Chapter Text
“Mum, how are we going to move so much stuff across the country? We’ve got to get rid of some stuff. Why not keep some at Grandma’s?”
Daniel was aware of how sentimental his mum was, unwilling to part from things that are of significance, such as the gifts that she received from his late dad.
“Hm, grandma’s it is then. Quick, put all these in the box and wrap all the fragile with the newspaper alright? I’ve got to tell her that we’re coming.”, Mama Kang said, urging Daniel to finish up so that they could make it to Grandma’s before dinnertime.
Daniel did as he was told, and an hour after, they had set off for a thirty-minute drive to Grandma’s.
As soon as they arrived, Daniel ran into the house and hugged his grandmother. Grandma ruffled his black hair and said, “Aigoo, look at this skinny boy. You ought to eat at least 3 bowls of rice before you leave! I’ve made some marvellous dishes just for us. But first, go help your mum with the stuff.”
They then indulged themselves in a good spread of fragrant, home-cooked food after mother and son were done with moving the things in.
—
the next day
Today’s the day. Daniel and his mum are finally going to Seoul.
“Are you done yet? You’ve been in the shower for almost an hour already, we need to leave!”, Daniel’s mum chided him as they were supposed to set off as early as possible but Daniel just had to delay it.
“Coming...”, Daniel was still in deep thoughts about moving to Seoul while water from the shower head had been pouring on him for 45 minutes. He got out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist, going into his room.
Wearing his Gucci tee tucked into his ripped jeans that hugged the length of his legs, he looked at the mirror, adjusting strands of hair hovering across his face, admiring his own features. “Why am I still single when I look this good? I’m getting thirsty over myself,” he spoke to the mirror like he was expecting an answer from the mirror.
—
Daniel and his mum stood in front of the door of their new home. “We’re here,” they both said at once as if on cue.
Unlocking the door, they enter a slightly unfurnished, yet spacious and bright apartment. With light beige wooden styled floors and white walls, high ceilings, and windows extending from the floor to the ceiling, the afternoon sunlight beamed through the window, highlighting the details of the living room.
Lighting fixtures of long wires of different lengths hung from the ceiling, its light shades looking like small, inverted silver bowls. A painting was fastened on the wall, with a long orange leather sofa beneath it. The apartment had a fusion of minimalistic designs with modern designs, with an open kitchen concept, enhancing the spaciousness of the living space.
Both mother and son shifted the boxes and boxes of belongings into their new home. Their 4 cats were released into the apartment as soon as they got in, letting the felines to begin to busily explore the foreign land.
Come nightfall, they were drained out from unpacking the items and placing them in their designated positions in the house. They retired to their bedrooms.
Carrying a box containing his clothes, mangas, other books, trophies and medals, and his framed photos, Daniel entered his room. Daniel’s room was huge, just perfectly designed for the huge man (or choding*). His desk was facing a wall, near the window, with long curtains drawn. His wardrobe was adjacent to the door of his bedroom. His king-sized bed was just beside his desk, his dresser opposite the bed. A bookshelf stood with the dresser. He had a mini fridge with his bed too, since he liked to snack every now and then. He had already set up his computer, together with his gaming chair and other gaming accessories, and placed his apeach** and spiderman plushies neatly on the top of the short headboard of his bed.
He arranged the remaining of his belongings before plunging onto the bed.
Daniel thought, “It’d be nice to have someone I love to cuddle with on this large bed...” To think of it, Daniel had never once dated, although he had people of both genders coming up to him and confessing to him, giving him letters and/or gifts. He had never felt the ‘click’ with anyone. He had no idea which gender he preferred either. Maybe guys as he would sometimes look at some good-looking strangers for way too long, that they'd go up to him and ask "What's the matter? Is there ketchup on my shirt?" Daniel’s eyelids felt heavier by the second, then he soon drifted into his la la land...
—
Daniel was roused from his deep slumber as the sun rays pierced his eyes. He rubbed his eyes and stretched while yawning loudly, his mouth opened wider than a volcano’s crater. He thought through his plans for today: playing with his cats, then playing his games, preparing for school... His eyes lit up with excitement. He remembered Woojin and Jisung who are from the same province as he is.
