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Jimin was frustrated.  Writing poetry did not come naturally to him.  How was he to carry out the queen’s directives if he couldn’t write a simple verse?  How was he to translate his feelings for Insuk into words?

He had prepared Moonflower’s lunch.  Now he had a little while to himself before he needed to work on the royal dinner.  He glanced down at the words that he’d scribbled on a piece of paper.  He’d been thinking of Insuk’s captivating eyes when he’d penned them.

“Mahogany eyes

Light me on fire.

Mahogany eyes

Increase my desire.”

The problem was that he had no idea what else to write.  He needed to tell her what her eyes did to him every time he lost himself in them…

“Your eyes are ablaze.

A fire in your face.

I’m lost in a daze,

My heart all over this place.”

Ugh!  Too many syllables in that last line.

He tried again.

“In their sweet embrace.”

Ah!  Perfect!

Was it long enough?  Moonflower had not specified a length.  So the question was… 

Had he communicated all he wanted to about Insuk’s eyes?

He nodded his head.  It was an excellent first attempt.  He had six more poems to go.  This was enough for now.  He grinned and wrote the whole poem out in his neatest script on a clean scrap of paper.  

Now it was time to make her rice cakes…

—

Insuk entered the kitchen after her dinner break.  Jimin had asked her to return to help him make some kimchi.  As she entered the large room, she noticed a beautiful bouquet of pink peonies sitting on the countertop.  Twelve blooms filled a vase with their gentle color.  Drawn by their beauty, she wheeled her chair up to the long counter.  

As she drew near it, she noticed a plate of red bean rice cakes next to the vase.  Ooh!  Those were her absolute favorites!  She wondered if Jimin would let her have one.  As her eyes slid to the right, she found a scrap of paper on the counter.  She was shocked to see her name scrawled across the top of it.

Her eyebrows flew north as she reached for it.  Her eyes perused the short missive.  She was astounded to discover a poem in her hands.  Two stanzas addressed to her.

“Mahogany eyes

Light me on fire.

Mahogany eyes

Increase my desire.

“Your eyes are ablaze.

A fire in your face.

I’m lost in a daze,

In their sweet embrace.”

Insuk stared in wonder at the poem resting between her fingers.  Had someone written this poem to her?  About her eyes?  She supposed her eyes were reddish brown.  Not that she’d ever paid much attention to them.  But, apparently, someone had.  It was truly unbelievable.  Had she fallen asleep after dinner?  Was she dreaming?

She glanced back down at the plate of rice cakes.  She was itching to pick one up and pop it into her mouth.  

“Well, what are you waiting for?” came a soft voice from behind her.  She jumped as Jimin’s breath slid over her skin.  Once again, he had bent over her and whispered into her ear.  “Aren’t you going to taste one?”

Her head swiveled towards his, and this time her lips did brush his cheek.  She gasped and pulled her face away from his before exclaiming, “Jimin!  Are these rice cakes for me?”

He was recovering from the fire that had just cascaded through his skin at the touch of her mouth on his face.  “But of course!  They’re your favorites, aren’t they?”

She bobbed her head.  “But…you made them all for me?”

He nodded.

“Won’t you get in trouble for using the king’s stores to make your friend a treat?”

He laughed, his joy in her lighting up his face.  “No.  I got royal permission.”

Her face smoothed out into an astonished blank slate.  “You did?  You obtained royal permission to make me rice cakes?”

“Mm-hmm.”  He grinned at her.  “Come on.  Try one.  Tell me if they’re any good.”  He picked one up and held it up to her lips.

Her eyes wide, she stared up at him in shock for a moment before opening her mouth to receive his gift.  A few seconds later, her eyes fluttered shut as she savored her treat. 

“Oh, Jimin,” she groaned, “these are the best you’ve ever made.”

“Really?  Must be my special ingredient.”

“What special ingredient?”  Her eyes flew open to enquire of his.

“That’s a secret only I know.”

Her face fell a little.

He leaned towards her with a teasing smile.  “Maybe I’ll share it with you…eventually.”

She glanced back at the plate of cakes, the vase of flowers, and the poem in her hand.  “Jimin, are these all for me?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“And they’re all from you?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Her eyes careened into his again.  “Why?”

But he didn’t say anything.  She noticed that his expression seemed particularly vulnerable.  Her eyes fell to embrace the scrap of paper in her hand once more.

“Jimin.  Did you write this poem?”

He nodded.

“About my eyes?”

He smiled and lifted his chin before dropping it once more.

She read his provoking words again.  Light me on fire.  Increase my desire.  There was no way she could interpret these words as platonic.  Her cheeks suddenly flaming, she hid her eyes from him.  She didn’t know what to say.

“Do you,” Jimin cleared his throat, suddenly even more nervous than he’d been for the past few hours.  “Do you like the poem?”  He glanced at the bouquet.  It was innocuous enough.  “And the peonies?”

Her head popped up as her eyes lit up.  “Ooh!  I love the peonies!  They’re gorgeous!  Thank you, Jimin.”  She didn’t mention the poem.

His heart sank.  “I’m sorry about the poem.  It’s not very good.  That’s the first poem I’ve ever written.”

She could hear the disappointment in his voice.  Suddenly, her concern for his feelings overrode her embarrassment.

“No!  Jimin, it’s beautiful!  It’s a perfectly lovely poem!  An amazing first try!”

His eyes struck hers with lightning.  “It is?  You really like it?”

“I love it,” she admitted sheepishly as her gaze left his to kiss the paper again.

He was suddenly grinning.  “Good,” he responded with relief.  

Just then, they heard approaching voices.  She was quick to hide the poem in her pocket.  She glanced at the vase.  

“Can I take the flowers to my room?”

“Yes!  Absolutely!”  

His heart was still soaring.  He could tell his words had embarrassed her, but he could also feel her delight.  Maybe it would take her a little while to become accustomed to his true feelings for her.  He didn’t want to pressure her.  So he wasn’t going to say anything more about them.

“You can take the rice cakes too.”  He handed her the vase and the plate of cakes as Nuri entered the kitchen.  “Nuri, could you push Insuk’s wheelchair to her room?  She’s got her hands full.”

The younger girl grinned as she saw what Insuk’s hands were full of.  “Oh!  Those flowers are so pretty!  Were they a gift?”

Insuk nodded her head.  She’d never been the recipient of such positive attention before.  She couldn’t even remember this girl ever speaking to her.  Even though she too had difficulty with one of her legs.  

“How wonderful!  I would love to get some flowers from someone,” Nuri breathed as she gripped the handles of the chair and pulled it around.  

She found it easy to push this wheelchair.  It actually took some of the pressure off her twisted leg.  

“Perhaps I should help you all the time.  Holding onto your chair makes it easier for me to walk,” she murmured as she leaned towards the older girl while they maneuvered down the hallway.

“Does it really?  I’m glad,” Insuk smiled.

“Do you have a secret admirer?” Nuri decided to be bold for once.

“No.  A friend gave these to me.”

“Jimin?” Nuri prodded.

Insuk gasped.  “How did you know?”

“Well, you’re carrying a plate of his wonderful rice cakes.  And I’ve seen the way his face lights up when he looks at you.”

Insuk craned her head as far around as she could to stare in wonder up at Nuri.  “You have?”

“Oh, yes,” the girl grinned.  “Many times.”

She watched surprise flood Insuk’s face.  “I think you’re blessed to have the attention of such a sweet man,” Nuri opined.

“Yes.  I think you’re right.”  

Insuk turned to face the hallway before them, a glowing smile illuminating her countenance now.  It was almost as bright as the fire warming her heart.  A flame Jimin had just ignited.