dive into you | lee jeno

one

10 years ago

"happy birthday, son!"

"happy birthday, jeno!"

"happy birthday, dear!" said the mother of the celebrant who took him in her arms with a flashing grin.

while party crackers erupted in the living room, four cats pooled around the feet of the celebrant and his mother, as if greeting him the same phrase his family did.

april 23rd, jeno's birthday.

a boy entered his phase on adulthood. now called a young man in the household, he was excited of discovering what the world could offer him. apart from moving out of his parents house, he was also gifted a summer trip in a renowned island in south korea: ulsan.

but before spending a month in an unknown place, never-ending greetings of gratitude and celebration were toasted in the dinner table occupied by the family of four.

adjacent to his father, jeno was next to his nuna, his older sister who helped in preparing this wonderful occasion.

champagne bottles were clinked in the air as they begin eating. it was a memorable day for the celebrant because it marked the start of an adventure on his own.

he still had roughly two months to prepare for his final year in high school.

on september, a new life awaits.

therefore, jeno wouldn't miss any single sunrise in ulsan. if truth would speak for him, he wished the clock would stop ticking.

he wasn't ready for bigger responsibilities.

"are you ready to visit ulsan?" asked his mom.

"i hope you've studied the map i left in your room the other day," said his dad.

"appa, we're technologically advanced now. uri aegi can use gps if he wanna drive," argued his older sister.

yet, their mom had another concern, "wouldn't he take too long if he travels by car? we can arrange him plane tickets. i'm afraid he'll lose a day because of tiresome traffic."

"hmm..." his father hums in consideration. "you have a point. we can't risk your safety."

jeno disagreed. he shrugged and voiced his opinion, "i mean.... how would i be independent if i wouldn't experiment on my own? besides, it'd be very much ironic if a brand new car, fresh from the dealer, led me to an accident. on top of that, i've been driving since i was 16. had a student driver's license. so trust me, appa, eomma. i'd be safe."

"hearing your assurance just added anxiousness in me," his mom's remark earned laughter in the table.

"eomma, geokjeongma. he's 18 already. not a baby now," said his sister.

"as if you didn't call me baby minutes ago," jeno smugly countered.

"ya, lee jeno!"

+++

when the day of his departure arrived, sweet kisses of goodbyes were marked on his cheek, comfort of hug that would be missed, and waves of temporary leave were exchanged.

"be safe. follow all the traffic rules and don't do anything stupid! eighteen is still too young," jeno's mom gripped his shoulder before leaving a final kiss.

"mom, why do you sound like something fatal will happen? i still have a lot of dreams."

despite of the scary fate, jeno courageously faced it all.

"just saying in case life chooses terrible scenarios."

the seriousness of the conversation was shaken off by his father.

"you'll enjoy, ulsan. i tell you son, spend most of your time in the beach cause you'll witness the beauty of korea over the horizon," his dad patted him in the back before opening the driver's seat for him.

his sister stayed silent, neither uttering a word nor producing a sound.

jeno nudged her side, "won't you have anything to say? i'll leave now."

she might be playful around her younger brother but one would never wash away the importance of family with the lees, especially to her. she was quiet as apprehension stole her thoughts.

it was the first time for the baby in the lee family to be gone, on his own, for thirty days. one whole excruciating month.

"you'll miss me, won't you?" jeno smirked.

"who won't?"

finally, she approached the young man and offered him a hug. "like mom said, don't be stupid."

"huh, wrong! as far as i can remember, it was don't do anything stupid."

"silly."

once they had pulled away, their dad stepped in between, "alright, jeno. the dawn has currently showed its light. it's time for you to go. we don't want you arriving too late in the afternoon. travelling from incheon to ulsan by a private vehicle usually takes four and a half hours."

"arasseo, appa." jeno double-checked whether his things were complete and nothing was left behind, then settled in the driver's seat.

gripping the steering wheel as a young adult felt like he was the master of his fate.

his future was definitely in his own hands.

the engine roared and soon enough, he disappeared from the sight of his family currently overwhelmed of the reality that all of them were in charge of their own lives now.

as the streets of incheon sensed the upcoming busy wheels from all sort of vehicles, jeno swiftly avoided delay because of his choice to drive at early dawn. furthermore, mornings were amazing because of nature's fantastic ability to paint a michelangelo in the sky.

a day that began in the right foot was worth remembering.

jeno had a flawless summer beginning from the first time he drove his brand new car to ulsan smoothly as if the subsequent years had no hindrances to extend.