Min Jung

"Have a good night, Min Jung." Sooyoung says as she shoos me out of the cafe. And before she closes the door on me, she sends me a smile. "Oh right. Tomorrow, I'll be picking my granddaughter up from the airport and spending some time with her. Therefore, you don't have work tomorrow. Well- enjoy your day off!" Before I'm able to respond, she closes the glass door on me and waves me off and I know well enough that the door wasn't going to open any time soon. Even if she had open the door and lock it on the outside to get home.

Accepting my defeat, I gave myself a mental note to make it up to her in some way. This wasn't the first time she's done it, but just one of the countless times. Whenever she takes a break, I take a break. Though I won't be going to work tomorrow, I know for sure that she'll pay me for "working" the day. Sighing, I tugged at my light gray sweater as the fall breeze tickled my skin. It was starting to get colder and soon, snow would start to fall.

Crackle. Crunch. Crackle. Crunch. Crackle. Crunch.

I couldn't help it but smile as I stepped on the dry fall leaves, listening to the pattern of the crunches and crackles. This was why I liked fall so much. It was never boring for me to walk anywhere. Unlike the others in my generation, I didn't own an iPod, a mp3 player, or even a Smartphone that could be used in multiple ways. However, the music I made from the leaves were enough for me. I could easily say that I preferred these leaves as opposed to an idol group. Not that I had anything against them, but considering how expensive it can be to love them, I would rather not get too into it. And I have history with these leaves.

Crunch. Crunch.

Stopping abruptly at the ruined music of the fallen leaves, I frowned as I tried to imitate the pattern and rhythmic flow I had. Before I could take another step, the sound came again.

Crunch.

Feeling slightly suspicious, I subtly turned around to see that nothing was behind me. Stuffing my hands into the pockets of my sweater, I let out an audible sigh and turned around- slowly walking to confirm that nothing was following me. Maybe I was hallucinating. After all, thanks to the empty space Kibum had left me with- I was unable to sleep well. I had to admit- that idiot managed to get into my heart somehow.

"Oh, Min Jung!" My steps stopped as I heard footsteps hurrying towards me. Turning, I saw Kang Dae trying to get out of his cramped office, nearly breaking the flimsy door as he was eager to talk to me.

"Hm? What is it?" I asked, facing him.

"I have a package for you!" He beamed as he motioned for me to come to his office. Standing outside, I waited patiently as he scrambled back inside and knocked over a couple of items on his small table. Watching him pick up a package- which was surprisingly in good shape, he handed it to me. "Some boys came by earlier today and asked to give you this package."

"Boys?" I couldn't help but voice out. Kang Dae nodded as he clasped his hands together from the breeze that came in through his opened door. 

"Yes. Kibum's friends I believe. The people you refer to as-" Kang Dae pauses for a moment as if he was trying to remember. "The three idiots." He sighs and dusts his pants off as he sits on the wobbly little office chair of his.

"Well, thank you for giving me the package." I send him a small and polite reply as I bided him a good night and headed back to my apartment. Unlocking the apartment door and slipping out of my shoes, I opened the package to see a couple of carefully wrapped items along with a letter. Opening the letter first, I was surprised to see Kibum's neat handwriting.

Talking about how he was adjusting and how much he had wished he could be back at Seoul. All this all led me back to a question to why he couldn't have sent me this package directly to me. Even know as I think about it, there was no address written on the box. 

Kibum probably didn't want me to write back to him. Not that I had the time to anyways, but it would be nice to know which part of Busan he was in. Feeling somewhat encouraged by his letter. Along with his letter, he had sent me some coffee related items, such as a cup, coffee packets, and tiny pink packets of sugar for my coffee. Throwing my notebook open and pulling a textbook out, I began to work on my literacy outline due the very next day.

Working through the night, I shut my eyes as I knew I was done for the day.

The Next Day...

Stretching, I made my way out of the campus through the West exit, feeling light hearted and oddly relaxed. How long had it been since I was able to feel this way? Having my homework done during my lunch periods, I had the next few hours to myself and just myself. It had felt odd to be this relaxed. I was used to the stress that had came from essay deadlines and my part-time job at the cafe. But then again, I shouldn't be complaining here.

"Min Jung!" A loud and cheerful voice pulled me from the odd, relaxed state I was in, back into reality. Ruffling my hair and swinging his arm over my shoulder he shot me a grin. Normally, I would've brushed his arm off my shoulder and moved away, but today... I was in a good mood. Perhaps just this once.

"What are you doing here? Don't tell me that we met by coincidence." Walking down the street, I could tell that he was on the brink of pouting.

"I was going to say fate led me to you," he teased, ruffling my hair further. Resisting the urge to back with a fake gag, I sent him a look. "Anyhow, Kibum has been bugging me to check up on you. Seriously, he's such a love struck fool." The elder said, shaking his head.

"At least he managed to find love. What about you? You thinking of finding love anytime soon? Kibum found one and he's younger than you." I reminded him as he pinched my cheeks, causing me to swat his hands away from me. "By the way, did he meet someone in Busan?"

"What makes you think that?" He snorted, laughing. "He's so head over heels for- ahem... someone." He stopped, coughing as he turned away. "Anyways, he's been bugging me to check up on you and I thought I might as well do it today. You know, cause the others and I were meeting up somewhere around your school."

"Dong Ho and Soohyun?" I questioned, turning my attention to him. "What are your plans anyways?"

"The usual. Hitting the internet cafe, PC rooms, basketball, movies, and dinners. Maybe some clubbing going on." He listed as he sent me a cheeky smile. Hitting him on the head, I shook my head in despair.

