𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕪

𝕖𝕡𝕚𝕤𝕠𝕕𝕖 𝟙 : 𝕣𝕒𝕤𝕡𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕪

~"Hello there lovelies, I hope you're doing well."~

A crisp breeze moved through the air, signaling to all that felt it that autumn had arrived. The freshly fallen leaves swirled in the air, performing an elegant ballet for anyone that might care to look up from the distraction of everyday life and turn their eyes to nature. Citizens of Seoul hurried by, all of them preoccupied with some sort of errand. In the late afternoon bustle, there was one store that seemed to garner little attention. Its humble white awning was emblazoned with elegant lettering that read "BLUMING FLOWERS". Some might look at the sign and get secondhand embarrassment, thinking there was a misspelling. In reality, the quaint shop was proudly run by the Lu family and their three children: Mingli, Mingmei, and Mingna.

Inside, a young girl was carefully packing things into a small pink satchel whilst chatting casually with an older woman behind the counter. "Don't worry, I'll text you as soon as I get there and I'll try to keep you updated on when I'll be home." She tried as hard as she could to keep eye contact in order to look more reassuring as her hands continued to gather up the pens that were strewn about.

~"The school year has started for those of us still in school, and if you haven't returned to work already, It's probably coming soon. I know this may seem like the end of all things good, but I can assure you that there are still many lovely things in our futures."~

The older woman sighed and shook her head. "I just don't see why you couldn't tutor this boy after school in one of the classrooms. You haven't even met him and you're going to meet him at a café?" she asked, her brow creasing.

The girl, who had finished shoving writing utensils into her pencil pouch and was currently trying to zip up her stuffed backpack, offered a shrug in response. "I explained this to you, mom. Teacher Min told me he had a student named Choi Soobin who needed a tutor. I got his phone number from a friend, and he said that he goes to work right after school and by the time his shift ends the school is closed. So we're meeting at Starbucks, it has free wifi after all."

~"For example, being at school or work can expose you to more new people. Sometimes that can be scary, but it can also mean new friends. That's what I'd like to talk about today: friends, and specifically kindred spirits."~

The nodded her head, but the look on her face showed that she still wasn't pleased with the situation. "Mingna, you worry your poor family's hearts too much. Can't you be stupid and selfish instead of smart and generous?"

Mingna laughed. "As if that would make you worry less. Then you'd all be moaning about how I have no friends and won't ever get into college." While speaking she slung her back across her shoulder and leaned onto the counter her mom was stationed at, blowing a kiss.

Her mother clicked her tongue and gently pushed Mingna's head away. "You always have a comeback. Shoo, go to your tutoring session while I still find you cute and lovable." As she spoke, she tried to sound stern, but she couldn't help but smile at her youngest daughter and the effortless happy expression that graced her face. Mingna, at her mother's command, skipped to the door, swinging it wide open.