His Sanctuary [Jikook]

Chapter 1

PARK JIMIN'S POV

It's a typical day in a crowded lecture hall. The air is heavy with the scent of textbooks, ink, and utter boredom. The professor's monotonous voice blends into the background noise as students converse amongst each other, others slump in their seats, failing to keep their eyes open. No one seemed to be paying attention to the lesson. It's understandable, of course. With this much heat, it becomes very hard to concentrate on a boring lecture.

As minutes tick by, the professor's lesson seems to be coming to an end. Everyone is now paying more attention, seeing as the class is almost over anyway. I glance outside the window, looking at the sunlight that beamed outside. I daydream about the not so fun adventures that await me right after this class. It's the last class of the day, so I won't have much to do after this.

The voices in the lecture hall echoed louder as students spoke and laughed more comfortably, making me snap out of my thoughts. Our professor was now making his way out the door, and others were following behind him. I sighed, closing my textbook and notebook. I put them alongside my pens back to my backpack and stand up, getting ready to leave the hall. With the class being so crowded, I have to wait my turn before I can get out of the hall. Luckily, there are two doors, so that helps.

Immediately as I get out, the air feels different, cooler, more refreshing than inside the class. I walked away from the rest of my classmates, and my eyes focused on my phone screen. I'm not doing anything, really, swiping left and right on the apps. I'm just pretending to be busy on it so I don't appear as bored or lonely.

I walked out of the campus grounds and walked straight to the direction headed home. My place is not that far from my university so I don't have to take a bus or taxi, I just walk home. More time to myself and more exercise, I win either way. I took the usual shortcut that I use every day. Passing through narrow alleys and old buildings that people use as hook-up spots.

It's not a very safe place, but I think it's safe enough during the day. A lot of people walk there, unless when it's starting to get late. I've heard stories of how there are guys who mug people in that area, I'm just lucky enough to have not experienced that. Besides, I don't walk there at night time.

In about 15 minutes, I arrived at my humble home. I took off my shoes and put on my slippers and then walked inside. I threw my backpack on the couch and looked around the house.

"EOMMA." I yelled out loud for her to hear me wherever she was. There was silence for a bit, so I had to shout again.

"MOMMY."

"AISHH, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO YELL ALL THE TIME? I'M IN THE BACK YARD." I heard her annoyed voice shout back. My heart automatically felt at ease, and I ran out towards the backyard. My mom is the only person who I live with and whom I live for. She's the queen of my heart and my happiness.

I reached the backyard and spotted her sitting next to her flowers, softly touching the petals. I smiled, looking at my beautiful mother, the most brave and loving and beautiful woman I've ever come across. I walked to her cheerfully.

"My beautiful mother." I happily said and bent down to hug her.

No, not because I'm taller than her. But because she's in a wheelchair.

"My beautiful son... finally, you're back. Did you have a good day?" She asked while giving me a little kiss on the cheek while still hugging me.

"It was long, hot, and boring. But I enjoyed all the lectures we had. What about you? Did you have a good day? Nothing happened while I was gone?"

"Don't worry too much, I'm always fine whether you're here or not. All you have to do is live your life and focus on your studies. Let eomma do the worrying for both of us, okay?" Mom told me while caressing my cheek softly. I smiled sadly and nodded.