Chapter Text
There are a lot of buttons in the elevator they step into. The metal box doesn’t move before someone clicks on at least one; Yujie knows it.
“What to press, baba?” She looks up at her father, who doesn’t hurry her. He does look tired, though, which is not unusual either.
“9th floor, baby.” He replies in a voice deprived of energy. Yujie gets it, the flight was super fun, but after 2 hours, she had had enough of looking through the plane window.
“Is that high?” Yujie asks after pushing the button that now has a green outline.
“Very high.” He takes another glance at her and adds, “But don’t worry, it’s safe.”
Yujie nods solemnly at that reassurance. She clutches the strap on her backpack and tightens her grip on the small suitcase’s handle as well. She’s got it; the metal box moves up smoothly.
A little jingle announces as they arrive on their floor. Yujie bravely takes a first step outside ahead of her father. The corridors are clean but mostly blank, no splashes of color in sight. Yujie wrinkles her nose and stops looking at both sides of the corridor.
“Right.” Her dad stops behind her and helps out again. “Door number 915.”
Yujie likes leading; it makes her feel capable, and because of it, her dad won’t have to worry about her as much.
“We’re here,” Yujie exclaims in front of the door that seems too tall and unfamiliar. “Is that it?” She looks behind to confirm; her tummy is doing a not-so-funny flip.
“Yes. New home.” Her dad mumbles as he fumbles with the keys in his bag. He finally retrieves them with an irritated hiss.
“It’s gonna be fine, baba.” Yujie looks up at him, sending him a mustered bright smile.
“Of course, baby.” He smiles back immediately. Yujie knows his cheer pill – herself, and she uses that trick daily.
The door opens, and she can see their new place.
“It smells weird.” Yujie declares, frowning as she looks around. Not bad, just odd. Like it’s not a real home, but a fake one.
“Because it wasn’t used for a long time, Yujie. Stale and sterile at the same time.” Her dad says, whatever that means; he is also wrinkling his nose, though, so Yujie knows they agree it’s not ideal. “It will get better soon, I promise.”
Yujie believes her dad, obviously. She slides off her pink sneakers in the entrance before walking further in.
There’s a fully furnished kitchen to her right, but there’s not a thing on the white, sleek cabinets. Yujie purses her lips, glancing over the entire big ‘living’ area that looks unlivable right now.
“It’s all empty too.”
“We’ll get more things later, Yujie. Do you wanna see your room, hm?” He reaches his hand with a smile, leaving the suitcases in the living room.
Yujie jumps with newborn excitement, grabbing his hand.
“Yes! Let’s see!”
They turn left, and there are three pairs of doors in the narrow hallway, one on each wall. Yujie wants to guess which one is her room on the first try. It’s like a fun game, dispelling her fatigue from the long day.
Yujie grabs one door handle.
“Oh.” As much as bathrooms are important and Yujie loves bubble baths, she still wants to focus on her room. She gasps, looking at the door at the end of the hallway. “No way–” She glances at her baba, and he’s just crinkling his eyes amusedly.
Her door is the whole point of the hallway; it’s at the very end, the best destination. This place isn’t bad at all!
Yujie barges through the door, and even though there’s barely anything inside yet, she loves it so much. The bed doesn’t have sheets on, and the dresser is empty, without any speck inside, but that means she’ll be able to do it all herself the way she wants.
“It’s amazing! Let’s sort all the things now.” She yanks at his hand joyfully, her eyes sparkling, no leftovers of anxiety inside her.
“Now? How about a little rest?” Her dad drags a hand over his face. Right, he’s old, he can’t keep up with her energy. Yujie pats him on the hand, nodding with understatement.
“You can rest, baba. I’ll unpack my things, don’t worry.”
‘Don’t worry’ is her dad’s favorite saying. She uses it well, too.
Yujie lets go of his hand to run back to the entrance, dragging her little suitcase to her room so fast that the wheels are rattling. Her dad watches her, still standing in her room.
“Go rest now!” She commands, putting on the most stern voice she can make.
