SSS 2011: FOR MINTYFRESH1 (Part 1/2)
For: mintyfresh1
From: Your Secret Santa
Title: Cliché
Pairing: Jonghyun/Taemin
Rating: NC-17
Wordcount: 14,786
Summary: From strangers we become best friend, from there we understand our weakness, pros and cons. Can we still be together afterwards?
I languorously slumped on my bed stared on the white ceiling above- plastered with glowing model stars with different types of sizes it had come from the packaging my mom gave me when I was 6 years old. I was a big boy who deserved a room for my big age. And some nice bright decoration would be nice for my claustrophobia put on ease.
I don’t think 6 was a huge number but that time was the luckiest numbers I wish to stay linger there. That age was commence I met him -my good old friend. We weren’t in some type of common relationship and neither me notice how I got myself engaged in rather- an odd relationship with him.
It is a long time forgotten memories when I reminisced of us in years ago, I couldn’t help myself to not bury it with the past sometimes I needed them in presents and the future. It was full of wonders and colours, I wished I could tell it to my children what was I back then and how I become today in all one reason - Hey, yesterday and today I was still me! The best past would always engrave in my memories. From the past I had become a better person for now I kept moving with my life.
I was a little young boy who was successfully lived for 6 years. I was tiptoed against the window pane in my room tilted my head upward to get a better view of the outside. Darn it, a humongous tree blocked my sight and I was thinking to see the world from my new room.
Like in a soap drama where this is the place for a love struck girl or a guy build their castle in the sky- pondered where my love was and poof, your soul mate silently approached upon you somewhere near your secured world.
I wasn’t fond about that -I was mumbling gibberish childish bleats “Dumbos tree, numbskull giant tree, you stinky leaves are too much and yeah you’re fat totally fat tree!” I was 6 and I didn’t understand my weird fetish about the world. I was grimaced in distaste by this cockblocked fat tree. At least the sunshine made me happy, fuzzy and warmth inside of me.
Dazed by the natural light beamed shone on the outside of the room -tugged my intuitive notion to open up my world merged with the fresh air of spring. I push the window open with all latent strength within me. The whiffed of the flower scent sent me over the edge.
I pulled myself upward grasped tightly on the window side and looked from side to side from my room. Nothing interesting but I was hoping for something. I lowered my head stared down to the ground watching my pet dog, Roo doing her business. I stuck my tongue out and gimmicked as if I want to vomit - it was gross! I screamed in my mind.
And she barked during her pee period and I raised my eyebrows in astonishment. That was, extremely deliriously, stupid. She barked even louder and louder! Appa was surely going to kill her before someone did. She eagerly run towards the fat tree and jumped on it and scratched till it scab. She jumped and barked. Agitated of what will happen and my curiosity that might kill my own precious dog because, if I lingered my time doing nothing. Appa wasn’t please of Roo sang the BINGO song.
“Roo stop barking! Appa is going to kill you if you do! Come on baby I’ll give you some snacks you like! Ah, Roo don’t let me jump down to hide you! I’m on the highest floor I swear I will die!” But to no avail, she barked like a maniac. God please save my Roo.
My eyes won’t dare to avert somewhere else. I was 4 and dumb. My eyes brimmed with tears of stupidity. I sniffed and hiccupped through the minutes of Roo sudden rage- until an acorn hit on Roo’s head. At first I was calmed down when she ceased her howling bark. Her petite body whimpered and squeak in coward - and then, billions of acorns began to shoot on her! Hey, that was immensely rude!
Roo ran away from that tree and probably snuggled herself in her dog house. “Roo, are you hurt?” my question was stranded in the air left unanswered. I pouted weary about her. I looked up and glared at the giant tree. Firstly, it was a cockblocked tree and secondly it almost killed my baby Roo.
My mind compact with diabolical plan of disastrous to burn its life into ashes and can go straight to hell! I gritted my teeth and gnashed it and screeched out my seethe of anger. I left the window open and strive my way towards my unpacked toy box arranged neatly in between my clothes and books in the centre of my room.
My hands expertly ransacked through it, threw my toys behind me and I finally found my secret weapon. A superb cool gun with tiny yellow rounded bullets added inside the gun. With determination set in my mind “Death of the cockblocked fat tree!” I hastily took a long strode back at the window-the previous scene I witnessed my little baby Roo had been showered with drop of acorns.
I aimed my gun on the tree green afro hair. I assumed there should it brain located and ready to fire off. But eomma said to me, tree didn’t have a brain-when an apple knocked hardly on my baby soft head and I yelled “stupid tree where’s your brain!” Eomma always say maybe it was squirrel. And noona told me it was a conspiracy of Mother Nature’s vindictive and to pay me back what I’ve done which I couldn’t remember and she laughed hysterically, cried I pee on tree and made me sound as stupid as my Roo.
Let it be a squirrel, a bird, a cat or anything inside that thick green afro hair tree. Roo barked when there was danger in our comfort zone and I was sure the vengeance of Mother Nature had declared a shot on us and ready for World War III. My right eye squinted and another eye locked the target- source of evil.
The sunlight blinded my vision but what made me confidently to shoot direct on the target partially my intuition but the remainder because vague colour of yellow in the middle of the green help me so.
And yellow bullets met with yellow thingy, “Ouch, what the heck?” to my amusement the yellow thingy was actually a talking squirrel WOW! This must be to tell mom immediately and noona would proud of me.
I ended the conspiracy between them. I woke up from my trance as I heard rustling sounds and the tree’s hair seemed to shake off and the leaves were fallen on the yard.
My eyes were widened, anticipated what would come after and a tinge of fear subtle in me. Then, one leg stuck out from the branches and step another branches to another -and slowly revealed it true self of the mischievous, little Satan trickery. Two pair of legs, a long, slim body and he promptly jumped from the tree and stood up brushed the dirt from him.
What caught my attention was the accentuated dirt blonde hair sparkled in the sunlight rays. I awed by the beauty and shot him another 2 or 5 plastic bullets on him. He howled in pain by its sting on the head and harshly rubbed his androgynously mess dirt blonde hair.
He glanced over his shoulder, scanned the area around him-his fierce and piercing brown orbs shivered down my spine. He swivelled his body, both hands on hips looked side to side and upward at me.
It took me for a while to adjusting my bleary eyes due stared outside on the sun ray beamed for too long. I rubbed my eyes with the heel of my palms and blinked rapidly to get a better view of this popped out creature from the tree (and my conscience told me it was a human) hardly to belief a human born from tree. Mom said I come from her womb.
I dropped down the gun on the floor and peek over the window and searched for his existence. Finally we made eye contact. It wasn’t pleasant greetings or friendly. His expression written on his face-his exasperated burgeon in his irritated emotion.
I gulped down my coagulated saliva through my throat and inhaled a lot of oxygen, reassured myself he wouldn’t throw me acorns because he wasn’t a squirrel. On contrary, he just come from the big fat tree he could act one of it but his figure reckoned him a human- which wasn’t convinced me.
His glaring eyes were menace and pure evil aura soared behind him. Noona was true to be told that I was resembled with my puppy dog Roo. I got frightened up so easily when peril strike on me I was defenceless- but today I’m a big boy and I wasn’t weak, I could beat him into pulp!
“Hey kid, you’re the one who shoot me?” He inquired me from down there. I sealed my lips into thin line-poker face plastered on my innocent face.
“I’m asking you a question were you the chosen one who shoot me with your plastic bullets on my skull?” He gritted his teeth, eyebrows burrowed down into the middle of his red tomato face. I couldn’t move a muscle stood there like a holy statue.
He kept stared me with his deadly eyes sounds like I’m going to rip your head off! I was scared, I screamed on top of my lungs-by the way I was come with my tears puddle in the brimmed of it and I wailed like a little toddler I was.
He gasped, his was astounded to see me in this state he was flabbergasted. He tried to talk but his voice died inside vocal cord. I cried out, I hate him. I wasn’t used with people’s wrath it made me pee in my pants.
He scratched his head and tried to figure out to confront me in this behaviour. He tried to console me but I guess I couldn’t hear the message he conveyed at me. He was distress and distaste of me being such a prick.
I rose up my high octaves and the volume of my killer howl attracted my sister’s attention. The boy was frustrated because of mine tantrum-he ignored me and hurdled over the fence beside him.
My sister opened and shoved the door with a loud slam on the wall. Her ghastly face drained her colour. “The hell, Jonghyun stops the crap out of it! You make me scared.” Noona scowled, she stomped her way towards me and picked me up.
Safely place her arms around me, been embraced by her. She fondled with my hair and stroked my back gentle and slow with devotion and empathy. She hushed me and profusely cast a mantra on me “Shhsh...there, there, jjongie. Please stop crying.” She swung me to the left and to the right.
My crystal tears flowed like a waterfall. I cried on Noona’s V-neck pink jumper and it was soaked with mine. She didn’t bother of it and resumed to comfort me with caring. She landed herself flat on her butt down to my bed. She fondled my brown hair and kissed on top of my head-she gingerly pulled me apart from her.
Her soothing eyes calm down my insanity. Her thumb pressed on my stained-tears cheek and peck on it. “What just happened, jjongie?” She asked mildly. I sobbed and sniffed-I endured my tears from trickled down and squeaked out my voice like a little mouse.
“I got yelled by a baby tree.” My lips quivered and clenched my dainty hands into a fist. Noona arched her eyebrows, astonished of my answer. “Baby tree doesn’t yell people. They don’t speak like humans do.” She frowned. I knew she wouldn’t believe me-as eomma always said “sometimes you’re just imagining or seeing things, you’re a great kid.”
I tried to convince her. “But I swear, the baby tree yelled at me. He did!”
“No, baby tree doesn’t do what humans do, partially though.” She shook her head slightly.
“The baby tree threw acorns at Roo! He hurts my baby!” Maybe this would make her trusted me. But again, she always ends up with her silly ideological. “Ah, it’s the Mother Nature’s conspiracy. It must be a squirrel or birds.”
I wasn’t rendered that statement in. “Noona, it wasn’t a squirrel. It was a boy-a dirty blonde haired boy and he yelled at me because I shoot him with my gun! And Roo witnessed it too.” Noona brought closer towards her chest and sighed.
“A boy doesn’t come from tree, he come from his mother’s womb.”
“That blonde boy does come from the huge tree outside of the window.” She snapped her at the window looked at the tree I told about.
“If a boy comes from a tree he isn’t a human or a baby tree.”
“And what he is?”
“He is a nymphet then.”
“A nymphet?” My mind reeled for its explanation-a baby tree is a nymphet? Noona shrugged our small talk and promptly tucked me in bed. I looked at her bewildered “Is a nymphet is an elf?” eomma once told me elf was a cheeky and mischievous creature.
“Their names are different so, they are different. OK, come on jjongie. It’s time for your nap.” Noona pulled up the duvet and half-covered me. She bent down and kissed on my forehead and bid me goodnight.
