Intersection (1b/?)
“Omma! I’ll take off now!” He guzzles the orange juice down and speeds toward the door.
His face cupped and pulled down by a pair of weathered dry hands to meet the anxious eyes behind a pair of vision aid spectacles. “Are you sure you want to do this?” she asks in a fretful tone. A faint chuckle and a hug from the bubbly blond did a good job on easing her a bit down. “Yes. You should stop being so restless. I’m 20, and even though I’m 1m72, you know I can take care of myself well.”
The sudden contact with a linen paper at his hand startles him. “Keep this. It’s not much; and unlike the others’ mothers, this woman can only afford to give you $10 a day for lunch. ” She forces his fingers to clasp onto the bill.
Cracking a lame joke that he knows is enough to make her laugh was the only way he could think of to hide his moist pupils. “You should change the refreshing spray, it stings my eyes.”
Laughter fills the tiny apartment as she slaps his arm and shoos the boy out of the door jocularly. “Now off you go! Dash or you’re going to be late!”
After making sure his mom catches the reassurance smile he genuinely addresses, he closes the door and turns around; allowing the gleaming sun and its warmth besieges his petit whole.
Alright world! Be ready for the almighty Yang Yoseob!
※
“Yah! Don’t leave dirty dishes on top of the table! And hurry up, you’re gonna be late for your first day! Geez! Your sister has enough love and to come by and play with you for a few weeks, but all you’ve made her do is clean up after you… Don’t drop the bread!!!”
“Shorry, ang ina hurrr!” (Sorry! I’m in a hurry!) The slice of sandwich bounces up and down at his mouth as he hastens carelessly toward the door.
“I thought you’re old enough to know that the camera doesn’t have the magic pocket to pull out money for lunch and papers for taking note, am I mistaken?!” she grumbles, but raises the back pack up and helps him put his arms over, for one of his hands always have to pamper the black Nikon hanging down from his neck.
A deep growl heaved up and out of his internally protesting body, as she fixes his hair and puts a black round bowler hat hang onto the top back of his head. “Oh and…” she dithers and diverts her eyes around, making sure that the words she’s about to let out is ok for both of them. But he knows what she wants to say.
“Be positive; don’t let the rumors get you?”
A small sigh escapes his mouth as he hits her shoulder wittily. “I know, stop being such a shufflebutt.” He laughs, not sure if it’s at how such a positive phrase can also sound tartly contradicting with the word ‘rumor’, or the fact that his sister is now hugging her arm and gives him a cursing scowl while shutting the door. He won’t, can’t, let anything hinders him from protecting his family and dream. Everything he has ever wanted looks so obtainable before his eyes. Gushing tides of confident shake all languor stored throughout the summer off.
Looking out from the window, she chuckles “Can’t believe the kid is weird enough to jump up and down, talking to himself, in front of the whole neighborhood at 6:45 in the morning… Wait, what am I think? It’s Yoon Doo Joon after all”
It’s impossible to stop me now. That’s right baby for I’m quick and skillful like Ronaldo, and my will is stronger than ever.
※
“Good luck today! Although I have empathy for that handsome hyung you’re stalking. Well, if all doesn’t go well I’ll be here to comfort you Ok?!”
“Lee Ki Kwang, first off, I think that’s something I need it every day now. Secondly, I’m not stalking anybody. Third, thanks for the offer but keep on dreaming.”
“Geez, just trying to be nice. Well tell me which part doesn’t make you sound like a crazy stalking fanboy then? The you who collect all his pictures and videos; or you who has no interest in studying at all, blows your head off with calculus for 3 months straight just to get into that university he works at? Please go ahead and enlighten me mighty GodWoon.” He feigns a courteous nod, but then bursts into laughter, bobbing up and down shaking the shoe rack in delight as to how he manages to get a glare from his friend today.
“It’s called admiration, and that’s your new vocabulary for the day kid.” Not paying the mocking smile from the attractive air-head any attention, he emerges from the step after tying the shoes’ laces neatly; his stance overshadows the shorter boy who’s now pouting at his growth. “Don’t bother my parents and go home already”, he says and sniggers at how his hand is whacked off as he tried to pet his best friend before striding off toward the bus.
I want to see you so bad. You, my inspiration, my goal, please wait for me!
ʃ The Intersection 8 years ago… ʅ
“What are you talking about? Of course I like you, that’s why we’re dating. I also like your violin, your house, your playground, your bedroom, your family’s car and a lot more.”
“Uhm… Ok… can you come to my recital this Friday right? The other kids are trying their best because their crushes are coming so… I thought if you can also come… if it’s ok I mean...” the frizzy head looks down at his feet, mumbling hesitantly.
‘What is this kid thinking? That I, of all the people, will go watch his stupid and boring performance?’
“Can’t, chilling with friends. Talking about them they’re gonna be here in secs so go home and I’ll see you around.” He rises from the steps and walks past the boy to unlock the front gate.
Hit with disappointment, the less attractive one says sluggishly, struggles to give what he’s convinced will look like a smile. “Oh… Ok. I’ll go around the back garden to greet your family. Uhm… call me ok?”
§
“Ugh he annoys me so much. From those big useless eyes, caron-shaped upper lip, thin slightly circumflexed lower one, neatly combed nerdy black hair, dull little suits he wears all the time, timid voice has anything but confident, to the old-fashioned violin playing that I can’t understand. One of the most unattractive kids I’d ever seen, and he thinks I, Yong Jun Hyung, like him? Anyway I won the bet already, told ya even dudes fall for me. All of you better keep your promise about my price.”
§
“Honey, the Jang just called… Hyun Seung-ie just got into an accident…” she tussles to utter out fragmented trembling words “…his fingers and wrist are severely fractured…”, then finally breaks into weak sobs.
“What are you talking about? Wasn’t he here 30 minutes ago with JunHyung?” Mr. Yong, whose face suddenly went blanched with shock, hastily walks his wife toward the couch and, his eyes waver restlessly. “Mrs. Kim, please call him down for us immediately.”
§
“I already told you I don’t see the need to. You forced me to go to England already, don’t make me go see him, we’re not even close, he’s only my stalker. I had no idea why he was running and crying, neither do I know why he now is in a trauma. Tell the old man if I’ve agreed to get my butt out of the country tomorrow, stop making me do trivial things. I don’t care if he and the Jang man are close friends. If ‘he’ can’t play the stupid violin again then too bad, just do something else. That family still has the little girl don’t they? It’s not like their last name will be doomed just because of their useless son.”
Note: Sorry for making Hyunseung-ie unattractive in Junnie’s eyes in the past X(. Sorry for making Junnie sounds so mean, but he supposed to be very rebellious X(. But I hope the really bad intro to Doojoonie, Yoseob-goon, maknae and Kiki made up for it a little bit… This chapter was kinda... not my style because I'm not that good at writing dialogs. Despite holding on