Ah-ri could still remember how her uncle left her at the convent heartlessly.

She didn't cry though.

She didn't want to.

Ah-ri never had a mum. She was raised by her father alone but he developed a chronic illness due to overworking and they had no money for the meds.

He eventually passed when she was 11, leaving her to a hot-tempered uncle who thought that his freeloader brother only left behind a useless daughter.

Thus, a year after Ah-ri's father died, Uncle Ji gave, literally gave her away to the convent.

The nuns were kind in the most basic sense but that was it.

Ah-ri was grateful for having a place to stay and food on her stomach but she didn't like their distant type of kindness.

The convent was big. It had a chapel, dorm building for all the orphans and a small school.

But Ah-ri formed a bad habit: she snuck out when no one was looking.

In the mornings, she would do the chores along with the other children. Cleaning the dorms, the chapel, washing dishes or clothes and hanging them. Then, they would be herded into the primary school.

Little Ah-ri would cut classes every now and then to go out and explore.

The convent's security was seriously lax. It was practically inviting Ah-ri to break the rules.

A sixth grade student would explore what?

She certainly didn't learn how to smoke, drink or vandalize.

She only wanted to search for something. Even at a young age, she felt that something was missing in her life.

Well, there were tons of things missing in her life. Parents, family, friends, financial stability, emotional support.

But she knew there was more. Something immaterial, raw and unexplainable.

But who would listen to an emo teen?

Ah-ri didn't know what it was but she wanted to find it. Such sentiments along with her grief and loneliness made a child long for an unknown thing.

That day... she went out as usual and her feet brought her to the busy streets of Cheol.

Good thing, she wasn't mistaken as a beggar due to her clean clothes.

But these days, she couldn't come out as often because she seriously lacked money. And the change in her pocket, which came from shady amateur pickpocketing from ehem... the easily tricked Sister Martha, was only enough to commute back and forth.

Ah-ri had a dilemma. Summer break was about to end and she should be in junior high this year but the convent can only send the children to study primary mainly because they had their own facility.

High school was a different talk.

She should either be adopted or find some other means or sponsorship to send herself to high school. But what could a 13 year-old do without the consent of the nuns?

As she was munching on her leftover sandwich from earlier's breakfast, she stumbled upon a busking plaza.

Different bands, indie singers and dancers were performing one by one.

The young Ah-ri got enamored along with the crowd and started joining in on the fun.

She hummed and sang along with the audience. For once, she felt carefree.

When a youth with platinum blonde hair stood at the center, the female pre-teens and teens started squealing. Obviously, it wasn't his first time busking here.

There was a whimsical smile plastered on his jadeite face.

"Alright! We'll do this as usual, darlings..." His voice could sway anyone to abide by his will.

"Someone has been catching my eye since earlier. Little girl," he pointed. "Yes, you in the yellow dress. You having a great time?"

Baek Ah-ri was shocked. She looked around and she was the only one who fitted that description.

"Ye-yes?"

"Great! Come up here then and sing with me."

It would be a lie if Ah-ri said that she wasn't nervous. Both the metaphorical and literal spotlight was suddenly aimed at her.

But she found herself walking up the platform and holding a mic.

"I'm Ri-yan, what's your name?"

"Ah-ri," was her short answer.

The beautiful youth asked if she knew the song that he was about to play.

She said yes.

With an abrupt energy, the youngster slammed on his guitar.

A summer vibe bop soon entered the listeners' ears.

Ah-ri automatically sang the verses and chorus. Ri-yan magnanimously allowed her to own the stage.

The youth rapped the bars during the pre-chorus and also in the refrain.

The melody was all assigned to Ah-ri and she nailed it. Those who watched her were entranced by her innocent, sweet yet mellow voice.

She was a contradiction in herself. Her juvenile appearance opposed the knowing light in her eyes. Even if she was singing an upbeat song, her eyes told that she was treating it as reprieve from all the vicissitudes of life.

She was in her own dimension when the music played. And the crowd couldn't help but get in sync with the same level of energy.

That afternoon was the moment Ah-ri's life changed through music.

She never knew that the teenager she casually jammed with was a trainee of JNE.

Kyo Ri-yan was the one who invited, more like dragged her to audition at Jump Now Ent right after the busking event.

She got in after her first try.

Ri-yan joked back then, "It's because I recommended you," stressing the word I.

Of course, she didn't get this statement before because she was in cloud nine.

Ah-ri's problem with lodging was solved as JNE prided itself with housing all its trainees.

She was also given scholarship to go to high school that had mini courses on performing arts.

It wasn't an exaggeration to say that Kyo Ri-yan was Ah-ri's lady luck.

After meeting him, her life started turning for the better.

But looking back, Ah-ri suddenly had a nagging feeling.

Such good luck, was it all a coincidence?

Leaning on the back support of the hospital bed, she held a probing stare at Kyo Ri-yan.

---

hohoho ( ͡☉ ͜ʖ ͡☉)( ͡☉ ͜ʖ ͡☉) Any thoughts?