"W-what?" His mother said.
"You didn't tell us before." His father spoke.
"I didn't get the time."
His parents were caught off guard.
"HYUNG! WHAT THE HECK! YOU DID NOT TELL ME THAT!" Ji-Ho shouted.
Ji-Ho got up from the couch and darted towards Si-Hun and hit his chest hard.
"What are you doing!?"
"Brother, why are you telling us this so suddenly? You can't leave me! I don't want to be alone."
"You can visit me whenever you want."
"But still!"
Si-Hun sighed and took a seat on the sofa.
"So, where will you stay?" His father said.
"I'm checking an apartment tomorrow in the main city."
"For how much rent?"
"800,000 won per month."
"That's a reasonable price."
Si-Hun went to his room after that.
His parents, on the other hand, discussed this in their room.
"He is suddenly about moving out.'' His mother spoke.
"He's a grown man. He should learn to take care of himself alone. Good thing he's moving out."
"But it's so sudden."
"Don't bother. He's not a child. What good was he even doing to us after all?"
"He is still our son."
"He is also an adult. Now sleep."
They were fine with him moving out.
But he was pushed so much at a young age.
How many kids move out on their own at his age?
He just turned 20.
He just came out of his teenage and he was pushed into this mess.
He also deserved to live a life.
The next day, Si-Hun went to check that apartment.
"Heyy. You are that Si-Hun, right?" The landlord spoke.
"Uhh yeah."
"Okay. Come inside."
They walked inside the apartment.
The apartment was small but cozy.
There was also a balcony that gave a view of Seoul city.
The apartment had a few creaks in the wall, but it was a nice investment.
It had one bedroom, a TV lounge, an open kitchen, a small bathroom, and space near the main door for shoes.
Kuro, there was jumping in happiness.
He loved the cozy vibes.
Si-Hun checked out every corner, and in the end, he liked it.
"I like it. I would want to rent it."
"Great. So we're done here?"
"Yes."
Si-Hun discussed the details and finalized them.
It was a long day.
The next was going to be longer.
He woke up with Kuro chanting his name.
"Master~"
"Get upp!"
He got up.
"I told you I was resting today! Why are you waking me up for a workout today!?" He said, his voice still raspy from sleep.
"It's 9 in the morning."
"What.."
"Yes. Get up and prepare."
Si-Hun groaned and went to the bathroom.
He went downstairs to have breakfast.
"So, have you finalized any apartment yet?"
"Yes, I did. Glad it didn't take days to find one suitable."
"Hmm. Show me on the phone."
"I will."
Everyone ate quietly.
Si-Hun quickly finished his breakfast and rushed upstairs to pack.
He opened his whole closet and packed everything.
His shirts, his pants, shorts, and the few pairs of shoes he had, all.
"Master you ready to start a new beginning?"
"Looking forward."
"Why such dry replies master!???" Kuro said dramatically.
"Stop being overdramatic."
"Why~"
Si-Hun was done with his packing, and he had already called a moving truck to deliver his stuff to his new home.
He got a call from the delivery guy that he had arrived.
Si-Hun went downstairs and invited the guy inside.
Si-Hun saw that his brother was visibly sad.
He went to his brother and twisted his cheeks.
"Yahh! What are you doing?"
"I'm just playing!"
"You're really…leaving?'
Si-Hun didn't say anything.
"I will sneak you in when mom isn't letting you come to my place.'' Si-Hun whispered in his ear.
"Hmm."
"But promise me, you will do good in studies and make me proud."
"I will, Hyung."
"That's what I wanted to hear. Be a good boy and don't bother mom and dad."
"I won't! Stop being my mom!"
It felt good to hear that from his mouth. That he was getting his mom's attention.
"Haha."
"Sir, I've finished putting your stuff in the truck. You can come."
"Okay, Ji-Ho, I have to leave..., Bye and take care. And don't forget to keep your promise!"
Ji-Ho clutched his sleeve, not wanting to let go, but he knew his brother is really leaving.
Ji-Ho's heart ached seeing his one companion drift away just like that, but he knew that the environment his brother was surviving in wasn't ideal.
"Bye, hyung." He said, his voice low.
"He's…really leaving." Ji-Ho said, his head low.
Si-Hun passed Ji-Ho one last smile that didn't reach his eyes and said goodbye to his parents who didn't even come to see him off and that really…hurt.
But seeing his brother in their place made it much better.
He got in the moving truck, on the passenger seat, and waved a last goodbye to his brother.
Kuro was also seeing this, and he could also see the pain in Si-Hun's eyes as he was leaving.
His eyes said words his mouth didn't.
He saw how Ji-Ho's eyes were wet in the corners, his tears threatening to flow out.
And in that moment, he again felt that sting in his chest.
His chest felt unusually heavy, and he still couldn't name what this strange phenomenon was.
Si-Hun looked out of the window and saw the world moving in its rhythm.
They reached his apartment and settled the stuff.
After everything was done, Si-Hun finally sat on the couch.
He didn't have much stuff, so it didn't take long to arrange things, just the kitchen stuff he had to buy.
The apartment didn't carry warmth on its own, but Kuro's presence filled some traces of coldness that lingered there.
Si-Hun just ate ramen for dinner and slept after a tiring and…sad day.
He missed having his brother with him, but he knew life was meant to be like this, unpredictable and fair to some and unfair to some, but it had its own reason.
You could either make warmth on your own or just never even try finding it.