ne still overly bright, like she was hosting a private, exclusive event. "If you don't mind, can you follow me on Instagram? I'll accept your friend requests." She paused just

nother reminder of how far she still had to go Home, Sweet HomeHer apartment was exactly as she had left it-small, cramped, and barely holding itself together. She set her bag down and collapsed onto her bed. A loud knock came from the door. She already knew who it was. With a sigh, she forced herself up, opening it just enough to see the familiar scowl of Mr. Park, her landlord. "Rent's due," he said, crossing his arms. She had been hoping to delay it a few more days. "I just-graduated today. Can I get a little time?" Mr. Park scoffed. "Will you pay with your diploma?" Yujin clenched her jaw. Of course not. Reluctantly, she reached into her wallet, pulling out what little she had left. The landlord counted the bills before nodding in approval. "Next month, don't be late." The door shut. Yujin exhaled, running a hand through her hair. So this was adulthood. Job Hunting-Or The Lack Of It Days passed. Then a week. Yujin sat at her small desk, her laptop open to job listings. She scrolled through the same pages she'd visited a hundred times before. Apply. Wait. Rejection. Apply. Wait. Rejection. The cycle repeated like some cruel joke, with her inbox filling up with polite rejections and form letters. The job market didn't care that she had a degree, good grades, or big dreams. It didn't care that she'd spent years studying while balancing part-time work. All it cared about was experience-experience she didn't have. "Ugh," she groaned, flopping onto her bed. The sheets smelled faintly like detergent and missed opportunities. Was she going to be stuck in a convenience store forever? She stared at the ceiling, where the fading paint peeled in slow, sad curls. Was this it? Was this all there was to life after graduation? Her phone pinged, pul