Chapter 4: Chapter 4 (2007)

Bzzzz. The alarm rang again. Groaning, Jihoon hit the snooze button on the digital clock and buried his head under his pillow hoping that the sound was just a figment of his imagination.

 

“Jihoon-ah!” His mom opened the door and yelled. “Hurry up and get ready for school already! You’re going to be late!” 

 

Jihoon feigned deep sleep and ignored her. His mother pulled the pillow off his head and began smacking his back with it.

 

“Ok! I’m up! I’m up!” Jihoon yelled in annoyance as his mother continued to beat him with the pillow. He knew she wouldn’t stop until he was up.

 

“What did I do to deserve such a lazy son?” His mother sighed exasperated before walking out the room. 

 

Jihoon sat up and blinked while spacing out. Winter break was over and the new school year was starting today. Not just any school year though, Jihoon was now seventeen and would be entering high school. 

 

He slowly got off his bed and began to prepare for school. He pulled the sweatshirt and track pants he had worn to bed off and began dressing himself in his new school uniform. He walked out of his room, past the main living area, and into the bathroom he shared with his parents. He quickly brushed his teeth and washed his face. After taking a careful look in the mirror, Jihoon turned the sink back on and smoothed his hair with a bit of water. 

 

By the time he was dressed and washed up, his mother had already set the table for breakfast. Jihoon sat down and began shoveling rice down his mouth with the large spoon in his left hand and using the chopsticks in his right hand to grab at the side dishes. 

 

“Slow down before you choke,” his mother chided him. “Honey, are you going to join us?” Jihoon’s father sat on the sofa watching tv. The living room, dining room and kitchen area were all connected in their two bedroom apartment. 

 

“Hmm? Is breakfast ready already?” His father walked towards the table, never taking his eyes off the tv watching the news intently. “Did you prepare beef this morning, honey?” He took a glance at the breakfast table for the first time while Jihoon continued to shovel food down his throat. 

 

“It’s Jihoon’s first day of high school so I thought he should eat a good meal for luck,” Jihoon’s mother explained. “But he slept in as usual and is rushing his breakfast now. He isn’t even tasting the food I worked so hard to prepare for him!” 

 

Jihoon quickly finished chewing and downed the rest of his soap before standing up. “Thanks for the meal, mom! It was great!” He ran into his room, grabbed his backpack and put his coat over his uniform before rushing past his parents again towards the entrance. 

 

“Did you pack everything?” His mother yelled from the table.

You are reading story Hello, Bye, My Love (안녕, 내 사랑) at novel35.com

 

“Yup! I’m heading out now!” Jihoon quickly slid into his sneakers, he never bothered untying the laces because it was too bothersome to have to re-tie them, and headed out the door towards the elevator. 

 

While waiting for the elevator, he saw his neighbors Mrs. Kim and little Boram walking towards him.

 

“Good morning, Mrs. Kim!” Jihoon bowed politely.

 

“Oh good morning, Jihoon! Today is your first day of high school right?” Mrs. Kim smiled. “Boram-ah, you should greet Jihoon!” She gave Boram’s hand that she held a small nudge.

 

“Good morning, Jihoon!” Boram let go of her mother’s hand, put both hands on her stomach and bowed. 

 

“Good morning, Boram! Are you going on your way to kindergarten?” Jihoon smiled. Boram nodded slowly twice. “I’m on my way to school too! But I’m in high school now!” Now that he was awake, Jihoon began to feel the excitement of his new start.

 

The elevator arrived and the three of them rode down together. The elevator stopped twice to let other passengers in. When they arrived on the first floor, Jihoon wished the Kims a good day and walked to his bicycle parked on the side of the apartment building. He adjusted his coat and backpack before setting off to school. 

 

The road to his new school was lined full of trees on either side. The town Jihoon lived in was about a couple hours out of Seoul by car. Although there were a few farms here and there along the outskirts of the town, the town itself couldn’t be considered the countryside. It wasn’t too big where he felt surrounded by strangers but it wasn’t small enough where he recognized all of the residents.

 

Jihoon noticed the small hints of green on the branches as he rode by. It was still too cold in early March for the plants to grow, but spring was beginning. The temperature had already significantly warmed in the past week. A new season, a new year and a new school for Jihoon. 

 

As he got closer to school, the number of students he saw increased as well. Many of the faces were unfamiliar, but he recognized a good number of students he had previously attended middle school and elementary school with. 

 

Near the front gate of his new school, Jihoon noticed her for the first time. She had been walking towards the gate when she suddenly knelt down to re-tie her left shoe. As she stood back up, a breeze blew past her and she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her right ear. 

 

Jihoon crashed into the bike in front of him.

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