Mr. Shin invited Aliah’s family in his house to return the favor of having a great dinner with them. He allowed them to roam around the house freely. As expected, a rich man’s house is far different from what they have.

The automatic sliding glass door and marble flooring makes them feel like they are entering in a hotel lobby. The living room is filled with oak-varnished antique furniture and it matches with the antique wooden sofa, which makes it more classy and chic. As you enter the dining area, you will see an elegant glass tabletop which brings airy feeling to the dining room, opening up the visual space and providing a clean, modern surface.

On the second floor, you will see a mini lounge where you can take a rest or watch television or just listen to music. And adjacent to it is a mini-bar where you can see different brands of whiskeys, vodkas and red wines. There are also two bedrooms aside from the master bedroom and each has their own walk-in closet and bathroom.

His rooftop became a greenhouse where you can see different types and colors of plants which is so unfamiliar for the family. But nevertheless, it seems like all the plants were expensive and taken cared properly by Mr. Shin.

For today’s menu, it’s steamed seafood and grilled pork belly. Steamed rice, lettuce and different sauces were also served.

“Did you cook all of these all alone?” Martha asked. But Mr. Shin shook his head and smirked as if she’s asking an absolute absurd question. And they all laugh at his reaction.

“Aliah, eat well so you can grow up faster, okay?” Mr. Shin pats her head dearly as if he’s talking to his grandchild. And Aliah smiled brightly at him while putting the steamed shrimp in her mouth.

“Would you mind me asking something?” John looked at Mr. Shin.

“Go ahead.” Mr. Shin responds while sipping his warm earl grey tea.

“Why did you invite us today in your house? Did you feel uncomfortable when you ate with us in our house last time?” John teased him.

Mr. Shin waved his two hands, “Of course not. I just want to return the favor and have some visitors in this house for the first time to make it cozier and livelier.” He explained.

Mr. Shin picked something in his pocket and handed it to Aliah, a key with a unique keychain. It’s like some sort of flower and Aliah loves it.

“Wow! This is so cute. Is this for me?” She looked at it dearly and she totally fell in love with it.

“Yes. That flower is called Camellia Japonica or simply camellia. Someday when you grow up, and when a man gave you that flower, it means you are destined with each other.” He explained which made the child puzzled.

John and Martha smiled with that thought. Mr. Shin really adored Ali so much and no one can deny it. But they were also puzzled what the key was for.

“Actually, I’ll be going back to Korea soon and maybe I’ll be leaving by dawn so I won’t have time to bid goodbye. That is the master key for this house. Please take care of this until I come back.” 

Mr. Shin is having some teary eyes while saying those words, as if he’s bidding goodbye for good. Or maybe, he just felt so attached with Ali’s family.

“When will that be?” Mr. Shin was taken aback with Ali’s question. He doesn’t know what to say.

“When you grow up into a fine young lady. So you better eat properly and sleep early so you’ll grow up in just a blink of an eye.” He excused.

Aliah smiled brightly and nodded enthusiastically in response. Her excitement displays all over her face. And that was the last time they saw each other since then.

========

 “Are you ready for school?” Her mom asked. She checked her bag and everything’s set. Why does a freshman like her needs to carry eleven (11) notebooks on the first day of class? 

“Let’s go, I’ll go with you.” Her mom took the umbrella and insisted to take her to school.

“Mom, I’m old enough to go to school all alone. Besides, I doubt a freshman needs her mom on the first day of class. I know how much you love your only daughter, but please don’t spoil me too much. Okay?” She nagged.

Her mom smiled and tapped her shoulder. She feels so proud how Aliah grew up so well and matured more than her age. She couldn’t believe that her daughter is already entering High school.

She waved her hand and smiled reassuringly.

She’s looking for her classroom but it seems like she’s lost due to the volume of people scattered all over the place. It is not what she imagine how a high school life would be. Or maybe, she didn’t imagine that a public high school like where she is right now could accommodate twenty sections of freshmen with approximately sixty students per class. It’s insane right?

Finally, she saw her classroom. It’s on the deepest part of the school. Way too far from the canteen and stadium where you can witness dozen of events which what she was looking up to. And when she enters the room, it was already filled with her new classmates. Good thing they were just around fifty students, the perks of being in a star section, she thought.

There is no vacant seat at the back so she just sits on the aisle of the first row. She looked around once again to see if there’s someone familiar who came from her school way back in Elementary, and good thing there is one. But the sad part is its Zaine, the girl she hates the most for unknown reason. She didn’t do anything bad towards her but she just feels like irritated every time she saw her. Maybe some of us can relate to this kind of feeling.

Their classroom advisor came in and introduced herself as Mrs. Ricafort.

“I will be your class advisor for the entire school year so I hope we’ll all get along. Now it’s your time to introduce yourself. Let’s start with you.” She pointed at Aliah.

No one knows her more than anyone else but she feels so nervous to introduce herself in the class. They were all strangers to each and every one so basically, they really have to do it. But despite of her nervousness, she managed to stand up and start talking.

“Face your classmates so they can recognize you.” Mrs. Ricafort instructed.

And this made her more nervous so she just introduced herself shortly by just stating her full name and age. Then she immediately sits down. The introduce-yourself-session goes on.

They had the break time at 10am so she immediately walks rapidly towards the canteen or else, their 30 minutes break time will be over. Her class starts at 8am and ends at 1:30 pm so she has to eat properly or else she’ll get hungry in the middle of the class. Due to the volume of students, they have to compress their class schedule and cut it half-day so they have no choice.

Lots of students were occupying all the seats in the canteen. She looked around to see if there’s any vacancy and good thing, there’s one but she has to sit with someone across her.

“Excuse me. Is this sit available?” She asked the girl.

“Sure.” Then the girl smiled at her. But she doesn’t feel like smiling back at her because it’s Zaine.

“I’m glad I knew someone in the class.” She smiled brightly once again at her. So she smiled back forcibly.

Zaine didn’t do anything wrong towards Ali and vice versa. But she just simply doesn’t like Zaine’s vibe. But she has no choice but to befriend her in the middle of strangers in order to survive the high school life. She tried to work out their friendship so they start with going home together, eating together, doing home works together until no one can separate them from each other.