204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnUn2SF1uVMany days passed just like this for Min-ah. One day, while returning from school, Min-ah saw an old woman whose leg was bandaged. Holding a walking stick, she was trying to cross the road but was unable to do so. Min-ah stepped forward, held the old woman's hand, and very carefully helped her cross the road.
The old woman was very happy; she thanked Min-ah and said, "Child, you are just like my granddaughter. If she were in this world today, she would have been just like you." Tears came into her eyes. Min-ah softly said, "I'm sorry, Grandma. I am very sorry to hear about your granddaughter." The old woman said, "It's alright, child. This grief can never truly end. However, I really liked that you called me Grandma. Thank you for your help."
Min-ah replied, "It's no problem, Grandma, it was my duty. By the way, how did your leg get hurt?" The old woman explained, "Child, two days ago at night, I was heading home after closing my book shop. Suddenly, a bike came at high speed, knocked me down, and drove away. It was driven by some young boy who didn't even stop. Luckily, two kids came by, helped me, and took me to the hospital. There is a small fracture in my leg, but the doctor said it will heal in a week."
Min-ah stood silently, listening to everything the old woman said. Then the old woman spoke again, "Child, looking at the way you helped me today, you must belong to a very good family. Your mother has brought you up very well." Hearing this, Min-ah became quiet and sad, just as she usually was. Seeing this, the old woman asked, "What happened, child? Why did you become so quiet? You look very worried to me. If there is anything, you can tell me." Min-ah replied, "No, Grandma, it's nothing. Should I drop you home?" The old woman said, "No, child, my home is right nearby. I will walk there. Thank you so very much, child." Min-ah said, "I should get going now, it's getting quite late."
The old woman stopped her, "Wait, child." She took out a card from her purse and said, "This is the card for my book shop, child. The address is written on it. If you ever visit my book shop, it would make me very happy. Goodbye, child, take care of yourself." Min-ah replied, "Goodbye, Grandma. You take care of yourself too. I'm leaving now."
Min-ah left from there, but all night, she kept remembering the old woman's words. For the first time in her life, someone had spoken to her with so much love. Before today, she had only seen people making fun of her and speaking ill to her. Min-ah always remained quiet, sad, and scared. Today, for the first time, she had talked so much with someone, and she herself was surprised at how she was able to speak so freely.
When morning came, she went to school, but today there was a smile on her face. Sitting alone on her chair, she was smiling as she recalled Grandma's words. Perhaps she had been longing for this very love and affection all along, which was why she liked Grandma so much.
Hae-won and Seo-yeon, the two girls who harassed Min-ah all the time, could not bear to see this smile on Min-ah's face. They came up to her, and Hae-won said, "What's the matter? Has our cursed and sad-faced Min-ah won a lottery today? Or has someone actually given you attention? But that's impossible because no one in this entire school even cares to look at you! Ugly Min-ah, tell us why you are smiling so we can know too!" Min-ah remained silent as usual. Hae-won shouted, "Speak, Min-ah!" Min-ah, scared, whispered, "It's nothing."
Just as Hae-won was about to raise her hand against her, a voice from behind stopped her. A girl was standing behind them it was Hae-won's best friend, Min-ji. She said, "Leave it, bestie. Why are you wasting your time on someone who can't even speak properly? Weak and cowardly Min-ah is zero in studies and zero in life too!" The three of them began to laugh loudly. The sound of their laughter kept echoing in Min-ah's ears. Sitting there, she kept crying.
Normally, things like this happened to Min-ah every day, but today, their words and their laughter pierced her heart like arrows. Perhaps it was because her tolerance had finally run out, or because she was now tired of her life. She couldn't figure out what to do, but Min-ah had now made up her mind that she would no longer live her life this way.
That day, as Min-ah was walking back from school with tears in her eyes, she suddenly remembered Grandma's words. She took out the card Grandma had given her from her bag. Following the address written on the card and asking people along the way, Min-ah finally stood in front of a book shop that had "Nari Bookstore" written on the outside. She matched it with the card; it was indeed Grandma's store.
When she stepped inside, Grandma was surprised to see her and felt very happy. She looked at Min-ah for a moment and then said, "Come in, come in, child! I knew you would definitely come." Hearing this, Min-ah became emotional. More heartbroken than before, she stepped forward, hugged Grandma tightly, and began to cry bitterly. Grandma wrapped her arms around her with deep affection.
For a while, Min-ah just stayed held in Grandma's hug, crying. Then, with great love, Grandma made Min-ah sit beside her and said, "What is the matter, child? Why are you crying? You can trust me. Come on, tell me what happened."
As Min-ah kept crying, Grandma handed her a glass of water and wiped her tears. Then Min-ah started speaking: "Grandma, I am completely alone in this world. I have no one. Everyone makes fun of me and calls me cursed." Grandma said, "No, my child, why are you saying such a thing? You are not cursed; you are a very sweet girl." Min-ah replied, "Grandma, you are the only one saying this, the only one who has spoken to me with so much love. I have yearned for this love and affection my entire life. Everyone dislikes me; I am the most cursed and worst girl in my school. That is what everyone says."
Grandma said, "No, child, never call yourself bad. Why is it like this? Where are your parents?" Min-ah said, "The day I was born, my parents died in an accident. From that day, my grandfather, grandmother, and relatives started calling me cursed. They said this girl is cursed, she swallowed her parents as soon as she came into this world. They threw me into an orphanage. I spent my whole life there and am still just getting by. Every day at school, those girls used to tease me, but today, their words and their laughter became unbearable for me. My heart is hurting so much, Grandma."
Grandma said, "Child, I can understand very well the pain of losing your loved ones. I also lost my granddaughter, whom I loved more than anything in this entire world. When I saw you for the first time today and when you held my hand, I saw my Nari in you. She was just like you. Child, both of our griefs are the same; we have both lost our loved ones. We can both become each other's healing medicine. Child, you call me your Grandma, and I consider you my granddaughter. Child, will you live with your Grandma? I too am tired of living alone. Will you stay with me as my granddaughter? I will not force you, child; you can say no if you want."
Min-ah kept looking at Grandma, and then she said, "Grandma... I want to live with you."
Hearing this, Grandma smiled, and a smile appeared on Min-ah's face as well. Then, Grandma pulled Min-ah close and held her in a warm hug once again.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjeT6xv17P
and then Add to home screen.