Ariana
Oh what a bright day it is! I exclaimed in awe as the curtains I pulled from the balcony door, make out a pathway for the sunlight to spill into my room like golden embroidery on Chinese silk.
I like bright and sunny days! When the sun stands up high in the sky and clouds float like cotton around it, casting warm sunrays—this feels like a dream come reality.
Look how the flowers in our small garden have been growing lately. I can always tell by the growth of them that spring isn't so far to come!
I love spring. It's the most beautiful season of all times. I feel a mesmerizing scent in the air at this time. So many new stories will begin now. There's so much to see, so much to feel. Gosh I need to get going for school or I'll end up writing an essay on 'Spring' right now!
"Mom, I'm off to school! Sayonarā!"
***
As I walk through our lane, our neighbours smile at me. It's a pleasant urban area beside Park Street where most of the households are Japanese who moved to Korea or their ancestors did. For example, my father moved here to expand his business.
There stands Mrs. Yasuda watering her garden. I shout out to her, "Good morning obasan!". She smiled at me in return. I love her warm and sweet smile.
Mr. Hiroshi rode past me on his cycle. I bowed to him. He smiled back and nodded his head.
"Hey, Ariana! Good morning dear!" The grandma of the grocery shop in our lane waves at me. I beam at her with a bright smile. "Good morning grandma! And don't forget to take your medicines on time!". I can hear her exclaiming "Oh dear, oh dear!".
I love these people.
***
Stepping on the highway, I'm met with the usual busy day of Seoul. Cars wheezing, blowing horns, pedestrians walking busily on the footpath—it's a usual motion picture I get to see everyday on my way to school.
Gwangnum High School. I study here. They say it's one of Seoul's most top ranking schools— It's expensive and luxurious in one word fitting.
***
It gets so noisy when I step inside the school. The joyous nature can instantly lift anyone's mood!
I hum a song and walk through the corridors, waving and smiling to my classmates. They also wave back at me and throw their full of life "Hi"-s.
Wait— the girl walking ahead of me—she looks familiar. Tall and stunning figure, shoulder length black hair and I know what hides in the front too—a smart and round face, brown eyes thick with heavy lashes, a fair and delicate skin and lips so pretty, they turn prettier when she smiles—a dimple appears just under the corner of her lips at her right chin.
"Hey Annaaaa!" I stretch out her name and run to get a hold of her.
She turns around and her usual neutral face illuminates with a bright smile. "Hey!" And she widens her arms. We collide into a hug.
She's my best friend.
As soon as we step into the classroom, I rest my limbs onto the bench. Anna looks at me holding a book in her hand.
"What?" I asked her.
"I need to return this book to the library. Wanna come?"
"Nay girl, lemme rest for a while." And I deliver a not so polite yawn.
She laughs, "Okay. I'm coming just now." And she heads out for the library.
I leave out another yawn. And I think I was about to fall asleep when suddenly the class went into a rumble of shouts and cries.
"Jesus Christ! Who died?!" I jump on my seat and look all around the class trying to figure out what on earth is going on.
Then I notice—the girls are almost circling around a guy. He must be new. I crane my neck higher to see his face but only got a glimpse of brown hair which looks more due to climate than for genes. And the other thing I got to know from here is that… he's tall.
Who's this new guy?
I don't know why but something about him feels different.
It's not just the attention he's getting — new students always attract chaos. It's about the way he stands there, awkward yet calm, like he doesn't even belong to the noise surrounding him. Like he's somewhere else entirely.
A strange thought crosses my mind — he looks lost.
shake my head immediately.
Why would I care?
Still… my eyes don't leave him.