The Chronicles of Gi and Jimin: Part 1

A humble house in the almost outskirt part of town. An old house with a modest architectural style. During the old times, the house was a shop lot. Well, indeed it is still a shop lot now.

A noodle shop.

The upper level is where a boy and his old grandma live. Just the two of them, after the boy's parents died in a car crash when he was 12. Since he has no siblings, he bears the responsibility to take care of his grandma and the noodle shop as well. It's a family legacy that he can't get rid of in his life.

He loves the shop so much. It's like an unofficial school for him. Right now, his grandma and two workers operate the shop. He will help when he has free time; during semester break especially.

Things got okay until the business got slower. And his grandma is getting older.

***

"Here. Your paycheck,"

Jimin quickly grabs the brown envelope and peeks at the contents inside. After he is satisfied with the amount, he nods and leaves the scene. The payment can at least cover his tuition fees for this semester. After some calculations, he realizes that he needs more to pay for the medical fees for his grandma.

The road is still busy at this hour. People come in and out from one bar to another. Bar hopping is the most common activity among youngsters at Jimin's age; a college senior who will graduate soon. This is the time when they hang out with friends or set up a meeting with cute juniors especially those freshies who are still green in this world of college.

Not for Jimin. He rather stay with his grandma at the hospital. This is not a time to have fun and be reckless. For his life was already in a mess.

Phone rings.

"Hello?"

"Don't tell me you forgot our meeting, Kwon Jimin!" he winces his nose a bit.

It's Taeyang. And he prepares to bombard Jimin.

"I have some business to attend..."

"No excuse. You better come here in 10!"

"Gimme eight..." Jimin swings his feet, putting a speed in his pace. He bravely strolled along the dangerous road; bustling his way out in a swift move so he could reach the meeting place in no time.

While passing by a cafe, he sees a guy with a cup of coffee in his hand. Another guy is pushing a cart towards him. But the coffee guy did not notice the cart was moving closer and faster toward him. They gonna collide soon!

Jimin quickly grabs the coffee guy's hoodie and pulls him closer to his tiny body. The coffee almost spills out but Jimin manages to grab the cup as well.

"Watch where you're going, sir!" he frowns, almost scolding the man in tiny. The man drops his hoodie and lifts his face, watching Jimin in confusion.

Jimin blinks his eyes twice. The man still leisurely hangs out in his embrace while his cat eyes stare at him.

"I'll call you back..." he pulls out his earbud. Then, looks at Jimin.

"Are you gonna hug me the whole night or what?" the man asks. Jimin quickly let him go. He fixes his jacket a bit.

"Watch where are you going, sir. You almost collided with the cart just now," Jimin reminds the man. That man nods, yet he looks kinda sluggish a bit.

"Don't be occupied too much with your phone as well. It's hard to hear the incoming cars..."

"Fine. Fine..."

"Be careful, ahjussi..." Jimin was going to say goodbye. But the man holds his wrist.

"Did you just call me... Ahjussi?" the man inquires. Jimin nods.

"Yeah... Look, I'm late for a meeting. So, gotta go now," he tries to free himself from the man. But, it seems that he failed to do that. The man grabs him neatly. Though he feels no pain or pressure, he can't even move.

"Ahjussi, I really wanna entertain you but I'm late for a meeting..."

"Am I look that old?" the man frowns while staring at Jimin.

"Maybe. I mean, look at your hair!" Jimin flicks his finger at the man's hair. He halts aback and jumps.

"Dusty gray is the latest hairstyle!"

"Sorry, but you look old in it," Jimin pats the man's shoulder and leaves him alone in the middle of the five-foot way of the bustling town.

The man slaps his cheek a bit in shock.

Do I look that old?? He inquires himself.

***

"Here comes the star of the show!" Taeyang claps his hands when he sees Jimin walking into the hall in wary. He flashes a hopeless smile, looking like he was forced to be here tonight.

"You're late!"

"Blame that cat ahjussi!"

"Cat...ahjussi?" Taeyang frowns.

"Yeah! He purposely halted me for no reason. Even forgot to thank me!" Jimin drops his bag on a chair.

"Now, you blame this imaginary cat ahjussi?"

