3. Eomma

"Ooh, I ship it." A voice says teasingly. I look over and glare at Hye.

"How long have you been here?"

"Long enough." She smirks and extends her arm out to Jimin. "Jung Hye, nice to meet you."

He takes her hand and introduces himself.

Not wanting to be in the situation any longer, I force her out.

"We'll be going now." I grab her shirt and pull her out, much to her arguments. "Wait, but I didn't get to buy the dress yet!"

I take the clothing from her hand and put it on some random shelf. A worker gives me a look but I ignore it.

As we leave the store, Hye tries one more thing. "But he's hot, Kyung Mi!"

"As are many other boys. Let's go?" She nods and we make our way to the mall exit.

+++

"Thanks for dropping me off."

"Yeah, of course." I say. "And if Miss Jung bothers you again, I have a warm house, plenty of snacks and the world's ok-est company." I point to myself and she laughs.

"Thanks. See you later."

"Bye!" I chirp as she closes the car door.

+++

My house isn't very far from Hye's.

So why?Why  in such a short time did I have to encounter an idiot?

I was driving to catch up to the car in front of me at a stoplight, and the driver to my right tried to cut me. With, like, three feet between me and the vehicle in front of me.

I got mad and sped forward so that they wouldn't have the chance to go in front of me. I was determined not to let them win. I've learned never to show weakness; weakness will get you killed.

My mom learned that the hard way.

+++

"Appa, can we go see Eomma*?" He looks up from his phone and smiles gently.

The events from earlier today made me want to visit her. It's been a while.

"Sure, honey."

+++

I grab a red rose from my vase after I'm ready. I meet my dad downstairs, and together we go to the burial site.

Looking at it still makes my heart ache, but at this point I don't feel like dying whenever I glance at it.

When we reach her, I lay the rose on the ground and smile softly at the soil. Flowers and grass have grown beautifully on it, a sign of the good weather.

"Bogoshipda*. Have you been well?" I ask.

Dad kneels by her grave and grazes his hand on the tombstone.

"Our daughter graduated high school. It's only because you raised her to be a beautiful, strong, intellect-" he sobs, and I hug him from behind. He regains his composure and continues. "Intellectual woman. Gomawo, and saranghaeyo*."

Have you been well, Eomma? I sure hope so. I've been kind of bored lately what with school being over. I wish something exciting would happen.

Oh, the things I would to do take back that wish.

---

a/n:

*eomma means mom

*bogoshipda means I miss you or I want to see you

*gomawo and saranghaeyo - thanks, and I love you