Just College

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Gu Seolran is a genius. Just like she had assured her daughter, Daya had come downstairs for breakfast, greeting them without an ounce of attitude in her voice and her eyes lowered, instead of in a glare. "It really works", Damin had whispered to her mother when that happened and Seolran gave the most cockiest nod to ever exist.

Dayeon helped her sister carry her box down the steps while the girl carried her foodstuff bag behind her. "Where is eomma?", Dayeon asked when she saw only Seolran standing in the living room and watching them.

"She went to get a cab. Oh", she looked out the window, "She is here"

Daya glanced out, seeing her mother coming out of the white taxi. She pursed her lips, squatting down and tying the laces of the shoes Seungmin got her. Seolran lifted her bag up, wordlessly taking it out of the house with Dayeon carrying the box.

Daya got on her feet, looking around the house. She was going to miss this cozy home and the annoying people that lived in it. She won't be coming back home any time soon. The break just ended and the next break they would have, will be the summer break. She counted the months down with her fingers.

Roughly three months.

She sighed, patting down the green dress pants she wore and left the house, silently bidding her father bye.

Damin stared at her for a while as Dayeon shut the trunk of the cab. She looked down at her purse, bringing out a few notes as Daya climbed down the porch steps. "Here", she said, stretching her hand forward.

"Thank you", Daya collected it, putting the money into her bag. "Does your scalp hurt badly?", Damin asked, making her look up for a second before zipping her bag. "It does."

Damin looked away as she pulled the girl into a hug. "Eomma is really sorry", she apologised to her daughter, massaging her head softly, careful not to mess up her curls. "I am sorry for everything. All of it"

Daya felt tears running down her face slowly and she hugged her mother tighter. "No. I am the sorry one. I am really sorry, mom", she meant it. For the things she knew about, and for the ones she was kept in the dark from. She was sorry for them all. "I am going to miss you"

Damin laughed, sniffing quietly. "Me too". Her first daughter was like a pillar, a post, holding her up. She was indeed going to miss having her around, seeing her in the shop, going down the roads for work and her just naturally being here as a beam of support for her. "But you have to go to school and make me proud", she pulled the girl's face away, wiping her tears with a genuine motherly smile.

Daya nodded, staring into her dark brown eyes. She was going to do just that at the end of her stay in Sungkyunkwan. Damin patted her back and let her go. Daya shifted her eyes to her grandma, almost rolling her eyes at her nonchalancy. "Haemoni, I am sorry"

Seolran threw her face away with a hmph and Dayeon scoffed, pressing her hands into her jaw and turning her face back to Daya. "What's the use of apologising!. I already forgave you hours ago!", she waved her hand and made to turn her face away again but Dayeon kept it firm. In place. "Yah, do you want to die?", and Dayeon released her immediately.

"When next you will see me is August", Daya informed and her grandma looked at her. "Dayeon-ah, come", she opened her arms and the girl excitedly waddled to her, hugging her. "I kept some money for you in your vanity drawer", she whispered into her ear, "Don't tell mom"

Dayeon laughed, humming and taking a whiff of her sister's scent to keep with her for a long time.

Be safe for me, unnie.

She kissed her cheek and pulled away. "Study well, eat well, sleep well and have fun"

"I will", Daya assured with a smile. She looked at her mother, "I will go back safely. I will call when I get back", she patted her sister's shoulders and opened the car door.