A Capella (Something's Missing) 2/??
Title: A Capella (Something's Missing) 2/??
Author: giveitupjessica and babysponge (Jess and Sica... haha)
Rating: PG (I guess)
Pairings: 2min
Genre: AU, romance, comedy, high school
Summary: True love is the best feeling in the world. It's surprising that something so pure and good can cause so much pain. I thought we'd be together forever as cliche as it may sound. But there were other plans and you were taken away from me. The days keep on passing and the pain is still here, slowly eating away at me. It hurts to look at him sometimes because he's the last thing I have of you. I told myself that I'd never fall in love again. That no one could compare to you. My heart belongs to just you. I don't know when it happened though, but I think I might be falling in love with someone else. I feel like I'm betraying you. I'm sorry, could you ever forgive me?
I loved you, I really did. I never knew I was nothing to you, but a substitute to your ex-girlfriend. It hurt me, but I guess I have to let you, let you find another true love so that you can truly be happy. I will never forget the way we met, how sweet you once were to me. I loved you, I still do now. But sometimes, you've to let go of someone you really love, so that he experience the true love you're experiencing while you're with him.
CHAPTER TWO
I continued doodling after the new guy ignored me. Time passed by slowly, slow as in really slow!
"Class dismissed. Please remember to hand in your homework tomorrow," said my emotionless teacher. I stood up along with other of my classmates and bowed before he left.
I was about to close my notebook and pack my pencil case up. Then I realised the name I doodled on my notebook. 'Choi Minho' My eyes widened in surprise. I couldn't believe it. How could I be thinking of this new guy?! Ah, shit. What is this feeling again?! I pouted a little before Kibum hyung appears in front of me.
"Taemin-ah, what's wrong?" he pats my shoulder to get my attention.
"Nothing hyung," I smiled.
"Really?"
I smiled and quickly closed my notebook up and put it into my bag. "Yeah. Let's go for lunch now okay? I'm hungry already," I said. He then pat my head and we walked out together. I sighed in relieve. Kibum hyung didn't ask anything. The last thing I wanted him to do was to worry about me.
"Erm, Taemin-ah... I would like you to meet someone.." Kibum hyung said while we were walking to the school cafe.
"Hmm? Someone? Who?" I asked curiously.
"Do you know Lee Jinki?" he stopped walking and turned to look at me. I could tell he was nervous. He was rubbing both his palms together. Lee Jinki, the name sounds familiar...
"Oh! The class monitor of 2J? Yeah I've heard about him. Why hyung?"
"He.. We sorta.. Erm..." he stuttered and I frowned. I've never seen my best friend being nervous like that. "We are together..." he muttered but I could still catch what he was trying to say.
"Woah hyung!? What again?! You're dating Lee Jinki that nerd?!" I exclaimed.
"SSSSHHH LEE TAEMIN! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!" he covered my mouth with his right palm and scolded me. It wasn't my fault that I was surprised! Kibum hyung had lots of suitors, but he hasn't dated since he broke up with his last boyfriend which happened about three years ago. Who knew he was interested in a nerd instead.
"Yah hyung! I'm sorry. I couldn't help it! You haven't dated for three years!"
"Well nobody caught my eye! You can't expect me to accept any suitors right?" he pouted a little before walking away from me.
"Alright alright hyung. So what now? We're having lunch with him?" I asked.
"Yeah. Do you mind? It's okay if you do you know. I mean, I can have dinner with him instead and-"
"No no no hyung. I'm happy you finally found someone to love. I don't mind. I would love to meet someone my best friend is in love with," I smiled.
"Thanks Minnie. Thank you..." he hugged me.
*~*
Dinner with Jinki hyung went well. He introduced himself in a cute manner, a manner which I've never expected. Well, he went 'Hi I'm your best friend's boyfriend. My name is Jinki and I know you're Taemin because Kibum talks about you often. And I love chickens' and gave me a little bow. I laughed every single time I thought about it.
I'm now back in my class waiting for the next lesson to start. I took out my notebook, and saw 'Choi Minho' in it. Ah, yes. I turned around wanting to say hi again, but all I saw was a note scribbled messily.
