Chapter One.

It was a dark and cold winter night. I was walking home from the late dance lessons. It took longer today since we had to be ready for a competition here in the start of next week. It was snowing, now heavily but silently, it was nice. I was soon by my bus stop.

I had to take the bus to school, practice and for my work. I was freezing and I tried to warm but I did not have a scarf around my neck so my neck was very cold. I looked at my watch, “” I mumbled. Now I need to walk faster or I will miss my bus since it’s the last bus that goes to my neighborhood. It’s 21.39pm and my bus leaves at 21.50pm, my mother would kill me if I had to take a taxi home, ‘it’s too expensive and we don’t have that kind of money’ my mother always said.

My father left us when I was born, my mother told me that he said that I was a sin. I don’t know my father, but sometimes I wish I knew where he lived so that I would be able to leave home, just for a day or two. My mother is an alcoholic and she often comes home late and steals my money that I earn from my work. One thing that I really hate is when she comes home very drunk and starts to beat me and yell at me that it’s my fault that my father left her. One day not long ago she beated me up so much that I had bruises all over my chest and back.

I have no friends at my school, and I soon have to change school because I can’t effort to be there anymore. So I am going to change school in two days, I know it’s in the end of the year but the principle told me that the school I attend to now and the school I am going to attend to, is almost the same when it comes to homework and the stuff I already have been through. The new school is called Seoul Pacific High School(Fake school name) or SPHS as some call it.

The Principle gave me an offer since I’m just bellow middle-class he gave me a scholarship to help me through the first year of high school. He also offered me to stay at their dorms that they have, to the students who live far away from the school so that they have a place to stay. I had kindly declined the offer because I couldn’t leave my mother alone, she would kill herself if I left her. She would think that I left her just like father.

My mother knows that I changed school and she know that I won’t be home as much as I am now. She has accepted that even though I think she really hasn’t since the offer about the dorm stays, that’s what the principle told me. He is a kind man and I remember when he meet my mother he didn’t like her because she looked mean at him all the time through the meeting. He only told me the offer, my mom doesn’t know about it and so be it. I wasn’t bullied at my old school but I was a outcast, nobody knows about that I dance and that’s the best.

When I sat at the bus-stop waiting for my bus, I just arrived two minutes earlier than the bus. The bus came and I greeted the driver, he was always kind to me since I took the bus a lot. When I entered the bus I saw that it was empty as always at this hour, but this time there was a boy on the bus. He was sleeping, and he looked kind of like a frog. I didn’t know what happened to me but I walked over to him and sat in front of him. I couldn’t stop looking at him, he looked very handsome. The bus stopped at a corner and asked me to wake up the boy since it was his stop. I nodded to the driver and tried to wake him up, “Hey… Wake up.. YAH!” I yelled and his eyes shot open, he looked confused at me. “The driver told me to wake you up. He says that we are at your stop” I said with a small smile on my face “kamsamnida” He said with his deep voice and took his bag and walked out of the bus. I felt something weird in my stomach, it felt like I had 1000 butterflies in my stomach flying around. I couldn’t get the strangers face out of my mind, even when I got off the bus I said goodbye to the driver and walked home. When I was outside of my apartment building I saw that there was light in out apartment.

 “hmm… Mother must me home…” I said to myself and walked inside. I took the stairs to the 5th floor and down to #305 my home for 17 years. I heard some and panting from the inside of my home. I just silently took a hold to the door handle and twisted it to come inside. The noises got louder. I guess that they are doing it in the bedroom with an open door again. My mother had gotten her a boyfriend, personally I don’t like him. He gets angry at me all the time over nothing and I just can’t understand why… What have I done to make him angry? I have done nothing wrong! Once he slapped me right across the cheek and I couldn’t go to school the next day since my cheek was red and raised.

I silently walked through the living room and walked past the bathroom and kitchen. And I ran on my toes past the bedroom and into my room, once I was in I closed the door and started on my homework. My new uniform was ready to be used, and I was going to hand in my books and uniform tomorrow since it will be my last day that I am at the school. When my homework was done I looked at the time, 02.15am. I had to get up at 6am.

I took of my cloth and got dressed in my XXXL T-shirt that I used to sleep in and a pair of fussy pants. I don’t have any heat in my room so it was very cold during the winter time. When I was little I used to sleep in my mother’s room until a turned 10 then she told me that I was too old to stay in her room in the winter time. Even though I was freezing, I kept myself warm by having a blanket over my comforter it was the only way. I don’t have much cloth.

