Act 1: A New Life

A Chevrolet Equinox was rolling in a relatively empty roadway in the deep heart of South Jeolla Province of South Korea. Ahn Soo-jin, seated in the front, slowly awaken to an unfamiliar landscape around her. A K-Pop girlgroup song is playing from the car's stereo system, with her father, Ahn Jae-joon, tapping on the steering wheel, following the rhythm.

"Appa, where's this?" asked Ahn Soo-jin.

"Ah, you're awaken," said Ahn Jae-joon, "we're just came out of the motorway, it's still about 2 hours before we arrive. You want to sleep again? I'll wake you up when we get there."

"No, I'll accompany you driving."

Ahn Jae-joon smiled and gently stroke his daughters hair.

"We still have gimmari from the rest area, you want some?"

"Alright."

"It's on the gloves compartment, help yourself, okay?"

Ahn Soo-jin nod. She then took some gimmaris and eat them, while seeing a rather familiar scene of the strange land outside the window.

"Seems not so much different from Japan, yet still unfamiliar."

"What? Korea?"

"Uh-huh."

"Yes, I'm really sorry. We have lived in Japan long enough, must be hard for you to leave all your friends there."

"It's okay. Anywhere is fine, as long as it's with you and Hyun-jin."

Ahn Soo-jin then looked back on her little sister, Ahn Hyun-jin, which slept on the mid-coach of the car.

"And sorry, I can't secure the job in Seoul. Otherwise, we would have a fresh start in a place we already familiar. At least you've been to Seoul few times on your Harabeoji's place."

"Appa, don't be like that. Honestly, I'm fine to go wherever you go. Err... What is it the name of the place again? Hwichon?"

"It's Gwiseon. You'll gonna love it, it's a friendly city by the sea. Not as crowded as Seoul, or Busan, but pretty much has everything we need."

"Like Yokohama?"

"Well, smaller, I guess. Maybe like Hiratsuka."

"Ah, I see."

Before moving back to South Korea, Ahn Family lived in Japan for 17 years, give or take, when Ahn Jae-joon married Ayaka Saemoto, which was his colleagues when he worked as legal adviser for a Japanese company in Kanagawa prefecture. Ahn Soo-jin and her sister, Ahn Hyun-jin, born and raised in Japan, visiting their grandparents in Seoul, Korea, few times a year on their holidays. However, the happiness of this family cut-short when Ayaka diagnosed of having terminal cancer, and died two years ago.

After more than a year living without his wife, Ahn Jae-joon got a job offer from his long time friend in a Korean law-firm company and after consulting his children, decided to take the offer and move back to Korea. However, instead of Seoul, he was immediately assigned to the branch in Gwiseon, and that what lead this small family to finally move here.

"I still think that perhaps I should hand you two in the care of Harabeoji and Haramoeni in Seoul. At least being in big city is appealing for a growing up teenage girls like you."

"Appa! Growing up teenage what? No, I want to be with you, and so does Hyun-jin. Eomma is around anymore, and we don't want you to be alone in the new city. Beside, I don't really like a busy city like Seoul."

"Ah, my girl has grown up. Could you please be my little girl again? Please don't be a grown up woman yet."

"You know that's impossible, right? But, Appa, I'm going to be your little girl, I promise."

"Just you?"

"Why not? As for Hyun-jin, you can ask her yourself when she's wake up. That, of course, if she'll ever wake up. She always sleeps like a log. I still can't believe that she's one of the best in math in her class, back in Japan."

"Hahaha, I'm glad then."

"Glad? Glad why?"

"That she has your mother's intelligence, and not mine."

Ahn Soo-jin smirked. They silent for a moment, only a song that can be heard in the car.

"By the way, what song is this?"

"This? It's Gee from Girls' Generations. You like it?"

"Dunno, I never heard this before."

"I have collections of K-Pop song, even when we're in Japan, but never had chance to play it. Don't have time to do that till now."

"Liar! I bet you must've listened to this while going to work, when Eomma's not around."

"Hey, watch your words, Young Lady, your Eomma knew what I like."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, we knew each other favorite things, and she also know that I like K-Pop song, and K-Pop girl group?"

"Really? The songs or the long-legged kawaii girls?"

"Both."

"Appa!"

"What? Is that so weird?"

"No, it's just too kinky and so out-of-age?"

"What's wrong with my age? Do I have to listen to trot like seniors?"

"Trot? What is that?"

"Eh? You don't know trot? I thought you like it when you're little."

