Perception

Chapter 1: The Letter

The sun was shining so brightly and the birds chirped happily. The soft breeze was cooling off the tension of this city as the branches of the small trees on the sidewalk were clapping in contentment. This is the expected scene that someone should have when riding their bicycle.

Instead what Cho-hee got was the honking cars, the profound yelling, and best of all; the fragrance of pollution. She took a deep breath, almost choking on its sweetness. "Ahhh, yes. It's still there." said quite hoarsely after exhaling. "Who needs a cigarette when you could stand next to the road and intake the smoke? It's free. And both are killing you anyway." murmured her thoughts out.

She shook her head, finding herself quite childish and weird sometimes. But at least it was a nice distraction from the havoc that her inner world was currently being.

After turning right the grand entrance of the academy came into her vision. The closer she got the merrier the word hypocrite was being on a repeat in her mind. Ever since she received that letter, she dreaded every moment until today.

4 MONTHS AGO

"WHATTT?!?!?!"

Everybody rushed to the living room, including Cho-hee, from the sudden outburst of their mother. Cho-hee was the first one to arrive and followed after her two eldest brothers. They found their mother, Nari, sitting on the floor with her mouth agape, wide eyes, and a paper held in between her hands.

Her daughter mimicked the expression of her mother's assuming the paper was her grades. But then she got all serious and pinched both of her brothers, who were snickering beside her knowing too well that she was not able to escape her mother's wrath. They both let out a loud yelp not expecting her notion. Despite the pain, mirth was still dancing across their dark orbs which angered her even more.

When she was about to strike again at them, she observed how their playfulness faded away. On their boyish features concern had taken place. It was the first time that Cho-hee saw her two brothers react this way. She turned her attention back to the main person. It was indeed concerning that the fact their mother was in a such shocking state that she didn't even bother to scold them which was very unusual.

Were my grades that bad? Cho-hee thought worriedly. Is this my ending? Gnawing the inside of her mouth until she tasted the metallic flavor while her mind raced into various horrifying scenarios.

Her brothers hurried to both sides of their mother. "Eomoni, are you alright?" Seok-ho inquired placing his hand on her shoulder. Somehow this startled her looking at both of her sons frantically.

When her eyes landed on her daughter, Cho-hee took a big gulp preparing herself for what was coming. However, the events that take place the next moment were something that nobody could have predicted.

Her mother in a rush shoved Seok-ho hard. Huh like mother like daughter, Cho-hee concluded cunningly amidst the chaos.

Nari sprinted toward her daughter while Cho-hee shut down her eyelids anticipating her mother's fury. But instead what she got was her embrace. Her eyes opened wide, her arms floating unknowing what to do with them, her body straight as a plank. She looked at her brothers searching for an answer but they were equally shocked as she was.

Was this a new method of hers? Nari was known for her creative punishments. So it was logical of Cho-hee to think in this way. She was also known to always scold her daughter for not being able to keep up with her studies, unlike her brothers. Cho-hee has been lectured so many times on the same subject that could have easily won the record of Guinness of her mother's consistency.

As much as she loved her mother's concern though, there were times when she was deeply hurt. Not being able to follow her dreams in this cruel society was sometimes unbearable for her.

Suddenly she felt something wet on her neck. Backing away she found her mother wailing silently in front of her. Did I hurt her that much? Cho-hee didn't know what to do else so she just pulled her back returning the favor of her warm embrace. "I am sorry, Eomma." said while patting her back in hopes that this will calm her. "I promise I would do better at school."

This time Nari backed away shaking her head furiously. She placed her hands on both sides of her daughter's face caressing it so gently as if she was afraid that she might break her. However, her actions were not the cause that left everyone speechless but her next choice of words. "Don't be, Cho-hee. I am the one who should be saying sorry."

In many of the interviews that Cho-hee participated in, one question was frequently asked and that is what her greatest achievements are. I think in my next one I should include my mother apologizing to me, contemplated with bewilderment.

Everyone wore a stunned expression. Jung-ho was the first to break. He hurriedly seized the paper; the main cause of Nari's change of heart. The more he read the merrier his features grew gradually. Eventually, his expression matched the one they had initially found on their mother's face. Followed after Seok-ho and the result was the same.

Cho-hee could not handle it anymore. Her curiosity caught the best of her and no one seemed to be in a state any time soon to elaborate. Thus she broke out of her mother's reach and snatched that darn paper from Seok-ho's hold.

Shooting lasers at that cursed paper, which turned out to be a letter, made her instead to sit on the floor with a thud. Her now owl eyes were still glued on the words written on the silky paper. "What the hell?!" uttered with the utmost disbelief.

"Watch your language!" Nari lectured her daughter in between her cries.

Cho-hee was too stunned to react. She knew that from this moment everything will change for good.

TODAY

Much to her dismay, she couldn't refuse their offer. Even though she knew she was acting like a little brat, forcing her to change environment and especially being surrounded by brats was not something she looked forward to. But promised that she would at least endure it.

Letting out a tired sigh, she halted her bicycle. The grand gate was a few meters away. She was not giving up but rather observing the structure. Upclose it was colossal. Everything about it screamed wealth. She would have been lying that it didn't make her feel intimidated.

Nonetheless, she pushed aside the nerves that were starting to surface. Unknowingly of her movements, she was already pedaling through the gate, and within a few minutes was already in the academy's territory.

"Good luck.." whispered to herself. She would need most of it.

_________________________________________________

hello! welcome to my first published short story. be aware that English is not my mother language so please kindly point out my mistakes and help me improve. thank you! have a nice read! oh and it's smut-free.

p.s. please note my updates will be unstable.

p.s.s. my pen name is Yianna Karneri.