farm boy | tk (editing)

1

There was a long, long distance between the city and the countryside.

The moon was still up and the only sound you could hear at this hour was the rustling of leaves and the breeze of the wind.

It was still dark and cold, but a cozy looking white cottage stood firm on the ground. You can tell that it radiates warmth for the people inside are in their beds all snuggled up just waiting for the morning to come.

It was 4am. The sun wasn't up, but Jungkook was. It was natural for him to wake this early since he wants to start the day by being productive and because the sound of the rooster's wake up call is more of like his alarm.

Dark colors of blue and gray fill his room, the only light source being the lamp post outside he can see from his window.

Jungkook sat up and made his bed before going to the kitchen to boil some water.

Switching on the lights in the kitchen, Jungkook felt the warmth of the room hit him as he adds water to the kettle.

He's not sure why and how but he knows that he's used to doing this every single morning, like a routine.

He had a good sleep actually. No annoying insects that make weird noises at night, the temperature of his room was cold just like he wanted it, and he felt so comfortable in the sheets that he almost didn't wanna get up.

He made his way to his grandparents' room. Quiet sounds of shuffling feet on the wooden floor reminded Jungkook of how early it was for him to be disturbing his grandparents but since he wanted to check up on them, he did.

The creaky door opened and a head of brown hair peeked inside.

He stared at the two people who raised him  on the soft, queen sized bed, sound asleep.

He wanted to just snuggle in the middle of them and sleep too but he remembered that he wasn't the little boy he used to be anymore, and that actually pained him because time doesn't just fly by, it hyper zooms in full speed.

He can recall his first time in the cozy cottage just running around while his grandpa chases him, but look where he is now; making coffee at 4am because he had to help with whatever there is he had to help with.

Jungkook smiled at the thought and shut the door gently. He went back to the kitchen to check on his water.

Looking at the baby blue kettle that was already steaming, Jungkook removed the socket of the kettle that was plugged in.

he poured a good amount of hot water on a mug he randomly took from the shelf.

He opened a sachet of instant coffee and added it to the now hot water. He reached for the creamer because Jungkook doesn't like things with bland and bitter taste.

Taking in the drink sip by sip; he walked to the porch, coffee in hand, and sat on the rocking chair like an old man.

Jungkook was still in his pajamas, had bed hair, half asleep, and was waiting for the caffeine to kick in so he could get some work done.

Staring at the view he sees every day: a grass land in front of him, the highway on the far right side of the house, the white picket fence that surrounded the cottage, and the wide cornfield that was on the farthest left of where he was positioned; was not much of a view but he'd rather see that than buildings whose tips touch the sky and bright lights of vehicles that zoom past him.

Jungkook liked his peace and quiet so he kept it that way.

It was about 4:30 when Jungkook finished his coffee. So he went back inside and washed his used mug. In about 2 hours, his grandparents would wake and he wanted to make everything ready for them when they step out of the bedroom.

Jungkook was the type to do everything as long as he doesn't get bored. So what he did was,

Swept the entire house, mopped it, cleaned the kitchen, his bedroom, the toilet, the other toilet, the storage room, organized his grandparents' room (quietly), organized his own room, feather dusted the windows, wiped the dusty furniture, fixed the clog in the bathroom his grandmother was complaining about, woke up his dog kooks and walked him outside, fed the dog, gave the dog a bath, took a bath, made breakfast, swept and mopped the whole house for the second time, and lastly, woke up his grandparents.

And that wasn't his usual routine. On somedays, when Jungkook would feel so motivated that he'd get up at 3:30 to do everything twice and even reach the attic and basement.

6:30 on the dot and the three of them were already sitting on the dining table. Jungkook sitting next to his grandma while his grandfather was in front of the two reading the daily newspaper Jungkook got in front of their doorstep 10 minutes ago.

It was also very surprising how people would deliver newspapers that far from the city.

"Jungkook-ah, did you fix the clog in the bathroom I told you about?" his grandmother asked as she chewed on her breakfast.

"Yes, halmeoni. It turns out the sink wasn't the problem, it actually was the pipe." Jungkook replied, shoving a spoonful of rice in his mouth.

"Aigoo! Our Jungkookie is so hardworking and obedient, what did we do to deserve a grandson like you?" his grandma placed down her utensils just to cup Jungkook's cheeks.

He swallowed his food quickly to show his grandma the bunny smile she loves very much.

"Breakfast tastes so good today, kookie!" his grandma cooed while she booped her grandson's nose while Jungkook scrunching his nose from the contact.

"It's just eggs and bacon, Sara. Nothing really special," Jungkook's grandfather commented as he turned the page of his newspaper.

Jungkook frowned, "Grandpa-" "I'm just kidding, kiddo. What do ya say after breakfast we go check if the corn is ready to harvest, eh?"

And with that suggestion, Jungkook suddenly felt excited. Nodding his head in anticipation, he ushered them to finish their food ("-ppalli, ppalli, grandpa and I have to go!").

Jungkook was only excited because everytime the corn was being harvested, his grandfather and him would take a bunch and head to the city market to sell them and boy, the reason Jungkook loved going to the city was for his mother.

His mother worked in a company he doesn't care knowing about and she visits them every twice a month, only that her visits aren't really visits anymore.

Instead of her spending time with her own son and parents, she literally just stays in the guest room finishing reports. And even if you try and talk to her about something--anything-- she would just brush you off like a speck of dust on her uniform.

It's been like that ever since she got a promotion for a position she'd been working on for so, so long.

It's not that Jungkook isn't happy for her, it's just that he sometimes wished she never got that promotion because since then, they couldn't even have a proper conversation without her bringing up the topic about her job.

Jungkook hated it and pitied her. He just wants to spend time with his mother and feel loved. Yes, he feels love, but he wants a motherly love. He wants a mom.

But it looks like it's probably not gonna happen anytime soon, because his mom hasn't visited them in the  last month at all.

Setting those thoughts aside and focusing on hopefully getting to meeting her again, he cleaned up the mess in the table.

And after a messy dish washing and leftover dog feeding later, he finally got out of the house to go with his grandpa who was patiently waiting outside.

"Alright, kid. You know the drill. Each stalk has only one or two cobs of corn, depending on its genetic makeup. The head of the combine pushes through the corn field and grabs the stalks from the ground. The stalk is then forced through a small area where the corn cob pops off, along with much of the husks. Chains then push those cobs into the combine, got it? I'll go start the machine." Jungkook's grandpa explained for the millionth time.

"Got it"