CHAPTER THREE      Hwa-Yeon's Perspective
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     There's a broken flowerpot, just under the overhanging roof of the balcony.

A parky draft glided into the pale, glimmering living room. The morning chiffon sky melted into a salt grey, as the sun hid behind the greying clouds that swirled above the horizon. I leant back even further, the frame of the sliding doors dug into my back as I did so.

Lulling my head to the side, my eyes almost forced themselves shut. The overpowering rays of the early sun showered my body, drowsily. With my arms locked around my shins, the city breeze caused my pyjama trousers to flutter gently. Even, transporting the smell of petrichor into the air. The unmistakable perfume of rain, accompanied me within the vast apartment, like the way people light scented candles whilst having a conversation over some dinner.

I was close to falling asleep again. But I battled against the haze, and let the low temperatures keep me conscious.

I found myself having a staring contest with the tainted flowerpot on the balcony again. Fissures meandered across its pearly white vase.

Flittering possibilities generated within my head. How did that happen? I then came to a conclusion and assumed that it must have been the raging storm from the previous night, that seemed as though it would never cease to end.

Being too dozy to hoist myself off the ground, I craned my head back tinily, the crown of my head resting on the door frame too. My fingertips drummed against the surface of my knees, as though they were pressing the keys to a piano, playing a melody that was familiar to the songbirds, that probably gathered on the tree beside the apartment.

That was one thing that mirrored Cheongsando Island. I then wondered if the birds in Seoul travelled from Cheongsando too, that made me feel less or so, alone.

I knew that I should have called Aunt Seung-Wan that morning, for another check-in to see what we were up to, but for some reason, I decided against it. As I have mentioned previously, I wanted to break out of the familiar routine that I had when I lived in Cheongsando. Pathways, determined by fate, always drove me towards a closed off road.

Perhaps I could be soaked into the flux of Seoul life, and that I could start anew.

Though, a heavy notion settled itself into my mind, and I found my chest twinge from the guilt that I felt towards my Aunt. I'll call her later.

Pausing the rhythmic tapping on my knees, with my hands falling towards my sides, my left palm landed on a smooth, plasticky material. It made subtle rustling sounds, the tiny current of the wind causing it to do so. When I drifted my eyes towards it, they were met with the bold letters of GS25. Miniature droplets of rain still patterned across the hefty bag, its contents being the ice-cream from last night. The straps of the bag was still slung around my forearm, the dessert left untouched.

Faintly, recollections of the evening before resurfaced my mind. Almost vividly, the scent of raindrops hitting the metal handrail of the bridge re-entered my nose at the memory. Alongside that, there were also visions of the Seoul citizen that showed me unexpected kindness, and they stayed imprinted within my mind, when I left the apartment.

Transparent umbrellas litter the zebra crossing as citizens commuted, the traffic light signalling for them to go. I didn't cross, however, and stayed on the path that I was on.

Colossal rows of retail stores varied besides the pedestrian footpath, with yellow and amber coloured billboards to promote their companies to citizens and tourists all around. People brushed up against my sides as they hurry towards the haste changing traffic lights, faces worn from their efforts to not let time be the reason why they're late for work.

     It was quite a task to navigate my way through the bustling crowds. The orchestra within Seoul juxtaposed with Cheongsando greatly. Whilst Seoul played a dissonance of city melodies, Cheongsando had choirs of countryside birds and nature, in which Seoul had neither at its heart.

I soon neared the restaurant just two roads down from the apartment. Pinned up against the cork board beside the telephone that I had used the previous night, was a voucher with the offer 3 for 2, with the name of the place printed in bold yellow letters. The expiry date was not until the year after, gratifyingly, I used it to have both my lunch and dinner in one sitting. After the incidents that had happened in GS25, I picked up the habit of checking. Since, it replayed within my mind quite frequently, and I never wanted to take the chances of humiliating myself once again.

Entering the building in dark oak, with turquoise painted framing, I was greeted with an abundance of food that was created with home-cooked recipes. The air increased with humidity as every inch of the space was occupied, with either loving families or friends gathering around their appointed tables.

     "Table for four or one?"

