In White Houses

I collapsed on my bed, I was finally finished organizing my things after 2 and a half hours. My side of the room was decorated with glow and the dark star stickers, posters, pictures of me and my dad and friends back in the countryside, and even my mom. I grabbed the frame on the nightstand of my mother and hugged it as I laid on my bed. "Has it really been this long?" I whispered closing my eyes.

I was trying to remember her voice, which I haven't heard in so long, I was always afraid that I would forget what she sounded like. I heard my door knock and slightly opened, "Minjoo?"
It was Seoyeon, she popped her head through peeking around the room. "Ah, unnie." I say sitting up. She looked like she was still tired from last night, but somehow, she still looks radiant, I always envied on how beautiful she's always been, her long perfect silky brown hair, her full pink lips and not a trace of imperfection on her skin.

"Aish, my head is pounding...what are you doing up early?" she asked, plopping down on my bed. "I couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to finish moving in," I say.
She looked down at my hand and saw the picture of my mother, her eyes trailed back to mine, "How have you been Minjoo?" she frowned. My body froze, I hated talking about these things, I never do actually.

"I'm doing well unnie," I said putting the frame in my nightstand drawer. "And Uncle? How's he been?" I felt my heart slowly sinking in my chest, my dad was back home alone working long hours as a manager for some restaurant he hates.

He used to actually own a restaurant back home, which was successful, many people would come to eat there, even tourists from abroad. He closed it down when my mother's health gotten worst, it put so much stress into him that he decided to just close it.
I remember being so angry at him, I knew she loved that restaurant and was proud my dad accomplished his dream, but he couldn't just have kept it open for her sake but, deep down I think the reason I was actually mad at him for closing it because it was a sign that mom wasn't going to get any better. We both knew I was just too stubborn to accept it, I hated accepting that she wasn't going to come back home to us.

"He's doing well just working a lot." I half-heartedly smiled at her. She studied my face like she was searching for something and she nodded. "Oh shit, I was actually supposed to call him once I arrived, I completely forgot!" I said fumbling to get my phone out of my pocket. Seoyeon chuckled getting up from the bed, "well get on it, tell uncle I said hello." She walked out closing the door behind.

The phone rang, and I was kind of hoping maybe my dad wouldn't answer so I could just text him explaining myself. "Hello? Minjoo-ya??" my father answered. "H-hello dad?" I stuttered. It was quiet, before I could repeat myself my father yelled through the phone, "I THOUGHT I MADE IT CLEAR FOR YOU TO CALL ME ONCE YOU'RE THERE?!" I winced at the loud voice coming from my phone, "I'm sorry dad, I just, I just was so busy trying to get settled in, I didn't mean to honestly." I muttered.

I could only hear his loud breathing, and then a sigh, "I'm s-sorry, I was just really worried hon," his voice softens, "I was scared maybe something might have happened to you." "Dad, I'm fine I made it here safe, Seokjin-oppa and Seoyeon-unnie are taking good care of me," I say trying to sound positive to make him less worry.

"Ah, okay, well I'm glad. How are you liking it so far, if you don't just know you always have a place here to say," he chuckled through the phone, my smile fell, "I'm joking my daughter, I know you'll love it there." He explained himself, "Just behave okay? I have to go, I want you to call in once a week for an update do you understand Minjoo-ya?" "Y-yes, dad." I say. "Good, I love you, talk to you later." The line clicked. Well, that was a relief.

I heard commotions in the kitchen and suddenly smelled food, I guess everyone was finally up. I walked out of my room and met up with 8 of my roomies. "Oi, good morning." Jin glanced over at me in his apron again, cutting fruits, "good morning oppa," I answered, "Yo Minjooooo 'Morning!" Hobi yelled from the dining room table, Yoogni glared at him covering his ears since he was a bit still hung over.



"How'd you sleep?" Jimin asked grinning, resting his chin on his hand. I shrugged, "Honestly I probably have gotten 3 hours of sleep, I guess the floor was pretty uncomfortable, so much for my first night in my bed." I laughed. "Sorry Minjoo, we don't usually party that much." Namjoon said pulling Seoyeon on his lap, "well WE do in bed." He muttered, before kissing Seoyeon. Everyone made a gagging sound which made me laugh.

"Hyung what are we having for breakfast, I'm starving and nausea at the same time." Jungkook whined laying his head down on the table. "well I told you all not to drink too much, so that is why I'm making hangover soup for that hangover, also fruits salad on the side." Jin said with his hand on his hip, he really does remind me of a mother.



"Where's Taehyung?" Jiae asked we all scanned around the room, hearing his name made me flinch a bit. That weirdo guy, telling me to not fall for him when he was the one who dared me to kiss him, who does he think he is? I rolled my eyes, "He might have had to open today." Yoogni said with his head down, "Open?" I questioned. "Yeah, he works at a local bookstore he manages, he sometimes wakes up early to go in to organize books," Namjoon answered. Oh, so that's why he was up so early.

"It was my first time seeing him enjoying himself last night," Hobi chimed in, they all nod their heads agreeing, "yeah him actually participating in our games, he usually isn't like that, he would always sit back and watch or go to his room like the introvert he is, I wonder what made him wanted to hang out and play?" Seoyeon asked, then I felt them all turn their heads towards me, "w-what?" I asked shifting my eyes back in forth to each of them.

"Nope, nah-uh," Jin hummed, who was stirring the broth on the stove not looking back at us, "I'm sure he was just in a good mood, nothing special." "yeah in a good mood to kiss noona," Jungkook snickered, I blushed trying to forget that ever happened, "well I won't allow any of that again." Jin said sternly this time shooting his eyes towards me. "uh-yeah it was just a game oppa nothing going on, of course, I just got here!" I waved my hands. You can't possibly think I'm here to have a boyfriend?!

"Aish, I forgot I need to go to the studio today to plan things for the dance recital next month!" Seoyeon palmed her forehead. "Do you need help?" Jimin asked, "If you could please Jimin, it would help me out." He smiled nodding, "would you like to come with us too Minjoo, we can show you around and explain things to you since you are working with us soon?" Seoyeon looked up at me.

"Jimin w-works at the studio too?" "Yes ma'am." He raised his eyebrows giving me a smug look. "He teaches modern dance, that's how we met back in uni." I would have never guessed he dances, I would have thought he models clothes or something.



"Well I actually need to head over now," Seoyeon got up from Namjoon's lap, "Jimin could you take Minjoo to the studio later?" "Sure." He answered looking at me. "What about breakfast?" Jin asked her as she stride towards the hall, "Just give me some haejang-guk to go!" she called out from her room.

Notes