Mi-noo POV:
Spring 2013, South Korea, a few days after Yusuke…
I looked at through the window, gazing upon rows of townhouses and apartments right inside my bedroom. Well, damn... It is a doozy regarding what is my life is now, or rather the world that I am in.
I can't believe I am now in South Korea now, and man, it is a bit tedious and complicated to be hear again. I mean, I have to deal with school again, especially the South Korean education system, those are brutal! If I was still like a young man in my last life, and also not being experienced in how the work environment works here, I'd be pretty toast not gonna lie. Thankfully, I manage to easily keep up and even get ahead due to my mature mindset and a lifetime of experiences that helped me with school.
Also, I can't believe that I am 12 again?! Seriously now I have to go through puberty and growing pains again. Though, it ain't bad considering that at least I am young again... No more back pains, joint pains, arthritis, and I can move freely without worrying about injuring myself. I am so very glad I don't have to take a dozen medicine anymore for each day. Even though I am pre-pubescent now, it still has more advantages compared than being an old, tired man with health issues.
*Sighs in Relief...*
"What a nice day today, the sun is out, and everything is just, so so great! With this new life, the world is my oyster! I exclaimed with excitement and glee.
I move through the bedroom as I went to my desk to write down my plans and ideas for today and for the foreseeable future. While writing things down, I thought about what I have doing for the past couple weeks... For one, I use the time to exercise my body, as goodness gracious, it really needs it. Like man, I am so scrawny. Nothing special really, just some push-ups, squats, lunges, and some jogging around the park. After all, we got to start somewhere, and for this body, it has to be small before anything heavy is utilized.
I also gotten to be more socialized and less shy, based on what my classmates kinda reacted as they find it strange that a shy guy previously, is now becoming more active. Especially Ji-ah, my childhood friend, she thought something was up. so she then confronted me one day...
//Flashback to a week ago...//
I was about to leave school, and after saying goodbye to everyone... I stepped out of the classroom, through the hallway while taking a look around the place. As I was about to go out of the school building, I then heard someone calling my name.
????: Mi-noo! Wait! Wait up, Mi-noo! Wait for me! As someone called me as they yelped my name out.
I turned around it was Ji-ah, as she's rushing to get close to me. I stopped for her of course, despite my future misgivings about her, she is still currently my friend, best friend even. So I can't just simply ignore her for a crime she hadn't yet commit. Innocent until proven guilty, I mean. Even if I want to avoid her, she still freaking 12 for goodness sake, I doubt she currently that problematic yet.
"Hey, Ji-ah, What's up" I asked what's the holler about...
Ji-ah: Mi-noo, can we go talk somewhere, privately? It's between you and me. As she asked urgently, looking as if it's something important.
"Okay..." I said, going along with her, on what she wants to talk about.
She and I went to place where we can privately discuss about something, whatever that something is really… It looks to be around close to behind the back of gymnasium, a place where we go to for PE class.
By the we arrived there, Ji-ah pulled aside and then confronted me with something that apparently stumped her, especially about me apparently.
Ji-ah: Mi-boo, I noticed something different about you. I don't why, but ever since like a week ago, you've been bit off, and I noticed you're not that shy anymore. And I noticed that you seem a bit more relaxed and confident even? Is there anything happening to you?
I paused as I didn't thought that hard on fully blending in, but it's not like I fully showed myself that I am different than what I am before. So therefore I came up with a throwaway excuse show she doesn't fully suspect something has happened to Mi-noo.
"Really?? I didn't noticed much at all, but maybe it's because I want to be more brave, and be able to not live in fear anymore. But I digress, I think you're overreacting a bit." I made an excuse to throw her off, and to make sure she doesn't fully suspect about this at all.
Ji-ah: Okay, whatever you say so… but I hope it doesn't mean you abandoned and forget about me! I hope we don't drift apart, Mi-noo. Remember our promise for each other we made. She said it with a relieved expression, it seems she mostly bought it, though her face tells me that she was just worried about us. You know, I can't help but not look away with those puppy eyes she made.
"Ji-ah, I am certain that I won't abandon you nor I shall ever forget about you too. That's if you agree to do the same as well." I expressed with my earnest impression as I give her an indication of not breaking our relationship with each other, but also giving me a way to leave if something ever to happen. That way I hope we can leave in a better note if our relationship doesn't work out together.
Ji-ah: Really, you promise?
