In the heart of the most luxurious neighborhoods of Capital City, the Hills of Moon Village is ironically stuck in a re-development that is still in progress after so many years due to the terrain.
Thus, if there is the unurgent business to settle, the villager won't bother to go through the unwinding stairways alley just to get to the city as the basic essential supplies still can be acquired from the row of old shops which I barely remember, consist of a barbershop, little cafe, and a groceries mart
Yet, Naomi is going through the same route daily to get to the school. I almost admired her strong will, looking back to check on Samuel, I had caught Samuel had been wiping away sweats many times.
"Are you alright, Sam?" I deliberately ask just to check whether he regrets his decision to go with me this morning.
"I'm good, watch your steps." In his breathy voice, he replied.
"We are almost there," I said, showing him the significant gate at the end of the alley.
Ringing the bells, we are welcomed by Mrs. Jang, Naomi's mother. Astonished at first by our sudden visit. Her amiability ambiance that I always reminisce broadcasted once she acknowledged my presence. "Look who is here, oh dear." She opens the gate widely, welcoming me with her heartwarming hugs. "It's been a long time, how are you, dear girl?"
"Aunty, I missed you so much," I exclaimed, tightening the embrace.
As we parted, her attention went to Samuel, who is behind me.
"And who is this young man?" She crinkled, turning her gaze to me.
Before I got the chance to answer, Samuel gladly introduced himself. "I'm Samuel Jin, Naomi's classmate. Nice to meet you, aunty." He said, bringing the basket of fruit we bought to Naomi's mother. "Here is a little gift for you."
"Such a good-looking young guy you are, thank you. Both of you are such good people. Please come in, come in." She invited, leading us to the verandah to sit. "I just make scallion pancake that you like, let me get it for you."
"Great, I'm a little hungry now." My eyes lighten with the offer of my favorite food.
"Good timing then, please wait for a while, alright."
As Mrs. Jang disappeared into the house, Samuel nudged my arm. "Gosh, you are unbelievable no shame at all."
"Oh... You will love it. Aunty makes the best scallion pancakes in the world, I love scallion pancakes," I gushed in excitement. It's been some time since mom doesn't allow me to come here anymore. I got a good beating on the day my mom found out I had been spending time with Naomi here.
"Are you sure?" Samuel queried me. His eyes widened with curiosity. "Lana Kang, scallion pancake is a pancake with scallion. And you don't like, scallion. Lana, are you alright?"
"I know but she makes the best pancake that even the scallion fishy smells taste great."
"Gosh," Samuel slapped his forehead, mumbling to himself. "You must be kidding me. Scallion is scallion, how can it taste like chicken or fish? Gosh, girls are complicated."
I ignored Samuel's grumbles, keeping a watch towards the front door, waiting for Naomi to turn up anytime soon. I was hoping this time Naomi will at least talk to me again. Instead, I'm going to be disappointed again as Mrs. Jang comes her way with a tray in her hands.
Samuel was there in an instant before I was able to stand, assisting her in setting it on the table.
"Ah, you are such a good child. Your parents must be proud of you." Mrs. Jang is praising Samuel again. "Anyway, do you like scallion pancakes as much as Lana likes it, child?"
"Yes aunty, I love scallion in my meals too. I love scallion." Samuel sneered, glaring at me with his cynical.
"Good. Eat and drink, I'm happy to see you both." She said, placing the tray beside the table and having a seat across them. "But if you wanted to see Naomi, she will only be back in the evening, she is doing part-time in the cafe in this neighborhood. Perhaps you can go to her directly?"
"How long had she been working, is everything alright?" I asked, regretting myself having missed many of Naomi's issues. It's no wonder she withdraws herself from me.
Because I'm a useless friend.
"Just recently, she said she needs some money for the incoming examination fees." Mrs. Jang explained, exhaling in heavy breathing. "If only Nora was here..."
Nora is Naomi's eldest sister, I have seen her for a while prior to her running away from home with their parents saving. Nora's deeds had broken their heart apart, and they have been living through difficulty for some time.
"Aunty, let's don't recall the bad memory." Holding her, I don't want the kind old lady to become sad again. "Naomi doesn't want to burden you because she is also a good child. Don't worry, I will take care of her too, trust me, hmm."
"How I really wish, Nora has half of your quality, Lana. It's really breaking my heart because she is my daughter."
"Shh... no, no, don't say so, she is just being with the wrong friends, she is not a bad daughter," I assured her.
Wiping her tears, she apologized, "Pardon me, child, I'm a little being overly emotional this few days due to an incident that happens,"
"Don't worry about it, aunty." Samuel slip into the conversation, "Is everything alright, is someone in the family sicks?"
I look at Samuel, surprised by his blunt question, turning to Mrs. Jang I'm hoping she could answer my concern about Sunni's accusation of Naomi.
Mrs. Jang paused for a moment, regaining her composure, "I'm sure both of you happen to know the murder of a security guard in your school, right."
I exchange a glance with Samuel and we replied to Mrs. Jang at the same time, "Yes,"
"If I were to tell you, please don't judge Naomi, will you?"
"What happens?" I asked impatiently.
"He is my younger brother from a different father..."
