"Newmoon, Aiden also be tagging along with you to our hometown! Be nice to him and take care of him. There isn't much but make sure to explore our village. Have a safe journey."
Newmoon, "?"
"Um, I informed her about your old phone condition on the top messages."
"Ah- Why don't you care to explain the truth about how you managed to get her permission first?"
This time it was not thought that spark but an actual mouth of his. A cloud of doubt marked his face.
"Oh- about that-"
Aiden broke into laughter as his memory flashed back to a few months ago.
"..In one condition! Allow me to visit your hometown with your younger brother, Newmoon!"
Jina, "?"
Adding to it, Aiden proposed with a smile, "I haven't gone to any cities besides Seoul in south Korea let alone the countryside. So, this time I'm thrilled to explore and experience it. In a way, I can...!"
"So, please allow the chance to?"
Aiden bowed to her.
Seeing how he was fully bent at a 45-degree angle Jina quickly wave her hand, "I-Its alright. There is no need to show such respect-. Um. It's such a simple request compared to mine."
"However-!"
She bit her lips as a slight hesitation seemed to be seen in her eyes, "I'm afraid there isn't much scenario for sightseeing. So you might be bored to death seeing just hills, mountains, and bare lands."
"That's the main sole reason for my trip to my nonna's hometown."
"But there won't be any convenient means of transportation."
"I don't mind."
"But there won't be any source of home!"
"I don't mind."
"But there won't be any source of human beings too!"
"Never mind!"
Jina, "…"
In the end, she gave up and allowed him to go.
…
Off course, newmoon wouldn't get the details of their conversation even though Aiden would explain it. So, Aiden could only point out the main key point.
Hearing him, Newmoon seriously became blank in his mind. Seriously, who would have thought Aiden would be prepared from ages ago?
"He must be itching to break his legs" was the first he muttered under his breath when his subconscious returned.
And what about Jina noona? The one who neither had friends to visit home nor she wanted one.., So how come to the sudden personality change? What was the cause? Is it because he was a relative of his in-laws so she was breaking the stubborn personalities aside?
But looking back at the accident, anything can happen unexpectedly from Jina. It was for sure. In front of that, today's voice messages don't even weigh a bit.
Newmoon hung his head low and sighed deeply in a way as if he had no choice but to agree.
"No matter how much I give it a thought, I still can't get through your words and be surprised. But, What about your precious grandma and Mrs. Song? How can you be heartless to a point of leaving them here all alone-?"
"Don't worry about that. One of my long-distance nephews is coming over here for a while."
Surprisingly, a familiar voice sounded in the atmosphere. Newmoon was startled and his gaze itself falls on the eyes of the grandma who was standing in front of him.
She couldn't have come at any better time than this.
Judging from the direction she was standing, Newmoon guessed she must have entered the house recently. But why doesn't the door make any sound at all? Must have done something to that part too!
Newmoon hesitated a bit before he protested as though he was pretending to be caring, "..But..grandma..both of you are-!"
"Do just like she said. Newmoon!"
A hand slid over grandma's shoulders. Mrs. Song continued with a big smile probably happiest now he was going to leave, "Most of the time we'll be outside anyway. So, it doesn't matter. It's fine. Go and have fun!"
With a pause, another big smile could be seen on Aiden's expression, His tone was even excited, "Oh my! How sweet of you too grandma! Especially my precious grandma! Seeing your considerable behavior almost made me weak- *ahem* proud on my knees and a second away to wield the tears from my eyes"
Newmoon almost choked and accidentally let out a surprising 'pfft' from his mouth.
While small visible veins popped out from Mrs. Song's forehead. Hiding it behind her stiff smile, Mrs. Song answered, "It's too bad only now you're realizing it!"
While an invisible series of battles were going on between Aiden and Mrs. Song, on the other hand, Grandma slowly yet elegantly approached newmoon and handed him one big box. The box was square and beautifully crafted with various detailed designs. The design was somehow similar to the maiden's outfit. Maybe they all had the same taste when it comes to design. Or got a private house designer? He had heard it from here and there about it back then.
She stated firmly, "Inside this box, there are some gifts to my in-laws from myself! I hope it comes to their liking. And please send my apologies for not being able to visit them personally!"
The phrase 'No need to' was roaring inside his soul. But he had to maintain the clean profile of 'lip service.
He didn't waste time bragging to deny it cause he knew somewhere the saying, 'Whenever some elder handles you something, Do not deny it and simply accept it. It's not called being mannerless but a respect'.
In return, he honestly thanked and bowed to her despite respect.
…
Newmoon and Aiden peacefully walked out of the house and were waiting for the cab to reach the terminal bus station. From where they first take a bus to.XXXXX and then Boseong.
Only when his mind got cleared and a fresh breath of the environment got pumped into his chest did he recall something.
