"Grandma these are enough," a young man complained biting the pancake he was holding. His teeth hurriedly tore the pancake stuffing the pieces his mouth.
"Isn't hoddeok one of your best?" the old lady questioned watching his grandson as she added pancakes to his plate.
"Just because it's my best you can't continue feeding me like a pig!" the boy complained yanking his plate away but accidentally choked himself while talking.
"Slow down ,"the old woman said affectionately tapping the boy's back.
"Grandma I will be late for work,"the boy whined and took a quick sip of his milk.
Oh Ji-hoon was only sixteen years old but with his cute baby face he looked much younger. His black hair was styled in an ordinary way that his bangs covered almost his entire forehead. He and his grandmother Mrs Ahn, lived in a shabby apartment at the outskirts of Seoul. During weekends and holidays especially during summer holiday Oh Ji-hoon took different jobs be it doing deliveries and other things just to fend for himself and his grandmother,the only family he had left.
After finishing his lovely breakfast,Oh Ji-hoon rushed to his room and grabbed his gig bag, slung it over his shoulders and rushed out of the apartment kissing his grandmother goodbye . He took quick light steps to the bus stop. He kept glancing at his old watch restlessly waiting for the bus to show up and to his luck the designated bus arrived a few minutes later.
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The ride was a twenty minutes one and he was now standing outside the big white gate with the words Happiness Children's Hospital engraved on it in bold letters. He was a regular there so he immediately rushed inside heading to the garden where kids usually hanged out to enjoy the morning sun. The kids were seated at the benches listening intently to the beautiful sound of the guitar and the voice that sang alongside the rhythm. Oh Ji-hoon stopped in his tracks a distance away from the kids who were deeply engrossed in the music.
Happiness Children's Hospital was where kids who had been diagnosed with complex medical conditions and needed 24/7 medical surveillance were hospitalized. As a form of entertainment the hospital hired several entertainers be it comedians , dancers or singers to entertain the kids and kill the monotony of the hospital environment. Oh Ji-hoon was one of those entertainers. He used to work on weekends but now that he was on his summer holiday , he could work even on weekdays.
Oh Ji-hoon rushed over to the garden and halted when he was only a few centimeters away from the singer who continued singing happily ignoring his presence.
"Seo Ji-min you took my spot again,"Oh Ji-hoon confronted him.
Seo Ji-min,the addressed young man, who looked much older than Oh Ji-hoon stopped playing and looked up only to meet Oh Jihoon's angry glare.
"First of all you're late and secondly I'm older than you , how can you address me like that? You're setting a bad example to the kids,"Seo Ji-min said with an arrogant smirk.
"I'm not late. I came early today,"Oh Ji-hoon whined.
"Doctor Choi said I can take over. Besides the kids are bored with your music,"he ridiculed.
"Seo Ji-min !" Oh Ji-hoon yelled his hands clenching fists but when he noticed the kids' attention on him he immediately apologized.
"Don't come tomorrow. It will be my shift , "Oh Ji-hoon emphasized and walked away leaving a smirking Seo Ji-min.
Seo Ji-min was the one who used to work on weekdays while Oh Ji-hoon was at school but since the kids preferred Oh Ji-hoon more,it was decided that he would take over on alternating weekdays with Seo Ji-min during the holiday. However Seo Ji-min had always been envious of Oh Ji-hoon's talent and how the kids were usually jovial and free around him. Being a good manipulator with words Seo Ji-min managed to convince the doctors to give him the spot only for himself.
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Oh Ji-hoon didn't want his grandmother to worry. With her old age such things would cause distress to her and risk her health. As young as he was Oh Ji-hoon knew how to navigate through life well. He had undertaken the role of breadwinner too well. His current misfortune led him to Take A Bite ,a small restaurant owned by one of his elder friends. As he stepped inside the restaurant he dropped his gig bag on the table and sighed wearily. He buried his face in his hands to calm himself.
"Having a bad day?"a male voice asked and Oh Ji-hoon shot his head up to meet the guy's tender gaze.
"Yeah."
"Is it that jerk Seo Ji-min again?"the guy asked.
"Who else? He doesn't want to give me a chance to sing."
"He's just jealous,"the guy said.
Kim Tae-yong was one of Oh Ji-hoon's hyung friends. They knew each other when Oh Ji-hoon used to work part time there on weekdays after school. Kim Tae-yong was caring and attentive always willing to come to the younger boy's aid whenever he needed it.
