Ahana's POV
I've always felt like my role in life was to be the supporting character. Whether it was family or friends, I was the one helping others achieve their dreams while mine stayed locked away. My love life? Nonexistent. It's not that I wasn't interested, but no one ever seemed interested in me. I did have a crush in high school once, but he used me as his cupid to win over another girl. That's when I gave up on love.
When it came to family, I didn't grow up with my parents. My mother left me with her mother and brothers. They showered me with so much love that my expectations soared. I thought they'd always support me, and I respected them even more than my father. But life changes. They got married, and everything shifted. The love turned into taunts—for how much I ate, how I did the chores, and everything else. I was angry at my mother for leaving me there. I wanted a normal family like everyone else. When I confronted her, all she said was, "It was for your good." Later, I learned she left me because they couldn't even afford one meal a day back then.
I was alone. I cried in the dark and put on a smile for everyone, even those who didn't care about me. I began to talk less. I developed a fear of being ignored and suffered from nyctophobia. I wished my life would end so things could finally get better.
I couldn't wait to grow up and go to university. I imagined a fresh start, but reality was cruel. I couldn't afford further studies. I saved every penny and searched desperately for a part-time job. Things felt impossible, and I didn't know what to do.
Under the moonlight one night, I sat and wondered, What did I do to deserve this life? My father barely talked to me unless it was necessary. My mother always said, "Time flies fast. Bad days will be over soon." As the eldest, everyone pinned their hopes on me, but it was exhausting. Not everything in my life was bad, though. I was lucky enough to have a best friend who stood by me through thick and thin.
As a child, I believed I was a princess, thanks to the fairy tales. But as I grew older, I realized I was born to be a warrior. If I wanted my life to change, I had to fight for it. I couldn't wait for a prince to rescue me.
Determined, I started looking for scholarships to pursue my dream of becoming a fashion designer. I loved painting and drawing. Filling a blank canvas with colors brought me joy and hope, as if I could paint my life into something beautiful. But my family didn't support my passion, and I had to put it aside.
The more I searched for light, the darker my world became. Still, I decided to face the darkness with kindness. My mother always said, "In this dark world, the only treasure you possess is a brave and kind heart. People will try to take it away and make you like them, but the more you cherish your heart, the closer you'll get to happiness." I didn't want to become like the people around me.
One morning, at 8 a.m., I lay in bed, reluctant to get up. My phone buzzed, and a notification popped up. It was an email. My hands shook as I opened it it was about the scholarship I had applied for in Korea. And I got it! I couldn't believe it. For the first time, it felt like things were going my way.
I told my family I was moving to Korea to study finance, but that wasn't true. I had enrolled in a university for fashion design. I was nervous they wouldn't let me go, but to my surprise, they agreed.
I used the money I had saved to buy some clothes and essentials. Before leaving, I wrote letters to the people I loved. My mom and my best friend came to see me off at the airport. My scholarship covered all expensestickets, tuition, and accommodation.
When I boarded the plane, I found my seat and sat down, excited yet nervous. After hours of travel, I finally landed in Korea. Everything was new and overwhelming. I grabbed a taxi, struggling to communicate with the driver, and reached my dormitory.
Inside, I met my roommates. "Hello, my name is Ahana Sah," I introduced myself.
One of them smiled. "Hi, I'm Ellisa Collins."
The second added, "Jo Yoo Jeong. You can call me Joe."
The third, Min Woo, didn't bother replying.
Later, feeling hungry, I decided to explore the area and found a convenience store. After much confusion, I picked up a peach drink, some chips, and a cup of ramen. While leaving the store, I got a call from Ellisa reminding me about the orientation. In my hurry, I bumped into someone hard.
"WTF," a deep voice growled.
I froze. My red thread bracelet had tangled in the stranger's watch an expensive one that looked more valuable than my entire life savings. I looked up and met his hazel eyes. For a moment, time seemed to stop.
A car horn snapped me back to reality. The man deftly untangled the thread from his watch with one hand and looked at me with mild irritation. I muttered an apology and ran off, my heart racing like crazy.