"You have to eat up quickly, you're going to be late for school." Mom said, I grabbed a toast off the table and grabbed my bag. "I'm off now!" I grabbed my coat and rushed out of the door where I found Han standing at my doorstep waiting for me. "Ready to go?" He asked, i smiled and nodded as I jumped onto the bike. He smiled at me and started peddling.
My name is Shin Hae-Joon, age seventeen and a senior in Highschool, and Han is my bestfriend. We particularly grew up together, his also my only friend.
Also living in Korea during winter season could be very hard for people who don't have cars like us. Honestly everyday it's a struggle for us.
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"In three weeks we go on break and I have so many stuff for us to do!" Han rejoiced as he locked up his bike and we started walking towards the school gate. "Like what?" I asked, "umm, I'm still working on that." He scratched his head, I chuckled. Honestly we never get to do anything fun, our parents are highly religious and half of the things we found fun they say it's evil and corrupts our minds. Which is a lie, how is partying with friends evil, or how is going to carnivals evil. Sometimes their rules are just ridiculous.
"I don't even think I'll be able to hangout the first week of break," I told him, "Why!" "My parents say we have to go to church and spend the whole week there," I replied with a sigh, "oh, I forgot about that. I and my family are supposed to going too." He remarked. I chuckled as I patted his back, I guess this is how we have to live. religiously, and boring.
As we were about to enter the school, a car suddenly stopped in front of us and a very tall handsome guy walked out. It was Sang-Min, son of the most richest man in Korea, he recently just moved to Korea. Though his Korean but his only half, apparently his mother is Italian or something. Maybe that's why his features were so perfect but not only was he handsome, he was smart, rich, and kind at the same time.
To be honest I've never met a kind and smart rich kid, all I've met and seen were spoiled brats. Especially the ones at my school.
He suddenly looked over at us and I could feel our eyes meet, he smiled and waved. I and Han slightly smiled and waved back, he continued smiling as he walked into the school. "Omg, did the Sang-Min just wave at us?" Han asked stunned as I am, "yes!" I rejoiced, "oh my gosh, I'll never forget this day!" He said joyfully exclaimed as we walked in school.
The school day unfolded with the usual monotony, but the encounter with Sang-Min lingered in the air like a rare, unexpected fragrance. As the final bell rang, signaling the end of classes, Han and I found ourselves discussing the mysterious, wealthy newcomer.
"Can you believe Sang-Min waved at us?" Han exclaimed again, his excitement infectious. I chuckled, realizing how a simple gesture from someone with such a different world could leave us buzzing with excitement.
"Oh my god, I almost forgot!" He paused, "what?" "Oh you go on, I'll be right behind you!" He exclaimed as he ran back into the school. I shook my head followed with a sigh, he might be off doing his devilish things with that so called friend he has.
I walked over to the tree he locked his bike under and waited for him. A few minutes passed by and he was still not back, at this point I was going to be late for supper and mom wouldn't be very happy with me.
I waited and waited until I saw Sang-Min and his friends walk out of the school, they were cheering and laughing. "You definitely have to come to the party, there's going to be a lot of chicks there!" One of his friends exclaimed, but suddenly I locked eyes with Sang-Min. I could feel my face turn red, I quickly turned away and gently patted my face. "Why the hell am I blushing!" Im mumbled.
Soon after they left and finally Han came back. For some reason he looked a little out of place, his uniform was messy and his hair was everywhere. "I'm not even going to ask what you were doing," I shook my head as he handed me his bag. "May lord wash all my sins away." He said with a smile on his face.
I shook my head as I climbed onto the bike, "I don't think it's safe to do what you're doing in school, you might get caught." I told him, "Don't worry I've found a way to meet up with him outside of school," he stated, "how?" I asked. "It's a secret." He chuckled.
After a 30 minute bike ride in the cold snow I was finally home. I hopped off the bike and ran inside.
As I entered my house, the warmth embraced me, providing a stark contrast to the chilly winter outside. The savory aroma of dinner wafted through the air, making my stomach growl in anticipation. Mom was in the kitchen, busy preparing our evening meal.
"Hae-Joon, you're late," she said with a gentle reprimand in her voice. "Your father and I were worried."
"Sorry, Mom. Han got caught up with something at school," I explained, hoping she wouldn't press for details. She sighed but didn't push further, understanding the peculiar nature of our friendship.
As we gathered around the dinner table, mom prayed over the food which seemed like forever. Finally when she finished praying I could finally start eating, but something was unusual. For some reason I couldn't stop thinking of Sang-Min, like I've never had an encounter with him before but today was the first time. But him waving at me was not a big deal, but I couldn't get the thought of the way he looked at me out of my head.
"So how was school today Hoon?" Mom asked snapping me out of my thoughts, "it was great," I replied nervously, "That's great, you should be more focused now that you are a senior. You have to get into the catholic university you know." She stated. "Your mother is right, we can't have you going to those crazy universities where kids only party and drink, that's a disgrace to our family and to our father Jesus Christ." Dad chimed.
"But do I really have to go, all my friends are going to Seouls international university. I don't want to be the only one going to a village university." I pleaded, "That's your problem son, you want to follow the crowd. But the thing you need to follow is God!" Father added, "You understand!" "Yes sir." I nodded in response.
They've always been like this, ever since I got into highschool they're always pushing to get good grades so I can go to the private catholic school. I hated it and I sure hell didn't want to spend 4 years in a religious school. I've already spent my whole life in religious schools and I hated them, but who was I to say anything. I just had to go with mom and father says.
dinner conversation continued, revolving around my future, grades, and the importance of staying true to our faith. I nodded along, my mind drifting between the religious expectations of my parents and the allure of a world beyond the constraints of our tightly knit community.
After the meal, I retreated to my room, the weight of my parents' expectations heavy on my shoulders.
As the night settled in, I found myself gazing out of my window, the winter sky dark and silent. The contrast between the rigid expectations of my family and the possibility of a different, more liberating path lingered in my thoughts.
TBC