'Hi, whoever is reading this. Please inform the next lesson's teacher that I've something very important on and have to leave immediately. Thank you so much! -Choi Minho'
I picked it up and frowned. What could be more important than lessons at our age? He seems pretty strange and mysterious. I feel like finding out more about him...
I folded the note up and kept it inside my wallet.
I reminded the teacher that Minho left, and the teacher didn't say anything except giving a slight nod.
*~*
Choi Minho didn't get out of my mind after school. I went home after uncle Danny picked me up and had lunch that umma Jung made. I showered and switched my laptop on. I typed 'Choi Minho' on the search bar. Nothing came out. I was a bit disappointed. But well, he wasn't someone popular. Why would he appear on a search site? I laughed a little at my own silliness.
But, I'm still determined to know about that Choi Minho guy.
MINHO POV
The day was going by slowly. I did my best to pay attention to what the teacher was saying, but his voice was so monotone. I stopped trying to write whatever he was saying and just copied whatever was on the board. My mind was elsewhere today, as it is everyday.
Finally the lesson is over and everyone is packing their stuff to head off to lunch. I decided I’d stay in class during the lunch period. I was in no mood to be surrounded by people. It seems like crowded rooms gave me anxiety attacks these days. So I stayed where I was and watched as everyone filed out of the class.
When I’m finally alone, I pull out the lunch that my mom packed for me. I don’t really eat any of it though. I wasn’t really hungry. I mostly just pushed the food around in the little compartments, making a small mess. I look out the window and let my mind wander. The food in front of me long forgotten. I still can’t believe it’s been one full year. It seems like it all happened yesterday. I can still see everything happening so vividly. And I can still hear her scream. I shiver as the memory washes over me and that scream plays over and over in my mind like a broken record.
The feel of my phone vibrating brings me back to the present. I pull it out of my pocket and check the display. It’s the daycare. I wasn’t surprised that they were calling with the way Chunghee was acting earlier.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Choi?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry to disturb you, but it’s about your son.”
“Is he okay?”
“Physically, he’s fine. But he’s been crying for the past half hour. We can’t get him to stop at all. He won’t even let any of us near him. The moment we try to go to him, he runs to a different part of the room.”
“I see. I’ll be right there.”
“Thank you Mr. Choi.”
“It’s nothing,” I place my phone back in my pocket. I pack up my lunch and put it away before ripping a piece of paper out of my notebook. I scribble a quick note informing who ever happens to find it that I will be gone for the rest of the day. I pack up the rest of my belongings and head to the door. I’m silently thankful that I need to go pick up Chunghee from daycare. I didn’t feel like being anywhere but my room today.
*~*
“Chungie,” I say as I enter the classroom and he immediately runs over to me. Arms wrapping around one of my legs as he continues to sobd.
“Appa left me!” he whines, “Don’t leave!”
“Appa’s sorry Chungie,” I say as I bend over and pick him up. He wraps his arms around my neck and tightly hugs me. I rub his back and just let him cry.
“I want umma!” he wails.
“I know Chungie. I know. Stop crying now okay? Appa’s here,” I pull his body away from me, just enough so I can look him in the face. His crying is now just a soft whimper as he takes staggered breaths. I wipe his tears away with my free hand and smile at him.
“Home.”
“Okay, we’ll go home. But just for today okay? Tomorrow you need to stay the whole day here okay?” he just nods as a few more tears escape his eyes, “Where’s Mickey?”
“There,” he points to his toy located in the opposite corner of the room.
“Go and get him,” I set him down and he hurriedly runs to his beloved doll. I walk over and grab his bag and jacket from the hook that has his name over it.
“Sorry Mr. Choi,” his teacher says to me, “We really tried everything we could to get him to stop crying.”
“It’s okay. I’m sorry for his behavior. He’s been like this for the past few months. I’m trying to break him from the habit.”
“Well I’m sure everything will go better tomorrow.”
I just nod before I feel him run into my legs again, “Chungie, say sorry to Mrs. Lee.”
“No.”
“Chungie. Say sorry for disturbing the class.”
“No.”
