The Next Door's Son and The Red Chick

“What is ‘First Love’ according to you guys?”

One question from Jieun made Eunsol, Daeun, Yuna, and Bomi think hard, and suddenly a “Hmm…” sounded—together.

“Bomi! The first person we ever like, right?”

“I don’t think so. If it’s like that, then the bus driver from my kindergarten would be my first love.” Jieun thought hard and walked around the room nonstop.

“Then the doctor I met when I was 5 years old would be my first love then. Love is different from like. They’re two different things.” Eunsol laughed a bit before continuing to think.

“Ah! That hot doctor you took photos with? The one who left for America?” Daeun remembered the story well.

“Yes, you’re right.” Eunsol laughed at the memory.

“The first person we love dearly… that’s the literal meaning.” Eunsol was bad at explaining things, and everyone knew it.

“Yes, but ‘love’ means… a love that we experience before we turn 30?” Daeun added.

“I think it has no exact qualifications. No boundaries in time or age. It’s just the one person we fall too hard for.” Suddenly, the room went quiet.

Jieun stopped and took a seat in front of Yuna.

“It’s not like the first person we liked… but more like the first person who made us hit the bottom. Like we fell too hard, and got hurt for the first time too. The first unforgettable person.” Yuna tried to explain.

“If it happened when you were 5, then that’s your first. If it happened in your 50s, then that’s it too. Maybe it’s your 5th boyfriend, or your 2nd husband.”

“Agree! If it’s just about the first person we liked, that’s just puppy love. Not a ‘real’ first love.” Eunsol added.

“Ah! Right! I once read an article about love. It said, ‘No matter how much you like someone, if you never get hurt, then it will never be love.’ I didn’t understand it before. I was like—why? Why does it have to hurt?”

“The saddest part is… just because someone is your first love, doesn’t mean you’re theirs. Or maybe we are theirs, but they aren’t ours.”

…

The bell rang, signaling it was time to go home.

Boys ran out like monsters were chasing them. The corridor became chaotic. Some teachers shouted, but boys were boys. It happened every day—and still repeated every day.

Some boys ran to the field, some went to their extracurricular rooms, and some headed straight home.

But a group of boys who had already passed the main gate suddenly stopped because of a crowd nearby.

Between their school gate and the girls’ school next to it, people had gathered. The sound of panicked girls filled the air.

Seunghyub, curious, ran toward the crowd.

He heard a voice he was familiar with.

He pushed through people to get closer.

Not sure—but he was 70% sure.

As he got closer, an ambulance arrived.

“Eunsol-ah!”

His 70% was right.

“Eunsoool!” Bomi cried in panic. Yuna, Jieun, and Daeun helped clear the way.

“Seunghyub-ah!” Yuna was surprised as she saw him already lifting Eunsol.

“Please make some space!” an officer shouted.

Seunghyub helped place Eunsol onto the stretcher.

“I’m her neighbor. Let me in,” he said.

“Boyfriend?” the officer asked.

“No, their houses are side by side. He has her parents’ number. Trust him,” Yuna explained.

Then Seunghyub got in.

The ambulance rushed to the hospital.

…

Ten minutes later, they arrived.

Seunghyub accompanied her to the emergency room and waited for her parents.

Five minutes felt like an hour.

Finally, her mother arrived.

“Thank you, son,” Han Yujin said, still panting.

“It’s okay, aunt. Actually, Yuna handled everything. I just came along,” he replied.

“But still, thank you for being here.” She patted his shoulder.

“How is she?” her father, Mr. Kim Gimo, arrived just as the doctor stepped out.

“She needs to be hospitalized for a few days. Her heart can’t keep up with her activity. I heard unusual sounds, so she needs further tests.”

“Mom… Mom…” Eunsol’s weak voice was heard.

“Hey, your friend is calling you,” a nurse said to Seunghyub.

He nodded and walked closer.

“Need something?”

“Seunghyub?” she whispered, holding her chest.

“It hurts?” he asked, though he already knew.

“I heard my mom.”

“Yes, she’s here. She’s talking to the doctor.”

“I’m thirsty.”

“Oh—here.” He handed her bag.

“Bleeding,” she said, looking at him while drinking.

“What?” he was confused—then realized.

His lips.

“Here, drink the rest.” She handed him the bottle.

“I brought lip balm,” he said, taking it.

“You need to drink more water. Dry lips mean you’re dehydrated.”.

...

“Again?” Eunsol frowned as she saw the hospital bed being brought closer.

“Slowly, please. Don’t rush,” the nurse said with a gentle smile while helping her move.

Seunghyub gathered her belongings just as her parents returned.

******

‘Tock… tock…’

Seunghyub threw small pebbles from his room toward Eunsol’s window.

He had tried calling and texting her, but got no response.

The pebbles worked.

Eunsol appeared at the window with furrowed brows and a slightly swollen face. Tears still lingered in her eyes.

“What is it?” Seunghyub asked. “I heard you were crying.”

“How was campus orientation?” she asked instead of answering.

“It was nothing special,” he replied. Even without an answer, he already knew what was wrong.

“Don’t lie.” A tear slipped down her cheek.

“If you get bored, try finding a hobby you can do at home.”

That only made her feel worse.

So Seunghyub decided to comfort her properly.

As he went downstairs, he met his father.

