Chapter 1

I finished my third year a month ago and now I am on summer vacation.

Grandma: Jinsoo-ah Breakfast is ready, hurry up and get ready!

Grandfather: Jinsoo-ah if you don't get up right now, I will make your brother get you!

With that said, I jumped up out of my bed and ran to the bathroom.

The one thing I fear on this Earth is my big brother

I rush to get ready and run to the dining table

Jinsoo: He isn't out of his room right?

I look at my grandparents out of fear

They shake their heads and I let out a big sigh and slouch down in my chair

Matthew: Is breakfast ready?

I immediately sit right and pick up my chopsticks

Matthew: How many times have I told you to straighten your posture. You look lazy if you slouch

I straighten my back and nibble on the rice in my bowl

Matthew: Stop eating tiny bites, you are not a baby anymore. Eat bigger bites. And also eat some meat, look at how skinny you are.

Grandfather: Stop nagging at your sister, just eat your breakfast and go to college

Matthew: yes grandfather

My parents passed away when I was only 5, and Matthew was 18, so we both grew up with our grandparents.

And our grandparents were busy farming and taking care of their restaurant.

Because Matthew is 13 years older than me, he had this big responsibility on his should of taking care of me and raising me right.

We didn't want to burden our grandparents, so my brother would always try to be perfect and reserved to himself.

I rush and finish my breakfast

Jinsoo: thank you for the breakfast…I am done

Matthew: where are you going?

Jinsoo: Umm…to the ***** university library?

Matthew: to do what?

Jinsoo: I got a job there…

Matthew: you are in your last year of high school, focus on your studies

Jinsoo: I am only going to do it for a month, so I can get some pocket money, I am gonna quit it when school starts

Matthew: Okay, when do you get off?

Jinsoo: 4:00 PM

My brother hands we a few won bills

Matthew: go have something nice

I smile and he leaves the room

Grandpa: He is so cold, but he cares about you.

Jinsoo: Yeah, I guess. But I am still scared of him

I leave the dining room and go to the bedroom to get ready

A few minutes go by and I hear a knock on my door

I open the door and see why brother

Matthew: I am leaving for college, you need anything, call me. I will come to pick you up from the library at 4 pm.

I nod my head and he leaves.

I grab my bag and phone and go to the front door

Grandma: After coming back from the library, help me at the restaurant.

Jinsoo: Why do you still work there, I told you to sell it years ago

Grandma: I am still young, And I have nothing to do when you guys leave. This way I can pay off our debt and it keeps me occupied

Jinsoo: I promise to earn a lot of money and build you a big house so that you never have to worry about borrowing money from others.

My grandmother pats my head and gives me a warm smile

Grandma: That's my baby jinsoo

I look at my watch and rush to put my shoes on

Jinsoo: I got to go! Can't be late for my first day of work!

I kiss my grandma on the cheek and run out the door

*at the library*

I walk into the break room and scan my badge to clock in my hours

I put my bag in my cubby and go to the return book cart

I push the cart to its corresponding aisle and start putting the books on the shelf.

I put all the books back on the right side except the ones on the high shelf

Jinsoo: Come on…just a little more

I am literally on the tops of my toes but I am still not able to reach the shelf

I put the book back in the cart and pull my phone out and call someone

I hang up the phone and go to the left side of the aisle and put the books back on the shelf

I few minutes pass by, I turn around and see someone running towards me.

A tall lean guy with round glasses and braces stops in front of me panting.

His name is Kim Jonathan, my best friend. Both of our parents went to the same college and decided to live in the same building so we automatically became friends. And after my parents passed away, he was there by my side the entire time.

Jinsoo: Why did you run here?

Jonathan: You said there was an emergency?

Jinsoo: I said I need your help

Jonathan: Well what do you need me for?

I give him a stack of books and point to the top shelf

He smiles at me and ruffles my hair

Jonathan: Are you gonna work for the entire summer?

Jinsoo: Yeah, I need to save up for college. You know my grandparents can't pay for all of my tuition. And my brother said that if I want to do an art major, he said that he won't support me. So I am on my own. I bet SNU will not give me a full scholarship…he will also know that I am safe if I join the college he is teaching in.

Jonathan: My parents offered to pay for your education

Jinsoo: You know I can't accept that offer, it is too much to ask for. I will work hard this year and get good scores

Jonathan: I know you can do it!

