Ji Won stared at the girl who had just walked away.
She must be the nicest or dumbest person in this
world,’ he thought.
He began to stand up but had to use the wall for
balance. That girl had kicked him a little too hard.
Ji Won had just run away from home again. He had
run away so many times that the alley was his second
home. When he ran away he always stole his parents’
money.
They were the richest people in all of Hawaii but
they were also the most messed up family. His dad
would have a lot of women with him and would betray
a friend if it would bring him money. His mom, on
the other hand, was an exact duplicate of his dad.
She always had these young men around her and spent
money like crazy. His parents were divorced and
lived on opposite ends of Hawaii.
‘Bitch and bastard,’ thought Ji Won.
When he ran away this time, he didn’t have
the chance to steal any money from his dad. So he
had no choice but to rob somebody. When he saw the
young girl walking out of the store, she seemed
to be the perfect target. But things didn’t
turn out as planned.
Ji Won kept wondering why the girl gave him the
money even though he could have killed her. Ji Won
knew he couldn’t take the money because she
was the first person in his messed up life that
was nice to him because she wanted to be, not because
she wanted something from him. He wanted to give
the money back.
When he gained some of his strength back, he began
to chase her…
Part 5
When I came home, I was greeted by the usual words.
‘Ugly wretch, wicked girl, freeloader, etc.’
but luckily I made it through dinner fine. When
dinner ended, my parents went to sleep leaving me
with the dishes. I cleaned the table and washed
the dishes.
I also took out the trash and then suddenly I felt
someone grab me from behind. My attacker turned
me around to face him. It was the same boy I met
in the alley. I began to panic.
“I gave you all my money already! What more
do you want from me?”
He raised a finger to his lips and tried to shush
me. I felt one of my attacks coming on. I started
to hyperventilate and couldn’t breathe. I
was beginning to black out.
Ji Won looked at the girl who looked like she was
going to die.
“Oh my God! Are you okay?”
This time it was the girl’s turn to shake
her head no. Then she collapsed in his arms. Ji
Won didn’t know what to do but he had to save
her life. He began to give her mouth to mouth.
“Come on,” he whispered to her. “Breathe.
Don’t die on me.”
After a while she began coughing and opened her
eyes.
I opened my eyes and saw a blurry object heading
towards me. Then I felt something soft pressing
against my lips and I felt a gust of air. Then I
realized the boy was giving me air. I couldn’t
believe what was happening. I blushed and gently
pushed him away.
“Thank you for saving me. I’m okay now.”
The boy turned slightly red. “Uhh…you’re
welcome. You kinda scared me there.”
“Sorry about that. Well, what is it that you
want from me?”
“Here.” He handed me back the same ten
dollars I had given him. I looked up at him.
“No, it’s okay. Keep it. I think you
need it or you wouldn’t have tried to rob
me.”
He shook his head. “No. I just wanted to borrow
it only. I don’t take charity. Well, goodbye.”
Just as he walked away, I heard his stomach grumble.
I bit my tongue so I wouldn’t laugh. Since
he didn’t take charity, I said, “Um,
hey. I just made some food and I don’t know
if it’s good or not. I need a guinea pig because
I don’t want to serve it to my parents if
it isn’t and besides, you did save my life.
Ji Won looked at her. ‘Why is she being so
nice to me?’ he thought. He knew she was just
saying that because she heard him say he doesn’t
want charity. Ji Won’s stomach was growling
like crazy. He hasn’t eaten for 2 days already
and the mention of food was killing him.
“Uh, okay. I guess I’ll be your guinea
pig since I have nothing to do.”
He studied her face as she smiled at him. ‘She’s
pretty,’ he thought as he smiled back.
Part 6
I let the boy wait outside as I got some of the
leftover mee-yuk-gook for him. He finished it in
less than a minute. Then he leaned back and sighed.
Out of nowhere, he let out a burp. I had to giggle.
He looked at me and smiled.
“Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay.”
I hesitated before I asked him the next question.
“Umm…so what’s your name?”
He glanced at me and then stared at the ground.
I could tell he was debating to tell me his real
name or not. I didn’t want him to feel obligated
to telling me his name. “It’s okay.
You don’t have to tell me if you don’t
want to.”
Ji Won looked at her surprised. “No! It isn’t
that!” he yelled. She stared back at him surprised
too. Then he lowered his voice. “I’m
sorry. Please don’t misunderstand.”
She nodded her head slowly and Ji Won can tell that
she was confused. Ji Won felt that he could trust
her and he wanted her to be his friend.
“My name is Eun Ji Won and you are?”
“Nam Mi-Na, but call me Mina. It’s easier
to remember.”
Then she gave him the sweetest smile. Ji Won felt
his heart beat a little faster when she smiled at
him. He blushed and looks away.
“So uh, how old are you?”
“13,” she replied. “And you Ji
Wonee?”
He smiled when she called him that. “I’m
15,” he said turning back to look at her.
“15?” I asked in disbelief.
Ji Won nodded.
“Where are your parents oppa? You’re
too young to be living in the streets.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I can take care
of myself.” I gave him a doubting look because
he was trying to pull that tough guy act on me.
“It’s okay though,” he told me.
“I have a family. It’s just that things
are bad at home so I’m just getting away from
it for a while.”
‘So he ran away,’ I figured out.
I could tell that Ji Won was a good person. “Do
you have a place to stay tonight?” He shook
his head. “How about staying in my room then,”
I offered.
Ji Won couldn’t believe his ears. He stared
at Mina. ‘Did she just offer him a place to
stay?’
“Ji Won?” Mina asked as she waved a
hand in front of his face. “Are you okay?”
Ji Won shook his head and snapped out of it. She
placed her hand on his knee. “Oppa, I asked
if you want to stay in my room for tonight?”
Ji Won was so touched that he felt his heartache.
No one had ever cared about him so much but he didn’t
want to feel as though he owed her. “No thanks.”
Mina looked at him with her big sad eyes. “Please
oppa? I’m afraid of the dark.” Ji Won
smiled. He knew she was lying so he would say yes.
For the first time in his life, Ji Won felt warm
inside because now he is wanted. He let out a sigh.
“Aigo Mina, okay. You talked me into it. But
just for tonight though.”
She giggled and nodded.
“Okay.”