"Shouldn't you guys follow the footsteps of Kibum? He's changing for the better and making an effort to do better in school. What about you?" I nagged, taking a look at him, scrutinizing. "Take a good look at where your life is headed." I flicked my head in the direction of a sweaty, dirty cook taking his break as he let out a few puffs of smoke before throwing his cigarette to the floor and heading back into the stuffy kitchen.

"Ew." His face crinkled and he slung his arm around my shoulder once again, cringing at the sight. "I don't think I'll try smoking any time soon, thank you. And by the way, Kibum was forced to do better. Actually, forcefully sent to the school. Not to mention, the only reason why he did better in his classes was because he actually had motivation to do so. What about me? I have yet to find mine."

"Listen, shouldn't avoiding that," I paused to flick my hand at the direction of the dirty looking kitchen and continued. "Be enough motivation for you? It gives me more than enough."

"That's because you've experienced more than we all have. Instead of dining in five star restaurants and growing up that way, you ate at home and whatever was available. There simply wasn't any time for you to be picky." He reminded me as I cocked my head to the side, raising a brow.

"What do you mean dining at a 'five star' restaurant? By the looks of it, you don't have enough money either." Sending me a sheepish smile, he scratched the back of his neck and shrugged.

"You know, the four of us were all childhood friends. Me, Soohyun, Dong Ho, and Kibum. My mom worked at a five star restaurant and got an employee discount and with all the other parents chipping in, we managed to be able to eat five star meals from time to time." He said, coughing awkwardly as he pulled me along and turned around the corner. "Speaking of which, how's your mom doing?"

Feeling bitter, I kept my head down and we walked in silence for the next minute as I thought of a plausible answer in which, would not be questioned.

"She's hanging in there as always." I answered, playing with my fingers. The cool air whipped my hair from side to side as he helped put them back into place.

"Oh, well... I suppose that's not too bad." He muttered, knowing that he had hit my weak spot. "Your father? How's he managing?"

"You know I rarely contact him. He doesn't have a phone. Only I do." Looping his arm with mine, we came closer to a park. "He hasn't been calling me recently. I can only hope for the best. Which reminds me, I have to send him some cash." I pulled a white envelope from my backpack.

"Oh," pulling his wallet out, he waved 2 twenty dollar bills in front of me. "Give this to your father, will you?" Shaking my head, I hid the envelope behind my back.

"Don't worry, I'm sending him more than enough. Just worry about yourself. I wouldn't want to see you working in a kitchen a few years from now, scrubbing the pots and pans." I said, refusing as he smiled at me.

"I can assure you I won't end up like that. Just take it. Kibum would've given you money regardless." He says lightly, stealing the envelope from and slipping forty dollars into the envelope. Pulling me by the strap of my backpack, he dragged me all the way to the nearest post office. "I don't see why you have to mail the money to him. Wouldn't it be much safer to use a bank account instead to do transfers?" 

"It would." I nodded as I stuck a stamp onto the corner of the envelope. "But I don't have that kind of money to waste on a bank account."

"I'll help you open one. It isn't that expensive either. I might as well pay the fees for you." He shrugged as he took a lollipop from a nearby basket containing them. Slipping it into his mouth, he offered me another one he had taken. 

Shaking my head, I answered. "I can manage well on my own. I don't need a bank account either. The interest rates are less than the fees I have to pay. I'd rather not. I don't trust banks much with money anyhow." 

As I had finally gotten the envelope mailed to my father, the both of us left the post office as he let out a sigh, zipping his navy blue sweater up. Ruffling my hair playfully, he pulled me down the street as I stopped in my tracks abruptly.

"Where are we going?"

"To meet the two other idiots. It's better with more people of course!" He said cheerfully as I shook my head.

"I'm tired. I don't feel like going today. What about some time later?" It had been my one and only break in a long while and I most certainly didn't want to spend it dilly dallying with the three of them. Not that I didn't want to hang out with them, but my social life didn't go any farther besides meeting up and grabbing a drink or two, while staying in one place.

"Come on! They miss you!" He pleaded as I smiled and flicked his forehead.

"Listen, after working hard in school and in the cafe, I'd much rather go home and get some sleep or something. Just bring them over any time at nine any of these days." Walking me down the block and waving me a quick good bye before dashing off to meet up with the other guys, I turned and walked to the nearest bus stop. Xander was such an idiot sometimes.

Crackle. Crack. Crackle. Crack. Crack. Crackle.

I liked it. The sound of dried fall leaves crackling under my worn and dirty navy blue converse. The light airy breeze played with my long black hair as I looked up at the sky. The bright orange-pink sky caused me to stop and stare at it in awe. The beauty of nature was truly amazing.

Crackle.

My brown eyes widened in surprise, knowing that I wasn't the one that made the sound. So... Who could it be?

"Do me a favor."

"Excuse me?"

"Do me a favor."

"What?"

"Your friend interests me. I want to know more about her."

"Tell me why I should help you."

"Because of this."

He pulled out his phone and showed me a picture. I clenched my fists. I swallowed my saliva and took a step away from him.

"Your choice."

The light and airy breeze became a heavy and harsh wind, whipping my long black hair all over my face.

I wasn't about to help him, was I?

A/N: Finally we get to this part! Yes so, this chapter was mainly a filler chapter as well, but we got to the good part! Things will start changing and hopefully I will get more motivated with this story as we move along. Comments for faster updates perhaps? It's alright if you don't want to, but it'll definitely make my day. :) Anyhow, enjoy~