“Choi Chunghee, you say sorry right now.”
“Sorry,” he says, face buried in my pants.
“It’s okay Chunghee. I’ll see you tomorrow okay? We’ll have lots of fun. I promise,” she says to him as she crouches down to his level. He doesn’t acknowledge her, but instead buries his face deeper into my pants.
I let out a sigh and pick him up, “I’m sorry again. He’ll behave better tomorrow.”
“It’s nothing Mr. Choi. I just take it as a part of the first day jitters. Most of the kids here went home on their first day as well. Separation anxiety.”
“I guess,” I look at my son who is now burying his head into my neck, “Chungie say good bye to Mrs. Lee.”
“Bye,” his voice is mumbled against my neck.
“Bye Chunghee. See you tomorrow.”
*~*
When we get back home, I set our things on the couch before going to the room. We change into comfortable house clothes and make our way back downstairs.
“Chungie, are you hungry?” I ask him as I take my lunchbox out of my bag to wash it.
“Ne!”
“Want a snack before it’s nap time?”
“No nap!”
“Chungie, you need to take a nap. Otherwise you’ll be grumpy for the rest of the day.”
“NO NAP!”
“Fine, no nap. What about a snack?”
“NE!”
“Okay, go and play in the living room while appa makes you a snack okay?”
“Ne!” he runs off into the living room, Mickey held tightly in his hands. I watch as he carefully takes out his bucket of blocks from the toy chest. He was definitely a very neat baby. He rarely ever made a mess, except for when he was eating. He would often try to help my mom whenever she was cleaning. I smile when he starts to take out each block, one by one, placing all the same colors together in their own pile. He must get this from his umma because I knew for sure that it couldn’t be from me.
I turn to the kitchen and make my way to the fridge. I pull out a couple apples and a banana milk, “Chungie? How does apples and banana milk sound?”
“YUMMY!” he screams.
“Okay,” I wash the apples and start to peel them over the trash can. I’ve learned quite a few domestic traits since Chunghee was born. I was actually quite proud of myself. I would be living on my own, but my parents insisted that I stay with them. They didn’t want me to have to struggle when it wasn’t necessary.
I’m thankful to have such understanding parents. Her parents never understood her. They didn’t approve of our relationship from the start, saying that she had no time for a boyfriend. She should be spending all her time on her studying. So when she told them she was pregnant, they kicked her out. My parents welcomed her into our home with open arms and that’s where she stayed until that day. The day that’s been haunting me for the past 365 days of my life.
“Chungie,” I call as I place the now peeled and slices apples on one of his plates.
“Ne?”
“Come on, I have your snack ready,” I walk out of the kitchen and he runs over to me. Normally I would place him in his high chair to eat, but I was feeling a bit lazy at the moment. So instead I walk around him and take a seat next to the blocks he had laid out. He sits next to me and grabs an apple slice before going back to his blocks. For the next half an hour I sit and watch him play. Every once and a while he’d come and get an apple or take a sip from his milk before going back to what he was doing.
I notice his eyes are starting to get heavy, so I place the now empty plate on the coffee table, “Chungie, come to appa.”
He nods and walks over to me, settling into my lap as I wrap my arms around him, “Are you sleepy?”
“Ne.”
“Want to take that nap now?”
“Ne.”
“Okay, close your eyes,” and he does. I don’t have to rock him for very long before he falls asleep. I grab a pillow from the couch and place it beside me. I set him down before taking his blanket out of his baby bag and covering him with it. I give him a kiss on the forehead and start to clean up his toys.
After I’m done, I pull my backpack closer to me and start on the homework that the teacher assigned. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be since I had already learned the same things last year. So I was done in an hour and decide to start reading the first few chapters for my other classes. At least when I go to school tomorrow, I won’t be completely loss.
“Minho? Are you home?” my mom calls out about an hour later as she walks through the door. I look up at her and place a finger to my mouth and point to the still sleeping child beside me.
“Oh,” I stand up to help her with the groceries she’s struggling to carry in.
“I thought you just went grocery shopping,” I ask as we walk into the kitchen.
“I did, but we’re having our neighbors over for dinner tonight.”
