THE BEGINNING.

10 years ago. Busan Elementary School.

“Lee Jong Hwa, wait up…wait for me..” Hyerim is calling his name while running to keep up with his pace.

“Geez..chincha, why is she keep following me? Wee..wee?” He stopped walking and turned around yelling back at her on the top of his throat.

“We can go home together, we’re neighbors anyway..Why you always leave me behind? Ahjumma told us to go home together.” She said while catching her breath, what would you expect from a chubby girl running to catch up with Lee Jong Hwa, her neighbor and a childhood friend. She looks nerdy in her thick eyeglasses.

“Haiist..you always listen to my mom. Yah, Hyerimah if you want to go home together then walk fast.” Jong Hwa said and tried to walk fast again.

“Yaah..wait up, I’m still catching up my breath. I can’t catch up with you because you walk too fast. We’re not in a hurry though.” Hyerim protest again.

“I’m not walking fast. You’re just fat that’s why you’re very slow.Haiist!” Jong Hwa said and walks slow to keep with her pace. He then smiles knowing she feels tired of running.

He is always like that. He makes fun of her by leaving her behind so that she can run and keep up with him. And innocent Hyerim can do nothing but run and protest.

“Yah..I don’t know why we are friends..you’re not even a good person!” Hyerim is still protesting.

“You should be thankful that I’m your friend. Or else no one will walk home with you. Look at yourself. Geez, can you still breathe with all that fat in your body?” Jong Hwa is making fun of her and Hyerim can’t tolerate it so she tried to hit him but Jong Hwa ran fast ahead and Hyerim can only run after him.

They ran out of their breath and they stop for a while. On their way home, they will pass a small market. There, their favorite steamed buns were just cook. The smell of the steamed buns makes them hungry. The vendor Ahjumma knows them already and she smiles upon seeing the two approaching. They are her regular customers.

“Ahjumma, annyeonhasseoyo!” They said it simultaneously and vow to the old lady.

“Awh.. My two favorite customers. You look tired, why you always run?” She said while smiling. She puts one steamed bun on a paper wrap and gives one to each of them. The two smile in excitement. They took the buns and vow to the old lady. They gave her the money but the old lady refused.

“No, for today..it’s free.” The old lady tapped their heads and they were so happy. They even do high five. They vow again and said goodbye. The chased each other again on their way home.

“Yah..don’t run….awh those two kids.” The old lady yell but they can’t hear it anymore. She just shook her head and smiled. It’s their daily routine to pass by the old lady’s place to buy their favorite steamed buns.

Another year had passed, there’s not much change between them. Their parents are friends. They were neighbors since the beginning. They share same likes in music. But Hyerim is only more desperate in joining competitions. She had won when she was younger then. And she was always asked to join in every school event because of he beautiful voice.

But even so she had beautiful voice, her parents are against it. She can burst her protest to her friend, Jong Hwa. He always gives her strength by saying she really have a beautiful voice and that he envy her voice and that she has to do what she really likes, singing. With those comforting words, Hyerim build her confidence in showing her talent in singing.

The changes started on day, during their break time. Their classmates made fun of them teasing them together. Saying they are couple because they can’t be separated. Saying they should get married already. But then, they also tease Jong Hwa saying how he found Hyerim pretty with her fat body and nerdy thick eyeglass. Hyerim is a fighter, she fights back to their classmates saying so what with her body, atleast she’s eating well and not like them who looks like malnourished. But Jong Hwa was affected with their words. He felt embarrassed. He’s still a kid after all.

On their way home, Jong Hwa runs ahead and planned to leave her behind. He wants to avoid being teased with her. He was really annoyed. He wants to hit his classmate a while ago but he was afraid he will be called to The Principal office.

“Yaah..Jong Hwaya..wait.” Hyerim again runs fast to keep up his face but instead of stopping, Jong Hwa ran even faster. Hyerim didn’t give up and ran even faster although she’s losing her breath. In the end..Jong Hwa stopped, turned around.

“From now on..I don’t want us to go together. Not going home together and not even going to cafeteria together. Stay away from me. Do you understand? I don’t want us to be friends anymore?” He yelled at her and went running again leaving Hyerim behind. She can’t say anything. Her jaw dropped for a second and got herself together. She stopped chasing him. She walks slowly pouting her lips in her protest.

“Why is he angry? I didn’t do anything wrong?Hmp..yah if you don’t want us to be friends anymore..then don’t.” She yelled back but Jong Hwa was already nowhere in sight.

Even the vendor ahjumma was surprised as they didn’t pass by in her store. She thought they have lost interest in her steamed buns.

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TBH, I find Jota the cutest and manliest in Madtown. So I started to make a new ship - JOJI ship.