I smiled brightly at the camera. I knew it was all over. My life as a high school student had finally come to an end. As we took turns, the dean screamed out our names. Finally, mine came out of his mouth, "Ji-Seok Park!" He didn't seem happy about my graduation, nor was he sad. I guess he simply doesn't care. Although, I didn't expect him to be crying for my sake. I didn't expect him to be that obvious of a hater. Anyways, I didn't let his ignorant face sway me. I smiled as I walked up the stairs to the stage. Dressed up in a hanbok, I was honestly just... happy. I walked until the podium and looked at the spectators' side. Strangely enough, I didn't see my mother there. My smile disappeared. I was displeased that my own mother didn't come to my graduation. I gave a quick speech and then headed back.
After the graduation was over, I started heading home. But while I was walking on the path, it started to rain. 'Shit! I didn't bring an umbrella. Should I call my mom?' I was so annoyed by the weather that a vein popped out of my head. I took my phone out of my back pocket and called my mom. After waiting and waiting for a few minutes, she didn't pick up. At that point, my clothes were soaked and I even let out a scream of anger, "Fuck this!" as I started running.
I arrived at my house in somewhere between 5 and 15 minutes. But now I was soaked in sweat and water from all that running. My family wasn't rich or anything. To be honest, we were more like a poor family than even a decent one. Our house wasn't that small or big. It had 4 rooms: the bathroom, the kitchen, my mother's bedroom, and my bedroom. The rooms weren't sophisticated. The design was simple and pretty modern. I took off my shoes and then headed to my bedroom. The bathroom was on the right-hand side of my mother's bedroom and next to my bedroom.
As I headed to the room, it was strange to me that I didn't see my mother. And so, I got worried. 'Maybe something bad happened to her.' That's what I was thinking until I changed my clothes and got a phone call.
"This phone number... is it my aunt's?" I said with a curious face. Although I was still curious about my mother's whereabouts, I was quite happy to see that at least someone is calling me to congratulate me. My mother's sister and I spent a lot of time together. Looking back at it, I guess she was like the older sister I never had.
I answered the call, my heart pounding a little faster. "Hello?"
"Ji-Seok, it's your aunt," came the familiar voice, but it sounded strained, worried.
"Auntie? What's wrong?" I asked, gripping the phone tighter.
"Your mother... she's in the hospital. There was an accident," she said, her voice trembling.
I felt a jolt of panic. "An accident? What happened? Is she okay?"
"She's stable now, but you need to come to the hospital as soon as you can. I'll explain everything when you get here."
My mind raced. I grabbed my jacket and bolted out of the house, not caring about the rain anymore. I ran through the downpour, my thoughts a whirlwind of worry and fear. The hospital wasn't too far, but every step felt like it took forever.
I finally reached the hospital, drenched and out of breath. I rushed to the reception desk. "I'm here to see Park Ji-Seok's mother. She was admitted recently."
The receptionist checked her records and nodded. "She's in Room 304. Take the elevator to the third floor."
I didn't waste a second. I sprinted to the elevator, impatiently watching the numbers climb. As soon as the doors opened, I dashed to Room 304. My aunt was standing outside, her face pale and drawn.
"Auntie, what happened?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
She took a deep breath, her eyes filled with concern. "She was hit by a car on her way to your graduation. She's stable now, but she'll need surgery."
I felt a mix of relief and dread. "Can I see her?"
She nodded. "Just for a moment. The doctors are still running tests."
I stepped into the room, my heart aching at the sight of my mother lying on the hospital bed, looking frail and vulnerable. I approached her, my eyes welling up with tears.
"Mom... I'm here," I said softly, taking her hand in mine.
She opened her eyes slightly and managed a weak smile. "Ji-Seok... I'm so sorry I couldn't make it to your graduation."
"Don't worry about that, Mom. Just focus on getting better," I replied, squeezing her hand gently.
The door opened, and a doctor stepped in. "I'm sorry, but we need to take her for some more tests."
I nodded, stepping back reluctantly. "I'll be right here, Mom. I promise."
As they wheeled her out of the room, my aunt placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "She'll be okay, Ji-Seok. The doctors here are very good."
I nodded, trying to hold back my tears. "I know. It's just... I was so scared."
"I understand," she said softly. "Let's sit down for a moment."
We sat in the waiting area, the minutes dragging on forever. My aunt was beside me, her presence a small comfort, though it did little to ease my anxiety. The hospital's sterile lights and the hushed murmurs of the staff only added to my growing dread.
Finally, the doctor came back. He had that look on his face – the one that tells you everything before they even say a word.
"Ji-Seok, can we talk for a minute?" he asked softly.
I stood up, my legs feeling like jelly. "Sure, Doctor. How's my mom?"
He sighed, taking a deep breath. "There were complications during the surgery. We tried everything, but... your mother didn't make it."
His words felt like a punch to the gut. "No... no, that can't be right," I muttered, tears blurring my vision.
"I'm really sorry for your loss," the doctor said, sounding genuinely sorry.
My aunt hugged me tightly as I broke down, the weight of my mother's death crashing over me. It was too much to bear.
The next few hours were a blur. I barely noticed the paperwork, the sympathetic faces, the formalities. My mind was numb, my heart shattered. My aunt took care of most of the arrangements while I sat there, struggling to process what had happened.
We finally left the hospital, the rain still pouring down as if the sky was crying with us. The car ride home was silent. The weight of grief was heavy, suffocating. When we got home, the house felt emptier than ever. My mom's absence was a gaping hole, a constant reminder of what I had lost.
I collapsed onto my bed, replaying the day's events in my mind. Graduation, the phone call, the mad dash to the hospital, and then the news. It all felt surreal, like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. But as the hours passed and the reality of my mom's death sank in, I knew there was no escape.
I lay there, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing. How was I supposed to go on without her? What was I going to do now?
Just then, my phone buzzed. I picked it up, seeing a message from my friend, Min-Jun.
"Hey man, heard about your mom. I'm really sorry. If you need anything, just let me know."
I typed back a quick thanks, appreciating his words, but feeling too drained to say more. I put the phone down and closed my eyes, hoping sleep would take me away from the pain, even if just for a little while.
"Haa..."