Someone else answered from behind me. "We're a three, but if she's eating alone . . ."

     My eyes were absorbed on the family sitting by the window. The father wore his police uniform whilst picking out spicy pickled radishes from both his children's dishes. The two were fussing over who should eat the large piece of ginger from one of their plates first, as a dare. The sister stuffed the ginger into his brother's mouth, his face scrunched up and pinched red in protest.

"Hello? Miss? Are you eating alone? These three want to sit with you if you are. You're kind of holding up the queue here so I suggest you answer quickly."

The family in the far right were then concealed by a girl in a red houndstooth patterned cardigan. There was a sudden pulse drumming within my throat, as my palm found the tall wooden sign beside me, written with the words please wait here to be seated. Two broadened eyes, with the whites spread largely around the pupils, increased with eagerness as she drilled her expectant gaze into my face. Both her arms were hooked through two students that were from the same school as her, and were of similar age to myself.

     I swallowed, though I found myself gulping on nothing but air. I took a swift glance towards my left with a flicker of my eyes, the waiter's expression bored into my own, awaiting, unamused.

     "Oh I'm sorry. I was uh . . . I was going to . . ."

     I was to have the meal at home. The world around my limbs felt as though they were being held within a hazy blur, sound waves were fuzzy, and I stumbled backwards. But, my peripherals contained blurry images of the families and friends that congregated together over a savoury meal— In which, I could not re-create back at the apartment. At that, the thrashing of my heart that once beat out of apprehension, soon turned into a calm rhythm for hope.

     "She's sitting with us." The piquant air was then overlapped by a soft smell of perfume. A brunette girl in a lavender jumper and a comparable height to me, hurried to my side, her tone firm and seemingly overjoyed.

     "Oh goody!" The one that had their round eyes piercing holes into my frame, had applauded at the news and took my opposite arm.

     My attention was being pulled to and fro during that scene, but in a spare moment I examined the golden badges plastered on their uniform. Lim Ju-Kyung. Choi Soo-Ah—

     "Kang Soo-Jin."

     I drew my eyes upwards, and was met with the last of the three. The taller girl had the right of her raven hair pushed behind an ear, with her navy uniform more sophisticated than the others. The voice of hers was far more fuller and they left her smiling lips, her hand extended for me to shake. The way that the group was treating me, created an impression that they were taking me into their friendship as someone far more than temporary.

     Noticing my hesitancy, she gave me a short nod, as though to encourage me. Perhaps some citizens in Seoul could be as kind as the lady at the information desk, or the worker at GS25, or even the motorcyclist from the night before. I urged myself to push back any negativity that resurfaced within my mind, which were triggered by the subject of solitude, and whether I should be placing my trust on newfound people.

The waiter exhaled largely, and already made his way towards the table in front of the kitchen. "Right this way please . . ."

Perhaps solitude could be replaced with independence, and creating companionship would be alright in this journey of new beginnings. "It's nice to meet you all . . ." I gave a breathy sigh, my own tired lips stretching into the loveliest smile that I could master. "Thank you for letting me sit with you guys." My voice drowned within the other customer's loud discussions.

However, the girl that I placed my hand within, returned a cheery expression, as if she were acknowledging my gratitude. She waved a hand in front of us, "that's no worries! Tteokbokki is ten times more tastier when you share anyways."

The corners of my mouth glided deeper into my cheeks, my chest blanketing with warmth at the fact that my mind found its way towards memories of when my aunt and I used to have meals together back in Cheongsando.

     "That's true." We shared genuine grins for almost a few seconds; I had not shared a comfortable expression with someone since the time I embraced Aunt Seung-Wan when she baked raspberry cupcakes. That was quite a while ago.

     "Please can we have a platter of tuna kimbap, cheesy tteokbokki with mild-ish spice, a plate of battered shrim—"

     "Hey Soo-Ah— At least let the waiter get out their notebook out first."

     The previous waiter had stormed away already, and was replaced with a younger waiter who fumbled through their front apron pocket, their cheeks puffed out from their demanding customer and more to come. Soo-Jin flashed them an apologetic smile, before scorning Soo-Ah silently at her.