She let's out a pinky finger, just like what Mi-noo made to a while back in the playground ages ago.
I am a bit reluctant about this, as now I am giving her some indication that it might turn into something more, but I relented, as I don't want to ruin this friendship. I do kinda owe the original Mi-noo in a way, at least I should try to maintain a good relationship with her regardless.
"I promise!" I then gave her a pinky swear to her, as now it seemed appropriate that I should else she'll cry. Yeah, too simpy I know, but I at least have to maintain a semblance of the original Mi-noo.
Ji-ah then gave be a big hug as she is glad that nothing would change much regardless of me becoming a bit different from what she known. We then left the area we talked privately and we said goodbye and walked home in our separate ways. For she lives in a different place where I live in. But we did talk to each other afteraward via phone.
//End of the Flashback…//
So yeah… now I am a bit of a pickle when the inevitable might happen, but who knows, though I should try to do something about it or perhaps arrange differently to work in my favour instead.
Anyways, the week since then, we of course still hung out from time to time, I've been to her home for the first time in this body, as I know I have memories of visiting before but regardless it is pretty much my first time, and man her family is fairly loaded. Well, mine too, but at least I know she could of use for future plans if I need to.
I also met been hanging out a few more friends I have made other than her, on top of exercising more, for I need to be much stronger really. As I finish writing down my plans and ideas for this year, I placed my notebook into my shelf nook. I then got up and left my bedroom to grab something to eat, perhaps watch tv at the living room. I briskly walked went downstairs and immediately went to the kitchen.
I opened the fridge and grabbed some fruits, for me to dice up as I'm making a fruit bowl for my snack. As well grabbing myself a glass of banana milk with honey mixed in. I was going to watch tv, but I decided to do something else then.
I quickly decided to go eat outside at the patio near to the family's garden space. It's a nice day to take in the scenery and breathe in the fresh air while I eat something healthy for a change. I opened the sliding door at the living room and went out to eat out there.
I look around the family's garden, take in the fresh air, taking a gander at all the plants, the bushes, shrubberies, and the flowers while occasionally looking some birds flying by and going around. My mom and some assistants who volunteered to help her helped set up this garden space. And I must say it has all came together beautifully, the garden itself is perhaps the envy of our neighbours I imagine.
Yeah, my mom must be proud of what she worked on for a while now. Whenever her free time of course. She's fairly busy woman after all. So is my dad too, in fact both my parents are often busy with work usually…
As I thought about this, I think I also should mention about my parents. As for them, what I can say about them is that, they're loving and caring parents who are supportive folks, but they're often busy with work like I said. It doesn't mean they are neglectful towards me of course. Sometimes, they should have spent a bit more time with Mi-noo. I can see why the previous Mi-noo has some loneliness and some anxiety issues. Regardless about that, it doesn't really matter now since I am now him. Still, it would be nice they have time to spend more time together as a family.
Also, I think some of the feelings such as this is probably still affecting me as I have inherited some of Mi-noo's feelings. But not like that it's any problem, right?
*Eats and chews his food slowly, while occasionally drinking his beverage…*
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As I keep eating more of my snack, I think more about what my parents now. My parents are at least not like a typical Korean parents one finds out. For one, they are very emotional expressive, and obviously they show outward signs of affections and love to me and to each other. The fact of the matter is that they are also surprisingly open minded and willing to support me on whatever I want to do. Obviously they want me to graduate high school and go to college or university.
But that's the only major requirement of me, as they don't really about having the best grades nor what I want to study, what they care about is that I am still able to learn well, be productive and responsible as a person, and works hard as I can while being still mindful of others. As long as I am living well, then they're proud as they said to me. For that, I can see why they're different compared to any typical Korean parents.
Are they a bit strict, yes, but it's not without fairness nor care. As I can also see that they truly want the best for me regardless. Especially for my mom…
Well, what I can describe about her is that, my mom works as a very successful corporate lawyer, and I think she'll be a senior partner soon, but who knows, or is she one by now, I don't know? She's born in around 1979, so that means she's probably around 34, which is pretty impressive considering how young she is. Granted she also worked at her job for nearly 13 years, and at her firm she help started 10 years ago. Also she comes a very wealthy family, based on what I know, and how wealthy? I don't know for certain as she never really talks about it much.
