“I guess you’re ready for school?” my auntie called as her head popped up from the doorframe of my room.

            “Yes, just a moment.” I answered and placed a band aid on my scratched knee.

            Last month, all of my belongings were shipped to Chukryeongsan1, in my aunt’s house. Our other properties were all sold and the money was added to my trust fund. In addition, I’m also receiving my father’s pension. That money will sustain my needs, aside from my education, and hopefully it will last.

            I tried my hardest to move on and live this new life I have after the accident. I read through the book of the stages of grief and up until now I am still working on it. Aside from keeping myself collected, I also tried to learn how to ride the bicycle. We live in a small town near the woods and the local high school can be easily reached either by a twenty-minute walk or a bike ride for a much shorter time.

           I wasn’t able to learn how to ride the bike when I was young and I don’t really remember the main reason why. Maybe because no one was they’re to teach me how or maybe I wasn’t simply interested. Either way, I am now, and even without a proper teacher, I still manage to learn somehow. But accidents are inevitable. Just a week ago, I fell down on a sharp turn and scratched my knee on the pavement, good thing nothing serious happened.

           “When it suddenly rains, wait for it until it calms or stops,” my auntie said as she handed me my school bag. “Don’t ride too fast and don’t be too reckless. Watch for intersections and pay attention to streetlights. Don’t run on pedestrians and always, always be careful whenever you make turns. Yuki-ah, I don’t want you going home with another scratch or even worse than that.”

           “Yes, auntie. I’ll be perfectly fine.” I reassured her with a hug. “Thank you. I’ll be safe, please don’t worry too much.”

           “Don’t forget to eat your lunch.” She said.

           “Auntie, I’m almost eighteen not a preschooler. I can handle myself well, I promise.” I said.

           “Well, have fun at school.”

           “I will!” And she sent me off.

           The whether today is quite nice since it’s the beginning of spring, cherry blossoms decorates the peaceful streets of the small town. Soon after, a few other students from our village joined me in my little trip to school. All of them are still strangers to me.

           Albeit I wasn’t exactly the social butterfly type, I’m not awkward with people either. But after all that happened, I’m finding it hard to interact with other people, even kids my age.

           Just by intuition, I can tell that their eyes and ears are on me. ‘Unfamiliar. New kid. Probably from Seoul.’ I can’t read minds but I know they’re all curious of me.

           I heaved a deep sigh.

           Everything’s going to be okay. I tried to convince myself. No need to feel nervous, you’re not in kindergarten anymore, Yuki.

           After more or less ten minutes, I finally reached school. It looks really different from the previous one I attended and it’s a whole lot smaller too but the place doesn’t seem so bad. At least, I hope.

           A voice suddenly caught my attention.

           “Jeonhaksaeng2?”

           “Ne?” I asked, looking for that certain person.

           “Haven’t seen you before, are you a new student?” turns out, the school guard was the one asking me.

           “Yes, sir.” I answered.

           “Hmm, senior?” he asked some more.

           “Yes.” I answered.

           “You might want to direct yourself to the faculty room.” He instructed. “It’s on the west wing, right across the principal’s office. Don’t worry, you’ll notice it for its signboard.”

           “I will, sir. Thank you.”

           He simply bid me a smile and then I went my way. The school is not too big and just like what he said; I easily found the faculty room with its signboard. Once again, taking a deep breath I proceeded with a few knocks on the door.

           “Come in, please.” A familiar gentle voice answered.

           I opened the door and saw a few teachers and faculty members, busy preparing on the morning of the first class of the school year.