Chapter Text
Hoseok stared at the application on the screen in front of him, chewing his lip nervously. He knew applying for this school was a long shot, the Korean school system was completely different than the American system. He slowly began to fill in the application, taking his time to read each step so he wouldn’t mess up. Hoseok didn’t know why he felt compelled to go study in Korea, but he did. For weeks now he had been thinking about going to Korea nonstop, and after many days of praying for an answer, he received one this morning in the form of a daily passage notification.
“He gives me new strength. He leads me on paths that are right for the good of His name.” Psalms 23:3
Hoseok had prayed for a sign last night, a sign of what to do with the want to go to Korea. He didn’t remember Korea, no matter how hard he tried. He knew it was busy and heavily populated, he knew it rained a lot at times, he knew it was insanely hot and humid, but beyond what he could find out with a simple Google search, he was lost.
Hoseok also knew that he was born in Gwangju, South Korea, he knew he was born to a family that already had a child, he knew he was given up almost instantly after his birth, and he knew that he spent almost 6 years in an orphanage before being adopted by his Mama and Papa.
He let out an annoyed groan, his Korean not making sense. It was hard to remember how it all got typed out, he never texted or wrote in Korean, and he rarely spoke it these days so the entire application was stress inducing.
“You okay in there duckling?” His mother’s soothing voice called out from her craft room down the hall.
“‘M fine, just working on some school work.” Hoseok said, because it wasn’t a lie, and he didn’t want to tell his parents about Korea just yet.
“Come in here duck, I want your opinion on this afghan I’m working on.”
“Okay, just a second,” Hoseok called back, typing in the last of the info before submitting his application and immediately closing the laptop.
“You think they’ll like it?” Sandra asked, holding up the colorful blanket she was making for their neighbors newborn baby as Hoseok walked into the room.
“Absolutely, they’ll love it. It’ll keep their baby warm and cozy for years, and you always make them look so pretty.” Hoseok said, sitting on the spare chair in the corner of the room.
“What’s on your mind Seokie?”
“Aaah, it nothing Mama, just thinking about school and what classes I want to take next semester.”
Sandra gave him a look before turning her attention back to her blanket, humming along with the gospel tune coming from her laptop. Hoseok turned and looked out of the window, trying to figure out how to even tell his parents that he wanted to go to Korea, just to study dance, and about his slightly ridiculous dream to make a name for himself out there as a dancer.
He knew his parents would support him through anything, they always did, simply looking at him with smiles on their faces and soft okays falling from their mouths, they could never deny him anything, he was their baby, their miracle.
Hoseok could remember when he wanted to try ballet when he was seven, he thought his parents would be disgusted that he wanted to try a more feminine dance style. He was thankful that they just smiled and said “of course baby, we’ll go sign you up tomorrow, okay?”
He remembered falling in love with dance and trying various styles, mainly sticking to hip hop and ballet.
Hoseok could remember telling his parents that he thought he was gay, full of panic and guilt, and they just told him,
“It’s okay Seokie, we’ll love you no matter what. We’re so proud you told us. You have nothing to worry about baby, we’re gonna support you no matter what. God makes no mistakes, you’re exactly as you should be, perfect.”
He remembered that he was worried they wouldn’t love him anymore, that they wouldn’t want him anymore, that they would be disappointed in him, and he remembered the fearful thought that he wouldn’t have a family anymore.
He remembers how hard he cried when they accepted him as he was, as they always had done, the way he finally felt free, like nothing would hold him back.
He also remembered all of his “friends” and their parents reactions, how they told him he was going to hell, how he was a faggot, and how his parents failed and that he was a disgrace. He remembered crying a lot, and he remembers how angry he was at God for making him this way.
He remembered all the kids who supported him, and defended him from the nasty words of his schoolmates, he remembers how sad he was when he switched from private to public school, he remembers how hard it was to keep the friendships he developed after coming out, but he is so thankful that they managed to stay friends.
