Hajin Ahn/An important place (2nd draft)/Tues 9am

An Exceptionally Cozy Underground (2nd draft)                                                        201301918 Hajin Ahn         Generally, people would say above ground is a place overflowed with vitality while underground is a creature of the opposite nature. Yes, in terms of an image popping into our minds when thinking about underground, I have to admit that underground is considered equal to the darkness that normal people would never be willing to stay for long. However, one of the undergrounds where I used to spend time was an exception. And the very place was the underground parking lot in front of my apartment.          Despite having a stairway made directly to the underground parking lot, I never used it when going below the ground. Instead, I preferred the slope to the parking lot which was exclusively for private cars. Walking down along the wide slope for cars alone, I, as a ten years old child, felt like being the only person in the world. It made me feel a sense of superiority. What a naïve thought I had at that time! Getting nearer to the underground was very similar to the weather growing colder with the approach of sunset. The cool air came out from the underground little by little and my skin erupted with gooseflesh. I shivered slightly in response to the chilliness from the darkness. Normal people would have heavily weakened in underground just like sunflowers dropping their heads at night. However, strangely enough, the chilly air never annoyed or bothered me. It was quite pungent but was thrilling. I should say a boring, sleepy cat suddenly drenched with water would feel the same. The underground smelled where the sun did not shine. I could smell the dust, smoke, and rubber.The bizarre scent reminded me of my school garage where all the remaining chairs and desks were piled up. It was always filled with dust that made the entire room mystic. I remembered I used the garage for cutting my math class several times. I never got caught. That might be one reason that I felt so much relieved and comfortable being in the underground. It was very familiar to me.         During the day, the parking lot looked exactly like inside a kid's mouth with several teeth fallen out, waiting for a permanent set of teeth to come out. Thus, there was enough space for my best friend, Chaerim, and I to hang around. We did not play around the underground parking lot by foot, though. We glided on the rubber floor freely with our in-line skates. The surface of the dark green rubber floor was very much like a well-polished ice board. No matter how fast we ran through the floor, the parking lot stayed as quite as a mouse, never making a sound. It proved how smooth the floor was. I loved hearing my heart beating in the silence. I felt alive. Above the ground, I could not imagine running as fast as I did in the underground with my inline skates as there were too many children, cars, and rough floors interrupting my eagerness for speed.         As soon as the sun was sinking below the horizon, children around my age gathered between two apartment buildings for in-line skating. We never clearly stated that as a race but we all knew that it was the time to compete. No one said anying but all children stood in a line as if it was predetermined. We looked like racehorses whose hooves were hitting the dirt or turf, ready to shoot forward. When a child suddenly shouted, “Go!” seven to eight children started in-line skating race of 15 meters. Thanks to the secret underground training, I always stood at the center after the race, having a smile of victory full of pride.         Before then, I was too shy to stand in front of others. My face turned red like a well-ripen tomato at all times of the day. I thought I had nothing to show off. Again, thanks to the underground parking lot, however, I became the object of other children’s envy. I found what I was good at, and realized  what a sense of achievement meant. I was on cloud nine even though I behaved as if I was used to those situations. For those who knew me well must have thought I was like a fifth grader who acted like an adult in front of her teacher.         During the day, the underground parking lot provided a pleasant shape with a decent temperature. I neither had to sweat nor run at the nose. I had not visited the underground for a long time after middle school. I gradually forgot about it as I had too many things to do above ground. Last week, I walked down the stairs to the underground and noticed that it was actually the first time I used the stairs instead of the slope. It was still dark, still cool, and its floor was still smooth and green. On stepping the floor, I was surprised that it was no more the place that I would like to stay for a long time. Nothing has changed except me. A ten years old naïve girl thought the place was cozy and safe, whereas a 21 years old grown-up thought it was too gloomy, dusty, and musty. The silence  that once was a chance for the little girl to feel alive made a grown-up scared. I kept looking around to make sure no one was there to harm me.         The underground parking lot is still  an important place for my childhood. I would not deny I once felt comfortable being there. What I feel sad is that I am not the innocent girl anymore. I now know too much about the evils in our society, for which I was afraid to be in the dark. Still, I would never forget the peace and vigor I had while spending time in the underground parking lot and the reputation I earned by winning the first place in the in-line skates racing. Daum 메일앱에서 보냈습니다.