Woobin &Jongsuk (Namsoon -HeungSoo) by Johannaisamazing

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2018 – Namsoon

I was hoping to hear from JoongKi but not expecting to. Imagine my surprise when the VIP line lit up. I only have one VIP, so I excused myself from the little get-together KangJoo and Misaki are holding to take his call.

I locked myself in their guest room and made sure I was alone. I needed the space and quiet to get into the role of Soo Min, my alter ego.

The call was nice. Our conversation reminded me that New Year's the time to make nice with family regardless. After he hung up, I switch to my home security app on my phone to check on my father. I see my father in his favorite chair watching television. Ajumma is cooking and someone has decorated the house. I bet it's Ajumma. There's a young lady in the kitchen helping her cook. They look like they are having fun. I see my father glance at them every so often.

I call my father. Ajumma answers.

"Good evening Ajumma, how are you?"

"Very well, Go Namsoon," she replies. No matter how many times I asked her to call me Namsoon, she reverts to Go Namsoon every time.

"How's my father?"

"He is doing well. Before I give the phone to him, I just want to let you know that my daughter is spending the holidays with me. You had told me that it was okay for her to visit. I hope it's still okay?"

"Of course, Ajumma. I hope you are having a good time. Please wish her a happy New Year for me, and the same to you too."

"Thank you. Happy New Year. I'll give the phone to your father."

"Ahbuhjee, Happy new year," I greet him when he gets on the phone.

"Happy New Year."

"How are you?"

"Fine."

"Ah, how are things with Ajumma?"

"Fine."

"Any plans to visit friends?"

"No."

"Ajumma will take you if you need to go somewhere."

"I am not a child, I can find my way to wherever I want to go."

"Okay, Ahbuhjee."

At least he said more than one word this time.

"I'll talk to you soon. I'm staying in Japan an extra week so if you need anything Ajumma has my contact number."

"Bye."

"Bye Ahbuhjee and Happy New Year."

He hangs up! Why do I even bother?

I walk back to the living room and sit down beside KangJoo. Their living room is decorated in bright lights. There's a string of Christmas lights still up.

Their friends seem nice and are welcoming to me. The mood is very festive and music plays in the background, soft enough to compliment the atmosphere but not overwhelm our conversation. I have picked up a few Japanese phrases since I started school but not enough to hold a conversation. I'm just glad KangJoo's friends are speaking English.

I love sushi. It's now running a close second to my love of ramen. Japanese sushi is in a world of its own. I have never seen this many variations of sushi in my life. The layout at this party is eye-opening to me but not to the locals.

"Tell me, have you met any manga or anime writers yet," KangJoo asks me.

"So many. I tell myself to stop gawking at them all and listen to their lectures. But it's so hard to be in the same room as these geniuses and not stare."

"Try. You're here to perfect your craft, not stare at people that are doing what you want to do."

"You're right. What do you think of my first presentation?"

I had shown KangJoo my first presentation a few weeks ago. We are required to write a new manga or update our old ones after the first week. This should help us see where we need or don't need intense training. And as always, I want her input.

"I like it. There are more depth and clarity in your strokes," Misaki tells me. She walks up to us and sits on KangJoo's lap. KangJoo wraps her arms around Misaki's waist and holds her close.

"You think so," I ask excitedly. "What about you KangJoo." I know KangJoo will be brutally honest.

"I agree with Misaki. In just one week of training and your lines are sharper, your colors are brilliant, and the composition has improved."

"Are you a manga artist?" One of their friends sitting close to us asked.

"Yes, I am." First time I am proud to admit I am a manga artist.

"Do you have any work out now?"

"No, I am currently attending the Manga University to improve my craft."

"That is a tough school to get into. They admit only a few students to train each year. You must have great potential and recommendation to get in," he gushes.

"Yes, I have a fairy godmother who unknown to me, recommended me. I owe her." I smile at KangJoo.

"Fairy? So not politically correct," KangJoo smirks.

"That's my dream job to be a manga artist," the man continues.

"Do you draw?" I ask him, thinking I might have met a kindred spirit.

"No, but one can dream right?"

"Yes, one can."

The conversation moves to New year's resolutions and what we all plan to accomplish this year. I know what I want to do and I'm doing it. I want to have a polished manga ready to submit to publishers in Korea. That is my goal by the end of my six-week course. I had written a new story for my 'new story' project that I hope its submission worthy.

"Will you stay the night," KangJoo asks me as the party starts to die down? Folks are saying their goodbyes and heading out the door.

"Sure, my first lecture tomorrow is in the afternoon and my assignment is completed. Being at this party gave me an idea for another manga series. I am excited to get to class tomorrow."

"Okay, that's it. I know now that the world is coming to an end," KangJoo tells us.

"What are you babbling about?" I ask her.

"That Go Namsoon is looking forward to going to class. The same Go Namsoon who perfected the art of sleeping in every class all through high school. Wonders shall never cease," she says.

"I remember. Good memories. I had my best sleep in school." I smile.

Everyone burst out laughing, including me. The remainder of the guests leave, and I help KangJoo and Misaki clean up their house.

"Call her now," Misaki suddenly tells KangJoo.

I know she's not talking to me, so I quietly continue cleaning up, not getting involved in a marital spat.

"No," KangJoo replies.

"It's the New Year maybe this year she'll pick up."

"She hasn't picked up my calls the last five years so why would this one be different."

"I don't know but it might be. Namsoon, tell her to call Ha-Gyeong," Misaki commands me.

"Call Ha-Gyeong," I obeyed.

"Not you too?" KangJoo moans.

"I'll make you a deal. If she doesn't pick up your call this time, I will never ask you to call her again."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"Okay. Here I go."

