◇《 - ¤ N e w  H o m e ¤ - 》◇

" To find my true self "

[ Taehyung POV ] 

I walked upon the snowy ground, marking my footsteps in the thick snow. It was a bright morning. Rays of sunlight touched the land of white and snowflakes came floating down slowly.

My layers of clothing protected me from the cold temperature. I stood still, looking around. The trees had lost their leaves but still appeared pretty in my eyes. Looking at the dark oak colour of the trees and the bright white colour of the snow satisfied me.

The colours matched perfectly. The Winter season is cold and has a lonely vibe to it. However, even in the coldest and loneliest heart, there is beauty.

I held up my camera, angled it and snapped a picture of the beautiful forest. I checked the picture to see if it was okay.

The sunlight worked like a filter. The trees stood out against the white snow. The details on the bark and the glistening snow under the sunray were clear. The crooked branches that grew from the trees looked like art. The picture was perfect, but not as perfect as the real-life version. However, the picture still turned out great.

I smiled to myself as the satisfaction bloomed in me after seeing the result of the picture. My eyes began to wander around the area again, catching every detail; memorising it.

I frowned when I realised something was different. I looked up at the sky as I held out my hand. "Ah...it's not snowing anymore." I then looked back at the forest filled with pine trees and trees that had lost their leaves. The forest had an alluring vibe to it. My thirst for more beauty to be captured lingered in my mind but someone stopped me before I could take a step in.

"Excuse me, sir, I’m done putting your things inside the cabin," the delivery man I hired to help me move my things called out to me.

"Ah! I am so sorry. I was totally distracted and forgot to help you," I apologised. Suddenly I was filled with awkwardness and I bowed as a sign of apology.

"Oh, it's okay. It's my job anyway and you don’t have that many heavy things," the man replied, smiling.

"Oh, okay then….Thank you." My hand went up and scratched the non-existing itch on my head as an awkward laugh escaped my mouth.

"You’re welcome, young man. You looked captivated by the forest’s beauty, so I didn't want to disturb you," the man laughed.

"Well, yes. It is beautiful," I agreed, and my eyes found their way back to the forest again. I will go there next time. For now, I should do the important things. I looked back at the man and smiled. "Sir, why don't you come in and have a cup of tea with me. The weather is cold, you should drink something hot. That way, you have the energy to get back to your work," I invited the man.

At first, he rejected, but I insisted and eventually he agreed to stay for a while. We both walked into my new home and I gestured for him to sit down.

I took the special herbal leaves package and two clean cups from my luggage and started to brew the tea. Exactly two minutes later I finished and walked into the living room with the cups in my hands.

"Here you go, sir." I handed him the cup of tea and he quickly accepted it, thanking me later. I smiled in return and took a sip at the same time he did as well.

"Wow, I guess what you said is true! I feel more energetic already!" the man exclaimed with his eyes wide open. 

A small laugh escaped my mouth. "Well, I am not a good tea brewer for nothing." I gave him a wink and he laughed along.

"Ah right, I didn't catch your name, young man," the man said.

"It's Taehyung, sir," I introduced myself and held out my hand which he then took in his.

"What a nice name, Taehyung. My name is Jihyuk. Kim Jihyuk," the man introduced himself.

Realising the surname was the same as mine, I gasped. "Oh! We have the same surname."

The cup left his lips and his eyes widened, his mouth hanging open. "Oh really?! That makes you Kim Taehyung then. I guess you are my son," Mr Kim joked and laughed, amused by his own joke.

"I guess so," I joked back and laughed along with him.

"Hah! I wish you were my son. You are such a great young man. You look handsome and smart too. My son?" He scoffed. "He just knows how to play games and eat all day," Mr Kim complained and shook his head in disbelief.

"It's okay, Mr Kim. I am sure he will learn someday. It just takes time," I said calmingly.

"How much time? I won’t be alive forever," he scoffed and shook his head again. He then looked at me with curiosity. "So, what brings you to live here in this forest, alone? You know it's not the perfect place for a young man like you," he remarked.

I raised my eyebrow. "I guess I am old then," I joked and chuckled.

The man scoffed. "No way, from what I see, you're not old at all. Look at me, this is old," he said, pointing at the wrinkles on his face.

I laughed at how funny he was. How I wish he were my father. Funny and someone you could get along with.

"So how old are you? About 23? 24?" he asked curiously.

I shook my head. "I am 22, Mr Kim." My lips curved upwards into a smile.

"Wow! See, you are even younger than I thought," the man teased and took another sip of tea. I chuckled. "Is this like a holiday trip for yourself? Coming here to rest at a cabin?" he asked.

"You could say that, but the important part is for me to enjoy doing my dream job," I replied and took a sip of my own tea, smiling after.

"Dream job? What job do you do? To me, you look like a model," Mr Kim praised and I laughed.

