[s i x]

♤Chapter 5♤

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I silently watched as Ji-rae exited the garden to come back home. I wonder when I'll meet her brothers in person. She always said her brothers were always too busy so she never got to introduce me to them.

'I should go home now too'

I stood up and made my way to the gate. I told the nice man that I was leaving now and walked home. While I walked home I couldn't help but feel like I should've told her what I wanted to say earlier.

I might regret not ever telling her. Well, there's no going back now.

I messed up.

After passing some houses I finally reached my uncle's home. I'm currently living with my uncle here in Finland until my parents come back from the trip to the states. I chose to stay here in Finland with my uncle instead of going back to visit my birthplace. I just loved Finland more than I loved the states.

I felt all my happiness from earlier vanish when I saw the boxes and luggages in the living room, waiting to be filled with our possesions and belongings. I felt weak. I didn't tell Ji-Rae. I didn't tell her that...

We were moving.

We were moving back to the states. I didn't want to go. I didn't want to leave Ji-Rae. I even promised her earlier I would stay even though I knew I would leave with m oy uncle to move back to America.

I saw my uncle waiting for me, putting his belongings in the big box.

[Note; Koma and his uncle will be speaking in english from this point of the chapter]

"I see you're back from your trip to the meadow, chap" he greeted me with a warm smile.

"Hi uncle" I replied, standing in the doorway.

"Why so blue? Aren't you glad that you're going back to America? Honestly, I can't wait to go there as well, then I'll be moving back to my home in the U.K."

"But I don't want to go. I want to stay here, with my friend. Can't we stay here uncle, please?" I pleaded.

"I'm sorry love, but we have to. Your parents have already planned everything out and I already booked us a flight." Uncle looked down at me with a sad look in his eyes. I felt my heart sink to my stomach at hearing that we're already leaving so soon.

"A flight? A-already? When do we leave?"

"Yes, your parents want us back in America as soon as possible. We leave the day after tomorrow."

I fell silent. I wouldn't be able to spend time with Ji-Rae before I even leave. Tomorrow's a school day and I'd be staying here at home packing.

"I'm sorry, love. We have no other choice. Your parents want to move back to America" I felt a hand rest on my shoulder.

"I... I'm going to my room" I said and went upstairs. I'm not packing my stuff. I wanna stay here.

I closed my bedroom door and sat on the floor, beside my bed. I feel so weak.

I remembered the promise I made to Ji-Rae in the meadow earlier.

'I'm not going anywhere Jiji'

'I promise, I'll stay with you forever. I'm here, alright? Don't cry'

'Don't leave me'

'I won't Jiji, I'm here'

I promised I wouldn't leave her, yet here I am. I didn't tell her that I would be leaving.

I'm just like her mom.

♧Ji-Rae's P.O.V.

"I'm home!" I called out as I took my shoes off and walked in the living room.

"Finally, you're home. I was worried something would have happened to you. If only this stupid brother of yours just picked you up and told us you went out Joonsung wouldn't have almost gone mad" Leeseong said, glaring at the nervous Man Weol that was avoiding his gaze.

"Well at least I came back home safe" I tried to reason so brother Leeseong wouldn't be upset anymore.

"Ji-Rae, oh thank goodness! I was so worried! Next time, tell me when you're going out by yourself and not Man Weol okay?" Brother Joonsung came down from upstairs and hugged me tightly, sounding worried.

"Yes big brother" I smiled.

"You look happier than usual today. Did something happen?" I heard Seongjun asked

"A friend of mine promised me they'll never leave me" I grinned.

"That's great! Now come to the kitchen before the food goes cold" Joonsung carried me and went into the kitchen where the dining table was, the others following after.

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Knock knock

"Lad, open the door. Your parents called and they were looking for you" I heard uncle call from the other side of the door.

I opened the door and he gave me the phone. I saw mom and dad's faces on the screen. Uncle gave me a pat on the back and left.

"Hi"

"Sweetie! Aren't you excited you get to come back to America now?" Mom asked me.

"I'm not"

"Why?"

"I don't want to go. Mom, I wanna stay here"

"Oh don't be silly, hun. You're just saying that. You'll see, once you're here you'll be jumping in joy."

"I mean it mom, I want to stay here. I don't want to leave my friend behind. I love Finland more than the states now. Mom, dad, please, let me stay" I pleaded.

"Son, don't be like that. We've already decided that we're all moving back here in America. You'll have more friends than your one friend there in Finland. Plus, they'll be better. So we're going to move whether you like it or not. I'm sorry son." I heard dad say.

"But-"

"You can't change our minds. You'll just waste your time"

I fell silent again.

".... I expect that you'll have all your belongings packed by tomorrow. They will be sent here and you'll fly with your uncle to America tomorrow morning. We'll see you soon son"

I didn't bother to say bye to them before hanging up. I returned the phone to my uncle and went back to my room. I sat down on my bed. I felt tears start to prick the corner of my eyes before running down my cheeks.

Just then my uncle came into my room with a few boxes. He started to pack my things for me.

"I'm so sorry, love. I'll pack your things for you if it'll make you feel better" he patted my head and continued packing.

I didn't reply. I only stared at the floor, hoping that this was all some bad dream and I would wake up any second now. I would wake up in the meadow with Ji-Rae beside me. Then we would play and tell eachother stories under the tree we always meet up at. We would goof around and talk for hours until the sun would set and I would tell her to go home, before going home myself too.

I saw uncle pick up the camera I owned along with some pictures that were in a small bag. I asked him if I could use it for a bit and he gave it to me with a smile.

I checked if it was still working and luckily, it was. I took out the pictures that was in the small bag and found my two bracelets in the bag as well. They both had a pendant on it. One had a key and the other one had a locket.

I stared at it for a second. I opened the locket pendant with the key in the other bracelet and wrote something on it before closing it again.

I put the pictures and the bracelet with the locket in a small box. I wore the bracelet with the key and turned the camera on.

I took a few pictures of myself and the box. I told my uncle I would go to the meadow for a bit. Once I got there I took pictures of the meadow and went to a shop to print the pictures out.

I came back home with the pictures and put them in the box that had the other pictures and the bracelet. I turned on my camera again.

I don't want to leave, but I have no choice.

I'm so sorry Jiji.