“Oh.”
“And no you and Chunghee are not going to stay locked up in your room all night until they go home. You’re going to join us for dinner and try to make friends with their son. He is really nice.”
“Umma,” I whine.
“No, Minho. You need to start putting your life together. Besides, it’s one dinner and if it doesn’t go good at all then I won’t force you anymore.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Okay,” I look over my shoulder to make sure my son is still sleeping, “Mind keeping an eye on him for a little bit? I want to call Donghae hyung.”
“No problem.”
I walk out of the kitchen and up to my room. I pull out my phone and call the one person I know who will never judge me. The one person who understands me the most. Who isn’t forcing me to move on with my life. My best friend back home, Lee Donghae.
“Hello?”
“Hyung,” I say with a smile.
“Minho. I haven’t heard from you in awhile. I was starting to get worried.”
“Sorry hyung.”
“It’s okay. How are you doing? How’s Chunghee?”
“I’m okay, I guess. Chunghee is fine. Still the same as always.”
“Still growing?”
“Like a weed.”
“That’s my boy.”
We talk on the phone for awhile. Catching each other up on what’s been going on with our lives since I left. Well I don’t have much to tell him, so mostly it’s just him talking and me listening. I can hear Chunghee from downstairs and know that it’s time to wrap up the call.
“Hyung, I’m sorry to cut this short. But Chungie just woke up from his nap.”
“I get it. Time for you to play appa now.”
“Yeah.”
“It was nice talking to you again Minho. Next time don’t take too long to call.”
“I won’t. Can I ask you to do me a favor though?”
“Sure.”
“Can you take some flowers to her for me?”
“White daisies?”
“Yeah, you remember?”
“How can I not? She was like a little sister to me.”
“I miss her so much hyung. Chungie does too. He keeps asking for her.”
“I’m sorry Minho. I want to tell you that things will get better, but I don’t know if they will. Just take things one day at a time okay?”
“I will. Oh and I might be coming back this weekend to visit.”
“That would be great. Let me know if you are for sure and I’ll come and pick you up.”
“Okay. Bye hyung.”
“Bye.”
Author: giveitupjessica and babysponge (Jess and Sica... haha)
Rating: PG (I guess)
Pairings: 2min
Genre: AU, romance, comedy, high school
Summary: True love is the best feeling in the world. It's surprising that something so pure and good can cause so much pain. I thought we'd be together forever as cliche as it may sound. But there were other plans and you were taken away from me. The days keep on passing and the pain is still here, slowly eating away at me. It hurts to look at him sometimes because he's the last thing I have of you. I told myself that I'd never fall in love again. That no one could compare to you. My heart belongs to just you. I don't know when it happened though, but I think I might be falling in love with someone else. I feel like I'm betraying you. I'm sorry, could you ever forgive me?
I loved you, I really did. I never knew I was nothing to you, but a substitute to your ex-girlfriend. It hurt me, but I guess I have to let you, let you find another true love so that you can truly be happy. I will never forget the way we met, how sweet you once were to me. I loved you, I still do now. But sometimes, you've to let go of someone you really love, so that he experience the true love you're experiencing while you're with him.
CHAPTER TWO
I continued doodling after the new guy ignored me. Time passed by slowly, slow as in really slow!
"Class dismissed. Please remember to hand in your homework tomorrow," said my emotionless teacher. I stood up along with other of my classmates and bowed before he left.
I was about to close my notebook and pack my pencil case up. Then I realised the name I doodled on my notebook. 'Choi Minho' My eyes widened in surprise. I couldn't believe it. How could I be thinking of this new guy?! Ah, shit. What is this feeling again?! I pouted a little before Kibum hyung appears in front of me.
"Taemin-ah, what's wrong?" he pats my shoulder to get my attention.
"Nothing hyung," I smiled.
"Really?"
I smiled and quickly closed my notebook up and put it into my bag. "Yeah. Let's go for lunch now okay? I'm hungry already," I said. He then pat my head and we walked out together. I sighed in relieve. Kibum hyung didn't ask anything. The last thing I wanted him to do was to worry about me.
