The sun shone brightly over the Land of the Morning Calm, spreading its warmth throughout the mountainous country, eliciting a sense of tranquility. But not all was serene and bright. A little girl dressed in a red and pink hanbok stood alone, tears streaming down her face, lost and afraid. She had wandered into the streets, looking for her kitten who had scampered off, but ended up lost herself. She frantically looks around, trying to remember which way she had went. She would look to the left, then to the right, but it all looked the same to her. She sank to her knees, crying in earnest, burying her head in her hands. She cried not only for herself, but for her little kitten as well. She feared he was just as frightened as she was, lost and alone. Then she heard a familiar voice.

“Mina!”

Mina looked up, staring into the dark-brown eyes of a sixteen year old Hwang, her father’s best student, his face filled with concern. She immediately clung to him, babbling about her lost kitten. He had been on his way to the Seung Dojang for his daily lesson when he had spotted Mina, crying her little heart out. Now he simply held her, comforting the best he could.

“Shh, little Mina. Don’t worry. We’ll find Hodori.”

She looked up at him, her brown eyes looking so earnest. “Promise?” 

Hwang smiled affectionately at her. “I promise I won’t rest until I find him.”

Mina smiled radiantly as she took his hand, walking together down the street. She looked up shyly at him, a blush on her cheeks, her little heart beating. Hwang is so kind, she thought. Girls from six to eighteen all had crushes on the handsome young man. She could see why.

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They continued to walk, going from building to building and asking anybody if they saw the little kitten. They would also search trees and bushes in the parks and gardens, but to no avail. Mina felt tears well up in her eyes again as she clutched Hwang’s hand. They slowly walked back to the Seung residence, Mina hiccuping all the way home. That night she lay underneath her bedsheets, crying for her lost kitten. She worried how scared he must have felt, all alone outside in the cold dark.

“Come home, Hodori!” she would cry out, tears staining her cheeks, tossing and turning. Then, there was a knock on her door. Mina sits up, rubbing her eyes. The door opens, her father standing in the doorway, holding Hodori! Mina immediately jumps up, running to her father. She takes Hodori from him, holding him tight.

“Oh Hodori!” she exclaimed, gently nuzzling him. “I missed you so much! I was so worried!”

“Mew!” Hodori sweetly cried out, feeling safe and warm in his mistress’s arms.

Mina looked up at her father. “How did you find him?” she asked.

“I didn’t find him. It was Hwang. He would not rest until he found Hodori.”

Mina’s eyes grew wide. Hwang, she thought. He had taken the time to continue the search for him on his own. He had kept his promise. She felt tears well up in her eyes again, but this time is was tears of happiness, touched by his selflessness. She didn’t quite understand these feelings, but it gave her comfort and made her feel warm inside.

Her father leaves and closes the door, as she gets back underneath the covers, holding her precious Hodori. Thank you, Hwang, she thought, a sweet smile on her face, as she slowly drifted to sleep.