Jung Jihoon, The Original Maknae: An H.O.T/Shinhwa Story

Hana's new playmate

July 1998

"I'm bored oppa." The twelve-year-old Hana pouts as the Jung family packed their things.

"We already been through this Hana-ah. I have to help abeoji so we can move to your new apartment." Jihoon sighed for the tenth time.

"But I'm bored!! What am I supposed to do!?" She complained.

"I would appreciate it if you helped me open the door." Jihoon gestured at the closed door.

"Fine..." Hana opened up the main door as he and his father carried the sole couch into the moving truck.

"That's about everything Jihoon-ah gamsahabnida for helping us." His father said gratefully.

"It was a great thing you called me here. I didn't know you were considering moving. I mean this was the place we lived since moving to Seoul." Jihoon wondered.

"For obvious financial reasons it was hard to keep us living here. Your ajusshi was generous in helping us provide a better place to live. The good thing that it's in a safer neighborhood and it's closer to where you boys live at." His father explained in his usual serious tone. Jihoon could tell this a was a serious matter.

"This is related to Hana-ah?" Jihoon said quietly so she wouldn't hear them.

"Yes, admittedly this whole new living arrangements has been a bit more difficult than I expected. Hana-ah rarely interacts with anyone except for you and she has it very hard. In short, she's in desperate need of some friends. She's at the age where she needs to go out and interact with the world." Jihoon's eyes widen at realization at what he's saying.

"You want me to take her where I work?" Jihoon summarized.

"Precisely, at least in the days where you have more time. She needs to get out of her shell. Can you do for that for me? From father to son?" His father pleaded.

Jihoon looked at Hana who was peeking out the door, looking at him.

"I can try abeoji, but I'll do it for Hana-ah's sake." Jihoon agreed as the Jung family officially left their old rundown apartment.

Jihoon took one last look with sadness. Even though he didn't had much, the family made the best of it and him and his sister always played near the sidewalk.

"Gamsahabnida for creating the best memories." Jihoon did a little prayer before he ran off.

Entering the new apartment was a complete upgrade. There was an upstairs and downstairs filled with rooms for the master bed and another bedroom. The kitchen and diner were now separate and there was a small patio in the back. Like a young child the siblings ran across the open space.

They spent the next week getting adjusted and helping Hana feel comfortable with the new arrangements. Once the week was over Jihoon took his sister to the building.

Jihoon laughed seeing his sister's speechless expression.

"Is this really where you work oppa? Looks like a gigantic shopping mall." Hana gasped.

"That's the one and only. I had the same expression when I started training here. Part of the place is for the customers to shop and further inside are the training quarters and the rest is just a bunch of office crap. Do you want to enter?" Jihoon offered.

"I guess so." Hana shrugged as the two entered the building. Just like Jihoon said there were tons of people coming to shop.

Of course Jihoon had to move carefully so he wouldn't be fully exposed so he took a shorter route away from the public.