After Somin finally gets into a prestigious Art university, everything in her life turns upside down. What was once a secure plan to get closer to her boyfriend is now a mess. Her future is unknown, though already stained with heartache.
Will she p...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Jeon Junu
Junu sat straight in his drawing room and thought about what he had to do.
Mother won't let me go to the city just like that. I want to see Somin though. Chat more and have a nice walk.
The quiet boy went to the bathroom and poured scorching hot water into the sink, wetting a towel and washing himself again and again until he turned his skin hot and sickly reddish.
"Mother, I feel tired, can you give me a pill? I don't feel well," he acted out.
His cold mother didn't give it much of a thought as expected, only checking his temperature by putting a palm to his forehead.
"You are probably a bit overworked. Rest, we need you to be able to train again tomorrow," she grabbed his chin with her icy hand, scratching it lightly with her long snow-white nails decorated by crystals.
The young boy opened his mouth obediently and she laid a pink pill on his tongue. Handing him a glass of water to check that he actually took it, her paranoia didn't have any end. She turned her back to him and went back to the book reading, her expensive gown flew behind her like a cape. Even at home, she looked like there was a ball in the next room, long shiny brown curly hair neatly styled in an elegant bun with gem pins.
She loved her talented son in her own wicked way. Making him be another valuable asset to the family, granting him this one day to rest, but no more, a twisted game they played from time to time.
Junu pretended to swallow the pill and went to his room, locking the door as usual so mum wouldn't find it suspicious. She knew he needed silence when he was sick. The powerless boy spat the pill out, throwing it to the other ones stashed in a plastic container hidden behind a loose tile under his bed. Changed to one of his alternative clothes, which he had hidden there too, his favorite dark green sweatshirt and gray pants. Opened the window and carefully closed it behind him. He climbed down expertly as he did many times before, his feet aware of stable spots to step. The room was on the second floor, but the fear of height left him some time ago.
He relished in the insecurity when climbing down.
Maybe I'll fall down and break my neck.
I'll never know.
It was worth the risk anyway. In reality, his body got better and more stable with every climb he made. Each time he risked less and less, his mind unaware. Well-trained hands and fingers grabbing the ledge of the windows firmly. Feet unconsciously examined where the best safe spots to stand or step were. Inventing "new routes" by mistake.
Finding it soothing, the uncertainty was gone. Alright. I am out.
Junu remembered the first time he escaped.
***
Meticulous preparation took the locked-out boy several weeks. Getting to know the garden was touch one, thinking about it even in his sleep. He wasn't often allowed to leave his home studio so he must have cleverly come out with a plethora of excuses.
