Taemin's mother began chatting with the store owner, casually starting a conversation as her shopping was done for the day and that was the last stop. The five-year-old Taemin stood close to his umma, looking around the big shop. It was a new fancy bakery store in town and they were having a 'Grand Opening Sale' that attracted many housewives. But it was late in the day now, so much of the bread had been sold out when Taemin and his umma came.

The little boy was particularly fascinated with the whimsical bread names and all those tasty looking treats. But he was getting restless, wondering when the two ladies would end the small talk. Taemin started wondering around, began to learn the different types of breads to keep him occupied. He pointed at a particular one, didn't exactly know how to read its name.

"It's Ciabatta. Pronounced cha-BOT-a."

He his heel, startled at the voice above him. There stood another boy, probably a couple years older than him, looking down straight at him with a goofy grin plastered on his face. Taemin nodded meekly, embarrassed at his silliness.

"Annyeong, my name is Jinki!" The older boy said in a friendly tone, what made Taemin ease up.

"An-annyeong, I'm Taemin.” He replied statically.

"Nice to meet you, Taemin! Any bread you like here? My treat!" Jinki stepped down from behind the counter to approach the younger.

“A-ani, I’m not a bread person. My umma likes them though. I prefer meat!” He said triumphantly, showing the elder his little invisible muscles.

Jinki stifled a laugh and nodded his head, “Me too! I absolutely love chicken!”

The thought of fried chicken his mother promised him for dinner tonight made him drool and his blood pump.

"Jinjia? I'm related to chickens, my umma is too!" Taemin chirped excitedly, "Here, you can bite me for a taste-test."

Well...He'd somehow got confused with the fact that he was born in the year of the Rooster, not related to the actual birds. And his mother was twenty-four when she had him, so that makes her a baby in the Rooster year too.

Perplexed, Jinki bared his teeth at the outstretched 'chicken hand' and clamped his jaws down.

And that was how it all started –