I pay my phone bill, my dancing lessons, and my school. What does my mother pay? She ONLY pays the house bill, which is less then what I pay. I work as a waiter at a café in the middle of the town, in a little corner café. It was small but very nice, I love my work place. Everyone is very kind to me, my boss knows about me situation and he also know about the beating part, since once day I arrived to work I had a HUGE bruise on my arm and also my shoulder and leg.

That day he told me just to do the dishes since he didn’t want me to hurt myself. You could say that he is like the father I never had even though he is my boss. He treats me like I’m more than just an employee, and it feels nice. I like it when I come direct from school and he smiles brightly to me and asks me how my day was, he also promised me that he would come to my dance competition here in a week. I remember that one month my mother hadn’t paid the bill so I had to do it. I was heartbroken, because then I didn’t have money for the new shoes I wanted to buy. I told my boss it and he gave me a raise just for the month so that I would be able to pay the bill, from that day I promised him that it would get better and I gave him a hug. He smiled brightly at me and ruffled my hair, I really felt loved that day. He also told me that If I needed help in any way he would always be there to help me.
*BEEEEP-BEEEEP-BEEEEP* “Urrrrgh….” I groaned and shut off my alarm, was it already 6am? I looked at the time, and saw a new message it’s from my boss.

To: Lee Taemin
From: Kim Kyuhyung
“Morning Taemin! Hope you got enough sleep, since it’s your last day at the old school! When you are done could you come down to the café and we can celebrate it!
- Kyuhyung”

I smiled and now I am very excited to come to work and see what he has done for me this time! Last time for my 17th birthday he gave me a cake special made for me! I will never forget that day!
Well I got up and got dressed, since it was my last day at the school I didn’t need to wear the uniform. So I just got dressed in some black skinny jeans and a white tank top with a sky-blue sweater and some black converse.

I have big brown curls, and if my hair was straight right now it would maybe go to my shoulders or longer, I didn’t want to cut my hair since I liked it the way it is. Once I was ready to leave at 7am, I have my books, my school bag, my cell phone, lunch, and wallet and so on. I walked down to the bus-stop the bus would be here at 07.15am and when I arrived it was 07.08am so I was a bit early but I liked it. It was still snowing and the snow landed in my hair, so it was like I had some sort of a snow hat on since it snowed more than yesterday.

The bus came, and it was the same driver from yesterday. He smiled when he saw me, “Morning! It’s a bad weather today!” He said and chuckled over my hair, I smiled and giggled “Yes it is! But I like it” I said and went to a seat by the window so that I could look out while the bus was driving. After some time I heard some talking, the bus driver was saying something about not sleeping on the bus.

I looked up and saw it was the same boy from yesterday, he looked at me and smiled. I could feel blood rushing to my head and I knew I was blushing, I looked away and tried hard to focus on the snow. I felt some weight next to me, I looked and saw that it was the boy again he was still smiling to me. “Thank you for waking me yesterday” He said while he still had the big smile on his face.

I just nodded and looked away from him again, when I noticed his uniform “A-are you f-from SPHS?” I asked in a very low voice, he looked at me and nodded “Yes I am! I am a senior. Why are you asking?” I tried hard not to smile but failed.

“I’m transferring there tomorrow!” I said with a big smile on my face. His smile got brighter than ever! “Really?!” He said, I nodded “Neh!” I was very happy, this is the first time in 7 years that I have talked with a stranger and the stranger it at the same school!

I hope we become friends! We talked about how I was going to move school and what our schedules were for today, I told him that I would be off at 11am since I only have to attend to English and math, then I would go to my working place and so on! But his stop came to fast but before he left he told me “Take the bus tomorrow at the same time like today and I will follow you to the school and show you around!” He said with a smile and waved.

When he was out of the busses sight I sighed and looked back outside, yet another 10 minutes till the bus will be at my school… school starts at 08.00am and the bus would be there 07.45am so I still would be able to be there on time.

When the bus came to my stop in front of the school, I took my bags and walked out. There were a lot of students looking and whispering as soon as they saw me, since I wasn’t wearing my uniform.

