Chapter 268


    Chapter 268


    January.


    From last year to this year, from December to January.


    The first day of the new year when the sun and the moon change.


    The staff of a large bookstore in New York were busy moving around.


    They had closed the store last night and removed the Christmas decorations and cleaned up here and there, but there was still some finishing touches left.


    We have to finish before we open!


    Yes!


    They all answered loudly to the managers words.


    They changed the decorations for the new year, cleaned up, dusted off the books at the front, and checked for any torn pages.


    The bookstore staff came from various backgrounds, as New York was a city where people of different races lived and worked.


    Among them, there was a noticeable person.


    An Asian who was still on probation and looking for his or her tasks while wandering around.


    The manager smiled and opened his mouth.


    Soojin!


    Yes!


    Heres the bestseller list. Check if there are any missing or misplaced books.


    Yes!


    Soojin Kim, a Korean who was studying at a university in New York and working part-time at the bookstore, eagerly took the paper as soon as he or she got a task.


    Then he or she headed straight to the bestseller corner, which was the best spot in the bookstore.


    First place correct, second place correct.


    The book that ranked first on the bestseller list was placed in the most eye-catching spot, and next to it was the book that ranked second.


    Oh, dust.


    Kim Soojins eyes caught a familiar book cover as he or she dusted off the cover with his or her hand.


    Wow!


    Kim Soojin didnt participate in the cleaning last night because he or she was working in the morning shift, so he or she didnt know about the new bestsellers until a few minutes ago.


    He or she thought that the book title on the bestseller list was a different book with the same title.


    Its not misplaced, is it?


    Kim Soojins eyes turned to the bestseller list.


    The familiar book title and the authors name that he or she wondered why he or she hadnt seen before.


    It was the original novel of the play that Kim Soojin had read, watched, admired, and gasped.


    [Mirror]


    [Author: Choi Da-ye]


    [Looking into Seo-jun-ris mirror[]]


    From the cover design to the QR code on the book band, it was a Korean novel, Mirror, that was exactly the same as the one in Korea.


    It had made it to the American bestseller list.


    Kim Soojin exclaimed over and over again at seeing a Korean book in a faraway country.


    I think this is the first time Ive seen a Korean book on the bestseller list since I came to America!


    He or she checked the bestseller list with an excited face, but Kim Soojins eyes kept glancing at Mirror.


    He or she checked all the books and stood in front of Mirror again.


    He or she felt sorry that the book was placed without any decoration.


    He or she wanted to convey his or her feelings of admiration and astonishment to the customers who would buy this book.


    Hmm.


    I cant move it because its placed in order from first place.


    Kim Soojin thought for a moment and smiled slyly as he or she turned his or her body back.


    Manager!


    A little later.


    The bookstore opened.


    People who loved books came to the bookstore from early on.


    They looked around the bestseller corner first, which was the most noticeable spot in the bookstore.


    I guess these are this months bestsellers.


    Whats interesting? Huh? Whats this QR code?


    Ive read this one and this one QR code?


    They found a book that stood out among the bestsellers.


    The book titled Mirror had a QR code on its book band unlike other books.


    The QR code on the book band definitely caught peoples attention.


    Some people reflexively took out their phones when they saw it, and some people picked up the book.


    Looking into Seo-jun-ris mirror?


    A man who was stroking his chin and looking at the QR code, book band, and synopsis on the back of the book opened it.


    Some people also opened it.


    Unlike those who read books, those who scanned QR codes with their phones tilted their heads at the video that started.


    Some people turned off their sound at hearing applause from their phones, and some people plugged in their earphones.


    The curtain rose on screen and showed a stage.


    A play?


    People tilted their heads.


    Wait a minute. Dont read it yet.


    Huh?


    A woman who was about to open a book stopped her hand at her friends call.


    Her friends eyes were pointing to one side of the bookshelf.


    Whats wrong?


    Look at that. I guess I didnt see it because it was small.


    People who heard her friends voice also stopped their hands.


    Whats wrong?


    You have to watch the play before you read the book.


    They could contact each other by phone anytime, but the word graduation gave them a heavy feeling.


    Seo-jun looked at his friends for a moment and sent a banana talk to his homeroom teacher on his phone.


