You could say that before meeting Wonwoo, you were a staunch member of the "dog lovers club." Maybe it was because you always felt that dogs were more straightforward and affectionate, like your own dog—when they liked you, it was obvious and wholehearted, no hidden motives. But cats were different. You had owned a cat before, and you had observed their daily behavior closely. There was always this sense of laziness and distance with cats. Their affection wasn't something displayed openly; it was a quiet gaze, waiting for you to notice. But when you approached to show affection, they would often walk away with an air of aloofness.
Just like how Wonwoo was awkward and distant.
"This marks the tenth year since we came to Korea. We're about to graduate soon, too, Minseo," you said, turning your head to look at Minseo beside you. Her long black hair was being blown into a mess by the wind, but it didn't detract from her beautiful face. "They really are siblings," you thought to yourself, "she looks so much like Mingyu. If she debuted like Mingyu oppa, she'd definitely be a visual, too."
"Hey, what are you thinking about? Daydreaming again?" Minseo noticed your gaze and waved her hand in front of your face.
"You've been spacing out a lot lately. Is something on your mind?" Minseo asked, concerned.
"Minseo," you began, "I've been in Korea for so long, longer than I lived in China. Sometimes I wonder, where is home?" You forced a smile.
"You're such a sentimental person. You're starting to sound more and more like someone I know!" Minseo teased lightly. "Just think of it as having two homes! In China, you have your family and relatives, and in Korea, you have us!" Minseo said cheerfully. "Besides, it's not like during the pandemic anymore. China and Korea are so close, and it's so easy to travel back and forth. You really don't have to worry!"
"You're right, that makes sense." You smiled at her. "Talking to you or Mingyu oppa always makes me feel so relaxed."
"Consider it a family tradition," Minseo said with a wink.
"These are good days, aren't they?"
---
You remembered when you first came to Korea, your parents left you with their friends here. Back then, you didn't speak the language and didn't know anything about this place. You were just a child who had recently finished elementary school, and everything around you was unfamiliar. To avoid the awkwardness of language barriers, you acted like a defensive cat, rejecting others' kindness.
Thankfully, Mingyu's parents and both he and Minseo treated you well. Minseo was the same age as you, and having someone to walk to and from school with gave you some sense of security. As for Mingyu, from the moment you met him, you felt he had the sunny disposition of a golden retriever. You still remember that he was already a trainee back then. Minseo often joked, "My brother just has a pretty face." Of course, you knew Minseo was only teasing him as siblings do, trying to get a reaction out of him and turn him into "Sour Mingyu."
In your eyes, Kim Mingyu had always been an outstanding person in every way—a fun, thoughtful, and sensitive guy. Even though he came across as carefree most of the time, he was surprisingly detail-oriented. It was said that in their dorm, he was always the one tidying up. Despite being younger than many others, he was already a reliable friend.
Mingyu exuded a kind of magnetic charm. No matter how difficult things seemed, as long as he was there, nothing felt impossible. Like before his debut, when he would go to training after school every day. Despite the exhausting routine, he never seemed crushed by it. Every time he came back, he'd be smiling, holding a cup of instant noodles from the store near the company, and greeting us with that infectious energy.
As long as he's fed, "Sour Mingyu" turns into "Happy Mingyu."
That's my impression of Kim Mingyu.
