Side Story: An Ordinary School Day
Fourth period was gym class.
Dodgeball. Girls versus girls. The rules are simple: get hit, and you're out. It sounds brutal, but it's really just sixteen girls scrambling around over one ball.
Park Sujin grabbed the ball and targeted me. Her lips were curled up in a smirk. This girl turns into a total psychopath during dodgeball.
"Mina, get ready."
The ball came flying. I dodged to the side. Thought I'd made it, but it smacked me right in the back. Thwack.
"Out~!"
"...Ah."
My fourth out. Dodgeball record for today: 0 wins, 4 losses. Guess I left my athletic skills in my past life.
I sat on the bench sipping water. Sujin was acing it on the court. That psychopath.
Fifth period was Korean literature.
I dozed off. Tried not to, but I did. The teacher was going on about narrative perspectives in novels—first-person this, third-person that. My eyes drifted shut. Right on page 28 of the textbook.
"Hamin."
"Y-yes?!"
The teacher was staring at me. The whole class was staring at me.
"What did I say about the characteristics of first-person perspective?"
"...It lets you see directly into the protagonist's inner thoughts...?"
"Correct. But a sleeping protagonist has no inner thoughts."
The whole class burst into laughter. My face burned.
Lunchtime.
The cafeteria food was decent. Stir-fried pork. Sujin, Yoon Ha, and I ate together.
"Mina."
Yoon Ha said it while picking up some kimchi with her chopsticks.
"I think Junseong likes you."
"Hmph."
"Kekeke. Guess you're not interested."
Sujin chimed in while chewing her rice.
"Wanna go see a movie after school?"
"What movie?"
"How about Next Exit?"
"Seen it."
"Hmm... Skyjacking is supposed to be fun."
"Seen that too."
"Spring in Busan?"
"Twice."
Sujin set down her chopsticks.
"...Mina. Why have you seen so many movies?"
Yoon Ha narrowed her eyes at me.
"You... got a boyfriend, didn't you?"
"No."
"Then why'd you go to the theater so much?"
It's just that Mom loves movies, so we watch them together.
Sujin poked me laughing.
"Hey, Junseong's crying lololol."
"Stooop."
I really don't care. Junseong's face is okay, but his eyes get too small when he smiles. And, well... someone who just stares at their phone while talking? Kinda meh. Can't quite explain why. Just not my type.
I survived sixth period, and the bell rang.
"See you tomorrow~"
"Yeah, tomorrow."
I left school. The sky was clear. A breeze blew. It was spring.
Bus for three stops. I gazed out the window. Buildings passed by, people passed by, street trees passed by. Plugged in my earbuds and played some music.
Arrived home.
A modest house with three rooms. We moved here a few years ago. The old one-room was too cramped for four—well, technically two people and two animals.
I opened the front door.
Patapatapata!
A black small dog came bounding over. Tiny legs pounding the floor. Tail like a propeller.
"Heukgu~! Who's my good boy? Did you have fun today?"
Woof!
I scooped him up. He was light. His fluffy black fur was so soft. His nose touched my cheek. Sniff sniff. Like he was asking what I ate today. Pork stir-fry.
From the top of the cat tower in the living room, the cat peered down.
"Jeomsuni, hi~"
Meow.
I looked around the house. Living room lights off. Kitchen quiet.
"Mom~?"
No answer.
Out playing with Aunt Seojin again. They've been hanging out a lot lately. Going to movies or cafes. Aunt Seojin always orders just Americano at cafes. Mom says, "Try something else once in a while," and she goes, "I'm fine."
I pulled out my phone.
I sent it.
Headed to the kitchen. Opened the fridge. Sausage bread. Grabbed one and popped it in the microwave. 30 seconds.
Whirr. The microwave hummed.
Heukgu sat in front of it looking up. Tail swishing side to side. He knew the smell of sausage bread.
"Not giving you any, okay?"
Tail drooped straight down.
"...Just a little."
Two centimeters revived.
Ding.
The microwave finished just as my phone buzzed.
A message.
I took a bite of the sausage bread while looking at the screen.
Something I want to eat.
Hmm.
Heukgu gazed up from my feet. I tore off a piece of sausage bread and gave it to him. He scarfed it down, tail going wild.
Jeomsuni came down from the cat tower and sat at the kitchen entrance. Playing it cool, but her nose was twitching.
Anyway, something to eat.
...Yeah, that thing.
I tapped the screen. Typed.