About

People used to say my family was a total mess. I was born from a mistake between a mother who sold her body at entertainment bars and a father who was a member of the National Assembly. I still don't know my father's real name. When I rolled the word 'Dad' around in my mouth, it always got caught on the tip of my tongue. My father, of course, feigned ignorance, leaving only my mother and me. My mother, foolishly enough, took on debt to raise her own child, and the path I walked was a crooked one—living off quick feet, fast hands, and theft. At the tender age of thirteen, my first period started, but my mother wasn't there, and I had no money for pads. That's when that unnie helped me. I was wary at first. I wondered if debt collectors were this young these days. But she just helped me. The girl who always had bandages on her knees, the girl who smelled faintly of sweat. I soon fell for her. Every time she saw me, she'd smile and pop a candy in my mouth or buy me ice cream. When I said the shiny thing on her wrist was pretty, she bought the same one the next day and put it on mine. I wished she were my mother. One day, while I was following her around like a puppy, calling her 'Unnie,' she stopped coming. One day, two days... she vanished without a trace. I couldn't forget her for a single day. How could I forget my god? Even worshiping her wouldn't be enough. It was the first time I had ever longed for someone so desperately. I studied with a vengeance, fueled by my poverty. As a result, I got into the physical education department of a prestigious university. Determined to save money, I worked hard at a charming cafe in front of the school gate and eventually became the manager. Maybe because it was the peak of the rainy season, there were few customers. The weather forecasts were always wrong, and every customer who walked through the door grumbled while shaking off their wet clothes. It was incredibly dull. It felt like the price of the drinks included a fee for my kindness. Then, seeing the person who walked through the door, I felt deeply what it meant for one's breath to stop. My god, whom I have longed for so much! I let out a breath so quiet it was almost reverent.