Chapter Text
When Shim Changmin turned sixteen, he told his mother that he will go to Seoul for his college education.
Now, Changmin came from a small town with rice paddies and mud flats and watermelons and it may seem natural for him to want to go to a big city for his tertiary education, but that was not the case.
Changmin wasn't that keen on effort. Or on change. Or on going for something that you want. Because he usually had everything that he wanted in this small town. But things happened, circumstances changed. And now, not everything that he wanted can be found in his small town.
Like his music. Like his best friend.
Changmin loved music. Not so much in the "This song is cool" kind of love, but more on the "I can make something better than that, let me just get my pen, paper and guitar" kind of love. He needed (wanted) to know notes and beats and rhythm and timing and theories, and none of that can be found in his small town.
In all honesty, Changmin thought all he needed was his pen, paper and guitar. And once upon a time, it might have worked. But his best friend left and along with that, his effortless way of making music left him as well.
Changmin loved his best friend. And he didn't really want to think about what kind of love it could be.
When it was finally time for Changmin to go, he told his family that they need not send him off. It's not like he's going to the military. It's just college. And he'll call them every weekend and be back every break and holiday.
His family did not listen. His father, mother and two sisters, all came with him to the bus station. And if Changmin cared about these things, he would've been embarrassed. But he did not, so he just sighed and hugged them and told them to stop crying and promised to be careful. He told them he will miss them and he thought that will make them smile at least, but they just cried harder.
The bus moved. They were still crying until he can't see them anymore.
When Changmin stepped in front of the building that will be his home for the next couple of years, he did not feel the slightest intimidated by it. Here is where people from all walks of life gather to learn about things that they can't learn in their small towns or in their cities. And although Changmin really didn't care about all that, he'd like to think that stepping out of his comfort zone for his music (and his best friend) would bring him in a sort of path to enlightenment (not that he would tell that to anyone anyway).
As soon as he dragged his suitcase inside the room (a double which means a roommate), the door opened and in came a possible source to the sort of path to enlightenment of Changmin's college life.
"Well, what are you waiting for? The rest of my bags are outside."
Or not.