The Hidden Treasure

~1~

"Why do you keep reading all that stuff?  Those books can't possibly be interesting."

"Oh, you would be surprised."

"Would I?  I beg to disagree."

"See this book?  It looks dull and boring and there aren't any pictures.  That means most people won't even pick it up.  But those who dare to give it a chance will find a world of amazing things inside.  The simple minded person won't give it a second look because they don't want to put the work in to understand its hidden treasures.  But people like me, we see it as a challenge, to find the gems hidden in between its boring, hard covers.  It's those gems that give us a new outlook on life and the world."

"So you're saying that you're smart and I'm dumb?"  She pretended to gasp at his jaded insult.

"No, I would never say that.  I'm simply saying you should read more."  He smiled, tapped her forehead with his book, and flashed his heart breaking dimples at her. 

She let out a frustrated sigh and stomped off.  "You're absolutely the most aggravating person I've ever met, Kim Namjoon!" 

She looked over at the high school class picture hanging on the wall.  "You were absolutely right," she said to it, turning back to the large bookshelf.  She climbed up on the ladder and returned the book to its proper place. 

A few moments later, she climbed back down the ladder and dusted her hands off.  It was almost time for the yearly dusting.  She hated that job, but making sure her babies were well taken care of was more important than her own dislikes. 

She made a note for herself to remind her about the task and hung it beside her desk in her office.  The bell above the door jingled lightly, alerting her to a visitor.

She stepped around the corner of her office and smiled at the young boy who had walked in.  "Hello!  Welcome to The Hidden Treasure.  Can I help you?"

The boy appeared to be nearing his last year of elementary school.  He held the straps of his backpack tightly and looked around, his mouth slowly falling open as he scanned the shelves that were from floor to ceiling and loaded with every book imaginable.

Hyejin giggled as she watched his eyes grow wide.  "Can I help you find something in particular?"

"Do you have every book in the world in this place?"  He turned around slowly and finally laid his eyes on her.

"No.  I don't.  But I wish I did.  What are you looking for?" 

"I think I would like to just look around for a while," he mumbled, his eyes returning to scanning the walls. 

Hyejin stuck her hands in her skirt pockets and smiled.  "You can look around for as long as you would like.  I'll be right there behind the counter if you need me."  She pointed to a high counter with a stool behind it. 

He nodded slowly and began walking slowly through the shelves. 

She smiled and walked back to her spot behind the counter.  Several books were stacked there.  She had been reading them on and off as she had time.  She eased herself down onto the stool and leaned on the high counter.  Opening up the top book she began reading.

Her eyes drifted to the countertop glass.  Underneath of it was a picture of a man and a woman - her parents.  They had passed away a few years ago, a result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Thankfully, they had prepared quite the inheritance for their only child and daughter.  It had allowed her to go to college and then open up this book shop after graduation.