A Year Before James's Awakening
South Korea, Seoul
The late afternoon light cast a warm glow through the house as Sung Ming Soo stepped inside, dropping his bag by the door.
"I'm home," he called out.
"Congratulations on getting into college!" his aunt greeted him with a wide smile, pulling him into a hug.
"Thanks," Ming Soo mumbled, his voice muffled against her lavender-scented chest.
"I'm so proud of you," she gushed, hugging him tighter. Her embrace was warm, nearly smothering, yet filled with love.
"I... I can't... breaaathe!" Ming Soo gasped, squirming.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" She released him with a laugh, a bit flustered. "I got carried away."
He caught his breath, a grin spreading across his face. "It's okay. I'm... actually, I'm feeling... dizzy," he teased, flopping dramatically onto her chest in a fake faint.
"Hey, are you... " She paused, noticing his mischievous smirk as he sniffed her chest. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" she yelped. Before he could react, she sent him flying with a swift kick.
Ming Soo crashed across the living room, scattering magazines and decorative pillows in his path. He finally landed against the door with a thud, leaving a small smear of blood from his nose.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry!" She ran over, genuinely concerned. "Are you alright?"
He weakly raised a thumbs-up, trying to stifle a laugh.
After cleaning up the mess, Ming Soo's aunt disappeared into the kitchen, humming softly as she prepared dinner.
"You're cooking?" Ming Soo asked, leaning against the doorframe and eyeing the chaotic countertop. Vegetables were haphazardly chopped, and rice had spilled onto the stove.
"Yep!" She smiled brightly.
"Why?" He looked at her with mock suspicion.
"Because I feel like it!" she replied, stirring a bubbling pot with determined excitement.
Ming Soo fell to his knees in mock agony, clasping his hands dramatically. "Please, no... Don't feel like it. I beg you."
She waved him off with a roll of her eyes. Undeterred, he clung to her leg, sobbing theatrically. "Please, I'm begging you, don't do this…"
"Let go, you little pest!" she muttered, kicking him off with a smirk.
Twenty minutes later, dinner was served. She proudly set a plate in front of him. The "food" looked like a disaster, a grayish, lumpy stew that quivered slightly when poked. He braced himself, took a hesitant bite, and his face instantly turned green.
"So, how is it?" she asked, beaming.
He managed a weak thumbs-up, swallowing the bite with effort.
"See? It's not that bad!" she said, taking a spoonful herself, only to freeze, horrified, as she struggled to swallow. "Uh... wanna go out for dinner instead?" she asked, her face turning green to match his.
"How have you survived this long?" he groaned, setting his spoon down carefully.
"I honestly don't know," she admitted, pushing the plate away.
She asked him to help clean the kitchen, which looked like a crime scene, bits of food on the floor, a broken egg dripping down the counter, and dishes piled sky-high. They argued briefly over whose fault it was, but eventually gave up and headed out, leaving the mess behind.
As they walked through the bustling streets, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a soft glow across the sidewalks. Ming Soo noticed strangers glancing at his aunt, who had chosen a dress a bit too bold and bright for the evening.
"Couldn't you have worn something to cover that ugly face of yours?" he grumbled, half-hiding behind his hand.
"Oh? Finally acknowledging my beauty, are we?" she grinned, nudging him playfully.
"Tsk."
"Can't handle a little beauty by your side, huh? Oh, look at them, men are so easy," she teased, clearly enjoying his embarrassment.
"Maybe if your face weren't so... unpleasant, they wouldn't stare," he muttered, blushing.
"Don't talk to your aunt like that!" she said, pinching his cheek.
"Ow!" He winced as his stomach growled loudly. "Let's just hurry."
They picked up the pace.
Back Home
By the time they returned, the sky had darkened, and they both sighed in relief at the quiet.
"Looks like Mom's not home yet," Ming Soo muttered.
"Yeah," his aunt agreed, visibly relaxing.
Just then, the front door clicked. His mom stepped inside, eyeing them with suspicion.
"M-Mom! You're... back already?" Ming Soo stammered.
"Why so early? Did you get fired?" his aunt added with a forced smile.
"What? No! I'm later than usual," his mom said, frowning. "Why are you two acting so... strange? Wait, the last time you acted like this, you'd... What did you do?"
"What do you mean, sis?" his aunt asked, feigning innocence.
"You two only act this guilty when you've done something to piss me off," she said, narrowing her eyes.
"Really?" his aunt said, still playing dumb.
"Last time, I came home and found the door missing."
Silence fell. The tension was thick.
"I was just... teaching him how to kick people's ass," his aunt finally admitted with a sheepish smile.
"I don't care, just don't do it in my house again," his mom muttered, brushing past them toward the kitchen.
Then came the inevitable scream.
"What... happened to my kitchen?!"
Ming Soo and his aunt exchanged a glance, already bracing for the storm.
"She was... attempting to cook," Ming Soo mumbled.
His mom turned to his aunt, eyes blazing. "You can't even boil water without setting something on fire!"