     Soo-Ah threw her hands up in defense, pupils glimmering as she spoke. "Oh!— I didn't realise," she clasped her hands together and placed them to the side as she stared dreamily into the distance, "I'm just so excited for our girls day out."

     Soo-Jin rolled her eyes as she took her seat, though with a grin still playing on her lips, it gave away the fact that she was used to Soo-Ah's antics. I was too busy scanning the scene to realise that I was the only one who had not taken a seat. Before they all had the chance to glance upwards with puzzled faces, Ju-Kyung patted the chair next to her, her teeth glinting under the fluorescent ceiling lights as she smiled brightly.

     "Sit here!"

     "Oh, oh okay," I knew that the skin upon her face had slowly grown pink at the entire situation, for my arms felt warm though they were exposed. I tugged the spaghetti straps to my floral, flowy cami top upwards, feeling self-aware as though there were more than just their eyes travelling onto my presence.

     "So," Soo-Ah dragged the o briefly until she got ahold of my attention, "what's your name? What school do you go to? MBTI? Also, can I just say, you are so pretty, I love your outfit too. I think bucket hats are so back in style too— Ah! Can I get your Stargram? We should plan a day out and go shopping!"

"I was going to say that too, you're very pretty." Ju-Kyung added from beside me, and it came to my attention that she had a habit of staring, for my limbs burned every time I felt her do so.

With my arms overlapping one another, I let one hand tug at one of my plaits, and fiddled with the bottom of my un-plaited hair mindlessly, my shoulders slightly hunched. My mind whizzed with answers, though no word left my open mouth. I self-consciously waved my eyes at all three of their faces, as another timid chuckle fell from my lips unable to make an immediate answer.

"Jeez Soo-Ah one question at a time. You're going to scare her away. I'm surprised you haven't left us yet Ju-Kyung." Lightening the mood with her cool demeanour, Soo-Jin bit her lip and presented Soo-Ah a light-hearted expression of fury.

"My name's Hwa-Yeon. Jeong Hwa-Yeon." I rubbed my palms along my blue jeans, still my frequent light chuckles never ceased. "Uhm and uh I never . . . I never went to an actual like uh school before . . . I have a private tutor—" Tweaked the truth, how it's my aunt that taught me back at home, though it doesn't hurt to. I stayed completely still, as if it could cover how I had told a minor fib.

"Pretty name and a pretty girl. Ahh I wish I could do that! School is so boring—"

"I wish I could too," Ju-Kyung answered immediately after Soo-Ah, though her voice was a little quieter.

"Hey, are you saying that I'm boring? I'm offended."

"Doo-Jin! How could you say that? You're never boring, although, you always study."

Soo-Jin had her back turned from the girl with the short bob cut, though she manoeuvred back around when our plates announced their entrance with their delectable scent.

"It's Soo-Jin— and that's what you should be doing too."

"Funny," Finding myself muttering, the only other times I had laughed with a friend, were the aunties on the marshy peach fields. When my schedules used to consist of helping Aunt Seung-Wan with picking out the bad and good peaches from the trees.

"I know right, that's what I thought when I met them today."

I found no time to react to the fact that Ju-Kyung had heard my silent thoughts, but only to the fact that they had only become friends that day. "Today?"

"Yeah! It's my first day at Saebom High School."

"Oh! That's cool—"

"Yup— So don't worry, I'm in the same position as you." It was as though she could see through my nerves as she wrapped an arm shortly around my shoulders. I could feel the side of her face lean against my arm briefly, though she lifted it away in an instant whilst scanning the sleeve of the white bolero that I wore, even brushing away at it as though she left a mark on it. "There was um a fluff on your shoulder," half awkwardly she changed the subject and laid her eyes upon the platters before us, "woah! Everything looks so delicious!"

     "Hold on, let me take a quick photo—" Soo-Ah interjected before anyone could grab something from the dishes.

     "You better make it quick, I'm starving." Soo-Jin picked up her chopsticks whilst playing with them and clipping them on her pouting lips.

