In Ottawa Canada:
"KIM JIHOON WAKE YOUR ASS UP RIGHT NOW!" Mom shouted as she entered my, "look at this mess, you haven't even packed a single thing!" She exclaimed as she started picking up the clothes on the floor.
I threw the blanket over my head too tried trying to block her out, it was to early for all this shouting.
"Get up right now, we've missed our flight because of you." She said pulling the sheets off of me.
"We have a private jet, I don't see why we need to take public flights." I murmured.
"I'm not going to say it again, so if you don't want your father to come up here get up." She threatened.
I groaned as I got up running my fingers through my hair, "You look a mess, go take a shower there's no need for you to pack anyways." She stated.
"Why are we even moving to Korea, Dad's company and everything is here." I said getting up, "To align you, you have gotten out of control." She replied.
"Right." I said sarcastically.
She rolled her eyes as she threw the clothes on the bed, "I want to see you downstairs in 20 minutes, everyone is waiting for you." She said heading out.
I sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, rubbing my eyes and trying to clear the fog from my mind. The move to Korea still didn't feel real, despite the boxes scattered around the house and the constant nagging from Mom over the past few weeks. I had tried to ignore it all, hoping that maybe if I pretended hard enough, it wouldn't actually happen. But now, with Mom's yelling ringing in my ears, I couldn't avoid it any longer.
I dragged myself to the bathroom, turning on the shower and letting the hot water run for a minute before stepping in. The steam filled the big space, fogging up the mirror and wrapping around me like a blanket. As I stood under the spray, I let the water pound against my back, hoping it would wash away the irritation that had been building up for days.
"Out of control," she said. What does that even mean? Sure, I might have slacked off a bit, maybe missed a few too many classes, but it's not like I was doing anything crazy. And now they're uprooting our entire lives to move halfway across the world. For what? To "align" me?
I finished the shower, quickly toweling off before throwing on some clean clothes. As I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I couldn't help but smirk. My hair was still a mess, and I looked as tired as I felt, but at least I was presentable enough to avoid another lecture.
I headed downstairs, the smell of breakfast wafting through the air. The dining room was already bustling with activity—dad was engrossed in his phone, Hyung and Nuna was munching on some toast and eggs, and BaekHyeon was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Hyeon?" I asked as I took a seat next to Nuna, "outside saying bye to his bestie."
"Are you feeling better after last week?" Hyung asked, "I'm not dead yet so, Yeah." I replied grabbing a piece of toast.
Mom suddenly appeared behind me and started fixing my hair, "That's why we're going to Korea, to get your mind off everything."
"To start a new, get your mind off him." She added.
I stiffened at her words, the piece of toast halfway to my mouth. The mention of him made my stomach twist, and I forced myself to swallow the lump in my throat. I could feel Nuna's eyes on me, sympathetic but knowing better than to say anything. Hyung just kept eating, pretending he hadn't noticed the sudden tension in the air.
"Mom," I said quietly, trying to keep my voice steady, "we've been over this. I'm fine."
"I know, sweetheart," she replied, her voice softening as she smoothed down my hair, "but we all know how hard this has been on you. Moving to Korea will be good for you—a fresh start."
I didn't say anything, just nodded slightly as I focused on my plate. This wasn't the first time Mom had brought it up, and I was tired of the same conversation. I knew they all meant well, but it didn't make it any easier to hear. It didn't make it any easier to move on.
"You'll make new friends," Nuna said, trying to lighten the mood. "And who knows? Maybe you'll even find someone new."
I shot her a look, but she just grinned and nudged me with her elbow. Typical Nuna, always trying to make me laugh even when I didn't want to.
"I'm not looking for anyone," I muttered, pushing the food around on my plate. "I'm just trying to get through this move without losing my mind."
Hyung finally chimed in, "You'll be fine, Jihoon. We all will. It's just going to take some time to adjust, that's all."
"Yeah," I said, though I wasn't sure I believed it. The idea of starting over in a new country, in a place that felt more foreign than familiar, was daunting. I'd spent my whole life in Ottawa, and the thought of leaving it all behind—the good and the bad—felt overwhelming.
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Seoul Korea Minji's pov:
"I'm home." I said as I walked into an empty apartment once again.
