CHAPTER : 1

...The sun streamed through the living room window, casting a warm glow over the scattered toys and laughter of a young Hana. She was blissfully unaware of the storm brewing just outside her bubble of joy. With her parents—Joon and Min—in the room, it was a time filled with laughter and play. Hana, dressed in a bright yellow dress, cheered and twirled, her joy infectious....

...“Catch me if you can!” she giggled, dashing away from her father, who was pretending to be a monster, his deep laughter echoing in the room. Her mother clapped her hands, encouraging the playful chase, her smile a beacon of happiness....

...But that happiness was shattered in an instant. The laughter turned to silence as a tension-filled argument broke out between Joon and Min....

...“Why can’t you see that this is my dream?” Min shouted, frustration lacing her words. “I can’t just give it up for you!”...

...“It’s not about giving up your dreams!” Joon shot back, his voice strained. “It’s about being there for our family. I can’t do this alone!”...

...Hana’s heart raced. She felt a strange heaviness settle over her, the air thickening with conflict. She covered her ears, trying to block out the angry voices that echoed in her small world. “Stop fighting!” she cried, but her voice was lost amidst the chaos. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she huddled in a corner, feeling small and powerless....

...Days turned into weeks, and the once joyous home became filled with the daily noise of fighting. Every argument seemed to etch deeper lines on her heart. One night, she overheard the final confrontation....

...“I don’t want to be a mother right now!” Min exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion. “I want to pursue my acting career!”...

...“But we are a family! You can’t just abandon us!” Joon pleaded, his voice cracking with desperation....

...That night, the inevitable decision was made. Joon and Min decided to divorce, leaving Hana in the middle of their shattered dreams. The news hit her like a freight train; she was the innocent bystander, caught in the crossfire of their conflicting desires....

...As the memory faded, the sound of a bell jolted Hana awake. It was a dream she had lived through countless times, a reminder of her fractured past....

...“Hey, Hana! The last school bell rang! Hurry up!” her classmate called, snapping her back to reality....

...Hana blinked, shaking off the remnants of the dream. She packed her bag in silence, her heart heavy as she walked calmly through the bustling hallways of her high school. Outside, she watched as students embraced their parents, joy lighting up their faces. A girl rushed into her mother’s arms, and Hana felt a pang of jealousy twist in her stomach. But she quickly buried that feeling deep within her, forcing herself to keep moving forward....

...Her father had become a shadow of his former self since the divorce—sad and fragile, yet somehow managing to keep her in a good high school, providing for her needs. Still, Hana felt the void left by her mother. Despite her father’s efforts, she missed the warmth of her mother’s presence, the laughter that once filled their home....

...Lost in her thoughts, Hana barely noticed the world around her, focusing solely on her feet as they carried her along the path. Suddenly, she bumped into someone—a tall, calm, charming guy....

...“Oh, sorry!” he said, bowing his head slightly, but Hana didn’t register his presence. She simply brushed past him, lost in her own world....

...The boy noticed her school book drop to the ground. He quickly ran to catch up, extending the book toward her. “Hey, you dropped this,” he said, a hint of concern in his voice....

...Hana took the book without a word, her mind still swirling with thoughts. She didn’t even say thank you as she held it close, feeling more isolated than ever. The boy's expression shifted to disappointment, feeling unappreciated for his small act of kindness....

...With each step, Hana walked on, unaware of the connection she had just brushed aside, still trapped in her memories and the weight of her silent struggles....

...---...

...The next day unfolded in a haze as Hana found herself seated alone in the empty bleachers of the school stadium. She pulled out her homework, trying to focus on the problems in front of her, but her thoughts drifted like clouds across a turbulent sky....

...Laughter and shouts broke through her concentration. A group of boys had gathered on the field, playing football. Their camaraderie contrasted starkly with her solitude. As she glanced over, her eyes caught Chang Ji-wook, one of the players, who looked familiar. He was the boy she had bumped into the day before—the one she had ignored completely....

...Ji-wook paused mid-game, his gaze flickering to her. Recognition sparked in his eyes as he remembered her from their brief encounter. A flicker of annoyance crossed his face before he returned to the game. Hana quickly looked away, embarrassment creeping up her cheeks....

...As the game progressed, Ji-wook made a stunning play, scoring a goal that drew cheers from his friends. But instead of celebrating, he glanced back at Hana, who remained isolated in her world of homework and solitude....

...“Why didn’t she thank me?” he wondered, shaking his head in disbelief....

...Hana remained unaware of the impact she had made—or failed to make—on Ji-wook. Lost in her thoughts, she continued to scribble in her notebook, unaware of the connection lingering just a few yards away....

...And so, the first chapter ended with a silence that spoke volumes, both Hana and Ji-wook carrying their own burdens, their paths crossing yet again in a world filled with unspoken words and missed opportunities....

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