I watched she emerged from my room and stared in confusion at the closing door. I was scarcely to know, the boy earlier was a nymphet and I even didn’t know anything about it.
It wasn’t an elf, it wasn’t a human-then what was he? An alien, but he was beautiful under the golden sun and alien wasn’t a correct term for a creature like him.
Maybe he was a nymphet a very beautiful nymphet indeed.
“Good morning, my baby jjongie! How is your napping time?” eomma busied prepared the dinner for our little family but she would always has the time for her only baby-and that was me!
“Morning eomma, can I help you anything?” I love eomma to bits. She was very devoted and likely a real maternally mother personality. She would make her family a special place in her heart. She said that her home was her nest.
She wasn’t a bird, but what she was saying-us were the people making her feel needed, she called this place among us-a home. “My jjongie can help his sister set up the table for dinner and after that go take a bath.” She stirred the stew in the pot. The whiffed aroma of the stew made my tummy grumbled and hoped eomma wouldn’t notice it.
Eomma glanced at me and smirked smugly-well she was my eomma! I grinned sheepishly and pranced away to the dining table. “Just in time, you can put up the culinary and glasses on the table while I go lend a hand for mom prepare the gourmet.” She passed me a basket of culinary and gestured the glasses in the cupboard behind me.
I nodded, I pulled the chair out and climbed it to support my plights height. Suddenly I recalled back the incident back there-the nymphet was he going to be fine? He was separated from his mom, the big tree. How was he going to get his dinner? How was he going to live without his mommy?
I couldn’t if I was him. Poor nymphet, I really want to invite him for our dinner so noona could see him for real! All done, must go to the bathroom.
Appa scooped the kimchi and fed me-I deliriously munched it with a big apepitite of mine. “Big baby still need his appa feed him.” He chuckled and ruffled my hair aftermath a big mess strands of hair dislodged.
“So, Junghee how’s your day?” Appa moved on another topic to preoccupy the silence in between four of us.
“Well, I can’t wait for school tomorrow. I went strolled down the town surveyed the school from outside, I might have the feelings I will get along with my new school.” She smiled.
“I hope you’re Junghee. How about you jjong? My favourite boy.” Dad asked me. I ever slightly wanted to reply it.
“Dad, we won’t move again, right?” I retorted
He was shocked, silence fall down on us. Appa scratched his head-avoided made an eye contact with me. I sighed I knew we weren’t last for long here. Eomma broke the awkward silence, “Jagiya, it’s time for you arguable this.” She coaxed appa to spill the beans.
He heaved a sigh and finally got the courage to meet four eyes with me. “Jjong, I understand your feelings. Being friendless, never get the chance to play with the kids around the neighbourhood and most importantly you’re lonely and void in yourself.” He knocked my chest lightly.
Again the pang of agony engulfed my crass heart. Yeah, I didn’t how to confront strangers to establish a good relationship with them- ended it up hopeless. Called me a pathetic, anti-social-I never got the taste of it.
“Hey, jjong do you meet someone today? I bet you do.” Appa reassured me. I looked up, “If I do, I wouldn’t get to know him very well, because we would move again and again like a cycle.” He shook his head in disagreement. “This time we won’t, we will stay here like a normal tenant. Not because of my works anymore, but for my family.”
I was elated to hear those words from appa. I beamed at him with my killer watt charmed smile-perfect baby teeth in a front row showed with pride. Appa chuckled and asked me from before, “Do you meet anyone today?” I curtly nodded.
“I met a baby tree, a beautiful nymphet!” I ejaculated
Everyone gasped, clattered of spoons and chopsticks jangled fell on the plate. Eomma clasped her mouth around with her palm, noona choked on her drinks and appa-he was gobsmacked.
“Ah-jjong you always tickle my funny bone. A witty boy you are. Have you met our neighbours yet? I heard they have a son same age as your noona. Well difference ages will not be a problem for you, noona will help you.” Appa dismissed my unexpected answer.
I merely listened to him. “Tomorrow I’ll bake some cookies and brownies for them, can you help eomma?” Eomma asked for noona’s help.
“Of course I would love to eomma.” She was really excited to baked cookies and brownies.
“Jjongie loves cookies too, why don’t we bake together? The neighbour will love it.” Her voice toned in happiness-she was very excited unlike me, gloomy and disheartened by appa’s reaction of the beautiful nymphet I told them. There was something within the nymphet, I wished to know.
“OK, I’ll help eomma and noona.” The sound of our mirth echoed every angle in the house. I hope, the nymphet could be with us maybe, he would lighten more the sunshine in my family. Just like he shone under the sun, shimmered his flawless features.
Noona combed her curly brown hair and tied it pigtail style. She wore a flora patterned blouse with soft baby pink background and beige skirt. She posed in front the mirror-twirled around like a ballerina. I awed by her beauty.
She looked at me stood outside the door “Am I good jjongie?” eomma always say girls need to be told they’re pretty because they deserved it. “You’re a pretty noona.” She giggled and grabbed my hand from my side-ran across the corridor and fetched eomma downstairs. We heard faint mumbled ‘don’t run inside the house!’ it must probably eomma weary about our safety.
She was waiting us at the main door-a plate covered with a checked patterned cloth on top of it. Underlying the cloth, there were some chocolate chip cookies and brownies we made this morning. Noona dragged me along to the door and clicked the door knob to open. Three of us-for the first time, went out together at here, my new home.
I pressed the doorbell on the side of the door. I rocked my heel back and forth, hands clasped behind me and patiently waited the tenant come out. Eomma and noona fidgeted, they were hoping things would work out-we didn’t have a chance to be a good neighbour despite been moved here and there, finally we could take the role to play.
“Minnie, could you please check out who is at the door?” I jerked my body, the door cracked open ajar. Firstly the door was hesitantly to opened but after a few seconds observed the situation, he widely opened it and-
“The nymphet!” the only words I could utter. The blonde boy from yesterday, what he was doing here? How about his mom, the tree?
“Jjongie, why do you call him a nymphet? That’s a bad word who taught you that?” Eomma was upset with my sudden behaviour. I glanced over my shoulder noona was truly surprised of me and the nymphet. But mostly eomma was pissed off.
The nymphet stonily stared at me-he didn’t smile maybe he hated me because of yesterday. I couldn’t comprehend any sentences to say. He was frigid, cold-hearted nymphet what could I see from this view. Eomma strode her way by my side. She helped me from the uncanny circumstances.
The aura was intense it made my nerves tingled. I swear my hands were sweaty and sticky. Noona skidded towards us didn’t want to be left behind. “I’m sorry for what my son had just called you he was having a bad time with strangers.” His eyes glued on me-“I understand that.” His sarcasm commented me, bravo.
“Oh, how rude I’m. I forgot to introduce myself, I’m Kim Soon jeong. This is my daughter, Kim Junghee and my only son, Kim Jonghyun. We just moved here two days ago.” Eomma handed him the plate of pastry for him. He Plastered his sweet, warmth smile and gladly to receive it.
The nymphet really impressed me with his stupid act. “Thank you Mrs. Kim” He gratitude for the cookies and brownies, oh sure the decent nymphet-I must said he was one of the elves, he seemed to be trickery for me.
“I’m Lee Taemin, I will inform my mom. Before that, please come inside.” He bowed and led us inside his house. Noona squealed in delight, the idea to get a new friend and get closer with the nymphet who was called ‘Lee Taemin’ made her euphoria.
We sat in the living room, while he went to the kitchen looked for his mother. I couldn’t put a stop to imagine his mother who was a tree. It would be terrifying! Eomma and noona didn’t know about the nymphet, all they knew he was Lee Taemin.
Noona sat on the couch on my right side-wriggled in the position, the excitement rushed through her adrenaline veins. Eomma looked around the living room, there wasn’t special in here except the family portrait hanged on the floor in front of me. There was the nymphet, a woman and a man. Those were his parents? But I thought he was coming from the tree.
This was such a mystery for me. I must unravel his identity. “Oh, Mrs. Kim Soon jeong I’m very pleased to meet you today. I’m Lee Soon Kyu, I’m sorry this is all of sudden, I will make lunch for us since its past time for it.” The mid age woman toothy smiled at us.
She had the same family name as the nymphet. That couldn’t be possible she was the nymphet’s mother? noona told me that a baby tree was a nymphet-but his mother look more a lot of an ordinary woman than a tree.
Maybe appa was right, he was a human boy after all. There wasn’t need to be exaggerated about it.
Eomma stood up and shook Mrs. Lee hand lightly not too harsh. A great commence for further relationship. “It is my pleasure to meet you too, Soon Kyu. Let me help you with the kitchen we can have lunch together very soon, two heads better than one.”
I peeked over eomma’s side- the messed blonde hair approached on my sight it churned my stomach. He stood poised beside his mother.
My lips formed into a thin line. His emotionless face made me confused who was he? Noona jumped off from the couch-scurried towards them, poor noona no matter how wide and sincere her smile, the blond boy ricocheted his plain smile.
If he made noona cry, I will kick his shin! “Well, looks like the kids get a long very fast.” Mrs. Lee patted the boy’s back gently. “Kids, they’re always eager.” No, eomma wasn’t right. I wasn’t keen or interested with him-because the picture of him in front of my eyes explained he wasn’t a good person.
And the evidence, he hurt my baby Roo. No one ever hurt her even appa didn’t do bad things on her no matter how annoying she was. This imposter nymphet did have the guts to done it.
“Soon jeong, you’re a lucky woman to have a beautiful daughter and son just like you.”
“I’m flattered, same for you Soon Kyu, Taemin is an angel I can say.”
“What’s their name?”
“Junghee and Jonghyun.”
“Minnie, can you do me a favour sweetie?” Finally, he paid attention at his mom. I got enough the attention he showered at me-too much wasn’t good for my heart.
“Sure, eomma. What can I help you?” I wanted to vomit watched him being a ‘faked’ meek boy.
“Go upstairs and bring them to the nursery room and have some fun time together. Me and Mrs. Lee will be in the kitchen prepare for lunch. Be nice to them, OK?” He nodded obediently.
“Ah, such a sweetheart.” Eomma gave him compliments. Mrs. Lee merely smiled, and the boy walked passed us-beckoned me and noona to follow his butts to his playroom, to be honest the house quite lonely and empty for some reasons.
“I’m sorry Junghee, I don’t have any girl’s toy. I hope is okay with you playing boy’s stuff.” He kneeled on the floor and unlocked the toy chest. Me and noona sat on the floor, adjacent to the toy chest. “I’m OK Taemin, I’ve got used to it, and I mean I played boy’s toys with jjongie. Nothing is different just fun.” Noona turned her head to her side-I looked at her beautiful smile with her crescent-shaped eye.
