Legacy High

Ji-hoon walked into his house, tired but glad to be home. He dropped his backpack on the floor and kicked off his shoes. Before he could even sit down, his little sisters, Mira and Sumi, ran up to him with big smiles.

"Big brother!" Mira said, her eyes full of excitement. "Mom is going away for work again in two days!"

Sumi jumped in quickly, "So let's spend time with her before she leaves. Let's go to the park tomorrow! Please!"

Ji-hoon looked at both of them and smiled. It had been a while since their family had gone out together. After everything they had been through — their dad leaving, money problems, and their mom working late nights — this felt like a special chance.

He nodded. "Alright. Let's go to the park tomorrow."

Both girls cheered and hugged him tight.

---

The next morning, the whole family got ready early. Ji-hoon, his mom, Mira, and Sumi took the bus to the park. The sky was clear, and the sun was warm. As they walked through the big gates, the sounds of laughter, music, and people having fun filled the air.

The first thing they saw was the Ferris wheel. It was huge and colorful, spinning slowly with happy people waving from the top.

"Let's ride that first!" Mira shouted.

"Yeah!" Sumi agreed, grabbing Ji-hoon's hand.

As they waited in line, the sweet smell of cotton candy and popcorn made their stomachs rumble. Ji-hoon bought a big stick of pink cotton candy. They all took turns pulling off pieces and eating it while smiling and laughing.

When their turn came, they climbed into the Ferris wheel cabin. As it rose higher, the view became more beautiful. From the top, they could see the whole park — bright lights, spinning rides, and small people walking like ants.

Sumi looked out the window, her eyes wide. "It's like looking down from the sky."

Ji-hoon smiled and looked at their mom. She looked peaceful, watching the view and holding Sumi close.

---

After the ride, they ran to the bumper cars. Mira and Ji-hoon picked cars right away and began bumping into each other while laughing loudly. Sumi, in a small car of her own, drove slowly and kept giggling every time someone crashed near her.

"Take that!" Mira shouted, bumping into Ji-hoon's car.

"Hey! That's cheating!" Ji-hoon laughed, spinning his car around to get her back.

Their mom stood outside the rink, laughing at their silliness. For a moment, everything felt normal — like all the heavy problems had disappeared.

---

Later, they stopped at a food stall. The smell of fried hot dogs and sweet crepes filled the air. Ji-hoon bought food for everyone. They sat on a bench, biting into crispy snacks and wiping sauce from their lips.

Their mom watched them, a soft smile on her face. "I'm so glad we could do this today," she said, hugging all three of them. "It's been too long."

Ji-hoon looked at her. She had lines under her eyes from working so much, but today, she looked happy. Really happy.

"Thank you, Mom," he said. "This is the best day I've had in a long time."

She kissed his forehead and whispered, "Let's make more days like this."

---

As the sun started to set, the sky turned golden and pink. The park lights flickered on, glowing like tiny stars. Ji-hoon and his sisters sat under a big tree with their mom, talking about funny moments from the day.

Mira leaned on Ji-hoon's shoulder. "We should come again next time you're free."

"Yeah," Sumi said. "We can try the roller coaster next time."

Ji-hoon laughed. "You're too scared of heights!"

"No, I'm not!" she said, pouting.

Their mom smiled, looking at them like they were her whole world. "You three are my biggest gift," she said quietly.

On the way home, they walked hand-in-hand, the park slowly disappearing behind them. They didn't talk much — they didn't need to. The warmth in their hearts was enough.

---

That night, Ji-hoon lay in bed, thinking about the day. It had been a happy break from the strange things happening at school — the warning note, the red-haired boy named Seo-jin the mysterious third floor.

But today reminded him of what really mattered.

His family.

Their smiles gave him strength.

> "Whatever secrets that school is hiding…" he thought, staring at the ceiling,

> "I'll uncover them. For my brother. And for my sisters."

Then he smiled again as he remembered Sumi trying to drive the bumper car in a circle.

> "And maybe... for some more days like today."

As he slowly drifted off to sleep, Ji-hoon didn't know what

tomorrow would bring. But tonight, at least, he felt at peace.

To Be Continued...