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Also, my mom was at one point a Kpop trainee for nearly 2 years during late 90s and early 2000s. Why she quit was because of her studies becoming too busy for her to keep up. I didn't know until quite recently but at least there wasn't any bad blood from her group mates. From what she told me, they were about close to debut too. I hope my mom kept touch with them after all these years…
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As for my dad, he's a civil engineer, a senior engineer currently, working at a major construction firm. My dad is born in also around 1979 as well. That means that both my parents are around the same age. Based on my memories, apparently they met at a library one day and went on from there. So who knew that it would turn out well. He is pretty chill guy generally, and he really does his best to be a good father to me.
One more thing I noticed is that my parents are both pretty attractive, and I don't exactly know how Mi-noo turned out so average and plain looking. Maybe it's the lack of care for his appearance, or perhaps it's because he's probably a late bloomer. My dad was a late bloomer, so that makes sense in a way.
Also, my parents name are Nathaniel Sungjin Lee and Rebecca Eun-hee Lee nèe Park. As for why they have western names... Well it is because my family is Roman Catholic, granted it's their Christian name as well. Though my family is mostly just nominal Christians as we're not exactly a fully practicing one. We do go to church at Christmas and Easter, and also some other days from time to time as well. Mostly to do some cultural activities though. My Christian name is Sebastian.
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I've finished my snack by now, so I went inside, closed the sliding door and washed my dishes and put them on the rack to dry. After this, I went back to my room, grab a book, which is about World History and then went back down and sat at the couch. I borrowed this book from the library when I wanted to do more further research about this world I am in. Well, it seems to me that this world is somewhat different to my last then I thought... Though when I did a brief look at my computer, I thought it would be just somewhat the same but different names and place periods, but I underestimated myself. Granted, I didn't look too deeply about this at all, I was tired at that moment.
One other thing that strikes me that's different is how much a bit bigger is South Korea here in terms of landmass, as they seem to have gotten a bit more of North Korea's lands and the DMZ is a bit further north compared to my last life. Like South Korea here has retained the City of Kaesong and the region surrounding it notably. Whatever happened on the war, it seem some things were successful for them to hold on to it and now that place is a very successful tourist hotspot here. They also have a few more areas they gotten more, but that would take too long to mention on which one really.
There's like several other things that's different on the world but that also would take too long to mention as well. Though another notable thing I will say mention is that, I also notice that K-pop or Korean Entertainment scene is a bit behind then what it should be, in terms of growing international appeal and interest by now. Seems to me that it is similar until a few things, Psy "Gangnam Style'' though still reached a billion views here, but it was seen as one time viral video thing and it didn't lead into giving more hype to Kpop like the other timeline had. Plus some figures and even companies doesn't exist as well or certain events has shifted significantly. I mean the music still has some international presence, as it's known across both East and Southeast Asia. And in some parts of Europe and North America, but only in niche circles and the Korean communities living in those places sharing it across to other people.
From what I can see it, the Kpop here is reminiscent of early 2000s level presence in terms of notoriety and international appeal. The sounds and music is pretty much the same of what's typical for the late 2000s and early 2010s. Overall, from what I noticed when I looked more deeply about this, it seems many Kpop entertainment companies somewhat stagnated in the mid 2000s, and they didn't seem to innovate much in terms of marketing towards the international stage much. And they are also a little bit more obstinate and stuck in their ways in terms of what is needed or not. Seriously, it's like the owners, executives and other business folks are still stuck in late 90s for some reason in some cases I mean.
*Sighs frustratedly and stretches after reading...*
"Well, this could actually work in my favour, and oooohh boy I have plans, big plans! Now that I can do something about this..." I then started to scheme and plot while I thought about this.
As I kept reading, I heard the garage door opening, and it seems my parents are home now. I then looked at the clock, it's now around 5pm. Who knew time can past by so fast...
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My mom and dad then entered in and greeted me with delight despite their apparent tiredness. They also asked me on how's my day was.
Mom: How was your day, kiddo? Did you do anything interesting today? My mom asked with a tired yet happy expression on her face, despite coming from her lawyer job.
My mom then went up to me and hugged me tightly and pat my head with great affection.
Dad: Did you have fun today, son? I hope you learn something new today... Dad asked with same expression as mom while he went up to pat my back with the same affection as well.
"Nothing much to be honest, but I did learn a lot today, quite a lot actually..." I expressed with a knowing look.
Mom: I see then…
We all hugged each other for a moment and then I decided to help cook for them while he have a family dinner together, for once in a long time as a family. For I know for certain, life now will never ever be the same...