“Don’t just sit there come here, pick any toy you like. I’m happy to share and play together with both of you.” He took out all the amazing and cool toys. I was envied of him-having cool toys all by himself. I saw a Y-shaped stick and a strip of a rubber strap in the middle-it was slingshot if I wasn’t mistake.
Appa once had it but, eomma chuck it away because it was harmful-sometimes. I examined it I pry to know the methods to use the thing. “Jjongie that’s dangerous, you could hurt yourself with that.” Noona snatched the slingshot from my grasp.
“It’s just a slingshot, Junghee” He calmly said.
“This slingshot can be accident if you used it on the other side of it.” Noona argued with his statement.
He heavily heaved a sigh, “OK, we can put it inside and play others toys. Look, my appa just bought me a new car controller! I bet we can race with the old one I kept.” He showed it that lay on the floor. I had it too, appa kept inside his room because it was expensive and fragile. He took a precaution step prevented from broke. I needed his permission if I wanted to play it.
“Woah, you have two cars! We only have one and we rarely get a chance to have fun with it.” Noona cried out. He gave the car to noona, she wasn’t expected that-she took it from him and placed it on her lap. Quirk, why noona didn’t play it?
He raised his eyebrows watched noona in disbelief. “Don’t be so shy, I give it to you to try it out.”
“Hey, how’s school lately?” Out of the blue noona enquired him. “Is OK I think, when will you join with me?” He shut tight the toy chest. “My appa said tomorrow I’ll go to school” noona began to make the conversation went like the clock work.
“That’s great we can go to the school together. What is your homeroom class, Junghee?” He continued it. “I haven’t registered yet, tomorrow I’ll know the answers.” She curtly replied. By knew how this little chit-chat progressed-they were periphery my existence.
“I was in a cheerleader club before this.”
“Cool, I can always see you at the field because I’m in the football club. We’ll work together then.”
“Yeah, I can’t wait for that.”
“We can go hang out after school tomorrow. There is a new Ice-cream and candy shop in the town.”
“Splendid, I’m honour to go there.”
Both of them were immersed in their friendly world. I sat here pretended to be a carrot dropped on the floor. I was bored to be on a third wheel, poked the other car in front of me. I saw him first, why he didn’t talk to me like he did to noona now.
“Taemin, where is the toilet?” Noona stood up, brushed the imaginary dust off from her skirt. He pushed himself up and made his way to the door and pointed the way to the toilet, “It’s at the end of the corridor.” Noona walked outside and went for the toilet.
After a minute she gone-the boy slammed the door shut. My body jolted the sudden thumped. I could feel unesy inside here. He turned his back and locked his gaze on me. “We’re alone, just the both of us in this room. Do you think I forgot you that easily what happened yesterday? Nope, I won’t let you go, after you shoot me on the head!” I instinctively scooted backward, eyes to eyes with his furious one.
I want noona here this instant! He come to me closer and closed the gap between us. My back collided at the end of the room, bumped against the wall. I buried my face in my palm-feared of him, my body shivered from his coldness of his soul ice. My little feet frozen even though I wore warmth snugly socks.
I couldn’t curb the uncanny feelings washed upon me. I felt the radiate heat from him. I was cowardice brat to look his monster face. “Leave me alone!” I shouted. Literally, he would be the cause of my death.
“No apologies? That’s just fantastic! Listen here carefully you little impudent, obnoxious brat. I’m not forgiving you like a wind blew the sands.” He sat right in front of me-coerced me to open my eyes and look at him-his fierce tiger face fazed me.
I try to cope my erratic rhythm breathe. Facade, I was pampered too much-a spoiled brat, my family never ever harsh on me. Their principle was simple, discussion brought solution. But in this situation, it was inexplicable. I realised something. Whenever I had a cat dog fights with noona-eomma always reprimand us to use the keyword.
“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry. I didn’t intend to do it. Please forgive me, I love you.” I gave him a big hug like I usually gave for noona after the fight. I only did this with eomma, appa and noona. And this was my first time to get involved in a mishap of a blonde boy-of course all the faults were blamed on me and it was compulsory asked for an apology.
I loosened the embrace and anticipated his hands wrap all around me. He abruptly shoved me from him-I was baffled, what did I go wrong now? His fiery eyes somehow faded away. His pupils were dilated. His anger dissipated along the sands flew in the air.
“What the heck you just did?” He was unsure the finesse way I begged him for repentance. My heart was shattered into pieces disregarding the wounds I got for myself-the pain was numb I barely sensed it. “I-I’m sorry, I-I didn’t mean-"
“Jjongie, eomma called us to have lunch. You must be hungry. She cooked chicken patties with English muffin!” I was verged in tears. I snorted it back inside and scuttled to her side. Hide myself from him. Noona sniggered at me-she coddled my hair.
“What’s wrong with you little puppy?” I sealed my lips. I had enough taken wrong decision-it hurts me and others. I told you, I wasn’t good handling with strangers especially when you shoot him on the head for the first time we met.
“Did something go wrong, when I’m gone jjongie?” I loved stared at noona’s luminous brown orbs she possessed. Serenity contented my fretted heart.
“Jjongie was afraid of me while you went to the toilet.” Ironic, he was the one who frightened after got a hug from me.
“He had some kind of phobia-xenophobia, maybe.” He muttered ‘Oh’ inaudibly accept the fact he was the same as me.
“Soon, he will get attach with you if you frequently play with him. Believe me he is harmless.” Noona embolden him. He scoffed, at the last word ‘harmless’ he clicked his tongue and shrugged his shoulder. I must agree with him. Noona to be truth I could be a harmful object. Was it right?
“OK, boys shall to know each other very well like brothers sooner or later. Now, eomma called us for lunch. Taemin do you want us to help you clean up the mess?” He waved his hand signed ‘no’.
“Let it be there, it wasn’t too much I can do it by myself.” He walked out and closed the door. “Thank you, Taemin.” Noona whispered. He wasn’t looking at me even a glance. He was hatred of me for sure. How could I make a nemesis out of him?
He distracted himself by talking with noona, forgot everything that happened between us back there. I hadn’t thought a hug could come out deterioration. I wished he knew how sincere I was about the incident.
I just want a good friend-not more than that. Why was it so hard?
It had been four days passed we dwelled here. A perfect, lovely home I lived. The gust wind scent of spring freshened up my heavy drop mind. I loitered around the playground, searching for accompany but none of them cared.
I was affable towards them-said greetings and asked permission to play together but what I got for the answers was loathed mimicked face. I bitterly smiled, despondent to make new friends I sat on the swing and pushed myself to move.
Beside me, a girl happily swung in the air like a freedom dove-behind her, a girl the same age pushed her forward higher and higher. I hang my head up, kicked the earth soil its muck tainted my sneakers.
Peals of laughter were sonorous inside my head. I steeled my heart, to accept the fate I’d caged eternally in the shadow of despair.
All of them jovially play each other peers, I begrudgingly the sight here. The day finally met the dusk. It was already late. I didn’t budge to get off from the swing. Mr. Sun its withered and fleet of children came to peter out. They straggled down the streets off returned back to their home.
Except for me resolutely sat alone at the playground while watched the gloaming sky hued in burn-orange and strike of purplish on it. Mesmerized the nature environment appealed me very much. I was too engrossed such a picturesque scenery-albeit, the serenity of spring really indulged mine satisfaction.
“Oh, look at this little cute, lost puppy” I snap my head according to the anonymous voice. Two guys clad in a high school uniform-I gulped, I wasn’t willing to predict the future. Anything could happen on me. Those guys were like wolves hunting their prey for dinner.
I deathly gripped the swing’s chain dearly, as my life depend on it. The situation was unbridled-my body began to malfunction. I bit my lips, breathed in and out. Kim Jonghyun, chill down. If he ask for money just gave to them and sprint for your life.
“Hey, kiddo do you want playmates?” They scooted closer towards me ensue my body gotten even stiffened! Calculated the opportunity for self-defence recede as reality became more vivid to my eyes. I pray to God spare my life, which was my last hope.
“Now, we won’t hurt you. We love to play with little kids, don’t us Min Hyuk?” He jabbed his elbow under his ribcage. His friend moaned in pain and said “We love little kids.” How come kids around my age didn’t want to playmate with me, however these two strangers offered themselves to entertain me.
I deem them as a good friend I’d dream since forever. But then, it turned out to be wrong-very wrong. I stay in my regular position on the swing when the gap between us became closer and he caressed my cheek, sent shivers down to my spine.
“Shh....be a good boy and listen to us or it will be bad.” I felt a hand snaked around my small waist from the back, this feeling was surreal. I couldn’t endure the nausea inside my stomach. My hot wet tears trail down to my cheeks of their own accord.
The hot breathe on my earlobe made my head dizzy-blood rushed, my heart thumped like a marathon runner and my fringe soaked with my sweaty forehead. I couldn’t move a muscle.
“Hey, don’t cry everything is going to be fine. Trust me” He grazed my cheek and pecked on it. These feelings weren’t the same when noona did the same like him. My mind fogged- my sight obscure with burning tears.
“You going to be feel good onwards, little boy.” The other whispered on my ear. The ‘friendly’ touch tingled on my skin, confused me and my heart. One word could sum all my feelings they were-horrifying.
I was pathetic, hopeless to get over this. The light of the sun became shallow, the absence of people added up the horror scene for nightmares I’d trapped into.
Both of them were rapt delved in the structure of every bits of my feeble body-flagrantly grazed it. This thing they did on me was indescribable and pit of guilt. “Kim Jonghyun, why are you whoring with those freaks?” I gasped, I know that voice! Suddenly the touches were turned to halt. I was relief I ogled to the corner of my eyes.
Taemin, who once was a nymphet but he wasn’t .The boy who made me cried. And now, he stood there at the entrance of the playground, disgruntled. His nose scrunched in disgust. I couldn’t differ what was happening now.
The boys, who were playing with me a moment ago, stalked their way towards Taemin. The comparison between Taemin and those boys were lots to point out. I observed them bickering incoherent words I barely heard.
Taemin, would he be alright? His placid face got on their nerves. I lurched to the side to get a better view between them. Things gotten worst, one of those high school students launched a fist and almost landed brutally on Taemin’s beautiful face, but Taemin quickly dodged the deadly punch so easily. I didn’t like the fact I brought him along to the other side of my life.
I was going to extricate him from trivial problems of mine that hadn’t been undone yet. I hop off from the swing, scampered at them. “Get away from him!” I shouted so loud, maybe the neighbours were complaining. I don’t care I had enough got into misunderstand of social life.
First I failed to have a friend, second I hurt my own neighbour and thirdly, I sprinkled him the bad luck dust on him.
All attentions draw on me. Good, what next brilliant lord Kim Jonghyun? “Look at him, Min Hyuk. Seems the little puppy disobey our orders.” When did they order me to be their puppy? I caught a glimpse of Taemin craftily ambushed them secretly.
