01. Accident

The sun has hidden behind the horizon, changing positions with the moon that is no less bright shining on each side of the Han river. The light was so sweet taking over the tinge of the sunset that was so beautiful this afternoon.

It's seven o'clock at night.

Somehow Aera was stuck in one place for a few hours. Other students are seen enjoying the view of the Han River while talking and exchanging jokes with each other. Right on the bench next to Aera. There was a pair of lovers, who looked so intimate wearing matching brown clothes. Aera envied those who looked at each other and laughed together. How happy it was to have someone who would listen to your whole story, it was sad or happy, whether it was fun to hear or just a boring joke.

No, Aera is not only envious of them. But, of all the humans she has ever met on this earth. While daydreaming and composing a happy story in her mind. Aera ate a chocolate-flavored ice cream that she bought five minutes ago at a convenience store near the river. Unconsciously she glanced at the river, which was so calm, decorated with ivory lamps and lanterns on all sides.

It seems that fate likes to play with her, feels she has committed a big sin to fate until she gets her karma. It's like playing pranks on elementary school kids on the street by snatching snacks from their hands, then soon she gets pickpocketed.

Don't imagine, that's how Aera describes her life. Always simple and unpredictable.

Even so, she is tougher than you think. She is still trying to live a good life without doing stupid things out there. Like looking for a sugar daddy for example. No one wants and cares about her, like her father, mother, especially her younger sister. Indeed, Aera is just an adopted child in her family, her parents are picky and her sister is so arrogant.

Ahh, it feels like giving credit to the family. They live happily by torturing one of their family members.

Dumb, spruce family. That's how Aera labeled her family.

••

Aera was born in an orphanage, living with other unfortunate babies. Until when she was three years old, a husband and wife from the Choi family came to pick up Aera with the intention of adopting her. They have been married for a long time, but Mr. Choi's wife never got pregnant. The Choi family is known as an affluent couple who has everything but is not entirely happy, their married life is colorless because they crave the figure of a little angel who never comes to enliven the atmosphere of their luxurious home.

After a year of adopting Aera, the Choi family received happy news. Finally, in the long-awaited moment, the wife began to conceive for the first time. Soon Aera will get a sister, Aera is really happy because she will soon have a friend to play with.

So far, Aera lives happily in the Choi family. She is one of the lucky children in the neighborhood where she lives. Everyone in the complex loves it, imagine a five year old girl with a cute face with adorable round cheeks, making everyone who sees her want to pinch her, how can you ignore that cute little princess. She is also a good daughter and friendly to everyone.

When Aera passed the security guard complex. She did not hesitate to greet him with a bright and cheerful face every time he met Jooni Ahjussi, who incidentally is the most respected thug by other thugs in Melati street where Aera lives. She happily waved her little hand while showing off his adorable bunny teeth, then shouted "Annyeong... Joon Joon ahjussi"

Look how friendly she is. There's nothing that isn't swayed by Aera's cuteness.

*Annyeong= Korean greeting/Hello.

*Ahjussi = Call for an old man/uncle.

In Choi Aera's family, she gets extraordinary facilities and great love from her parents. Whatever she wants they will always obey. Although, there is not much that Aera wants, because she is not the type of child who wants a lot of things like kindergarten children in general.

Aera only wants food and toys to taste. One thing she most often asks her parents for is chocolate ice cream. No matter how much ice cream she eats, she will never get bored. Chocolate-flavored ice cream is like her soulmate, said Aera.

However, a big disaster seemed to start to manifest itself. When her younger sister was born, almost all the attention and affection of her parents was shifted to her younger sister.

No, this is not just sharing affection. But Aera really had to live independently at such a young age. At the age of five, she had to take care of all her needs by herself, from eating until studying.

Her parents were busy in their new world. As if Aera never existed. No one cared whether Aera had eaten and when she got an A+ from her teacher. Until Yumi, the younger sister begins to sit in school, the difference in the attitudes of her parents really exceeds normal human reasoning.

Yumi gets more facilities from Aera, she gets various kinds of lessons that Aera doesn't get. Starting from drawing lessons, ballet lessons, and much more. This difference makes Yumi even more proud and makes her a spoiled and arrogant person.

Yumi was never nice to Aera. Yumi always looks down on Aera and affirms that she is a biological child while Aera is an adopted child. Even her parents did not hesitate to use violence either because Aera was wrong or even when they had problems at work. They would vent their anger on Aera.

Unlike Yumi, whatever she does is always right in the eyes of her parents. It didn't matter if she did the wrong thing or even hurt Aera physically or verbally. That's how they mold the soul of a monster in their favorite child.

••

It had been thirty minutes since Aera had left the Han River bench. She had been contemplating her dark and sad fate for too long. Walking along the streets of Seoul City. At least the weather tonight wasn't as bad as her mood. There are thousands of stars scattered in the sky that look untidy but look beautiful, the moon peeking at Aera from behind the clouds. And there were hundreds of people passing by on the streets with bright faces enjoying the beauty of Christmas Eve with those closest to them, cheering Aera's mood a little.

"Why does Mina have to go home to her parents anyway?" the question doesn't really expect an answer. Because it's normal to gather with family on Christmas like this. "Huh, so I have to go around town alone like an idiot." The statement succeeded in causing an exasperated sigh.

Also… the heels that she was wearing suddenly sulked. Because she was invited to travel around Seoul City this afternoon. The tips of her heels were broken and successfully frustrated Aera. While stomping her feet, she crouched down to see the condition of her sprained feet due to the scene of her heels which were too annoying.

Tiiiiin... tiinn... tiinn…

A car was speeding from the opposite direction towards where Aera was struggling with her heels. Hearing the sound of the horn made her shocked and suddenly changed her gaze to the front. Her brain has not been able to process the situation she is confused about what to do and how to do it.

As the car got closer... closer... and...

Aera's body began to weaken, her eyes dimmed until consciousness gradually left her alone on the edge of the city streets.

To be continued