“Seokie? You still there?” Sandra asked, glancing up from her crocheting to stare at her son, who seemed completely zoned out.
Hoseok didn’t answer her, as he continued to stare out of the window, his mind racing through some of his most depressing memories.
“Duckling?” She called, finally setting the blanket off the the side to walk over to him, gently setting her hand on his shoulder, lightly shaking him.
Hoseok finally turned and looked at her, flashing his signature bright smile.
“Sorry Mama, I was thinking about what we’re supposed to do tonight in bible study.” He lied with ease, fiddling with his purity ring.
She raised an eyebrow at him, studying his face for a moment before nodding and returning to her blanket.
Hoseok knew that God had a plan, and if going to Korea wasn’t a part of it then God would guide him to the right path.
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Hoseok let out a sigh as he finally stepped into his home after a long day, it was Wednesday which meant he had classes from 8 to 4 and then bible study at 430 and Awanas teaching at 630 and he didn’t get home until after 9 on days like this.
He tossed his car keys into the bowl by the door, toed off his shoes and hung up his coat before walking further into the house, his backpack heavy on shoulder.
“Hi Mama. Hi Papa.” He greeted his parents, who were nestled together on the couch, a movie playing on the TV.
“How was church tonight?” Charles, his father, asked, a smile gracing his face for his son.
“Ahh, it was good! So many of my students have been memorizing their verses well, and bible study was filled with so many interesting discussions today.” Hoseok answered as he set his bag
down by the staircase before going and sitting on the floor in front of his parents.
Sandra reached a hand down and ran her fingers through Hoseok’s wavy brown hair, giving her son a moment to relax.
“How was school today duckling? The semester is almost over, yeah?”
Hoseok made a noise of agreement, the end of the semester weighing heavy in his mind. He had just been taking general classes, no real degree grabbing his interest.
“I have an essay I need to finish, and a project that I have to start, but otherwise, the end of the semester has been going okay.”
“A letter from Korea came in the mail for you today.” Charles said, after they had been sitting there for some time, the movie coming to an end.
Hoseok whipped his head around to look at him, surprise written all over his face. His dad just shrugged his shoulders, before gesturing towards the table in the hall with all the mail.
“Goodnight! I love you both very much!” He said, getting up suddenly to give them both a quick hug before grabbing the letter and his bag before jogging up to his room.
“What is he up to?” Charles asked after a moment, turning and looking at his wife.
“No idea my love, but we’ll support it no matter what right?”
“Of course, we’ll always support our Seokie no matter what.”
Hoseok’s heart was pounding hard and heavily in his chest as he stared at the letter in his hands.
“Are you just going to stare at it or are you going to open it?” Sandra asked, a teasing smile on her face as she leaned in his doorway.
“Momma! Don’t scare me like that!” Hoseok said, the letter having fallen out of his hands.
“I didn’t mean to, I was just coming to check on you before I went to bed.”
“I’m okay…”
“Duckling, whatever it is, you know me and Papa will love and support you no matter what okay?”
Hoseok nodded before walking over and giving his mom one last hug for the night.
“Love you Momma, thank you.”
“Love you too baby. Get some rest okay?”
Hoseok nodded and bid her goodnight, closing his door once she left. He picked up the letter and sat on the edge of his bed, taking a deep breath before opening it.
“We are pleased to tell you that you have been accepted….” That was all Hoseok read before dropping the letter, tears welling up in his eyes. God really had plans for him in Korea, and he felt so overcome with thankfulness that he couldn’t help but cry.
When Hoseok woke the next morning, he felt relieved but also the most stressed he had ever been. He knew he had to tell his parents tonight, because really he only had a couple of months to prepare to move across the ocean. He allowed himself to eat breakfast and get ready for the day before sitting down and looking into everything he had to do to prepare for the next chapter
in his life.
To say the list was long, was an understatement. He had to apply for a visa to be able to stay in Korea, he had to find a place to live, buy all of his books and supplies, and many more things.
