Life went on, tedious as ever. Repeating the exact same words, 'Hello, how are you?', behind the counter. Empty words. Sora couldn't care less how 'happy' these strangers were. And why should she? At the mere age of seventeen she worked tirelessly and was expected to get straight As.

Life was a interminable rollercoaster with no end.

Life was a hellish tunnel where light was impossible to find.

Life .

However hard she worked, however hard she tried, it never seemed to get better for her. The only problem was that if she stopped this endless cycle of school, work and falling asleep on her desk, it would get worse. She had no time for dolling herself up, romance nor hobbies. Hell, she didn't even have an ambition! 

Sora let out a huge yawn as she continued to arrange the items on the shelves. Her back ached and she had not slept for days. She was feeling fatigued and nauseous, but she needed to remain strong.

'For mum, for your sister.' She whispered to herself.

Life had never been easy for Sora. Her mum was exactly like her, working continuous hours on end. Sometimes her mum would come back at the dead of night, looking sickly and pale. Everyday the two of them worked, trying to make ends meet and repay their debt. Ever since she was five, there was only three people in her family. Sora, her mum, and her big sister.

How could she forget, there was her sister-Chorong.

Her sister that was stuck in a mental institure.

Her sister that acted like a six year old.

Her big sister.

Not only did they have to work to have enough to eat and pay for the rent of their shabby settling, they had to pay for Chorong's stay in the mental institute. Chorong was retarded. Although she was already 23, she acted like a six year old. Sometimes Sora couldn't help but ask herself why.

Why it was her who had a retarded sister?

It was already hard enough.

Sora remembered the look in her mum's hazel eyes when the five year old her asked why her sister was like that. Those sad eyes which reflected guilt and despair. At first her mum used to always say that it was just a 'phase'. That some day her big sister would be the one that cared for her. Being the young child she was, she believed in her mother's words.

Soon,  it was her seventh birthday.

Sora and her mum went to go visit Chorong to celebrate her birthday together. They had the day all planned out. They would go to watch a movie, then go to the arcade and finish off with some icecream from Ben & Jerry's. 

The day was going impossibly well, everything was perfect, a picturesque memory.

After eating ice-cream, they went to take a walk around the park as a family of three. Her mum had bought them each a small plushie. They fed the ducks in the lake happily. Laughing and simply, enjoying eachother's company. Chorong was giggling at the ducks gulping down the morsels of bread. 

She waved her arms in excitement at the ducks, squealing 'Again! Again!' Then, the plush in her arms went flying, into the depths of the pond. Suddenly Chorong was silent. Her breaths became faster, heavier. She started to shake violently. Her hands reached up to her ears, as if she was blocking a high pitched noise. 

Sora had no idea what to do. She looked up to her mother who was desperately trying to calm Chorong down. People started to stare at the thirteen year old, throwing a tantrum as if she was three. 

Her mother started to get extremely panicky when Chorong started to climb over the barrier into the lake, trying to retrieve her plush.

'Someone calll the ambulance! Please!' Her mother cried, tears rolling down her cheeks. 

There was a splash as Chorong fell into the lake. She started wading into the deep end. Her mum ran after her into the lake. Chorong was starting to have trouble, the water coming up to her lips. When her mum finally managed to get Chorong back, she was unconscious. Sirens wailed in the background as the doctors performed CPR on her.  She awoke looking into the distance at nothing in particular. Sora's mum gave a sigh of relief, the colour flowing back into her pale skin.

That night, Sora and her mum returned to their small apartment. They walked home in silence, reflecting on what had happened. Sora's seven year old brain was filled with a multitude of questions. However, she couldn't bring herself to ask a single one. 

During dinner, which consisted of a pile of undercooked beans and bland potatoes, her mum burst out into tears. Sora dropped her fork in panic and went to hug her mum. 

'Sora, I think it's time to tell you the truth.' her mum said.

'When your sister was born, something went wrong. She wasn't a happy, healthy baby like you. You see, when Chorong came out of mummy's tummy,' Her mum took a short pause, scrutinizing Sora, checking one more time if she was old enough. Sora wasn't old enough. She was seven. But some children are forced to mature at a faster speed, because life is so cruel to them. Sora was one of these children.