     Following the lengthy stick that Soo-Ah held, my eyes found the device that was strapped at the end of it. I had never owned one myself, for my aunt and I never found the reason to do so, it would be too costly, and what was the need when the only person I ever needed to contact was under the same roof as I was. Still, I found myself being engrossed in it. For, it was interesting to see it before me, rather than on a television screen and in one of those dramas that both my aunt and I watched.

     "Oh, right," Soo-Ah must've thought that I wanted a photo, for she raised the pink stick and held it above us, "let's take a group photo, to celebrate our first day of being friends with Ju-Kyung and Hwa-Young!"

     Soo-Jin groaned, "I'm going to eat now," she's lowered her chopsticks and hovered her hand above the pork cutlets to stab at them.

     "Come on Soo-Jin, we're all waiting." With the aromatic food between us and the steam fogging up the lenses tinily. The crisp sound of the shutter resounded sharply as Soo-Ah held up a peace sign and captured the photo of all four of us.

     "Done?"

     "Yay," Soo-Ah announced loudly, and I could feel Ju-Kyung jump from beside me, "let's eat!"

     "Finally," Soo-Jin was first to dig in, and like dominoes we followed in after.

     For months, I had known that I would take a different course in my life on my eighteenth birthday. I knew, because I had grown aware. Aware of how I had grown accustomed to the damnation of my own choices, the ones that I had made since I was a small infant. Though, I had never imagined that I would land myself within a city of quite kind people, and even, the fact that they outweighed the very negative ones that I had unfortunately encountered before.

The pit of my stomach ached with guilt, though. As the home-cooked dishes that my Aunt Seung-Wan made was not the only thing that drew a softened smile across my face, but the meals of the restaurant too.

"How is it? What do you guys think?"

"It's really, really delicious!" Ju-Kyung replied eagerly.

     "It's good right?"

     "Yes!"

     "Hwa-Young? How about you? I love coming here with my family, my sister loves the tteokbokki too!"

     With deer like eyes gleaming at me, Soo-Ah awaited for my response. I picked up at a floppy piece with black chopsticks and let it settle into my mouth. Moving my mouth, the smooth texture rested on my tongue as the orange sauce oozed into my tastebuds. They felt inflamed, however, ever so subtly they sweetened, all whilst the spices laid impermanently upon my senses. My brows shot up as I swallowed, and I nearly seethed through my teeth, but it wasn't peppery enough for me to do so.

     "So?" She tilted her head at my reaction, almost laughing at my reaction.

     "Mm yummy!" I mumbled whilst a few pieces were still cushioned within both my cheeks and I had to close it in an instant in fear of it flying towards her face, causing me to chuckle into my hand as I reached for another strand of tteokbokki. It was the most mellow thing that I had eaten since I arrived in Seoul.

     "Yay!" Soo-Ah shimmied into her seat, face glowing with a grin, for she was satisfied with our answers. "So Hwa-Young."

     "Hm?"

     "So how come we've never come across each other before? You're so pretty, I'm surprised you've never gotten famous on Stargram!"

     I managed to come to a short conclusion, even though I had only met them for a duration of almost twenty minutes. My appearance managed to re-surface within our discussions multiple times, which was contrasted with the conversations that I had with my neighbourhood aunts. We'd comment on the appearances of the peaches that grew on the trees, rather than each other.

     "Well, are you all famous?" My words seemed to take them all aback as they Soo-Jin and Soo-Ah bursted into laughter. "Is . . . is everyone famous around here?"

     "No, no, no! Of course not!—"

     "That can't be true though." I murmured, as I placed a piece of lettuce wrapped around a piece of meat, and rice into my mouth.

     I couldn't make sense of how popularity had to be shaped around the looks of people. Gathering from the news, when I was made to watch by Aunt Seung-Wan, I thought that social media was originally a platform for people to share business successes. Since that was what Aunt Seung-Wan used to do before she sold her old phone. However, I knew that social media could be a darkened prison that entrapped people's minds—

     "You're funny Hwa-Young."

     I looked at Soo-Ah, whose eyes crinkled from chuckling. "But I didn't say anyth—"

     She never heard my words as she glided over towards a different topic. "Where do you live then? We all live a few blocks away from each other, but close enough to our high school."

