Story Of Me

Past Me- Chapter 1

Today is my first day of kindergarten. I didn’t know it was a type of school until I asked my mom. However, before I went into the old and rusty building, I just thought this was another cool play date with one of my mom’s many, many friends.

Anyways, my mom and I were riding in my old jet-black car. Suddenly, my mom parked into a parking lot. Through the windows, I could see a strange lady and a lot of kids my age crowding over her. Mom and I walked over to her and she said some things with the teacher in Korean. Then she turned to me and said, “Have a good time kiddo. And listen well to your teacher!” Then she left.

I did not have a good day that day. I cried and cried, even though the teacher was trying her absolute best to comfort me.

I’m now at my house, eating dinner, with my parents, talking about my first day very angrily. They are saying that everybody hates the first day of school, and that I would get used to it.

I don’t think so. This school day can’t get any worse. I hate kindergarten.

Past Me- Chapter 2

Today is my ninth birthday. I’ve invited Sadie, Steffi, Lina, Celina, his little brother, and Hanna. Right now, we just came back from a kids cafe in Lotte Hotel, and are eating lunch. Steffi and Sadie are on my side, eating pasta and cake. The cake is a unicorn one, with lots and lots of buttercream and sweet sprinkles.

I’m rolling my spaghetti onto the fork when my mom says go wash our hands. Normally, I would say no immediately, but today, in front of my friends, I would gladly lead the gang.

“Come on!” I say, dashing outside the door. The group follows. I feel like a leader! I feel kinda overwhelmed and proud at the same time. Look at me- I’ve never been a leader, and I’m already nailing it! We scrub our hands with soap and water. I’m very sanitary, so I use three pumps of liquid soap and wash my hand for more than thirty seconds. Then, we calmly trot back to the restaurant and go back to eating.

The spaghetti is delicious. Normally, I would hate pasta, but this western food is not greasy at all. I’m talking to Steffi about food, when I hear some crying. I whip around, trying to see who’s crying and what’s happening. It’s Hanna.

We are all so surprised! Hanna never cries! I don’t know what actually happened that time except me munching on delicious cake and hearing sniffling sounds all the way through it.

Present Me- Chapter 1

Today is Friday and I’m off to school with my pure green Hyeon Mu T-Shirt. Hyeon Mu is the house I am in at school, and the logo of it is a majestic pearly turtle. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little bit. It is just a turtle with lots of patterns on it’s back and glossy, swirly eyes.

The school day went as usual, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the house competition we had today. It was the ttakji competition, and I was so nervous every single minute of the day because I never did ttakji in my entire life.

Right now, I am sitting with the other Hyeon Mu girls, watching the Year five boys battle against each other. I see the Hyeon Mu boys trying their best to turn the ttakji over. I have no idea how they do that. I bite my lip as Mr. Lee speaks the points with his microphone. I hear everyone hold their breath as he starts to speak the points eagerly.

Not bad, I think. We got more than thirty points. My best friend, Yeonho, is in Hyeon Mu too. She and I groan as Mr. Lee declares that it is Year five girls’ turn and to come out in front of everyone to have the competition.

I take a deep breath and look for someone to compete with. I am so surprised when I win against five different people. I’m not even a pro yet! Everyone congratulates me and Yeonho when we come back. I feel so proud of myself, and I can’t help but grinning ear to ear so forcefully, my mouth started hurting when I started talking to Yeonho about my prediction for the points we got.

I gasp when I hear we got forty-seven points (by the way, the highest score is fifty, and better if over fifty)! Me and Yeonho roar with the other and Ms. Renshaw, the leader of Hyeon Mu. YES!

The whole thing actually went really well. We and the Year six boys did the greatest (us forty-seven points, then fifty-four points). I think we came in first place for this game. If we did, Hyeon Mu is giving off a great start to winning this year’s house championship!

Future Me- Chapter 1

Today was the first day of school. I guess it’s not school anymore though. I go to college now, at Stanford. It’s so cool to learn about the subjects you love and like.

