First Day of Preschool

(I’m sorry I don’t know how this works worldwide, but in the U.S, kids are 5 years old when they enter preschool).

“Oma, I don’t want to go to school. Please I promise I’ll go from next year.” The little girl with two fishtails wailed.

Her young widowed mother kneeled down on one knee and leveled to her daughters height. She gently brushed the scarce loose bangs the little one had. She wiped away the few tears that escaped her daughters teary eyes and put on a comforting smile. She grabbed ahold of Salma’s hands and lightly kissed her knuckles, “listen now Moon Salma, didn’t we talk about this last night before bedtime? If you don’t go to school, how will you become smart? Didn’t you say you wanted to become smart? You wanted to learn to read and write and paint. You’ll be able to do all this here.”

It was Moon Salma’s first day in preschool and she was mortified to say the least. The thought of not seeing her mom all day frightened her even more. She felt like her mother was going to drop her off in this unknown place and leave her here forever.

When her mother felt little one’s hand tremble in her grasp she kissed them once more. “Come on sweetly, think of all the fun things you’ll do today and the friends you’ll make. I promise you, I will come back for you in the afternoon and when I do, we’ll go get mango cream foam bubble tea, your favorite,” her mother tried reasoning.

The moment Salma heard bubble tea, her face lit up, making her mother laugh. “Promise you’ll come back for me?” The little one asked with warily and pain stricken eyes.

Moons Salma’s mother creased her daughters rosy cheeks. “I will always comeback for you, I promised,” planting a kiss on her forehand. The little one nodded and gave a small smile. “Do you want me to walk you in?”

Moon Salma shook her head slowly, “No, I’ll go in by myself.” Her mother smiled at the little ones courage.

“Alright then go in, I’ll stand here and watch you go in.” Salma let go of her mother’s hands and took small steps towards the front entrance of the school. She brought her Hello Kitty lunch bag closer to her chest and hugged it as she made her way in. Salma turned around to see if her mother was still there and she was. Her mother waved her hands; Salma forced a smile, took a deep breath and walked in.

“Moon Salma,” the little one heard a voice call out for her. She turned around to see a tall woman smiling towards her. As nervous as she was she smiled back. “Hello there, I’m your Sun-seng nim.” Salma bowed her head. Her teacher smiled and patted Salma’s shoulders, “you can put your jacket in one of those cubbies there and go on and play with the blocks or paint.” Salma nodded her head and did as the teacher instructed.

Salma made her way towards the corner of the room with a few blocks to play with. She was scared of the other students so she distanced herself from them and played by herself in the corner.

“Are you Moon Salma?” Salma looked up and saw a bright and bubble boy with a big smile and messy black hair. Salma nodded in agreement.

“Waaah that’s so cool; my last name is also Moon,” the little boy said impressed. “My name is Moon Jongup. Are we by any chance related?”

The question made Salma giggle, “No I don’t think so.” She replied in a low voice.

“Awww, it would be so cool if we were,” The little boy expressed disappointed. He plopped down next to Salma and turned towards her. Salma was starled by his free spirited aroma but stayed quiet. “Let’s be best friend’s, we can be called MoonMoon or MooMoo. Which one do you like better?” The boy rambled on making Salma giggle.

“My neighbor told me not to be friends with boy’s, they have cooties,” Salma joked.

“Really? They do?” He asked confused rubbing the back of his neck. “Omoni took me and Himchan Hyung to the doctors the other day and we got four shots. So I think I’m clean from any coo-dees.” Salma couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“What’s so funny?’

“Nothing,” She said quickly trying to make her stop laughing. “I like MoonMoon better, MooMoo sounds like we’re calling for cows.”

This time he laughed, “yeah I thought so too.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her towards the paint, “Come on let’s go paint, my hyung taught me how to make purple and orange, I’ll teach you.”

Salma smiled and followed the hyper boy. My first friend.

Middle School Graduation

“OH MY GOD Jongup!!! Can you believe it we’re officially high schoolers!!” Salma screeched hugging Jongup. Jongup felt his heart accelerate at the contact of his skin with her. They have been best friends for 10 years now but lately Jongup has been getting these tingling sensations every time Salma appeared in front of him, actually every time her name was even uttered. It brought upon discomfort onto him but he could even keep away from her cause that made him even more uneasy.

“Well not official high schoolers, we will become high schoolers when we enter high school which isn’t till September,” he teased. Salma playfully slapped his back. “Yaaaa,” he complained.

“So what’s the plan for this summer?’

“I don’t know don’t you usually make the list and I just follow it.”

“Yea but this year I wanted us to make it together so I don’t  have to go stress out and find out what boys like to do. Help me out MOONY,” she whined stomping her feet with puppy dog eyes.

Jongup couldn’t help but smile, her dark brown orbs always got the best of him. “Ok ok, I’ll help you,” he said giving in. Salma squealed in excitement.

“Alright let’s go to the bubble tea place and make a list there,” she said with excitement.

Jongup laughed shaking his head. “Seriously how many black balls can a girl your size consume,” he teased once more.

Salma slapped his shoulders again, “ERT!” Jongup burst into laughter’s at her innocence. “You have to admit they taste good.”

“Yeah sure they do,” he slyly pestered.

“OMG Moony you’re making me red!!” She shrieked covering her face. “Seriously, they weren’t lying about a teenage boy’s hormones and ual remarks.”

“Hey you two turn around and let me get a picture,” Himchan interrupted.

Jongup and Salma turned around and smiled at the older teenager. Salma gripped onto Jongup arms and rested her head on his shoulder and gave the cheesiest smile. Jongup looked down at the at the 5’1 girl besides him. 

He inhaled her lavender scented hair from the locks that were blowing into his face from the wind, filling up every single vessel in his body accelerating his heartbea