bedroom, door closing behind him, Jeongguk braces his arms on either side of the sink and sags. He wonders if he could get a guitar on loan from the school, or maybe from a local music shop. He could always ask Yoongi if he could borrow his, but then he knows for a fact Yoongi will insist on giving lessons to Yujin and that’s a headache no amount of Advil could help with.

Drying his hands, Jeongguk grabs his phone and opens up the last text thread. He quickly saves the contact.

to: taehyung (guitar lessons)

Hi, sorry to bother you.

I was just wondering how much guitars usually go for and if you know any places I could get one for a reasonable price?

Once again, he’s not left waiting long before he receives a reply.

from: taehyung (guitar lessons)

dw about that

i can just bring a spare

That immediately relieves some of the anxiety.

to: taehyung (guitar lessons)

Are you sure? I don’t want to put you out.

from: taehyung (guitar lessons)