Noo-ri's eomma was never noisy in the morning. She was always careful not to awake her only son, knowing he deserved some rest. Her son was not energetic in the morning and most probably would never change. Like most people, he loved wandering in his pyjamas while eating cereals and watching anime, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, listening to his eomma humming the latest hit. You see, Noo-ri had always been a kid at heart: when most young adults wanted freedom and independence, he loved how his parents kept treating him like a little kid. He loved getting home, smelling his eomma's japchae, talking to his dad while he was reading the newspaper, washing up and then having dinner as a family. He even loved it more when Jo joined then for dinner, or for lunch. His home was a haven, where he kept taking refuge from the outside world. His bedroom had been carefully decorated, with memories from his teenage years, memories including Jo and their other friends. Every night, he took some time to look at those pictures all over again. He observed Jo's smile, the way his dimples decorated his rosy cheeks or how his funny faces looked grotesque. In his head, right before sleep, he always said a silent prayer for his life never to stop nor to change. He loved it just the way it was, and was content with it.

Up until his sixteenth birthday, he was not aware that Jo had grown into a handsome man. The day he had noticed it, he felt flushed and embarrassed. They were at the beach, and Jo took off his t-shirt, throwing it on Noo-ri's face. The high schooler froze and his mouth gapped, but he did not say anything. He did not know how to act around him for a few days after that - he could not look him into the eyes when all he could think about was how his torso looked sinewy and robust. His would never look like Jo's; he knew it and was ashamed that they did not have the same chance. Jo would be a ladies' man while Noo-ri would be Jo's best friend. That's all they were supposed to be, all they were meant to be. Being attracted to his bestest friend was out of the question for the korean boy. He could not love a boy, notwithstanding how good-looking he was. He was just Jo. Jo he had known for all of his life, Jo who was an unpredictable young man.

He heard the door slamming downstairs, he heard voices and he knew who was making a grand entrance as his eyes were still shut. Confined under his blanket's warmth, he grumbled and curled up as Jo was giving him the directions for the day. He protested: - Leave me alone, but Jo was too far gone for him to hear.

When Noo-ri went downstairs, he knew he would find his eomma stuck to Jo. He was never wong. She absolutely loved Jo. You could tell by the way she looked at it with glimmering eyes. Sometimes, Noo-ri asked her if she loved Jo more than she loved her own son. She always scolded him but he knew how much Jo meant to his eomma and his appa. They would hate to see him go, as he brought life to the house a lot. - Why are you waking me up this early, he yawned, as he grabbed a cup of fresh coffee. He handed Jo a second cup, but he frowned when he saw his eomma had already given him one. A hint of jealousy pinched his back, as he looked over his friend. - I hope you have a good reason, he grouched. His bad mood disappeared the second he saw Jo's mischievous smile.

It was indeed the greatest reason out there. Spending a day with Jo at the fair was something he had been looking forward to. As they grew closer to Rockport, Noo-ri sang over the tunes on the radio:

Jo kept laughing at his performance, snorting as Noo-ri was taking great care into giving him a choreography too.

- I'll never talk to you ever again if you don't buy me cotton candy, he warned, pointing his fingers at Jo. The crowd was heavy. The lines were long. Noo-ri was thirsty and hungry. - Also, I need a beer, he crooned, using his cutest smile to move and convince Jo.