I think that they think that I’m a new student or something. I tried hard to ignore them, and just walked to the office to hand in my books and uniform and sign some papers, then have English and math then I’m out of this school for good! “Oppa~ can I have your number?” some damn ugly girl asked me while she almost had her s right up in my face.

“Umm… sorry but I’m leaving the school not staying” I said and hurried to the office, when I entered the office they all knew me so well since I have been there tons of time because of my mother. “Oh! Good morning Taemin! Is it today that you are leaving the school?” The sectary asked me with a smile, she was kind to me and always helped me when I needed help. “Yes, it’s today. So I came here to hand in my things and sign the papers.” I said with a smile.

She nodded and accepted my things and my student handbook(you get that at every school) and signing the papers. “Okay Taemin, now that is done I think you should just go home instead of staying any longer, and I will tell your teachers that you had to leave, Arraso?” she said, I nodded and bowed “Thank you for helping me all this time”  I said and left. As I walked out of the school there was still 10 minutes till school would begin. ‘Damn I forgot to ask what his name was..’ I thought I forgot to ask the bus-guy’s name… I walked down the street and walked passed a clothing store and stopped in front of the window. The cloth was so cool but when I saw the price I lost it. 40$ for a shirt… and the pants were 60$... I wish I had money enough to buy them…

 I don’t know how long I have been starring at the cloths but I snapped back to reality when a boy older than me with cat-like eyes came out with many bags and said ‘thank you’ before he left the store.

He saw that I was looking at him. Our eyes connected and I could see that he was just about to snap at me but he stopped himself when he looked into my eyes. “I-I’m s-sorry” I said and looked away, honestly I was scared that he would yell at me and maybe hit me. “umm.. It’s okay…” He said to me with a small smile. I looked up and saw that he was smiling at me!

“What’s your name?” He asked me, “L-Lee T-Taemin” I stuttered “why aren’t you at school Taemin-ah?” he asked me, “I went to school today I just had to hand in my uniform and sign some papers so that I would be able to start at new school tomorrow, and what is your name?” I said. His smile never left his face, “Kim Kibum or just call me Key! Are you transferring?” He said I nodded.

“Well my school day is canceled today so I thought I would do some shopping, would you like to join me for an ice-cream?” He asked, somehow he felt like the umma I never had. I nodded happily and walked next to him. But then it hit me “Key-hyung… I don’t have any money…” I said looking away and trying to hold back my tears.

I finally made a friend and now I can’t even hang out with him. He looked at me and smiled, “Don’t worry It’s my treat this time and next time you can give the treat for ice-cream” I was amazed how one person could have so much warm aura and warm smile that makes you feel like you are home..

“B-but I don’t want you to use your money on me, I-I mean we just met!” I stuttered he chuckled and ruffled my curly hair “its okay Taemin-ah! I am your friend from this day on and till the end I promise!” he said as we entered the ice-cream shop, we went to the counter.

“Hello and welcome to Paradise Ice, how may I help you?” The lady at the disk was very kind.

“I would like to have a mint-chocolate with chocolate sauce” Key-hyung said, the lady took notes and looked at me. I got really shy and didn’t know what to order, “It’s okay Taemin, just tell the lady what you would like” Key-hyung said.

“I-I w-would like the b-banana-milk ice-cream” I stuttered shyly. The lady smiled and nodded at me and took down my order. “Taemin-ah… Why don’t you go find a table and I will take our ice-cream down okay?” Key-hyung said, I think he could notice that I was very shy around new people.

I nodded and walked down to a table next to the window so that I could look outside. I didn’t notice when Key-hyung came and sat in front of me until he spoke up “Taemin-ah here is your ice-cream” He said and gave me a warm bright smile and handed me my ice-cream “Thank you Key-hyung” I said with a smile.

“Taemin can I borrow your cell phone?” he asked I looked confused at him, “why do you want my cell phone?” I asked and took a bite oh my ice. “I’m going to give you my phone number DUH!” he said with a chuckle, I blushed and gave him my cell phone. “Taemin-ah… Why do you only have 3 contacts on your cell phone?” Key asked in a worried voice.

“I only need my mothers, my bosses and the schools number if I get sick” I said looking away, “Taemin… Am I… your first friend?” he asked me. I nodded not wanting to let him see my face, I felt a hand on my head and ruffling my hair. I looked up and meet Key-hyungs bright smile “I’m going to be your friend till forever I promise! Now if you need anything even if it’s just a hug you call me understand?” he said,

I nodded and smiled brightly “Neh umma!” I said I smashed my hand over my mouth just after I said umma.

