Our Little Lives, in this Big World

[INTRO:] A kid who has grown up a Lot

I once saw a sunflower blossom when the snow had not yet melted from the ground. It looked so strong and bright, it didn't even snap when the frosty winds blew. I wasn't thinking about anything in particular when the flower caught my eye, but even as a kid I knew it was an unusual happening. Then, I looked up and saw you across the courtyard—which was just a decently sized square patch of grass with a bench on opposite ends, and that flower bush in the center. And you, of course, along with the nurse that was pushing your wheelchair. I wondered what could have happened for a boy around my age to end up in the hospital. You went back inside before I could say anything, I don't even think you noticed me, but I thanked the act of fate that I got to see you again.

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AUGUST 16, WEDNESDAY, 9:15AM.

"Mingyu, you want some eggs?" The handsomely deep voice echoes up to the second floor of the apartment and into Kim Mingyu's room. He has been in a battle with his alarm clock for the past twenty minutes, but leave it to the sound of his roommate's voice to shoot his eyes wide open.

He sleepily leans over and checks his phone, taking a sip of water from that strawberry glass he likes to keep by his bed.

Now that his dry throat isn't so dry, he musters up a soft, "Yes please," before rolling out of bed, knowing Wonwoo was going to make them for him whether he heard him or not. Halfway down the hallway, Mingyu decides to keep walking when he passes the bathroom and heads straight for the stairs. His morning shower can wait a bit longer if he wants to catch his roommate before he leaves for work.

"Morning Wonwoo," Mingyu says, coming down the stairs. He can't hide the smile when his tired eyes are greeted with a tall figure in a light gray plaid suit making breakfast.

"Mornin' " Wonwoo mumbles, quite focused as he divides the eggs between two plates that have pieces of toast and some fruit already on it. Mingyu doesn't mind in the slightest when Wonwoo makes breakfast for him in his pajamas with bedhead, that's been the picture he gets to wake up to this whole summer. But this morning, now that summer is nearing its end, Wonwoo is all dressed for work. This is just a different category of the guy's many handsome looks Mingyu always takes quiet pleasure in witnessing.

"Ready for the first day of the semester?" Mingyu asks, grabbing his plate from the other. Wonwoo had just taken a particularly big bite of his egg on toast but, nonetheless, his shining face gives Mingyu his answer before he swallows.

"Well, it's not the official first day," he eventually says with a pleasant ring in his voice, "I'm just helping out with the move-in's."

"Oh yeah, Chan is moving into the dorms today. Is he excited?"

Wonwoo nods vigorously, "Very!"

"I asked if he was excited, not you, you dork. But then again, it's not everyday one's 'favorite nephew' moves into the dorms at your university."

"Exactly, you ass. My beloved Chan... where has the time gone?" Wonwoo fakes a sniffle, wiping away an invisible tear, "It seems just last week when he would beg me to take him to that sweet little park at the top of the hill, then tire himself out and wine if I didn't carry him home."

"Yep, because a seven minute walk is too much for a lil' kid."

"Hey, you know when Chan plays, he plays hard. And he has little legs."

"Hm, I wonder how that 'plays hard' would translate now..."

Wonwoo's eyes widen as a look of disgust befalls his face. "Agh! That's my precious angel you're talking about, you dirty old man!"

"Well, you're older than me, soooo" Mingyu smirks, "Hope he doesn't go too crazy during his first year in college like a certain someone I know..."