"I am a novelist and also a songwriter but mostly I write books. I am still learning to write songs, and no Mr Kim, I am not fit to be a model," I laughed at the last part. Mr Kim laughed along as well, finding my words amusing.

"Who says you're not fit to be a model? You have everything the models need in my eyes," he protested. "But, wow! A young man like you already has two dream jobs. So independent. I wish my son were like that–a reliable one." Mr Kim rolled his eyes at the mention of his son.

I chuckled in return and shook my head in amusement. "But Mr Kim, do you really think I could be a model?" I jokingly asked.

"Of course! With your handsome face, I bet big companies would fight for a good-looking guy like you," Mr Kim praised me.

Even though many people had said things like this, I was still not used to it. "Really? I never thought I was that handsome." My hand rubbed my nape and I started to feel shy.

"Oh boy, you need to have confidence in yourself. Yes, you are really handsome," Mr Kim praised once again and nodded, agreeing with himself. He then drank the tea I made and hummed.

"Oh! Good to know! Thank you, Mr Kim," I said with a smile and bowed slightly to show my politeness.

"No need to thank me. I am just stating a fact," Mr Kim replied and winked at me. Seriously, Mr Kim is better than any guy I have met.

He finally finished his tea and decided to take his leave since he had more work to do. "I will be leaving now, take care Taehyung," Mr Kim said and patted my shoulder.

"Yes, Mr Kim. You take care too."
He nodded and stepped outside. He put on his boots and was about to walk away but he stopped. He turned around looking at me with a concerned face. He then walked back towards me and I raised my eyebrow in confusion.

"I just thought I should tell you this. This forest you are staying at, is not what it seems," the man said, lowering his voice.

"What do you mean Mr Kim?" I asked, confused by this whole new topic.

Mr Kim sighed. "Witches, Taehyung. Witches. They live in this forest. There are rumours going around in the town, saying one of the hikers spotted one. From what I heard, he lost his way while hiking and he had to sleep for the night in the cold, freezing forest and that's when he encountered her, the witch," he recounted. I widened my eyes in curiosity and scooted in closer to hear better.

"Her dark blue eyes staring into his. Her white hair that looks completely out of ordinary. It is said that witches appear beautiful to lure people towards them. When they get a hold of you, there is no escaping and you can say goodbye to the world." He shook his head and let out a sigh after he told me the story.

"So what happened to the hiker?" I asked, concerned about the wellbeing of the hiker. He must have survived. There is no way he wouldn't since he was the only one who saw it but somehow the whole town knew about it.

"Fortunately, he survived. He didn't fall into the hypnotising eyes. He was scared to death. He ran and ran and eventually found his way out. He is lucky. The townspeople took him in and provided him with some food and shelter. That's how the townspeople got to know there is a witch living in this forest," Mr Kim finished. He looked up to see my widened eyes and his eyebrows furrowed. He must have realised that I was actually excited when I was supposed to be scared.

"Aren't you scared?" he asked. I snapped out of my thoughts.

"No, why should I be?" I asked as I gave him a small smile.

He chuckled, shocked by what I had said. "Taehyung, it's a witch we are talking about. They will gore out your heart while it is still beating and eat it raw. You are not afraid, even one bit?" he asked again, finding my reaction towards this horror rather unusual.

I shook my head. "No, I am not afraid. Besides, it's just a rumour, right?" I asked.

He shook his head at my question. "I am afraid the rumour is true. I met the daughter of the man before. She told me that her father got sick after the incident and passed away. Some of the townspeople believe that he was cursed by the witch. He was a very healthy person after all. It was almost impossible for him to pass away so suddenly," he replied, sighing sadly, pitying the man and his daughter.

I too sighed, feeling sympathy for the man's daughter. It must be hard for the daughter to lose her father just like that. Talking about fathers made me think of the old man back at home. I felt a slight guilt lingering in my heart, but I pushed it down.

"I don't think the witches come out during the day. Just don't come out at night, Taehyung. They are evil. I don't want a nice man like you having your life ended just like that poor man," he concluded and patted my shoulder.

I tilted my head. "But there is something I don't understand, Mr Kim," I said, touching my chin as I started to wonder. "How are you so sure they are evil?" I asked.

"Well, uh..." He trailed off and his eyes began to wander, having a conversation with himself in his own mind. "It is said they are evil. You are a young man. I am sure you read books and watched movies saying that witches are evil, right? They study black magic which can be used with evil intentions. Plus, she has blue eyes! Blue eyes! Imagine how scary it is when they stare into your eyes," the man exaggerated, making a weird gesture just to scare me but I am not at all scared.

"Mr Kim, I don't quite agree with you," I replied, ready to voice out my thoughts.

"W-why is that?" he stuttered and backed away a little, which I didn’t fail to notice.

"You see, movies and books are just fiction. They are not true and are not based on real life experiences. How are we so sure that witches are evil? And by the way, we cannot confirm that witches actually exist through those stories," I explained.

