Once Upon A Spring

CHAPTER 4

*Yoo Jeong's POV*

I was so shocked when I saw her, ''What are you doing here?''

''What do you mean?'' she asked me in return.

''I… I mean, sorry. This is not my house. Thank you for letting me rest in your house. Maybe I will---''

''What do you mean?'' she asked me again, but this time with a caring smile.

''You are living here. Do you know why your head hurts so much?'' she continued.

''I hit a truck last night, but I do not remember where and when,'' I answered her directly but with curiosity.

You will see the worry and confusion on her face, ''What are you talking about that you hit a truck last night? Can you not remember? What can I do about this? This is always what you say when you are drunk.’’ She also tried to imitate me, ‘’I can’t remember anything. What happened yesterday? Did I do something wrong or weird?''

''It seems your mind keeps on flying,'' she continued.

I could feel her sincerity and care while talking, but I didn't know what was happening.

She also gave me medicine and put it in the room's door's pocket, ''Oh, this is your hangover medicine. If you want to warm up, I've already boiled some water. You just have to drink, and I have to leave now. I will buy our dish in the nearby market.''

I still remember when I was not drunk, but whatever she said seemed very convincing. Even though I knew exactly what happened to me, she told me something different from my own experience.

I just stood up from the bed and felt too much headache. I felt so dizzy to the point that I returned to bed.

As I sat down, my hand accidentally touched an ID lace. I partially looked at it and was surprised at what I saw, ''What is this? W… What does this mean?''

I saw the ID with my picture and named Seong Yoo Jeong. We have the same name but a different surname.

''Is there something that I can not recall? Should I not be in the hospital at these times because I bumped a big truck? Is this---,'' I asked myself.

''I have been unconscious for many months before they changed my name? But why?''

I forced myself to remember everything.

I talked to myself because I was also confused about what was happening.

''Did Dad know all of these? Speaking of Dad, where is he?'' I quickly stand from the bed and find him outside the bedroom.

When I got out, I felt strange.

Actually, I'm grateful to that older woman who helped me, but this is not a house or home that I like.

Old vibes.

Because of my headache, I just prepared and drank hot coffee. I was still trying to think of everything.

''That ID. What is it? My picture and my face are in that ID but with a different name. Weird. What kind of drama is this?''

My eyes became big because of what I thought.

''Is it because my father already abandoned me? He gave me to that woman. He changed my surname because I ridiculed him. Then, he left me?''

''But why now? When I needed---,'' I suddenly stopped talking.

I... I needed him?

What am I thinking? It already came from my mouth that I hate him, and now I just said I need him.

Hypocrite.

Because I wanted to know where I was, I went outside the house.

You can see the houses that have an old vibe.

Wait, I remember this street. This is too familiar.

As far as I remember, this street is already abandoned. But why is it here?

I tried to close my eyes because I could not believe what I saw.

But nothing has changed.

''What are these sights? Is this a dream? Is this street already abandoned? Why am I here? Why are there houses here? Where am I?''

I didn't realize that I had raised my voice, and later someone answered my question.

''You're in Sangin-dong. Where else do you think, Yoo Jeong?'' the old woman replied, who I think is a neighbor and just the same age as the old woman who adopted me.

''Why do you know me?'' I asked her.

''Of course. You have been living here since you were a baby?'' she answered.

Wait, what did I get into?

I went into too many detailed place.

I don't know why I'm here.

I also don’t know people here.

Who are they?

If it is indisputable that my brain could imagine it, I can't believe it at first because what I see is so detailed.

This street is very lively. The houses here are made of light materials, but the design and organization inside seem reasonable. You can only pass through the narrow alley on the way here. There was clutter, but only slightly compared to what I had seen before. Houses have their territory here, but it is quiet here, and there is no fight over their landmarks.

The atmosphere is just old vibes.

My head ached a bit because of what am I thinking this time. It looks like I'm in reality.

I entered my room and forced myself to close my eyes. Maybe it's just a figment of my imagination.

But I had already closed and opened my eyes a few times, yet nothing happened.

I can no longer stand what is happening.

That’s why...

''AAARRRRGGGHHH!!'' I just shouted out my frustration.

I looked out the window to vent my frustrations. You will also find Heungnam High School not far away from this sight.

''I have so much more to do in my life. If this dream is permanent ---, '' I interrupted..

''I hope it will not happen.''

I just punched the wall to the next door, ''That’s terrible! You made my real talk very serious! Can’t you understand low-key humor!'' I said as I looked up.

I could see the neighbors looking out the window, '' Hey, kid. Why are you shouting? It is too early to shout like that. You thought that you were just the one who was living here? '''

''What happened to this young lady?'' another one shouted.

''That’s the reality when the person is drunk. Doing anything so weird!'' I heard one, even though her voice was weak.

Gossip seems to be rampant here.

I couldn't stand it anymore, so I just closed the window and lay down.

I wrapped myself in blankets while thinking of random things.

I have been staring at the ceiling of this house for several hours.

