Chapter 1 - The Burning Building
"Don't you worry! I'm coming!" Jang-mi yelled over the roaring of fire. His screams could be heard, even from outside the room. Every scream of his broke her a heart a little.
As she unlocked the door, the room started swaying. Was her mind playing tricks because she had inhaled too much smoke? Or was the room really swaying? There was no time to tell.
The fire was too close.
She jumped on the little boy. He was so small, around the age of 5 years. Jang-mi protected him by holding him with her own little arms, shielding him from all harm. She saw the ceiling cracking, but there was nothing she could do. All she could do was to hold him tightly.
BOOM-
She jolted awake. She was covered in cold sweats. Her fingers touched her scar-marred, sweaty face. It was the third time this month she had lived through the horrible nightmare again. The nightmare always made her wonder, had she done something wrong by saving him? Either way, there was no point in crying over spilt milk.
Jang-mi blindly reached for her phone, that was on the wooden dresser. It took her three tries before she finally succeeded. The phone lit up. The screen showed the time- 5:32 am. Jang-mi sat up on the heap of blanket. She put her feet in her fluffy sandals. The fluffy sandals made her feet feel more cooler. But she still wore them. A weird girl she was, wasn't she?
After completing her routine, as if on cue, her dog, Bong-u, a Korean Jindo, ran to her, wagging his tail happily, ready for a walk. On the other hand, Jang-mi was anything but happy. But how could she say no to such a sweetheart ? She had to take him for his walk.
A pink puffer jacket was worn over her pajamas. And her favourite black mask stuck to her face loosely, threatening to fall at any moment. She had given all her other masks for laundry and going out without a mask was not possible. Bong-u's neck already had an orange collar. Jang-mi just looped the leash through the hole of the collar.
Jang-mi slowly opened the door, carefully to not wake up anyone else. Cool air rushed in. Jang-mi stood on the other side of the door. The door was locked by her, the keys jingling in her pocket. Dusk was still prevailing when they had started their walk. Bong-u seemed more energetic than her. But it wasn't anything new for Jang-mi. Until he started running. The leash slipped from her still sweaty hands. Off Bong-u went. And behind him ran Jang-mi. Looks like the universe wasn't going to give her a break.
Bong-u, while running, splashed a bystander (or a by-sitter, haha... Ik it's a bad joke ) who was sitting on a nearby bench. Jang-mi had thankfully caught up to him by then. She swiftly grabbed his leash, panting like she ran a marathon.
"I... I am so sorry! Mydogdoesn'tdothisveryoften!" She mumbled out.
"Take a breath, miss." The bystander told her. "And this? It's fine, I understand. It happens" He said,assuring her. Taking slow breathes, Jang-mi slowly calmed down. As she finally calmed down, her mask fell off at the worst possible time.
And as their eyes met, a new chapter started in the book of their lives.
