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It had been nearly theee month since school started, and my mind was tangled up with one nagging thought: Mark's abrupt decision to date Mia after barely knowing her.
They were still together, which was honestly so surprising. It also still felt surreal, like watching someone leap off a cliff without a second thought. How could he commit to a relationship with someone he had just met? It was baffling, and I couldn't shake the sense that something was fundamentally off about it.
As I scattered feed for my chickens, the clucking and scratching of the birds did little to ease my mind.
"Hey, Juli," My mom called from the gate. "How would you feel about visiting Auntie Kim at the hospital today?"
Her voice was warm and inviting, and the thought of visiting Auntie Kim brightened my mood instantly. "That sounds great, Mom! I'd love to go."
We exchanged our goodbyes with Dad, who was engrossed in painting in the living room with the fervor of a mad artist, and Jaehyun, who was wrestling with his tie in preparation for a job interview. Jaehyun tousled my hair with a playful grin and planted a quick kiss on my forehead., before mom and I left.
As Mom and I walked to the car, I glanced across the street and saw Mark standing outside his house. He was holding a paper bag and seemed to be hesitating as he approached the trash can. Our eyes locked for a brief, awkward moment. Mark's face turned a shade of panic as he hugged the bag closer to his chest, but he quickly forced a smile and waved back when he saw me.
I couldn't help but smile. "Hi, Mark!" I called out, giving him a cheerful wave.
"Hey, Juli!" He replied, though he seemed relieved when I turned to get in the car.
As we drove away, Mom brought up the eggs again, her tone tinged with curiosity. "Do you know if Mark mentioned anything about the eggs? Did her mom say if she liked them?"
I thought back to our last encounter. "Mark said they liked them. He mentioned the family enjoyed them, so I guess Ms. Lee did too."
Mom's eyes lit up. "Oh, that's wonderful! You know, she has always been so kind, lending us things like vacuums and mops whenever ours break down. I hope she's happy with our little gift."
I nodded, but my thoughts drifted again. It seemed like Mom was always talking about Ms. Lee, and I couldn't help but wonder if it was because she admired her or simply wanted to befriend her. Ms. Lee's generosity had been a huge help to us, and Mom had always been grateful.
I looked out the window and caressed my cheek, a smile pasted on my lips.
I was always excited whenever my chickens would hatch eggs. Of course I was proud of my chickens for doing such awesome job at making delicious eggs! But, I was also always looking forward into being creative with making pretty cartons and putting the eggs in them, then going up to the Lee's residence to hand them the eggs.