As he leaves, Yujie shrugs off her panda backpack and gets down on the floor to unpack everything.
“No shelf,” Yujie whispers, realizing this big omission. In their previous home, she had a huge shelf for all her cute things that she liked to look at. “It’s fine.” She decides and pats her plush panda. “Don’t worry. Baba said later.”
For now, she can just put away her clothes in the dresser, and all her trinkets can be stored on the windowsill. She’s proud of her quick thinking, and she trots to the window to do exactly that. There’s no pretty curtain on the window either… She purses her lips at the sight, but her dad will surely fix that soon. He also likes to have pretty things decorating their home.
The boxes with things from their previous home are delivered after a few days. Yujie learns that shipping is annoying and a long process as well. Her dad is cursing under his breath and then scowling at her.
“Don’t repeat that.”
Yujie nods every time this happens. She nods a lot in general. Like those spring puppies she saw in movies in people’s cars. Yujie likes the idea of live puppies even more. Whenever she tries to subtly suggest thinking about having one, her dad sighs very deeply with his ‘Don’t start’.
Her dad always tells her to exercise patience, an important virtual. Or virtue. Or something like that. Her dad doesn’t follow his own words very well.
“I swear to fuc-” He yells as he stubs his toe on the box’s corner accidentally.
Yujie blinks at him owlishly, and he stares back without saying another word. Just more huffing. Yujie’s used to that.
“Careful, baba. You can’t grow your toes back.”
She’s right. So why is her dad looking at her so dully?
Together, they unpack more boxes. Now they have more little things, but not more shelves to place them on.
Her dad seems to realize that, too; he furrows his thick eyebrows very hard at the boxes. Yujie doesn’t think it’s the boxes’ fault.
“Let’s put those things back in the box.” He sighs finally, giving up. “I’ll order something later.”
At least they have their cute mugs back! Yujie would be very disappointed if she couldn’t drink from her favorite panda mug. Her dad says she’s gonna turn into a panda herself if she keeps this up. Yujie wouldn’t mind becoming something so fluffy and cute.
“This can’t be in the box, though.” Yujie pulls the textbook before her dad can push the box under the table. It’s their communal textbook for beginners. “We need to study more.” She likes learning Korean, and she still repeats many sentences before bedtime.
“It’s fine.” Her dad waves her off instead.
“Okay.” It’s not okay, and Yujie won’t let this go. “Then how will you tell the time if someone asks you?” If he says it’s fine, he should have it memorized.
“I’ll show them my phone, Yujie.” He says with utmost seriousness, and Yujie is appalled.
“Baba! What about shopping? Eating? Directions? At least introduce yourself well.”
“No.” He purses his lips. Yujie purses her lips back at him.
“It’s easy. Repeat after me-”
“Yujie, noooo! That’s embarrassing!” He whines and stomps his foot.
Yujie already opened the textbook; she’s a very determined six-year-old. Even then, that doesn’t help her with actual reading and writing skills. Yet. She tries her best, though.
“Baba, but you have to learn with me. I can’t read.” She pouts so hard, jutting her lower lip out, the same thick kind of lip her father has. She also adds her best puppy eyes.
Her dad sighs, but complies, taking the textbook from her hands. It’s saved from the abyss of the box.
“Fine.” He mutters all sulky. Yujie giggles at him; he’s never seriously upset. Not at her, at least.
Her dad has reasons to get mad frequently, though. He doesn’t sleep. Or not much. No wonder he’s fussy, Yujie also feels sour whenever she wakes up wrong. And her dad does this daily, she really feels sorry for him.
That’s why she’s saluting him now, like she saw heroes do in movies before they go on a mission. She already clutches a tiny key in her hand; this one fits her well, unlike keys to the doors. That means she will be the guardian of the mailbox.
“I’ll go get the mail, don’t worry.” She wants to promise this fervently, but she can see him massaging his temple, so she whispers it instead. “Take pills, baba.” She advises him because she knows headaches are no fun, and she heads out to unbolt the door.
