The Lantern Festival

The preparation of the Lantern festival was in full swing. The market was full of hustle-bustle, brimming with the colourful and beautiful lanterns to allure the visitors. Vendors had decorated their shops to attract customers. Kids could be seen indulging themselves in gruelling arguments with their parents and crying stubbornly to buy them their favourite toys and lanterns. Other throngs of people were busy buying new clothes for their family.

There was one ordinary shop among the crowd of wacky shops, but surprisingly it was full of customers because there the lanterns were inconceivably designed with different textures. That ordinary shop attracted Min-ho. He decided to buy a lantern for Si-ri from that shop which was surrounded by a huge crowd.

Min-ho didn't know that unknowingly he was also grabbing the attention of girls. Min-ho was  tall and he was handsome as well. He seemed extremely busy choosing the most beautiful lantern unaware of his surroundings.

“Why don’t you take this one, this one is so colourful,” said a girl while shyly glancing at him but to her surprise he didn't even pay heed to her suggestion which disappointed her.

Min-ho being unaffected by the beauties proceeded to other shop after getting the lantern of his choice.

Other youngsters were envious of Min-ho for the attention he was receiving from the girls.

Just then, Ji-ho and his notorious friends reckoned in the market. With their filthy behaviour they all make fun of people for their ordinary or shabby attire. It is their favourite pastime to mock and torment the people of the town. Nobody could utter a single word against them, as their fathers were top officials of the kingdom who served the King.

As they moved forward, a poor kid bumped into Ji-ho as he was frolicking around and fell on the ground. The moment he was about to get up, Ji-ho and his wicked friends surrounded the poor child. “You poor filthy creature, how dare you touch me?” said Ji-ho with a disgusted look.

“It was just a mistake. I am sorry for this,” said the crying child.

“I shall teach you a lesson today so that you won't repeat this mistake ever,” said Ji-ho, flaunting his evil smile.

Looking at his shoes Ji-ho said, “Clean it with your clothes.”

The poor child could not escape himself from this fateful encounter with these lousy people. With a gloomy face, the innocent child crimped his shirt and started to polish Ji-ho’s shoes.

After he was done cleaning shoes, Ji-ho pushed him and said, “You did well kid, it seems you poor people know beforehand that your place is under our feet.”

Ji-ho suddenly saw Min-ho at the lanterns stall. He was fuming with jealousy on seeing all the girls admiring him. Then he recalled how his mom scolded him for losing the bet to an ordinary man. Therefore, he decided to take revenge on him.

He walked to the stall with his friends. 

“My dear friend, leave it and come with me, I'll show you how to have fun,” Ji-ho forced Min-ho to come.

“No, I don't want to go.” But all his words fell on deaf ears. Ji-ho forcibly takes him and signals his other friends to join him in his plan.

Ji-ho took him to the pothouse and kept on coercing Min-ho to drink wine.

“I do not want to drink this, Ji-ho. You enjoy it here, I have to go.” Min-ho politely refused his offer.

“You filthy dirty pig, how dare you deny my offer. You are in no position to refuse me.” Ji-ho grabbed Min-ho by his collar and ruthlessly started to force wine into his mouth. Min-ho choked and it became severely difficult for him to breathe. Amidst all these scuffling, Min-ho managed to kick him hard in the crotch.

Ji-ho jolted with the sharp pangs that a piercing and shrill groan escaped his mouth. He lay down in pain by placing his hands between his legs and cursing Min-ho.

“You bastard, you will pay for this.” Ji-ho shouted.

Before he could shoot more cuss words, Min-ho rushed towards him and banged his head on the table so hard that he fell unconscious. “Never ever try to mess with me”. 

By that time, Ji-ho’s friends abscond  the place.

Min-ho yawningly stretched his fingers and said, “With a little act of giving agony to this rogue guy, I am finally feeling liberated,” and moved towards the market.

“It's a pain not being in a good condition and tormented by people, but no matter what condition we are in, we always have the power to heal our lives. Even if you lack all the grandeur and prosperity of life, even if you are penniless you still have the power of your mind and courage that indeed helps you avoid humiliations, scars, that feeling of helplessness, as well as those moments when even warriors questions the existence of God and empowers us to survive despite walking through hell.” Min-ho pondered about the miseries of life and walked towards his home after buying a lantern for him.

He reached home and got back to bed to take a short nap. 

When it was getting dark outside Min-ho prepared himself to go to Si-ri.

“Even if she can't see the festival still she can be a part of the festival,” said Min-ho in thoughts.

Avoiding the eyes of the people Min-ho proceeded towards the forest.

On his way, Min-ho was dubious on the account of Si-ri whether she would like his surprise or not. All he wanted was to ease her pain, to make her happy or to lessen the agony of lonliness atleast to some extent. He knew the feeling of being alone since he had gone through such ugliest phases of life. Time is a healer, it gradually healed Min-ho and made him come out of the trauma of childhood. However, he was still lonely with no one to rely on. Reason for his attachment towards Si-ri could be the similar pain they both shared.