always late

“JaeJoong-ah! You’re going to be late!” the mother called to her son who was still getting dressed.

“Yes, mother!” The boy shouted back.

The woman continued to stuff more kimchi into the little plastic container. She heard her son’s footsteps coming down the stairs and quickly grabbed the other plastic container with rice. “JaeJoong-ah, don’t forget your lunch.” She handed her son the containers as he ran passed.

“Thank you!” he shouted and ran out the door.

“Hey!” The woman shouted but it was too late, he was already out the door. “That boy is just too quick.”

All of a sudden the door swung open and her son came running back, “Mom!” he called to her. As she looked up he planted a kiss on her cheek. “I love you!” he shouted and ran back out.

The mother laughed to herself as she started to pack her husband’s lunch for work.


“JaeJoong!” a loud shout came from atop the hill. The sun was rising right behind the person which made it hard for JaeJoong to see the face of the person calling his name. But he knew who it was just by the voice.

“Wait up ChangMin!” JaeJoong called to his buddy and started running up the hill.

ChangMin was younger by 2 years but JaeJoong being a playful person that he is didn’t mind having a buddy like ChangMin. Besides ChangMin acted older than JaeJoong anyway. Always giving an opinion on everything that JaeJoong did. JaeJoong often called ChangMin ‘dad’ just to piss him off. The two were buddies since JaeJoong was 6 years old, where they met on the monkey bar. After that their mothers would arrange play dates and meet up every afternoon at the playground.

“JaeJoong, you’re always late!” ChangMin scolded as JaeJoong stopped to catch his breath.

“I slept….. late… man” JaeJoong still trying to catch his breath.

“No excuses, I told you specifically last night that you couldn’t be late anymore. If you’re late then I’m gonna be late.” ChangMin grabbed his backpack hanging on the door handle and called to his mom. “Mother! I’m taking off!”

“Have fun at school!” his mother called from the kitchen window.

“Good morning, Mrs Shim!” JaeJoong greeted as he bowed his head.

“Good morning JaeJoong. Take care of ChangMin for me.” She called back.

“Of course!” JaeJoong answered.

“Thanks! Have fun at school.” She shouted back.

“Lets go before we’re any later.” ChangMin headed off.

“Yah! Wait for me.” JaeJoong called as he skipped up to his friend.

“How many times do I have to tell you to walk properly? Skipping will mess up your hair and clothes.” ChangMin scolded.

“Yes sir, dad!” JaeJoong laughed and begin to copy ChangMin’s walk.

“You’re so silly.” ChangMin gave out a laugh. No matter how mature he made himself out to be he couldn’t resist laughing at his buddy’s antics.


“YooChun, there they are.” JunSu pointed to ChangMin and JaeJoong as they walked towards the school gate. YooChun and JunSu grabbed a handful of the flowers they had picked from their trail to school and ran to hide behind the trees by the gate. Right as JaeJoong and ChangMin walked up to the gate YooChun and JunSu threw the flowers at them. “Ha-Ha! You two are gay!” YooChun and JunSu shouted and ran off.

“Yah!” JaeJoong shouted and tried to run after them.

“Forget it JaeJoong, you know how retarded they are.” ChangMin grabbed his friend’s arm.

“Come back here you bastards!” JaeJoong shouted after them but YooChun and JunSu only turned around to stick their tongues out at him and continued to run towards the school. “Yah! You two better becareful!” JaeJoong warned.

“You’ve beaten them up how many times and they still don’t care.” ChangMin explained. “Just let it go.” ChangMin adviced.

“That’s because I haven’t beaten them up hard enough!” JaeJoong explained.

The two boys dusted off the flowers from each other’s clothes and hair before proceeding towards the school. They were taunted by YooChun and JunSu almost everyday at school. Just because JaeJoong and ChangMin were best friends that did everything together. At times it didn’t make sense to ChangMin and JaeJoong because YooChun and JunSu were also best friends that did everything together. JaeJoong and ChangMin walked to ChangMin’s 2nd grade class.

“I’ll see you at lunch” ChangMin said to JaeJoong who was looking down the hall. “You, don’t do anything to them. They’re just being immature.” He ordered JaeJoong.

“I won’t do anything over the top, but I have to do something.” JaeJoong replied and walked away.

“You!” ChangMin called after him but JaeJoong didn’t respond. “YooChun and JunSu is gonna get it today.” He muttered to himself.

Inside JaeJoong’s classroom all the other kids were talking and playing before class started. He spotted YooChun and JunSu at the back of the room trying to stab the goldfish in the fishbowl with their pen and pencil. A group of girls stood by the window watching them and giving them disgusted looks.

“Yah! JunSu-ah why are you doing that to the fish? It hurts them don’t you know?” One of the girl shouted.

JunSu turned around slowly to the girl. “Yah! How do you know it hurts them? They might like it. Like when you get an itch and you scratch yourself. The fish might find this relieving.” JunSu explained.

“Nah-ah, if you poke yourself with a pen does it feel good?” The little girl asked.

“Want me to poke you with my pen to find out?” He asked the girl.

“No!” She answered and ran to hide behind one of the friends.

“Aish! Ugly girls are so annoying!” JunSu commented then turned back to poking the fish with YooChun.

JaeJoong wanted to laugh at JunSu’s witty responses to the girl, but he knew he couldn’t. If he did, he would be praising the enemy. He was about to walk towards them but suddenly stopped. A smile came over his face. He had the perfect plan! He was going to get JunSu and YooChun good!