Hoseok groaned and dragged a hand down his face, staring at the screen in front of him.
“Mama, Papa, I have something I’d like to talk to you guys about.” Hoseok said, staring down at the dinner he had hardly touched.
“What’s up Hoseok?” His dad asked, setting down his fork, his attention fully on his son.
“Well, you guys know how passionate I am about dancing, and I thought about it for a long time but I applied to go to a school out in Korea so I can study dance. I prayed for a long time for guidance from God, and he told and sent me signs that this is the right path for me right now. I can just feel it, I’m meant to be there right now. I won’t go if you guys are against it, but…. I really want to go.” Hoseok said, glancing between his parents nervously.
“Hoseok….” His mom said, reaching out for one his hands, giving it a gentle squeeze, his dad reaching out for his other hand.
“We are going to support you always. If God told you that this is what you need to do, then so be it. He brought us there for you, and now you’re needed there. Tell us how we can help and we will make it so. God has blessed us with you and we are here to bless you and give you our unconditional love and support.” His dad said, smiling at Hoseok, who was crying by the end of his dad’s little speech.
“I am so lucky to have you guys, you guys are the best parents I could ever ask for.” He said, almost sobbing because he truly felt so loved and accepted by his parents.
“God gave us you for a reason Seokie, we’re the lucky ones. You completed us duckling.” His mom said, a few tears falling down her face as she looked at her son.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Hoseok said, sniffling as he calmed down, smiling brightly at his parents.
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“Taehyung, you are never allowed to pick our roommate ever again.” Jimin said, giving his friend the best angry look he could manage.
“Always so mean to me Minnie, just for one mistake.” Taehyung teased, pouting at him.
“He literally tried to kill Ggukie when he was trying to protect me and he sent a bag full of actual shit to us.”
“Okay, points have been made, shush. You can pick our next roomie okay?” Taehyung asked, giggling.
Jimin threw a pillow at him before returning to the movie they were currently watching.
The next morning, Jimin made quick work of posting an ad looking for a roommate online, figuring the sooner they found one, the better. He posted it on a couple of sites, including the one for international students, figuring it wouldn’t hurt. Him and Taehyung would look over the applications this weekend and pick out a few to reach out to.
This was their fourth roommate in the year and a half that they’ve lived there, and to be honest Jimin didn’t understand what happened to all of them, they all seemed normal, but really they were all a bit strange and eventually did something that caused Taehyung and Jimin to kick them out. The thought of possibly having to go through this again was creating a headache for Jimin as well as the thought of the increased rent for him and Taehyung that they may have to pay for a few months. It wasn’t that they couldn’t afford it, but it left them with very little money for other things, and a spare room, so another roommate was necessary. All Jimin could hope for was that they finally got a nice, normal roommate that would stick around.
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By the end of the week, Hoseok had applied for his visa with the help of his dad, and now him and his mom were trying to find a place for him to stay.
“Why don’t you just stay on campus?” She asked, brows furrowed as she scrolled on her laptop.
“It doesn’t work like that over there I think, plus I asked some of my friends and they told me that this was the better choice. It would help me have friends and people who know their way around already.” Hoseok mumbled, not really paying attention, to busy reading the Korean script on his screen.
He had submitted a few applications and he had found one more that looked slightly promising and was just reading the requirements. Hoseok sighed as he filled in the information the person asked for, rolling his shoulders as he typed. The applications and requests for information were such a long process, because Hoseok didn’t want to just room with just anyone, he wanted to room with reasonable and nice people. Most of these people didn’t post a bunch of information on them, just the forum and that was it.
“Okay, I’m done for the day Momma, thank you for all of your help.” He said, shutting his laptop with a sharp snap.
“Of course baby, let me know if you choose any of them or if we have to keep looking, okay?” Sandra said, ruffling Hoseok’s hair.
He nodded before bidding her a goodbye, slipping on his shoes and leaving, heading out to his bible study class for the evening.