     "It's a bit spicy," Ju-Kyung muttered from beside me, and I could see her reach for her glass of icy water.

     "I live . . . near here."

I didn't mention how I had arrived in Seoul the day before, neither the fact that I lived around the corner. I was not prepared for an overload of questions quite at once. For, I was expecting a lonesome, quick meal before I returned to the apartment and basked around within the shadows. It was as if miniature spiders had tangled themselves within the small hairs of my skin. As, I recollected the tiny space that once housed the family members of mine, that I never got to hold before they left me.

"Is it too spicy?" Ju-Kyung dragged my slumped soul from the depths of my ghastly mind, with her voice and her hand offering my glass of water. I was probably quiet for too long, as her face was written with concern. "Here. I'm not too good with spices either."

"Oh. Thank you." The cold water had turned lukewarm from the temperatures of the room and yellow lights, I swished the contents of the glass before gulping it down in one go.

     "I've never ordered a dish this spicy before, have you?"

     The land just beside the peach farm contained more vegetation and lines of chilis planted across the land. Whenever the village held meetings at Aunt Seung-Wan's house, the aunties and uncles from that side would gift us about a burlap basket full of them. Aunt Seung-Wan would master delicate and flavourful dishes with those spices. I found the inner corners of my eyes grow wet from the reminiscence.

     Ju-Kyung broke the silence again with her gentle laughter. "I see that you haven't, here, some tissue."

     "Thank you."

I knew that moments like these would never establish a beginning, for every second was drawing to the end. The only thing that this scene would initiate was a memory. For weeks to come, I could already picture myself glancing back at this with nostalgia as I did with my memories with Aunt Sung-Wan.

We continued to eat as they discussed about interesting things that had happened to them during their weeks. They grumbled about schoolwork and gushed over insignificant things like celebrities, boyfriends and crushes. These were so mundane, yet I found myself being introduced to this setting for the first time.

I ached as the last vegetables and food were being scraped off the dishes before us, and for the warmth of our gathering, with an unlit candle on our table.

Before I knew it, we were out of the door, with the bill paid. Wringing my hands behind my back, I expressed my greatest thankfulness through a widened smile, hoping that the merry beat of my heart could be reflected within the glittering of my eyes. I prepared for the farewell.

"Let's go to the arcade together. Doo-Jin you better say yes. Please, please, please, please! Hwa-Young, Ju-Kyung?"

All three glanced behind themselves, their arms linked as my figure was in the centre of their dark pupils.

"I need to go now. I can't stay."

"But—" Soo-Ah jutted her bottom lip, and tried untangling her arms from both her friends so that she could thread hers through mine.

"My parents won't like it." I conjured up an excuse, closing my hands tighter around each other as my knuckles turned ivory white.

Soo-Jin nudged at Soo-Ah's shoulder, "she said her parents won't like it. Just leave it." Removing her arm from Soo-Ah's, she curled a hand around my shoulder and gave it a squeeze, "don't worry about it. It was really fun today, hope we can do something like this all together again."

"Yeah. I, I enjoyed the tteokbokki with you all."

"See? I was right, it's ten times more tastier if you share it."

"But," Soo-Ah huffed, "at least stay in touch? Could I get your Stargram? We never exchanged them!"

"I uh," my palms found their way into the front pockets of my jeans, my arms close to my body, "my phone broke, so um I'm using my landline—"

"Landline it is then!"

Ju-Kyung had already made her way over with a pink notebook and a heart patterned pencil. "Here, write your name too." She almost stuffed it into my hands as she fanned her mouth, and pulled out her water bottle from her navy blue book-bag, mouth still burning from the meal we had.

In my handwriting I wrote: Jeong Hwa-Young. Followed by the number connected to the apartment.

It was better to leave a good memory, rather than staying and potentially leading it to ruins. I remembered the broken flowerpot under the overhanging of the balcony. One that was bought with good will and left under the sun and rain for it to grow. Though, too much exposure left it in shambles. Who knew what flower could have grown from amongst the soil.

Dull grey-blue soared across the horizon, as the white train with blue stripes before me chugged across the rail-track. I could almost see the apartments and houses beside me judder within their spot, even shaking a few small birds to leave the bushes.

