Chapter Text
Day 1 - Thursday
"Are you comfortable?", the man in his late forties asked for the fourth time in the past hour.
"I am, uncle", Jeongyeon smiled, "Thank you again for doing this for me".
"It's nothing, kid. And besides, I'm the one who's gaining something here in exchange for just a drive."
"A seven hour drive", Jeongyeon corrected, ending with a light chuckle. Her uncle just brushed it off and returned a small laugh of his own.
They were coming from the center of Busan and their destination, Seongpa, Seoul.
Jeongyeon had lived in Busan for the past five years when she had just graduated from primary school. They had to move from Seoul when her father got transferred there and was assigned to be the head chef at a well known Korean restaurant in Busan. Being a minor, the Yoo family could not risk leaving Jeongyeon alone in the city. They had no family living in the area at the time. Her uncle had only moved and set up shop a few months after they have left.
She hated the idea of leaving, putting up a fight with her parents before finally succumbing to an ultimatum of "hating her forever" if she doesn't come quietly. She was young and gullible back then and she just couldn't bear the thought of her family hating her. Thinking back now, she realizes how stupid she was for losing like a total kid back then.
Now, after her second year of high school, she had just turned 18. Close to being of Korean legal age, she requested her family to let her continue her studies back in Seoul. Her parents were very understanding and decided to let her. She was also very insistent that she be driven there instead of taking a plane or train, claiming she wanted to feel the wind on her face, soaring through the streets with an open window. They called her uncle to fetch her in Busan and help her move to Seoul in exchange for her working part time for her uncle at his local Korean Japanese restaurant, which Jeongyeon had no problem agreeing to. She likes food, therefore she likes to cook, in her logic. She wanted to work part time too even though her family is rich enough to support her until college, declining saying that a place to stay and tuition was more than enough and wanted to make her own allowance.
She misses her friends. She had formed a tight bond with her classmates and neighbours since she was in her first grade of primary school. It was a group of four, all from the same neighbourhood.
Nayeon is the eldest of the four, only months older than Jeongyeon, and her closest friend. They first got to know each other on the first day of primary school, being assigned together as seatmates. Their establishment has one of those two-in-one students to a table, and to make matters better, or for worse, the school lets you be in the same section all throughout their primary school. Jeongyeon practically grew up with Nayeon literally beside her, and they lived only a few houses apart in the same block too. They bickered a lot, like most of time, but never had a serious fight and that only tightened their friendship further.
Jihyo, the self-proclaimed leader of the group and how she likes to remind everyone "You guys would be dead without me", is a year younger than the two. They met her in their neighbourhood family park that houses a small playground for the kids. Jeongyeon had this crazy idea that it was more fun to go down the slide while sitting backwards. It was indeed thrilling than normal. Nayeon attempted the same. But as one could guess it, she had no control of her balance resulting in countless backward somersaults through her entire trip down. It was amazing how she managed to roll her way down in a straight line and avoided falling off the edges, at least she had some sort of balance, but at the same time it was terrifying how the sounds were brutally loud as she snowballed her way to the ground. Like any normal kid of age eight, Nayeon sat upright with both legs spread flat on the dirt as she cried her way through the pain. Jeongyeon stood there in guilt and was on the brink of crying herself, looking around for a grown up for help.
Fortunately, there was one. A female that looked like she was in her early thirties was accompanying her daughter on a nearby swing when the events took place. She rushed towards Nayeon and did a small check up, asking her some questions in the process. After she was done, she smiled like a loving mother would at Nayeon and told her that she wasn't seriously injured, just a few scratches and maybe a small bruise that will pop out in a couple of hours. They later found out she was a really busy doctor, playing and spending what little time she could afford with her only daughter. She beckoned her kid to come over to them and told her to "Look after them", while she gets her car to drop them off their places.
"Hi! I'm Jihyo", the kid said. She eyes Nayeon, who has dialled down her crying into sniffles by then, and said with a straight face, "You two are stupid".
Jeongyeon gave her an offended stink-eye while Nayeon was about to cry again for calling her a 'bad name'. That was, until Jihyo spoke again.
"Good thing my mom told me to look after you."
