twelve; 

"Goodnight, Minnie."

"Goodnight, dad."

Min Jun's father pecks her on the forehead before shutting the lights and the door behind him. Min Jun lays under her covers. She would have to wait until he and her mother went to bed, which is conveniently early, usually only fifteen minutes after her own bedtime.

Fifteen minutes later Min Jun is all dressed and ready to go. She slips out her front door and into the inky late fall night.

Puffs of white escape her lips as she marches briskly to the Ahn Mansion. It's become a habit of hers to visit D.O weekly. Every week she would go to his attic room and teach him how to read, and the things she's learning at school. D.O is remarkably gifted at grasping novel concepts. Perhaps even better than Min Jun herself. 

Taking a breath, she eases open the iron clad gates and tiptoes onto the estate. The moon is bright that night; so bright that she doesn't even need her flashlight. The ladder is right where she left it, against the brick wall. She positions it with care and mounts it, beginning her descent. She sees that D.O is already waiting for her by the time she reaches his window. 

"Hello!" She greets as she bounds in. 

D.O nods in response.

"How's Through the Looking Glass coming along?"

"Good. I'm almost finished chapter nine."

Min Jun's eyes widen in surprise.  

"Chapter nine? No way! But you just got through c