Chapter Text
Bobby went to the park to make some new friends, hoping he will meet other seven year olds to play with. He just arrived the night before from Virginia and he thinks it will be better for him to go out to make some friends. Of course being new in an unfamiliar town, he needs his parents' permission to go out. They let him be but with a condition he needs to be back before 6 p.m. He happily walking bouncing to the park as he is excited with the new surroundings. He can see some kids already there playing with each other, except for one playing all by himself. Strangely, that loner was drawing his attention simply by sitting at the swing. He went directly to the empty swing beside the lonesome boy to introduce himself. "Hi, I am Kim Jiwon but you can call me Bobby, and I am new here. What is your name?" Bobby flashing his bunny teeth with crescent smile while holding out his hand for a handshake.
The boy on the other hand just kept staring at Bobby’s hand blankly and watched Bobby with an adorable expression. He felt uncomfortable but accepted the handshake and replied with, "Hi, I am Koo Junhoe. You can call me Junhoe or whatever you want. I lived around here since I was born."
Bobby was happy that he had already made a new friend on his first day there. "Nice to meet you, Junhoe. You are adorable and handsome. I like you” said Bobby. Junhoe did not expect that Bobby to be a straight forward kid and that directness made him smile a little. "Nice to meet you too. Thanks for the compliment. You are not bad yourself too. Your cute bunny teeth appealed you so much. I think I will like you too", Junhoe flashed his gummy smile which makes Bobby even happy. Bobby then asked, "Why are you sitting here alone? Don't you want to play with other kids?" Junhoe looked at the other kids there and replied, "I do want to play with them but they seem happy by themselves and I don't want to annoy them,'' answered Junhoe woefully.
Bobby was amazed by the answer that Junhoe gave him. Bobby stood up and gently pulled Junhoe to the center to greet the others. Junhoe was too shocked and can't even pulled his hand free from Bobby because his grip were strong. "I am sorry for pulling you, but Junhoe,I think both of us need to make more friends,''said Bobby bluntly while eyeing the other kids in the park.
"Hi! I am Kim Jiwon and you can call me Bobby. This one here is Koo Junhoe and you can call him Junhoe. I am new here but he lives here. We just became friends and we want to make more. Would you guys be friends with us?" said Bobby towards the other kids in the park. They were all stunt and kept exchanging glares between themselves before a cute little kid came forward to introduce himself.
"Hi, I am Kim Jinhwan but you can call me Jinan. His name is Kim Hanbin, the one beside him is Song Yunhyeong, Kim Donghyuk and Jung Chanwoo. Nice to meet both of you Bobby and Junhoe," said Jinan while the others bowing slightly and waved towards both of them. "Nice to meet you all too. I hope you guys would not mind if both of us joined", Bobby was all smiley while his hand still holding onto Junhoe’s who was slightly squirming slightly under his touch; still maintaining his smile while bowing to the other kids. "Great! Now we can play police and thief since we are having more people here!" stated Donghyuk happily. "We would love that! Come on!" said Bobby.
They all played together happily. Eventually exhaustion took over. They bid farewell to each other and promised to play again the next day at the park. Naturally, Bobby went to Junhoe to bid farewell too until Junhoe asked him, "Where do you live?" Bobby pointed to his house, "I lived there now. It is a walking distance to the park and that makes me happy."
Junhoe cannot believe his luck. "You mean the one that next to the blue box there?" asked Junhoe curiously. "Yup!" answered Bobby. "I lived next door to you. Wow what a coincidence", explained Junhoe. Bobby abruptly stopped in the track and turn to Junhoe with a high pitched 'what' and asking Junhoe repeatedly if it was true about it.
Junhoe just nodded and replied with 'hmm' and 'yeah' to Bobby's questions. They finally reached their house and Bobby still grinning. "I still can't believe we live so near to each other. This makes me happy and I will definitely spend more time with you!! I guess I will have an easier time to like you then," blurted Bobby easily.
Junhoe just shyly smile and wave goodbye with "See you tomorrow Bobby and I have a good time today. Thank you", Junhoe went into his house with fluttered heart. Bobby too.
Bobby reenacted the day to his mum and his mom made a mental note to visit Junhoe’s family with to get to know Junhoe and his parents. She was already planning the dishes she should prepare for them. She was happy that Bobby are no longer upset with the relocation. Bobby had the hardest time with the thought of uprooting from their old home, yet now Bobby cannot stop smiling speaking about his new found friends. Guess a mum is only happy when her child is.
Bobby and his parents went to visit Junhoe's house. They brought along dishes Mrs Kim spent the whole morning preparing along. Bobby rang the bell and he could hear footsteps approaching the door "I am coming!"
Bobby stood straight realigning his position with his parents. Junhoe opened the door not expecting Bobby would bring along his parents to his house. Junhoe bowed and exchange courtesies with Bobby’s family. "Hi Junhoe. I brought my parents so they could get to know you and your family better. Are your parents home?" asked Bobby.
Junhoe just nodded."Wait a second", and yelled loudly from the door to inform his parents that their new neighbours were coming. Junhoe open the door wider and ushered them into the house. "Oh my gosh, we are sorry because we're not expecting guests this early", Junhoe's mom apologetically.
"Oh it is okay. We were in the wrong, we should have informed you of our visit. Are we interrupting your morning?" asked Bobby's mom. Junhoe’s mum shook her head and helped Bobby’s mum with the dishes she had in her hand. “Omo, you sure prepared a lot for us, how can we turn you away. Any guest bearing food are welcomed in our house.” The adults laughed at Mr Koo’s joke and made their way to the kitchen. They continued their talks and jokes in the kitchen while enjoying breakfast together Bobby's parents brought along. Bobby and Junhoe sat together and spoke among themselves.
"Which school does your son attend? They seem to get along pretty well," said Mrs. Kim. "Junhoe is attending Germanium Middle School,'' answered Mrs. Koo. "Oh really ? Wow what a coincidence! Bobby will be studying there too" said Mrs. Kim excitedly. "Wonderful! I guess we will also be getting closer too" said Mr. Koo with a hearty laugh and the other were laughing too.
"I hope so. Thank God Bobby met your son and his mood seems a lot better. It cheered him up ever since we told him about moving to a new city. I am proud and thankful for your son's existence" said Mr. Kim gratefully. “I guess I will be visiting the other boy’s parents' home too. Just to say thanks for welcoming Bobby as part of their clique yesterday”.
Ever since that day, the families of all seven boys were inseparable.