Wanderline

In a modest house in the outskirts of Seoul, a boy named Choi Minhyuk lived with his aunt, Kim Jiwon, and his uncle, Lee Junsu. Minhyuk was born amidst tragedy; his mother passed away during childbirth. His father, Choi Hyunwoo, a busy train engineer, raised him with great love, despite the heavy burdens of life. One day, due to his demanding job, Hyunwoo had no choice but to entrust Minhyuk to Jiwon and Junsu, his closest relatives.

Minhyuk grew up as a cheerful, yet mischievous child. His face was always adorned with a mischievous smile, and his actions often led to trouble, leaving his aunt exhausted. One day, while Jiwon was feeding him porridge in the kitchen, a disturbing news broadcast suddenly aired on the television.

"Breaking News: Hangang train station is on fire. The flames have spread through the corridors. Several victims are reported trapped inside."

Jiwon froze, the spoon in her hand dropped, and porridge spilled onto the table. Her face went pale. She knew Hyunwoo was working at that station. With trembling hands, she hugged Minhyuk, who didn't yet understand what was happening.

But after that, no further updates came. Hyunwoo's name never appeared on the list of survivors or victims. He vanished without a trace, and Minhyuk grew up unsure whether his father was still alive or not.

Several years later,Now Minhyuk was a teenager known for being a troublemaker at school. Despite his handsome face with messy black hair, he often found himself being chased by classmates due to his pranks.

"Minhyuk! Give me my shoes back!" one of the kids yelled as he chased Minhyuk. Minhyuk only laughed, holding a pair of white shoes in his outstretched hands.

He ran quickly through the narrow streets of Seoul until he finally reached home. Jiwon, who was sweeping the yard, stopped in her tracks.

"Minhyuk! What now?" Jiwon asked in a raised voice.

"I'm just joking, Auntie," Minhyuk replied, tossing the shoes back to their rightful owner. Jiwon sighed deeply, too tired to scold him further.

Although Minhyuk often caused trouble and was hard to figure out, deep inside, he missed his father dearly. Every night, he would gaze at the stars, imagining the face of the father he never truly knew.

One quiet night, Minhyuk found an old box hidden in his aunt's closet. Inside, there were old letters and photos of his father, including a train ticket that seemed never to have been used. Behind the ticket, there was a message that made Minhyuk's heart race.

"If I don't return, don't look for me. But if you're strong enough, come to Hangang."

Minhyuk clenched the ticket tightly, his feelings of anxiety and curiosity mixing inside him. He knew then that he had to find out what had really happened at the train station that had burned down.

Minhyuk's journey began, driven by his mischievous nature, unshakable determination, and perhaps, the answer to the mystery of his missing father.

The next morning, Minhyuk got ready for school and decided to use his uncle Junsu's old, rusted motorcycle. As he rolled it out from the garage, the engine sputtered loudly, attracting Junsu's attention.

"Yah! Where do you think you're going with that junk?!" Junsu yelled, rushing out. "Do you want to break it or break your bones first?"

Minhyuk grinned mischievously. "Relax, Uncle! It'll be fine. Trust me!"

"Trust you? The last time I trusted you, the garden hose ended up in the toilet!" Junsu fumed, snatching the keys from Minhyuk's hand.

Minhyuk sighed dramatically and slouched off, mumbling under his breath. But just as he was leaving, he spun around, his face lighting up with a sly smile.

"Uncle, I can't go to school on an empty stomach, can I? How about some pocket money for snacks?" Minhyuk pleaded, clasping his hands together in mock desperation.

Junsu narrowed his eyes, but after a moment, he gave in, fishing a few bills out of his wallet. "Here. Now get out of here before I regret it."

Minhyuk beamed. "Thanks, Uncle! You're the best!"

He took off on foot, checking his watch as he ran down the street. "Oh no, I'm late!" he muttered, picking up speed.

Minhyuk sprinted down the sidewalk, dodging pedestrians and stray cats, his school bag bouncing wildly on his back. As he turned a corner, a sleek black car screeched to a halt just inches from him.

"Watch where you're going, kid!" the driver shouted, sticking his head out of the window.

"Sorry, ahjussi! But you should drive slower!" Minhyuk yelled back cheekily before taking off again.

Further down the road, he felt something light flutter out of his pocket. He stopped abruptly, patting his jacket. "My money!" he exclaimed, realizing his pocket had a hole in it.

Looking around frantically, he spotted the bills drifting down the street in the breeze. Minhyuk chased after them, diving dramatically to catch one before it slipped under a parked bicycle.

As he gathered the scattered cash, he heard soft footsteps behind him. A girl in a neatly pressed school uniform stood there, holding up one of the bills.

"Is this yours?" she asked, her tone kind and polite.

Minhyuk blinked, slightly taken aback by her calm demeanor. "Uh, yeah, thanks."

The girl smiled shyly before walking away, her ponytail swaying as she disappeared around the corner. Minhyuk stared after her, the strange encounter sticking in his mind.

