Dawne.

Dawne.

Why didn't I notice the freaking sign that said -1 degrees Celsius?

   I shivered as a blast of wind swept my brown hair behind my shoulders. My teeth chattered violently as I squinted at all the neon lights outside the airport. The street was crowded with money exchange banks and passengers meeting their families. The pushed my glasses up the bridge of my nose, even though it slid down again. I breathed a cloud of smoke from my mouth as I waited for my aunt and uncle to pick me up from the airport.

   Coming from California, USA as a half-Korean was a great bonus, because I wasn't as shocked at the culture and practice now. Well, a little shocked when I saw a bunch of little kids dance to a K-Pop song that horridly sounded like PSY's Gentleman. I shivered and shouldered my brown MCM bag tightly, breathing out again a cloud of smoke. I bit the inside of my cheek, tapping my foot on the cold pavement. Where were they?

   "Daemin! Daemin over here!" The shrill voice of my aunt called as I looked up from my brown boots, my pupils dilating as I saw my aunt and uncle. Despite what happened back home, I cracked a very small smile. I was surprised it was this hard to pull out a simple grin. I raised my hand and waved slightly, my aunt parking the car in front of me and climbing out with my uncle.

I was glad they were bundled. Because at the cold weather of January, you never know when you'll just freeze.

   "Daemin! I missed you! You grew so tall!" My aunt complimented as she smiled in a kind way, hugging me tightly. I returned the hug loosely as she released me. She looked at me up and down, gripping my shoulders.

   "Look at you! 18 years old already! No wonder your parents-" She suddenly stopped talking as I looked down, a heavy feeling settling down on my chest as I remembered the empty and dilapidated house back at home. A house that once belonged to me, my mom and my dad. A house that I once called home.

   "I'm sorry, auntie might be a little disoriented. She didn't take her medicine yet." I looked up and let out a playful snort to see my uncle with a smile. He wrapped an arm around my aunt's shoulder. "But she's right, you grew so tall! Before you were up to my earlobe, now, you're head is aligned with my eyes!" My uncle laughed as I can't help but laugh with him.

   I tilted my head and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, my hand clutching the strap of my bag as the other one was holding onto the handle of my camera bag.

   "So, ready to go?" My uncle asked as he raised his eyebrow. I nodded and grabbed the handle of my suitcase, rolling it on the pavement towards the car. My uncle stopped me before I could get to the trunk. He smiled and got the suitcase from me.

   "Let me handle this. You go buckle yourself in the back." I nodded as a reply. I sighed as I realized that soon, I have to have a talk with my aunt and uncle about the incident with parents. I settled myself in the second row of the car. The car smelled of cinnamon because my uncle loves cinnamon bread. As evidence, there was a wrapped cinnamon bread right in front of me. I smiled as I remembered how my dad teased my uncle of being in love with cinnamon bread.

   "Ah, your suitcase is in the trunk. We'll go eat now! Where do you suggest to go, honey?" My uncle asked my aunt as she shook her head. She turned to me and smiled as I blinked in confusion.

"Why don't we let Daemin-"

"It's Dawne," I replied for the first time. I blinked thrice, as they got the message. My aunt nodded as her smile shrunk.

   "Well, why don't we let Dawne pick? It's her first time here after five years!" My aunt exclaimed as my uncle nodded excitedly, like a kid. I chuckled, knowing why I liked them better than my other aunts and uncles. They were just so bright and cheerful. I didn't want anymore negative energy surrounding me. That's why I left my home.

   "Can we eat street food?" I asked curiously, knowing my eyes sparkled when I thought of all the street food I could eat. My aunt's smile faltered as my uncle chuckled.

   "Street food? No cute cafes or fancy restaurants?" My uncle asked, his eyebrow raised. I shook my head as he revved up the engine, the car shaking slightly. My aunt bit her lip, her eyebrows furrowed in the middle.

"O-Okay. As long as Dae- I mean, Dawne is okay with it."