I was able to get the ID on the bottom of my foot again.

I looked at it again.

I need to get out of here. I was going crazy thinking about where and what I went to.

I looked at other details on this ID. The month and day of my birthday are the same. But the year set 1976?

Hwang Hoon International University

Seong Yoo Jeong

BSBM- Major in Financial Management- 3rd Year

Birth Date: January 6, 1976

Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Seong Ha Ra

Address: Apt.1172 Sangin-dong, Dalseo-gu, Taegu Metropolitan City

I wish I were 45 years old.

''Oh, isn’t it this young lady already died that’s why the old lady kidn*pped me? Because I have the same looks and name as her daughter?''

But it's impossible because she looks like a good person, and if it is, I was tied up starting when I woke up until now.

And then this school, didn't it close because of an accident allegedly happened here?

Is there no calendar or cellphone here?

Speaking of cellphones, where is my cellphone?

Because of the amount of thinking I had, I never thought about where my personal belongings were.

I tried to look at the cluttered table that looked like a study table because of the number of notebooks, paper, books, and markers.

I was just stunned by what I saw.

"Isn't this what they call a beeper?" I asked as I pressed it.

I also saw a list of numbers here, and I tried to dial one of them.

When I heard music from the beeper...

'' Ah! Is this how to use it? ''

It's like I'm a fool here because of the fun. I have seen a beeper for the first time.

I looked at the time. Because of too much thinking, I didn’t realize it was almost 2 PM already.

Because I got bored quickly, I rummaged in the drawer.

Yes, in the wardrobe of this fake Yoo Jeong.

''Eh? Why do I only see the dress here? Doesn’t she have loose pants to wear?''

While searching, I found a cassette tape and earphones.

What is this? How to use it? I just threw it in its original location.

I even tried to search here in case I could find my cellphone.

Here you can see a huge ceiling fan that is dusty and doesn't work.

The dining table is on the floor. It's like a traditional family meal.

I still can't find my cell phone and other personal belongings.

I'm just going to be a little crazy here.

As I was finding my personal belongings, I couldn't help but stare at what I saw. These are not really my interests.

It’s too old stuff, and I can’t live when I see it.

''What kind of place and things are these? Old and obsolete nowadays. It's like I'm still in Dad's time,'' and I just stopped talking.

''I… in… in Dad’s time?!!''

My eyes widened slightly, and I sat down on the floor.

''I… I'm… Impossible! Maybe, it is not,'' I said nervously.

I was even more confused until there was a loud knock on the door.

More pounding of my heart came out of my chest.

The door opened automatically...

And I saw the old woman...

With an extra large smile.

''Oh, f**k,'' I cried out in a whisper.

While smiling, she said to me, ''My daughter, have you eaten yet?''

A ... daughter?

''Why don't you help me here?'' she continued.

I just stood up because its aura was terrifying, "Ah, yes, of course, I will help you out."

'' You haven't eaten yet?'' she asked.

"Ah, there's no need---," I said interruptedly, and she rubbed my face, forehead, and neck.

I was just stunned by what she did, and she moved slightly away from me.

I could clearly see that she was worried about me.

But there is only one thing on my mind right now.

This is what it feels like to have a mother.

A mother.

I wondered if...

My mother is still alive...

Will she do the same to me?

Even though it is not my real mother in front of me, it still feels different from having an older woman caring for you like a mother.

Those are the things I have never experienced.

I just went back to reality when something fell.

It is...

It is a hanger hitting the refrigerator.

''W… What is that?'' I wondered.

''Why are you so pale?'' I could see the anger in her eyes.

''I was not hungry, so that’s why---''

''And why is the house so messy?'' she asked.

I'm dead.

"Ahhh, because I looked for my cellphone and then my personal use ---," I explained.

'' Ce… cellphone?'' she asked.

'' Ye… yes.''

She slowly lowered the hanger she was holding and asked, ''What kind of word is that?''

''I… I mean, is that word existing?''

'' Yes, ahjumma!'' I answered.

''Did you use my money to buy that thing?'' she asked as she raised her arm and the hanger again.

''N… No, it’s not!''

What does this old lady talking about? Does she know what she is saying? Dad bought it, and then she told me I used her money for it.

"Dad bought it!"

Her eyes widened in shock, and she lowered the hanger she was carrying.

''You looked starving. '' she worried.

''You're still pale, and then I'll beat you like this. I'm going to cook, and you must eat a lot. Okay?’’

While eating, she suddenly spoke again, ''You even mentioned your father. Even though he is dead, you still mention him. '' she smiled slightly, ''Do you miss him?''

''W… what do you mean?''

''Don't you remember? He was run over by a truck. He saved you. ''

I saw the sadness in her eyes as she explained that.

''You're always like that when you're drunk. You're always looking for your father. Then a while ago, when you told a story about you being run over by a truck, that wasn’t true ''

I don't know what to answer.

But there is only one thing I know this time,

She is sincere in what she says.