“We need to teach him a lesson then, Haneul. Before that, let’s finish the uninvited guest.” Perfect time, as they turned back both of them-Taemin gave them two hard rock fist knocked on their crotch. They were howled in pain unison. I was stunned! They slumped down to the ground groaned-ouch, they were really in a deep agony.
Taemin trod on their bodies and tried to catch me. He entwined his fingers with mine and hauled me somewhere that was safe from them. My tiny feet ran as fast as I could follow Taemin’s big gap strode.
He didn’t bring me back home because no one was there. The house was in darkness-no lights and we were locked outside. Maybe they were out somewhere. Therefore, Taemin persuade me to stay at his house indefinitely. We sat on the couch inside his house. The one I sat yesterday. ‘Clack’ the sound of a mug hit on the coffee table. I titled my head up to see Taemin gingerly put down a mug of hot chocolate.
He plopped down on the couch and heaved a loud sigh. He looked at my directions. His fringe fell gracefully on his delicate face. I assumed his looks almost to a mannequin. “I’d called your eomma. She was worried you to death looking for you around in this foreign neighbourhood. She was glad that you are safe with me. You should be thank you I was there. I can’t tell the next picture if I wasn’t there.”
He stretched his long limbs, wriggled to find the best position. “Taemin, thank you for ummm...saving me, but actually both of them were trying to be friend with me.” His body jolted forward and glanced at me-his mouth gap open.
“Woah, first of all I’m older than you. Show some respect to me OK. And, those freaks senior try to what? Jjongie they are freaks! Paedophiles sex maniac who chased young girls or boys, like you. They were harassing you jjongie!” He freaked out all of sudden.
“Harrassed me, what is that?” I blatanly asked him
“How dumb you can be jjongie. They aren’t good people. They are the worst in this planet! Did your eomma teach you about the vexed social, the racist, rapist, and ugly communities?” He shook his head in disbelief.
“No, I don’t know what they are.” Seriously could he explain the details of it?
“Jjongie, this world isn’t that safe- live in such a big community with of different type of people. You should know the safe side in it or you’ll regret it.”
“I’m sorry I promised I would be careful next time.” Jotted down a reminder in my mind-never ever talked to a stranger.
A prolonged silence, I mute myself. He kicked his feet in the air forth and back. There wasn’t a thing I could do. “Hey, next time if you want to play can you wait for me at your house?” I stared blankly at him.
“You hate me, don’t you Taemin-hyung?” He laughed and straightened himself on the couch.
“I don’t. If you think about yesterday and a day before that, I was pissed off and I don’t hate you. You are kind of cute, jjongie.” He smiled, for the first time in my life-he genuinely smiled at me. Bubbles of happiness burst inside of me.
I kissed on his cheek, like I always do at noona and Taemin was an exception because he was my hyung. This time he wasn’t act unnatural but I could see his kissed cheek flushed in a bright red. He liked it! I couldn’t suppress this euphoria butterflies and stuff-I hug him like a little brother I was.
And he responded by hugging me in return. I love this warmth. “Taemin-hyung, you will be my friend?” I whispered. “We are already jjongie. I will protect you and be by your side when you need me.” He tightened me in his arms. I snuggled on his chest-my world secured by him.
Thank God for listened to my pray. I’d a best brother and friend!
Childhood nostalgic, were sweet, sugary cavities and everything were nice. The innocent days we had naive and genuine feelings. Our relationship was like an open book-enciphered the condition and congenial sentiments we had.
Time had change and so we were. I affright that the kinship we obtained as best friends might altered because people would change-in matter of time.
The whiff aroma of confectionery permeated the kitchen. It was already midnight. I came down here to get a glass of dairy milk to doze me off into sleep. I was dumbfounded perceived my noona still wide awake in the kitchen alone in the wee hours. She poured the melt hot dark chocolate into a shaped container and stow in the freezer.
She turned on her heels and shrieked-she was absolute bombshell to see me traipsed around the house in such time. She massaged her bosom, “jjongie, you’ve could kill me if you sneak up on me like this. I’ve a faint heart” She lugged a chair nearby her and sat on it.
“Sorry noona, I didn’t know you were down here. I thought a monster or a zombie looking for food.” I chuckled at the end. She stuck her tongue out and I retaliated.
“Ugh, I could ask you the same. What are you doing? I’ve my own business to get done, OK.” She cupped her face on the table. Perpetual her gazed on me, I sighed in succumbed with her knowing stare made me uneasy.
“I was getting a drink. Is that a problem?” She shook her head. I rolled my eyes and walk passed her-she deftly jerked my arm backward. Whatever it was, I sustained my wrath after she twisted my arm. I gave her a shot to clarify her actions.
“Do you even know what date is tomorrow?” She tightened her hand on me-definitely didn’t let me to escape from her grip. Again, what were relevant tomorrow and my injured arm?
“Noona, be frankly with me. I’m not in the mood to play your guessing game.” I adamant asked her.
“Jjongie, tomorrow is 14th February. It’s my graduation day and also Valentine’s day!” I scoffed. Seriously was that important?
“I know OK, just let me go.” I pleaded her before I did it by myself.
She released me. I rubbed my sore arm and went for the fridge for some milk. I picked up a glass near the sink and filled it. I leaned against the fridge took a sip. Noona straddled on the chair did her aegyo. Yeah, she was something.
“Jjongie, do you want to make a chocolate?” An odd question she asked me.
“No, you already make it. Why should I do it?”
“That is for Minho, silly. Tomorrow is Valentine’s day!” Oh, Minho her boyfriend stardom football player.
“Don’t you want to make a chocolate for his friend?” I gurgled down the whole milk and put the empty glass aside.
“Noona, can you specific a friend of his?” I was cranky, I just need a glass of milk and returned to my slumber not tattered about some guys.
“The only player in a football team, who participate the dance-off competition last year!” Why she kept egged me about Taemin. We weren’t in serenade or admire him. We were best friends divert for the title of brothers! It was brother’s love!
“Why should I give him the chocolate? Isn’t that only for a person who adore and hopeless fall in love with their crush or a great couple like noona and Minho-hyung should celebrate it? I don’t have anything special with him. We’ve been together like this for a decade!” She frowned, don’t mad at me girl!
“He is going to graduate tomorrow. Give him something, if you are a good friend.” She hoisted herself from her seat and walk off to her room.
I tousled my hair, frustrated and annoyed. Oh, God she was unbelievable. I’d grow up, 16 years old who apprehend my life opts. I hate puberty, stupid hormones and everything about being grow up. I wished I was a baby again. I want to go inside my mother’s womb-I missed that place.
She did have a point-I didn’t have anything to give a present for Taemin’s graduation tomorrow. How could I forget the most eventful day of his life! I was fucked up. He was going to kill me! Harkens back to his 9th birthday, was languish and daunting memories.
He emplaced a tarantula in my shoes after the party. It bit me and the venom transfuse in my plasma and the last thing I know, I woke up in a hospital and the doctor told me I could die if I wasn’t fast enough to come here.
He almost murdered me. The cause was-I forget his birthday and yeah, revenge was a cold dish. He was a Lucifer.
Then, I did repeat the same mistake eventually went really morbid. He got 98% for his 6th grade mathematics. He wanted me to be impressing by his good grades. I said ‘you’re genius Taemin hyung!’ He was expecting me a presents or anything to pay all his efforts. I didn’t though.
And he embarked on his devil, mischievous plan.
He burned my final year exam results and papers for roasted his marshmallows. I cried, and in a big mess trouble deal with my parents-I told them Taemin burned it and my evidence of my dried tears tainted my cheek.
And of course, eomma said I made a lousy excuse because I got bad grades. And I deceive them to cover the truth. I was dreadful, I didn’t lie. My parents contacted the school authorities and enquired about my grades, demeanour and school stuff.
Solaced by them apology for misunderstood me because they were relented with my excellent grades. However they discard of Taemin’s delinquencies.
As I enter in junior high school. Things got really ugly than usual. I was 7th grader and he was in his senior year. That wasn’t smooth. He flushed my textbooks and borrowed books from school’s library. That time I flatly declined his invitations for his final match football to nominate our school for the next level, international. I’d a piano class on the same date.
I got detention for a week added scrubbing the schools toilet for vandalism the school’s properties. At home, I was grounded for a month and that was included no seeing Taemin during the period of doom. I wasn’t in the mood or hope to meet him.
He wasn’t unyielding on me.
Oh God, did he ever got abhorred with me for a minute? He sneaked into my room via my motherfucker window pane that started this masochist friendship. He just loved to make me in misery. He even forced me to play with him outside when I was grounded!
It was a bad decision if not obliged it. I ought to obey every single his fucking demands.
He bullied me, violence my trustworthy, and harassed my reputation. He was the worst, I wanted to slit his throat alive and sliced and diced him-but I couldn’t, because he was my friend cum hyung. When I was sick he constantly paid a visit and cooked me porridge or soup.
The time other kids taunted at me-he quelled them out. And the unforgettable incident when I was practically sexually harassed by those pedo freaks. He saved my ass.
And it was impartial for him if I cut to the end. I need to get used to it.
Those freakish passed years, I asked myself how the hell I got through all those shit. Maybe, noona was correct. I should make the chocolate for him it was the least I could give him better than my dick will cut off by him. The grisly image of him-already gave me the nightmares tonight.
I decided to make a scrumptious chocolate heaven for him.
“Damn it, I’m going to be late for the practice!” Noona panicked as she rushed prepared for her red letter day. It was 7.00 am-for me it was early, but noona had practice for her cheerleader squad on this time. I ate some kimchi, soup and rice. Eomma was doing laundry and appa read a newspaper at the table with his a mug of coffee on his left hand.
It was havoc and hullabaloo with her profanities echoed in the household. Eomma wasn’t going to tolerate with that.
She scurried downstairs, with her bag sling on her arm and fetched a slice of bread and pasteurised strawberry milk on the counter. The least she could eat for her fuel. She slide her feet in the shoes and accelerate to her destination the school. I could care less about her unscheduled routine.
After cleaned up the dishes and said goodbye to my parents I wouldn’t forget Taemin’s chocolate in the freezer last night. My jaw dropped to see there were two chocolates bar wrapped up nicely. First thing came through my head, noona.
She must forget everything, did she? I took it and kept it safe inside a paper bag. I put mine inside my bag carefully. I was ready headed to the school unlike noona, hastened in her morning. I was relaxed all of the time.
Every morning I would go to school with Taemin except for today. Yesterday, I gave a call and interrogate him.
“hyung, do you want me to wait for you tomorrow?”
“No, just go without me. I’ve dance practice for the ceremony and I will go really early in the morning.” He airily told me.
“Oh, OK. See you tomorrow at school, hyung. Bye” I disconnected him.
I needed to confirm his attendance tomorrow. He never would give me a call, and if I abandoned him went to the school by myself and not knowing the reasons he didn’t wait in front of his house.