"Erm, Taemin-ah... I would like you to meet someone.." Kibum hyung said while we were walking to the school cafe.
"Hmm? Someone? Who?" I asked curiously.
"Do you know Lee Jinki?" he stopped walking and turned to look at me. I could tell he was nervous. He was rubbing both his palms together. Lee Jinki, the name sounds familiar...
"Oh! The class monitor of 2J? Yeah I've heard about him. Why hyung?"
"He.. We sorta.. Erm..." he stuttered and I frowned. I've never seen my best friend being nervous like that. "We are together..." he muttered but I could still catch what he was trying to say.
"Woah hyung!? What again?! You're dating Lee Jinki that nerd?!" I exclaimed.
"SSSSHHH LEE TAEMIN! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!" he covered my mouth with his right palm and scolded me. It wasn't my fault that I was surprised! Kibum hyung had lots of suitors, but he hasn't dated since he broke up with his last boyfriend which happened about three years ago. Who knew he was interested in a nerd instead.
"Yah hyung! I'm sorry. I couldn't help it! You haven't dated for three years!"
"Well nobody caught my eye! You can't expect me to accept any suitors right?" he pouted a little before walking away from me.
"Alright alright hyung. So what now? We're having lunch with him?" I asked.
"Yeah. Do you mind? It's okay if you do you know. I mean, I can have dinner with him instead and-"
"No no no hyung. I'm happy you finally found someone to love. I don't mind. I would love to meet someone my best friend is in love with," I smiled.
"Thanks Minnie. Thank you..." he hugged me.
*~*
Dinner with Jinki hyung went well. He introduced himself in a cute manner, a manner which I've never expected. Well, he went 'Hi I'm your best friend's boyfriend. My name is Jinki and I know you're Taemin because Kibum talks about you often. And I love chickens' and gave me a little bow. I laughed every single time I thought about it.
I'm now back in my class waiting for the next lesson to start. I took out my notebook, and saw 'Choi Minho' in it. Ah, yes. I turned around wanting to say hi again, but all I saw was a note scribbled messily.
'Hi, whoever is reading this. Please inform the next lesson's teacher that I've something very important on and have to leave immediately. Thank you so much! -Choi Minho'
I picked it up and frowned. What could be more important than lessons at our age? He seems pretty strange and mysterious. I feel like finding out more about him...
I folded the note up and kept it inside my wallet.
I reminded the teacher that Minho left, and the teacher didn't say anything except giving a slight nod.
*~*
Choi Minho didn't get out of my mind after school. I went home after uncle Danny picked me up and had lunch that umma Jung made. I showered and switched my laptop on. I typed 'Choi Minho' on the search bar. Nothing came out. I was a bit disappointed. But well, he wasn't someone popular. Why would he appear on a search site? I laughed a little at my own silliness.
But, I'm still determined to know about that Choi Minho guy.
MINHO POV
The day was going by slowly. I did my best to pay attention to what the teacher was saying, but his voice was so monotone. I stopped trying to write whatever he was saying and just copied whatever was on the board. My mind was elsewhere today, as it is everyday.
Finally the lesson is over and everyone is packing their stuff to head off to lunch. I decided I’d stay in class during the lunch period. I was in no mood to be surrounded by people. It seems like crowded rooms gave me anxiety attacks these days. So I stayed where I was and watched as everyone filed out of the class.
When I’m finally alone, I pull out the lunch that my mom packed for me. I don’t really eat any of it though. I wasn’t really hungry. I mostly just pushed the food around in the little compartments, making a small mess. I look out the window and let my mind wander. The food in front of me long forgotten. I still can’t believe it’s been one full year. It seems like it all happened yesterday. I can still see everything happening so vividly. And I can still hear her scream. I shiver as the memory washes over me and that scream plays over and over in my mind like a broken record.
The feel of my phone vibrating brings me back to the present. I pull it out of my pocket and check the display. It’s the daycare. I wasn’t surprised that they were calling with the way Chunghee was acting earlier.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Choi?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry to disturb you, but it’s about your son.”
“Is he okay?”
