Chapter 1 - Goodbyes

His mother's tears slowly started to slide down her pale porcelain cheeks as she said her goodbyes to her one and only son. She knew this day would come but she didn't expect it to come so quickly. Nineteen years ago he was a small boy who still ran around the house in diapers but now there he stands in front of her; an exact replica of his past father.  The dark skin, plump lips, crazy chocolate hair and those dark orbs of his would melt any girl's heart. His mother wishes him to pursue his dreams although deep down she knows that she doesn't want her little baby boy to leave her and go out into the big and dark world. But she knows that she must let him go and pursue his career.

Although Mrs. Kim didn't have a fortune of money, her son was lucky to get a scholarship into university and chose his future career to be a lawyer. Jongin was always an amazing child and did anything for his mother. Mrs. Kim wanted her son to get a good education so she pushed herself that one step to pay for him high school and Jongin promised her that he'll make her proud. Jongin graduated from high school with honours and was one of the best in his year. He done this for his mother who made this all happen for him. Jongin received a scholarship from one of the best universities in South Korea as one of the teachers sent of an application off to the university and promised that his school would always support him and pay for everything. And now Jongin is standing in front of his crying mother bidding his goodbyes as he gets ready to leave her in Busan and travel to Seoul.

"Mom, please stop crying…" Jongin pulled his mother into a tight hug and placed a peck on the top of her head. "It's not like I'm going to war or leaving the country…" He chuckled slightly knowing how much of a deal this was to his mother. Mrs. Kim nodded into his chest before looking up at her son and cupping both of his cheeks.

"I know honey… just please stay safe there…" She said before placing a soft peck on her son's cheek. "And don't do drugs or abuse alcohol…" Of course his mother would say that thinking that Seoul was one of these gangster cities where all hell broke loose. But you couldn't blame her. After all she'd never been in the capital because she never wanted to leave her son alone.

"Mom, you know I'm not that guy who'd do that…" Jongin smiled placing back a loose strand of hair behind his mother's ear.

"I know, I know but don't let anyone pressurize you into doing that." Jongin rolled his eyes slightly because he'd already gotten that talk with his mother and step-father a couple of weeks back . "Call me when you get to Seoul, OK?" She said pulling her son into a tight embrace not thinking about whether he couldn't breathe or that most of his ribs were about to snap. She just didn't want him to go. She finally released Jongin from the hug and forced a smile but Jongin knew that behind that was sadness and worry.

"I will mom. Don't worry." Jongin then turned to his step father who he'd grown close to although at first he didn't know what had gotten into his mother that she began dating once again. "Please take care of my mother…" Jongin said before his step father pulled him into a quick hug.

"I will… and make us proud son." Mr. Yang smiled at his step son before Jongin bowing at him thank him once again.

"I will, I'll make the two of you proud." Jongin said before staring at his little half sister who was observing a spider who was climbing up the wall. "Are you gonna say goodbye to your favourite oppa or am I going to have to leave without hugging you?" Jongin said snapping the little girl back to reality. Jongin lowered to her level as she ran to hug him and give him a sloppy kiss on his cheek.

"I'm going to miss you oppa!!!" She said looking at her brother. "Are you going to miss me oppa?"

"Of course maknae!!! Be good to mommy and daddy and take care of them for me." Jongin said before ruffling the little girl’s hair.

"Of course Oppa" She said before looking at their mother and father looking at the two with smiles. "Oh, I have something for oppa… wait here and I'll get it…" The little six year old girl said making sure that her oppa stays in one spot.

"Hurry up, cos oppa has to get going if he's going to make it to Seoul before night time and he wants to wish his little sister goodnight!" Jongin said and as soon as he was finished the little girl ran into the house as fast as her little legs could carry her.

"Where's she off to?" Mr. Yang said looking at Jongin for answers.

"She says that she has something she wants to give me." Jongin replied to his step father before noticing that the driver of his cab had already put his luggage in the boot and was waiting for Mr. Jongin himself. Thanks be to god that the driver was patient because they should've left nearly half an hour earlier. Then Jongin noticed the little girl running out of the house with a stuffed animal of some sort and a big envelope. She was clearly out of breath once she reached her brother who was smiling at her.

"Here… Oppa… please keep Fuzzyboots safe with you" She said while panting and obviously referring to the stuffed animal who she was handing to her oppa. She then turned her attention to the big envelope in her other hand as she put it forward for her brother to take it.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure Fuzzyboots will be safe at all times and what this?" Jongin said taking the envelope into his hand.

"Read it once you get to your new house. I made it myself with the help of mommy and daddy" The child said taking her brother into one last bone crushing hug before stepping back beside her father.

"I'll make sure to read it once I get there" Jongin said before turning to his mother who was now a crying mess although she tried her hardest to not let tears fall. "I love you mom." Jongin said taking his mother into one last hug before wiping a tear away from her cheek with his thumb.

"Here…" Mr. Kim said giving Jongin and envelope but smaller than the one his sister gave him a couple of moments ago. "You'll need it…" Jongin nodded knowing that his mother has just given him money to support himself. "Stay safe, eat well and do your best Jongin. I'm so proud of you honey!" She walked Jongin to the cab and brushed his wild curly hair from his eyes. "Momma always loves you and remember that I'm always here if you need anything to talk about. Just call ok?"

"Goodbye mom." Jongin said slowly getting into the cab and closing the door behind him. He waved to his family who were still standing outside their house as the cab drove away with their son in it until it was out of view when it went behind the corner. Jongin rested his head on the head piece of the seat and stared out the window looking at his home town for the last time knowing that he won’t see this view in a long time from now, only on post cards and in magazines.

