MINE

13

Till the time I finished arranging things in the apartment, I was starving and I didnt want to cook at all. So I decided to dress up and enjoy the streets of Seoul. It had been long and i wanted to feel how it felt like to walk down the Seoul roads.

The streets were cold but bright with street stalls. I couldnt remove the stupid smile off my face. It felt so...I dont know how to explain it. It was like wherever I was walking, it felt like home. Hmm....

"Anneyong, can you pack me some fish cakes?" I asked a lady in a street food stall.
She gave me a friendly smile. "Sure..." she packed some fish cakes for me. I looked around and realised how much Seoul had changed. I couldnt believe I was back home.

I walked around the streets with fish cake in hand. Seoul streets were bright and the streets around my apartment building were filled with food stalls and it felt great. I spotted a nice small convenience store and decided to grab some juice but ended up buying a bottle of Soju. I sat on the chairs outside the store with a plastic cup and Soju.

The Soju was bitter in my mouth but I didnt hesitate to gulp it down. Drinking like that, i felt a lot younger and free. Yeah, I was still young but whatever.

I was startled by the ringtone of my phone. It was Jin.
"Oh, Jin-ssi?" I greeted.
"Eomma, did you check the photo I sent you. Eomma, you wont believe. I met Suga and Jhope today. They are so cool. Oh my god! Eomma, you should meet them too. They are the nicest people I have ever met." Min Gyu exclaimed.
I moved the phone away from my ear. He was shouting with excitement.
"Okay, my son. I will check. Now give the phone to Jin ahjussi." I said.
"Okay."

"Ji Hwa-ssi, what are you up to?" Jin greeted cheerfully.
"I just came out to look around. Seoul has changed a lot." I said.
"Wow, we could have gone together. In fact, we are on our way back home."
"Oh! Really. I will head back now. "
"No. No. Just tell me where you are. We will come to you. Let's have dinner out tonight." He suggested.
"Great. I am starving anyway. I am sitting at a convenience store. Umm...Bokju store. Yeah..." I said.
"Okay, we will be there." He said.
"Okay."
He hanged up.

I took some more shots of Soju, looking around. And then when i noticed a group of boys walking to the store. They were glancing at me. I didnt care until...they came to sit with me.

"Hi, never saw you around. Where are you from?" One asked.
They were four.
"Um...I am new here." I replied.
He smirked. "Woah...you must have come here to Seoul to study. But if you are staying here, you must know that this is our area. We rule here and nobody can go against us. Okay?" He said with wannabe swag.
I stared at them in disbelief. They looked younger than me.
"Aren't you guys a little too young?" I asked.
They glared at me. "Watch your mouth. Didnt you hear what I said? We rule here."
I rolled my eyes and clutched my hand into a fist.
They continued to glare at me. I didnt care.
"Want me to report you to the police?" I asked.
"Heya!" Ome yelled.

"Heya, you kiddos." Someone called.
We turned to look at another boy. He walked to us with a smug smile. Suddenly the atmosphere changed and the boys started to sweat and gulp.
I frowned.

"JK hyung." One said.
The newly arrived guy crooked a smile. "Woah, I cant believe you are threatening a lady with lies." He said.
"Hyung..." they said together.

"Ji Hwa-ssi!"
We all turned to see Jin and my son walking toeatsa us. I stood up.
"Jin-ssi." I said.
"What is going on?" He asked and came to stand by me. Min Gyu hugged my belly, looking at the guys.
"Eomma, why are these guys so scary?" Min Gyu asked.
Jin wrapped a protective arm around me.
"Nothing. Just these young guys are trying to threaten me." I said matter off factly.
And then I realised how tall and broad Jin looked among them. Ooo...

The boys ran away except for the one called JK. He looked at me and smiled.
"Aiy, noona, dont get scared of these punks. They look for new people and bully them. Dont worry, if you ever come across them, you can call me. Take my number." JK said.
"No. No thanks." Jin said before I could say anything.
Jk smirked. "No problem. We will see each other again soon." He smiled and left, sipping on a banana milk.

Jin turned to face me. "Ji Hwa-ssi, be careful of these thugs." He said, eyes worried.
I nodded. "I am sorry." I said.
"No. It's not your fault. Let's go for dinner." He hugged me and kissed my head.
Min Gyu tried to wrap his arms around both of us and we laughed.

.....

Jin dropped us home and bid us Goodnight. By the time we reached the apartment, I was tired of listening to my son bragging about Suga and Jhope.
"Eomma, please see the pic I sent you." He pleaded.
"Okay, I will see. You go and freshen up first." I said and he left for the bathroom happily.

I fished out my phone to check the pic. I stopped breathing and the world came to a stand still. For a moment, I couldnt believe it was real...
But it was.
...

Thanks for reading.