It was only when the bus got bumped into the hole in the road that his memories got hit too! With a gasp of breath, he hurriedly bend his shoulder down and picked up the bag which was underneath the seat. He opened the side pocket of the bag where he took out his old phone.
"…"
The situation of the phone was the same as he last touched it. The tip of their finger felt rough as he thoroughly brushed his finger over the broken phone screen. Something for a split second flashed through his eyes as his eyelids drooped once again. He swiftly jumped his finger to the upside where he clicked the power button. He kept on pressing the button again and again and waiting patiently to lit up the screen. Surely, it was way older to the point if it was turned on was more strange than if it wasn't.
He tapped on his other palms a few times before a sign of relief was lighten up on his face. Oddly enough his phone was turned on. That 'tapping' idea worked on. He braced himself properly until the phone was completely working. Relaxing his shoulders he leaned backward calmly.
The first thing he saw on the cracked screen was the Jina noona messages. He clicked the messages box and when he was about to enter the chat room his phone rang with the notification bell. It was a minute later. Surely, the phone was in the state of being repaired. He quickly went through her messages and tapped out of it too. There was no sign of surprise meant or a depressing look on his expression. It was the same as Aiden showed him. Moreover, He sneaked into his contacts list and stopped at the name of 'Mr. Foodie'.
He went directly on his Akakao chat and began to type in a solemn face.
"Hey! I'm coming home tonight!"
With a short pause, he typed further.
"If you're free tomorrow, let's meet!"
Resting his chin on his hand he turned his head to the outside of the windows.
"It's been a long while.."
He muttered under his breath as though the landscapes and the dry soil made him recall some of the familiar memories. As far as his memories served him, the greenery and nostalgic feelings he shared with the environment were gone with the windy season. An unknown heaviness weight his heart out of the blue.
He was about to sink into it more when he awoke was by the notification bell on his phone. He lowered his chin and for the first time there was a faint scent of happiness in the atmosphere when he knew it was the instant reply from his friend named 'Mr.foodie'.
And not only that, this time both the notification bell and the arrival of the messages popped out so chronically at the same time. For a brief moment, the thought of greediness of not spending money for the repair even crossed his mind.
*Messages*
"Really? You're returning? Ahh~ Finally after almost 2 years. I've missed you, buddy! The sudden news is still making me think somehow unbelievable haha!"
Seeing this, The heaviness that was pressing his heart before vanished into god knows where and instead filled with warmth. The thought of 'someone is there..missing you and welcoming you' really overpowered his emotions. In mere minutes, he realized apart from his family members, there was still someone who loves and cares for him genuinely. His one and only friend 'Oasis'. In other words, he was touched.
With a 'ding' sound, he received another message,
"However, I can't meet you right now!"
In a midst of happiness, his heart skipped a bit. Raising tens eyebrows he immediately asked,
"Why? What happened? Did something happen? Is everything all right?"
The phrases vividly showed the newmoon panicking feelings.
"Haha! Nothing much. Just broke the ligaments of one of my legs. Doctor strictly prohibited me to stay inside the home and resting until it completely heals."
Upon knowing the reason, he let out a sigh of relief in one go thanking god for not the major incident.
"Sigh! What were you doing that resulted in this situation?"
"Idk! I was walking down the stairs normally and the next second I found the world spinning around my head for a few seconds and before I knew it I was already on the floor with unbearable pain."
The phrase, "I doubt the sentences are full!" was squirming through his face. But he swallowed it knowing he must have a reason for it.
"Now I'm temporarily disabled, how about you come to my house tomorrow?"
No matter what the suggestion and the words were fine in all aspects. However, the second half idea made newmoon's expression change as though some unpleasant memories bubbled up in his mind. Gradually, the gentle color of his face started to fade and in no time a pale complexion seemed to cover his expression.
"..H-House?"
He mumbled himself as the sharp dissolved eyebrows with hideous and disgusted eyes glared at him as though he was some sort of dirt floating from the surface of the vast ocean. His fingers began to shake as a cold sweat slipped down from his forehead. The next second, he heard his chest expanding and extracting rapidly. In no time, his hands were all sweaty.
Indescribable emotions shone in his eyes. Guilt? Shame? Sorry? Regret? Dignity? Hatred? He didn't know what it was. To this day too! What he saw in her those eyes!
"..H-How can I forget such an unforgettable face?"
His lips quirked.
"T-Those looks, the way she glared at me making such disgusting gaze ever as though I'm some sort of slut, shit or diseases. T-Those resentful, piercing eyes carrying so much hatred towards me...the way she throbbed his sharp eyebrows and the clenched teeth as if she can't bear to stand seeing me even a few seconds too…"
Only when the next notification bell rang did he snap out subconsciously. He lowered his eyes.