"Aah, you mean music that always being played by Harabeoji and Haramoeni all the time? Well, maybe that suits you more, Appa."

"No way, I'm still too cool, still suitable for K-Pop song. Beside, your mother didn't mind."

"If she's not, then why I never knew that you like to listen to that?"

"Well, things got quite hectic in the house after you're born, and with your Ojiisan and Obaasan, living with us, for elder people, K-Pop song can be so..."

"Noisy?"

"That's right. You stole that from my tongue."

Ahn Soo-jin sighed.

"Well, doesn't mean that I agreed to that, but I can see the reason."

"Some sort, yes, oh wait a minute..."

Ahn Jae-joon turns the music up a bit. It's "Into The New World" by Girls' Generations. Ahn Soo-jin noticed that a tear falling on his cheek.

"Appa, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just... It's the last song your mom heard before she..."

Ahn Soo-jin startled. She then reach her hand and stroke her father's shoulder gently. Tears also falling through her cheeks.

"I miss Eomma."

"I know, Dear."

"Is she okay, up there?"

"Well, she's in a better place now. And I'm sure she's proud to see how her daughters become."

"It's still empty without her."

"I know. We're all still struggling with that."

The car rolled silently in the road with very sparse traffic, that it almost they're the sole owner of the road. Not taking too long time from there that they saw a road sign showing the road to Gwiseon just ahead.

"Gwiseon!" said Ahn Soo-jin, "few more miles, I guess."

"Ah, I know we have close," said Ahn Jae-joon.

"Really? We're almost there!" said Ahn Hyun-jin suddenly.

"Geese! Hyun-jin-a, when did you wake up?" asked Ahn Soo-jin, evidently surprised.

"Just now, Eonnie, I'm hungry," said Hyun-jin.

"You only showed up from your slumber to eat, aren't you?" said Soo-jin.

"Don't blame her, I'm also hungry," said Jae-joon, "we'll stop by a bunsik near Mugunghwa Educational Park, they served a nice ramyeon and tteokbokki there."

"Mugunghwa Educational Park?" asked Soo-jin.

"Yes, it's a compound area in Gwiseon which hosted the three high-schools of the city: Baekhap Girls' Academy, Yongdam Preparatory School, and Jindallae Vocational College," said Jae-joon.

"Baekhap? Isn't that our would be school, Appa?" asked Hyun-jin.

"Yup, so we're going to visit the area first, before you all going to school by Monday," said Jae-joon.

"I still can't believe this is real," said Hyun-jin.

"I wonder, what is it like there? Will it be same like in Japan?" asked Soo-jin.

"What do you mean?" asked Jae-joon.

"I mean, is there any senshado here in Korea?" asked Soo-jin.

"Well, of course there is," said Jae-joon, "senshado isn't as famous in Korea as it is in Japan, but last year, parliament of Korea has ratified the law that will boost the development of senshado, to the school level. I heard that each high-school in Korea are preparing to enacted senshado as their electives."

"Including in Gwiseon?" asked Soo-jin.

"I hope so," said Jae-joon, "I heard senshado is very famous in Gwiseon in the past, so I can see no reason why now is any difference."

Soo-jin nods.

"Beside, I also heard that Gwiseon is a hometown for a famous senshado heroine in Korea," said Jae-joon.

"Really? Who's that?" asked both Soo-jin and Hyun-jin.

"Her name is Min Ga-gyeong. It is said that she stood up to the discrimination in senshado by challenging senshado team whose members are all Japanese, during the time of Japanese occupation of Korea," said Jae-joon, "it's a big feat at that time, you know."

"Wah, now I want to see the city," said Soo-jin.

"Eonnie, you only have senshado in your mind, do you?" said Hyun-jin.

"Wae? Nothing's wrong with that, right? Even you applied for senshado, back in Japan," said Soo-jin.

"Not just applied, I got accepted, as substitute, though," said Hyun-jin.

"Geese, who put you in substitute? If I know the person, I would..." Soo-jin clenched her fist.

"Hey! It's none of the matter now, Eonnie," said Hyun-jin.

"Aah, look, it's the plain," said Jae-joon.

Soo-jin and Hyun-jin quickly rushed to see the scenery outside. On the left and right side of the road, what was wooded area, now opens into vast plain, full of tall grasses and some patches of greeneries. Moderate mounds and hills can also be seen in the horizon. In first look, it's a perfect place for a senshado battle. Soo-jin then opened the window, and let the air breezing in.