And she did. The next year she unknowingly managed to enter the same school as the two, bumping into each other during lunch break with her first greeting being, "Hey! It's the two sliding idiots!", and a huge grin plastered on her face. The bickering duo became a bickering trio since then especially after finding out that Jihyo lived only a couple of blocks away from them.
The last person to be added to their group was Chaeyoung, who was younger than Jihyo by a year. It was just a few months after Jihyo attached herself to Jeongyeon and Nayeon when a single mom and her only daughter moved next door to Jeongyeon's place. The first thing that mother did after settling in was to ask the Yoo's if she can leave her kid with them every now and then.
Apparently, the mother is a childhood friend of Jeongyeon's own mom and a famous wildlife photographer. It's an occupation that requires constant moving around the country, and later around the world. But she didn't want to hinder her daughter's social life and education. She decided to leave Chaeyoung in the hands of the Yoo family when she was about to start her first year in primary school, promising to visit at least twice a year.
Jeongyeon felt really bad for Chaeyoung, being alone without a family, and decided to be her older sister then and there. Unfortunately, seven year old Chaeyoung thought for a whole year that Jeongyeon was a boy and called her hyung the whole time. When she eventually found out that 'he' was a 'she', it was too late. Calling her anything besides hyung really felt uncomfortable by then.
Chaeyoung, who enrolled in the same school the next year, easily got into her hyung's group of friends, Nayeon especially since she had wanted a baby sister all her life. She even kissed the newcomer on the lips a few times saying they were so beautiful and kissable, and that the mole below her lower left lip 'asked her to'. They were innocent then but eventually matured out of that habit and has been a consistent inside joke among the four with the title "Nayeon and Chaeyoung's first kiss" for the four of them since then. Chaeyoung was actually traumatised by it.
Since Chaeyoung's home was always empty, the older three had decided to make it their after school clubhouse. Chaeyoung always showed annoyance at the constant nagging and lack of private space but deep down, they all knew she was really happy for the company they provided. Something that her own mother could not. She's just too proud to admit it but what matters was the others knew. Plus, she had a Play Station 3 and almost all of her games were two player fighters, which she uses an excuse whenever she feels lonely and ask them to come over during the weekends or school breaks.
The four of them were inseparable. They would go to school together, visit each other's classrooms during break time, go home and play around at the park where they first met Jihyo, have dinner at the Yoo's because her dad was a god damn awesome cook, and end the day at Chaeyoung's every time to play video games or watch movies while they rest their full bellies.
When the news of the Yoo family's moving came up during Jeongyeon and Nayeon's last year of primary, all four of them cried their eyeballs out. Saying goodbye to a best friend, or in Chaeyoung's case, a family member, was and will never be easy.
All of them spent the last day together reminiscing the places they've been together.
They went to the class room where the two eldest met for the first time when it was empty, sharing stories and arguments they've had that the other two missed out on. Nayeon pointed out a spot behind their desk where Jeongyeon secretly carved 'Im with Yoo 4ever', earning a shy blush from Jeongyeon.
"You were my only friend back then!” Jeongyeon defended herself from Jihyo and Chaeyoung's upcoming mockery.
They went to the playground where they first met Jihyo. Chaeyoung surprisingly got tangled up at a rope ladder, even though she could very well fit through the gaps, causing all of them to laugh. Nayeon reattempted to slide backwards the slide after successfully persuading Jihyo that she's old enough to do it. She still couldn't and landed painfully on her butt giving Jihyo a mini heart attack. But Nayeon just laughed it off this time.
Jeongyeon's father prepared a farewell banquet for dinner containing all of her favorite dishes, which mostly consisted of something spicy. Chaeyoung didn't like spicy food but ate happily anyways for her hyung. Just after a couple of bites she would turn dangerously red from the burning sensation, failing to hold back her tears and cried while the others laughed.
At the youngest’s place, Chaeyoung surprised Jeongyeon with a bundle of superhero comic book volumes as a farewell gift. The two sisters started reading through it while Nayeon and Jihyo decided to watch a movie having no interests in comic books.
"What super power would you like to have if you get to choose?” Chaeyoung asked out of the blue, "pick just one!"
"To fly!” Jeongyeon answered without hesitation.
"Why? I thought for sure you would pick something like super strength with your demeanour", Chaeyoung mocked.