"I'll tell my mum to cook your favorite meat dishes."
"…"
"So, the location is fixed alright? I'll be waiting patiently."
Somehow reading the 2nd message, his breathing stability got a little balance. He closed his eyes and inhaled a deep breath from his nose. The next moment, he exhaled a long breath through his mouth.
"It's alright. It's alright..calm down heart!"
Suggesting to himself, he repeated the same action a few times. Finally, his consciousness returned and he thankfully cool down.
"Okay!"
He replied and put down his phone turning the screen off, his eyes gazing outside once again.
After a pause, he thought to himself, "To be honest, I don't want to return to that hometown. That p-place..!"
As though he remembered the glimpse of the bitter past that he couldn't hold onto, he closed his eyes again secretly wanting to vanish it away.
Sighing hard, he gently laid the right side of his head against the windows and complained about his headache, "Ugh! This pain. I wonder when will it go!"
Despite his heart, he was compelled to travel back to his home. Why? Cause at this point he would rather die than live with that so-called two-faced grandma. To the point, where he was even willing to swallow his anxiety and sacrificed his mental health for it. However, either way, he wasn't given any opinion or choices about the place in the first place.
Slowly, newmoon's consciousness began to drift away for good and all he could feel was the bumping road. As if all the disruptive thoughts clashed his blood pressure too, surprisingly fell asleep.
…
~Ring~Ring~Ring~
"NEWMOON!!! WAKE UP!"
The loud, sharp, ear-piercing voice woke the neighbor up early in the morning. And newmoon was no exception in that circumstance too!
Such violent callings were from his dad. Newmoon's dad.
As soon as he heard it, all his good sleep vanished into the thin air. And in a clear tone, he answered, "I'm already awake..dad!"
Compared to his tone, his tiny body postures and gestures were saying completely otherwise. It was a habit he invented himself. Soon after he regained his posture back and began to make his bed.
"The sun is already top over the head and yet you are-! Blah~Blah~Blah~You good-for-nothing brat!"
It hasn't even been 8 'o'clock in the morning and the nagging of his dad started. The childhood of newmoon went nothing exceptional. Turning a deaf ear to his father, Newmoon started to broom and cleaned the house. Meanwhile, his dad was still shouting and scolding newmoon about god knows what!
Newmoon was already a step away to lose his nerve because of his father and seeing john in the other room who was sleeping so soundly, he snapped and yelled, "Here, John is still sleeping soundly, and yet you haven't said a single word to him, let alone giving him an earful! You always picked me-!"
"WHAT?"
From the other side of the wall, dad raised his voice.
Glaring at john, newmoon began to shake him with his foot, "OI, WAKE UP! The sun has risen-!"
"WHY ARE YOU WAKING HIM NOW? LET HIM SLEEP MORE YOU DONKEY! DON'T YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS TO DO FIRST?"
Dad's tone was extremely violet.
Newmoon's face turned all red with anger and in an instant, his eyes filled with water. He clenched his fist as he swallowed his pride and tried to hold back.
"What's up with such a loud ruckus early in the morning?"
At the same time, Newmoon's mum appeared in the room. A slender body with light-colored skin. It was the first thing everybody would notice when they encountered newmoon's mum. When it comes to height, she was medium. Yawning over, she brushes her front messy hair and tied it back at her head. A mesmerizing face was revealed. Compared to the typical stereotype of Korean facial features, she was utterly on the next level: The western type. Double eyelids, a straight high nose, and naturally thick and big lips added the essential need for goodness. Not only these, but she also looked extremely young too!
In front of her, Newmoon looked as if he was adopted cause none of her genes of her was passed on to him.
"What would there be? He always goes on getting on my nerve!"
Now that mom had entered, dad lowered his voice although the bitterness was still there.
However, the newmoon remained silent clenching the end of the broom.
Mom sighed, "Now now! Let go of the fuss! Wake john up and quickly get ready! Isn't your new school starting today? The fact It's gonna be the first day we've to reached there quite sooner."
Newmoon flinched as he excitedly nod his head.
"Okay!"
Just as she mentioned, it was the first ever day of the newmoon. Not only for him but for both Jina and john as well. At this point, the newmoon was 10 years. It only has been a few weeks since they had migrated to the newly built house. All of his childhood, they did nothing but migrate from here and there randomly without any fixed home. Finally, after long years of hard work and preservation, newmoon parents managed to save a handsome of money from which they bought land in the center of town and eventually built a home.
Although the home was somehow built, it still lacked in many aspects. Like renovation, colors, and background. To speak bluntly, it was incomplete. Only the room, kitchen, and bathroom were distinguished. Other than that the entire house was bare and open. The word 'home' was only applicable in the name. However, despite having a lack, it was the first ever home they made in their entire life. So they're pretty lively and proud.