The chirping of birds outside stirred me from my slumber. I stretched, letting out a yawn as I rubbed my eyes and glanced at the clock on the wall—it was already 6:30 a.m. With a groggy but determined move, I pushed back the covers and headed for the shower, the water invigorating and cool.

Dressed in my sports attire, I quietly peeked into Lexi's room. True to form, she was still nestled under the blankets, snoring softly—a sound that seemed to resonate with the gentle hum of the early morning. I wrapped the covers around her more snugly before quietly closing the door and heading out. Grandma Kang had already gone to the park, and despite being 30 minutes behind my usual schedule, I was determined to join her.

The weather in Ilsan was as beautiful as ever, with the air crisp and filled with the scent of blooming flowers. I felt a sense of tranquillity as I jogged downhill, the soft sunlight filtering through the trees and casting dappled patterns on the pavement. Lee Hyori's "10 Minutes" pumped through my earphones, its upbeat rhythm perfectly matching my stride.

As I rounded a corner, my peaceful run was interrupted by the sound of a woman's frantic cries: "Hajimaa, Hajimaa!" The urgency in her voice cut through the music, and I instinctively pulled out my earphones, my heart racing.

"Ajumeonim, what happened?" I asked, bewildered by the sight of her red face. That's when I noticed a masked man in front of me.

"Sh*bal, you bastard," I exclaimed angrily, grabbing his arm and swiftly twisting it while kicking his legs to bring him down to the ground. He screamed in pain.

"Apologize right now!" I demanded, my voice firm.

"Jinjja mianhaeyo," the man yelled, his voice filled with regret. 

I then removed his mask, only to discover he was one of the neighbourhood men who checked people early in the morning. Realizing my mistake, I helped him up, feeling embarrassed and apologetic. The ajumeoni thanked me, explaining how the man had startled her unintentionally. I nodded, feeling relieved that no harm was done. The man cursed under his breath, and I felt the weight of embarrassment settle heavily on my shoulders. I wished the earth would swallow me up at that moment.

"Where are you heading, dear?" the woman asked me kindly.

"To the park," I whispered, feeling sheepish.

"Let's go together," she offered, patting my hand with a firm yet gentle grip. Her eyes seemed oddly familiar, sparking a sense of recognition.

As we walked side by side, we began to chat and gradually familiarize ourselves with each other. "Ajumeonim," I began hesitantly. She looked at me curiously.

"I'm really sorry for what just happened," I said earnestly, bowing my head in apology.

She smiled slightly, her demeanour understanding. "No worries, you're a strong girl," she reassured me. 

With her comforting words, we continued our walk to the park together, the awkwardness of the earlier incident easing away in the warmth of her understanding. I found her intriguing, but I was too nervous to ask for her name. Eventually, I discovered she hailed from Ilsan and was a friend of Grandma Kang's. This connection piqued my interest further, adding a layer of familiarity and warmth to our unexpected encounter.

"Do you live in Korea?" she asked again.

"I spent my childhood here but later moved somewhere else," I replied.

"What do you do in life?" she inquired, genuinely curious.

"I work in human resources, and I just completed my PhD," I said.

"Congratulations," she said with a warm smile.

As we walked, the ajumeonim's foot suddenly hit a rock, causing her to lose balance. She grabbed my hand, and thankfully, I noticed just in time to catch her.

"Oh my god, Aunty, are you alright? Is it hurting?" I asked, concerned.

"I think I sprained my foot. Please take me there," she said in a soft voice.

Supporting her gently, I guided her towards the park, looking for a place where she could sit and rest. "Don't worry, I'll help you," I assured her, hoping to find Grandma Kang or someone who could assist us further.

I helped her to sit on a nearby bench, realizing that with her injury, reaching the park was now unlikely. 

"Aunty, sit here, I will be back," I told her, handing her my phone so she could listen to some music while I rushed to a nearby shop to get her a bottle of water and some ice.

"Please, I need those. There is a lady there who sprained her leg," I nearly begged the guy behind the counter.

"No, either you pay or leave those things here," the man replied harshly.

"I'm not a thief. I don't have money on me right now, but I'll pay you back. Please," I implored.