"What?" Once again we are exclaiming the same question to the fact. There is really a bundle of newfound information that surprises us. Gently, Mrs. Jang pours the tea into our glass cups, her hands are steady in her age. Drawing back to her seat, her bitter smile reflected as the poignant memory resurface. "Indeed, he is my half-brother. I don't pledge for Naomi, she has the reasons why she is ashamed to declare his own uncle." She demurred. "Growing up, he had always cast problems. Drugs, gambling, and debts from the loan shark, always gave my mother heartache and disappointment. My mother died soon later, having no one else to depends but for me, my family is living in hell soon afterward. " Tears welling up in her eyes, threatening to fall at any time. "Aunty... it's alright. The bad memories are best left behind." Samuel puts his hands on hers, retaining her from being sad all over again
Good weather is a good day, I tell myself. Wiping away the droplets of sweat from my forehead, I push the left-ajar gate wide. "Naomi?" I called to her as I shut the gate properly behind me. Am I too early? I wondered; it seemed like even Mrs. Jang was not around either. I proceeded to the front door, and knocked, "Naomi?" The unlocked door sound startled me; Naomi was at the door. "Come in, my mom has gone to the market." She said as she held the door, letting me into her house. Naomi, how are you? I'm glad to see you again. " "I'm good." She replied in her cold undertones. Bolting the door behind me, she takes my hand, leading me into her bedroom, where we always spend time after school during the first year of middle school. Naomi's unusual behavior had me pondering the reason she called me in, yet I decided to hear her out. I take a look around. Her bedroom hadn't changed much, everything is in place and neat as usual. Books were sprawled on her study desk, indicating that
"Cheers to our Nelson first girl!!" They yelled joyously over the non-alcoholic cocktails. Glasses clinking. Naomi's cheeks were almost burned by the surprise arranged by Nelson at the private yacht club lounge belonging to his family.
It is past 10:30 pm after our late night revision class, I definitely disapprove of doing study at this hour. But this is the only way I can avoid getting home earlier, mom wouldn't be allowing me to go to Samuel's house for the sake of studying, and definitely, a boy coming to my house to study with me is a no-no. And so here am I, sitting on Samuel's passenger side, trying to stay awake on the 25 minutes drive home. "You keep dozing off, Lana. Tired?" Asked Samuel while his gaze concentrates on the road. "Hmm..."I mumbled, lazily turned to him, "Yeah, Hansel have an episode again last night." "Just close your eyes then, I will wake you up later," Samuel suggested. "Sure," I replied in brief. Silly, my eyelids are heavy, I would be glad to be granted 10 minutes of eyes close. I just don't want to be rude, having Samuel drive me home while I was asleep. Giving up on trying to stay awake, I le
Drip, drip, drip... The white voice of rain awakens me. Gradually, I regained consciousness. Looking around to the familiar place, I realize I was back in my classroom, alone. I had fallen asleep. The classroom is empty, and the clock above the whiteboard shows that it is 5:50 pm. A realization hits me like thunder, could it be... I pulled away from my desk, heartbeat racing, wildly looking around me. Am I having another nightmare again? "Student?" A voice startled me, practically had me get a heart attack. I gasped in horror as the person I feared the most appeared at the front door. "Student, are you alright? Why are you staying alone in the classroom?" The perfectly fine Mr. Bong asked. No, there is something wrong with the setting. Am I returning to thi
It's late in the middle of the day, the sun is warm, a soft breeze gently ruffled her middle-length wavy hair. Naomi had just finished her Sunday part-time job, noticing the front gate isn't locked, she pondered whether her mother had forgotten to lock the door again. "Ma?" Her voice echoed into the empty house. Her mom isn't around, she sighed to no avail, her mother had gone out for the day, the dining table had been prepared with the meal, waiting to be re-heat. She looks over her surrounding, her sixth sense gesturing she isn't alone. A terror strikes as she found the door to her room was ajar. She never left her bedroom left unlocked! Her steps stuttered, unable to think for a moment. She purposely left the main door open wide, grabbing the handle of a broom which coincidentally was the most suitable weapon she found closer to her, she carefully entered her room. "
"Don't do anything stupid, Nora!" She hissed in anger. "I saw the opportunity why not, Naomi?" Nora replied with no remorse. She casually hoisted the stained uniform from the floor. The name embroidered on it had turned dirty dark brown. "I only need to take this with me." "NO!!!" Naomi seized it, clutching it tightly to her chest. "Oh Naomi, you don't expect me to be harsh to you, right? Give it to me while I'm being nice." She ordered in her rather restrained demeanor. "Get out!" Instead, Naomi decides to chase her sister out of the house. "Unless you hand to me that blazer." Nora forfeited, she trances to get it herself. "No!!" Naomi holds it more tightly to her, dropping herself into a defensive stance. A bitter frown creeping all over her face, the evidence is the main subject to her plan, she had to have it no ma
Arrays of shades with tints of red, yellow, and orange adorned the sky, and the sun began to disappear under the horizon. With the contrast streaks of colors between the skyline and the sea, it appears as if there are two worlds apart. The gentle waves washed ashore, and the crisp breeze induced an illusion of saltness sensation emergence from the borderless mighty ocean. Nelson inhaled the scentofthe sea he always loves, the girl he loves is farther ahead by the barbeque fire pit left by visiting campers. Naomi had insisted he stay where he parked his metallic greensuperbike, he very much doubted whether Naomi is hinting for a night under the sky full of stars. New norms of spending leisure time living in a tent, especially by the seaside is a popular activity these days. Someday, he told hims