the new journey

The bright morning sunlight poured through the apartment window as Saru adjusted the collar of her new school uniform.

She stood in front of the mirror for a few seconds.

It felt strange.

A new country.

A new language.

A new school.

A new life.

She took a deep breath and whispered to herself,

"This time... I'll stay out of trouble."

A gentle knock came from the door.

"Saru?"

Her father smiled as she opened it.

"You look just like your mother on her first day in Seoul."

For a moment...

Saru's heart skipped a beat.

Her father rarely mentioned her mother.

He smiled sadly.

"She always believed this city could give people a second chance."

He handed Saru her school bag.

"I hope it gives one to you too."

Saru nodded softly.

"I'll do my best."

Thirty minutes later...

The car stopped in front of Seonghwa International High School.

Students filled the entrance, laughing and talking with their friends.

Saru tightened her grip on her bag.

Her father noticed.

"Nervous?"

"A little."

He gently placed his hand on her head.

"You don't have to become someone else."

"Just be yourself."

She gave him a small smile before stepping out of the car.

As she watched the car drive away...

She suddenly felt alone again.

The school looked enormous.

Everything was unfamiliar.

Students rushed past her, speaking Korean so quickly that she could barely understand them.

She lowered her head and quietly walked toward the entrance.

Suddenly—

BUMP!

She collided with someone.

Her books slipped from her hands and scattered across the ground.

"Oh..."

She immediately bent down to pick them up.

At the same time...

Another hand reached for the same notebook.

Their fingers touched for a brief second.

Saru quickly pulled her hand back.

The boy picked up the notebook and handed it to her.

Instead of apologizing...

He simply looked at her for a second.

His expression was calm.

Unreadable.

"Be careful."

His deep voice was cold.

Before Saru could say anything...

He walked past her.

She frowned.

"Seriously?"

"You bumped into me..."

"And you're telling me to be careful?"

A few girls nearby giggled.

"Poor new girl..."

"She just ran into Kang Min-jin."

Saru looked back.

The boy had already disappeared into the crowd.

She quietly muttered,

"What a rude person..."

Then she walked toward the main building.

Inside the classroom...

The homeroom teacher smiled warmly.

"Everyone..."

"We have a new transfer student today."

The room fell silent.

Saru stepped inside.

"My name is Saru Sharma."

"I moved here from India."

"I hope we can get along."

A few students clapped politely.

Some smiled.

Others simply stared.

The teacher looked around the classroom.

"There is one empty seat."

She pointed toward the last row.

"You'll sit next to Kang Min-jin."

Saru froze.

"Wait... him?"

Slowly...

She walked toward the back of the classroom.

The same boy she had bumped into was sitting by the window, lazily looking outside.

Without even glancing at her, he moved his bag off the chair beside him.

Saru sat down quietly.

Neither of them spoke.

The lesson began.

A few minutes later...

Min-jin looked at her for the first time.

Something about her felt...

Unfamiliar.

Yet strangely familiar.

Her long black hair.

The tiny mole on her cheek.

The quiet way she held her pencil.

A memory flashed through his mind.

Cherry blossoms dancing in the wind.

A little girl standing in front of him.

A blue ribbon tied to her bag.

A bright smile.

"Don't cry... Heroes are supposed to be brave."

Min-jin blinked.

The memory vanished.

He looked at Saru once again.

"It can't be..."

"Is she... that little girl?"

Meanwhile...

Saru noticed him staring.

She misunderstood immediately.

She turned toward him with an annoyed expression.

"Do you need something?"

Min-jin looked away.

"...No."

For the first time in years...

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Not because he had found someone.

But because...

For the first time...

He had found a memory that refused to leave.

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