CHOI, kyujun

KyuJun is now a playful, typical teen. He loves having fun, hanging out with friends, and especially is a momma's boy. He'd literally do anything for his mother, mostly because of all the hardships they've faced together. Because of his past, he has a bit of prickly side, and his step-sister has given him the nickname of 'hedgehog' to match him. Overall, these days, he's very friendly and even sometimes preppy. However, he has a mean sarcastic side as well.


KyuJun was born in Seoul, South Korea. His parents were average parents: met through mutual friends, got married, had kids. His father was your average businessman, and his mother a kindergarten teacher. They welcomed KyuJun's little sister, who was named JunHee, when he was only two years old. They lived happily for only a couple years, however. When KyuJun was only five, his father was diagnosed with cancer, and passed away only three months later.
The family's life eventually returned to normal. KyuJun, though young, was already learning how to take care of sister or make his mom laugh when necessary. Though finances were tight, they made it worthwhile. When KyuJun was ten, he noticed his mother wasn't around as often. She'd stay out late and have this stupid smile on her face. Eventually she admitted she met someone new, and she hoped KyuJun and JunHee would like him. At the very first meeting, this stranger confessed the second KyuJun's mom and he were married, they'd be shipped off to boarding school. When KyuJun tried to tell his mother, however, she didn't believe him.
Sure enough, they were soon forced to welcome a step-father into their tiny apartment. Or rather, they moved to his luxurious home. Moving across Seoul, the siblings transferred schools rather than being sent to boarding school. But it wasn't long after that a nightmare began. KyuJun's step-father became violent, at first only against his mother. Having been the man of the house for the last 5+ years, however, this severely angered KyuJun. His mother was basically their rock. No one hurt a rock. She assured her kids, however, that she'd be fine. Unaware any abuse was happening to the kids, their mother thought she was the only one being injured. However, when left alone with the kids, KyuJun and JunHee faced punches, as well as being locked in separate closets for up to hours at a time.
Constant fighting with his step-father found fifteen year old KyuJun as a tough fighter, most other students found him scary to approach and teachers couldn't figure out why he still had bruises on his arms and face when they never actually had seen him fighting anyone. He was withdrawn about his family, and didn't talk much to the other kids, feeling like he had grown up way faster than the kids around him.
It was during summer break that the worst thing happened. JunHee had gotten into an argument with their step-father, and he lashed out at her, using a fireplace poker and, as extreme as it was, trying to stab her with it. He complained how "you annoying kids" had been a thorn in his side for too long. How he'd say it was KyuJun that killed her and get him sent to jail. Instead, at the last second, KyuJun managed to shield her, for the most part, knocking the poker away and pushing his step-father as hard as he could. Unfortunately for him, a fifteen year old boy was no match for the middle aged man, and he was pushed, hitting the fireplace bricks and instantly becoming unconscious. Without being able to protect his sister, she was defenseless. The coroner later determined she was raped and then hit with a blunt object to the head. When their mother found out, she instantly divorced him and made sure he was sent to jail.
When KyuJun woke up in the hospital, he was faced with not one, but actually three traumas. He had no memories from any time before waking up. On top of that, he couldn't see out of his right eye or hear out of his right ear: the impact had damaged both. Finally, and this one wasn't truly realized until he got his memories back about a month later, JunHee was dead. He and his mother lived under the radar while he healed, and they tried to piece their life together again for a second time. Eventually, KyuJun returned to high school, finding some, but thankfully not too much difficulty with his new handicaps.
His graduation from high school saw new changes in the family. His mother had been offered a job in the US, and he told her to go ahead and take it. Encouraged her, even. But on the plane, he discovered something. KyuJun now had a debilitating fear of small spaces, no thanks to his step-father. He spent the entire ten hours either with a bag to his mouth or passed out.
Once they actually got to America, things seemed to be looking up. His mother was happy with her new job, and KyuJun applied, tested, and passed with flying colors to the University. They ended up in a homestay program, living with a single father and his daughter, just a year younger than KyuJun. They were kindly, and this man treated them much better than his step-father ever did.
KyuJun's mother did decide to marry him at the beginning of 2014. He was unfazed by the fact she had already been married twice. He was outraged any man could ever treat the two as her last husband had, and he was still... perfect. KyuJun strongly believes this is the man his mother deserves.
As for KyuJun himself, he's happy to be living a normal life. His step-sister, Kaira, has become a good friend to him, even though he's told her straight-up he'd probably never be able to call her his sister. With the marriage, he and his mother were granted American citizenship, and slowly life is returning to a normal KyuJun hadn't known since he was a toddler. He decided to get a job, a simple barista at a local coffee shop downtown, but he's finding his niche.