MAKNAE [twd] *editing*

【57】

"Please, make yourself comfortable," the woman I learned was named 'Deanna' urges.

She holds a faint smile as I awkwardly ease my bat to lean against the chair before sitting down. As soon as I sit, I'm almost overwhelmed by the soft padding. After being in vehicles, cold ground, and the barn- the chair felt like a cloud.

"May I ask your name?" she asks as she sits down in her own chair across from me.

"Hana," answer, staring at my twiddling fingers, "Hana Rhee."

"Hana, that's a beautiful name for a beautiful girl," she compliments.

"So," she begins, "I'll just ask you a few questions, you'll answer, and then we'll get you sorted in your new home."

Silently, I nod in compliance.

"What did you do before this?"

"I went to school. I went to games with my dad, concerts and vacations. I had.. friends.. Family.." I try to answer, but felt as though there were too many things.

What did anyone do before this? We lived. We lived in situations nothing like we're facing now. We had lives that we didn't fight to keep. I used to think that a bad grade was the end of the world.. How was I supposed to compare that to anything that's happened since then?

"A student. I assumed, but it's nice to have the confirmation. What grade were you? Class? Ranking? Awards? Accomplishments or special programs?" she suddenly asks.

"Grade seven.. I was," I tilt my head in annoyance, "Second rank."

I try to remember anything else, but it all felt so blurry with time.

"I kept high in my class- usually advanced classes. I had a school trip a year before seventh where I went to London for a type of exchange student program. We went to the London film festival to represent our school. I did tutoring for younger grades in science and Korean class. I was meant to go into eighth before everything happened and I was lined up to go into a program that would take the top students in our grade for college preparation courses," I try to name as much as I could recall.

"So young and already such a large repertoire," she acknowledges.

"Schools in Korea have higher standards than yours."

"I was a congresswoman before. I've worked with the South Korean government multiple times. So, believe me, I know," she chuckles.

I huff a laugh of my own, her smile becoming wider as I reacted to her words.

"Your brother, Glenn," she recalls, "He said you are his last living family."

Glenn had his interview with Deanna just before I came in. With a smile and a pat on my shoulder, he ushered me in with the promise he was waiting just outside.

"My dad and grandparents were in Korea.. Our mother and last sister were states away.. It's hard to know for sure."

Deanna hums, crossing her legs, "That's right. Your brother mentioned your situation."

My eyes fall back onto my lap. It felt strange to have someone know the painful information because of.. security? Anyone else that knows learned it because they mostly saw it happen like those from the quarry camp or because I felt safe enough to let them in on the memories like Taeyang, Daniel, Jae, or Michonne. Deanna knew because she wondered if we were worthy enough to be let in.

Deana leans forward, her arms rested on the chair's arm as she tries to catch my eyes again.

"Do you want to be here, Hana?" she asks.