I looked at him with big eyes, he was laughing and smiling “You just call me Key-umma from now on” he said in a chuckle and ruffled my hair, I started to pout “Umma~ don’t ruin my hair!” I said still pouting “Aigoo~ my Taeminnie is so cute!” he said and smiled. I blushed “wait what did you call me?” I asked he looked at me and got serious “I called you Taeminnie, and that is what I will call you from now on” he said then with a smile. I nodded and we both started to eat our ice-cream, time went fast as we just sat there and talked I didn’t know that we have been talking for 2-3 hours until my boss called me and asked me if I was off school. I told him I was and that I would soon be on my way to the café.

“Sorry Key-umma, I have to go now my boss is waiting for me” I said and got up, the same did Key-umma “Taeminnie shouldn’t I follow you to work? I have a feeling that something is going to happen today” Key said with a worried voice,

“No need umma I will call you if something happens I promise” I smiled Key hugged me and looked into my eyes “you promise to call me tonight, okay? I need to know if you are okay!” he said I just nodded and I couldn’t get it out of my head that I got my very first hug today.

This was the best day ever! While I was walking down the road to the café I couldn’t help but smile since I have a friend now. I entered the café, and I saw no one “well… this is weird…” I mumbled and looked around, “hello? Anyone? Mr. Kim?” I said and looked around and went into the back into the kitchen.

It was pitch black and I couldn’t see a thing “Anyone?” I said again and then this time the lights “CONGRATULATIONS!!!” everyone yelled when the lights got .

There were balloons everywhere and party stuff, And my boss came walking up to me with a cake in his hand and it said ‘Congratulations Taemin’ I felt tears in my eyes “make a wish Taemin-ah” he said and smiled to me, I blew out the candles and couldn’t help but smile and letting my happy tears roll down my cheeks.

“What did you wish for Taemin-ah?” Mr. Kim asked me, my smile never left me “I wished that I would get some close friends at my new school!” I said and everyone chuckled, and smiled brightly and some ruffled my hair.

Some time later everyone was having fun and we were eating cake and drinking some juice. I felt a warm hand on top of my head, I knew who it was “Taemin-ah can I speak with you for a second in my office?” Mr. Kim asked me, I nodded and left my plate on the kitchen table and walked after Mr. Kim. Once we entered the office I closed the door behind me.

“Please sit down Taemin…” Mr. Kim said in a very serious voice. I sat down and looked at him “Is something wrong Mr. Kim” I asked

“Just call me Kyuhyung when we are alone… and I got a call today from children authorities, they asked me if you worked here and I told them that you were one of my best workers. They asked me if I knew anything about your mother and how she was treating you since they have gotten an anonymous tip that you were being abused and beat up by her… I told them that I knew little but not much, since we both know that I know almost everything. “He took a deep breath, what do children authorities want from me and my family? I know that I have been beat up by my mother but never abused!

“Taemin… The children authorities are going to take you away from your mother… She is in jail right now, she got arrested this morning after you left for school. I-I don’t know how to tell you this but… you have three choices. One: You can choose to live at the dorm of the school. Two: be put up for adoption and live at an orphanage. Third: get to a foster family. I know these are hard choices and if I could I would take care of you but since I am your boss I can’t do that.” He said tears were running down my cheeks and I couldn’t stop crying

“P-please Mr. Kim, Please take me under your wing!” I said sobbing I couldn’t look him into his eyes, I was so sad and tired. Mr. Kim stood up and walked over to me and hugged me, he let me cry in his shoulder while he was my hair trying to calm me down.

“Shh Taemin-ah… You have 3 days to find your answer, so if I were you I would pack everything I owned and get ready to move. I will contact your school and tell them that you will start in a week and tell them whats going on okay?” He said, I nodded still crying. Once I stopped crying I left the shop and walked all the way home which took me an hour.

Once I was home I took a deep breath and walked into my room and looked at the few things I had, I took out three bags one giant sports bag and two suitcases one big the other one medium sized. I slowly started to pack all that I own, cloth, shoes, toilet bag, towels, my books, my I-pod and everything else I owned.

 

What should I do now..?

A/N: HELLO~! Hope you liked the first chapter of the Dancer! chapter two will soon be up!