The Days That Count

2. The Day He Met The Korean Guy

Three years later, fall

Jordan was carrying a large box up the stairs and kicking the door open with his right foot, without seeing a finger further than the box.

"Man, this is heavy. "

It was the last one from the truck. The guy finally finished moving from Washington to Philadelphia. After setting the box on the wooden floor in his new place, he sat on it. A drop of sweat ran down his forehead. Everything was already there, only his stuff was supposed to get carried. The apartment had two bedrooms and one living room, which was prolonged by a kitchen that was placed right across the entrance. On the left side of entrance was the door to his room and on the right one was the room of his new roommate what was supposed to come soon. The living room had a nice brown couch, a tv across and a few shelves for books. Or wine and whiskey glasses, whichever you pick. Of course, Jordan Parker was a half-here, half-there guy. Preferably, reading and drinking at the same time.

"This place is so nice. " Amelia Parker, praised her son's new space to live. She was a picky one, always worried about how the three of her sons are going to end up living. What could she do? They were her children and she wanted the best for them. Sometimes, a bit too obsessively. Jordan was her second son. The first is two years older and studying business and management in the same city, living two blocks from Jordan's new place. His name's Kameron. The youngest was still in high-school, younger by one year than the second, and was about to wait for another year before joining college as well.

"Yeah. " Simon came back from the bathroom. "You are going to have a good college life here. But remember what we talked about. We pay for a half of it, the rest is up to you. "

Jordan already found a part-time job at some coffee house near the campus. Too much happened in the last three years, so much that it made him ready for just about anything.

"I know dad. "

Their interaction was broken off by another conversation right at the doorstep.

"Maeil jeonhwahae! (Call me every day!)" some weird language passed through air with a sharp, squeaky female voice. Jordan had to turn his ears on one hundred percent to catch the whole words.

"Geulsse, naega maeil sal-aissdamyeon naneun hal geos-ida!(Well, yes, if I stay alive for the next day!)" Young male voice answered the woman. They were both right outside the door.

"Jangnanhajima, Baeghyeon!(Don't joke with me, Baek-Hyun!)"

"Al-ass-eo eomma. Salanghaeyo. Annyeonghi gyeseyo.(Okay mom. I love you. Bye!)"

"Annyeong. Nan dangsin-eul geuliwo juma.(Bye. I'm gonna miss you.)"

"Jeodoyo. (Me too.)"

Seconds later, a mid-height guy with half short black hair walked into the apartment. His eyes met the presence of the Parker family and he smiled kindly, walking in with his suitcase.

"Hi." he said.

"Hi. " Jordan said, creeped out from the conversation he heard, but has not understood. His lip and eyebrow crooked as he pulled the hand out of his pocket to greet the guy. "I-do-not-speak-Mandarin. " He emphasized every word he said, very loudly.