@･ﾟ✧ lee saerom Jongin’s father placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, or, at the very least, his attempt at comfort. Jongin held his bag close to his chest and kept his eyes trained on the passing fields and trees in their truck, not his father’s face. “Come on, Jongin,” He tried, voice laced with the same sentiment Jongin had heard for days. “You used to love coming here during the summer; it’s not like you’ll be here forever.”
Of course, this is the time-old excuse. ‘It won’t be forever, so deal with it,’ how was that supposed to make Jongin feel any better? Nothing lasted forever, and nothing would last forever, so Jongin was determined to stay in Seoul, where he could do something about his dreams and passions instead of wasting his time in this small town he hadn’t been in since high school.
“Jongin,” His father repeated, his voice sterner. “You know why you’re here. I feel like this is a reasonable punishment for you.”
“Punishment?” Jongin finally spoke, his voice almost cracking from how long it had been since he last used it. “I’m almost 30 years old. Do you really believe I need to have a punishment?” He was incredulous at all of this. He hated being treated like a child, and his father knew that; he had hated it since childhood. This felt larger than his father’s unwillingness to let go of Jongin’s adulthood. This felt like a divine punishment. Like Jongin was at the hands of God himself rather than what it really was. Was he being dramatic? Yes, but he had a few acting jobs under his belt. Could you really blame him? “Just because I’m your son doesn’t mean I’ll always be a child,” Jongin grumbled, sinking back into the car seat.
“Sure, I would agree with you. You are a 30-year-old adult who pays taxes, you can vote, you can drive, you can even get married if you want.” Jongin could tell his father was starting to get angry, which only made Jongin stew in his own anger. “But you act no better than a 16-year-old. When you stop acting like a kid, I’ll stop treating you like one.”
Jongin had nothing to say to that. Well, he had a lot to say to that, but it would be useless. When his father believed he was right, he was right. Jongin could argue all he wanted, but he could do nothing about it. And, in a way, he was right. Jongin knew that what he did was wrong and that the press surrounding this blunder was… deserved, at least a little. And wasn’t that enough? Was this really necessary? He had released an apology and already made all his dues. Now, he was ready to return and do what he did best. Not sit around on some farm and soak in the smell of manure.
The truck came to a stop, and Jongin immediately got out. It felt suffocating, and the smell of manure was welcome as it entered his nostrils. The open air of the countryside always cleared up his sinuses, as much as Jongin hated coming around here. Ignoring that smell.
And the memories. The house hit Jongin like a ton of bricks when he laid his eyes on it. Despite how long it had been since he lived there, it looked well-kept and… liveable. He wondered if his father had been keeping up with it all these years, or he had been planning on sending Jongin out here for some time now and had made it not look like Jongin would be sleeping in a haunted mansion.
It was definitely a fixer-upper. After all, that was one of the main reasons why Jongin was sent here in the first place. But Jongin couldn’t use a potential mould infection as a reason to get out of this predicament, unfortunately.
“Welcome home, son.” His father grinned, arm wrapped around Jongin’s taller body. “Who knows, maybe you’ll like the quiet.” He didn’t stop smiling even when he walked inside, his overnight bag at his side. Jongin suppressed the urge to groan as he turned around, looking out to the small town he had grown up in until he saw an unfamiliar… Yet a familiar face standing nearby.
@･ﾟ✧ kim jongin Her grandfather's vineyard has seen better days. The farm has been neglected since he passed, but she took it upon herself to bring it back to its former glory. Saerom has replanted the vineyard, repaired the irrigation system, and restored the old farmhouse. With all her time invested, she believes the farm can again become a thriving business. She was determined to succeed no matter what it took. Maybe that is why she never left the countryside, even though she had the opportunity to do so.
Over the years, she watched as the people she grew up with left the small town to head towards distant city lights. However, Saerom remained behind. Her feet were firmly planted in the vineyard of her family, together with the meager destiny she hoped would bloom within it. Part of her envied them for being able to experience a different way of life, a life out of the countryside, and a life full of promise and possibility.
She couldn't help but wonder what had become of her old friends. They were like family to her growing up, but now she hasn't seen any of them since high school. Those were the simple days back then; sleeping in class, cheerful voices filling the cafeteria, and playing games in the yard during recess. She remembers the days when they shared secrets and laughed until their sides hurt. Little did they know that their lives would take them on different paths, and that they would never be able to relive those childhood memories. They were probably living very different lives than her and she often wondered if they were happy, if they had achieved their dreams, and if they ever thought of her.
She remembered their names like it was yesterday; there was Seojin, the tallest of them all, and Hyeona, with the infectious giggle. Then there was Jihoon, the jokester, and Sera, the quiet one who frequently had her nose in a book. She could never forget them. But the person she remembered most was Jongin. He was the one she had been closest to and even though they had grown apart over the years, he was there at the back of her mind. Whenever she needed comfort, she thought of Jongin. He was the one who always knew what to say and made her feel invincible. She remembered how they climbed up the apple tree in his backyard, and how he always listened to her secrets without judgment. Through their childhood, she had a special bond with him and hoped that one day they would reunite and reminisce about the good old days.
That morning she had been moving debris from the old barn, thinking about how it used to house her family's cows and horses. Now it was just an old relic, a reminder of times past. She sighed and continued her work, sweeping away the dust and cobwebs that had gathered over the years.
Her old neighbor, a retired widow referred to as Grandmother Hwang watched Saerom from a close distance. She was a fixture in the neighborhood, often walked around with her cane. Her kind face and gentle spirit made everyone adore her and she took a special interest in the youth of the town. She was like a grandmother to them, and she always told them stories about her life, her family, and her travels. She had a special fondness for Saerom, and whenever she passed her house, she stopped and chat.
"Did you hear?" Grandmother Hwang asked as Saerom dragged out a bag of debris from the barn. "That former Kim family, the one that lived in that large house up the hill, had a moving truck parked there yesterday. It's been vacant for so many years since they moved to the city. Did they finally sell it to another family?"
Saerom stopped in her tracks, surprised by the news. She had driven by that house countless times, always with a heavy heart, thinking of Jongin and his family that used to live there. She felt a pang in her heart at the memories and wanted to go back to those days. However, it was impossible. Even when they moved away she never thought they would sell the place despite it being empty all these years.
As if on instinct, Saerom dropped what she was doing and ran up the hill, eager to see the house with her own eyes. She could feel her heart beating faster as she neared the house, and her mind filled with memories of Jongin and their childhood together. When she reached the house, she saw a moving truck in the long driveway and movers carrying boxes inside. She paused for a moment, watching them silently from the gate.
Maybe things happen for a reason. She can feel it in the air, like a current running through her veins. Something is coming, and the anticipation shakes her bones. She knows she can't ignore it and trusts that whatever is coming is for the best.