“Physically, he’s fine. But he’s been crying for the past half hour. We can’t get him to stop at all. He won’t even let any of us near him. The moment we try to go to him, he runs to a different part of the room.”
“I see. I’ll be right there.”
“Thank you Mr. Choi.”
“It’s nothing,” I place my phone back in my pocket. I pack up my lunch and put it away before ripping a piece of paper out of my notebook. I scribble a quick note informing who ever happens to find it that I will be gone for the rest of the day. I pack up the rest of my belongings and head to the door. I’m silently thankful that I need to go pick up Chunghee from daycare. I didn’t feel like being anywhere but my room today.
*~*
“Chungie,” I say as I enter the classroom and he immediately runs over to me. Arms wrapping around one of my legs as he continues to sobd.
“Appa left me!” he whines, “Don’t leave!”
“Appa’s sorry Chungie,” I say as I bend over and pick him up. He wraps his arms around my neck and tightly hugs me. I rub his back and just let him cry.
“I want umma!” he wails.
“I know Chungie. I know. Stop crying now okay? Appa’s here,” I pull his body away from me, just enough so I can look him in the face. His crying is now just a soft whimper as he takes staggered breaths. I wipe his tears away with my free hand and smile at him.
“Home.”
“Okay, we’ll go home. But just for today okay? Tomorrow you need to stay the whole day here okay?” he just nods as a few more tears escape his eyes, “Where’s Mickey?”
“There,” he points to his toy located in the opposite corner of the room.
“Go and get him,” I set him down and he hurriedly runs to his beloved doll. I walk over and grab his bag and jacket from the hook that has his name over it.
“Sorry Mr. Choi,” his teacher says to me, “We really tried everything we could to get him to stop crying.”
“It’s okay. I’m sorry for his behavior. He’s been like this for the past few months. I’m trying to break him from the habit.”
“Well I’m sure everything will go better tomorrow.”
I just nod before I feel him run into my legs again, “Chungie, say sorry to Mrs. Lee.”
“No.”
“Chungie. Say sorry for disturbing the class.”
“No.”
“Choi Chunghee, you say sorry right now.”
“Sorry,” he says, face buried in my pants.
“It’s okay Chunghee. I’ll see you tomorrow okay? We’ll have lots of fun. I promise,” she says to him as she crouches down to his level. He doesn’t acknowledge her, but instead buries his face deeper into my pants.
I let out a sigh and pick him up, “I’m sorry again. He’ll behave better tomorrow.”
“It’s nothing Mr. Choi. I just take it as a part of the first day jitters. Most of the kids here went home on their first day as well. Separation anxiety.”
“I guess,” I look at my son who is now burying his head into my neck, “Chungie say good bye to Mrs. Lee.”
“Bye,” his voice is mumbled against my neck.
“Bye Chunghee. See you tomorrow.”
*~*
When we get back home, I set our things on the couch before going to the room. We change into comfortable house clothes and make our way back downstairs.
“Chungie, are you hungry?” I ask him as I take my lunchbox out of my bag to wash it.
“Ne!”
“Want a snack before it’s nap time?”
“No nap!”
“Chungie, you need to take a nap. Otherwise you’ll be grumpy for the rest of the day.”
“NO NAP!”
“Fine, no nap. What about a snack?”
“NE!”
“Okay, go and play in the living room while appa makes you a snack okay?”
“Ne!” he runs off into the living room, Mickey held tightly in his hands. I watch as he carefully takes out his bucket of blocks from the toy chest. He was definitely a very neat baby. He rarely ever made a mess, except for when he was eating. He would often try to help my mom whenever she was cleaning. I smile when he starts to take out each block, one by one, placing all the same colors together in their own pile. He must get this from his umma because I knew for sure that it couldn’t be from me.
I turn to the kitchen and make my way to the fridge. I pull out a couple apples and a banana milk, “Chungie? How does apples and banana milk sound?”
“YUMMY!” he screams.
“Okay,” I wash the apples and start to peel them over the trash can. I’ve learned quite a few domestic traits since Chunghee was born. I was actually quite proud of myself. I would be living on my own, but my parents insisted that I stay with them. They didn’t want me to have to struggle when it wasn’t necessary.