Oh Ji-hoon's peripheral vision suddenly caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar silhouette. He tilted his head to have a better look at a girl wearing an apron busy cleaning the tables.
"Hyung who is that girl?"Oh Ji-hoon asked curiously.
Kim Tae-yong turned back ,glanced at the girl and looked back at Oh Ji-hoon with a smile painting his face,"That's my girlfriend. She said she wants to work here."
"Oh. Are you paying her too?"
"We haven't talked about that yet,"Kim Tae-yong said smiling sheepishly.
The girl was quite busy with her work oblivious to the small talk between the boys,her being the subject of discussion.
"She's beautiful,"Oh Ji-hoon remarked,"I guess you're not short on hands then. I think I'll go home then."
"Minho is not at work today so you can help her and maybe guide her while I'm busy at the kitchen. Come I'll introduce you to her,"Kim Tae-yong said taking Oh Ji-hoon's hand and dragged him , only releasing his hand when they stopped in front of the girl who stopped cleaning and looked at them curiously.
"Honey,this is my little brother Oh Ji-hoon,"Kim Tae-yong said side hugging Oh Ji-hoon,"Ji-hoon this is Song Hee-ju my girlfriend."
"Hee-ju noona hi,"Oh Ji-hoon bowed deeply.
"Hi,"Song Hee-ju smiled gently.
"Ji-hoon will help you to serve customers while I'm busy at the kitchen,"Kim Tae-yong instructed,"Ji-hoon,come take your apron."
The two guys suddenly walked away leaving the girl to continue her task.
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Oh Ji-hoon arrived at the hospital earlier than the previous day hoping to grab his spot earlier than Seo Ji-min. But to his surprise the guy was already there seated proudly singing to the kids. And that day happened to be a special day. Nurses from Seoul Beacon Wellness Hospital were visiting to check up on the progress of the kids. They even brought a supply of medicines and other related medical stuff. They were also seated between the kids listening to Seo Ji-min's performance.
Oh Ji-hoon suddenly began breathing chaotically and tears welled up in his eyes as he watched his chance of performing at the hospital slip away from his hands. The last time such a thing happened and he informed the doctor in charge he ended up getting scolded for being too weak to fight for his position. He knew Seo Ji-min had tainted his reputation somehow behind his back and he felt helpless right now as he stared from a distance. He raised his callused fingers towards his lips and bit his damaged nails. His guitar wasn't the best. It had hard gauge strings which required more pressure to press down increasing friction against the fingertips. Eventually after the pain and soreness it callused as the skin toughened up. But regardless of all of it Oh Ji-hoon performed pretty well and he never complained.
"Compared to him I think you're more talented and the kids look dull around him,"a female voice suddenly spoke.
Oh Ji-hoon turned around in surprise to face the owner of the voice and was even more stunned to see one of the visiting nurses. The tears had covered his eyes that he didn't even see when she left the garden.
"Hello,"Oh Ji-hoon bowed deeply.
"Jihoon-ssi,right?"the lady asked with a seraphic smile decorating her beautiful slim face and Oh Ji-hoon nodded, his eyes widening in surprise.
"How... did... you know ....my name?,"he stuttered nervously.
"Last time I visited you were the one performing and I saw the sparkles in the kids' eyes,"she revealed.
"Apparently they don't like my performance anymore,"he said sadly.
"Apparently that Seo Ji-min guy is better at pulling strings than you."
"Yeah. I'm pathetic. At first I used to perform for money but I started loving it and it felt like singing was in my blood whether I'm paid or not."
"You're so passionate about singing. I'm Yoo Ha-ri by the way."
"Maybe I should start performing on streets,"Oh Ji-hoon joked and let out a mirthless chuckle.
"When one path is blocked there is always a new path opening up somewhere else. You just have to locate it and follow it maybe you'll reach a better destination."
"A new path?"Oh Ji-hoon repeated the words as if they sounded foreign in his ears.
"What I mean is that you can use your talent somewhere else. Here take this,"She said handing him a small poster.
He skimmed through the contents before raising his gaze to hers questionably,"Is it legit?"
"Yeah . A friend of man is working at the company and they are fishing for talent so I thought I should help him and I'm sure you'll make it. I'm rooting for you Jihoon-ssi,"Yoo Ha-ri said and turned on her heel to leave.
"If I pass the audition you'll be the first one to know,"Oh Ji-hoon shouted at the receding figure.
It was an opportunity to try something new.He would at least give it a shot.