jeon wonwoo was finally convinced he packed up all the necessary stuff in the jet black travel bag that lay on his bed. he didn't need much since clothing, books and a toothbrush were his essentials. he would only be gone for two weeks, much more wasn't needed to entertain the bookworm, who wasn't planning on doing much besides reading books all day anyways.
he let his eyes wander through his room one last time to make sure he collected everything he would need in those two weeks. after the nth time of checking he assured himself he got everything, zipping the bag closed and reaching for the handle to lift the heavy weight over his shoulder.
it was summer break. that time of the year where most people were thrilled to go on their long awaited vacation to spend time with their families or friends. a time where they could relax and plan several activities to grow closer to their loved ones.
however, to wonwoo, going on vacation wasn't as much of a thrill as it was to most people. the boy rather stayed at home all day, stuffing his face in a book, engulfing himself in a different reality far away as his escape from society. this way he would also be able to meet up with his friends regularly, his only method of socializing.
"wonwoo! have you packed everything?" he heard his mother yelling from underneath the staircase. he threw a quick glance at the clock that hung up on his smokey grey wall, the digits pointing out it was time for them to start their trip to god knows where.
"i'm coming." he replied, his voice showing equally as much emotion as the way he felt about it; barely anything.
his parents decided to surprise their kids by not telling the location of their trip this year. the only hint they were given was something with a forest near a beach, which seemed like an odd combination to wonwoo. he wished he packed the right equipment, in case his parents planned wild things again like they had done last year..
wonwoo walked down the stairs, meeting his four year old sister who had been patiently waiting for him, clinging onto a teddy bear as big as her tiny upper body.
"we're going on vacation!" she screeched, energetically jumping up and down.
wonwoo ignored her and walked straight towards the car so he could drop his bag in the trunk, being used to her usual energetic self. he wondered how the two could possible have the same genes, not remembering ever being so bouncy, not even when he was her age.
even as a kid he used to be extraordinary calm, supposedly to his teachers. when all the kids in his kindergarten class went outside to play, he hid inside to read another book he secretly took from the library where he wasn't even allowed as a toddler. they found him weird, a misfit, and he still wondered how he ended up finding the greatest friends in high school and finding out how to be social all thanks to them.
"you ready for a trip, son." his father spoke to him once he threw his bag in the trunk of their silver suv, his tone being filled with the same amount of excitement as his son. like father like son they say, am i right?
"of course i am." wonwoo answered, speaking fluent sarcasm, which his dad took for granted as he gave wonwoo a small smile, pushing the pair of glasses a little higher up his nose.
"your mother seems to be very happy we finally get to spend some time with the four of us again." he speaks, pointing at his mother who holds onto his sister, locking the front door so they are finally all ready to take off. "i can't believe the year went by this fast."
"well, time flies when you're having fun they say." wonwoo answered, reaching for his phone in his back pocket and plugging in the pair of earphones he had been holding on to for the whole time, without sticking the buds in his ears yet.
"can we go now." the little girl whined, impatiently pulling on her mother's hand so they could get to the car faster.
"be patient, somi. mommy needs to double check on our house to assure the bad guys stay out of it." his mother explained, talking a little more childish so the toddler would understand what she was saying.
her eyes instantly shot up to her mothers face, an expression of terror flushing over her upon the words her mother had just told her. "bad guys?! what are they going to do to us?" she asked in utter panic, resulting in their mother letting out a small chuckle.
"they won't do anything if mommy locks the door sweetheart, don't worry and get in the car now!" her mood instantly brightened up at the sign she could finally get in the car so they could take off for vacation.
"get in the car wonwoo." his father spoke to him after they had been watching the small conversation between a mother and her daughter, "this might be a long ride." the middle aged man let out a sigh, resting his hand on his son's shoulder in compassion when he saw the teenagers mood drop even more than it already had.
however, without saying anything further, wonwoo opened the car door and let his body sink down on the backseat of the car. the moment his father twisted the car keys and the engine started roaring delightedly, his mother turned the volume of the radio all the way up.
"this is one of my favorites!" she exclaimed, before singing along with the lyrics completely off-key. somi, who didn't understand a single word of what they were singing, joined in on her mother, making wonwoo scrunch up his nose about all the unnecessary loudness surrounding him.
he plugged the buds of his earphones in his ear, trying to shut off the biggest amount of sound and letting a lively tune play as the first song, distracting his irritations by staring out of the window to the buildings that flashed by as the car sped up.
and at that moment, being stuffed in a car, taking off to an unknown destination, suffering from his mother and little sister being louder than the music that blasted directly into his ears, he knew;
his lack of excitement went downhill even more.
