Character :

Donghae (18 years old) - highschool leaver, city boy, full of curiousity, cheeky

*credit pic to the owner*

Setting : somewhere in Japan (since I'm more familiar with Japan rather than Korea LoL) The only places I know in Korea are Seoul and Mokpo...

Far away from the hectic city, there is a village named Kurashiki (pronounced as Ku-Rash-Ki) located in Okayama in western of Japan. Well known for their historical old centuries building. Surrounded by rice paddies, forest and suburban homes. It's a suitable destination for anyone who is looking for tranquility and peacefulness.

A young man, who just finished his highschool came here to rest his tired brain from all the studies he did for the past 5 years. He wanted to escape from the busy Tokyo life for a while, at least until summer holiday ends and before he enrolls into a college. Using half of his savings and half from his parent's money, he managed to secure a decent guesthouse to stay in the new village for the next few months.

D-1 before the trip

"Haee yaaa", his mom called him from downstairs. Donghae who was packing his luggages rushed downstairs and greeted his mom with a smile. "Yes? Mom?".

"Did you packed everything? Clothes, important documents and toiletries?". His mom double checked with him repeatedly since she knew her son can be pretty forgetful and clumsy at times.

Donghae nodded and showed an 'okay' sign to assure his worried mom. He then, helped his mom to prepare dinner while waiting for his dad to come home from work.

Hours passed, and his dad came home. They had a wonderful dinner together while talking about the trip he will go tomorrow.

D-D of the trip

Donghae carried all of his luggages downstairs by himself. He doesn't want anyone to help him since he wants and needs to be independent in order to stay by himself later, in Kurashiki - the place where he's heading now.

He took a bus from his home to the train station. He will be using train to get to Kurashiki. The journey is approximately 4 hours. He asked his parents not to be involved in his journey since he really wanted to do everything by himself.

He settled down in his booked seat. When the train started moving, he plugged in his earphones and listen to music while looking at the scenery outside through the window along the journey.

••••

"I.. can't do this...", Donghae sighed and stomped his feet with an untranslatable map in his hand. He tried using GPS from his phone, but the line here is too slow. He can't even send a short message to his parents in Tokyo.

"Young man.. where are you from?", an old man approached him. A curse word nearly slipped out from his mouth due to the sudden greet, luckily, he managed to hold it back.

"Uh... am from Tokyo", he answered- didn't bothered to look at the old man and still confused with the map.

"Hohoho.. that's why your accent is different.. why are you here then?", the old man asked. As someone who lives in the countryside, it's normal for him to greet anyone on the road and start a conversation with them. Unlike Donghae, he was raised in a city, he minds his own business and rarely get engaged to any strangers on the road. In fact, he didn't even know his neighbour's name.

"Just to take a break from the city.. oh and grandpa.. do you know where is this??", he showed the grandpa the map and a picture of the guesthouse, hoping the local old man can help him - a young man who's lost.

"Youngsters in Tokyo are not independent at all. Can't even read a simple map".

Donghae wasn't hurt by the words since grandpa helped him and he knew boomer's humor with millennial's humor aren't harmonious together. That's why to avoid any misunderstanding on his first day, he decided to ignore grandpa's harsh words.

As instructed by grandpa just now, he followed the road to the guesthouse. After 30 minutes of walking, he reached the guesthouse. It was tiring since he's not used to walk in a long period of time. He checked-in at the lobby and went straight to his respective room.

The room is small and cozy. Donghae tossed himself on the bed to rest his tired legs and started to key in the Wi-Fi passcode. Thousands of messages started to flood in. He waited for a while before replying to all of them. And he didn't forget to notify his parents about his arrival. Then, he browsed places to visit in Kurashiki.

"Hm.. maybe today, I'll just stroll around. Tomorrow I'll explore more" he murmured to himself while his finger busy sliding up and down on the phone screen, looking for places and activities to do.

