The Black Bird

School Daze

It was the middle of September and the Yorkohama Matzo students were preparing for the annual Spirit festival which would be held from September 15th towards the ending of October. Everyone was volunteering to help the community bring together what they thought could represent their traditional thanks and admiration to the spirits who lived before their time. While the festivities were in motion and the school hours fell short, Lee Taemin, junior age 16 was too busy sketching his art work in the empty library, where he spent most of his free time alone. If Taemin were to go to the festival this would be his first time since he was a transfer student.  Moving to Japan was not one of his birthday wishes when he lived back in Korea. His parents had to move a lot ever since he was a baby, not once did he ever feel comfortable in one place except for Korea. Back in Seoul, Taemin had grew up with most of his family and made a few friends that he would never forget. Deep in his thoughts Taemin becomes frustrated and annoyed with everyone and everything in his new life. Scribbling violently on his artwork he catches the attention of an instructor. "Is everything alright?" The middle-aged man stood in the doorway startling taemin out his skin. "Yes..yes sir" taemin answered. "Why aren't you out there helping your mates get ready for the Spirit Festival? I bet a young man like yourself must play a vital part in the becoming of our annual celebration" his words punched into Taemin's face causing him to turn rogue. "Right, I'll go join them!" Taemin blurted out in embarrassment. He knew he didn't have any friends here but atleast he would be away from that old crow.

On the way home Taemin stopped by a convenient store to pick a few bags of candy and comics to keep himself entertained at home. After collecting all his stuff he laid them on the cashier's checkout desk.  There was no sign of anyone behind the desk so he waited patiently not wanting to raise his voice but after 15 mins of waiting patiently he began to ring the bell. "Ughhh c'mon I just got on my lunch break you know that!" Taemin snapped his neck to see where the voice came from. Closing the staff door and locking it behind him, the skinny boy slurpped up the rest of his ramyun and walked over to Taemin bearing on his face a look of disdain. "So is that all or are you taking the store with you sir?" Taemin eyed the cashier's name tag and said, "Im sorry to have bothered you.. Kim kibum, if I had known you were on your lunch break I would've just went home and spare you of serving me. Please have a goodnight." Grabbing his stuff and on his way out he heard footsteps behind him and a voice shouting,  "Hey! You forgot something!" What could mr.cashier want to give Taemin and what exactly did he forget ? Taemin turned around and headed back into the store to see the cashier filing his nails. "What did I forget ?" "Firstly, I would like to apologize for my sharp mouth. I shouldn't have treated you like those stupid kids that run in here and make a mess of my dad's store" Kim stated. "I see.. Well I guess it's okay then. But what did I forget?" Kibum stopped filing his nails and leaned over the desk to Taemin and asked, "don't you attend Yorkohama Matzo?" "Yeah..so?" Taemin replied. "I thought so, well the name is Key. You can call me that since I'll be seeing alot more of you" Key smirked. "Oh, haha ..ofcourse! See you soon" Taemin reassured Key.

Taemin's P.O.V.

"The nerve of that skinny tall tree. First he acts all high and mighty then next he wants to be a helping hand to poor ol me. I can't believe him telling me his name as if I would want to be friends with someone like him! I mean just ..ughh.. The nerve of this place. First creepy nosey old teachers, next emotionally disturbed cashiers. I can't wait to go...

A couple of blocks later Taemin spots his fathers car pulling out the drive way and zooming down the street. He walked faster to the house and entered the livingroom trying not to make a sound. Closing the door behind him, his dog Scooby runs to him barking and pins taemin to the door. Scooby was Taemin's only friend in Japan, it was the second birthday gift his parents gave him when they moved in. The gernan shepherd was Taemin's pal in the new life his parents decided for him once again. "Hey boy, did you miss me? I missed you." Taemin played with the mut all the way into the kitchen to pour his dinner in the bowl. When he heard footsteps coming down the spiral staircase, "Ta Ta is that you?" Taemin's mother was awake. "Yes mom, it's me. Im giving Scooby his dinner before I go to bed." "No need sweetheart he ate already, such a spoiled dog" she laughed. As Taemin eyes lifted up to meet hers he noticed how tired she was from all the traveling and organizing meetings at work. Her hair was a curly mess that hung over her dark sunken eyes. The flight took a toll on her surely. "Mama, go back to bed and rest, im not a baby anymore for you to fix my plate." Taemin knew it wouldn't matter to her but he still insisted letting her know once in awhile.

"How was school Tata? Are you going to the Spirit festival anytime soon? Do you want me to cook a dish so you can enter it in? How many friends are you going with to the festival?" Will you enter in your artwork sweetheart?" His mother asked so many questions  sometimes . "Yes." And with that answer he ran up the stairs to his room and flopped himself on the bed. "Too much" he whispered to himself. There weren't any pictures or personal artwork hanging in his room. There wasn't enough time to be himself anymore he thought. Maybe this room just needed a desk, drawers, and a bed thats it. Taemin didn't feel like himself ever since the move to Japan. Seoul was his true home and after a long while it tool a lot out of him to make friends and cherish life more in Korea. Japan was a whole new ball game and he felt as though his strikes were up. 

After doing his homework; he read a few comics, ate his snacks, and drew a picture of his old life in Seoul. It was 10:00pm and the sun had went down on him. He thought a long shower and some contemplating on the new year would do him good. Maybe a new mindset would change his attitude. However, after the long shower Taemin didn't feel differently until he started thinking about the cheeky boy at the convenient store. He wondered what he might be up to at this hour and if he had friends. Then the Spirit Festival and all its wonders danced through his mind along with cheeky Key. Now Taemin grew tired and satisfied with his thoughts. Maybe.. Tomorrow will be better?