Ch. 1

That day, I was about to go home from college. When I arrived in front of my house and was about to open the door, I received a call. On my screen, it says "Mom".

"Halo, Mom?".

"Ah- Halo? Are you the son of this phone owner?". I heard a voice that I had never heard. I've a bad feeling about this one call. Shivers run through my spine.

"Ah, yes. May I know who you are? And where is my mom?". "Ah- I am a nurse at xxx Hospital. For now, can you come to the xxx Hospital? I have-".

Crash..

"Halo? Halo.. Halo..". I threw my phone to the ground, and then ran as fast as I could to the big road and then took a cab to the xxx Hospital.

"Here, Ajussi". I give the money to the driver, and then rush to the information station.

"Excuse me.. Huff.. Huff.. I huff.. I was receiving a call from my mom's cellphone, huff.. Huff.. He says he was a nurse here..". I ask in a hurry while gasping for air.

"My.. My mom's name is Minna Hayama Huff.. Huff.. Can you please.. Check if she's here?".

"Ok, please wait a moment, Sir".

"Ah.. I'm sorry, Sir. Earlier there were two patients brought here from a car accident, a middle aged woman and a man. The woman's name is Minna Hayama, and the man's name is Kira Hayama".

Thump.. Thump.. Thump..

I feel like I've been hit by a huge rock. I can't think, hear, or see clearly after the receptionist says.

"Huh..? It's.. A dream, right..?".

"Sir.. Sir..?".

"It must be a dream, right? I heard it wrong right, just now?". I fell to my knees in front of the reception corner. My eyes start to get blurry. Tears forming on the corner of my eyes. Falling through my cheeks one by one like heavy rain.

"Sir! Are you okay!?". A security tapped my shoulder and looked at me.

"Ah- Uh- wh-Wha?". The security Ajussi looked at me with his worries. Helping me to stand.

"What happened, young man?".

"Uh- the- The receptionist said that..". I paused for a moment, and then snapped back into reality.

"Ah! Mom! My mom! Where is my mom right now!". I panicked and pushed the Ajussi hand on me. Asking the receptionist about my mom and dad where about.

"They are in the Morgue room at the left wing building. I'm sorry for your loss. We can't save them".

I ran with all my might, into the left wing of the buildings. When I was in front of the room, I saw two bodies lying there, with the clothes that I knew well.

"Mom..? Dad..?". I shook their hands. Hoping that it's just a dream, hoping that they will wake up.

"Hic.. Hic.. Mom.. Dad.. Hic.. Hic..".

"Why.. Why did you leave me all alone here..? What.. Should I do..".

Drowning in sadness, time passes by slowly. The bodies were cremated. Many people came to the funeral. Mom and dad colleagues.

"Bro, sorry I came late. I'm here now, so you can cry all you want. Don't hold it in by yourself".

My one and only childhood friend came and hugged me. He is the only one who always stays with me. His parents were already gone when he was young, so me and my family are the ones that were close to him. We spend a lot of time together, he even spends the night at our place sometimes.

"Hic.. Hic.. Hmpphh.. Huk.. Huk.. Argghhhh!".

I grabbed his suit, sobbing and screaming in his arms. Letting my cries out from my heart out loud. He keeps patting my back while keeping hugging me tight.

..

..

A month has passed, every day, all I could do was cry in front of my parents' shrines. Praying for them.

I neglected my class, my food, everything. I feel like I'm suffocated. I can't think clearly at all. For almost a month, I can't eat or sleep well at night.

Ding.. Dong..

A doorbell rang.

Ding.. Dong.. Ding.. Dong.. The doorbell keeps ringing. I wonder who.

"Yes.. Wait a second".

I stand up from my bed and walk towards the front door. With my current appearance, one might think I'm on the brink of death.

"Hello". "Ah- Hello.. Aunty".

The owner of the place, standing in front of me, looking at me from the top to bottom with wrinkles between her eyebrows.

"Ah.. I'm sorry for your loss, Young Man.. But it's been a month already.. When will you able to pay the rent..?".

"Ah- please come in, Aunty". I cut her words and asked her to come inside. We sat on the floor. Looking at each other from the table.

"Young man. It's been almost five weeks since you last paid the rent. If.. If you can't pay, Aunty will have you to.. Moving out of this place in a week..". Reality hits me twice.

"Ah- Aunty. I'm sorry. I- I will move out of this place soon. Can aunty.. Wait until I find a cheaper place..? I will pack up a few items for now..". I hesitated.

"And when I find a place, I will move out from here quickly. Can aunty.. Give me a little bit of more time?".

I looked down while answering. My eyes feel hot. I feel like my face is burning. This sadness, I can't even describe it.

"Sigh.. Alright. Aunty will give you a little bit of time, because your parents were good people. around 10 days for you to find a new place. And you don't need to pay for the rent either".

Aunty let out another sigh. She stood up and patted my back before she left.

"Be strong, Young Man. Don't disappoint your deceased parents by living miserably. Aunty wishes you all the best".

She said before closing the door. Feels like I got struck by the thunder, her words woke me up in a flash. Tears fall down through my cheeks.

I walked towards the bathroom, and then washed my puffy face. I picked up my phone, plugged in the charger cable, and turned it on. A lot of calls and messages showing notifications on my screen.

It shows "Jung Hyun", my one and only friend.

"Haha, this guy..".

I press the call button. The call was received in less than 3 seconds.

"HALO!? Haruki!".

A loud and surprising tone can be heard from the opposite side of the call.

"Yes, Hyun. It's me".

I told him everything about today's event and about my future plans. I asked him for help looking for new places and a part-time job. He agreed.

"Obviously I'm going to help, Idiot! Who is going to help you except me!?".

We talked a lot before I ended the call. I packed my mom and dad's clothes. I packed my clothes as well. I sold my college materials books, and other books that weren't useful for me at the second-hand stores.

Me and Hyun found a nice and cheap place. He helped me with moving in. I keep my mom and dad's clothes in one closet. I sold a few of mom's shoes, and just kept a few of her shoes, which were her favourite ones.

"This is enough for me. Anyway, thank you Hyun, for your help!".

"Is it okay? You sold a few of the items from old places. And only keep simple furniture here. Well, for a place which has one living room, one bedroom and one bathroom and toilet, it's a little bit small to keep all of the old furniture here".

He looked at me with his worries. I snorted and laughed back at him. Telling him it's okay, and everything is going to be okay.