Back Warehouse

A Morning Like Any Other

I walked along the sidewalk near the school, having completed my daily chores at home_cleaning and tidying up every corner. The morning sky was clear, with soft sunlight touching the leaves along the roadside. The sound of cars passing by blended into the usual morning symphony. My steps halted as I noticed a group of students ahead. They looked cheerful, being dropped off by their parents in luxurious cars. Their faces lit up with happiness as they received kisses on their foreheads or gentle pats from their loved ones. Treated with so much care, as if they were priceless treasures.

/Flashback On

Inside a car, a sweet little girl sat excitedly, sandwiched between her loving parents. The soft scent of my mother’s perfume mixed with the familiar smell of the car’s interior, creating an irreplaceable sense of comfort.

“Mom, yesterday at school, one of my classmates cried,” I said, breaking the silence.

“Why?” my mother asked gently, turning her head toward me.

“I don’t know. But she cried after seeing you come to watch my school performance,” I replied, confused.

“And what did you do?”

“I sat next to her. I didn’t know what to do, so I just patted her back lightly.”

“Really? Good job!” My mom smiled proudly, her eyes sparkling with affection.

“But, Mom, after she stopped crying, she said she was jealous of me. I don’t understand what she meant. Did I do something wrong?” I asked innocently.

My mom smiled softly and turned me toward her. She gently adjusted my hair and straightened my school uniform.

“Narin,” she said softly, “she’s just someone who needed you to listen and be there for her.”

“Why?” I asked, still puzzled.

“Because you’ll never fully understand someone else’s feelings, even if they try to explain them to you. So, to comfort her, all you need to do is stay by her side,” she said patiently, instilling a lesson I couldn’t grasp at the time.

“I still don’t get it,” I admitted honestly.

“You will when you’re older, my dear.”

When the car stopped in front of the school gates, my mom and dad took turns hugging me. The gentle strokes on my head and their warm smiles were etched deeply in my memory. I walked into school cheerfully, unaware that moments like these wouldn’t last forever.

/Flashback Off

I returned to reality, standing on the sidewalk and feeling the cool morning air. Though time had passed, I could still feel the warmth of those hugs, the harmony of my once-perfect family. But it all disappeared after the accident that took them away from me.

Amidst the loss, one thing remained clear: my mother’s lesson, which I hadn’t understood back then, now began to make sense.

“Narin!” A voice called out, snapping me out of my thoughts. At the end of the road, a girl waved her hand enthusiastically. Her wide smile made me momentarily forget my sadness. I walked toward her, a small smile tugging at my lips.

“What’s up? Why do you look so cute this morning?!” she teased, squinting her eyes as if analyzing my face.

I chuckled, playfully nudging her arm. Though my heart still longed for the past, her presence always managed to replace my tears with laughter.

And in moments like this, I realized something. Even though my mom was no longer here, her embrace lived on in my memories. She had taught me how to be there for someone without saying a word. And for that, I was grateful.

Because in the midst of my longing, there was still a friend like her who reminded me that I was never truly alone.

---

“Hana, I’m going to the bathroom for a moment,” I said as I stood up from the cafeteria chair.

“But you haven’t finished your food.”

“I’m full. If you’re done eating and I haven’t come back, please bring my tray too. Bye.” I walked away from the chair we were sitting at.

My stomach had been feeling a bit off since last night. I wasn’t sure if it was because I ate something wrong or if I was just cold. But today’s weather was quite sunny and warm. So, could it be that I ate something wrong? Maybe.

As I was about to turn toward the bathroom, which was still a bit far off, I saw two people standing facing each other. It seemed like they were discussing something serious. A girl was holding a beautifully decorated gift box, which she handed to a guy. When I looked more closely, I realized that the guy was the one who caused all the commotion.

Hah, I don’t know if all the girls in this school have confessed their feelings to him. But I’ve often heard them talk about it—how they want to confess their love to the one who caused all the commotion, even though they feel insecure. I heard that they have to muster up the courage to say it directly, because he never shares his chat ID or social media. In fact, they say he doesn’t have any social media at all. They can only see pictures or updates about him through fanbase accounts that post them secretly.

“Why? Are you jealous?” someone’s voice suddenly broke my thoughts.

“No!” I answered spontaneously. When did he get here? Didn’t he just stand over there a moment ago? I turned to check and saw the girl walking away, still holding her gift box. Does this mean…?

“Hm. I rejected her,” he said calmly, as if he could read my mind.

“Why?” I asked innocently.

“Because I don’t think anyone would like her.”

“Hah?” I was confused by what he meant. What did he mean by ‘someone wouldn’t like her’? I stared at his face, hoping he would explain further.

But instead of giving an answer, he grabbed my hand and pulled me to run somewhere else. I didn’t understand what he was doing. I really needed to go to the bathroom right now!

I wanted to pull my hand back, but I couldn’t. He was running twice as fast as me, making me feel like I was being carried away by the wind. It felt like my weight had no value anymore.

He led me to a room I had never seen before. It was located behind the school and looked like a warehouse from the outside. Do Hwan opened the door and pulled me inside.

I stumbled as he closed the door, my body pushed against the door, pinned by him.

“Shhh!” he whispered, leaning his face closer to mine. The distance between us was so close I could feel his breath.

I froze, confused. What is actually happening? Why am I here? I was supposed to go to the bathroom, not to this room.

“Why am I here?” I managed to say in a quiet voice, even though I knew my question sounded foolish. There was no answer, only Do Hwan’s intense gaze coming closer. His warm breath against my skin made me even more confused.

My feelings were all over the place. On one hand, I felt trapped, not knowing what to do. But on the other hand, there was something I couldn’t explain. Maybe it was anxiety, or maybe even a little attraction, but I wasn’t ready to face it.

“Do Hwan, why…?” My voice faltered, my body trembling slightly as I tried to fight the fear rising in my chest. But I couldn’t move. All that was in my mind was chaos—and him, standing in front of me, making me feel even more lost.

***