🌾🌾🌾Prologue🌾🌾🌾

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The scenery at Ama Sam, a remote area 5000 feet above sea level in extreme south of South Korea, was otherworldly. Clouds hung low in the sky and the wide belts of tea plantations were a soothing balm to the eyes. Over a decade, it had become a home to retired people who had seen much of the fast-paced life and now wanted to live their remaining days weaving memories with nature. There was zero traffic of public and automobiles. Only a little clutter in the local market, where one of the best strawberries was sold.

The train whistle announced the very few locals to stand at a safe distance and receive their family members.

The first passenger who deboarded was a twenty-one-year-old college student. He plonked his luggage onto the platform, and his tired step fell like a hammer next to it. He was sick of every girl who came in his life. Before they could dump him, he made a decision to run away.

Jeon Jeongguk might look young and glowing, but the poor boy was bleeding from top to bottom from the merciless rotational shifts he had taken at every girl's residence. Still, found no success.

He grabbed the large drum bag and threw it over his shoulder. The withered station master with a thin mustache resting over his protruding lip surprised him as he asked, "Uh, Jeongguk . . . you are back?"

Jeongguk glanced at the sixty-something man with solemn eyes. "Yes." He tried hard not to recall what had become of his life when he was in Seoul.

"You have come back alone?"

"Yes. I think I will do good without anyone." Jeongguk maintained an even tone. All thanks to the power that the surface beneath his feet sent him. So, he'd turned his heels to his homeland for an easy emotional and vision fix.

Next, he hailed a taxi and turned his head sideways to merge himself in his old days. The view of the southern lake along with the fisherman wrapping up their business gave him a little hope of recovery.

Given, the place was really small he reached his cottage in fifteen minutes. He pushed the doorbell and pursed his lips. Jeongguk was a natural person; he didn't pretend to twist the tales on his own. Maybe his simple nature was one of the reasons why everyone was attracted to him, and, well, repelled for the same reason as well.

Therefore, he didn't think for once what reason he would give to his Ma when she would assert that leading question: Where is she?

Mrs. Jeon opened the door and wore the exact surprised expression that he'd imagined after every traumatic heartbreak he had received.

"Jeongguk!"

He went past her, and her face distorted in confusion.

Jeongguk who had climbed the middle of the stairs turned around when his mother did not show up. He called her out loudly, "Ma." He tip-toed and his voice got softened, "Come back inside."

Mrs. Jeon hurried to him, holding the pillar of the staircase. "But Jeongguk, you said that she was coming with you."

"The story has ended," he announced, exhaling air. "Just forget her."

She insisted like an irritating voice of the newspaper hawker at 5 am, that he'd now get used to hearing, "But you said that--"

"Ma, please! No more questions," He continuously stared at her, believing she would stop stabbing at the mildly bleeding wound. "Please."

"Okay, okay." She stretched her lips in a smile, crossing her arms above her chest. "Go wash up. I've prepared your favorite kimchi for lunch."

A moment of silence paralyzed the two at their spots.

"Can I say one thing?" Jeongguk then hopped down the stairs, two at a time, and hugged her. "I wish every girl was as generous as you, Ma."

She rubbed her hand on his back. Her motion worked just like a magic wand, it instantly impelled him to forget about his past.

"It's good to be back home. I'll get back in five minutes." He quickly made his way to his bedroom, shutting the door fastly, a way of battering down the fatalistic ups and downs in his life permanently.

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A/n - It's rather funny that I started the prologue with an ending?! Like what. Anyways, I need y'all to support this book. This is going to be a memorable one if I get your constant dose of love.

This time, it's 🐰 turn.

About the updates, I'll try to keep my schedule tight. So, a new chapter might pop every three days.

Starting  17:0ct:21
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