Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, case worker, Sangwoo's auntie and uncle, and the first names of Bum's uncle and grandfather. Everything canon belongs to Koogi. I make NO money off writing this.

000

Bum's first week at his Uncle's flew by quickly. The woman from the city came to visit around noon that Saturday. Bum was playing tag with Sangwoo on his lawn when the car pulled up, making Sangwoo suddenly stop dead. Bum slammed into his back.

"A-Ah!" Bum cried out. "Sorry! Why did you freeze?"

"That lady is back." Sangwoo replied. "Isn't she looking for you?"

Bum turned and waved happily at the woman. "I think so!"

"Bum, how nice to see you!" The woman walked across the Oh's' grass without asking, making Sangwoo's top lip twitch a little as he backed away. "And you have a friend?"

"Uh...y-yeah…!" He confirmed, shaking his head. "This is Sangwoo! He lives there!" He pointed at the house, almost smacking Sangwoo in the face as he swung his arm.

The older boy ducked back from the arm and brushed it away.

"Watch it!" He complained.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Sangwoo." The woman smiled at him. "I'm glad to see that Bum has someone his age to play with."

"I'm not his age. I'm six."

"You know, when you're older, you'll be happy that you look younger than you are." The woman chuckled, patting Sangwoo on the head in a way he didn't like. "Is your Uncle home, Bum?"

"No, he went out with his friends…" Bum stated sadly. "I don't like when he goes out."

"Why is that?" The woman wondered.

"Granny always fights with him when he goes out. She doesn't want him to, but he doesn't want to be here because of me…"

"Because of you? Why do you think it's because of you?"

"Uncle says so! Says he'd stay home if he didn't have to look at me every day...he calls me the brat." Bum looked away, rubbing his left upper arm. "I told you he doesn't like me…"

Her heart sank. "He's just grieving, Bum. I'm sure he doesn't mean what he's saying. He's just sad that your mommy and daddy aren't here anymore, too. He'll come around."

"I don't think so…" Bum gulped. "They fight louder when he gets home...it keeps me up at night…"

"Louder?"

"Uncle parks funny, too…"

"I'm sorry?"

"He's a drunk." Sangwoo snorted. "That's what uncle says."

"Sangwoo!" Bum laughed, not knowing what the other had really said.

"What?"

The woman smiled gently, though she was a little confused how the older boy could be so blatant like that. Apparently, he got it from his Uncle, since he was okay with calling the other man a drunkard in front of his nephew.

"Is that who you live with, Sangwoo?"

"Just for summers."

"I see." She stood. "I'd like to go inside, Bum, if that's alright. Is Granny home?"

Bum nodded. "She's watching her stories. I thought you could only read a story."

Sangwoo rolled his eyes as the woman chuckled at Bum's innocence. She ruffled his hair before going up to the house.

"Don't you know anything?" Sangwoo wondered. "It's not a real story. It's a TV show. Old people call them stories."

"Oh." Bum shrugged. "It's still weird!"

"Yeah…" Sangwoo nodded, looking away. "Hey, I'm bored with tag. Let's do something else."

"Like what?"

"Come on." Sangwoo grabbed Bum by a thin wrist. "Damn, you need to eat."

"Sangwoo, that's a grown-up word…"

"So?"

"You're not grown up...you're only a year older than me!"

"But...that just means I'm more grown up than you."

"Oh...right." Bum giggled as Sangwoo rolled his eyes and led him towards the back yard.