It's morning, the sun's up, and the sunlight is filtered through the chestnut trees, creating a shadow of light across the narrow path. The smell of pine and freshly turned earth hung in the air as Soo Young carried the stack of firewood on her back. The weight of the load of firewood was pulling her shoulders down, and the twine was bruising her skin. But it was just one of the responsibilities that had fallen on her shoulders after her father died, so she was used to it by now.
With every step of the way, her feet sinking into the muddy earth, the pressure on her arms became more burdensome. Halfway down the hill, she heard this distinct sound of someone running behind her.
"Ya, Soo Young! You trying to carry the whole forest home?" came a ribbing voice, comfortable and calm.
Without even turning around, she knew who it was.
"If I wait for you, we'll be out of firewood and out of daylight," she responded, adjusting the cotton straps on her shoulder, ignoring the pain it caused across her back.
It was Jun Ho. He started walking beside her, carrying a mischievous smile on his face. As always, his hair was messy, and his cheeks turned red after climbing the hill. Although he wasn't tall yet, he was sturdy, with a certain confidence that seemed to make up for what he lacked in height. Jun Ho was always there in rough and tough times, even when it was not his responsibility.
"Let me take half," said Jun Ho, and started to loosen the twine from her firewood bundle without waiting for a reply.
Soo Young frowned, giving him a sneering glare. "I didn't ask for help."
"And I didn't ask to see you crushed by kindling. But here we are." Jun Ho shrugged casually.
Soo Young rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help the hint of a smile drawn at her lips. Her arms were in pain, and honestly, she felt relieved sharing the weight, even if it was just a little.
They walked side by side down the hill, their footsteps were in sync as they moved past the trees and over the dirty and uneven ground. The birds were chirping, and the sound of a nearby river rippled softly in the background, but Jun Ho's never-ending chatter filled the silence.
"So, your mother is still mad about the broken water jar?" he asked, a playful lilt in his voice.
"Of course she is," she replied with a small, involuntary smile. "That jar lasted longer than half the people in the village. She'll never let me live it down."
Jun Ho giggled, his soft laugh echoing through the trees. "I'll buy you a new one someday. A fancy one. With flowers painted on it."
"Oh? When you're a rich city man?", Soo Young whiffed.
"No," he said, his voice turned sham serious. "When I marry a rich city woman, and she lets me have an allowance."
Soo Young's heart skipped a beat as he mentioned his marriage, though she immediately dismissed it. Jun Ho was her good friend, but there was something so joyful, airy, and light about him that it was hard to think about him settling down anytime soon.
They followed a bend in the path and came into view of the stream. The sunlight striking the water, creating sparkling popples dancing across the surface. Jun Ho bent down near the stream and splashed water on his face. While doing so, he flicked some water at Soo Young.
"Yah!" she puffed, dodging the splash and wiping her face.
"What? You were looking hot," he said, smiling like a fool, his teeth wide open against his sun-kissed skin.
"You'll look hot when I throw you in the fire," she replied, pretending to hit him with her stick.
He jumped away, laughing constantly, and she chased him for a while before this playful banter turned into something quieter.
They slowed down as they reached the bottom of the hill near the village. The vibrant sounds of the forest faded and were replaced by the noises of the village, pots clinking, children being called by their mothers, and low whispers of voices.
Soo Young slowed down too; the load of the firewood on her back suddenly became heavier again, and their light conversation started fading. She always felt a silent heaviness whenever she thought about her family. Her mother's cough was getting worse with every passing day. Soo Young didn't share about it with Jun Ho or anyone else, but every night the soft and hoarse sound would keep her awake, worrying about how long she could hold tights together.
"Omma's been coughing more lately," Soo Young uttered softly, her voice low. "She won't say it, but I hear her at night."
Jun Ho's expression quickly changed. His playful grin faded and turned into a serious face that Soo Young was not used to seeing. He remained quiet for a while before he spoke.
"You're doing everything you can, Soo Young," he said, in a sincere tone. "More than most grown-ups."
She clenched her fist to stop tears from rolling down her cheeks as her throat tightened at his words. Jun Ho always knew what to say in such situations; his words were comforting and made the weight on her shoulders a little more bearable.
She nodded, was grateful for his existence. He always made things seem less bleak, even in the most depressing moments.
They walked, in complete silence, the sound of their steady footsteps filling the quiet.
Then, Jun Ho, as always, lightened the mood with his usual mischievous grin and bright eyes. "Come on! Let's get this stack of wood back before you cry and blame it on the smoke."
"Who's crying?" she replied, smirking at him. "You'll be the one crying when your rich city wife kicks you out."
He laughed loudly at her words, his laugh echoed in the space between them, fading the tension that had built up.
As they reached the edge of the village, Soo Young felt relieved. There was something so warm and comforting about having Jun Ho by her side, about knowing that she did not have to carry the burden of everything alone. The promise and assurance of their friendship, unsaid but always there, a constant pillar of strength.
They reached her house just before sunset. Soo Young paused for a bit, looked at Jun Ho, who was still carefully carrying the stack of wood with a carefree smile.
"You're not so bad, Jun Ho," she said with a half-smile.
"Tell me something I don't know," he replied, giving her a frisky wink before leaving.
As he left, Soo Young watched him go, in that moment, she felt a small warm hope had blossomed in her heart. Her life on this Island wasn't easy, and the future was unknown, but for today, she felt like maybe, just maybe, everything would work out and she would be okay.
Thank you for reading! Hope you enjoyed this lighter moment between Soo Young and Jun ho. I'd love to hear your feedback or memories of your childhood friendships. Your support helps me keep writing. 💛