"Hey Jae, I heard your dad came down to school last week and made a ruckus about the futsal team main players along with Mrs Stevens."

I turned around to face one of my classmates whom I've never really talk to before. Ever since the incident during the futsal practice last week, rumours had spread throughout the campus about how I was linked with the schools's Chancellor and the school board of directors. I just smiled at my classmate and excused myself to go home. I didn't want to talk or elaborate about the matter as I felt that it was not a big deal anyway but I was getting irritated with all the attention that I was receiving. I've always been the quieter ones in class, always seated in one corner of the room doing my own revision. It's not that I don't want to mix around with them but students love to make fun and tease me so those students who tried to make friends with me will also be dragged in. I didn't want to be a hassle to anyone so I kept my distance.

As I slammed myself on my bed, I kept thinking about what my Dad told me last night and I can't keep smiling to myself.

(Flashback)

I was strumming my guitar when Dad came into my room after knocking. He came and sat with me on the couch. "Jae, are you sure about wanting to go back to Korea?"

My eyes widened the moment I heard him asked me that question. Trying to control my happiness, I just nodded once as I put my guitar aside to face him and waited for him to continue talking.

"I've been thinking about it the past few days. I'm actually reluctant to let you go and stay there all by yourself but seeing how unhappy you are right now, it hurts me more. I've actually contacted my old university to see if you could enrol there for your 2nd year onwards and lucky for you, they will be able to accept you in."

I could no longer hold back my happiness as I jumped on to my Dad and hugged him. I kept saying my thanks and he started to laugh at my dorky behaviour.

"Jae, I've also contacted Uncle Kim to help me by assisting you when you're there. You still remember him right?" I nodded my head before Dad continued talking. "You'll finish your 1st year here before moving to Korea in mid-Feb, about two weeks before your school starts. You'll be taking the same course there since they have it too. So wipe that smile off your face and get some rest."

"Thank you Appa and I love you. I promise to be good when I'm there and make you proud."

"I love you too, Jae. I'm always proud of you and I know you can take care of yourself well."

********************************

4 months had passed by as I prepare myself to move to Korea. Dad wanted me to stay at our old house with Uncle Kim and his family since they have been staying there ever since we moved to LA. Dad didn't want to sell off the house since it holds a lot of memories for him so he wanted to give it to Uncle Kim who rejected his offer. Dad then told him that he will continue employing Uncle and Aunt Kim, on one condition which is for the Kim family to stay in and look after the house as if it's their own. I told Dad that I would prefer to just stay in the campus dormitory so that I don't need to move around so much since my house is quite a distance away from school. After a lot of persuasion, Dad agreed but I still need to go back home sometimes to visit Uncle and Aunt Kim.

Dad spent a lot of time at home with me during the past 4 months. I could sense that he was sad about me leaving and also worried about me being all by myself there. We did a lot of activities together, playing PS3, swimming and even practise boxing together. The night before I flew off, both of us were having our dinner quietly until I asked him a question.

"Appa, I'm sorry if my question will upset you but do you have any intention to go back to Korea?" The atmosphere suddenly became awkwardly silent and I heard Dad sighing before he answered.

"I'm not sure about that Jae and I don't know why but I have a feeling that you might end up deciding to continue staying there. I don't want to think about living apart from you at this moment so I'll handle it when the time comes."

I nodded my head and just smiled at Dad. He always seems to know where my questions are leading to as if he could read my mind and he always know how to answer me in a way that makes both of us happy.

********************************

As I looked out of the plane window, I think back about my Dad's words to me when we were saying our farewell. "No matter where you are, stay humble and always be thankful." I smiled at that memory as I turned myself to a much more comfortable position to get some rest for the long journey.

I was woken up by the stewardess who informed me that the plane will be reaching Korea soon. I straightened up my body and asked for a cup of water. After finishing the drink, I went to the restroom to wash up a bit. When I went back to my seat, the captain informed us to fasten our seatbelts as we'll be reaching Korea in about 10 minutes time.

I pushed my cart loaded with 4 big luggages out through the glass door. As I looked around for familiar faces, I heard someone calling out my name.

"Hyun Jae!!!"

Before I could see who was yelling my name, I was engulf into a group hug which almost suffocate me. When things calm down, I realised that there were two girls who were hugging me from my sides. I pushed both of them slightly forward to have a better look at them as I stepped back.

"Taeng? Yul?" Both of them were grinning dorkily at me.

"How have you been Jae? And how is Mr Park?" I turned around when I heard a low manly voice behind me.

"Uncle Kim, annyeonghaseyo. Appa send his regards and I've been fine. Both of us are fine." I replied as I hugged the elderly man. Uncle Kim is older than my Dad by 5yrs but he still address my Dad as Mr Park.

