𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐍𝐃

JUNGSU K.

"can i get anything else for you?" jungsu asked the group of girls, carrying the tablet in which he always received the orders.

the girls laughed, pushing one girl to the front, who seemed shy, her cheeks reddened.

jungsu was confused. "can i get your number? you're pretty cute.." the shy girl admitted, making the group laugh.

and jungsu was surprised. "um- i'm taken, so no. that will be $13.97, are you paying in cash or card?"

the girls were stunned, looking at the barista with widened eyes. "your girlfriend doesn't have to know!" one of them said, making them break out in laughter.

"yeah! she's probably not as good as our friend here!" "your girlfriend probably won't love you as much as she does!"

jungsu didn't answer, straight up looking at the group with an annoyed glare. "$13.97, cash or card?" he repeated.

so the girls paid in defiance, one of them calling jungsu a "bitch" before leaving the small café.

with a sigh, jungsu looked at his phone, receiving a notification by his reminder app.

Today: Last Day

just this shift. and the tiring way home. and all the homework he still had to reach in. and the way he wanted to go. then he'd be dead. finally.

life made no sense for him, not at all. every day was just a repetition of the day prior.

waking up, getting ready, going to school, being bullied, going to the nurse's room, going to work, going home, homework, sleep. repeat.

and it's not like he could just avoid working. with his parents dying in a car crash, he was left alone with his younger sister.

doing anything he can to give her a good childhood, he was working hard. in court, his aunt offered to take his little sister away from him.

and jungsu didn't want that at first. he was sure he could make it financially, mentally.

he was sure that he could give his sister the life she deserved. but slowly he started noticing how wrong he was.

the eviction note on the main entrance spoke for itself. jungsu wasn't even able to keep the rancid apartment.

standing in front of it, he called his aunt, telling her to come over. did he want to see his sister?

he hesitated, before deciding to hug her one last time. the eight year old girl was happy to see her older brother, immediately running towards him and hugging him tightly.

"i missed you, susu!" she smiled, looking up at him as her height barely reached his torso. susu, the nickname she gave him the moment she learned how to speak.

sometimes jungsu wondered if she knew that his name wasn't actually susu. he smiled and brushed her hair behind her ear.

"missed you too, but listen, i gotta run some errands first. just here to put down my bag, okay?"

she nodded, letting go of him so he could put down his school bag. "our aunt will come visit us later" he explained, making his sister roll her eyes.

"don't like her!" "i know, i know, but it's important, okay?"

she nodded, trusting her brother with it. "okay!"

jungsu knew that his last seconds with his sister started. and he knew she needed something that reminds her of him.

so he took off the necklace his father gave him once, securing it around her neck. "it looks beautiful on you. never forget that i love you, okay? and i'll always protect you" he said, crouching down to be on her level.

she just giggled, not understanding the heaviness of his words.

then he left the house. there was no turning back now.

before his parents died, he loved to go on walks with his mother. there was that one TV tower that always awakened his interest.

it was destiny that led him there again. seems like the way he wants to pass was decided.