So, I am with my best friend, Hara, who’s real name is actually way more complicated than it is right now. She is half Vietnamese half Japanese, but she can speak English and Korean very fluently. If I had to describe her, she has a round face and straight, jet-black hair that falls behind her waist. She’s also working as an actor and a singer, and she’s giving me free lessons and tips on how to become just like her. She’s basically learning how to become a singer- I’m mostly learning psychiatry.

I wanted to learn psychiatry because I seriously want to know how to learn what others feel and how to cure that. So anyways, back on to the story.

“Priscilla?” I hear Hara’s voice. I’m making chocolate chip cookies when she comes into the kitchen. She’s in one of her fancy clothes again, with her hair in lots of braids. I think she’s been practicing her dance moves again.

I smile and hand her a cookie. She thanks me and chomps on it. I turn around to make another batch of cookies, when Hara stops me. She's mouthful with cookie crumbs, but excitedly sputters a word I hear as. “I pot in the fruit!”

“Huh?” I yelped, tilting my head, “You pot in the fruit?”

Hara shakes her head. Judging by her face, she is very excited to tell me what’s going on, but she is dazzled by a cookie. Suddenly, something pops into my mind. Hara told me about an online singing group that she was really hopeful she could join.

I shriek about the thought and share it with Hara. Hara’s eyes get wide and nods fiercely. Cookie crumbs fly out of her mouth as she yelps with joy. My BFF just became more popular than she already was!

I can’t wait to go to all of her concerts and movies! This will be a better year than I have ever expected.

Future Me- Chapter 2

“I can’t take this anymore!” Hara booms to me one night. I was right. Hara got really famous. However, this was way more than we had expected. When we were in class, paparazzis barged into the room and snapped pictures of Hara until they were satisfied or the professor shooed them out of the classroom.

I don’t know why Hara isn’t enjoying the fame. But I have to agree, I’ve never experienced what it was like to be famous. Hara is slouched up on the wall, with one of her fancy clothes on. Her hair is in playful pigtails, but her sad face doesn't go with it.

Hara sighs and grabs some Twizzlers from the snack aisle. We’re in Hara’s design room where she creates the most beautiful looks anybody has ever seen. I love the chic clothes she always wears. Her looks are not too mature, but not too cute either. Like today, her cute pigtails go very well with her very adultish designer dress.

I grab some random chocolate and sit beside her. Hara looks exhausted; she should be, with everyone wanting to take photos with her and all that. Inside, I know I can help. However, I don’t have the courage to tell her.

Hara’s mouth twists into a frown. Then she starts singing the verse of ‘When You Reach Me’. She always does that when her anxiety level turns to ten.

We’ve got to figure this out. And I have to find out how to find the courage to tell my true feelings to Hara.

Future Me- Last Chapter

I’m so nervous. Today is the last day of school and I’ve been invited to Hara and the others in the group to dance with them. I’ve told Hara the truth. Don’t be a robot or a doll. Don’t let anyone control you. Be yourself.

“You ready?” Hara says when I get my makeup done. I’m wearing a fuzzy jacket with a yellow shirt, finished with jeans. I nod. Hara’s hair is just straight and glossy. She has a short pink shirt on and jeans too, but she has a more uncomfortable-looking one.

Me, Hara, and the others (Maria, Donna, and Lizzie) all hug each other. Today is our last performance of the year. We have to do our best.

Since I’m mostly learning about the doctor part and not dancing, I’m not a really good dancer. However, since I’ve learned some moves these few years I’m sure I’ll do fine. I hold my breath and step up onto the stage, filled with blinding lights and roaring crowds.

Step-twirl-side-move, step-twirl-side-move! Doing this is much more fun in real life. I catch Hara’s eyes and smile. I know what she’s thinking. This was the best performance she (and I, sometimes) had done this year.

After we strike our ending pose and leave the stage, I grin to myself. This has been an amazing year. My friends, my school, my life… it’s perfect. I loved this year, and I can’t wait for the other years to come.