She closes it behind her as quietly as she can and then races to the elevator. Mission is exciting, she’s grinning at her reflection in the metal box that takes her all the way down to the lobby.
Mailbox is wide and majestic, she goes through rows looking for the correct number. She memorized it well. And then her face falls a little. This particular box seems a bit too high. Yujie tiptoes to it, her stretched-out finger barely grazing the bottom of it. That’s not fair. Some other numbers are much lower and accessible to her.
She’s not going to give up, though. Yujie strains even more, her tongue peeking out slightly as she focuses on balancing on one leg now. She can’t fail her dad on the first try! Stupid box… She even grew a bit lately, now standing at 115 cm tall; her dad was very meticulous about it. And yet, the mailbox doesn’t seem any closer.
“Excuse me, little miss.”
Yujie hears someone behind her and freezes. It’s the first time someone addresses her in a foreign language. But she studied for this; she can do it. She turns to the man and does a little curtsey, blinking at him readily to understand whatever he says.
“Do you need some help?” The man is a stranger, and every little kid knows not to engage with those. But his smile doesn’t look threatening, and his shirt has flowers on it. Her dad also loves flowers. Also, Yujie doesn’t think bad people walk around with hair this messy. The villains in movies always have sleek hair and a smirk. This is the opposite of that.
“I live right next door, actually. I was also getting my mail, look.” The man rambles on about some things that Yujie doesn’t understand much, but then he takes his own little key and opens a box right below hers – unfair. Why is his lower? Yujie could also reach this one. She frowns at this display. “See? We’re neighbors. I’m not some weird person. My name’s Sung Han Bin.” He introduces himself with a bow of his own.
Not a weirdo. Actual neighbor. Yujie nods at him, still slightly offended about the placement of boxes.
“Please, help, mister.” She says in her thick accent and gives her key to the neighbor.
If he steals the mail, she will file a complaint with her dad, and she knows where this man lives now. It should be fine.
He opens the box swiftly and takes the mail. He hands it along with the key after closing it.
“Here.”
“Thank you, mister.” Yujie bows politely again, and she turns on her heel fast, just in case this man tries to talk more. She’s not that efficient yet, and it bothers her.
“You’re welcome!” He says loudly as Yujie turns to the elevator. He seems like a nice neighbor. Maybe all neighbors here are nice. Yujie should do something nice for the people living on their floor.
She saw the move-in customs of delivering cookies. She can convince her dad to make it with her, and then they will get many friends. They don’t know anyone in this country yet, and her dad is stressed about many things. Friends would be a good cheer-up for him.
Yujie gets back and hands her dad the mail. They’ve been here a few days now, and it’s a good time to introduce themselves as new neighbors.
“You got it? You’re amazing, baby.” Her dad smiles at her, so clearly proud that Yujie preens visibly and rocks on her feet with clasped hands and bright smile. There’s no need to mention the helping mister. That would diminish her contribution to the mission, and she likes to make her dad proud and happy more.
“Baba, we should make cookies.” She tries while he’s in a good mood.
“Cookies? Suddenly?” He seems taken aback by Yujie’s pivot.
“Yeah! For the neighbors to greet. I’ll help.” She exclaims confidently and already marches to the kitchen. Giving her dad less time to look for excuses. “Hurry!”
“There’s a deadline?” He asks with mirth, getting from the couch, the pills must’ve worked for his headache, and Yujie’s very glad about it.
“Yes, because we’re not new neighbors forever,” Yujie explains seriously, making her point as she drags her step stool to the counter. Her dad huffs a bit at that but takes out the flour in the same motion, so she won, again.
“What flavor are we making?” He asks, grabbing the eggs as well. Yujie watches them roll dangerously close to the edge and moves them back.
“Choco chip, obviously. Everyone likes those.”
Helping with baking is always fun for Yujie; they distribute the tasks well, too. Her dad is good at measurement, and Yujie is good at making sure the ingredients don’t make a big mess or roll off onto the floor.
Her dad puts the cookies into the oven, and Yujie grabs a cloth and starts wiping any leftover mess. Teamwork as always.
