Prologue

1988, the Korean district of Los Angeles, USA. A baby just a few months old is lying in a stroller, pondering some truly profound questions. This is no joke. Though he can’t speak yet, he can clearly articulate these questions in his mind: “Who am I?

Where did I come from?

Where am I going?” But these questions are heavy for a baby—not just mentally, but physically as well—so they quickly lull him to sleep.

Time passes, the years flow like a song, but for our protagonist, just over a year old, the years are more like sleep, and time like crying—more fitting, really. Now, he no longer ponders those lofty questions. He seems to have figured out the basics. Just as he’s learned that his English nickname is Wood, and his Korean name seems to be Mark King, he’s also come to realize a few facts: for instance, he seems to have been reborn or transmigrated; he seems to be a Korean-American; and he seems to have adapted to life in this time and place. Of course, he’s also started to think about some new questions, like: “Are my parents from my previous life doing well?”

Chapter 1: A New Little Sister

In the blink of an eye, several years have passed, and it’s now the autumn of 1994. Los Angeles is as lively and bustling as ever. Amidst this energy and chaos, our protagonist has turned six. Of course, according to the Korean custom of counting age from March, Wood could also be considered seven.

October 24th, a Monday. The chubby Ms. Susan is on the podium, enthusiastically and animatedly explaining the mysteries of addition and subtraction within one hundred. Below the podium, a dozen or so elementary students, including Wood, all stare blankly and look half-asleep. Clearly, none of the kids here are paying attention to the blackboard.

“Ding…”

With the sound of the bell, the classroom instantly becomes lively: almost everyone packs up their bags within seconds. The girls form small groups, holding hands and discussing whose house to visit today. The boys all sling on their backpacks, grab their baseball gear, and shout about claiming the field. Seeing this familiar scene, Ms. Susan adds, somewhat deflated, “Alright, kids, be careful, class dismissed.”

Of course, no one pays her any mind.

“Wood, let me be the pitcher today! I’ll show those second graders what’s what!” A freckled boy with messy curls stands at the classroom door, waving his arms, clearly excited.

“No problem, Rodney, today you’ve got to show those second-grade brats who’s boss. We’re counting on you!” Wood says calmly, slinging his little backpack and walking up to Rodney, patting the freckled boy on the shoulder like a little grown-up. “But, Rodney, today you’re not just the pitcher, you’re also the captain. I’ve got something urgent at home and have to leave now, so you have to give it your all! Lead our first-grade team to beat the second graders!”

With that, Wood dashes out of the classroom like a bird, racing toward the school’s main road where the parking lot is, leaving Rodney basking in the double excitement of being both pitcher and captain.

Wood’s father, Helen King, is already waiting at the parking lot. Seeing his son running over from afar, Helen King immediately opens the car door. Once Wood climbs in and fastens his seatbelt, the car starts up right away.

“Wood, your mom and I are about to go to the hospital to visit your Aunt Johnson. You need to take care of Molly at home. We might not be back until very late tonight, or maybe even tomorrow morning. As soon as I leave, you need to bring Beck inside and lock the front door, understand? I’ll definitely be back before you go to school tomorrow morning.” Helen King says seriously as he drives, putting on a stern face and sounding like he’s got everything under control.

“Dad, Mom taught you to say all this, didn’t she?” But Wood exposes his father’s act without hesitation.

“…How could that be? I don’t need your mom to teach me these things!” Helen King tries to act like he’s always been competent.

“And aren’t you forgetting something?” Wood rolls his eyes. His cheap dad is good at everything except the little things in life. The only reason he’s made it this far is because Wood’s mom, Grace Parker, takes care of everything.

“…I don’t think I forgot anything…” Helen King immediately gives himself away.

“What about food? Didn’t Mom tell you about meals? …Did Mom already restock the fridge?”