He would put tacks in my bed for tonight.
Part 2
From: Your Secret Santa
Title: Cliché
Pairing: Jonghyun/Taemin
Rating: NC-17
Wordcount: 14,786
Summary: From strangers we become best friend, from there we understand our weakness, pros and cons. Can we still be together afterwards?
I languorously slumped on my bed stared on the white ceiling above- plastered with glowing model stars with different types of sizes it had come from the packaging my mom gave me when I was 6 years old. I was a big boy who deserved a room for my big age. And some nice bright decoration would be nice for my claustrophobia put on ease.
I don’t think 6 was a huge number but that time was the luckiest numbers I wish to stay linger there. That age was commence I met him -my good old friend. We weren’t in some type of common relationship and neither me notice how I got myself engaged in rather- an odd relationship with him.
It is a long time forgotten memories when I reminisced of us in years ago, I couldn’t help myself to not bury it with the past sometimes I needed them in presents and the future. It was full of wonders and colours, I wished I could tell it to my children what was I back then and how I become today in all one reason - Hey, yesterday and today I was still me! The best past would always engrave in my memories. From the past I had become a better person for now I kept moving with my life.
I was a little young boy who was successfully lived for 6 years. I was tiptoed against the window pane in my room tilted my head upward to get a better view of the outside. Darn it, a humongous tree blocked my sight and I was thinking to see the world from my new room.
Like in a soap drama where this is the place for a love struck girl or a guy build their castle in the sky- pondered where my love was and poof, your soul mate silently approached upon you somewhere near your secured world.
I wasn’t fond about that -I was mumbling gibberish childish bleats “Dumbos tree, numbskull giant tree, you stinky leaves are too much and yeah you’re fat totally fat tree!” I was 6 and I didn’t understand my weird fetish about the world. I was grimaced in distaste by this cockblocked fat tree. At least the sunshine made me happy, fuzzy and warmth inside of me.
Dazed by the natural light beamed shone on the outside of the room -tugged my intuitive notion to open up my world merged with the fresh air of spring. I push the window open with all latent strength within me. The whiffed of the flower scent sent me over the edge.
I pulled myself upward grasped tightly on the window side and looked from side to side from my room. Nothing interesting but I was hoping for something. I lowered my head stared down to the ground watching my pet dog, Roo doing her business. I stuck my tongue out and gimmicked as if I want to vomit - it was gross! I screamed in my mind.
And she barked during her pee period and I raised my eyebrows in astonishment. That was, extremely deliriously, stupid. She barked even louder and louder! Appa was surely going to kill her before someone did. She eagerly run towards the fat tree and jumped on it and scratched till it scab. She jumped and barked. Agitated of what will happen and my curiosity that might kill my own precious dog because, if I lingered my time doing nothing. Appa wasn’t please of Roo sang the BINGO song.
“Roo stop barking! Appa is going to kill you if you do! Come on baby I’ll give you some snacks you like! Ah, Roo don’t let me jump down to hide you! I’m on the highest floor I swear I will die!” But to no avail, she barked like a maniac. God please save my Roo.
My eyes won’t dare to avert somewhere else. I was 4 and dumb. My eyes brimmed with tears of stupidity. I sniffed and hiccupped through the minutes of Roo sudden rage- until an acorn hit on Roo’s head. At first I was calmed down when she ceased her howling bark. Her petite body whimpered and squeak in coward - and then, billions of acorns began to shoot on her! Hey, that was immensely rude!
Roo ran away from that tree and probably snuggled herself in her dog house. “Roo, are you hurt?” my question was stranded in the air left unanswered. I pouted weary about her. I looked up and glared at the giant tree. Firstly, it was a cockblocked tree and secondly it almost killed my baby Roo.
My mind compact with diabolical plan of disastrous to burn its life into ashes and can go straight to hell! I gritted my teeth and gnashed it and screeched out my seethe of anger. I left the window open and strive my way towards my unpacked toy box arranged neatly in between my clothes and books in the centre of my room.
My hands expertly ransacked through it, threw my toys behind me and I finally found my secret weapon. A superb cool gun with tiny yellow rounded bullets added inside the gun. With determination set in my mind “Death of the cockblocked fat tree!” I hastily took a long strode back at the window-the previous scene I witnessed my little baby Roo had been showered with drop of acorns.
I aimed my gun on the tree green afro hair. I assumed there should it brain located and ready to fire off. But eomma said to me, tree didn’t have a brain-when an apple knocked hardly on my baby soft head and I yelled “stupid tree where’s your brain!” Eomma always say maybe it was squirrel. And noona told me it was a conspiracy of Mother Nature’s vindictive and to pay me back what I’ve done which I couldn’t remember and she laughed hysterically, cried I pee on tree and made me sound as stupid as my Roo.
Let it be a squirrel, a bird, a cat or anything inside that thick green afro hair tree. Roo barked when there was danger in our comfort zone and I was sure the vengeance of Mother Nature had declared a shot on us and ready for World War III. My right eye squinted and another eye locked the target- source of evil.
The sunlight blinded my vision but what made me confidently to shoot direct on the target partially my intuition but the remainder because vague colour of yellow in the middle of the green help me so.
And yellow bullets met with yellow thingy, “Ouch, what the heck?” to my amusement the yellow thingy was actually a talking squirrel WOW! This must be to tell mom immediately and noona would proud of me.
I ended the conspiracy between them. I woke up from my trance as I heard rustling sounds and the tree’s hair seemed to shake off and the leaves were fallen on the yard.
My eyes were widened, anticipated what would come after and a tinge of fear subtle in me. Then, one leg stuck out from the branches and step another branches to another -and slowly revealed it true self of the mischievous, little Satan trickery. Two pair of legs, a long, slim body and he promptly jumped from the tree and stood up brushed the dirt from him.
What caught my attention was the accentuated dirt blonde hair sparkled in the sunlight rays. I awed by the beauty and shot him another 2 or 5 plastic bullets on him. He howled in pain by its sting on the head and harshly rubbed his androgynously mess dirt blonde hair.
He glanced over his shoulder, scanned the area around him-his fierce and piercing brown orbs shivered down my spine. He swivelled his body, both hands on hips looked side to side and upward at me.
It took me for a while to adjusting my bleary eyes due stared outside on the sun ray beamed for too long. I rubbed my eyes with the heel of my palms and blinked rapidly to get a better view of this popped out creature from the tree (and my conscience told me it was a human) hardly to belief a human born from tree. Mom said I come from her womb.
I dropped down the gun on the floor and peek over the window and searched for his existence. Finally we made eye contact. It wasn’t pleasant greetings or friendly. His expression written on his face-his exasperated burgeon in his irritated emotion.
I gulped down my coagulated saliva through my throat and inhaled a lot of oxygen, reassured myself he wouldn’t throw me acorns because he wasn’t a squirrel. On contrary, he just come from the big fat tree he could act one of it but his figure reckoned him a human- which wasn’t convinced me.
His glaring eyes were menace and pure evil aura soared behind him. Noona was true to be told that I was resembled with my puppy dog Roo. I got frightened up so easily when peril strike on me I was defenceless- but today I’m a big boy and I wasn’t weak, I could beat him into pulp!
“Hey kid, you’re the one who shoot me?” He inquired me from down there. I sealed my lips into thin line-poker face plastered on my innocent face.
“I’m asking you a question were you the chosen one who shoot me with your plastic bullets on my skull?” He gritted his teeth, eyebrows burrowed down into the middle of his red tomato face. I couldn’t move a muscle stood there like a holy statue.
He kept stared me with his deadly eyes sounds like I’m going to rip your head off! I was scared, I screamed on top of my lungs-by the way I was come with my tears puddle in the brimmed of it and I wailed like a little toddler I was.
He gasped, his was astounded to see me in this state he was flabbergasted. He tried to talk but his voice died inside vocal cord. I cried out, I hate him. I wasn’t used with people’s wrath it made me pee in my pants.
He scratched his head and tried to figure out to confront me in this behaviour. He tried to console me but I guess I couldn’t hear the message he conveyed at me. He was distress and distaste of me being such a prick.
I rose up my high octaves and the volume of my killer howl attracted my sister’s attention. The boy was frustrated because of mine tantrum-he ignored me and hurdled over the fence beside him.
My sister opened and shoved the door with a loud slam on the wall. Her ghastly face drained her colour. “The hell, Jonghyun stops the crap out of it! You make me scared.” Noona scowled, she stomped her way towards me and picked me up.
Safely place her arms around me, been embraced by her. She fondled with my hair and stroked my back gentle and slow with devotion and empathy. She hushed me and profusely cast a mantra on me “Shhsh...there, there, jjongie. Please stop crying.” She swung me to the left and to the right.
My crystal tears flowed like a waterfall. I cried on Noona’s V-neck pink jumper and it was soaked with mine. She didn’t bother of it and resumed to comfort me with caring. She landed herself flat on her butt down to my bed. She fondled my brown hair and kissed on top of my head-she gingerly pulled me apart from her.
Her soothing eyes calm down my insanity. Her thumb pressed on my stained-tears cheek and peck on it. “What just happened, jjongie?” She asked mildly. I sobbed and sniffed-I endured my tears from trickled down and squeaked out my voice like a little mouse.
“I got yelled by a baby tree.” My lips quivered and clenched my dainty hands into a fist. Noona arched her eyebrows, astonished of my answer. “Baby tree doesn’t yell people. They don’t speak like humans do.” She frowned. I knew she wouldn’t believe me-as eomma always said “sometimes you’re just imagining or seeing things, you’re a great kid.”
I tried to convince her. “But I swear, the baby tree yelled at me. He did!”
“No, baby tree doesn’t do what humans do, partially though.” She shook her head slightly.
“The baby tree threw acorns at Roo! He hurts my baby!” Maybe this would make her trusted me. But again, she always ends up with her silly ideological. “Ah, it’s the Mother Nature’s conspiracy. It must be a squirrel or birds.”
I wasn’t rendered that statement in. “Noona, it wasn’t a squirrel. It was a boy-a dirty blonde haired boy and he yelled at me because I shoot him with my gun! And Roo witnessed it too.” Noona brought closer towards her chest and sighed.
“A boy doesn’t come from tree, he come from his mother’s womb.”
“That blonde boy does come from the huge tree outside of the window.” She snapped her at the window looked at the tree I told about.
“If a boy comes from a tree he isn’t a human or a baby tree.”
“And what he is?”
“He is a nymphet then.”
“A nymphet?” My mind reeled for its explanation-a baby tree is a nymphet? Noona shrugged our small talk and promptly tucked me in bed. I looked at her bewildered “Is a nymphet is an elf?” eomma once told me elf was a cheeky and mischievous creature.
“Their names are different so, they are different. OK, come on jjongie. It’s time for your nap.” Noona pulled up the duvet and half-covered me. She bent down and kissed on my forehead and bid me goodnight.