“Tomorrow is your mom’s 10th anniversary. When will you be home?”

“Yes, I remember. I don’t have any schedule. I’ll cook and do the groceries.”

“Okay, thank you, son. I have to work tomorrow. Uncle Jun is sick, so I couldn’t take a day off.”

“It’s okay, Dad. No worries.”

“Then where are you going now?”

“Eunsol was crying a lot today. I want to help her find a new dream.”

“Alright. Take good care of her. I’m going to sleep.”

“Okay, Dad. Rest well.”

…

Message

“I bought some colored pencils and a sketchbook. Let’s start with that.” — Lee

“I don’t think I’ll like it…” — Kim

“Just try it!” — Lee

CRASH!

The items Seunghyub was about to pay for fell to the floor.

He had been too focused on his phone and accidentally bumped into someone.

The colored pencils scattered everywhere—the box even broke.

“Oh! I’m so sorry. I wasn’t paying attention,” the girl said as she quickly helped him pick things up.

“No, it’s okay. I wasn’t paying attention either,” Seunghyub replied with a smile.

“I’m really sorry,” she repeated again and again.

“It’s really fine.”

After a polite goodbye, Seunghyub quickly paid and hurried home to prepare for his mother’s anniversary.

…

“Is it still not done? Can I help?”

“Oh, you’re home, Dad. No, it’s okay. Just take a shower first. I’m almost done—just a little cleaning left.”

“Alright, I’ll shower first.”

The memorial was completed after his father got ready, and Seunghyub finished cleaning up.

His father clearly still missed his wife deeply.

From when Seunghyub was 10… until now, at 20.

He had never tried to find someone else.

He stayed alone, raising his only son.

His mother passed away when he was 10 due to cancer.

Most of his childhood memories were spent in hospitals.

He often couldn’t attend school because his father was busy, and his mother had to be hospitalized frequently.

Before she passed, she spent three full weeks in the hospital.

Seunghyub missed nearly a month of school.

His father decided to delay his schooling for a year.

Better that than letting his grades suffer.

That’s why he ended up one year older than his classmates.

…

The door opened.

“I’m coming!” Eunsol said, already knowing who it was.

“What’s with your outfit?” she smiled as she saw Seunghyub in a black blazer and white shirt.

“It’s my mom’s anniversary.”

“Ah… right. I should’ve helped you.”

“It’s okay. My dad cleaned the house.”

He unpacked the items he bought.

“WHAT??” Eunsol gasped at the broken colored pencils.

“Hahaha, sorry. There was an accident,” he laughed.

“Was it that serious? Even the white pencil broke.”

“Don’t worry. I bought a pencil case too—sunflower, your favorite. And the white one was barely used.”

“……It's important tho.” she said in whisper.

Eunsol smiled and carefully placed the pencils into the sunflower case.

Seunghyub took out the sketchbook and glanced at her.

Eunsol hesitated.

She liked doodling—but drawing seriously?

She wasn’t sure.

And he bought so many things…

What if she didn’t like it?

“Should I buy a new one?” Seunghyub suddenly asked.

“What?”

“The pencils.”

“Hahaha, no need. They’re still fine—and new.”

“I’m sorry… I wanted to help you find a hobby, but I messed it up.”

“No, you didn’t. Thank you so much.”

“Try it.” He opened the first page and placed it on the table.

“I don’t know what to draw.” She frowned.

He handed her a black pencil.

“Start with something you like.”

He sat beside her, watching her carefully.

“Sunflower?” he suggested.

“Hmmm…”

“Chicken?” he grabbed a red pencil and started drawing an ugly chicken.

Eunsol looked at it…

But then—

Her gaze shifted.

His face was suddenly closer.

His sharp nose entered her view.

She froze.

Her eyes moved slowly…

To the mole on his cheek.

To his eyes—sparkling.

To his lips—slightly dry but curved in a smile.

To his thick eyebrows.

She had never noticed them before.

While she was staring—

Seunghyub noticed.

They paused.

Eyes locked.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” he laughed, confused.

“I think I know what I like.” Eunsol smiled and pulled the sketchbook away.

She began drawing an eye.

“What? Eyes?”

“Yes. I like eyes.”

Her heart started racing.

She tried to ignore it.

“I think you should start with something easier. Eyes are hard. Maybe cartoon style?”

“No. I want to draw them realistically. I like eyes. Thank you, Oppa. I’ll try to learn.”

“Stop calling me Oppa. It’s weird,” he said—but gently patted her head.

“But it’s true. You’re one year older.”

For the first time in seven years—

Eunsol couldn’t look at his face.

Her heart wouldn’t stay calm.

“Practice well. I’m going home,” he said.

“Thank you.”

*******

“Why did you suddenly ask about first love?” Yuna asked as she stepped out of the toilet cubicle.

“You like someone from the boys’ school?”

“You know I always said I never liked anyone before. The only one was that bus driver…” Jieun said while drying her hands.

“But something’s bothering me.”

“What is it?”

“I think I like Seunghyub.”

Yuna froze.

“When he takes care of Eunsol… he looks so warm and sincere. I wish it was me.”

Her voice lowered.

“I get jea—”

“OH! You guys are here?”

Eunsol walked in.

Jieun immediately fell silent.

Then she left.

Yuna looked at Eunsol—

Then at the door.

She understood everything.

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