We both smile and go back to putting the books back on the shelf

*Time Skip*

It's 4 PM, Jin and I are waiting for my brother to pick us up

Ding

I look at my phone and it's my brother

Matthew: I am not going to be able to pick you up today, walk home safely and text me when you get home.

I turn to Jonathan and show him the texts

Jonathan: Okay, let's go to the bus stop

Jonathan and I are walking to the and all of a sudden, it starts to rain

He takes out an umbrella from his backpack and hands it to me

Jonathan: open it…

I open it and go on the tips of my toes to cover Jonathan under the umbrella

Jinsoo: bend down a bit would you

Jonathan chuckles and grabs the umbrella from me

Jinsoo: much better

*time skip*

We arrive at the apartment and because jin lives on the first floor, we went there first.

Jonathan's Mom: You did what?!? How could you do this to me?!?

Jonathan's Dad: I was drunk! I thought she was you!

Jonathan's Mom: I can't believe you!

Jonathan and I look at each other and I signal him to go see what is going on

Jinsoo: I will wait here, you go

Jonathan pats my shoulder and runs inside the house

Jonathan: what is going on?

Jonathan looks at his mom who has tears streaming down her cheeks

Jonathan's mom: Your father cheated on me with his secretary! I knew you had an eye on her from the first day she joined!

Jonathan's dad: I was drunk that day, I thought she was you! I already told you! Why will you not believe me!

Jonathan's mom: Why would I be at your work huh?! Don't make excuses

*SLAP*

I run inside Jonathan's house and see Jonathan's mom holding her cheek and Jonathan blocking his dad

I run to Jonathan's mom and hug her

Jonathan's mom: I want a divorce…right now…

Jonathan: ma… don't think so rashly

Jonathan's mom: no…my cognitive abilities are intact right now…I want a divorce

Jonathan's dad goes into their bedroom and comes out a few seconds later

Jonathan: dad…

Jonathan's dad hands divorce papers towards Jonathan's mom

Jonathan: mom…

Jonathan's mom signs the paper and throws it at Jonathan's dad

She goes into the bedroom and Jonathan follows

Jonathan: don't do this mom…

Jonathan's mom took a big suitcase out and starts packing

Jonathan's mom: be good to your father

She finishes packing and walks out of the house

Jonathan looks at his dad

Jonathan: Why did you do this to her?! Don't you love her?!

Jonathan's dad: I love her with all my heart…

Jonathan: then why did you sign the papers!? Why did you divorce my mom?!

Jonathan's dad: I always promised her to agree to whatever she asks me…she asked for divorce papers…

His voice broke and tears start to escape from his eyes

Jonathan's dad: So…. I signed them…

Jonathan's dad walks away from the living room and goes into the bedroom and closes the door.

I look up at Jonathan and he looks like his whole world has collapsed

I drag him out of the house and take his a noodles shop near our apartment building

Jonathan: Why did you bring me here…?

Jinsoo: So that you can process what just happen and clear your mind…server, 2 bowls of noodles, please!

Server: 2 bowls of noodles coming right up!

Jonathan looks at me and I give him a warm smile

We get the bowl of noodles served and start eating it

Jinsoo: don't worry it will get better…trust me I know

Jonathan slams his chopsticks on the wooden table and looks up at me

Jonathan: You know? Do you know?! What do you know! How can you possibly know how I feel

I look at Jonathan with shock because he has never raised his voice at me

Jinsoo: why are you so angry I was just to reassure you and comfort you…

Jonathan: How can you even reassure me…you don't know how it feels…you don't have any parents

Jinsoo: What did you say?…

Jonathan: You have no idea how much pain I feel right now… my parents divorced

Jinsoo: But they are alive! They are still around! Yeah of course they won't be in the same house together…and that is what I am talking about. I know how it feels to have this emptiness in the heart because of a lost parent!… I know how much it hurts! I know the pain you feel! It pained me twice as much as you when I lost my parents!

Jonathan: Jinsoo sorry…I didn't mean it like that

Jinsoo: How can you compare both of those!? Oh sorry, I am not at your level…because my parents are dead…

I stand up…

Jinsoo: please finish your dinner, Jonathan…I will not disturb you with my irrelevance.

I grab my bag and leave.