Minhyuk barged into his classroom, the door slamming loudly behind him. The noise echoed through the room, making everyone turn to look at him. He froze for a moment, scanning the room nervously, but then he grinned.

The teacher wasn't there yet.

He sighed in relief, quickly slipping into his seat near the back of the class. "Still safe," he muttered under his breath.

When the bell rang for recess, Minhyuk stretched lazily and turned to the boy sitting next to him. It was Joonseok, the same classmate whose shoes he had stolen yesterday and returned with a mischievous smile. Joonseok was still glaring at him from time to time, clearly holding a grudge.

"Hey, Joonseok," Minhyuk said, leaning closer.

"What?" Joonseok snapped, crossing his arms.

"Come on, don't be mad. It was just a joke," Minhyuk said, grinning ear to ear.

"You ran off with my new shoes and made me chase you all the way to your house!" Joonseok replied, still fuming. "Do you know how embarrassing that was?"

Minhyuk chuckled and patted Joonseok on the back. "Alright, alright. My bad. But let me make it up to you. Let's grab something to eat. My treat."

Joonseok raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Your treat? You? The guy who almost got hit by a car this morning because he was chasing money?"

Minhyuk scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Hey, I didn't lose all of it! Come on, don't be so serious. I'll even buy you a drink."

Joonseok sighed but finally relented. "Fine. But if you try anything funny again, you're dead."

Minhyuk laughed, slinging an arm around Joonseok's shoulders as they headed to the cafeteria. "You won't regret this, buddy. I've got plenty of stories to tell!"

Though hesitant, Joonseok couldn't help but smile a little, thinking that maybe, just maybe, Minhyuk wasn't all that bad.

Suddenly, two of their friends, Sangwoo and Taehyun, rushed over, waving a colorful festival poster in their hands. Both were beaming with excitement.

"Guys! Guess what?" Sangwoo exclaimed, barely able to contain his enthusiasm.

Taehyun grinned and held up the poster. "Our band is performing at the festival this weekend!"

Minhyuk's eyes widened in surprise. "No way! After all this time? We're finally performing again?"

Joonseok, who had been quietly sipping his drink, looked equally astonished. "Wait, really? We haven't even practiced in forever!"

Sangwoo smirked. "That's why we're here. Come on, we need to start rehearsing now!"

Minhyuk jumped up, full of energy. "Alright, let's go! We're going to steal the show this year!" He motioned for the others to follow him as he led the way toward the band room.

The small room was filled with the familiar scent of old amplifiers and polished instruments. Sangwoo sat behind the drum kit, spinning his drumsticks in his hands. Taehyun picked up his electric guitar, testing the strings with a quick riff.

Minhyuk grabbed his own guitar, slinging the strap over his shoulder. "I'll take lead guitar and vocals, as usual," he said confidently, grinning at his friends.

Joonseok hesitated for a moment before sitting down at the keyboard. "I can't believe you roped me into this again," he muttered, though there was a hint of a smile on his face.

Taehyun laughed. "Come on, Joonseok, you know you've missed this as much as we have!"

"Alright, enough talking!" Minhyuk said, his voice booming with excitement. "Let's show everyone why our band is the best."

Sangwoo started with a steady drumbeat, followed by Taehyun's electrifying guitar chords. Minhyuk's fingers danced across the strings of his guitar as he sang with raw energy, his voice filling the room. Joonseok joined in on the piano, the smooth melody tying everything together.

The room came alive with music, and for the first time in years, they felt the thrill of performing as a band again.

As they finished the song, the four of them looked at each other, their faces glowing with satisfaction.

"This is going to be epic," Minhyuk said, his grin wider than ever.

Sangwoo nodded. "The festival won't know what hit them."

And with that, the band dove straight into their next rehearsal, their excitement fueling every note they played.

---

Meanwhile, Minhyuk's Aunt

On the other side of town, Kim Jiwon was busy with her part-time job, cleaning the streets near the local market. Dressed in a bright orange uniform, she pushed a heavy broom across the pavement, her face damp with sweat under the afternoon sun. Despite the exhausting work, her movements were steady and precise, a testament to her resilience and determination.

"Thank you for your hard work, Ms. Kim!" called out one of the shopkeepers as she swept near the entrance of his store.

Jiwon paused for a moment, wiping her brow with a handkerchief. "It's nothing. Someone has to do it," she replied with a small smile.

Her thoughts, however, weren't on the task at hand. Instead, they drifted to Minhyuk. Despite his mischievous nature, she loved him deeply and worried constantly about the kind of future he would have.

"Boys his age should be more focused on their studies, not causing trouble," she muttered under her breath. But she knew Minhyuk's mischievous personality wasn't just rebellion. Deep down, he was still searching for a sense of belonging—a void left by the loss of his parents.

As she continued her work, she noticed a couple of teenagers passing by, laughing and carrying instruments. The sight made her pause.

"A band, huh?" she mused, a faint smile appearing on her face. She wondered if Minhyuk had ever thought about something like that—something to pour his energy into, something to help him find his way.

