CHAPTER 4: Daniel

Daniel rode his bike through the dense streets of Seoul. 12.45. Lunch time. Of course a lot of vehicles passing by. But Daniel was able to break through the narrow gaps, making it like being in one of the action scenes of Hollywood movies.

For him the street was exciting. The faster you go the faster the wind will hit your body. That sensation is what Daniel loved, because for him the wind that hit his body will take all the trouble and sadness inside him away. Therefore, Daniel is always excited when asked to deliver orders at restaurants where he works.

Arriving at the destination, he parked his bike, took the food from inside the box on back seat, and then ran into the apartment. "Apgujong apartment, number 101." Daniel read the address of the customer. And in the next minute he found the number. Immediately he pressed the button and said, "The order on behalf of Mrs Lim from Ha Signature has arrived."

He waited a few moments, but nobody opened the door. Daniel pressed the button again and was ready to speak as the door opened.

Daniel immediately prepared to greet the buyer according to the SOP of the restaurant where he works. "Good afternoon, I’m ---"

But he stalled when the one who appeared in front of him was a boy who is about 7 years old. "Omma is sick and now she's asleep." said the boy innocently at Daniel while hiding his small body behind the door.

Daniel was surprised by the child's statement, but then he knelt down and smiled. "Did Omma order food?"

Seeing Daniel smile and also hearing Daniel mentioning food, the boy's eyes that was initially showing afraid now turned to be glowing. "Does Ahjussi deliver Omma’s food?" He asked as he opened the door wider.

Daniel nodded while still smiling.

"Woah, Ahjussi is so kind.. Do ahjussi know if I'm hungry?"

Daniel was amused by the boy's innocent words. He gave a bag of food to the boy's little hands. "Can you bring it inside? Isn't it too heavy for you? "

The boy firmly answered. "I can carry it. "

However, the bag containing 3 packs of food was in fact too much for the boy. "Oh, it looks like you can’t bring it." Daniel said in worry.

Before Daniel offered to bring it inside, the boy called someone. "Yoojin ah, help Hyung bring this food."

And soon there was another boy who was a little younger. He then received a pack of food from his brother with pleasure.

At that moment, somehow, his heart was warmed. It was so warm until it rose to Daniel’s eyes and made his eyes teary.

Especially when the boy said, "Thank you ahjussi for delivering food for us." He then bowed as a token of gratitude.

Daniel smiled, and his smile wider as the boy asked his younger brother to do the same. "Yoojin ah, you also have to thank ahjussi."

The smaller boy then lowered his head and said softly. "Kam.. sa ham ni daa.. ahjussi .."

"You’re welcome." Daniel smiled back. "Eat a lot and take care of omma well." Said Daniel before replying with nods and then they closed the door.

Daniel stood up and fell silent at the door. This recent event reminded him of someone. Someone who is very meaningful in his life, who has long gone.

Even though he had gone away years ago, Daniel still couldn't forget him. The memories he had given were imprinted into Daniel's memory, until the little things he met always reminded Daniel of him. Like what has just happened, or as it is now, when Daniel stopped his bike at the Gangnam crossroads. Daniel saw a large LED screen across the street showing the news that there are about 1.7 million Koreans living in America, making it the second country with the largest population of Koreans after China.

America? Daniel wondered. And in the next second he sighed. "It seems easy for people to go to America. Why is it so hard for me? "

Daniel paused for a moment before then chukling. "Ah, why should I go there? He probably wouldn't want to see me. "

He. That person. The one he missed so much.

Kang Seongwoo. His older brother.

As he rode through the streets, Daniel's memory was flashback to fourteen years ago. The time when he had to part with his beloved brother.

The moment when his mother screamed that he is not Seongwoo's brother was the most confusing moment for Euigeon, the little Daniel. How can I not be Seongwoo hyung's brother? Well then, omma is not my mother either? What about appa? There were lots of questions in Euigeon's mind. There were so many things he didn’t understand. But all of that wasn’t more important than the question, Why omma should take away Seongwoo hyung?

That night his mother left home with his brother. Euigeon tried to prevent it, he even ran after them. But they had already disappeared from sight.

He came home in tears, hardly sobbing. For Euigeon at the time, he couldn’t imagine how to live without his brother. His brother is like a father, mother, brother, and friend to him. He even felt it would be fine without his father and mother, but not without his brother. But then he was the one who left.

After that night, the neighbors started to talk about his family. Often he heard that he is the cause of Kang's family separation. Euigeon really didn’t understand what his neighbor said. All he knows was he really miss Seongwoo.

He often played songs on Seongwoo’s Walkman which left behind. Listened to it while singing, pretending that his hyung was still nearby. The Walkman kept a lot of memories of him and his brother. Not just the Walkman, but also the books, the bedrooms, the back garden, and the train tracks, all kept memories of his brother. Those goods and places are the witness of Seongwoo's affection for him, silent witnesses when his brother tries to keep him away from sadness.

Not that Euigeon didn’t know that his parents often quarrel, he just didn’t want to feel sad, therefore he always tried to smile. Once, one night he woke up hearing his parents quarrel, he immediately shifted his body toward Seongwoo who was asleep and hugged him. Seongwoo instinctively replied to his brother's hug while putting his palm into Euigeon's ears. With that, Euigeon could fall asleep again.

Not also Euigeon didn’t realize that his mother treats him differently from Seongwoo. But he isn't angry. He felt it was a natural thing because he himself was also very fond of his brother.

Initially Euigeon dismissed reality by assuming that Seongwoo only goes to school, but the longer he became aware that Seongwoo has gone far, going to a place he doesn’t know. Going through those days while thinking about that fact, made Euigeon sad. Especially when his father started to get sick. Neighbors started coming to help him, like visiting while delivering food. From there too, Euigeon found out that his brother really has gone far.

"I heard your ex-wife has found another man. She and Seongwoo are brought to America. " Mrs. Kwon, their closed neighbor, told Euigeon’s father.

Euigeon came straight out of his room when he heard the name of his brother was mentioned. "Seongwoo hyung went to Amurika, Auntie?"

"America, Geon ah .." The aunt corrected Euigeon's sentence.

"Is that far?" Euigeon asked again.

"Yes. So faaaar .. You have to get on an airplane. "

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