The front door opened, then closed promptly. “Hye Mi!”

I ran into the front corridor. “Appa!” I yelled, running into his arms and feeling his warmth surround me. I laughed, and he set me down, patting my head affectionately.

“Appa, where have you been?” I asked as my mother walked into the corridor wearing an apron carrying a spoon, and they exchanged a kiss.

“Don’t worry Hye Mi, my overseas work is over now.” He smiled, grabbing my mother’s waist and spinning her around.

“Jaeho!” She yelled, laughing happily as he spun her around.

I laughed with them, enjoying our family of three’s company.

*beep* *beep*

“That’s the oven, let me take out the casserole and we can talk” My mother said, pushing her husband away.

He grabbed her back, holding on tight. “Let’s just cherish this moment, shall we?” He said, kissing her.

She blushed, putting a hand to her cheek. “Ya, you don’t want your food to burn do you?”

*beep* *beep*

“Mommy, the oven is still beeping!” I said, pointing to the kitchen.

My father picked me up in his arms and held us both.

*beep* *beep*

“My two girls.” He said, grinning. “I’m so happy to be home.” He kissed my forehead and then my mother’s.

“I love you appa!” I said, kissing him back. The three of us, as a family. This wasn’t something witnessed every day.

“I love you too Hye Mi.”

*beep* *beep*

“Ughh.” I said, reaching my hand over to shut off the alarm clock that had rudely awakened me from my dream. I yawned, falling out of bed disorderly and somehow managing to walk to the bathroom to wash my face. I stared into the mirror, running my hands through my greasy hair, deciding today might be a good day to take a shower.

I sighed at my reflection. The bags under my eyes were not helping my self-confidence. After throwing up any loose strands of hair that managed to escape the unorganized bun I had fallen asleep wearing my hair in, I undressed, slipping on some black track shorts and a white tank top that had been drying on the towel rack. I grabbed my iPod off the counter, shutting off the light, and then halfheartedly trudged out of the house for my morning run.

“Hye Mi! Good morning!” I heard.

I turned to my left, waving acutely at my overenthusiastic neighbor, Nichkhun, who was collecting his mail. “Running again?” he asked, moving into my lawn. I bit my lip, trying not to start a conversation, knowing once I did it would never end. Nichkhun had been trying to get me to date him for months now, and I wasn’t interested. Not only was he annoying, but he was overconfident and cocky, the type of person I hated.

Almost every time I saw him, he tried to flirt, bragging about all his accomplishments and commenting on how many girls would love to be with him. Being his neighbor was even more torture, because I had to deal with him more often, and it wasn’t just once I caught him peeking in to my house.

“Yeah, I was just leaving, see you around!” I said, turning on my heel and jogging in the other direction.

“When you’re free, we should hang out!” He called after me. I ignored this, pretending I didn’t hear him as I stuck my ear buds into my ears and sighed, playing the calming music that got me through my mornings.