CHAPTER 0: STRIPPED OF ALL INNOCENCE.

                                    

                                          
Joyful laughter and cheerful screams filled the clear blue skies of Hyeopjae beach in Jeju Island as a very excited eleven year old Park Ji Min, with both arms animatedly suspended in air, happily skipped around, kicking up a storm of white sand in a relentless exhibition of his undying support for his mother who was engaged in a tag of war with his father she obviously couldn't win. 
It was another fun filled weekend at his favorite beach with his crazy family. 
Summer was Jimin's good place of every year because nothing beat spending quality time with the two people he loved most in his life. 
But this particular one was his favorite of all. It was the best one so far because it had come at a time when they needed to get away the most. 
The few months leading to their vacation had been a seat closest to hell fire for his family. His mother had been diagnosed with leukemia and had had to undergo her first chemotherapy. 
Although the fight in her was commendable and the doctor gave them nothing but piles of hope to lean on, it had been a very trying period for them. 
But they had hung on to that thread of hope and prayed for the best. His mother was out of hospital, healthier, and together they were trying to put up even a stronger joint front to beat the cancer.
"Eomma, fighting," little Jimin was screaming on top of his voice as he ran in circles kicking at hips of sand in pure happiness.
"Jimin-ah, appa is hurt," his father complained cutely, "why are you being so unfair to me and giving all your cheers to your mom?"
Jimin simply burst into a fit of uncontrollable giggles at the funny whining sight his dad was making.
The Parks of Dongnae-gu, Busan, were a solid unit of three who had each other's backs at all times. Their family motto was absolute trust with complete faith in the love they shared for one another to anchor them through all storms. 
While Mrs. Park Ye Jin, a very beautiful 46 year old,  played the role of the pillar of strength, always making them feel like they are the most important people in the whole wide world, 48 year old Mr. Park Chae In and little Ji Min were mainly her big babies. 
With them, it was mischief upon mischief, and his mum always tried to accommodate their stubborn Park heads with a proud and warm smile on her face. 
In all honesty, Jimin and his dad both knew that sometimes their Park heads were a turd bit too hot for his mum's calm nature. But his mum loved his stubborn dad and him way too much to even get angry at them. She always said she wouldn't change a thing about them if she could.
"Yah, Chaeinie, you punk ," Yejin who had landed on her butt in the sand a few minutes ago when Jimin's father had shamelessly defeated her in the first round of tag of war playfully screamed at her husband. 
"Appa-ah, you are cheating," Jimin accused half heartedly, standing firmly behind his mother. His dad had started pulling the rope before the go-ahead was given, taking an unfair advantage of his mother, who was already weaker than him in strength.
"That's right, Minie, he started pulling before I announced go," Yejin accused as she got of the ground and started dusting her green platted skirt.
"Baby, you can't be both referee and competitor in just one game." Chaein defended himself, adamantly refusing to reduce his sweet victory to a mere chance in time. He moved to help his wife remove a spec of sand on her face and she playfully swatted his hand away.
"Besides, you slightly tagged at the rope first. I thought that was my cue to pull. I won this round. I am afraid you guys are going to have to live with never hearing the end of this." He continued to tease them, embracing his wife in a warm back hug before he started moving them forward to join Jimin on the sand.