EIGHTEEN | minsung.

chapter 1

summer, 2017

the first summer breeze lingered the streets and evaded the atmosphere until what's left were floating remnants of spring. suddenly, everywhere it touched belonged to summer, leaving spring with no choice but to adjust to its demands. and it was true because a boy with a bicycle witnessed it happen.

riding a bike in the middle of nowhere, he saw the atmosphere shifting with every pedal of his vehicle.

he felt the breeze lingering his skin, welcoming and gentle. it made him smile. that transition of summer and spring, like a barely there encounter between old friends; more along the lines of a hearty 'hello again' and a hopeful 'see you soon'.

soon after, he saw the little convenience store. it was no longer just fields he saw but the town he called home. he parked his bike at the store's parking lot and walked from there.

the entrance door chimes.

jisung shuffled through his pockets to find the list his mother gave him. he looks around the store almost each time he places an item on the basket as if finding for someone.

he finishes putting everything from the list, feeling somewhat disappointed of a certain cashier's absence.

he leaves the place; only this time, the door doesn't chime back.

the boy makes it to his neighborhood by early noon. walking with his hands wrapped over the bike's handlebars, he turns his gaze to the van parked near the house adjacent to their own.

he stands at the distance as curiosity filled his eyes. the latter observed two new faces carrying a lot of boxes, a man and a woman. they seem to be, he speculates, only at their early forty's. then, jisung sees a familiar face. the old woman walks out of the house's gate.

"mother," jisung hears the younger woman call. he begins to wonder if they're related, that they're mother and daughter. he wanted to listen a little longer but he shook his head, being aware of his place. whatever it is, it's really not his business to mind.

he parked his bike and entered his house with the groceries in his hand. he did, however, saw that the old woman over there now looked a little less lonely and it made his heart feel warm inside.