***
The morning sun filtered through the curtains, its golden rays warming Min Soo's face as he stirred awake. Squinting against the light, he rubbed his eyes and sat up, stretching his arms with a yawn.
After a quick shower, he got dressed and made his way downstairs. The aroma of freshly cooked food greeted him as he entered the dining area.
"Good morning, Min Soo," his mother called out, smiling warmly. "Come sit and eat. I'll call your dad and Min Hye to join us."
Min Soo nodded, taking his seat at the table. Moments later, his father walked in, ruffling Min Soo's hair as he passed. "Morning, champ," he said. Min Hye trailed behind him, already nibbling on a piece of toast.
The four of them sat together, chatting and laughing as they ate breakfast. Min Soo watched the scene unfold, a quiet warmth settling in his chest. He still wasn't entirely used to this, but he found himself enjoying it more each day.
"Eat up," his mother said, placing another side dish in front of him. "You'll need your energy for school."
Min Soo glanced at the watch on his wrist, his eyes widening. "I'm late!" he exclaimed, standing abruptly. "I have to go now. Bye, Mom, Dad, and you too, Min Hye!"
As he grabbed his bag and headed for the door, his father called out, "Study hard, Min Soo! I'm proud of you."
Min Soo paused for a moment, turning back with a small but sincere smile. "I'll keep that in mind, Dad."
***
At the Entrance
As he stepped outside, he was surprised to see Hanni waiting for him, her arms crossed and an exaggerated look of impatience on her face.
"You're late," she said, her tone teasing but firm. "Let's go now, or we'll both end up in detention."
Min Soo laughed lightly. "Alright, alright. I'm ready."
They began walking to school together, the morning breeze brushing past them. Hanni talked animatedly about something funny that had happened the previous evening, while Min Soo listened with a mix of amusement and gratitude.
Having someone wait for me… it feels nice, he thought.
***
At School
When they arrived at the classroom, students were already seated, chatting amongst themselves as they waited for the teacher. Min Soo and Hanni took their usual seats, with Hanni immediately pulling out her notebook to doodle while they waited.
The buzz of excited gossip filled the room, catching Min Soo's attention. He leaned back in his chair, listening to snippets of conversation.
"Did you hear? There's a new student coming today!"
"Yeah, I wonder if they're cool."
"Do you think they'll join our class activities?"
Min Soo raised an eyebrow. A new student? he thought. Why does it matter to me?
He shrugged it off, deciding it wasn't worth worrying about. I just need to focus on living this new life I've been gifted.
Unbeknownst to him, the new student would soon become a pivotal part of his life, shaping his journey in ways he couldn't yet imagine.
***