    ***


    The graduation ceremony of Mirinae Middle School.


    As time approached, the parents and families of the third graders arrived at the school one by one.


    Seo Eun-hye and Lee Min-joon also headed to Mirinae Hall where the graduation ceremony would be held.


    Only two people can enter the graduation ceremony like the entrance ceremony.


    Theres not enough space for all the families outside to come in.


    Thats true.


    As people entered Mirinae Hall one by one and took their seats, soon the third graders came in and sat down in the front row where folding chairs were placed.


    As the children came in, the parents seats became noisy.


    They were busy looking for their children.


    Lee Min-joon and Seo Eun-hye also stretched their necks and looked at the seat of grade 3-2 of acting department.


    They searched hard for their son who always shone wherever he was, but they couldnt see him.


    Seo-jun is not here?


    Is he a third grade representative like when he entered?


    Oh. That could be.


    Seo Eun-hye nodded at Lee Min-joons words.


    Then she quickly prepared the camera.


    Soon.


    The graduation ceremony began.


    After the opening ceremony and the national anthem, there was a congratulatory speech by the principal.


    Three years ago, you graduated from elementary school and entered Mirinae Middle School. And now you are graduating from this school. And you will become freshmen again.


    The principal looked around the children who were looking at him.


    It may be a place you have never been to and it may be scary. But everyone. Think back to three years ago. It was scary then too. You must have worried if you could do well in a strange place with strange friends. But look around now.


    The children who met their friends and teachers eyes as they looked around smiled softly.


    Good friends, good teachers, familiar school. Everything that was unfamiliar became familiar. You all did well. You will do well in high school too. Your middle school life was happy and fun, and your high school life will be happy and fun too.


    The principals speech ended and applause rang out.


    [Next, we will have a farewell speech from the second grade representative and a reply speech from the third grade representative.]


    At the announcers words, the second grade representative and the third grade representative appeared at the end of the stage.


    The second grade representative was Kim Han-seok and the third grade representative was Yang Ju-hee.


    The third graders were surprised for a moment and nodded their heads.


    Ju-hee was the third grade representative.


    Ju-hee did go around everywhere for three years. Its rare that a second grader was the team leader for the year-end performance. Usually its a third grader.


    Theres no one in the three departments who doesnt know Yang Ju-hee.


    The teachers must know her too.


    The children who sent applause after the farewell speech and reply speech tilted their heads.


    Then where did Seo-jun go?


    [Next, we will have a congratulatory performance for graduation.]


    Congratulatory performance?


    The eyes of the students and parents turned to the stage.


    Somehow they all thought of the same thing.


    Seo Eun-hye and some parents switched their cameras to video mode. When a student appeared from the end of the stage.


    It was Seo-jun.


    Wow!!


    There was a cheer and applause from the students and parents at the violin in Seo-juns hand.


    The teachers and ATR Foundation staff also had excited faces.


    Seo-jun received cheers and applause as he walked to the center of the stage.


    The stage lights went out and only one light followed Seo-jun.


    In the center of the stage, under the spotlight, Seo-jun bowed slightly.


    Once again, cheers and applause erupted.


    Wow! Violin!!


    Seo-jun!


    Seo-jun!!


    Especially loud were the cheers of violin majors and acting department students.


    Seo-jun smiled slightly and put his chin on the violin.


    At the same time, silence fell over Mirinae Hall, which was full of cheers and applause.


    A silence so quiet that even breathing sounds seemed to be heard.


    The violin majors looked at Seo-jun with sparkling eyes.


    The heavy silence was pierced by the sound of violin.


    Over The Rainbow echoed in Mirinae Hall.


    Excitement.


    Joy.


    Despair.


    And brilliance!


    Seo-jun played the violin with all his heart for his friends who were graduating now.


    White feathers fell from the sky that was tightly blocked by the ceiling.


    The white feathers that came down softly disappeared as they touched the children.


    [(Line)Generous Baby Angels Feather-Low Grade- is activated.]


    [(Line)Generous Baby Angels Feather-Low Grade]


    It is a feather from a generous baby angels wing.


    It makes peoples hearts a little cleaner.


    You can give a small blessing once a day.


    To your friends who are going to different schools, good luck