? laundry boy | yang jungwon

"it was you, wasn't it." he whispered, laying down and holding the small journal up high to observe it. he shoved it in his pocket before getting up

he made his way back inside, he decided it was time to go home.

afterschool, he always saw hisano leave right after the bells rung. every time, she looked like she was in a rush.

"i wonder where she goes." he whispered.

as he left the school building, he took out the journal once again.

flipping it to a blank page, he took the pencil out of it's slot where a soft elastic band wrapped around it.

then, he wrote...

-go for a swim

after that, he took out his mp3 and earphones to listen to some music.

he hadn't realized where he was going, he wasn't even following his usual route home. he found himself walking on a bridge, a very short and small one this time.

the sounds of water with wind was so peaceful. across the bridge, the area was even more green, lots of trees. it wasn't so grey and gloomy.

the area they lived in was small. their town was small, and had a lot of people. everyone talked loudly and played during the day, but it was peaceful here.

he never really knew what the other places across the waters were like other than downtown. even if this place was so close by.

he wanted to know what it looked like where there were no pavement, kids playing hopscotch, cars. he wanted to see the areas that were untouched, the places where there were no people around.

when he squinted, he saw a girl crouched down. her hair dangling down while she stroked a random cat. she was still in her uniform.

those mismatched socks.

her school shoes looked a bit dirty, dried mud, maybe?

and on one of her hands, was a gardening glove. the other glove was on the floor so she could pet the cat with her bare hand.

they were just spending time with one another at lunch, but how come he already missed her so much?

hisano

every day after school, i went to my grandpa's to check up, on him, see how he's doing.

and to see how the garden was doing.

actually, his house was closer to the school, so it was easier for me to visit.

rather than to be at home, cooking my own food, watching tv by myself, talking to myself.

i always did things by myself at home, even though there were more people in the house.

it felt lonely in my own house. but, occasionally, my parents would pay attention to me. like when my mom scolded me that one time.

but my parents don't even pay attention to each other, it breaks my heart.

it hurts living with two people who don't even love each other anymore.

so, i spend my afternoon at my grandpa's. he's lonely as well so we both pay attention to each other. we talk about things like school, memories, grandma.

and we'd take care of the garden together.

i always loved the walk to his house, way better than walking to the laundromat.

it was green, you could hear the waters. it was way more quiet and peaceful compared to the town,

as i was petting the cat, i turned my head and saw him.