I’m thankful to have such understanding parents. Her parents never understood her. They didn’t approve of our relationship from the start, saying that she had no time for a boyfriend. She should be spending all her time on her studying. So when she told them she was pregnant, they kicked her out. My parents welcomed her into our home with open arms and that’s where she stayed until that day. The day that’s been haunting me for the past 365 days of my life.
“Chungie,” I call as I place the now peeled and slices apples on one of his plates.
“Ne?”
“Come on, I have your snack ready,” I walk out of the kitchen and he runs over to me. Normally I would place him in his high chair to eat, but I was feeling a bit lazy at the moment. So instead I walk around him and take a seat next to the blocks he had laid out. He sits next to me and grabs an apple slice before going back to his blocks. For the next half an hour I sit and watch him play. Every once and a while he’d come and get an apple or take a sip from his milk before going back to what he was doing.
I notice his eyes are starting to get heavy, so I place the now empty plate on the coffee table, “Chungie, come to appa.”
He nods and walks over to me, settling into my lap as I wrap my arms around him, “Are you sleepy?”
“Ne.”
“Want to take that nap now?”
“Ne.”
“Okay, close your eyes,” and he does. I don’t have to rock him for very long before he falls asleep. I grab a pillow from the couch and place it beside me. I set him down before taking his blanket out of his baby bag and covering him with it. I give him a kiss on the forehead and start to clean up his toys.
After I’m done, I pull my backpack closer to me and start on the homework that the teacher assigned. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be since I had already learned the same things last year. So I was done in an hour and decide to start reading the first few chapters for my other classes. At least when I go to school tomorrow, I won’t be completely loss.
“Minho? Are you home?” my mom calls out about an hour later as she walks through the door. I look up at her and place a finger to my mouth and point to the still sleeping child beside me.
“Oh,” I stand up to help her with the groceries she’s struggling to carry in.
“I thought you just went grocery shopping,” I ask as we walk into the kitchen.
“I did, but we’re having our neighbors over for dinner tonight.”
“Oh.”
“And no you and Chunghee are not going to stay locked up in your room all night until they go home. You’re going to join us for dinner and try to make friends with their son. He is really nice.”
“Umma,” I whine.
“No, Minho. You need to start putting your life together. Besides, it’s one dinner and if it doesn’t go good at all then I won’t force you anymore.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Okay,” I look over my shoulder to make sure my son is still sleeping, “Mind keeping an eye on him for a little bit? I want to call Donghae hyung.”
“No problem.”
I walk out of the kitchen and up to my room. I pull out my phone and call the one person I know who will never judge me. The one person who understands me the most. Who isn’t forcing me to move on with my life. My best friend back home, Lee Donghae.
“Hello?”
“Hyung,” I say with a smile.
“Minho. I haven’t heard from you in awhile. I was starting to get worried.”
“Sorry hyung.”
“It’s okay. How are you doing? How’s Chunghee?”
“I’m okay, I guess. Chunghee is fine. Still the same as always.”
“Still growing?”
“Like a weed.”
“That’s my boy.”
We talk on the phone for awhile. Catching each other up on what’s been going on with our lives since I left. Well I don’t have much to tell him, so mostly it’s just him talking and me listening. I can hear Chunghee from downstairs and know that it’s time to wrap up the call.
“Hyung, I’m sorry to cut this short. But Chungie just woke up from his nap.”
“I get it. Time for you to play appa now.”
“Yeah.”
“It was nice talking to you again Minho. Next time don’t take too long to call.”
“I won’t. Can I ask you to do me a favor though?”
“Sure.”
“Can you take some flowers to her for me?”
“White daisies?”
“Yeah, you remember?”
“How can I not? She was like a little sister to me.”
“I miss her so much hyung. Chungie does too. He keeps asking for her.”
“I’m sorry Minho. I want to tell you that things will get better, but I don’t know if they will. Just take things one day at a time okay?”
“I will. Oh and I might be coming back this weekend to visit.”
“That would be great. Let me know if you are for sure and I’ll come and pick you up.”
“Okay. Bye hyung.”
“Bye.”