Chapter Text
Jisung is traveling by plane to meet his new foster parents after his old household wasn't really meant for him. He had his headphones on for the whole plane ride. He heard the intercom crackling on, so he took his headphones off. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have begun our descent into Busan.
Please turn off all portable electronic devices and stow them until we have arrived at the gate. In preparation for landing, be certain your seat back is straight up and your seat belt is fastened. Please secure your carry-on items, stow your tray table, and pass any remaining service items to the cabin crew."
He sighed deeply as he finally heard that landing announcement. “Finally. My back has been killing me” he muttered to himself, he put his headphones back on. He was looking at his phone, and suddenly the screen flashed with a message from a contact reading “foster mother”. He unlocked his phone to read the whole message, it said, “I am waiting for you in the airport parking lot, come find me.”
After that message, his foster mother sent him a picture, a picture of her car so he knows what it looks like. He stares at the picture for a good few seconds before turning his phone off and thinking back to why he was here. His actual parents had both passed away in a car crash that happened about a year ago. None of his relatives wanted to take care of him. So here he is, in Busan, with his 7th foster parents.
He got off the plane and was carrying his luggage, walking towards the parking lot. After walking for a while in the parking lot, he finally spotted the red Toyota Camary he saw in the picture she sent. He walked up to the windows of the passenger seat and knocked on the window. The woman with dirty blonde hair looked up from her phone and unlocked the door for him.
He opened the truck and put his luggage in the car before walking back around and hopping in the passenger seat. “Hello, it's nice to meet you” He said softly to the woman “Hello, I'm Hwan” she pulled out of the parking lot and started driving towards their apartment. He barely said anything during the whole car ride, as it was awkward to talk to someone whom he just met.
As soon as the car pulled up to the parking lot of the apartment, he jumped out of the car and grabbed his luggage from the truck. He walked behind Hwan, following her to what is going to be his permanent home. As they both stood at the door of their apartment, she dug around in her bag for a bit before she finally fished out her keys and unlocked the door. As soon as they walked in, he heard a male voice speak up. “Finally woman, took you long enough damn.” The man was practically yelling at Hwan.
This must be his new foster dad. He already knew that his father yelled a lot at her mother. It wasn't really a lovable household. His foster parents’ relationship was more like a toxic relationship that they are both forced to stay in for whatever reason. He only knew this much because his foster mother said it briefly in the car. Hwan said, "I'm sorry, I was picking Jisung up from the airport.” Jisung took his shoes off in the doorway before walking further into the apartment.
Hwan did the same. “You mean that brat you said you were gonna take care of?” The man said firmly to Hwan. She tried to defend Jisung, but it just ended up in a non-stop heated argument. He eventually went to go find his room. He walked down the hallway as you could still hear their arguing. He opened every door till he saw an empty room and assumed it was meant for him. He walked in and put his suitcase by the door and closed the door behind him.
He sat down on the bed before leaning back far enough for his head to be touching the bed. His feet were hanging off the side of the bed and he spread his arms out across the bed. He just wished this life would be over already. He noticed it was already dark outside and decided to sneak out. He grabbed a few things from his suitcase before quietly walking out of his room and out the door of the apartment.
He knew his foster parents were already asleep because it became quiet a few minutes ago. He started walking away from the apartment building and made his way onto a sidewalk. He pulled a box out of his pocket, opened it, and pulled a cigarette from it. He also pulled a lighter out of his pocket and lit the cigarette while holding it between his lips.
This was his way of coping with his horrible life. He already knew that his new foster father hated him because he yelled the second he and Hwan walked in. He continued walking on the sidewalk until he reached the nearest bus stop.
He started staring up at the night sky, although there were barely any stars visible right now, he still admired the night sky in all its glory. Jisung sat on the cold metal bench at the bus stop. He regretted not wearing a jacket. He could freeze his ass off at any moment now.
He shivered from the cold. Jisung grabbed the cigarette from his mouth, dropped it to the ground, and stomped on it. The bus had finally arrived at the bus stop, Jisung was actually happy for something today. He did not want to be sitting in the cold for any longer
He carefully walked up the steps of the bus, he inserted some cash into the farebox of the bus. He walked down the aisle of the bus and sat down near the back. He stayed on the bus for about three stops, and got off near the bar. The loud music could be heard from outside. He stepped inside, and immediately, the warmth from the air conditioning met his face, he was relieved to be warm at last.
He walked around the bar, and did not like the loud atmosphere of the people around him. So, he walked to the men's restroom and looked around for a few seconds. He noticed the walls and stalls of the restroom were lined with graffiti. He couldn't care less, he stood against a wall in the restroom and took another cigarette out of the box in his pocket.
He lit it, and took a drag before slowly spacing out. He actually needed to use the restroom now, he walked up to a stall and pushed the door open. There was someone sitting on the toilet seat, also smoking. He had only noticed the man when he finally spoke up. “What do you think you are doing?” The man said in a low voice. “Oh I am sorry, I-I didn't mean to walk in on you..”
The man did not answer right away. Instead, he took a slow drag from his cigarette, the tip glowing orange in the dim, flickering restroom lights. For a short moment, none of them did anything, they just stood still. The loud music from the bar was spilling through the walls and filling in the silence between them. The man exhaled loudly and leaned against the side of the stall (he was sitting sideways on the toilet seat.) “Are you new to this city? I don't recognize you.” Jisung hesitated to say anything.
He finally spoke up. “Yes.. I just moved here.” He wanted to tell the man why he was there, because of his foster parents, but at the same time, Jisung had no idea who he was. And he never really shared his story to others. He almost forgot about the cigarette between his lips until the man spoke up again. “Do you usually smoke? You seem like the kind of guy who is a goodie-two shoes ” “Yeah.” Jisung finally decided to walk away from the stall, before the man could stop him.
He went out of the restroom, and back out of the bar. Once again, the cold hit him. He just wanted to get home and sleep, after all, he was going to his new school tomorrow. Jisung got back on the bus to the apartment, and made his way inside, trying not to wake anyone up. As soon as he made it to his room, he collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep.