The Vase
The gentle morning sunlight streamed through the window and landed directly on Ko's face.
He woke up with a disappointed sigh. His dream of catching the stars with a bug-catching net had been interrupted by the sun.
Getting out of bed, he walked over to the window and looked outside.
"I'll catch you one day too. Just you wait," he declared while staring at the sun.
As he stepped out of his room, his mother immediately called out,
"Wake up already, or you're going to be late for school!"
"Why are you yelling so early in the morning? I'm already awake," Ko replied.
While taking a shower, he held the showerhead in his hand and pretended to be the protagonist of a sci-fi movie.
"You thought you could outsmart me? The all-knowing Ko? You lowly alien roach!"
After finishing his bath, he opened his closet, took out his school uniform, and started changing.
"School Armor Engaging. Unit 008 ready for battle."
Once dressed, he headed downstairs.
Instead of sitting properly, he lay across the dining table just to annoy his parents.
His father rolled up the newspaper he was reading and smacked Ko on the head.
"You brat. Sit properly."
"Ahh! Mom! Dad is trying to kill me!" Ko cried dramatically.
His mother grabbed him by the ear and pulled him upright.
"Ko, you're a high school student now. Stop acting like a child."
"Then I'll become the villain! Muahahaha!" he declared.
The family began eating breakfast together.
While eating, Ko noticed that his father seemed distracted.
"Dad, there's a bug in your food."
His father immediately panicked and began searching through his breakfast.
Seeing his father's reaction, Ko burst out laughing.
"Pfft—muahaha! Got you, Dad!"
His father's expression darkened.
"I was stressing over how I'm going to handle my presentation today! Why do you have to be like this every single time?"
Hearing genuine frustration in his father's voice, Ko's laughter faded.
He quietly lowered his head.
Noticing the change in his son's expression, his father's face softened.
"Listen, Ko," he said gently. "You're sixteen years old now. You're not eight anymore. Try acting like a high school student once in a while, okay?"
He sighed.
"And stop playing those games where an orange cat shoots everything with guns."
Ko couldn't help but smile.
His father continued,
"I'm not angry at you. I just want you to know that I'll love you whether you're a child or a high school student."
Ko looked up.
"But you're here, right?" he asked softly.
"As long as you and Mom are beside me, I'll be happy."
Then he rubbed his cheek against his father's arm like a cat.
"I'll follow Daddy anywhere. Just to annoy him."
His father let out a helpless sigh.
While Ko continued being playful with his dad, a sudden voice called out from outside.
"Ko! Are you ready yet?! We're going to be late for school!"
"Ah, she's here."
Ko grabbed his bag.
"Bye, Dad! I pray to the Preserver that your presentation goes smoothly—and that you'll buy me the new Horizon game I want."
"You're not getting anything. Scram."
Ko rushed toward the gate.
Standing outside was his girlfriend, Kenika.
"Hey, Kenny. You're early today. Did you even eat breakfast?"
"Early?" Kenika snapped. "It's already 8:10 AM! Hurry up or we'll end up stuck with extra classes this evening."
The two began walking together.
After a few minutes, Kenika suddenly stopped.
"Huh?"
She lifted her schoolbag and frowned.
"It feels too light…"
A moment later, her eyes widened.
"Ah! I forgot my lunchbox at home!"
Ko immediately burst out laughing.
"Pfft—haha! Look at this! The legendary second-year Kenika forgot her lunchbox."
Then he paused.
"Wait. Didn't you say your parents are away this week?"
A mischievous grin appeared on his face.
"Don't tell me you actually cooked for yourself."
"No! I mean—"
Kenika froze.
"My aunt—"
She quickly corrected herself.
"I mean, I cooked lunch today! Yes! I did!"
Ko's grin widened.
"Heh. Didn't you just say 'aunt'?"
Kenika looked away.
"So the truth is your aunt cooked lunch for you."
"Haha! She can't help it. She insists on cooking, even though she isn't very good at it. But she tried her best today."
"Your aunt is really like that at home?"
Kenika nodded.
"Yep."
Ko thought back to the high school entrance ceremony.
When he had first seen her aunt, she had looked cold, strict, and completely unapproachable.
Now he was hearing stories about her insisting on cooking lunch.
"I kind of want to see her cook now."
"You really want to see?!" Kenika suddenly shouted.
Before Ko could react, she grabbed his hand and leaned toward him.
"Y-Yeah! What happened to you all of a sudden?!"
Kenika giggled.
"Nothing."
"You scared me."
"It's because I got excited."
"About what?"
"The thought of my boyfriend watching me cook."
Ko blinked.
"But I said I wanted to watch your aunt cook."
"Yes, yes. But it'll still be me who's cooking."
"Are you on drugs, Kenny?!"
"What did you just say?!"
Bickering the entire way, the two eventually arrived at the school entrance.
To be continued...
