As the heavy weight of the shopping bags pressed against his shoulders, Kim’s thoughts lingered on the hollow ache in his chest. The mall had been a stark reminder of the world he didn’t belong to—at least, not yet. The shiny, polished lives of the people around him felt so far out of reach, like something he could only ever dream about. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was merely an outsider, watching from the fringes of a world he’d never be able to enter without a fight.


    His mind kept drifting back to the boy with the brand new laptop, his father’s proud smile, and the easy conversations about what kind of school supplies they’d need. Kim had never experienced that—had never had the luxury of those little comforts, of making those simple choices without the weight of financial strain crushing every decision. It wasn’t just about the supplies; it was about the divide, the deep chasm between his world and theirs.


    Kim didn’t want to dwell on it for long. He needed to keep moving forward.


    He finally reached the corner of the street where he would usually catch the bus. As he approached, his eyes caught sight of Ji-sung up ahead. His younger brother was walking briskly along the sidewalk, carrying a small backpack. Kim slowed his pace and called out, “Ji-sung!”


    The boy turned, his face lighting up when he saw his older brother. He waved his hand and jogged to catch up.


    “Hyung, you’re done already?” Ji-sung asked, his voice filled with excitement, yet something in his eyes told Kim that his brother had been holding something back.


    Kim smiled warmly, though his mind was still preoccupied. “Yeah, just finished buying the stuff for college,” he replied, trying to keep his tone light. “What about you? Why aren’t you on the bus?”


    Ji-sung paused for a moment, looking down at the ground as though debating whether to speak the truth. “Uh, I... I thought I’d walk,” he muttered, his voice a little too quiet.


    Kim raised an eyebrow, sensing that there was more to the story. “Don’t lie, Ji-sung. What’s going on?”


    His younger brother shifted uncomfortably, then gave in with a sigh. “Okay, fine. I’m saving up for a movie. I didn’t want to ask Mom and Dad for money. Things are tight right now.”


    Kim’s heart twisted in his chest at the admission. Ji-sung, who was only twelve, was already making sacrifices for things that should have been simple, like going out with his friends to watch a movie. He was trying to protect their parents from the pressure of another expense, even when they couldn’t afford it. Kim felt a mixture of pride and sorrow in his heart.


    “You’re a good kid, Ji-sung,” Kim said softly, placing a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “But you don’t have to do that. We’ll get through this. I promise. We’ll make it.”If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Ji-sung’s eyes flickered with a quiet hope. “I know you will, hyung. You’re going to college. You’re going to make everything better.”


    Kim swallowed hard. His brother’s faith in him was both humbling and heavy. How could he let this innocent hope die? How could he let his family down again?


    The weight of responsibility settled on Kim’s shoulders more firmly than ever before. He wasn’t just going to college for himself; he was going for Ji-sung, for their parents. This was their chance. This was the path to a life that would no longer be defined by scraping together the bare minimum, living paycheck to paycheck.


    Kim clenched his fists as a new resolve washed over him. He would make it. He would rise above the circumstances that had bound him for so long. He would take every opportunity, no matter how small, and use it to pull his family out of this life. He couldn’t afford to fail.


    As they walked side by side, Kim kept his gaze forward, trying to block out the thoughts that had clouded his mind earlier. “You don’t have to save your money for movies, Ji-sung. You can have your fun too. Don’t worry about it.”


    Ji-sung grinned up at him, his eyes sparkling with a quiet optimism that reminded Kim of the boy he used to be. A boy who believed in things like hope and dreams, before the world had taught him the cold lessons of sacrifice.


    “I’ll make sure to save up for the next one, hyung,” Ji-sung replied, his voice filled with that same belief in the future, a future Kim promised himself he’d create.


    As they reached the small apartment, Kim’s mother was already in the kitchen, her gentle humming filling the air as she prepared their modest meal. Her movements were graceful, even in the face of exhaustion, and Kim knew it wasn’t just the food that kept her going—it was the love for her family, the unspoken promise to make sure they didn’t go hungry, no matter what.


    His father was sitting at the small table, reading the newspaper, his brow furrowed with the weight of their situation. He didn’t speak much, but Kim could feel the quiet strength in him, the man who had worked his whole life just to provide what little they had.


    Kim set his bags down and walked over to his mother, who smiled warmly at him. “You look tired, Ji-hoon. How was the shopping?”


    “It was fine, Mom,” Kim replied, sitting down at the table. His stomach growled quietly, but it wasn’t hunger that gnawed at him. It was the weight of the promise he’d made—to make everything better.


    As his mother served dinner, Kim looked at his family. They were so strong, each of them sacrificing in their own way. He had to make sure their sacrifices weren’t in vain. He had to prove that all the hard work, all the struggles, would eventually pay off.


    The thought of it made his chest tighten, but he kept his focus. “I’ll make it, Mom. I’m going to make sure we don’t have to live like this anymore,” he said softly, his voice unwavering despite the doubt that still lingered in the back of his mind.


    His mother smiled and placed a bowl of rice in front of him. “We know you will, Ji-hoon. We’re proud of you.”


    Kim’s eyes met his father’s, who nodded silently in agreement. In that moment, Kim understood just how much this family believed in him. They didn’t need grand speeches or promises. They needed action.


    Tomorrow, he would take the first step toward the future. Tomorrow, he would begin his journey, not just as a college student, but as the person who would change everything for them.


    He wouldn’t let them down. Not this time.