December 30, 2020

Rauma, Finland

It's been a few weeks now, since Lee WooJin visited the strange pawn shop after being kicked out of his studio during the middle of his session. He'd tried to bargain for the ornament, wishing to use it to cast Robin into Busantia.

And after successfully doing so, he showed up at the singer's house and cast him, but he lost the ornament. It was on his bedside table one moment and when he awoke, he found it gone.

But Robin was still missing. So it wasn't all bad.

WooJin headed to the studio, finding the agent pulling his hair out, but nevertheless, it was agreed that Lee WooJin would once more have the singing spotlight. Even though hundreds of people, who'd listened to Robin's first real song and latest mini-album, were losing their mind's over Robin's bizarre disappearance.

Just like any other day, though, WooJin makes his way to the studio to begin work on his two newest songs, "Don't Cross My Path" and "Conceited and Proud."

Jimin Packalen is lost in thought as he kicks rocks across the sidewalk, his hands dug into the pockets of his favorite jean jacket. The wind whips through his hair as he strolls along. It's chilly, but not as cold as it normally is during a typical December in Finland. He glances up as a car's horn honks loudly and draws his attention back to reality.

"Sorry, sorry," Jimin says, holding his hands out at the car and quickly moves to get out the way, dashing across the intersection to the other side.

Geez, what if my idea for the gift won't work out? He spins back around, spotting the pawn shop that is helping him out with his gift idea. He sighs. No, I can't think negatively, it'll be perfect and she'll love it!

Jimin continues at a hurried pace to get to the shop, his silvery dyed hair shimmering under the winter sunlight. He throws the door open and slips inside, feeling the warmth of the heated shop hitting him like the embers of a fire.

"Good afternoon, sir," the tall man with the snake staff remarks. "You're here to pick up your engraved hockey stick and autographed puck that was to be enclosed in a specialty display case?"

Jimin nods, looking around. He runs his finger along the edge of a display shelf with various Barbie dolls. "Quite the collection. It still shocks and amazes me each time I come in here, Kim."

He continues slowly walking around, studying and examining the collectibles. Until a twinkle catches his eye as the sunlight outside reflects off the surface of a blue ball sitting in a display before the window.

Jimin curiously makes his way over to it, finding the paper sitting beside the ball. He glances over his shoulder, seeing the store owner, Kim Hoseok, pilfering through bagged items on a shelving unit.

He turns back and gradually picks the ball up, studying it and the musical note design that is imprinted on it. He looks at the paper and reads it to himself. But he is only able to read the title that explains what the object is and the first sentence that says:

"This ornament is a legendary magical one from the past, granting wishes and success to anyone who possesses it."

The ball glows before Jimin's eyes as he holds it delicately in his hands. But just as quick as it glows, it returns to normal.

Jimin cocks an eyebrow, curiously. What is this? Is it really magical?

"Ah, the Full Moon Ornament, an eye-popping piece. Truly one of a kind. They say that whoever possesses it, can have wishes granted to them, like the genie from that magic lamp in Aladdin," Kim says, surprising Jimin by suddenly standing right behind him. "But you have to have a special key to activate it. Most say it's a musical note, since music is imprinted on its spherical shape."

Jimin calms his racing heart from the sudden presence of the store owner. He glances down at the bag in the man's hand. It has his name on it and he can see the hockey stick protruding from the backside of the bag.

"I believe these are your items, Mr. Packalen." The store owner lifts the bag up and holds it out to Jimin with an odd smirk on his face.

Jimin slowly takes it with one hand, while he sets the ball back down on its display. "Right, thank you, Kim."

"It's not a problem. It is an honor to help out the Rauman Lukko since they often give me my best business." The crazy, bizarre smile is still there. It's warm and kind, but there's some oddness to it. It's one that Jimin can't figure out.

Jimin nods and turns to leave, but he halts and spins back around. "Actually, Kim, can I ask you a question?"

Kim swivels his hand around the top of his snake staff. "Mhm?"

"You see, I'm trying to win the heart of a girl who's dating this other guy. So I've been fretting over what to get her. I was thinking this might be special and unique enough, however, I'm not so sure either..."

Kim nods. "I see..." His eyes remain locked on the top of his staff, where his hand is swiveling around it. "Well, may I suggest the ornament." He gestures to the display. "It's magical. Maybe, just maybe, you activate it and make a wish. Unlike genies, you can even wish for forced romance if you so desire."

Jimin flicks his gaze from Kim to the ornament.

"You have a point..."

Jimin looks down at the bag in his hand and then back up at the ornament.

"Alright, you've inspired a new choice for me," the young hockey player remarks. "I'll do the ornament."

Kim smiles more and smoothly moves his staff with him, tapping the snake head on top of it to the tip of the ball. "Excellent choice, Mr. Packalen. May you not be disappointed." With that, the store owner slams his staff into the floor three times and then vanishes in a poof of smoke.

Jimin staggers backward, dropping his bag by the window display. Another new bag that contains a box that  holds the ornament, appears in place, the strap clenched tightly in the hockey player's hand. He coughs in the sudden smoke cloud and stumbles for the door. He finds the handle and shoves against it.

Lee WooJin proudly walks out of the studio. He has on a regal-looking dark navy blue with gold striped suit jacket, navy blue pants and a frilly long-sleeved white shirt underneath. Dozens of small flowers decorate the arms, shoulders and collars.

He pauses in place at the curb under the bright sunshine and lifts his head up to sniff the air. Ah, success and no one to steal my wonderful, worldwide spotlight.