The length of the train was quite long, for I felt the Spring's fingers comb through my hair gingerly as my tresses flew towards my right from the speediness of the train. The traffic lights beside me then signalled a circular shade of green, telling me to go forwards since the train was already gone. On the other side: Halmeoni's Florists greeted my eyes.

Dragging my wind ruffled hair behind my ears and letting it drift down the mid of my back, with both arms outwards to steady myself, I treaded over the wooden tracks and onto the rocky pavement towards the pastel yellow building. An eggnog white hybrid bike leant against the large square window, as fifty dozen swathed tulips and carnations decorated the front of the shop.

Perfumes of strong flowers entered my nose, which juxtaposed immensely from the smell of petrol based vehicles outside and city air. A tiny bell connected beside the entrance, twinkled as I pushed the door open.

"Hello my dear!"

"Oh hello," I replied the round, stout, wise lady who owned a pair of benevolent, kind eyes, her arms bundling together a bouquet of daisies.

"Welcome to my shop, if you need any help, please do give me a shout! I'm happy to help you lovely. I just need to sort out some of these daisies over here, but don't be afraid to give me a shout!"

"Thank you . . . " I cleared my throat for I don't think she heard me over the mellifluous piano playing from across the room. "Thank you."

From all eighty-eight keys to the polished wood, the piano was in white with gold embellishments. The dimmed lamps dotted around the room and fairy-lights reflected against the shiny surface.

I should have been looking for brand new plant pots and a small bag of fresh soil. However, I was keen on a different mission. What could possibly cause myself to feel as though they were an accompaniment to the melody that was playing? It was as though I could see the harmony of notes dancing around me. The hauntingly pretty melody was not only written on the pages before the pianist, but it filled every corner of the room.

I wondered, if I had taken a different choice at my parent's funeral, and had gone to live with my brother instead of my aunt, would I have taken on music lessons too? There was no use, though, time had already passed and I was neither a musical genius or anything for that matter. I suddenly felt like an outsider to the musical score, and no longer at one with the music.

The musician's hands slowed, as though he were letting the music come to a close. I hurried towards the selection of plant pots beside the piano, my vision still unfocused from tears that dared to build up. The music had stopped by then, and I could just about see the musician reach for his music notes. I tried to ignore the silence in the room, and let my fingers grab ahold of the parchment paper, that wrapped around a family of fresh daisies. Ones that were done with much effort by the hands of a wiser woman.

"Grandma, I would like to purchase these!" I set them upon the counter, my fingers fumbling within my left jeans pocket for some notes.

"I see you have picked my daisies! They're a fresh batch, fresh from Cheongsando Island actually."

"Cheongsando?" The strings nearly severed from my heart as it nearly broke free from my chest. A genuine and soft smile illustrated itself across my pink lips as I could feel the fading tears from my eyes resurface with a fondness.

"Yes, have you been?"

I couldn't tell fibs to the wiser woman, it didn't feel as though she would tell any other soul either. "Yes I . . . I grew up there actually. I moved to Seoul yesterday."

"Ah! How lovely! Cheongsando is beautiful isn't it?"

"Yes." I remembered how I used to roll around within those fields of flowers, and once I reached the bottom of the hill, my hair would be knotted with hay and petals.

"I'll give you these for free then! Since these basically belong to you!"

"Oh no, no I can't do that." I pulled away the remainders of my change from my pocket, not caring if I gave her more than both the flowers, plant pot, soil, and a packet of daisy seeds combined. "Thank you for your kindness."

The late evening air of Seoul pranced upon my cheeks, before she could have the chance to protest. Strands of hair had already fallen from my plaits, though I made no effort to re-tie them, for one arm was heavy from soil and a lavender coloured plant pot, the other with a bouquet of sweet daisies.

By the time I had crouched next to the broken plant pot, a miniature pool of vanilla Fanfare ice-cream had began to seep through the cracks of the balcony.

Absentmindedly, I was humming the tune to the piano playing earlier. If felt as though it had found a jewellery box within my mind and turned it into a musical instrument, and the ballerina figure to it twirled repeatedly, as it replayed over and over.