"No, pay or I'll call the police," he insisted.

"Fine, you heartless man," I snapped, taking off my golden chain and throwing it at him. Grabbing the supplies, I quickly walked back, tears welling up in my eyes. 

That golden chain was my only memory of my mum. "I'm sorry, Mum," I whispered, wiping away the tears as I hurried back to the bench.

When I returned, I handed the aunty the water and carefully applied the ice to her sprained foot.

 "Here, this should help," I said softly, trying to hide my emotional turmoil.

"Thank you, dear," she said gratefully, noticing the tears I tried to conceal. 

"Are you alright?"

I nodded, forcing a smile. 

"Yes, just a bit overwhelmed. Let's make sure you're okay first."

As she rested, I felt a sense of relief that she was being taken care of, but a deep ache remained for the sacrifice I had made.

"How do you feel?" I asked as I gently massaged the ointment onto her sprained foot.

"Better, thank you," she replied with a soft smile. "Now tell me, why did you cry and where is your chain?"

"Never mind, Aunty. As long as you are alright, I am fine too," I said, trying to hold back my tears.

"Is there anyone I can contact?" I asked, attempting to change the subject."

Yes, my son is back in town. I am supposed to have brunch with him," she said.

"Call him. I will wait with you until he comes," I said.

She called her son, and moments later, I saw Grandma Kang approaching us. Her familiar, comforting presence immediately eased some of the tension I felt.

"Are you two alright?" Grandma Kang asked, concern evident in her voice as she took in the scene.

"Halmoeni, this lady sprained her foot. Her son is coming to pick her up," I explained. Grandma Kang nodded, assessing the situation.

 "Good thing you were here to help," she said, patting my shoulder.

"Sian, go back now. You need to prepare yourself for tonight. I will stay with her," Halmoenim said, her tone gentle but firm.

"Aunty, I forgot about my schedule. I am sorry," I said with a bow.

She chuckled softly. "It's okay. Finally, I will have a talk with Sung Kang. It's been a while," she laughed.

"Oh yeah, you two are friends," I said, smiling at the thought of their reunion. 

With that, I ran back home, realizing I had almost forgotten about the dinner gala. As I hurried home, my mind raced with thoughts of the upcoming event. The gala was not just any dinner; it was a chance to meet Jay Park, the person who had approved my research paper, and a significant step in my career. I needed to be ready and composed for the evening ahead.

Halmoenim Kang Pov 

"SungKang, who is she?" The voice came from Kim Seong, her curiosity evident as she looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"She is like my daughter, Kim Seong," I replied

"Who gave her that golden chain?" Seong asked, her eyes narrowing as she noticed the delicate chain glinting around her neck before.

"What happened to her chain?" 

"If I'm not wrong, she gave it away to buy me those things.", a pang of guilt striking her.

The chain had been a precious gift, and the sacrifice she made for me weighed heavily on my heart.

"Oh no, that's bad. I'm sure it was the husband of Seokbung who made her give her precious chain away."

Seong's tone was filled with disapproval, a clear indication of the high regard she held for her sacrifice.

"Old Kang, did you insult them again?" Seong's voice carried a note of frustration."

"Ani, an haesseojiman eojjeomyeon mwonga malhaesseuljido molla." I answered, my voice tinged with regret. 

"Old Kang, that reckless child gave away her precious chain for me. It's truly heartbreaking."

Just then, a luxurious car pulled up outside, its sleek, polished surface catching the morning light. The door swung open, and a young man hurried out, his expression one of genuine concern.

"Eomeoni, Halmoenim, what happened?" he asked, rushing towards us.

"Old Kang, meet my son, KN."

"Jal jineun achim, Halmoenim. Thank you for accompanying my mother. Can I drop you somewhere?" his polite offer was met with a grateful smile from me.

"Thank you, son, but my house is nearby. Eomeoni jeongmal charyeohae juseyo." I replied, appreciating his kindness but preferring to walk the short distance home. 

As I prepared to leave, his concern for his mother and the kindness of Sian who had sacrificed so much for her echoed in my mind. I hoped that the morning's events would lead to a resolution and that the sacrifices made would not go unnoticed.