One chance

9. I have a lot of time.

박수영

I am going to school with my mom now.

박수영

What day is today?

박수영

Today is August 16th, our middle school's opening ceremony.

A week before school started, I met up with my middle school friends.

정예린

"Shoo!"

정예린

"Wow, it's been a really long time."

오하영

"Isn't it too hard to see your face?"

박수영

"Oh... is that so?"

박수영

"No, I have something to tell you."

정예린

"Huh? What is it?"

박수영

"I... am dropping out."

오하영

"what?"

정예린

"..? Did I hear that wrong?"

박수영

"No, I've heard a lot of good things."

박수영

"It's true that I'm dropping out."

정예린

"..Uh..um..why?"

오하영

"Why are you dropping out?"

박수영

"I just do it because I want to do it."

박수영

"Yeah, it was hard because I just focused on studying."

박수영

"Am I doing well?"

박수영

"I wonder if this is the right path."

박수영

"My parents said I could do it."

박수영

"So I'm going to apply for withdrawal on the first day of school."

정예린

"...Sooyoung, even if you're busy, you'll still contact me, right?"

박수영

"Of course. Don't ignore my calls!"

정예린

"huh!"

오하영

"You're not going to high school either?"

박수영

"No. After taking the high school equivalency exam."

박수영

"I'm going to high school."

오하영

"I'll support you. Don't give up."

오하영

"Okay?"

박수영

"huh!"

박수영

'I guess other kids can't see this light.'

박수영

The necklace keeps sparkling, but the kids don't seem to notice.

박수영

"But, can I ask you one thing?"

정예린

"What?"

오하영

"What do you mean?"

박수영

"I'm going to drop out without saying goodbye."

박수영

"So, can you tell the kids that I transferred to a school in the countryside?"

정예린

"of course!"

오하영

"Okay! I'll tell the kids!"

박수영

"Thank you, kids!"

정예린

"we.."

정예린

"Shall we go to karaoke?!!"

오하영

"Okay!!! Let's go!!!!"

박수영

"Let's go quickly!"

I had a really fun day that day.

Back to the present.

선생님

"Hello. Suyeong's mother."

새엄마

"hello teacher."

박수영

"Hello, teacher."

선생님

"Hello, Suyeong."

선생님

"You... you... want to make Sooyoung drop out..."

새엄마

"No. Suyeong wants to drop out."

박수영

"that's right."

선생님

"Suyeong, dropping out isn't an easy decision to make."

선생님

"Why is a kid who was always doing well suddenly dropping out?"

박수영

"To be honest,"

박수영

"Studying is too easy."

박수영

"So hurry up and take the middle school equivalency exam."

박수영

"I'll start high school when I turn 17."

박수영

"There are about two and a half years left until then."

박수영

"I'm slowly trying to find what I want to do, what I want."

박수영

“Isn’t this enough of a reason?”

선생님

"...Since your parents have given you permission, I won't really stop you."

선생님

"What are you going to do with the kids?"

박수영

"I told my close friends that I was dropping out."

박수영

"But can you let the other kids transfer?"

선생님

"Okay... Then, Mom, please fill out this form."

새엄마

"Oh, yes."

새엄마

"I wrote it all down here."

선생님

"Yes, then you don't have to come to school from today."

박수영

"Thank you for everything."

박수영

“Thank you for teaching me so much, even if it was only for half a year.”

박수영

"thank you."

선생님

"Okay. Then take care and contact me sometimes."

새엄마

"Thank you for taking care of me, Sooyoung."

선생님

"No. I'm the one who's grateful that someone like Suyeong came to our class."

박수영

"Goodbye, teacher."

선생님

"Suyeong, fighting! Have a nice trip."

새엄마

"Goodbye, teacher."

선생님

"Goodbye, Suyeong's mother."

새엄마

"...How are you, Sooyoung? Are you okay?"

박수영

"Now that I've actually done it, it doesn't feel real.."

박수영

"Mom, I'm doing well, right?"

박수영

"Why do I feel like this isn't the right path for me?"

새엄마

"..."

새엄마

"Suyeong, it's okay. You're probably still anxious."

박수영

"What if this anxiety continues..."

새엄마

"Sooyoung. Everyone has anxiety."

새엄마

"You have chosen the path you want to take now."

새엄마

"What if it's not this way?"

새엄마

"You've only lived 14 years."

새엄마

"Opportunities exist for everyone,"

새엄마

"You have ample opportunity too."

새엄마

"Don't be anxious, Suyeong."

새엄마

"Mom is always cheering you on."

박수영

"Mom... thank you..."

박수영

"Honestly, I'm really anxious right now..."

박수영

"I feel a little less anxious now that Mom says that."

박수영

"Thank you, Mom."

박수영

So we drove back home.

박수영

"...."

박수영

You can drop out now.

박수영

I don't know if this is the right path, but I

박수영

I'm going to go this way, and if this isn't the right way, then I...

박수영

I'll find another way.

박수영

Yes, that's fine. You don't have to be anxious at all.

박수영

Since I have already returned, there is no need to be anxious anymore.

박수영

Thinking that way, I concentrated on the book.

작가

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