Some soil littered the flooring, as I discarded the pearly broken vase and the corpse of an old flower into a junk bag. A circle imprint was left on the ground, a ghost of the vase that used to be there. Replacing it, I put the opalescent lavender plant pot down, and began filling it with soil.

I noticed that this was the only colourful object within the apartment, as the candescent, round moon shone a spotlight at the light plant pot.

With the seeds held within my hand, I never ceased the melody that I was playing under my breath. Even my mind was encased with what had to be the most sincere experience that I did not have in a while. As if it were spinning on a reel, moments from my lunch re-entered my mind repetitively, and I found my lips in a perhaps a small smile that could last for more than temporary time.

But, then I paused.

I rose to my feet, the ground warm from the mugginess of the evening. I had been re-calling the piano playing from the florists since the journey back to the apartment, but surely I couldn't have gone insane from it? The melody seemed louder, and not within my mind. Though it sounded more softer as though it were being played from another room, or a different apartment, even.

Dusting off the soil, I glided a hand across the see-through curtains and along the right side of the walls, trying to locate the sound. Till, they met with a closed oak door. The room to one of the occupants who used to live here. One that used to belong to one of my dear family members.

The music kept playing and I wished that it was loud enough to overpower the thudding of my pulse within my ears. It had only been a day and a half, yet, I was already face to face with the decision that I had hope to encounter quite later on. When I entered the apartment for the first time, I had wanted to leave it as it was for while. But, there I was, debating whether or not I should disrupt that idea and the overly serene layout of the building.

I could already detect the mildewy and strong sense of stuffiness within that room, as the weight of my hand caused the door to push open a little, without intending to do so. The darkness between the door and the door frame only increased as the gentle winds from the balcony caused it to open out further.

It was as though I were peering at myself from above, as the air escaped from my lungs and all that I could feel was the unsteadiness of my pulse and breath. My state was comparable with the broken plant pot, its condition was unable to repair and the fissures meandered throughout its body. My own fissures within etched through my core, and they were being torn wider the more the door opened.

Until a ringing brought me back to reality.

I scrambled towards the telephone beside the cork board, hands slipping repetitively from the handle. I snaked the cord around my hands, as I tried to regain my balance, and I was sure that the caller must have thought that I had ran for miles before picking up the call. Sure, I had been a rabbit running endlessly with reality hooked on its cotton tail for a while now.

"H . . . Hi."

"Hwa-Young! It's Soo-Ah! Thank you for picking up, Soo-Jin and Ju-Kyung are both busy and I'm so bored. You free to talk for a bit?"

If I wasn't so out of breath, I would have let the grin upon my lips increase even more so. "Sure— We can."

"Yippee!" I could hear some rustling from the other end, in which I imagined her to be sitting within a desk chair whilst filing her nails, for she seemed the type to do so. "So private tutoring huh?"

"Yeah."

"Have you ever thought of joining an in person school? If I could I would join your with private tutoring, but I can't really."

Picking at the bedding of my nails, I moved the telephone to my other shoulder, with my top teeth grazing against my bottom lip from thinking. "Yes. Yes I have—"

"Ahhhh!— Wait! Then— You should join Saebom High School, you could sit next to me and we could have lunch together with Soo-Jin and Ju-Kyung!"

The occurrences today had set up my farewell to solitude, for it seemed that companionship had found its way to my journey to new beginnings.

I let my fatigued eyes journey towards the door I almost opened, before shutting them firmly and facing the other way. To the white bouquet of daisies, lying on the floor.

"Well . . . perhaps."

"So that's a yes?"

"Yes, yes it is."

Sylvia's note. It has taken me some time to write this and for that I'm so sorry T-T but I hope you enjoyed this character as my lovelies Soo-Jin, Soo-Ah and Ju-Kyung were introduced! It was a little longer than usual and I've almost, basically, stayed up till two to write this—

Our Hwa-Young is growing day by day, she's nearly out of her comfort zone already and I'm so proud of her!!! <3 Many things are going to unfold soon, and I hope you stick around for that :))))

Goodnight or well goodmorning!!!

See you next time<3 ^~^ love you all!!