ＭＥＴ ＹＯＵ ＢＹ ＴＨＥ ＰＩＬＥ ＯＦ ＳＴＲＡＷ

the jurney to familiar places

"you have your pajamas right?"

"of course."

"and you didn't forget the toothbrush?"

"I packed it right after I used it. don't worry."
minho chuckled, leaning his head against the car headrest.

they were currently on their way to the train station, while listening to the radio, which was talking about the beautiful weather.

"if I could, I would drive you there, but I have to go to work at eleven thirty, I wouldn't be able to make it in time."
Minhos mom sighed.

"it's okay mom, I like train rides. I took a few books if I would be bored, and I have my phone fully charged."
minho said, reassuring his mom.
"and I will be fine."

"okay. you took the zip bag with your snack on the table right?"

Minho opened his backpack, showing her the mentioned zip bag.
"see? all good. I'm not eleven anymore mom, I can pack properly."

"I know. you're my big big boy."
mrs. lee joked, smacking Minhos thigh.

Minho just playfully rolled his eyes, before looking out of the window, enjoying the view.

•~•

"the stop is only ten minute walk from the ranch, so you will have to walk there, since no one is free to pick you up. there is a sign showing it, since some people go there to ride horses, so you should be able to find it easily. if anything happens, call me, or grandma, okay?"
Minhos mom said, holding Minhos cheeks.

"you're embarrassing me."
minho whined.

"aish, this kid."
Minhos mom smacked his shoulder, before pulling him in for a hug.
"I'm gonna miss you."

minho smiled a little, hugging his mom back.
"I'm gonna miss you too."

mrs. lee sighed, before pulling away.
"your train is going to leave soon, you should get in. call me a lot, okay?"

Minho nodded.
"yeah. take care of yourself. make sure you're eating properly, and sleep well."

his mom gave him a small smile, before pulling him in for last quick hug.
"I will. now go. say hi to grandma for me, okay?"

"okay. bye mom."
minho waved, as he made his way into the train.

•~•

thirty minutes went by like nothing.
minho was listening to his favorite songs, while eating his peanut butter jelly sandwich and looking out of the window.

he watched as the city slowly turned into more greener land, the huge houses replaced by trees.
his mom was maybe right.
it could be a bit relaxing.

he still had around half an hour before he will actually arrive at the station, so he decided to finally take out the first book he packed.
he sorta liked reading, he read whenever he was bored, or if his phone was dead.
or if he just felt like educating himself with a book about a serial killer murdering his victims in the most grossest way possible.
very demure, very cutesy, very mindful.

half an hour later, minho was finally getting off of the train.

well, the easy part was behind him.
now he had to find the ranch and not get lost.

don't get me wrong, minho went there a lot when he was a kid, especially after his father left him and his mom, but he was young.
the last time he went there was when he was thirteen.
he's seventeen now.

of course that four years isn't a long time, and he should be able to remember the way, right?
well, Minhos memory was on the level of eighty year old grandma with Alzheimer's.
so...that's that.
and besides, he always went by car with his mom, he never took the train, so he wasn't exactly sure where to go.

to his luck, he did notice a sign.
walking up to it, he realized that it was, in fact, the sign that showed the way to the ranch.
cool, now minho just has to hope he wouldn't get lost on the way.

•~•

step by step, minho got closer to his destination.
he could recognize the way now, so he was more then sure he won't get lost.
well, of course if his stupid ass won't mess anything up.

when his eyes met with the familiar place, he could feel how warmth made its way to his chest.

this was it.
a place with too many memories to count.
a place he has been spending his entire summer since he was two years old.

well...until he just...didn't.
he grew up.

with a sigh, he made his way to the oh so familiar door. he was a little scared as he was about to knock.
you know, what if his grandma won't recognize him?

the knock was more painful then minho thought it would be.
but that feeling of uncertainty disappeared right after he saw his grandmas eyes filled with excitement, shock, and happiness.

"minho?"
his grandma gasped, not quite believing her eyes.

minho gave her the most precious smile.
"yes, it's me. I missed you-"

he wasn't even able to say another word, before his grandma pulled him in for a hug.
yes, his mom was definitely a mothers daughter.

"oh my god, how long has it been? like three years?"
she said, pulling away from the hug to look at minho closely.

"four years actually."
minho said.

"four years even! oh my god. come inside, you have to tell me everything!"
grandma said excitedly, before pulling minho inside.