the transfer student |sim jaeyun

Prologue.

Miso POV
flashback
It was a pretty normal day, I came home from school and found both my parents at the dining table as usual but this time, they looked... sad?
"Hey mum, hey dad!" I chirped, placing my bag down by the door.
We weren't rich, we lived in a 1 bedroom apartment in the sketchy, run down side of Seoul but life was good.
I had loving parents, friends, a roof over my head and food on the table.
"Miso darling, come sit." My mother said, ushering me over.
I quickly followed the instruction given and sat across her and beside my dad.
"What's up?" I asked, fiddling with my fingers.
Why was I nervous?
"There is no other way to say this but..." My mother paused, taking in a deep breath, her voice unsteady.
This made me even more nervous.
My mother was typically a strong person, I had only see her cry once when my nona passed away.
"Honey..." My dad quickly stepped in. Turning his body to face me.
"Your mother has cancer, we can barely afford the treatment." He quickly blurted out.
What?
I sat there in a state of shock, unsure on what to do.
Does that mean...
"I don't have much longer honey..." My mother said, wiping her tears away.
"No way... Your joking..." I said in denial.
"I wish I was." My father replied sternly.
"Funny joke guys, let's stop here." I teared up.
"Miso, we're serious, you think we would lie about this?" My father insisted.
This can't be real, it just can't.
I checked the date to confirm weather it was april fools or not.
"10 July 2023"
I rushed off to our room and slammed the door behind me.
"This isn't real..." I persisted.
end of flashback.
That was all a few months ago.
My mother had a tough battle with cancer especially without much treatment.
The past few months went by in a blur.
I saw my mother slowly deteriorating while at the same time my father struggled with his mental health.
I stared around the room, everyone dressed in black.
I turned to see my mothers picture surrounded with flowers.
I was in a blur.
I didn't even cry.
Throughout the day, people came over to me and reminded me how much my mother had impacted their lives.
She loved to help others but yet, we couldn't do the same with her.
I just nodded and continued looking at the flower in my hand, unable to say my final goodbyes.
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"Honey let's go." My dad said.
I had been sitting in the same chair for hours, unable to move.
"Let's stay, please?" I asked.
"I'm sorry, we can't." My father sighed.
"Please..." I begged, tears welling up in my eyes.
Just then, an announcement came on.
"We will be closing in 15 minutes, please make your way to the exit now, thank you."
After hearing this, I burst out sobbing.
"It's time honey, let's go, say your final goodbyes." My father smiled, placing his hand on my shoulder.
I reluctantly made my way to where my mother was and placed my flower down.
"Hey mum, I'm sorry I couldn't help you. I miss your food, I miss coming home to you everyday with a hot home cooked meal placed on the table. I missed when you taught me how to bake, I miss when you packed me lunch for school everyday, I miss when you would cut my hair and I miss you, I love you and I always will, until we meet again." I said softly.
I stared at the photo and then at dad before looking back at the photo.
I stood there in silence, staring at my mother's photo.
It took me a while, but it all finally processed in my head.
my mother is gone.
Those few rounds of chemotherapy we could barely afford didn't work.
I dropped to the ground, in tears.
Is this all just a dream?
In fact it wasn't, it was all too real.
My dad placed his hand on my back.
"Hey, look at me." He said softly.
I turned to face him, my eyes red and sniffling.
"Your mother is in our hearts. She forever will be and we will meet her again soon. But for now it's just us against the world." He smiled, tearing up.
I knew this was hard for him too but he stayed strong for me.
Just me and dad against the world.
Or is it?