Jongin wondered about what his mother was doing right now. Was she still crying over him going off and leaving her? Was she looking at photographs of him as a child and remembering the good memories the two had together? Was she watching video tapes of him performing as a little child? Jongin smiled at that though knowing how much stuff his mother has stored over the years. Photographs, pieces of clothing which he wore as a baby, video tapes of him singing and dancing, medals and trophies that he got as a small child, drawing and paintings. You name it, Mr. Kim had kept them knowing how precious they were to her. After all he was her everything.

"You have a very loving family. You’re a lucky guy, you are." The driver said snapping Jongin out of him thoughts making him look up at the driver in the rear mirror. The driver smiled at him making Jongin chuckle a bit. He knew e was lucky after all that was a dream family for him and nothing could replace them. They were crazy but normal at the same time, strict but caring and they always supported each other when they one was down.

"I am ament I?" Jongin said looking down at the stuffed figure of a purple and green dragon which was lying on his lap. He smiled at it knowing that it was one of his sister's favourite toys and that she was willing to give it to her brother as a gesture of love.

"Feel free to drift off if you want. This is going to be a long drive especially that it’s a week day." The driver said while taking a left turn. Jongin just nodded as he looked out the window admiring the beautiful countryside of the small villages outside of Busan. It was quiet and there weren't that many buildings everywhere like in Busan. There were fields of ripe wheat and oats, fields with corn and others with animals grazing in them. This was natural beauty which Jongin had never seen. All his life he'd been locked up in a busy city. But now he was free.

Now it was the beginning of everything…

www

Jongin had finally made it to Seoul. After hours of travelling, after hours of waiting he was in the city of dreams. The taxi driver took out Jongin's luggage from the boot as Jongin just stared in awe at the university campus. It was huge and there were already many people walking around it although the lessons didn’t start for another week. Student with luggages and and maps in their hands wandered around obviously looking lost. Jongin bid his goodbyes to the driver and thanked him once again for making the journey happen for him. The driver drove away as Jongin gathered his luggage  and walked to the reception of the university to find an ahjumma sitting there while taking forever to type in a couple of symbols into the search engine before trying to find the 'enter' button on her keypad.

"Annyeonghaseyo." Jongin said politely as she caught onto his presence. "Could I get my room number and class schedule?"

"Of course sweetie… Now can you tell me your name and field of study?" The receptionist asked as she took out a large pile of papers before looking for her glasses and putting them on that they were resting at the tip of her slim nose.

"My name is Kim Jongin and I'm studying law" Jongin said giving the receptionist his ID and waiting for her to look through her paper work.

"Your room is E692 and your room mates are Oh Sehun and Huang Zitao. I believe that Mr. Huang has checked himself into the room earlier today so I guess you won’t be that lonely. Here are your class schedules and your classes start first thing Monday morning at 10:00 in Law Room 102.” She said before handing him a bunch of papers. “I’ve also included a map layout of the campus and the book list that you require in Mr. Kwon’s class. Do you have any more questions?”

"No, thank you. I'll get going now." Jongin said taking the key from the ahjumma's hand and he slowly made his way to his room. The dorm way was littered with boxes and luggages as each of the students slowly got comfortable in their new environment. Some were chatting in the hallway with others getting to know each other, while others placed their belongings into wardrobes and onto shelves. Jongin finally reached his dorm, he heard a rather annoyed voice coming from the room.

"Yes, mother I'll attend classes everyday… and no I won't sleep with any random girl like I did back then…" The tall, tanned boy said rolling his eyes while looking at his reflection in the mirror holding up a blazer to himself to look at what he looks like in it. "Mom, I'm not a goddamn kid anymore. I have my own life now… Yes I thank you for getting me to do those wushu lessons so I can protect myself…" He rolled his eyes once again before placing the piece of clothing back down and picking up a new one. "No, I'm the only one in my room now. I'm sharing it with two other guys." "No Mom, I won't become gay and spend my night's sleeping with them, GOD MOM WTF?"

"Their in the same year group as me… No I haven't met them before…" He said slowly but surely getting annoyed of him mother. "Mom, I pretty much doubt it that their going to stab me to death in my sleep… Mom they aren't mafia gang members." He said talking fast and annoyed Chinese. "Because one who kills people wouldn't be studying law or goddamn dance. They'd be studying the difference between crystal meth and heroine. NO mom, I'm not going to do drugs just like uncle Han… No I won't kill anybody… Mom please just hang up… No I won't starve myself to death… The names of my roommates?  Oh Sehun and Kim Jongin… Why? Kim JongIN mom not Kim JongUN. Big difference" Then the tanned boy noticed another presence standing at the entrance of their room. "By mom gotta go… Bye. NO I WON'T GET DRUNK AND RUN AROUND NAKED…"  He said before hanging up on his mother.

"Hey, you must be Oh Sehun?" The tanned boy said as he took out his hand to shake the other boys.

"Jongin, Kim Jongin…"

"Right, right… anyway, the bottom bunk is mine so you get to pick out of the two beds." He said before lying down on his bed which was covered in clothing. "And I'm Tao by the way…" He said as Jongin brought him luggage into the room and started unpacking. The two didn’t talk much until Tao told Jongin that he was going out to meet up with some friends before leaving the Busan boy by himself… Jongin was relieved because in the space of an hour, Tao had gotten endless calls from his mother about the tiniest thing and Tao's Chinese was starting to get on Jongin's nerves.

Peace and quiet at last.