   "I am auntie. Thank you." I nodded curtly, cracking a small smile. I wanted to show them even though I'm like this (really hard to handle) I could at least...be polite at times. My aunt smiled as she saw me smile. Maybe it's her first time seeing me smile like that.

   "Street food it is!" My uncle called out as he started driving away from the airport, chatting with aunt about his day. I inched closer to the window, leaving my bag and camera bag on the seat beside me. I rested my fingers on the windowsill, my chin on my fingers. I looked at all the trees that had no more leaves. I longed for the orange tinge of the leaves. Or the green splash on it whenever I pass by trees. All I see are branches without leaves. It symbolized an end.

I sighed and blew air, fog gathering in a circle formation. I wrote on it before it disappeared.

Why me?

   My uncle slowed down the car and parked it in front of a hardware store. My heart jumped slightly as I smiled widely. Seeing the familiar tools that I use back home right in front of me was comforting and painful. You see, I like building stuff. My largest project was building a mini-shed where I decorated it with hanging lights and blankets with some comfy pillows. I even had a portable TV there, and small ref. I always went there when I had problems. Which was everyday. I wanted so badly to go in. My aunt noticed my longing look, because she laughed suddenly, making me snap out of my trance.

   "I have seen your structures on your Facebook page, dear. They're really something worth admiring. We'll buy materials for you, anything you want. Think of it as our welcome gift and also a gift worth five years of missed birthdays," My aunt finished with an apologetic tone. I smiled and nodded, glancing again at the hardware store.

   "Thank you auntie. Really, it means a lot to me," I told her as she laughed, waving a dismissive hand. "Don't need to thank me, dear. Cha, shall we get some *Ddeokbokki?" My aunt asked me and uncle as we both nodded in unison.

   They let me walk in front of them after I ordered six pieces of Ddeokbokki. I could hear my aunt and uncle chatter about how I ordered water immediately after tasting one piece of Ddeokbokki. My cheeks burned instantly as I fought down a smile. It was really spicy, and if you aren't prepared for it, don't try it. Trust me, no one looks that good while gulping down two bottles of water in five seconds.

   Still, the heat of the Ddeokbokki warmed up my insides. I wished it also warmed my ears. The wind bit at my cheeks and other parts of my face as I walked down the crowded street, not really knowing where I was going. The neon signs and amount of couples made me forget about California for awhile. It was nice seeing all these distractions. I stopped walking when a cafe caught my eye. It looked quite new, since the sign had no neon lights on. No one noticed it. There was a K-Pop store right beside it, so it was understandable why no one would take a glance.

   Without a word to my aunt and uncle, I entered the cafe, a bell faintly ringing when I opened the door. I took a quick look around. It was definitely new. The tables and chairs were stacked on one side. The walls were bare, but the ground was mahogany wood. I stepped forward and glanced at the counter, which looked like the only proper thing in this place.

"Dawne! Oh, I thought you ran away!" My aunt cried out as I turned back, seeing my aunt and uncle look winded. They panted as I felt a twinge of guilt.

"Sorry, i was interested at this cafe," I said emotionally, feeling irritated with my own self. My uncle smiled, a laugh escaped his mouth.

"It's okay. So, what's your opinion on the decor, Ms. Tree?" My uncle asked me as I tapped my chin, looking around.

   "Well, the walls may be painted a light pale blue or yellow. The counter needs a little fixing-" I walked to the counter and rapped my knuckles on it, "And the wood on this counter is too thin. It would break if a computer was placed on it, or a cash register." I bounded for the stairs, jumping on the first step. Indeed, I heard slight creaking. I nodded to myself. "Also, we need to replace the boards. It sounds like wood that hasn't been used in a long time."

I glanced at my aunt and uncle. I smiled when I saw them beam at me. Hey, maybe Seoul's not that bad.

   "Come on, let's go to that hardware store and buy the stuff you want. Then, we go back and find the owner of the store and suggest what you said," my aunt decided as I nodded at our plan, my heart thumping excitedly.

"And can you ask if they need help with the place?" I asked hopefully as my uncle nodded, still beaming.

"Of course. Anything to make you happy, Dawne."