He made sure all the windows and gate are locked, as what he was taught from his parents. Then, he went out from the building. He greeted the staffs at the desk counter.

"Hi.. umm can I ask.. is there any places I can go for lunch?", he asked to one of the lady there.

"Hi. Yes.. just down this street you will find a lot of hawkers selling local foods here".

"Ah.. ok Thank you miss!", Donghae exclaimed and fasten his steps down the road to fullfill his grumbling stomach.

He ordered a set of bento and a drink to fill his empty stomach. When he regained his energy, he decided just to walk around before going back to his place.

He walked along the river and paddy fields. He met some kids around his age while strolling and made some new friends. They promised to meet again later and show him around this area. He went to discover all the shoplots available here. At the end of the road, there's a huge building standing high with a signboard saying 'Kurashiki Central Hospital'.

"A hospital...". Without thinking much, he went inside the building - just to explore, probably?

Upon entering the front door, he met a boy with a muffler covering his chin and mouth. He was wearing a white knitted oversized sweater and a blue loose pants, sitting on a sofa in the lobby. His face was pale and gaunt. There was an IV bag tubed to his bony and pale hand. A nurse approached the boy and told him something. Then, the boy left.

Donghae wanted to follow the boy further into the ICU deparment, but he was held by the securities.

"Sir.. may I know your family name first? I can't let you enter the ICU department aimlessly", a nurse asked him at the nurses' station. Donghae stumbled his speech since he doesn't know that boy's name.

"I don't know.. i mean.. ughhh I'm his cousin ok? That boy in sweater is my cousin.. i came from Tokyo to visit him.. but.. uhh it seems like.. I can't remember his name tho..." Donghae smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry sir.. as the rule states, only parents can enter his room after the visiting hours.. other than parents, you need to wait until tomorrow at 8am", the nurse smiled and politely asked him to leave. Donghae doesn't want to cause a ruckus, so he left the department with a 'hmph' sound to express his dissatisfaction to everyone in the building, especially the nurse.

Inside one of the ICU room..

A nurse was checking on the boy's condition. She smiled and put her stethoscope down.

"Hyukkie.. you're getting better now.. soon.. you can go back to the general room ok? Eventually you will be discharged from this hospital and  lead a normal life outside ok?", the nursed kneeled down and held the boy's hand who was sitting on the hospital bed. "So.. be patient and cope with the treatments ok?", she continued.

The boy slightly smiled a bit and nodded.

"Oh and hyuk, do you have a cousin staying in Tokyo?". The boy blinked in confusion. "Just now, there's a boy stating you're his cousin, and he came all the way from Tokyo to see you", she continued.

"Ahaa.. sounds impossible.. even my parents gave up on me already. Why would a cousin from Tokyo came here just to see me?", the boy giggled. Then, a drop of tears fell on the nurse's hand.

The nurse quickly hugged the boy and cooed him, "Hey.. it's ok.. you will get out ok? I believe in you and the doctors here", she comforted the sobbing boy. Her hand softly rub his back in a circular motion.

The boy sniffled and nodded. Then, he sneezed and shivered.

"Oh my.. Hyuk.. is it cold here? And where's your muffler?", the nurse gasped and began searching for his muffler. She was in charge in Hyukjae and she knew well, Hyukjae always leave his stuffs unattended. She then sighed. "Where did you last saw it?".

"Hm.. I put it on the wheelchair before. Probably outisde".

"Yea.. just go to sleep for now, I'll check it later", she tucked him to bed and left a kiss on his forehead.

"Night Hyuk".

--------------

First chapter is done ><.. I'll keep this fic simple and full of fluffiness ok? No angst (probably..).. while waiting for ideas to come for my previous fic (am experiencing a major writer's block) .. I'll be updating this fic TT hope yall don't mind.. uhuhu.. oh and btw all images credit goes to the owner :)

Anddd I hope you guys will like this story!! Kisses and hugs from me <3