PROLOGUE

Amidst the buzz of the crowd and the Busan traffic surrounding her, a solitary figure stood unmoving as familiar faces swam before her.  She knew that any minute now, the third bus coming from Seoul will be arriving soon. In twenty minutes, the school bell will ring, indicating the start of classes in the neighborhood’s Kyungnam High School. From across the street, she saw the weary face of the old man preparing to sell his hot potatoes to students passing by. Later on, he would be having his petty verbal combats with the vendor ahjumma opposite him. She heaved a sigh, knowing that this would be another ordinary day to be spend in waste. She stood there, helpless and in dismay as her mind reeled with the usual sight and routine.

“Excuse me.”

Too preoccupied was she with her thought that it took her some time to figure out that someone just spoke to her.