WooJin slowly lowers his head and spots the young silvery-haired man stumbling out of the pawn shop holding onto a clear bag with the blue ornament inside it.

"My ornament ball! There it is!" WooJin exclaims to himself. "Thief!" 

Jimin is busy looking at the shop with bewilderment and doesn't see the conceited pop singer across the street from him. He finally chuckles and walks off, down the sidewalk mumbling to himself.

"Oh, you're not taking my magical ball. That is MINE! 'Musta stole it from me..." WooJin growls out and begins to stomp across the street after Jimin.

Jimin is preoccupied by the ball, having took it out of the bag and is rolling it around in his hands and looking it over like he doesn't understand it. He chucks the bag away to the side, decidedly not needing it anymore. 

"Hey, you," WooJin snarls, reaching out to grab Jimin's shoulder. He instead finds the young silvery haired man's wrist and spins him around to face him. "That's MY ornament you're holding there. How'd you get in to steal it?"

Jimin gasps, noticing the stranger eyeing his hand that is holding tightly onto the ball ornament and he yanks his hand free from WooJin's. "You're crazy! I just bought this as a gift for a special girl. I didn't steal it. Who are you anyway?"

"Lee WooJin, the most famous Finnish pop singer, driver of the hit charts. Worldwide sensation. You know..."

Jimin eyes him with a cocked eyebrow. "Uhh huh and I'm Prince Charming from a Disney movie."

WooJin shoves Jimin backward with a fierce palm to his shoulder. "Don't get smart with me. Just hand it over and I won't take it from you by force."

Jimin tucks the ball under his arm and next to his side. "You wouldn't dare. Then, YOU'd be stealing."

WooJin spits on the ground. "You have three seconds to hand it over before I damage that pretty face of yours."

"Ha! You're messing with a hockey player here. We were born to fight." Jimin drops into a battle stance, holding the ball with one hand. "I also happen to kick ass in dance competitions. I think you'll be nothing I can't handle with ease."

WooJin kicks his leg out, knocking Jimin's legs out from under him and then suddenly snatching him by the hair. "You were saying...?"

Jimin grunts and lunges at WooJin, being careful of the ball. The grip on his hair feigns as the singer's fingers are ripped from their grip.

They engage in a physical battle, sweeping each other's legs out and dodging blows. It looks almost like a choreographed fight scene in the middle of a song's dance break. Finally, though, they break apart.

WooJin is bleeding from a cut on his lip, while Jimin's hair is tousled a little. They hold steady, trying to control their breathing.

"Why do you want this so badly?" Jimin demands, his chest heaving up and down with the effort of breathing after the intense battle.

WooJin shakes his head, an idea forming inside his mind, and he calmly says, "Sing to it. Sing to it and you'll get the girl of your dreams."

Jimin blinks. "How do you know it's magical? Are you with Mr. Hoseok?"

"No. Look, I told you, it was mine once before. I know."

Jimin snorts. "Then why was it in the pawn shop on display?"

"I don't know. I purchased it back before Christmas. I was going to use it for-for something. And I set it on my bedside table. Next thing I know, I wake up and it's gone. But it really is magical and works."

Jimin looks at the ball in his hands. "It must have fulfilled its duty and returned to the shop..."

WooJin nods. "Exactly."

Jimin smiles. "Then, it can grant my wish to have Luna as my girlfriend."

"Yes. Good thinking, always a girl to win." WooJin clasps his hands together. "So go ahead and sing to it. Then you'll get what you want and you can return it to me."

"But, I don't sing..." Jimin says, sadly. "At least, I don't sing like Robin."

WooJin cringes at the name. "Robin...I'm not sure who that is. But we'll assume that you mean that you can't sing like me."

"Whatever you say, Jin."

"It's...Lee or WooJin, but I guess you can call me Jin if you so please. Look, just give it a worldwide chance here." WooJin moves close to Jimin, putting an arm around his shoulders and pointing to the ball.

Jimin looks up at him. "A worldwide chance?"

"Yeah, sing a song. Like dig down deep inside of you and just belt something out. It just has to be rhythmic and sound like a song. Like you're singing, you know?" WooJin says with a smug smirk on his face.

Jimin nods. "Alright...here goes..."

WooJin unlatches himself from around Jimin's shoulders and eagerly watches him.

Jimin clears his throat and launches out with:

"No one can love you, like I do

No one can swoon your heart like I can

I'm the one for you,

The one that you want and need

I'm the one who's there when you need it

So, love me like I love you."

Jimin stops and looks at WooJin. "Did it--?"

WooJin claps his hands, excitedly. There's something about his voice that follows that fills Jimin with dread. "Oh, I forgot to tell you, you have to sing ON-key for the magic to work. It's also a full moon later on tonight, pretty boy. Congrats on awakening the legend."

Jimin's eyes fly wide. "What?!"

WooJin smiles and flicks his fingers in a flirtatious, sarcastic wave. "Good-bye. I'll take that ball off your hands. Trust me, it's in excellent hands. Oh, and say hi to Robin for me. I'm the one who caused him to disappear. Where you're going, you two can hang out."

Jimin's mind races as the ball in his hands glows brighter and brighter. Then there's a rapid rush of wind that slams into his face, knocking him backward with the strength of a hundred male hockey players. The ball is ripped from his hold and it shoots at WooJin, who catches it, still smirking and snickering.

"NO!" Jimin flies backward, his vision blurring over, slowly the bright blue sunny sky fades away into black.