I turned to look at the two girls and hugged them too. Taeyeon aka Taeng is Uncle Kim's daughter. Me and Taeyeon practically grew up together. Both of us made friends with Kwon Yuri aka Yul when we were in middle school and our friendship grew stronger as time passed by until I had to move to LA. I've not seen them since then but we sometimes keep in touch through emails. The four of us continued chatting in the car as Uncle Kim drove us back to my house.

"Hey Taeng, how come you still didn't grow any taller for the past 3 yrs?" Yuri laughed out loud when I made that comment but she stopped laughing when I commented about how she looks fairer now compared to last time but still darker than us. The 3 of us continued to tease each other like old times until we reached the house.

I exited from the car and just stood outside near the gates. Nothing has changed since I left the house 3yrs ago. Seeing it suddenly reminded me of Umma. I felt tears flowing down even though I tried to control it. If I myself was overwhelm by all the emotions, I don't know how Appa will be able to handle it if he returns here one day.

"Hey Jae, are you okay?" Taeyeon walked up to me and started rubbing my back when she saw my tears. I smiled at her and nodded my head. Both of us walked in as I greeted Aunt Kim and also Jiwong Oppa who is Taeyeon's older brother by 2yrs. We all chatted for while in the living room before Yuri suggested for us to go for a swim. Aunt Kim said that she will be in the kitchen to prepare for dinner with Uncle Kim's help while Oppa said that he's going out to do some revision with his schoolmates. Oppa is in his last year of university. As me, Taeyeon and Yuri went up to my old bedroom on the 2nd floor, I stopped by my parents room which was beside mine. It seems that Uncle and Aunt Kim had been keeping the house tidy even though no one is currently staying at the 2nd and top floor. I opened the door to my room and was shocked to see both Taeyeon and Yuri removing their clothes right in front of my eyes. Both of them had already worn their swimwear inside.

"Yah!! Can't you both use the bathroom to change?"

"Stop trying to act innocent Jae. We've been removing our clothes in front of each other since middle school. It's not as if we are . There's not much difference anyway since the past 3 yrs, especially with Taeng's..." Yuri said as she used her hand to show the chest area.

"Shut up Yul. One more word from you and I'll make sure that your girlfriend knows all your dirty secrets." Taeyeon showed her fist to Yuri

"Girlfriend? Yul already have a girlfriend? Daebak." I clapped my hands and showed a thumbs up to Yuri. Well, another reason why the 3 of us can get along so well is also due to the fact that all 3 of us are into girls. We've confesssed to each other about our uality during one of the sleepovers during middle school. Appa also knew about it from Umma when I confessed to her. At that time both my parents had a serious talk with me and after much persuassion they were able to accept it. Uncle and Aunt Kim were totally against it and Taeyeon got really upset about it. I asked Umma for help and she talked things out with Taeyeon's parents. It took them almost a year to finally accept it. Yuri was the luckiest of all. Her parents were really open-minded about it and they had no problem accepting it.

"Remember Yoona? The doe-eyed junior from our middle school that Yul had a big crush on." I nodded my head to Taeyeon. "We met her again 4 months ago at her high school during one of our University Introduction programme. The programme is for graduating students to learn more about the degree courses available in our university. Yuri took the opportunity to ask her out and only last month did Yoona agreed to be her girlfriend."

"Lucky for me, she remembered us as the futsal players during middle school. Initially she only remembered your name since you were the team's captain but slowly she recognised me." Yuri explained further.

"She must have been one of my fans. Lucky for you I was not around at that time because I don't think she'll agree to be your girlfriend if I was around."

I laughed out loud looking at Yuri's pouting face before a pillow flew to my face. I threw the pillow back at Yuri but she dodged it causing the pillow to hit Taeyeon instead who fell down on her since she was not expecting it. Both me and Yuri ran down the stairs and jumped straight into the pool with Taeyeon chasing us from behind.

After an hour of swimming and playing around in the water, Uncle Kim called us to have our dinner. The 3 of us wore our bathrobes and walked to the dining area. While eating, we chatted again. Aunt and Uncle Kim have been staying and looking after the house since me and Appa left, just like what he promised my dad. Uncle Kim no longer needs to drive around so much so he will help out Aunt Kim to keep the place tidy and also tend to the garden. Both of them have been using the same guest room behind the dining area on the first floor since they started working with Appa. Jiwong Oppa has been staying in the campus dorm since 3yrs ago when he first started off as a freshman. Taeyeon is also staying at the dorm since last year together with Yuri. When I told Uncle and Aunt Kim that I'll be staying at the dorm too, they were shocked. They thought that I'll prefer to stay in my house and be driven to school by Uncle Kim everyday. I said that it'll be hassle to do that and I prefer to just stay near campus. Taeyeon and Yuri said that I could stay in the same dorm as them as each dorm can have up to 4 students sharing it.

That night, I called Appa to talk to him. We chatted for a while but due to the time difference, Appa was not able to talk longer since he's at work and will be attending a meeting soon. Yuri and Taeyeon slept over and the 3 of us spend the night away talking and watching movie until we fell asleep in the movie room at the attic.