"They must've played senshado here, I can smell it," said Soo-jin.

"Eonnie, what are you talking about?" asked Hyun-jin confusedly, "what smell? I can't smell any?"

"In time, you'll understand, My Dearest Dongsaeng," Soo-jin chuckled, "isn't that right, Dad?"

"Of course!" Jae-joon winked, "and if you can also smell the sea, means we've closed to Gwiseon."

Soo-jin and Hyun-jin then poked their heads from the window and tried as best as they could to gather smell as much as possible, trying to scent a hint of sea in the air. The road itself is in raised position in causeway-like structures, due to the plain's landscape that's not quite flat.

"The road we're traveling right now called North Entry Road, or North Entry Causeway, since it's above-ground cutting through The Maelhwa Plains, vast plains that encapsulate Gwiseon," said Jae-joon, "in the end of this road, beyond the hill in front, is the entrance to Mugunghwa Educational Park, or to be precise, Mugunghwa Educational Zone, the second largest district in Gwiseon."

"What's the first?" asked Soo-jin.

"Harbor area, Sugok Hanggu, in the west reach of the city," said Jae-joon, "an industrial and warehousing area in Gwiseon."

"So, where do we live there? Is it an apartment like the one Harabeoji and Haramoeni have in Seoul?" asked Hyun-jin.

"It's actually kind of residential housing, called Haebaragi-2dong," said Jae-joon, "damn, I forgot where is that, we'll open our GPS later when we're eating in bunsik."

"Is it still far?" asked Hyun-jin, "I'm hungry."

"Nope, we've arrived in Gwiseon," said Jae-joon, "look."

North Entry Road suddenly comes to an end on Jangseung Hill, with two large jangseungs or totems stood in each side of the road, serving as front gate to the city, welcoming any visitor that come. Soo-jin and Hyun-jin, which never see any jangseung before, seems in awe watching the two large jangseung at once.

Rolling across Jangseung Hill, they could then see a building compound, unique due to white nuance and a bell tower stand as main feature of the compound. A simbol of golden fleur-de-lis can be seen in the top of the bell tower.

"That's your would-be school, Baekhap Girls' Academy, best known by its bell tower and golden fleur-de-lis symbol," said Jae-joon, "I've read about it, and it's said that Baekhap Girls' Academy was founded by French missionary."

"Ah, hence the fleur-de-lis," said Soo-jin.

"Correct! The bell tower are the legacy of old building, which was a monastery," said Jae-joon.

"Hmm, I like it already," said Soo-jin.

"I actually wanted to put you into Yongdam, but the lottery put both of you in Baekhap instead," said Jae-joon.

"Wait, what? Lottery?" asked Soo-jin.

"Yes, apparently that's how they decide things here, unless of course you pay a large sum of money to force your way in," said Jae-joon, "I'm sorry, I don't have that amount of money to even secure a school."

Soo-jin pat her Appa's shoulder, while Hyun-jin hug him from behind.

"Don't worry, we know that we're still threading our way here," said Soo-jin, "at least we have school, right? By the way, is Baekhap good?"

"Oh yes, one of the best in this area," said Jae-joon.

"But not as good as Yongdam?" asked Soo-jin.

"Well, Yongdam is a private school, with larger funding and highly selected students, so of course we could expect some great things from them," said Jae-joon, "Baekhap, on the other hand, can be considered as state school, with lower tuition fee, and accept students from any walks of life. For Baekhap, to be able to par with Yongdam is something to be reckoned with."

"So, I'm in Baekhap as well?" asked Hyun-jin.

"Yup, the three schools in Gwiseon each has programs for under-secondary, or middle-school as well," said Jae-joon, "so you won't miss much."

"How about the third school? Jindallae?" asked Soo-jin.

"Jindallae is more of a vocational school. They prepare their students for career as they graduated, though I also heard some of their graduates able to enter good universities as well," said Jae-joon.

"Wow, sounds promising," said Soo-jin.

Jae-joon hauled breath.

"I just want the best for my daughters," said Jae-joon, "let's try here, if this year didn't go well, I'll file my transfer to Seoul. How about that?"

"Umm... Kol," said Soo-jin.

"Hyun-jin-a? How about you?" asked Jae-joon.

"I'm also kol," said Hyun-jin.

"Alright then, now, who's ready for a rabokki?"

"Me! Me! Me!" said both Soo-jin and Hyun-jin.

"Let's go eat!"

"Yaay!"