Unlocking his phone, he searched for their contact names, “Ah ha!” he said as he found their contacts and had immediately begun typing a message. “Hey guys, I’m already in Seoul, wanna go for lunch later? We’ve got a whole lot of things to talk about *star-eyed emoji 2x*” and he proceeded to send it to the duo.
At the speed of light, a reply came with a kakaotalk* notification ringtone. “Text me your address, we’ll pick you up!”, Jisung replied.
After texting Jisung his address, he headed for a wash-up, greeting his cats with pets and smooches while on the way to the washroom.
He made some cereal and brought it to the dining table. The cats swarmed him, brushing their heads against his sweatpants and meowing, telling Daniel that they want their breakfast too. Daniel then fed the cats and gawked at them munching earnestly on their food before returning to his cereal.
—
“Ding Dong!”, the doorbell rang, and Daniel immediately knew who was right outside the door and ran to unlock the door.
He hugged Jisung as soon as Jisung opened the door. “L-let go... I-I c-c-an’t b-breathe if y-you’re gonna strangle me like this...” Daniel loosened his hold of Jisung gradually while Jisung pleaded to be released.
“I MISSED YOU, OF COURSE, I AM GOING TO HUG YOU LIKE THIS!!!” Daniel retorted. Jisung proceeded to pinch Daniel’s cheeks.
“Woah, your new place is really huuuuuuuge, ideal for us to crash here anytime...”
“Sure, sure, anytime you’d like, my mum’s as welcoming as always. Since you could take over her as my new mum too, with your nagging skills, and cooking skills, which I'd say...quite sub-par,” which incited a light punch from the older man.
“Now go get changed. We’re meeting Woojin in 15. I’ll play with your children while you’re at it.”
—
“So, when are you starting school, we have to go to school together!” an excited Woojin inquired.
“Tomorrow perhaps? I haven’t got my uniforms and textbooks...”
“You could loan mine for tomorrow, although you might stretch it out I have a few more to spare for this year and next year,” Jisung suggested.
“As always, my lifesaver Yoon Jisung.” Daniel blew kisses to Jisung, who gave a disgusted look in return. “Then we gotta head to Jisung’s place then, let’s go!” Woojin exclaimed.
—
“Ya, it barely even fits on you, who told you to get so huge. Narrow your shoulders, would you.” Jisung complained as Daniel struggled to wear Jisung’s uniform.
“Remember when my mum told me to do 100 pushups a day when I was obese? It just grew into a habit.”
“Right, when you were shorter than me and looked like a sumo wrestler.”
“Hyung, you’ve really grown a lot, that it feels like you’re a different person,” Woojin added.
“What hyperboles from you two! Aside from my physical structure, I barely changed!” Daniel retorted. They had yet to realise they had been at Jisung’s house for quite a while but when they realised, the sun was already about to set.
“Ok, the pants are good, you could fit in and button up the shirt at the very least so that’s fine. We’ll get the textbooks with you after lessons tomorrow? I have to meet my mum for dinner now so we shall head out.” Jisung handed to Daniel a clean set of his uniform.
They went on their separate ways after leaving Jisung’s apartment. Daniel had come to Seoul occasionally to meet Woojin and Jisung so he briefly knew how to make his way home.
With the liberty of time, he took longer than usual to get home, memorising the facade of certain buildings while on the way back which would be helpful for him to get used to this city.
Unlocking the door to his apartment, he was greeted by his cats running up to him, with cat body language that indicated the want for pets and tickles, to which Daniel complied, leading all four cats into his bedroom.
Jjang-ah, the youngest of the four, sneaked into the wardrobe as Daniel opened it to hang the uniform that Jisung loaned. Daniel picked Jjang-ah up and hugged her. “I’m going to school starting from tomorrow, you see?” Daniel told her.
Jjang-ah just leaps out of his embrace and leaves his room. “How rude…” Daniel remarked and pouted.
After eating takeout from a nearby shop, Daniel prepares himself mentally for a new beginning, a new school, new environment, new teachers, new classrooms, new friends. “Would I be able to fit in though?” He mumbled to himself...
———
* - choding is a korean term, which means child-like?
** - apeach is one of the chararcters in kakaotalk
*** - kakaotalk is an application that koreans mostly use, just like whatsapp or line in certain countries