I remember the day it all started...

The cherry blossoms had bloomed early that year. 

Inside your grandparents' house, Mokpo, South Korea

"Haraboji, please don't die," you cry.

"Oh, pretty nurse, is it time for my checkup?" the old man lying on the bed asks softly.

Your mother grasps your father's arm tightly as she lets out her tears in quiet sobs.

"Harabojiii," you say. "I'm Kim Haneul. You are my grandpa."

"Ah... Kim Haneul... Haneul... Haneul-ah..."

He... he remembers me... 

"Haneul-ah... Everything is going to be okay," he lets out a weak smile. "I left you a gift that I saved up for with my pension. You won't have to stop school anymore. You can finish college and get a good job... a good life..." 

"Haraboji..." You can't control your tears anymore. "I'm so happy. Thank you so much for your hard work!" 

"I've finished all my responsibilities here in this world... Make good use of it. Live life to the fullest, and follow your dreams, no matter what."

"Appa," your mother cries, "please don't leave us yet." 

"My daughter, you have done well. Don't overwork yourself and remember to enjoy the little things in life," he turns to your father and coughs, "Take care of this family. Spend time with them and don't sell your soul for money."

He turns back to you and says with his dying breath,

"Live life with no regrets.

Everything brings you forward,

and as for the bad things,

learn from them

and charge it to experience.

Seek happiness..." 

"Haraboji? HARABOJI??"

"APPA!!!" 

...

...

...

As I walk down this street that I have gotten to know so well, I miss him as though he had been gone for decades although it has only been a few weeks. I replay our moments together as the cool spring breeze blows in my hair.

My grandfather was a very wise man and he lived a very simple life. He taught me a lot of things, and even after he started to forget things, he wouldn't stop filling me with these lessons that I had kept in my heart. (Half of which I don't understand fully yet. ._.)

When we got back home, my mom took out the check that he had left behind as part of his will. Her eyes widened with shock as she looked at it. She gave it to me. 

Oh, haraboji, wae?? 

It said: Seoul High School.

It's one of the best high schools in the country. 

And it's also an all-boys school. 

"Haneul-ah, what do we do? It's only for Seoul High School," she cried. "Appa wasted his pension on this." 

"Omma, it can't be helped. I'll just give up my dream and start looking for work."

"No, omma, he didn't waste a single won. I will go to Seoul High School as a boy."