His new eyephone and tons of shopping bags.
Where were they?
Newmoon gulped.
Earlier the atmosphere was first full of doubt and then turned swiftly into stiff and eventually awkward. So many changes in climate just in a few minutes. Only in that household, he felt such intense feelings. Amidst it, Nobody would be in their right mind to think things through. Newmoon was exceptional.
Seeing how the footsteps of the newmoon were getting slow, Aiden couldn't help but to directly asked him.
"Did you forget anything?"
"…Hyung?"
It was the only word he could spill at the moment. His heart clenched a bit as he felt bad about it. He was so serious about the shopping yesterday how would he feel if he says he forgot to bring along?...No- the main question was did he even have an idea of its location in the first place?
Now a cold sweat broke out on his face.
Glancing at him, Aiden smiled while patting his back, "I already got them to pack in my luggage."
Newmoon lifted his chin and stared him in glistening eyes, "Really?"
"Really!"
"…My eyephone?"
"Um! Somehow I had a hunch you might forget so I carried it in my room-!"
In a burst of happiness, before he could even think vividly he find himself hugging Aiden tightly.
His eyes filled with water.
"Thank you! Hyung!"
Aiden, "?"
Newmoon had encountered so many things staying there. A feeling of being watched and being suffocated inside such big rooms constantly. He had developed a little knowledge of how Jina noona must have lived under the same roof with him. Maybe the guilt arose inside his heart or he might have been lonely for so long that he was tearing up.
Aiden was first shocked by such an unbelievable act from him but soon accepted it looking at how strong his arms were. The sensation of being an elder Hyung evaporated from his heart. Being the only child of the parents, He imagined for a minute that if he had a younger brother then, just like newmoon he too would be hugging and stitching to him.
Once again, he patted his back while smiling as if he knew it was the most effective than any words at a moment.
"There there! Save that for later when we have reached your hometown!"
As Newmoon expected, Aiden was dependable.
…
Meanwhile, on the other hand, grandma and Mrs. Song remains pin drop silent until both Aiden's and newmoon's figure gradually disappeared from their sight.
With a 'Beep' sound the door got closed and so does their every expression too!
Grandma returned and sat on the couch. Her expression was mild. While Mrs. Song was still standing there in her original posture gazing into the timeless door, "…"
She turned around with a sudden smile and light brows as if she thought enough.
"I'm surprised about the decision you take! How unlikely of you!"
"I think I'm well aware that I shared my thought with you the other night?"
Grandma raised her brows.
"Haha. But not expected you to gift that thing!"
This time grandma was silent.
Mrs. Song grinned showing a fine sign of mysteries on it, "As I thought, such change of heart."
"Now to talk about it, I was surprised about the decision you take at the last minute too! How unlikely of you!"
Grandma said smoothly her wondering eyes seeming to wait for the answer.
Mrs. Song, "…"
She was referring to the earlier scenario. How suddenly Aiden decided to tag along and it was even more shocking when Mrs. Song agreed too!
Sighing deeply, She walked towards grandma and plopped beside him.
"Were there any choices left? Create a ruckus in front of your law relative? Either way, he would've run away from the house if I had stopped him. That's for sure."
Her sound was heavy as if Aiden had suffocated her.
"Still, it is a rare sight to see after all."
By the end of sentences, Her wrinkled cheek lifted a bit upwards, "As I thought, such change of heart."
Grandma smiled. For the first time. Although their face was covered with a fine line of wrinkled still the facial structure made her look quite pretty even at that age. If newmoon would be there he definitely would complement it in his heart.
Witnessing their mocking smile from her, Mrs. Song pouts her mouth, "Yeah yeah! Go on. Tease me however you like. You'll know my pain once you have your grandchildren."
Before grandma's smile came to abort end, her eyes became a little soft somewhat sad, "…"
"That's when you'll remember your poor friend."
…
To reach boseong-gun, located in the Jeollanam-do region which was the name of the newmoon's hometown they had to swipe two buses. First from the terminal bus station to Gwangju then finally to Boseong. Not only that, The fact their home lay quite deep into the city, they had to take more rides and walked a few 8-9km before they finally reached their home.
Within 2 years, the government developed new roads which eased their pain.
It was around 2 pm when they got on their second bus from Gwangju city. Now the half journey was cleared and a half remaining. Throughout the journey, Aiden was super excited that he constantly clicked the photos, and took videos of trivial matters such as clicking the photos of getting about to ride on the bus to the point of a dog pooping on the way.
Newmoon buried his face in the shadow of the front seat every once in a while, seeing hyung's behavior. He silently cursed himself what was he thinking when he hugged him? He was Like a small curiosity child who would grab and do things to whatever catches his attention.
Amidst it, Something was slipping through his mind, "…"