But before she could linger on the thought, a loud honk snapped her back to reality. She quickly moved aside as a delivery truck rolled by, and with a sigh, she returned to her work.

Even though her hands were rough from years of labor and her back ached from the long hours, Jiwon didn't mind. For her, every broom stroke and every bead of sweat was worth it if it meant providing Minhyuk with a home where he could feel loved.

Still, a pang of longing tugged at her heart as she glanced at the bright blue sky.

"Hyunwoo," she whispered softly, "if only you were here to see him grow."

The final school bell rang, signaling the end of the day. As students began heading home, Minhyuk grabbed his bag and looked over at Joonseok, who was still packing up his things.

"You coming?" Minhyuk asked, slinging his bag over one shoulder.

Joonseok shook his head. "Nah, I've got something to take care of. You go ahead."

Not far away, Taehyun, one of Minhyuk's other friends, called out, "I can't join you either, Minhyuk. I have to pick up my little sister."

Minhyuk groaned dramatically. "You guys are leaving me to walk home alone? Some friends you are!"

Sangwoo, another classmate, laughed and stepped forward. "Don't worry, I'll keep you company. Let's go."

The two of them walked together through the streets, chatting and joking along the way. As they turned a corner near the market, Minhyuk spotted a familiar figure sweeping the sidewalk.

It was his aunt, Jiwon.

Minhyuk frowned as he approached her. "Auntie, what are you doing? Didn't I tell you not to take on so much work?"

Jiwon looked up, startled. "Minhyuk, you're back early. And don't start with me—I've been doing this for years. It's nothing new."

Minhyuk sighed and placed his hands on his hips. "Still, you shouldn't be pushing yourself so hard. Let me help you."

Without waiting for her response, he grabbed the broom from her hands.

"Minhyuk, I can handle this," Jiwon protested, though her voice was gentle.

But Minhyuk ignored her, turning to Sangwoo. "Hey, you can head home first. I'll catch up later."

Sangwoo grinned, shaking his head. "Nah, I'll help too. It looks like fun."

Minhyuk raised an eyebrow. "Fun? You've got a weird idea of fun."

The three of them got to work, sweeping and tidying the street together. Jiwon couldn't help but smile as she watched Minhyuk and Sangwoo joke around while helping her.

"See, Auntie?" Minhyuk said with a cheeky grin. "We're a good team."

Jiwon chuckled softly, a warmth spreading through her chest. Despite her exhaustion, moments like this reminded her of how much love and support still surrounded her.

Sangwoo, leaning on the broom, grinned at Jiwon. "You've got a good kid here, Ms. Kim. A bit of a troublemaker, but he's alright."

Minhyuk puffed out his chest proudly. "Hear that? Even Sangwoo knows I'm the best."

"Don't let it go to your head," Jiwon teased, but her smile didn't waver.

As the sun began to set, the three of them finished their work. Minhyuk and Sangwoo walked Jiwon home, laughter echoing down the street as they went.

After walking his aunt home, Minhyuk and Sangwoo sat outside on the steps of the small house, enjoying the cool evening breeze. Jiwon went inside to prepare dinner, leaving the boys to their conversation.

"Your aunt's pretty tough," Sangwoo said, leaning back and looking up at the sky. "You're lucky to have someone like her."

Minhyuk nodded, his expression softening. "Yeah, she's great. She works too hard, though."

Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from down the street. Minhyuk looked up to see his uncle, Lee Junsu, hurrying toward the house. His shirt was untucked, and his face was flushed with exhaustion.

"You're late, Uncle!" Minhyuk called out, standing up and crossing his arms.

Junsu waved weakly, panting as he reached them. "Work ran late... again," he said between breaths.

"You always say that," Minhyuk teased, though there was a hint of concern in his voice. "Auntie was out there sweeping the streets because you weren't around."

Junsu sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "I know, I know. It's been hectic at the warehouse lately. Orders piling up, deadlines..."

Minhyuk frowned but didn't push further. He knew his uncle was doing his best to keep the family afloat.

"Come on, let's get inside," Minhyuk said, patting Junsu on the back. "Auntie's making dinner, and you look like you could use some food."

Sangwoo stood up, dusting off his pants. "I'd better head home. My mom's gonna kill me if I'm late for dinner."

"Thanks for helping out earlier," Minhyuk said, giving Sangwoo a playful punch on the arm.

"No problem," Sangwoo replied with a grin. "See you tomorrow, troublemaker."

After Sangwoo left, Minhyuk and Junsu went inside the small house, where the smell of freshly cooked food filled the air.

Jiwon turned to them with a warm smile. "You're finally back, Junsu. Wash up; dinner's almost ready."

As the family sat down to eat, the tension from the day slowly melted away. Minhyuk, though still concerned about his uncle's workload, decided to lighten the mood with one of his silly stories from school, making his aunt and uncle laugh.

For a moment, everything felt peaceful, even if just for a little while. But deep in Minhyuk's heart, he knew this calm wouldn't last forever.