"Have you got your passport?" My mom reminded me. "You wouldn't want to come back from the airport just because–"
"Yes, ma!" I screamed. "Now, give me some peace so that I can check whether I've got everything."I stared at the things besides my suitcase.Some clothes before I get time to buy new ones, toiletries, phone, laptop, chargers, cables, stationery, this was perfect. What more do I need?A black glass jar slid into view. I glanced up and saw my mother grinning."Seriously?" I asked. "Do you think I'm going to a university abroad to eat Kimchi?! I don't think they even allow it on the plane!""Jae, just take it. It doesn't take up much space!" She said, "You'll remember our family whenever you're having this. And find a way to sneak it in. People have smuggled drugs and gold from various places. There's no difficulty in taking a bottle of vintage Kimchi with you. Drop it inside your pants and just tuck your shirt!"I avoided having the mental image of walking around the airport with a large, eccentric bulge.A whole lot worse if it spills. I thought. People are going to think that I wet myself but they won't understand that it is Kimchi."I'm not going to get amnesia all of a sudden to forget all of you," I murmured aloud."Shh!" She hushed loudly, almost making my ears ring. "Don't speak of the bad before you leave!""Yeah, whatever.""Jae," She said in a serious tone. "Come here."I followed to avoid any complications. She hugged me until my ribshurt. I felt my shoulder get wet. "Are you seriously crying–"She hugged me tighter."Oh, there's the taxi," I remarked as a black sedan idled in front of the gate. I hastily put everything inside, including the 'vintage' kimchi for which I asked for another bag, just to be sure that the pot won't break and spill over my belongings. I knew what was going to happen with it: tossed away into one of the dustbins by the airport security. However, I refrained from telling her because she would start rambling about more embarrassing ways of smuggling Kimchi through airport security.I hurried for the taxi while I pulled up my suitcase. As I neared, the back hood of the luggage compartment opened and I heaved the suitcase inside. I sat down on the seats and the air inside smelled like the car had rolled into the smoker's room. The glass windows started retracting back upwards as the car began to accelerate. I held back my urge to turn and take a few last glances of my house and my mother. I knew that all these would certainly fuel my bitter nostalgia someday but it had to be done for the good. I had to abstain from this warmth to truly grow as a person.