07
𝙣𝙖𝙢 𝙟𝙤𝙤𝙝𝙮𝙪𝙠

i didn't even know why i even cared so much about if this girl over-worked herself or not.

she was just special. the moment i heard her plot on burning this school down i knew she was different from other girls.

i might be wrong and just brainwashing myself because she's pretty.

anywho, i managed to stay with her and we entered a little convenience store.

immediately, the tired girl that was walking like she was dead a second ago, lit up and smiled at the old lady. "hi granny yang." she chirped. if this hyeona girl was a bird she'd be the cutest thing ever.

"oh! hyeona dear, you're here earlier than usual." she said. at first sight, there was something slightly off about the grandma. i just couldn't figure out what it was.

"i'm so sorry that you have to work at this time." she said. "what would i do without you dear? the day i die i'll be sure to sell this store to you and your family. maybe you can make use of it to support your mother—"

"don't say that and don't worry about it, granny yang." hyeona said quickly, and then snuck a small glance at me.

"why—" i wondered, but she quickly shot me a glare. okay, no questions asked then.

"oh—do you have someone with you?" mrs. yang asked.

"i do! he, um, goes to my school." hyeona said.

"ah. your boyfriend?" granny yang said, chuckling slightly.

"no, it's not like that." hyeona muttered. "anyways, you should go upstairs and get some rest. i bet you're tired. don't worry, i'll be sure to lock the shop."

i stared at hyeona in awe. this girl was so kind to this grandmother. regardless of how tired she actually was, hyeona pretended she was fine.

granny yang smiled, her eyes crinkling up. "thank you dear."

hyeona nudged my arm with her elbow. "do you mind helping her upstairs?"

i jolted up. "yes—er no—y-yeah i'll do it." i said quickly, running to the grandma as fast as i could. in those five seconds, i probably sounded like some servant or something. god, what was wrong with me?

the grandma smiled, but she wasn't even looking at me. in fact, it looked like she was staring at the shelves behind me. "you like her, don't you?" she whispered.

my eyes widened. "i-i just think she's nice..."

i helped the grandma upstairs to her room, and she sat down on her bed with a sigh.

"can you take off my shoes for me?" she asked, chuckling weakly.

i nodded, and bent down to do so.

"hyeona is the kindest girl i have ever met..." granny yang said. "she deserves much less than she gets. she does everything, i heard she's an athlete too. what's that sport she plays? vol...vol—"

"volleyball?" i asked.

granny yang smiled. "yes, that. i've been to one of her games, but that does no good when you can't see anything, am i right?" she chuckled.

ah. it finally made sense to me now. this grandmother was blind.

"hyeona is a very hardworking person. i don't even need my vision to know that. she first started working here because she needed money. but, after she found out i was blind, she started working overtime, even though i could tell it in her voice that she was over-worked and very tired." granny yang frowned. "she refuses to not work. it's quite ironic."

i smiled to myself. hyeona is really something else. even i, wouldn't go that far to help somebody. sincere kindness is something that is rare in this world.

"i see her as my own daughter." she continued. "i have no family left. hyeona is quite precious to me. so please treat her well."

i chuckled, because it sounded like granny yang thought me and hyeona were really close or something, even when i only just met her yesterday. "can i ask why she works so much?"

granny yang nodded. "it's quite a heart breaking story. the reason hyeona works so hard, is so she can support her mother."

• • •