I watched she emerged from my room and stared in confusion at the closing door. I was scarcely to know, the boy earlier was a nymphet and I even didn’t know anything about it.
It wasn’t an elf, it wasn’t a human-then what was he? An alien, but he was beautiful under the golden sun and alien wasn’t a correct term for a creature like him.
Maybe he was a nymphet a very beautiful nymphet indeed.
“Good morning, my baby jjongie! How is your napping time?” eomma busied prepared the dinner for our little family but she would always has the time for her only baby-and that was me!
“Morning eomma, can I help you anything?” I love eomma to bits. She was very devoted and likely a real maternally mother personality. She would make her family a special place in her heart. She said that her home was her nest.
She wasn’t a bird, but what she was saying-us were the people making her feel needed, she called this place among us-a home. “My jjongie can help his sister set up the table for dinner and after that go take a bath.” She stirred the stew in the pot. The whiffed aroma of the stew made my tummy grumbled and hoped eomma wouldn’t notice it.
Eomma glanced at me and smirked smugly-well she was my eomma! I grinned sheepishly and pranced away to the dining table. “Just in time, you can put up the culinary and glasses on the table while I go lend a hand for mom prepare the gourmet.” She passed me a basket of culinary and gestured the glasses in the cupboard behind me.
I nodded, I pulled the chair out and climbed it to support my plights height. Suddenly I recalled back the incident back there-the nymphet was he going to be fine? He was separated from his mom, the big tree. How was he going to get his dinner? How was he going to live without his mommy?
I couldn’t if I was him. Poor nymphet, I really want to invite him for our dinner so noona could see him for real! All done, must go to the bathroom.
Appa scooped the kimchi and fed me-I deliriously munched it with a big apepitite of mine. “Big baby still need his appa feed him.” He chuckled and ruffled my hair aftermath a big mess strands of hair dislodged.
“So, Junghee how’s your day?” Appa moved on another topic to preoccupy the silence in between four of us.
“Well, I can’t wait for school tomorrow. I went strolled down the town surveyed the school from outside, I might have the feelings I will get along with my new school.” She smiled.
“I hope you’re Junghee. How about you jjong? My favourite boy.” Dad asked me. I ever slightly wanted to reply it.
“Dad, we won’t move again, right?” I retorted
He was shocked, silence fall down on us. Appa scratched his head-avoided made an eye contact with me. I sighed I knew we weren’t last for long here. Eomma broke the awkward silence, “Jagiya, it’s time for you arguable this.” She coaxed appa to spill the beans.
He heaved a sigh and finally got the courage to meet four eyes with me. “Jjong, I understand your feelings. Being friendless, never get the chance to play with the kids around the neighbourhood and most importantly you’re lonely and void in yourself.” He knocked my chest lightly.
Again the pang of agony engulfed my crass heart. Yeah, I didn’t how to confront strangers to establish a good relationship with them- ended it up hopeless. Called me a pathetic, anti-social-I never got the taste of it.
“Hey, jjong do you meet someone today? I bet you do.” Appa reassured me. I looked up, “If I do, I wouldn’t get to know him very well, because we would move again and again like a cycle.” He shook his head in disagreement. “This time we won’t, we will stay here like a normal tenant. Not because of my works anymore, but for my family.”
I was elated to hear those words from appa. I beamed at him with my killer watt charmed smile-perfect baby teeth in a front row showed with pride. Appa chuckled and asked me from before, “Do you meet anyone today?” I curtly nodded.
“I met a baby tree, a beautiful nymphet!” I ejaculated
Everyone gasped, clattered of spoons and chopsticks jangled fell on the plate. Eomma clasped her mouth around with her palm, noona choked on her drinks and appa-he was gobsmacked.
“Ah-jjong you always tickle my funny bone. A witty boy you are. Have you met our neighbours yet? I heard they have a son same age as your noona. Well difference ages will not be a problem for you, noona will help you.” Appa dismissed my unexpected answer.
I merely listened to him. “Tomorrow I’ll bake some cookies and brownies for them, can you help eomma?” Eomma asked for noona’s help.
“Of course I would love to eomma.” She was really excited to baked cookies and brownies.
“Jjongie loves cookies too, why don’t we bake together? The neighbour will love it.” Her voice toned in happiness-she was very excited unlike me, gloomy and disheartened by appa’s reaction of the beautiful nymphet I told them. There was something within the nymphet, I wished to know.
“OK, I’ll help eomma and noona.” The sound of our mirth echoed every angle in the house. I hope, the nymphet could be with us maybe, he would lighten more the sunshine in my family. Just like he shone under the sun, shimmered his flawless features.
Noona combed her curly brown hair and tied it pigtail style. She wore a flora patterned blouse with soft baby pink background and beige skirt. She posed in front the mirror-twirled around like a ballerina. I awed by her beauty.
She looked at me stood outside the door “Am I good jjongie?” eomma always say girls need to be told they’re pretty because they deserved it. “You’re a pretty noona.” She giggled and grabbed my hand from my side-ran across the corridor and fetched eomma downstairs. We heard faint mumbled ‘don’t run inside the house!’ it must probably eomma weary about our safety.
She was waiting us at the main door-a plate covered with a checked patterned cloth on top of it. Underlying the cloth, there were some chocolate chip cookies and brownies we made this morning. Noona dragged me along to the door and clicked the door knob to open. Three of us-for the first time, went out together at here, my new home.
I pressed the doorbell on the side of the door. I rocked my heel back and forth, hands clasped behind me and patiently waited the tenant come out. Eomma and noona fidgeted, they were hoping things would work out-we didn’t have a chance to be a good neighbour despite been moved here and there, finally we could take the role to play.
“Minnie, could you please check out who is at the door?” I jerked my body, the door cracked open ajar. Firstly the door was hesitantly to opened but after a few seconds observed the situation, he widely opened it and-
“The nymphet!” the only words I could utter. The blonde boy from yesterday, what he was doing here? How about his mom, the tree?
“Jjongie, why do you call him a nymphet? That’s a bad word who taught you that?” Eomma was upset with my sudden behaviour. I glanced over my shoulder noona was truly surprised of me and the nymphet. But mostly eomma was pissed off.
The nymphet stonily stared at me-he didn’t smile maybe he hated me because of yesterday. I couldn’t comprehend any sentences to say. He was frigid, cold-hearted nymphet what could I see from this view. Eomma strode her way by my side. She helped me from the uncanny circumstances.
The aura was intense it made my nerves tingled. I swear my hands were sweaty and sticky. Noona skidded towards us didn’t want to be left behind. “I’m sorry for what my son had just called you he was having a bad time with strangers.” His eyes glued on me-“I understand that.” His sarcasm commented me, bravo.
“Oh, how rude I’m. I forgot to introduce myself, I’m Kim Soon jeong. This is my daughter, Kim Junghee and my only son, Kim Jonghyun. We just moved here two days ago.” Eomma handed him the plate of pastry for him. He Plastered his sweet, warmth smile and gladly to receive it.
The nymphet really impressed me with his stupid act. “Thank you Mrs. Kim” He gratitude for the cookies and brownies, oh sure the decent nymphet-I must said he was one of the elves, he seemed to be trickery for me.
“I’m Lee Taemin, I will inform my mom. Before that, please come inside.” He bowed and led us inside his house. Noona squealed in delight, the idea to get a new friend and get closer with the nymphet who was called ‘Lee Taemin’ made her euphoria.
We sat in the living room, while he went to the kitchen looked for his mother. I couldn’t put a stop to imagine his mother who was a tree. It would be terrifying! Eomma and noona didn’t know about the nymphet, all they knew he was Lee Taemin.
Noona sat on the couch on my right side-wriggled in the position, the excitement rushed through her adrenaline veins. Eomma looked around the living room, there wasn’t special in here except the family portrait hanged on the floor in front of me. There was the nymphet, a woman and a man. Those were his parents? But I thought he was coming from the tree.
This was such a mystery for me. I must unravel his identity. “Oh, Mrs. Kim Soon jeong I’m very pleased to meet you today. I’m Lee Soon Kyu, I’m sorry this is all of sudden, I will make lunch for us since its past time for it.” The mid age woman toothy smiled at us.
She had the same family name as the nymphet. That couldn’t be possible she was the nymphet’s mother? noona told me that a baby tree was a nymphet-but his mother look more a lot of an ordinary woman than a tree.
Maybe appa was right, he was a human boy after all. There wasn’t need to be exaggerated about it.
Eomma stood up and shook Mrs. Lee hand lightly not too harsh. A great commence for further relationship. “It is my pleasure to meet you too, Soon Kyu. Let me help you with the kitchen we can have lunch together very soon, two heads better than one.”
I peeked over eomma’s side- the messed blonde hair approached on my sight it churned my stomach. He stood poised beside his mother.
My lips formed into a thin line. His emotionless face made me confused who was he? Noona jumped off from the couch-scurried towards them, poor noona no matter how wide and sincere her smile, the blond boy ricocheted his plain smile.
If he made noona cry, I will kick his shin! “Well, looks like the kids get a long very fast.” Mrs. Lee patted the boy’s back gently. “Kids, they’re always eager.” No, eomma wasn’t right. I wasn’t keen or interested with him-because the picture of him in front of my eyes explained he wasn’t a good person.
And the evidence, he hurt my baby Roo. No one ever hurt her even appa didn’t do bad things on her no matter how annoying she was. This imposter nymphet did have the guts to done it.
“Soon jeong, you’re a lucky woman to have a beautiful daughter and son just like you.”
“I’m flattered, same for you Soon Kyu, Taemin is an angel I can say.”
“What’s their name?”
“Junghee and Jonghyun.”
“Minnie, can you do me a favour sweetie?” Finally, he paid attention at his mom. I got enough the attention he showered at me-too much wasn’t good for my heart.
“Sure, eomma. What can I help you?” I wanted to vomit watched him being a ‘faked’ meek boy.
“Go upstairs and bring them to the nursery room and have some fun time together. Me and Mrs. Lee will be in the kitchen prepare for lunch. Be nice to them, OK?” He nodded obediently.
“Ah, such a sweetheart.” Eomma gave him compliments. Mrs. Lee merely smiled, and the boy walked passed us-beckoned me and noona to follow his butts to his playroom, to be honest the house quite lonely and empty for some reasons.
“I’m sorry Junghee, I don’t have any girl’s toy. I hope is okay with you playing boy’s stuff.” He kneeled on the floor and unlocked the toy chest. Me and noona sat on the floor, adjacent to the toy chest. “I’m OK Taemin, I’ve got used to it, and I mean I played boy’s toys with jjongie. Nothing is different just fun.” Noona turned her head to her side-I looked at her beautiful smile with her crescent-shaped eye.
“Don’t just sit there come here, pick any toy you like. I’m happy to share and play together with both of you.” He took out all the amazing and cool toys. I was envied of him-having cool toys all by himself. I saw a Y-shaped stick and a strip of a rubber strap in the middle-it was slingshot if I wasn’t mistake.
