Echoes of the Forgotten

Unwritten Secrets

      Minji sat in her seat, arms crossed, eyes focused on her teacher as he announced the final project for the semester. The classroom was buzzing with murmurs, but her mind was already drifting toward the possibilities. As the teacher continued, outlining the assignment, she could feel her brain whirring with the endless ways she could approach this. A research project. Two months. She could already imagine herself diving deep into tech, analyzing trends, or even looking into historical archives. The possibilities were endless. To many choices but not enough time to truly think about it.

      "Alright, class," Mr. Kim's voice cut through her thoughts, "you have two months to work on your final project. The topic is entirely up to you. You can work individually or in groups. The only requirement is that it must be something that challenges you, something that pushes your boundaries. Something that when you hear or see it, you'll be like : That's it!"

      Minji's fingers automatically tapped against the edge of her desk, her gaze sliding over to Jinwoo, who was scribbling something on the corner of his notebook, likely already brainstorming. She knew he'd be in for something ambitious.

      "And remember," Mr. Kim continued, "how you go about it is up to you. Research, experimentation, interviews, however you see fit. Even if you have to take a few days out of school to go travel to what your topic is, that's okay too. As long as  we have a note from your parents that is.  But make sure it's something that you're passionate about. Start early. Two months is enough time to get it done. Especially since this could make or break you from graduating. Any questions?"

      The class was silent as the bell rang, signaling the end of the period. Minji packed up her things, her mind already swirling with ideas. But before she could even leave, she quickly pulled out her phone and shot a message to the group chat.

Minji:
Meeting after school at the library to discuss the project. Let's figure out what we want to do.

She slid her phone back into her bag and headed out of the classroom, a flicker of excitement and curiosity settling in her chest.

    Later that afternoon, the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. The library, usually a quiet place, was already alive with students scattered between bookshelves, heads bent over assignments or buried in novels. Minji had arrived early, eager to get to work. She chose a spot at the long table by the windows, the sun casting its final warm rays through the glass and over her laptop. It was the perfect setting for brainstorming, or so she told herself.

      One by one, her friends filtered into the library—Hoon, Soojin, and Jinwoo. Each of them arrived with an air of determination, the quiet buzz of excitement that signaled they were all in it together. Minji felt that familiar spark of energy as the group settled into their seats and began throwing out ideas.

      "I was thinking we could do a project on the history of the school," Soojin said, tapping her fingers on the table, her eyes shining with enthusiasm. "We could dig deep into its founding, see what was here before it, maybe uncover some long-forgotten stories. What if the school was built on some sacred land, or maybe there's a hidden part of the campus nobody talks about?"

      Minji nodded thoughtfully, her fingers poised above her keyboard. "That could work. It would be a great way to tie in some real research. We could look into the school's archives, find out about the original blueprints, maybe even interview some of the teachers who have been around long enough to remember the school's history."

     "Or," Jinwoo interjected, his usual enthusiasm matching his quick thinking, "we could dive into local myths and legends. There are tons of stories about this town—ghost stories, disappearances, old folklore. Who knows? Maybe we could find some truth behind those stories, dig up the history, and uncover something nobody's heard of before."