It's Spring

一

Spring was when the sun came peeking back ever so slowly to kiss away the winter's cold. When it's rays sunk out they would gently dust the snow from the flowers whispering support for them to blossom. Though the snow would want to stay sometimes, resisting the sun's plea to leave and let a new day begin. It was apt as someone denying a breakup and not allowing their partner to move on. Similar to a deep sadness that just won't let someone see their happiness one more time.

Junhoe's eyes glazed as he looked over the river's reflection. There were still fragments of ice on the water's surface, snow coating the benches, and railings. His breath came out in little fog as it's hot air met the cold on this early morning walk to a new school. Junhoe would have asked for a ride to school by the hand of his older sister, but she was far too busy and told Junhoe to figure it out.

At least on foot, Junhoe could look to the Han River and see how the first spring day was treating it. Both were filled with such beauty—beauty that masked pain and melancholy feelings. This bridge was where people decided their fate, especially during the spring. In a sad way, Junhoe always found himself here, just sitting over the edge with a blank gaze to the water's edge because sometimes he felt so trapped in the spring—in everything.

He tore his eyes from the body of water as his feet stepped off of the bridge and continued to carry him to the school. A new place because he had gotten kicked out of the last due to his parents' behavior since he wasn't going to class and he was being mistreated. It was truly ironic for them to try and stand up for him, of all people. They were so deluded and as detached from the reality that is Junhoe then they could have ever been. It was sad really. Gladly, Junhoe tested high and with his amazing grades and ranked in the top 5%. Junhoe didn't go to class, but that didn't mean he was stupid. The new school recognized that and immediately had Junhoe enrolled to continue his third year, the second semester there free due to scholarships.

The boy regarded the school warily. Scanning over the people who were buzzing about happily and, or despairingly. He had no friends in his last school, nor in his neighborhood, so he assumed no different here at this new school. Junhoe had always flown solo, not by choice really, but because others avoided him like the plague because he was the boy that spent his time on the Mapo Bridge, the boy who had the adoptive parents who were fucked up, the boy who was also sad, which was even more nerve-wracking because of the Mapo Bridge activities he partakes in. So many people told him he had no reason to be so depressed because he did have this family and that he was so smart. They said he was blessed, so what if the parents were assholes to him? Or the fact his sister ignored him, be grateful. Forget the sadness and be happy. A personified way of how the Spring would say forget the cold and the snow along with everything that happened in its winter.

Junhoe went into the school finally, regarding his phone to find his locker number, code, and scheduling of the day. The first class he had was homeroom, just a time to finish any breakfast or activity, which bled into history. Junhoe opened his locker, checking if anything was left and to his surprise it was spotless, so he just tossed some books and items he wouldn't need, but just as extra precautions and went to homeroom to relax. Of course, he was the first kid to arrive and so he picked a seat near the window and towards the back, the second chair from it actually. Immediately, Junhoe tidied his desk up with pens and pencils ready, notebooks piled up to the side with his own personal one open in front of him.