Galileo Jung

It was a beautiful afternoon, Jungkook ran to get the fruit basket he brought to pick some flowers in his uncle's garden. There is a pond that is not too big but very beautiful with some flowers growing around it in the back garden. The last time he visited was when he was 7 years old, but at that time he did not know that there would be a pond for some swans.

The swans wasn't as wild as other swans, a little calm and Jungkook didn't bother them at all. He even focused on some of the flowers he picked. The corner of his eye caught something black among the other white swans, a different swan but it looked like it was hurt from not moving at all.

One leg has a red streak with slightly damaged fur. It eyes glazed shut making jungkook curious about it condition. He approached it and his eyes widened when he saw a drop of blood on its wing. Jungkook bravely put the black swan on the rock, no movement made Jungkook bolder. He then ran away from it for a while to get his flower basket. He spilled all the flowers he had picked so the swan could fit in his basket.

When he turned around, a man sat on the rock where the swan was. His hair was disheveled, his eyes drooped down, his feet were red, Jungkook was nervous and asked, “Where's the swan?” “I—the swan..?” The man turned slowly to look at Jungkook who dropped his basket. Where is this man from? his hair was disheveled, his appearance was very disheveled.

“That's crazy? Where can a swan turn into a human?!” a little emphasis on the tone of Jungkook's last sentence.

The man laughed softly and then looked down at his reddened feet again. He didn't really care about Jungkook's whereabouts, he even tried to get up later but his legs couldn't hold the weight of his body for too long. Jungkook reflexively ran when the man almost fell but his hand first landed on the rock to support his body.

“I'm the swan you raised a few minutes ago, you still don't believe it?”

Jungkook shook his head. His round eyes were still staring at the man. Their distance is not far so Jungkook can see some swan feathers falling around him but Jungkook is still silent.

“Being cursed sucks, I don't want to be human.” The man took a deep breath, he turned his head and then looked up at Jungkook who was staring at him with an innocent face all this time. The two of them looked at each other accompanied by the sound of another swan chirping above the pond.

“why?”

One word came out of Jungkook's mouth like a curious child. The man smiled and then moved his feet again to gauge the pain he was feeling.

“Being a swan is more free, after all, my color is black. I'm protected.”

“But you got hurt.”

“Because humans neglected to take care of me.” Jungkook was still curious about the man's story. Slowly he stepped closer to him and sat down beside the rock. Jungkook looked up at the man's face.

“My uncle is taking care of you?” With a sad look but a smile still plastered on his face, the man said, “Your uncle took good care of me. My leg hurt when I fell from the tree. My owner lost me while raising cattle but he didn't look for me. I then—” His explanation was cut short.

“Sir, you're not a swan are you?” one more innocent question for the man but he only replied with a small laugh.

“I am a swan. Your name is Jungkook right?” Jungkook nodded enthusiastically.

“I saw you this morning when your uncle put me in the pond with the other swans. I thought you were the girl who—”

“Ugly goose! I'm not a girl!” Jungkook threw his basket then put on an annoyed face.

“Now you admit that I am a swan. Are you still curious about my story?”

“y-yes… I'm listening ..” Jungkook eased his irritation, he then listened to the man's story carefully.

“I was then torn apart by a group of stray dogs but my owner just let me. I was so hurt, I fell asleep on the side of the road and your uncle found me this morning.” The man then turned his head to look at Jungkook who was innocently digesting all the stories he had said.

“He took me to the pond and treated me. I then played climbing a tree but I fell. I don't know why I went limp again and maybe I thought I was going to die.” He told all the sad stories with a smile.

“No wonder you didn't move...” Jungkook felt a little guilty even though he didn't do anything wrong. He felt sorry for what the man had experienced.

“Then, what were you cursed for?”

The man was still smiling, responding to all the questions that would make him a little uncomfortable but he chose to tell. After all, he believed in Jungkook the first time Jungkook quickly ran with his eyes slightly teary when he saw him lying down.

“I was arrogant, rude, heartless. Sounds like a fairy tale but the ruler after Odette disappeared punished all the swans who didn't comply with her rules.”

“So... you'd rather be a swan?” The man was silent for a moment. Talking to Jungkook made him calm down a bit and forget the pain he was suffering. The sound of running water was heard as the man was silent and Jungkook was waiting for his answer.

“Now… I wish I could become a fully human.” A smile and a warm gaze radiated when the man looked at Jungkook.

“Easy! You just turned into a human! Like what you did earlier right?” Jungkook explained everything like a child explaining how a toy car runs.

“I can only change when I'm in a lot of pain.”

“You mean you were in pain?” a nod answered Jungkook's question.

“And I can only change when someone with a sincere heart realizes my existence.” The man's gaze seemed to be pointing at Jungkook with his sincere and pure heart.

“Are you going to change…?”

“no.”

“why?”

“Someone with a sincere heart is talking to me.”

Jungkook realized who the man was referring to. He didn't realize that his cheeks were a little red and his eyes seemed to glow. He really wanted to smile but he held it in. The man then plucked a flower that grew near the rock and gave it to Jungkook.

“My name is Yoongi, are you coming home tonight?” Yoongi placed a flower stalk in Jungkook's ear.

“N-not yet..I stayed for a week.” Jungkook was nervous.

“Did I scare you?” Yoongi pulled his hand back slowly as he stared at Jungkook who was still staring at him with unmoving eyes.

“no, I'm shy..”

“shy?”

“uh….master goose, I have to go back.” Jungkook got up from his seat with Yoongi watching his every move. His eyes blinked quickly when he saw Jungkook acting a little strange when he took his basket.

“The flowers you threw away, I want to help—” Yoongi lowered his head to pluck all the flowers around him and then straightened up again and saw Jungkook who had run away from him.

“MASTER GOOSE BYE!”

---

Letter To Jungkook

Hi, this is Mr. Goose. I knew you were going to the pond this afternoon. I'm away on duty and it's a secret duty. I picked some flowers for you. I don't know what you want to do but please accept, I'm working hard with the other white swans. I'll be home soon after dinner. Can we meet tomorrow afternoon?

And I turned into a human this afternoon. Did you see me from behind your bedroom window? I hope you didn't see me as an ugly goose. I'd rather you see me in human form.

Jungkook, let's meet tomorrow afternoon. At first I asked but I don't know how can i erase with this ink so I will invite you to meet. I'll be waiting for you at the rock where we first talked.

Sincerely, Mr. Goose