Appa once had it but, eomma chuck it away because it was harmful-sometimes. I examined it I pry to know the methods to use the thing. “Jjongie that’s dangerous, you could hurt yourself with that.” Noona snatched the slingshot from my grasp.
“It’s just a slingshot, Junghee” He calmly said.
“This slingshot can be accident if you used it on the other side of it.” Noona argued with his statement.
He heavily heaved a sigh, “OK, we can put it inside and play others toys. Look, my appa just bought me a new car controller! I bet we can race with the old one I kept.” He showed it that lay on the floor. I had it too, appa kept inside his room because it was expensive and fragile. He took a precaution step prevented from broke. I needed his permission if I wanted to play it.
“Woah, you have two cars! We only have one and we rarely get a chance to have fun with it.” Noona cried out. He gave the car to noona, she wasn’t expected that-she took it from him and placed it on her lap. Quirk, why noona didn’t play it?
He raised his eyebrows watched noona in disbelief. “Don’t be so shy, I give it to you to try it out.”
“Hey, how’s school lately?” Out of the blue noona enquired him. “Is OK I think, when will you join with me?” He shut tight the toy chest. “My appa said tomorrow I’ll go to school” noona began to make the conversation went like the clock work.
“That’s great we can go to the school together. What is your homeroom class, Junghee?” He continued it. “I haven’t registered yet, tomorrow I’ll know the answers.” She curtly replied. By knew how this little chit-chat progressed-they were periphery my existence.
“I was in a cheerleader club before this.”
“Cool, I can always see you at the field because I’m in the football club. We’ll work together then.”
“Yeah, I can’t wait for that.”
“We can go hang out after school tomorrow. There is a new Ice-cream and candy shop in the town.”
“Splendid, I’m honour to go there.”
Both of them were immersed in their friendly world. I sat here pretended to be a carrot dropped on the floor. I was bored to be on a third wheel, poked the other car in front of me. I saw him first, why he didn’t talk to me like he did to noona now.
“Taemin, where is the toilet?” Noona stood up, brushed the imaginary dust off from her skirt. He pushed himself up and made his way to the door and pointed the way to the toilet, “It’s at the end of the corridor.” Noona walked outside and went for the toilet.
After a minute she gone-the boy slammed the door shut. My body jolted the sudden thumped. I could feel unesy inside here. He turned his back and locked his gaze on me. “We’re alone, just the both of us in this room. Do you think I forgot you that easily what happened yesterday? Nope, I won’t let you go, after you shoot me on the head!” I instinctively scooted backward, eyes to eyes with his furious one.
I want noona here this instant! He come to me closer and closed the gap between us. My back collided at the end of the room, bumped against the wall. I buried my face in my palm-feared of him, my body shivered from his coldness of his soul ice. My little feet frozen even though I wore warmth snugly socks.
I couldn’t curb the uncanny feelings washed upon me. I felt the radiate heat from him. I was cowardice brat to look his monster face. “Leave me alone!” I shouted. Literally, he would be the cause of my death.
“No apologies? That’s just fantastic! Listen here carefully you little impudent, obnoxious brat. I’m not forgiving you like a wind blew the sands.” He sat right in front of me-coerced me to open my eyes and look at him-his fierce tiger face fazed me.
I try to cope my erratic rhythm breathe. Facade, I was pampered too much-a spoiled brat, my family never ever harsh on me. Their principle was simple, discussion brought solution. But in this situation, it was inexplicable. I realised something. Whenever I had a cat dog fights with noona-eomma always reprimand us to use the keyword.
“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry. I didn’t intend to do it. Please forgive me, I love you.” I gave him a big hug like I usually gave for noona after the fight. I only did this with eomma, appa and noona. And this was my first time to get involved in a mishap of a blonde boy-of course all the faults were blamed on me and it was compulsory asked for an apology.
I loosened the embrace and anticipated his hands wrap all around me. He abruptly shoved me from him-I was baffled, what did I go wrong now? His fiery eyes somehow faded away. His pupils were dilated. His anger dissipated along the sands flew in the air.
“What the heck you just did?” He was unsure the finesse way I begged him for repentance. My heart was shattered into pieces disregarding the wounds I got for myself-the pain was numb I barely sensed it. “I-I’m sorry, I-I didn’t mean-"
“Jjongie, eomma called us to have lunch. You must be hungry. She cooked chicken patties with English muffin!” I was verged in tears. I snorted it back inside and scuttled to her side. Hide myself from him. Noona sniggered at me-she coddled my hair.
“What’s wrong with you little puppy?” I sealed my lips. I had enough taken wrong decision-it hurts me and others. I told you, I wasn’t good handling with strangers especially when you shoot him on the head for the first time we met.
“Did something go wrong, when I’m gone jjongie?” I loved stared at noona’s luminous brown orbs she possessed. Serenity contented my fretted heart.
“Jjongie was afraid of me while you went to the toilet.” Ironic, he was the one who frightened after got a hug from me.
“He had some kind of phobia-xenophobia, maybe.” He muttered ‘Oh’ inaudibly accept the fact he was the same as me.
“Soon, he will get attach with you if you frequently play with him. Believe me he is harmless.” Noona embolden him. He scoffed, at the last word ‘harmless’ he clicked his tongue and shrugged his shoulder. I must agree with him. Noona to be truth I could be a harmful object. Was it right?
“OK, boys shall to know each other very well like brothers sooner or later. Now, eomma called us for lunch. Taemin do you want us to help you clean up the mess?” He waved his hand signed ‘no’.
“Let it be there, it wasn’t too much I can do it by myself.” He walked out and closed the door. “Thank you, Taemin.” Noona whispered. He wasn’t looking at me even a glance. He was hatred of me for sure. How could I make a nemesis out of him?
He distracted himself by talking with noona, forgot everything that happened between us back there. I hadn’t thought a hug could come out deterioration. I wished he knew how sincere I was about the incident.
I just want a good friend-not more than that. Why was it so hard?
It had been four days passed we dwelled here. A perfect, lovely home I lived. The gust wind scent of spring freshened up my heavy drop mind. I loitered around the playground, searching for accompany but none of them cared.
I was affable towards them-said greetings and asked permission to play together but what I got for the answers was loathed mimicked face. I bitterly smiled, despondent to make new friends I sat on the swing and pushed myself to move.
Beside me, a girl happily swung in the air like a freedom dove-behind her, a girl the same age pushed her forward higher and higher. I hang my head up, kicked the earth soil its muck tainted my sneakers.
Peals of laughter were sonorous inside my head. I steeled my heart, to accept the fate I’d caged eternally in the shadow of despair.
All of them jovially play each other peers, I begrudgingly the sight here. The day finally met the dusk. It was already late. I didn’t budge to get off from the swing. Mr. Sun its withered and fleet of children came to peter out. They straggled down the streets off returned back to their home.
Except for me resolutely sat alone at the playground while watched the gloaming sky hued in burn-orange and strike of purplish on it. Mesmerized the nature environment appealed me very much. I was too engrossed such a picturesque scenery-albeit, the serenity of spring really indulged mine satisfaction.
“Oh, look at this little cute, lost puppy” I snap my head according to the anonymous voice. Two guys clad in a high school uniform-I gulped, I wasn’t willing to predict the future. Anything could happen on me. Those guys were like wolves hunting their prey for dinner.
I deathly gripped the swing’s chain dearly, as my life depend on it. The situation was unbridled-my body began to malfunction. I bit my lips, breathed in and out. Kim Jonghyun, chill down. If he ask for money just gave to them and sprint for your life.
“Hey, kiddo do you want playmates?” They scooted closer towards me ensue my body gotten even stiffened! Calculated the opportunity for self-defence recede as reality became more vivid to my eyes. I pray to God spare my life, which was my last hope.
“Now, we won’t hurt you. We love to play with little kids, don’t us Min Hyuk?” He jabbed his elbow under his ribcage. His friend moaned in pain and said “We love little kids.” How come kids around my age didn’t want to playmate with me, however these two strangers offered themselves to entertain me.
I deem them as a good friend I’d dream since forever. But then, it turned out to be wrong-very wrong. I stay in my regular position on the swing when the gap between us became closer and he caressed my cheek, sent shivers down to my spine.
“Shh....be a good boy and listen to us or it will be bad.” I felt a hand snaked around my small waist from the back, this feeling was surreal. I couldn’t endure the nausea inside my stomach. My hot wet tears trail down to my cheeks of their own accord.
The hot breathe on my earlobe made my head dizzy-blood rushed, my heart thumped like a marathon runner and my fringe soaked with my sweaty forehead. I couldn’t move a muscle.
“Hey, don’t cry everything is going to be fine. Trust me” He grazed my cheek and pecked on it. These feelings weren’t the same when noona did the same like him. My mind fogged- my sight obscure with burning tears.
“You going to be feel good onwards, little boy.” The other whispered on my ear. The ‘friendly’ touch tingled on my skin, confused me and my heart. One word could sum all my feelings they were-horrifying.
I was pathetic, hopeless to get over this. The light of the sun became shallow, the absence of people added up the horror scene for nightmares I’d trapped into.
Both of them were rapt delved in the structure of every bits of my feeble body-flagrantly grazed it. This thing they did on me was indescribable and pit of guilt. “Kim Jonghyun, why are you whoring with those freaks?” I gasped, I know that voice! Suddenly the touches were turned to halt. I was relief I ogled to the corner of my eyes.
Taemin, who once was a nymphet but he wasn’t .The boy who made me cried. And now, he stood there at the entrance of the playground, disgruntled. His nose scrunched in disgust. I couldn’t differ what was happening now.
The boys, who were playing with me a moment ago, stalked their way towards Taemin. The comparison between Taemin and those boys were lots to point out. I observed them bickering incoherent words I barely heard.
Taemin, would he be alright? His placid face got on their nerves. I lurched to the side to get a better view between them. Things gotten worst, one of those high school students launched a fist and almost landed brutally on Taemin’s beautiful face, but Taemin quickly dodged the deadly punch so easily. I didn’t like the fact I brought him along to the other side of my life.
I was going to extricate him from trivial problems of mine that hadn’t been undone yet. I hop off from the swing, scampered at them. “Get away from him!” I shouted so loud, maybe the neighbours were complaining. I don’t care I had enough got into misunderstand of social life.
First I failed to have a friend, second I hurt my own neighbour and thirdly, I sprinkled him the bad luck dust on him.
All attentions draw on me. Good, what next brilliant lord Kim Jonghyun? “Look at him, Min Hyuk. Seems the little puppy disobey our orders.” When did they order me to be their puppy? I caught a glimpse of Taemin craftily ambushed them secretly.