Took off my shoes hung my coat, and slumped into the couch. The silence of the apartment was suffocating, a stark contrast to the bustling streets of Seoul outside. I glanced around, half-expecting to hear the familiar sounds of my parents talking or the clatter of dishes in the kitchen, but there was nothing. Just the quiet hum of the refrigerator and the distant sounds of traffic.
I sighed, sinking deeper into the couch. The emptiness of the apartment was something I should have been used to by now, but it still felt strange every time I came home to it. It wasn't always like this—there was a time when this place felt alive, filled with laughter and warmth. But now, it was just me.
Reaching for the remote, I turned on the TV, hoping to drown out the loneliness with some background noise. The cheerful voices of a variety show filled the room, but it only made the silence more pronounced. I stared at the screen, not really paying attention to what was on, just letting the colors and sounds wash over me.
As I sat there, my phone buzzed on the coffee table. I picked it up, seeing a message from my friend, Yun's.
Yüna: Hey Minji! You busy? Want to grab dinner tonight?
I hesitated for a moment, considering the offer. Part of me wanted to say yes, to get out of this empty apartment and be around people. But another part of me just wanted to stay in, curl up on the couch, and forget about everything for a while.
Finally, I typed a quick reply.
Me: Not tonight. Maybe another time?
I set the phone back down and leaned my head against the back of the couch. I knew Jisoo was just trying to help, but I didn't have the energy to be social right now. It had been a long day at school, and all I wanted was to close my eyes and pretend, just for a little while, that everything was fine.
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Third pov at the Kim's mansion:
Once Jihoon's family pulled into the mansion's expansive garage, the hum of the car engine quickly faded into the stillness of the evening. The garage door closed behind them, and for a moment, there was only silence. Then, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the space, signaling the arrival of the welcoming party.
As they stepped out of the car, Jihoon's grandparents were the first to approach, their faces beaming with warm smiles. His grandfather, a tall man with graying hair and a commanding presence, clapped his hand on Jihoon's shoulder as he stepped forward.
"Look at my two twin Boys, you guys just look more alike by the day."
"Which one is Jihoon?" He asked.
"Me, Hal-abeoji" he said with a faint smile.
"Agioo, my two cute little babies," Halmeoni cooed, her face lighting up as she pulled Jihoon and BaekHyeon into a warm embrace. She held them both tightly, as if trying to make up for all the time they'd spent apart. "You've both grown so much! I can hardly tell you apart anymore."
Jihoon grinned up at his grandmother, "Halmeoni, I'm way taller than BaekHyeon now! How can you not tell us apart?"
Halmeoni chuckled, cupping BaekHyeon's cheek affectionately. "Oh, you're right, my little giant. But in my eyes, you're both still my sweet grandbabies."
"That's not true, you're just taller, I mean why are you even still growing." BaekHyeon said.
"You will grow too sweetheart." Halmeoni smiled.
Jihoon, standing beside them, couldn't help but smile at the sight of his brother basking in the attention. BaekHyeon had always been the more outgoing one, always eager to please and quick to bring a smile to everyone's face. It was moments like these that made Jihoon feel the warmth of family, despite the mixed emotions that lingered beneath the surface.
Hal-abeoji, still standing tall and proud, watched the interaction with a softened expression. He was a man of few words, but his love for his family was evident in the way he looked at them, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You two have your mother's eyes, but that height comes from your father's side," he said, a hint of pride in his voice.
As the grandparents continued to dote on the boys, Jihoon's parents exchanged a glance, relief evident in their expressions. This return to Korea, though daunting, seemed to be off to a good start. The warmth of the welcome from Hal-abeoji and Halmeoni was exactly what they had hoped for.
"Come inside, all of you," Halmeoni finally said, releasing the boys and turning to lead the way into the mansion. "We've prepared a special dinner for your arrival. Your uncles and cousins are eager to see you too. It's been far too long since we've all been together like this."
The family followed her inside, stepping into the grand entryway of the mansion. The air was filled with the comforting aroma of home-cooked food, and the soft light from the chandeliers above cast a warm glow over the polished floors and ornate furnishings. Everything about the mansion screamed opulence, yet it was softened by the personal touches that made it feel lived-in, like the framed photos of past family gatherings lining the walls.
As they made their way to the dining room, Jihoon felt a mix of nostalgia and unease. The mansion was filled with memories, some cherished and some he'd rather forget. But now, as they walked through the familiar hallways, he realized that this was no longer just a place for summer vacations—it was home. Whether he liked it or not, this was where his new life would begin.
TBC