When Park Sohee is forced to leave behind her childhood home, the familiar comforts of family, and all the memories she's spent years building, she's faced with the overwhelming challenge of starting fresh. With her younger brother Jisung by her sid...
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As the days passed, Sohee found herself settling into a rhythm she hadn't quite expected—balancing school, work, and her relationship with Sunwoo. At first, it felt like a delicate juggling act, each day demanding something different from her. There were moments when she felt overwhelmed, staring at assignments she still hadn't finished and the ticking clock reminding her of yet another shift at work. But somehow, the presence of Sunwoo and Jisung made it all a little easier.
With Sohee constantly working, she hadn't seen her mom in a while. She wasn't sure if it was because she'd been coming home late or if her mom simply wasn't coming home at all. As long as Jisung was okay and nothing got in the way, she figured everything would be manageable till she'd be able to get them out of there.
Sohee had been carefully saving up her most recent paychecks, each dollar a small step toward her goal: getting Jisung into his driver's ed classes. She knew it was important for him to have that independence, especially as he was growing up. With how busy Sohee had become—between school, work, and managing the household—it was getting harder to be around for him. He was often left at home alone all day while she worked, and their mom's whereabouts were becoming increasingly uncertain. Sohee didn't want him stuck in that routine forever.
It hadn't been easy. They were still living paycheck to paycheck, every month a tight squeeze. But Sohee refused to let that stop her. She knew it wouldn't be instant, and she knew sacrifices would need to be made along the way. Still, she had to start somewhere. Every small bit she could set aside felt like a victory, like she was doing something right for Jisung, even if it meant working a little harder, stretching her hours a little more. She had no idea how long it would take, but she was determined to make it happen for him—because he deserved more than just being home alone, waiting for a sister who was always a little too busy, and a mother who seemed more distant by the day.
"Sohee, can you take this order for me, please? I have to take a call," Hyunjae, her coworker, said, snapping the sleepy girl out of her thoughts.
Sohee blinked, momentarily disoriented, before nodding in response. "Got it," she murmured, her voice still a little groggy from lack of sleep.
Hyunjae smiled at her reaction, his expression softening. "Thanks, you're a lifesaver," he said before quickly stepping away to answer the phone.
Sohee shuffled over to the counter, trying to shake off the drowsiness. As she grabbed the order, she couldn't help but think about how much longer she could keep up this pace—working late hours, juggling responsibilities at home, and still trying to keep things together for Jisung. The exhaustion was starting to catch up with her, but for now, she pushed it aside. It wasn't the first time she'd been tired, and it wouldn't be the last. But she couldn't let it stop her, not when there were bigger things at stake.
Work dragged on slowly for Sohee that day. The quiet hum of the restaurant and the ticking clock seemed to stretch on endlessly. Half the time, she found herself staring at the wall, zoning out, her mind wandering to everything and nothing at once. It was a weekday, and business had been unusually slow. The few customers who came in barely stayed long enough to order anything more than a drink. The place felt empty and still, and Sohee could feel the exhaustion building up in her bones.