"That's true…." Mr Kim trailed off again. His finger touched his chin and his eyebrows furrowed, indicating he was in deep thought.

"And blue-eyed people actually exist. White people have various eye colours, not just black and brown. Blue is one of them. And there is a syndrome called Waardenburg syndrome that causes people to have bright blue eyes. Also, about the white hair, she probably dyed it," I continued my ramble, totally forgetting that I wasn't actually in Science class where I had to present how much I had studied.

"I...uh…" Mr Kim was having trouble speaking but I was too into my own thoughts to notice.

"So, in conclusion, the man you talked about had probably just met a person that was just as lost as him but he fled, thinking a witch was standing in front of him," I finished with satisfaction. I then looked up at Mr Kim, whose eyes were wide and mouth hanging open. My hand rubbed my nape again, feeling awkward. "Did I say too much?" I asked and laughed awkwardly.

"Oh my gosh, I was right. You are a smart kid. A very smart one," he gulped and laughed awkwardly. "It's really rare to see a smart young man like you here. I guess your hometown is a place where education is first," he laughed, patting my shoulder.

"Yeah, you could say that.... I have been trained to study a lot of Science-related stuff since I was young. So when I grew up, I would be like my dad," I said and looked down at the wooden floor. Sadness swirled in me and my wish to be free bloomed. Freedom? There was no freedom in my family. Unless you made a move to earn it.

Now that I was free, guilt washed over me. I wanted this. Why did I feel so guilty for leaving them?

"Wow, that's great. But haven’t all those efforts gone to waste since you have a job that isn’t related to your studies at all?" Mr Kim asked. I gave him a small smile.

"Yes, but I have no regrets because I am doing what I love and not being forced to do something I dislike. I came to live here because I want to have time on my own to enjoy what I do. To find my true self," I explained, smiling proudly.

Mr Kim chuckled and mirrored my smile. "Such a great mindset you have, Taehyung. You are such a good role model. I should really introduce you to my son some other time so he could learn from you," Mr Kim said and patted both of my shoulders with his hands.

"Sure! I would be happy to help. You are welcome to visit me anytime you want, Mr Kim." My lips curved upwards, giving him a welcoming smile.

He laughed. "Now I really wish you were my son," he joked once again and I laughed along. Later, he looked at the watch on his wrist and gasped in shock, catching my attention.

"Oh no! Look at the time! I am gonna be late for my other delivery. I will take my leave now." Mr Kim said as he bowed at me and I did the same. He quickly stepped out, walking towards his car.

I waved at him. "Bye, Mr Kim!" I yelled from where I was standing.

"Bye! Good luck, Taehyung!" he bid his goodbye and waved. He climbed into his car, started the engine and drove off, leaving me standing alone on the doorstep. I sighed, feeling content. I stepped back into my new home, closing the door behind me.

I hadn’t had a proper look around my new home since Mr Kim was here. It would have been rude to not serve him first. Now that I was alone, I could look around.

The walls were made of hardwood. Wood patterns could still be clearly seen, which brought out the nature-like look. They were chestnut brown which contrasted against the white land. There was a fireplace to keep me warm from the cold weather. It was made of bricks and painted a milky colour. I was already thinking about which photos I would settle on the mantelpiece. Sunlight poured through the big window between the kitchen and front cabin and threw its rays onto the living room floor.

The whole environment gave off a peaceful vibe. I looked around with a bright smile plastered on my face, feeling satisfied with my new home. However, it soon disappeared when my eyes landed on a shotgun, hanging horizontally on the wall.

I guessed it belonged to the old owner. I sighed and facepalmed. It really ruined the whole peaceful vibe of the cabin. I stared back at the shotgun again. Maybe it was for the best to keep it there. There could be danger lurking around every corner. I needed it to protect myself. I didn't want carnivores gnawing on my precious meat before I could even publish a book. I shook my head and averted my attention to the bedroom.

I walked over to it, my heavy footsteps echoing on the wooden floor. I twisted the doorknob and the door creaked open, revealing the simple bedroom inside. Nothing much, but it was good enough for me. I didn't like anything too classy or luxurious. That’s what my old room looked like, classy and luxurious.

The perks of being the son of a man that owns a well-known hospital. I sighed and dragged my luggage behind me into the room. I settled it beside my bed and I turned around to check on the bathroom. It's clean and everything is tidy.

Did the old owner clean up the cabin before I came? It seemed a lot cleaner than I expected. But it still needed some cleaning. I left the bathroom and stepped back into my room.

I sat down on the bed. It creaked from my weight. I opened my suitcase, revealing a pile of clothes and other important things I had packed. I sighed, feeling lethargic. I could organise everything later.

I took out the notebook and pen I had brought. Then I leaned back against the headboard and started thinking about the title of my story. Then an idea popped up. I quickly wrote it down in my notebook. As I stared at it, my lips curved upwards into a smile of satisfaction.

" F o r e s t   M y s t e r y "

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