With You | Jikook

01 | first encounter

h y u n g

"Seojun, get up!" Mom screams on top of lungs. Usually I would flinch at her voice in the morning, but now it's part of my routine for a few years now. "Help me clean the house, your brother even helped me for breakfast."

I snicker, getting up to clean up my plate. I could almost hear my brother groan loudly and stomping his feet on the bed. How could I even be mad at him? He came late at work yesterday night because of his stupid boss. I even tried to convince him to change the job but he would say that this job has the highest salary that he ever had.

"Ma, Hyung always does everything you ask, one day won't hurt, right?" She eyes me up and down, leaning against the broom she's holding onto to.

"Well, you're right, but I still want him up," She says, sighing at the end. She continues, cleaning the floor and dusting off the shelves. I'm sure Hyung heard us and would probably take advantage to sleep until lunchtime.

Mom offered me the choice from doing laundry or fetching something at the local grocery store. Normally I would shrug it off and let my mom choose the task she wants to do, but today was a dull day. It rained and it snowed, the road must be disgusting and I don't want her to go in that state.

I grabbed my jacket and slipped my feet in my boots. Before I could head out, Mom came running to give me some money.

"Buy yourself something too," She says, winking at me. I nodded, going out of the house.

I walked, taking my time and being super careful of the puddle of water that was in each two meters. I'm so exited for spring, this water snow combination is horrible.

Once I've arrived in the store, I greeted the worker that was behind the cash counter. She was a grandma, she was here as long as I remember. The sweetest and the kindest person in the whole neighbourhood. I think this place would've been dead without her here.

I went directly in the aisle where the mint and basil were. I grabbed two plastic bag and chose carefully the good ones. While I was doing that, I heard her saying something, but I could barely hear her. So, I quickly picked them and jogged to the counter.

"I was talking to the lady that was passing by," She gently laughs, grabbing the herbs that I placed in front of me. "School next week, ready?"

Shrugging, I put my hands in my pockets. "It's stressing me out, I don't know what to do in the future. I have to get good grades for university."

She tuts, putting the herbs in a larger plastic bag. I glance to the side to see what I should get, and the ice cream caught my eye. I take the one I loved mango ice cream, and gave it to her.

"That would 13 000 won," She spoke as I took out my wallet. "And you don't worry about a thing. You'll do well, I know you will. Just have a bit of faith in you, okay?"

I laugh, nodding. Of course, I do well because I don't do anything else but study. I only have one friend and she's a girl, Hyejin. But we barely hang out, it's only at school. She's amazing from the first day that I met her. Truly an amazing friend.

As I eat my ice cream, that's when I hear a distant shout. My head turned immediately to this person's voice but it was barely audible. As the sound grew, I could finally decide each word.