KangJoo pulls out her cell and presses a number. She puts the call on speaker. The number rings, and rings, and rings. I say a silent prayer that this year Ha-Gyeong will pick up. If she doesn't KangJoo will never call her again.

I don't know what went wrong between them, but they were so close. As close as HeungSoo and I were in high school. I asked KangJoo what happened, and she doesn't know either. All she knows is that, when she introduced Misaki to Ha-Gyeong as her girlfriend, Ha-Gyeong stopped talking to her.

I thought maybe Ha-Gyeong is homophobic, and that's why she cut off all contact with KangJoo. KangJoo doesn't believe so because Ha-Gyeong is friends with Min-Ki and Young-Woo, who are in a same-sex relationship.

"That's it. I'm ready for bed. Good night Namsoon, I'll see you in the morning."

She walks upstairs to their bedroom. I see she is hurt but there's nothing I can do.

"Help her, Misaki, please?" I whisper.

"I'll try. Goodnight Namsoon."

"Goodnight."

A muddled end to a joyful day.

                                         ― ☾ ―

A week before the end of school, my technical teacher calls me in for a meeting. Anxious and worried I wait patiently for him in his office.

"Mr. Namsoon Go, I have seen a great improvement in your work, especially your final project. But I want to talk about your 'new story' submission."

I'm still not used to people calling my first name before my last, sounds weird to me.

"I showed your storyboard to my editor and he's intrigued with your book."

My jaw drops open, I stop tapping my foot and keep staring at my line and technical teacher, Mr. Miyagi. When I got a text to see my technical director, I was shitting bricks thinking I was going to be expelled or something. I have never had a good thing with education, so I have been expecting the ax to drop on me sooner or later.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Miyagi. You mean I'm not expelled?" I asked in disbelief.

"Expelled? Where did you get an idea like that?"

"Nowhere. It's just that's like my thing and school, expulsion."

He laughs.

"Well not here. Now let's talk about this storyboard you submitted. The story itself is intriguing. And your initial drawing is fascinating. I was drawn more to the story myself and showed it to my editor. He liked it but since you're an unknown he is hesitant to do anything with it right now."

Crap! And my happiness balloon bursts. The burden of new writers everywhere, no name recognition.

"Oh," I answer disappointed.

"But he will send it to one of our Korean manga publishers for review. With your permission of course. He sees potential in it and he's especially pleased that you mentioned it's a series. He has an aversion to one book manga."

"Unh, unh," all I heard is 'blah blah blah' after Korean publisher.

"...see hope it fairs in Korea before he considers launching the series in Japan too."

"Unh, unh."

"Namsoon, are you listening to me?"

"I'm sorry sir, I am still in shock. Can you please repeat everything you said after the Korean publisher?" I begged.

He smiled and repeated what he said. That after my training in two weeks, a complete initial volume of this manga will serve as my final project and submission to their Korean affiliate.

"Also, the other project your team worked on has been submitted for 'new artist' award," he concludes.

"We have? Do the others know?"

"No, everyone will be informed tomorrow at breakfast, so keep this to yourself for now. Meanwhile, we are very pleased with your performance this semester. Just between you and me, you are in the running for the most valuable student award."

"I am?'

Eat your heart out Teacher "Uhm Force", I tell myself. Go Namsoon, the most valuable student. I pinch myself discreetly just to make sure I'm not dreaming. At the old age of twenty-five, I finally found something I like in school.

"Thank you, sir."

"You're welcome. I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow."

"Yes, sir."

I walk out of his office in a daze. I think I ran into a few people in my zombie-like state, I'm not sure. When I did come out of my shock, I sit down on one of the benches around campus, going over my conversation with Mr. Miyagi again.

Me, Go Namsoon, most likely NOT to succeed and sleep through life may be the next great manga artist in South Korea. Wow! Okay, I'm oversimplifying this, but I am so on a high right now, I just want to scream out loud.

I call the only other person who knows of my love for manga and only one who's supported me all the way.

"Are you sitting down?"

"Never."

"Well sit down for this."

"Okay sitting down."

"KangJoo, my technical instructor just told me that he showed my 'new story' submission to his editor, who is so impressed with it that he wants to submit it to their Korean affiliate, where if all goes well they will publish it in Korea and hopefully in Japan where..."

"Slow down Namsoon, take a deep breath."

"Sorry, I'm just so excited. It's all coming together KangJoo. And I couldn't have done it without your support and recommendation. Ahhh!!! I can't believe it. Go Namsoon, manga artist. Oh my God, what if the Korean company doesn't like my story, what if they turn me down, what if..."

"What if they like it? What if you get published, what if you become a household name?" KangJoo counters.

"You're right like you always say one day at a time. HeungSoo always said that..." I stopped.

"Said what? He's not dead, you can say his name and talk about him."

"But he's gone, and I can't find him to tell him that..."

"That what? You made a mistake, again?"

"Yes, I made a mistake again."

"You will. And when you do, do me a favor?"

"What?"

"Don't you dare chicken out."

"I won't. I'm so excited I hope I don't screw up these last two weeks of school." I laugh.

"Don't you dare."

"I won't. I'll talk to you later. I need to get back to class. I have a lot to do. I'll see you in two weeks."

"Two weeks it is. I have a lot planned for us to do so be prepared to take a week's vacation from manga"

"We'll see."

"Oh yes we will," she singsongs.

Better get to work. Anything I need to do to improve my stories I better get it done before I land in KangJoo's domain. I run to my anime class, high on life, and made it just in time.

"Mr. Namsoon Go."

"Yes, sir."

"Please see me after class," says my anime instructor.

Now what?