“We need to teach him a lesson then, Haneul. Before that, let’s finish the uninvited guest.” Perfect time, as they turned back both of them-Taemin gave them two hard rock fist knocked on their crotch. They were howled in pain unison. I was stunned! They slumped down to the ground groaned-ouch, they were really in a deep agony.
Taemin trod on their bodies and tried to catch me. He entwined his fingers with mine and hauled me somewhere that was safe from them. My tiny feet ran as fast as I could follow Taemin’s big gap strode.
He didn’t bring me back home because no one was there. The house was in darkness-no lights and we were locked outside. Maybe they were out somewhere. Therefore, Taemin persuade me to stay at his house indefinitely. We sat on the couch inside his house. The one I sat yesterday. ‘Clack’ the sound of a mug hit on the coffee table. I titled my head up to see Taemin gingerly put down a mug of hot chocolate.
He plopped down on the couch and heaved a loud sigh. He looked at my directions. His fringe fell gracefully on his delicate face. I assumed his looks almost to a mannequin. “I’d called your eomma. She was worried you to death looking for you around in this foreign neighbourhood. She was glad that you are safe with me. You should be thank you I was there. I can’t tell the next picture if I wasn’t there.”
He stretched his long limbs, wriggled to find the best position. “Taemin, thank you for ummm...saving me, but actually both of them were trying to be friend with me.” His body jolted forward and glanced at me-his mouth gap open.
“Woah, first of all I’m older than you. Show some respect to me OK. And, those freaks senior try to what? Jjongie they are freaks! Paedophiles sex maniac who chased young girls or boys, like you. They were harassing you jjongie!” He freaked out all of sudden.
“Harrassed me, what is that?” I blatanly asked him
“How dumb you can be jjongie. They aren’t good people. They are the worst in this planet! Did your eomma teach you about the vexed social, the racist, rapist, and ugly communities?” He shook his head in disbelief.
“No, I don’t know what they are.” Seriously could he explain the details of it?
“Jjongie, this world isn’t that safe- live in such a big community with of different type of people. You should know the safe side in it or you’ll regret it.”
“I’m sorry I promised I would be careful next time.” Jotted down a reminder in my mind-never ever talked to a stranger.
A prolonged silence, I mute myself. He kicked his feet in the air forth and back. There wasn’t a thing I could do. “Hey, next time if you want to play can you wait for me at your house?” I stared blankly at him.
“You hate me, don’t you Taemin-hyung?” He laughed and straightened himself on the couch.
“I don’t. If you think about yesterday and a day before that, I was pissed off and I don’t hate you. You are kind of cute, jjongie.” He smiled, for the first time in my life-he genuinely smiled at me. Bubbles of happiness burst inside of me.
I kissed on his cheek, like I always do at noona and Taemin was an exception because he was my hyung. This time he wasn’t act unnatural but I could see his kissed cheek flushed in a bright red. He liked it! I couldn’t suppress this euphoria butterflies and stuff-I hug him like a little brother I was.
And he responded by hugging me in return. I love this warmth. “Taemin-hyung, you will be my friend?” I whispered. “We are already jjongie. I will protect you and be by your side when you need me.” He tightened me in his arms. I snuggled on his chest-my world secured by him.
Thank God for listened to my pray. I’d a best brother and friend!
Childhood nostalgic, were sweet, sugary cavities and everything were nice. The innocent days we had naive and genuine feelings. Our relationship was like an open book-enciphered the condition and congenial sentiments we had.
Time had change and so we were. I affright that the kinship we obtained as best friends might altered because people would change-in matter of time.
The whiff aroma of confectionery permeated the kitchen. It was already midnight. I came down here to get a glass of dairy milk to doze me off into sleep. I was dumbfounded perceived my noona still wide awake in the kitchen alone in the wee hours. She poured the melt hot dark chocolate into a shaped container and stow in the freezer.
She turned on her heels and shrieked-she was absolute bombshell to see me traipsed around the house in such time. She massaged her bosom, “jjongie, you’ve could kill me if you sneak up on me like this. I’ve a faint heart” She lugged a chair nearby her and sat on it.
“Sorry noona, I didn’t know you were down here. I thought a monster or a zombie looking for food.” I chuckled at the end. She stuck her tongue out and I retaliated.
“Ugh, I could ask you the same. What are you doing? I’ve my own business to get done, OK.” She cupped her face on the table. Perpetual her gazed on me, I sighed in succumbed with her knowing stare made me uneasy.
“I was getting a drink. Is that a problem?” She shook her head. I rolled my eyes and walk passed her-she deftly jerked my arm backward. Whatever it was, I sustained my wrath after she twisted my arm. I gave her a shot to clarify her actions.
“Do you even know what date is tomorrow?” She tightened her hand on me-definitely didn’t let me to escape from her grip. Again, what were relevant tomorrow and my injured arm?
“Noona, be frankly with me. I’m not in the mood to play your guessing game.” I adamant asked her.
“Jjongie, tomorrow is 14th February. It’s my graduation day and also Valentine’s day!” I scoffed. Seriously was that important?
“I know OK, just let me go.” I pleaded her before I did it by myself.
She released me. I rubbed my sore arm and went for the fridge for some milk. I picked up a glass near the sink and filled it. I leaned against the fridge took a sip. Noona straddled on the chair did her aegyo. Yeah, she was something.
“Jjongie, do you want to make a chocolate?” An odd question she asked me.
“No, you already make it. Why should I do it?”
“That is for Minho, silly. Tomorrow is Valentine’s day!” Oh, Minho her boyfriend stardom football player.
“Don’t you want to make a chocolate for his friend?” I gurgled down the whole milk and put the empty glass aside.
“Noona, can you specific a friend of his?” I was cranky, I just need a glass of milk and returned to my slumber not tattered about some guys.
“The only player in a football team, who participate the dance-off competition last year!” Why she kept egged me about Taemin. We weren’t in serenade or admire him. We were best friends divert for the title of brothers! It was brother’s love!
“Why should I give him the chocolate? Isn’t that only for a person who adore and hopeless fall in love with their crush or a great couple like noona and Minho-hyung should celebrate it? I don’t have anything special with him. We’ve been together like this for a decade!” She frowned, don’t mad at me girl!
“He is going to graduate tomorrow. Give him something, if you are a good friend.” She hoisted herself from her seat and walk off to her room.
I tousled my hair, frustrated and annoyed. Oh, God she was unbelievable. I’d grow up, 16 years old who apprehend my life opts. I hate puberty, stupid hormones and everything about being grow up. I wished I was a baby again. I want to go inside my mother’s womb-I missed that place.
She did have a point-I didn’t have anything to give a present for Taemin’s graduation tomorrow. How could I forget the most eventful day of his life! I was fucked up. He was going to kill me! Harkens back to his 9th birthday, was languish and daunting memories.
He emplaced a tarantula in my shoes after the party. It bit me and the venom transfuse in my plasma and the last thing I know, I woke up in a hospital and the doctor told me I could die if I wasn’t fast enough to come here.
He almost murdered me. The cause was-I forget his birthday and yeah, revenge was a cold dish. He was a Lucifer.
Then, I did repeat the same mistake eventually went really morbid. He got 98% for his 6th grade mathematics. He wanted me to be impressing by his good grades. I said ‘you’re genius Taemin hyung!’ He was expecting me a presents or anything to pay all his efforts. I didn’t though.
And he embarked on his devil, mischievous plan.
He burned my final year exam results and papers for roasted his marshmallows. I cried, and in a big mess trouble deal with my parents-I told them Taemin burned it and my evidence of my dried tears tainted my cheek.
And of course, eomma said I made a lousy excuse because I got bad grades. And I deceive them to cover the truth. I was dreadful, I didn’t lie. My parents contacted the school authorities and enquired about my grades, demeanour and school stuff.
Solaced by them apology for misunderstood me because they were relented with my excellent grades. However they discard of Taemin’s delinquencies.
As I enter in junior high school. Things got really ugly than usual. I was 7th grader and he was in his senior year. That wasn’t smooth. He flushed my textbooks and borrowed books from school’s library. That time I flatly declined his invitations for his final match football to nominate our school for the next level, international. I’d a piano class on the same date.
I got detention for a week added scrubbing the schools toilet for vandalism the school’s properties. At home, I was grounded for a month and that was included no seeing Taemin during the period of doom. I wasn’t in the mood or hope to meet him.
He wasn’t unyielding on me.
Oh God, did he ever got abhorred with me for a minute? He sneaked into my room via my motherfucker window pane that started this masochist friendship. He just loved to make me in misery. He even forced me to play with him outside when I was grounded!
It was a bad decision if not obliged it. I ought to obey every single his fucking demands.
He bullied me, violence my trustworthy, and harassed my reputation. He was the worst, I wanted to slit his throat alive and sliced and diced him-but I couldn’t, because he was my friend cum hyung. When I was sick he constantly paid a visit and cooked me porridge or soup.
The time other kids taunted at me-he quelled them out. And the unforgettable incident when I was practically sexually harassed by those pedo freaks. He saved my ass.
And it was impartial for him if I cut to the end. I need to get used to it.
Those freakish passed years, I asked myself how the hell I got through all those shit. Maybe, noona was correct. I should make the chocolate for him it was the least I could give him better than my dick will cut off by him. The grisly image of him-already gave me the nightmares tonight.
I decided to make a scrumptious chocolate heaven for him.
“Damn it, I’m going to be late for the practice!” Noona panicked as she rushed prepared for her red letter day. It was 7.00 am-for me it was early, but noona had practice for her cheerleader squad on this time. I ate some kimchi, soup and rice. Eomma was doing laundry and appa read a newspaper at the table with his a mug of coffee on his left hand.
It was havoc and hullabaloo with her profanities echoed in the household. Eomma wasn’t going to tolerate with that.
She scurried downstairs, with her bag sling on her arm and fetched a slice of bread and pasteurised strawberry milk on the counter. The least she could eat for her fuel. She slide her feet in the shoes and accelerate to her destination the school. I could care less about her unscheduled routine.
After cleaned up the dishes and said goodbye to my parents I wouldn’t forget Taemin’s chocolate in the freezer last night. My jaw dropped to see there were two chocolates bar wrapped up nicely. First thing came through my head, noona.
She must forget everything, did she? I took it and kept it safe inside a paper bag. I put mine inside my bag carefully. I was ready headed to the school unlike noona, hastened in her morning. I was relaxed all of the time.
Every morning I would go to school with Taemin except for today. Yesterday, I gave a call and interrogate him.
“hyung, do you want me to wait for you tomorrow?”
“No, just go without me. I’ve dance practice for the ceremony and I will go really early in the morning.” He airily told me.
“Oh, OK. See you tomorrow at school, hyung. Bye” I disconnected him.
I needed to confirm his attendance tomorrow. He never would give me a call, and if I abandoned him went to the school by myself and not knowing the reasons he didn’t wait in front of his house.
He would put tacks in my bed for tonight.
Part 2