'When your sister was born-' Her mother sighed.

'-there was a cord wrapped around her neck, choking her.'

'What has that got to do with anything? She's still going to grow up right?' Sora asked, her innocent eyes blinking up at her mother.

Little did she know, the next few words would change everything.

'Your sister will never grow up.'

That was the ugly truth of it all, and she hated it.

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'Hello, how can I help you?' Sora stared unmovingly at the handsome figure in front of her.

The man was tall and had broad shoulders. His skin was fair and his hair was styled impeccably. He had a well-defined jawline and noticeable collarbones. Covering his well-built body was a clean suit and his cologne smelt like fresh mint.

Yup, he was hot.

Even Sora thought so.

But good looks never really meant much to her.

The man who looked like he had stepped out of a fairy-tale broke into a charming smile.

'Sora?'

Sora immediately put up her guard and defences.

'Who are you and how do I know you?'

The man backed away in surprise as Sora shot him an icy look.

'Calm down, it's Kikwang.'

She stared blankly at the figure in front of her.

'Kikwang from school? Ring a bell? Nerdy Kikwang?'

'Oh.' Sora flushed a pale tinge of pink.

Cute, Kikwang thought.

'How can I help you?'

'Not even a greeting?'

'I don't do greetings.'

Cold as usual.

'You look different.' Sora stated indifferently.

'Th-thanks I guess.'

'In a good way.' Sora said with the same monotonous voice.

Kikwang flushed a deep shade of red, rubbing the back of his neck.

'Well did you want anything? We're closing in ten minutes.'

'Oh um y-yeah.' He paid for his drink and left the convenience store. As he was walking to his car, he realised how late it was. He wondered how Sora was going to get home. Kikwang decided to wait inside his car until she finished working.

At 11PM sharp Sora came out and started to walk towards a dangerous alleyway. 

Is she crazy?! 

' W-wait!'

'Kikwang? What are you still doing here?'

'Why are you walking home? It's really late and dangerous!'

'None of your business.'

'Wait! At least um, let me walk you home.' Kikwang bit his lip in embarrasment.

'Do whatever you want.' Sora sighed.

As she walked home, she could hear the faint footsteps of Kikwang following her.Sora felt a tinge of happiness pulse through her veins.

 

She wasn't alone.

That alleyway didn't seem all that frightening anymore.

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The two teenagers finally got to Sora's apartment after a long walk where not even a word was uttered. However it wasn't an awkward silence, it was a comfortable silence. It was the kind of silence where you knew perfectly well of the other's presence, and chose to embrace it. 

Kikwang stared up at the tiny block of shelter. It was a small and shabby rooftop apartment covered in graffiti. There were gaping cracks in the walls and the roof tiles where chipped. The steps up to the apartment creaked and it smelt of musty cement. Kikwang had heard of places like this, many times. But he had never seen one. Let alone been to one.

Sora glanced at Kikwangs face, judging the apartment.She had never been ashamed of where she lived. At least she had a place to live. But this time she couldn't help but feel a twinge embarrassed. Kikwang met her gaze and looked somewhere else immediately, flustered. 

'Look, I get it. You're judging me because of how I live. But sometimes people are less fortunate than others. Thanks for today.' She said bluntly and went inside.

'Wait!'

Sora paused

'Goodnight..' Kikwang said softly.

Kikwang stared at her retreating figure. He realised how tired she looked, the dark bags beneath her eyes. He realised how skinny she was, looking underfed. Did she even sleep? Did she get enough to eat? In just a few days of meeting this mysterious girl, he was already starting to worry about her. He had never felt this way about any other girl before. At this stage it was just a small crush, but it was a small crush which could potentially blossom into love.

Who was this girl?

Where did she come from?

Why did she work herself so hard?

Why is she so cold?

Kikwand was determined to befriend this girl and find out more about her. Not only that, but he yearned to see that beautiful smile again. No matter how small.