"Because don't you think it will feel good? Soaring up the sky, the breeze hitting your face as you do, falling endlessly without fear of hitting the ground, sleeping peacefully on the clouds".
"Sleeping peacefully on the clouds?!” Chaeyoung laughingly jeered.
"Oh shut up!", Jeongyeon retorted. "Plus, that would mean I would get to see you guys anytime I want".
Nayeon and Jihyo overheard the answer despite the reaching climax of the movie and hugged Jeongyeon from behind, which Chaeyoung eventually joined in as well. They stayed like that for a significant moment, trying to memorize Jeongyeon's everything.
"But why not teleportation instead?” asked Chaeyoung.
"Don't ruin the moment you ass!” Jihyo hissed.
After talking to the Im family if they could take care of Chaeyoung in their stead, being the next closest family and with Nayeon's persistent nagging, the Yoo's left.
They would still keep in contact afterwards. Texts, video calls, and the occasional hand written letters from the youngest. Chaeyoung was a hidden old fashioned romantic and threatened Jeongyeon to burn her comic book collection there in Busan herself if she ever tells either Nayeon or Jihyo that she sends her letters.
But their contact eventually died out after a couple of years, both sides being busy with school and family matters.
Last she heard, Nayeon had become a volleyball varsity and was busy all year round with the school's sports events. Jihyo became a volunteer at an orphanage center saying she missed taking care of the group that she decided to look someone else to take care of. Chaeyoung decided to follow her mother, whenever summer vacation starts and spends the whole time with her, going back only to Seoul every time school starts again.
That was five years ago.
Now, she's back.
After the stiffening seven hour ride, she's back in her hometown.
Unfortunately, some other family had already purchased her previous home. Jeongyeon's parents told her they can buy her a new one somewhere near but politely declined stating that she doesn't need a whole house just for herself. She had found a decent apartment on the other side of town that fits her needs perfectly. The layout was a simple and neat straight line. A small standard kitchen next to the entrance, a moderately spaced living room in the middle that could fit a small group of friends, and a single bedroom behind the living room.
It was only about a thirty minute walk from their old neighbourhood or a five minute bicycle ride. And it was also on the same block as her uncle's restaurant so it was really convenient for her.
"You start working on Monday next week okay?” her uncle said after moving all of their furniture and accessories inside. "Spend this week catching up with your friends and getting ready for school first", he smiled.
"Yes uncle! Thank you so much again for helping me!", and hugged him goodbye.
After he left, Jeongyeon has yet to have the patience to start unboxing her things and furnish the place. She wanted to see at least one of her missed friends tonight. Opening one of her luggage, she took out a black long sleeved sweater, denim ripped jeans, and a pair of sugar brown boots, wearing them after a quick shower.
She took her bike and pedalled her way through the familiar neighbourhood, never forgetting to appreciate the breeze against her. She looks around, stopping for a while next to the nostalgic park and smiles widely seeing the playground is still there with little to none changes.
She resumed her pedalling until she cycled next to her previous home. Calming yellow lights are visible on the outside and laughter from a toddler can be heard. She's enlightened to find out that a happy family is now living the house that she used to live in.
Locking her bike next to a street lamp, she strides her way towards the all too familiar house next to the one she just reminisced. She lifted one of the potted plants next to the doorway and smiled finding the hidden key was still there. Silently, Jeongyeon opened the door and tiptoed her way inside. She spots a small person sitting crossed legged on the couch wearing matching pink pyjamas with a lion similar to Simba printed all over, button smashing her controller in frustration.
Oh she cut her hair, Jeongyeon took note eyeing the length of her hair that ended just above the upper half of her ear from the hallway.
After more sneaking, she observed the petite girl from behind the couch now, noticing the game console had been replaced by a Play Station 4 that was currently running the latest Mortal Kombat game.
"You lose", the game announced.
"Fuck you!” the person resembling an immature kid hissed as she threw her controller on the side of the couch.
"Still a sore loser huh?” Jeongyeon announced, finally giving herself away.
The younger yelled inaudible, well, practically audible, mostly cussing, words as she recoiled away from the voice, standing and turning about face to eye the foreign presence.
After a few seconds of figuring out who the intruder is, she finally found her voice.
"H-hyung?"
"Hey Chae, I'm back"