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⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰
“Sehun, are you going to join us?” Chanyeol asks with a big smile on his face as if hoping to get a positive response.
“Nah, I’m just going to finish reading this book,” Sehun replies before going back to reading.
Chanyeol was a tall man with a huge build and an infectious smile. He has been Sehun’s roommate since his first year of high school. Now that they’re in college, Sehun is still an introvert, but there is no doubt that Chanyeol has influenced him in more ways than one. And if he was being honest, that basketball invitation sounded very tempting, and he might have joined if he wasn’t reading his favorite book.
Sehun is homesick; the Korean restaurants here are just different from the ones back home. His mom said that he would be back before he knew it, but it feels like it’s been forever. Studying in the US was something he didn’t really want to do, but it was not like he had a choice. Plus, he understood that his parents only wanted the best for him.
Now that he was finally a freshman in college, there were only a few years left before he could go home again. And when he does, will he be able to see him again?
⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰
Sehun looks outside and sees the first bout of snow falling.
“Do you like hot chocolate?” Chanyeol asks Sehun.
Sehun nodded, but his eyes were fixated on the window.
“It’s snowing outside. I didn’t even realize.”
“Yeah. Back home, the first snow is always anticipated by everyone.”
“You miss home a lot, don’t you?”
“Don’t you?”
“Sehun, for the nth time, I’ve been here since I was a kid! I may be Korean, but I grew up here!”
Sehun chuckles.
“Right, I keep forgetting because you just look Korean.”
Chanyeol rolls his eyes but hands a cup of hot chocolate to Sehun.
“Thank you.”
“Hey, Sehun, remember that kid you were telling me about before?”
“Yeah?”
“How are you going to find him if you come back anyways?”
“Honestly, I have no idea.”
“Dude! You’re just literally going home without any clue?”
“I feel like I’ll know when I see him.”
“You’ve been reading too many books,” Chanyeol says before coming cover and shuffling Sehun’s hair.
“Well, I still have three years before I go back anyways. I can worry about that later.”
“For what it’s worth, I wish you find him.”
“Thanks, hyung.”
⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰
The second semester has just finished, and fall break has just started. Sehun was packing his things up and clearing up his room when Chanyeol entered.
“You sure you don’t want to come to spend the break at my house? You still have time to change your mind.”
“It’s okay. I’ll go travel a little. Thanks for the offer, though.”
“Okay, suit yourself. See you next term, Sehun!” Chanyeol says, beaming at Sehun.
Sehun couldn’t help but smile as well.
“See you next term, hyung.”
Sehun was just about to leave the room with his suitcase when his phone rang.
Why is my mom calling?
“Hello?”
⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰
At the funeral, Sehun couldn’t help but feel empty. He just wished he had been there before she died. After all, he was her favorite grandson.
There was a tap on his back, and Sehun couldn’t even turn his head.
“She wanted to give you this, Sehun.” Sehun’s mom said before handing him a small pouch.
Sehun opened it and saw a charm.
“She said it’s lucky and that it will help you find the person you’re looking for. Do you know what she means?”
Sehun sobs and hugs his mom. His mom hugs him tightly, patting his back.
She has always been looking after me. I hope you’re at peace now, grandma.
⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰
It was a month after the funeral ended before Sehun was able to bring himself out of his room. It was such a dark time in his life that he didn’t know what to do. His memories with his grandmother were the best times of his life, and now that she is gone, he just can’t seem to move past it. He wasn’t even there on her deathbed. Instead, he was somewhere far away, having fun while studying.
“Mom, do I really have to go back to the US?”
“Your vacation is almost over; it’s time you do.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Sehun, it’ll be better for you to go there. You’ve been locking yourself up in your room since you came back.”
“Mom, can’t I just study at a college here?”
“Sehun…”
“I just don’t want to miss anyone like this again. I--” Sehun’s voice broke. “I wasn’t even there when grandma took her last breath. I couldn’t be there to hold her hand.”
Sehun’s mom was silent for a few moments.
“Okay.”
“Really?” for the first time in forever, Sehun had a little hope in his eyes.
“Yes, but you’ll have to study hard for the university exam so that you wouldn’t have to start over again.”
“I promise. Thank you, mom.” Sehun said and proceeded to hug his mom.
⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰
It was his first day at college, so he rode in the family car. The streets were unfamiliar, but it felt like home. After a few minutes, they finally arrive at the university, and he quickly gets out of the car, trying not to draw any attention.
“Should I pick you up later, sir?”
“No, I’ll find my way home. Thank you, Mr. Byun.”
Sehun was trying to find his way to the classroom when he saw a man standing near the stairs. He was wearing a white shirt, a white vest, black pants, and some white shoes. He seems to be waiting for a friend.
There was something about the man that reminded Sehun of someone he knew. But he was wearing a face mask, so Sehun didn’t really get a good look.
He was about to approach the man, but he suddenly walked away.
⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰
The class had just finished, and Sehun quickly made new friends. Who would have thought socializing was not such a bad thing? After being around Chanyeol for years, all he had to do was become like Chanyeol himself, and making friends was suddenly easy.
“Sehun?” one of his classmates called out, as they were supposed to have lunch together.
“You can go ahead. I’ll catch up.” Sehun replies, his eyes fixated on the person he saw earlier that was now sitting in the corner of the room.
How lucky was it that the very person he wanted to know about was now a few feet away from him? Sehun immediately closed the distance between them and waited for him to acknowledge Sehun’s presence. As soon as he did, Sehun introduced himself.
“Hey, I’m Oh Sehun. Nice to meet you.” Sehun holds out his hand, waiting for a handshake.
The man seems to be hesitating but gives in and shakes Sehun’s hand anyways.
“I’m Kim Junmyeon”
I can’t believe this.
“Do you want to grab lunch with us, Junmyeon?”
Please say yes.
“No, it’s fine. Thanks for the invite.”
“Uhm, sure.”
Junmyeon walked towards the door. Before Sehun knew it, he automatically grabbed Junmyeon’s shoulder. Junmyeon looked back at him, this time with a frown on his face.
“Did you have anything else to say?” Junmyeon asked, his voice cold.
“You see, uhm, I’m actually a transfer student, so I don’t know a lot of people here. By chance, can we be friends?”
Don’t you recognize me?
Junmyeon lets out a defeated sigh.
“Believe me, you’re better off not being friends with me.”
Sehun was stunned at what he had just heard, and Junmyeon took it as an opportunity to leave.
Left in the classroom all alone, Sehun smiles.
I finally found you.