***

After that six hour ride from my fresh province of Busan, I deeply inhaled the busy city air of Seoul and let out a sigh. Finally, this is the day. I am moving. I am moving on and I shall be strong. I went down from the train and grabbed my suitcase and my back pack ready to find my aunt. I stretched out a little bit to ease some muscle strain. Then suddenly I stumbled and fell. It pissed me off.

I looked at the person who literally bumped me. “Are you blind or something?” I glared at the guy who wore black hoodie, black pants, dark gray scarf and hideous shades who is practically standing in front of me.

“You’re like…on the way”. He dusted his clothes as if he’s the one on the floor. He fixed his shades to eye on me.

“So it’s my fault huh?” My glare didn’t left him as I helped myself to stand up properly.

“I guess”.

I clicked my tongue and felt the Busan temper rushing to my nerves. “Yah!”

He just smirked at me and then I could read when he mouthed me the word “BABO” to me. I wanted to punch him straight in the face but he had managed to coolly walk away from me.

“Yah! You jerk! We’re not over here! Yah!” I keep on shouting to call for his attention but he didn’t look back. That bastard. He doesn’t even know how to say sorry. I guess this life here in Seoul is worse than being in Busan. I just thought to myself that I have to be strong because it’s in every way possible that I could encounter people like him again. I dusted my pants and pouted. I grabbed my bag and my suitcase and looked for my Aunt Misun. She’s not that hard to find since she is always glowing and glamorous ever since the day I saw her. And there she is waving her hand to me and a big smile plastered on her face. She’s always that warm for me.

“Aunt Misun!” I exclaimed. Finally, I’m in good hands.

“Oh! Our little Jiyoung is all grown up now!” Aunt Misun gently patted my head and helped me on my suitcase. “Welcome to Seoul, my lovely niece! Are you ready for the city life?”

“Ready as I will ever be”. I said and gave her a smile.

It only took us minutes of chatting and catching up and one taxi ride until we were at my aunt’s home. It was way bigger for a single lady like her and it made me curious if she has already married if ever I was late for the news.

“Auntie, can I ask you a question?”

“Of course, Jiyoung-ah. And by the way, I forgot to tell you. Drop the “auntie” off. It could only make me look old”. She chuckled a bit. “You can call me “mommy”. Yes. That will be better!” She sure has some aegyo inside her.

I grinned, adjusting for the sudden dropping off of formalities. And I awkwardly started my first move to call her “mommy”. I sounded too awkward and she sensed it.

She giggled. “You’re so cute when you’re like that Jiyoung-ah”.

“I’m sorry”. I muttered.

“Omo! It’s okay. You don’t have to force yourself, darling. I knew things were hard for you these past few days since the accident so don’t bother yourself from that”. She smiled at me. “And oh, what’s your question?”

I snapped myself out. “Please don’t mind me asking but I think your house is really spacious. Are you married now auntie…um, I mean…mo-mmy?”

She chuckled once again and came near me. “Hm. I think…May be soon enough”.

I clapped my hands for the excitement. “Is he living here? Can I meet him?”

“He’s not living with me. And of course you can meet him…but not now”. Her smile went a little off. “That bastard needs some time off of me”.

“Oh. I’m sorry”.

“You don’t have to, you cute little thing”. And then she ruffled my hair again and led me to my room. I promise you, she got a huge house – a lot bigger than our house. My aunt left me because she will be preparing our dinner. I opened my suitcase and my bag and arranged my things. I put the picture frame first on the chest drawer near my bed and stared at it for a while.

“We were so happy back then”. I brushed my thumb at our happy picture. “Omma, Appa, I really miss you a lot. Why did you have to leave me?” Tears flowed from my eyes as I recalled that tragic car accident. We were driving our way for my high school graduation, happily singing and joking with each other when suddenly a dog walked in front of us which caused my father to swerve so we couldn’t hit the dog. But then a truck was driving so fast towards us and within just a blink of an eye, it took my parents away from me. The doctors said that it was a miracle that I live and I should thank God for this blessing through going on with my life. Worried that I will not be able to live a good life alone since I could suffer from trauma and depression, aunt Misun offered me to live with her. She also said that she will be paying off for my college tuition fees. And so here I was.

Later that night, we talked a lot on many different things when we were having our first dinner together.

“I heard you only went to an all-girls school. You think you can handle co-ed universities?”

“Of course mommy”. Yeah I finally said it right, without so much awkwardness in my tone. I could see her squeal inside herself whenever I call her mommy and that made me feel real comfortable. “I am a big girl now. And I could find girl friends there too”.

“And may be boy friends?” She emphasized the word BOY, making sure that I heard it. I just smiled. Boys were the last on my list at this moment.

“I’ll tell you if I’ll be having a hard time there. But I really want to thank you for letting me enter college. I promise I will study hard and I’ll pay you off someday”.

“Oh come on Jiyoungie~” Aunt Misun showed her aegyo once again. “You don’t have to pay me off. Living together with you is so much for a blessing. You know how much I wanted to have a daughter like you”.

“Thanks mommy”.

And we finished our dinner like that and she ushered me to go to bed and rest. I wanted to help her to do the dishes but she insisted me to sleep early. I am sincerely thankful for her kindness. I suddenly thought about the college life. Tomorrow will be my first day on the university and I don’t want to mess up. I wonder what will happen tomorrow.

A/N: Hooray for the first chappie! What happened to her actually happened to me not too long ago. Someone bumped me and didn’t even care to say sorry even though he’s the one who bumped me. Yeah. It pissed me off. Oh well, that’s the past. This story is more important to me now. So please. Read. Comment. Subscribe. Please. Please. Please. I love you. <3