“You missed a spot.” Her dad deliberately lets the foam drip onto the counter from the plate he’s washing.
“Baba!” Yujie frowns in dismay and quickly wipes it away.
Her dad does it again on the other side of the sink.
“Hey! You can’t do that!” She huffs in the same manner he does at annoying things.
“It’s not me, it’s the dishes.”
She squints at him, knowing far too well he’s doing this on purpose to tease her. She wipes the counter one last time.
“If you do it again, you will have to clean yourself.” She hangs the cloth away and shows him his tongue. It’s not nice, and she’d never do it to someone else. But she can do to her dad. He does the same thing right back at her.
“Childish!” She yells, leaving the kitchen to plop onto the sofa.
“You’re more childish!” He yells right back. Her dad is truly the best. Yujie smiles happily, sinking into the cushions. She needs to rest before the cookies get ready.
She didn’t mean to take a nap like that, but she only gains consciousness as she smells the chocolate cookies right in front of her face. Literally, Yujie opens her eyes, and her dad is waving a steaming cookie in front of her nose.
“Thank god, I thought you were a Sleeping Beauty.” He says with a smile, and she shoves at him, whining. He quickly puts a cookie in her open mouth, effectively quieting her down.
“It’s hot,” Yujie mumbles with her full cheeks, not too hot to eat, though.
“Good, eat up, you need strength to deliver them.”
Yujie squints at her dad. “You’re not going with me?”
“Of course not. That was your idea, you do it.” He says with finality, and he purses his lips. Yujie knows he’s just too embarrassed to do that with his language skills.
“Okay, I will.” She replies just as firmly. It can’t be that difficult.
With that conviction, Yujie puts her shoes on and takes the first tiny batch of cookies on the paper plate.
She turns back to look at their door, her dad peeking just slightly behind the tiniest crack. Yujie feels backed enough to knock on the first door.
The door opens, and she sees a very old lady.
“Hello.” Yujie bows politely. “Cookies.” She blinks at the woman, trying to piece together something more. “We live here now.” She smiles so brightly after delivering that line, feeling extremely brilliant, and apparently, this old lady thinks the same, because she smiles back just as broadly.
“How nice! Thank you so much, sweetie.”
Yujie nods cheerfully, handing the plate to her. It went great, now she’s even more confident. She runs to get another paper plate from her waiting father.
And she even knows what to say now, she recites the same thing to the next door, where she’s greeted by a woman with a babbling baby held on her hip. But most importantly, there’s a puppy at her feet that she tries to keep inside.
Yujie’s eyes sparkle at the puppy; she almost forgets to hand the cookies. She really wants to pet the puppy, but she’s polite, so she can’t do it. Maybe next time, when she learns how to ask that in Korean.
The woman thanks her and smiles, and the baby waves wildly while drooling. Yujie’s dad really didn’t need to worry or fear them at all! Yujie was right, they do have good neighbors.
“How’s it going?” Her dad asks her after handing her the next batch.
Yujie shows him a thumbs-up and skips off again, almost dropping the cookies. Her father gasps behind her, so she calms down and walks normally again. This is the door next to them. Is this the Mailbox Mister’s home?
Yujie knocks at the door, waiting a bit longer than at previous ones. She purses her lips slightly, and it finally opens.
“Oh. Little miss. Hi again.” His hair is still messy, and he’s holding a thick, open book in his one hand. Does he not have a bookmark? Yujie stares at the book before reciting her lines.
“Really? Thank you.” This man’s eyes get all glassy as he accepts the plate with his other hand. Was the book sad? Or is he happy about cookies? Yujie cocks her head, trying to recall both his name and the thing he said after helping her out.
She squints harder and finally remembers, and how nice he just kept standing there without closing the door on her.
“You’re welcome! Mister Lin.”
He smiles at her funnily, in a way her dad does when she mixes her words. Was this not the correct reply?
“Bin.”
Ah. She nods, now she will surely remember for good. She bows and leaves quickly, not yet done with her mission.