"Tae, I'm not making up a story, okay! He was this close to colliding with a moving cart. I pull him aside and save him. He didn't even thank me for that, but suddenly he got furious when I called him ahjussi!" Jimin rolls his sleeves and sighs.

"How did you know he is an ahjussi?"

"His hair is gray. And he is sluggish. He is indeed an ahjussi!"

"That means, my brother is an ahjussi!"

"Yarh, what's your brother had to do with this!"

"He is indeed a bit sluggish..."

"Even you're sluggish sometimes. Does it make you an ahjussi?" Taeyang quickly shakes his head in tiny.

"Cut the chase, Tae. What's going on here?" Jimin asks.

"Well, Jinu was named The Freshie Boy this year, you know that, right?" Jimim nods. He drops his sight at Jinu, a young freshie from the Business Administration Department. The boy is indeed perfect; eyes like a doe, chocolaty, flawless skin, bright smile with perfect body proportion.

"So, The Varsity chose him to compete in The Freshie Boys' District Level," says Taeyang.

"Okay, that's a good achievement..."

"So, we need you to be his mentor,"

"What?? Tae, I told you, I don't wanna work with the committee anymore!" Jimin smacks Taeyang on his back.

"Come on, Chinggu! You're the winner of The Freshie Boys' District Level! We need your experience and help!"

"Tae, I got no time anymore! I'm busy with classes and grandma!"

"Jimin..." Taeyang hangs his hand on Jimin's shoulder. "We both know that's not the exact excuse," his friend gives him a deadly glare.

Taeyang knew what's Jimin up to. Since the business was getting slower and his grandma was in and out of the hospital, Jimin was desperate. Desperation leads people to make reckless decisions. And by that means, they tend to do whatever it is for survival. Even that means illegal business.

"Tae, I need money. This won't bring me any! I think it brings more liability to me!"

"At least they will put a credit for your effort. Boost up your grade and secure you a job prospect," says Taeyang.

"I'm done with this shit. To be honest, I stayed because of the scholarship. Or else, I might walk away and quit! Now even the scholarship couldn't help me," Jimin sighs silently.

"I know your tight situation, Jimin. But, I'm worried about your safety, too! Can you understand my intention here?" Taeyang touches Jimin's forearm, as a sign that he cares a lot about his best friend.

Jimin gazes at Jinu. The freshie looks exactly like him when he was a freshman. Pure, innocent, determination in his eyes. He must've gone through so much just to secure the place in the Freshie Boys' District Level competition. Once, Jimin had walked into his shoes. It's not easy.

The competition is more than just a pageant-like competition. It's all about the future as well.

Jimin narrows the gap between him and Jinu. That boy is taller than him so he shoves the boy on a chair and makes him sit, facing him.

"Where are you from?" he asks.

"Wi District," the boy replies with a soft voice. Jimin nods in tiny. The area is a bit underdeveloped compared to another district nearby. It's a village with lots of sunflower fields.

"What did your father do?"

"He's a farmer,"

As Jimin's thought.

"How did you manage to secure your spot here?" he asks Jinu again.

"I don't know. I just work my best to be the best. My dad said, work hard, play hard," again, an innocent way of thinking.

Jimin snarkily glances at Taeyang. This boy truly is his bestie. He knows his weak spot. So damn well! Taeyang knew, that if Jimin started asking questions, that meant he would surrender to Taeyang's demands. Soon.

He picks the best out of the best so Jimin will get tied up. His empathy is out of the question. No matter how bad he is, there is one thing that Jimin will never change.

He always feels sorry for the poor and eventually will help them in any way possible. Because he's been in the same shoes for so long.

"Should we start tomorrow?"

There is sparkling in Jinu's eyes as he jumps from his seat, almost trying to hug Jimin but the boy controls his composure and smiles widely.

"Sure! I won't disappoint you, senior!" the boy chimes in a loud voice, audible almost to everyone in the hall. Jimin almost smacks his forehead while Taeyang helps him by asking the boy to control his tone.

After Jinu left the hall, Jimin gives Taeyang a deathly stare.

"I hate you the most, today..."

"You'll thank me later, mister...."