kim ha-sun "kimmy"
What's your name?
If you need to know so badly: my name is Kim Ha-sun. Most of the kids at school call me Kim or Kimmy, sure; you didn't ask me what the kids call me. Maybe we should think about the questions we really want to ask before we ask others, hmm? That was a rhetorical question, sweetie. Try to keep up.
How old are you?
You know? My mom told me to hit anyone who ever asked that question. But it's been kind of a long day, so I'll go easy on the aggravated assault. For now. I'm 17. I'm a junior at the high school a few blocks from my apartment building. I switched schools and countries and languages when I was eight years old-- I'd like to see you learn math with words you'd never heard before, how to make sentences with symbols you've only ever seen on television and... could you imagine some other third thing, here? You're a doll, thanks.
What do you look like?
My mother cuts my hair, first of all; if you have a problem with the bowl-cut bangs I'm rocking, you go ahead and make sure her name is on the letterhead. I don't particularly mind her doing it; it saves money. It gives us a chance to catch up, at least. She's... busy.
But, uh. I'm... tall. I suppose you wouldn't know from the slouching, but I'm 5'8". Lanky, you could say? I don't really exercise. Between my twin kid sisters, school, and working at Pete's? It's amazing I can even find the time to stuff my bra in the morning. Not that I stuff my bra. I haven't done that since I was, like, 12. Since... Since I was... 13? Fine. Since last year. Whatever. I'm flat chested; we're moving on.
I get cold pretty easy-- tend to bundle up. Like, everything I own is covered in a thin layer of motor oil stains, or grease stains, or dirt stains. Most days I'll just throw a big sweater on over whatever shirt manages to pass a sniff test and scuttle through the door.
I was born in South Korea. I'm Koran, like the rest of my family. I have? Black hair, I guess. Brown eyes. I know my hair and eye color; I'm not hesitating because I don't. I'm hesitating because I'm really not sure why you care. Do you... get off on this? Or something? Because, seriously? Ew.
Do you have any hobbies?
I help out at the local Meals on Wheels, if that's what you're wondering. Elderly people are always a good time. Always have something interesting to say-- you might too, if you were alive for so long.
I can't technically volunteer, some policy about school students not being allowed to work during "school hours", even on holiday. The whole thing's beyond stupid, but there's nothing I can do about it. My mom isn't exactly clamoring to help me put up a stink, either. She doesn't need me monopolizing our old Saturn any more than I already do.
I like machines. Cars. Bikes. Whatever it is: you name it, and I'll tool around with it. Machines just... make sense. They work. They're not complicated or mysterious, you know? Every part has a function, and when all the parts do that function, everything just works.
Reading is nice. Doesn't really matter what I read about, as long as it's nonfiction. Only exception to that, I guess, is science fiction? The twins love when I read to them, and they love aliens, so? I guess I kind of have to like it.
What are some things that you especially dislike?
I hate frogs. Mostly because the twins love them. And insist on bringing them into the house. And into my room. And leaving them on my bed. They do that with most animals they can get their grimy little mits on, now that I think about it? But the frogs are the worst. I don't even understand how they can catch the things. They're witches, probably.
Otherwise? I hate trains. Loud, ugly machines. The new ones aren't so bad, but the ones by our old apartment complex? Disgusting.
People who try to speak to me in broken mandarin-- and who don't realize asia isn't a country? Don't. Fudging. Start. Same with people who ask if I ever don't wear a scarf, or who "stole my tits"... I need to fix something. Or... throw a wrench through a window or something. Ugh.
What are your goals for the future? Both immediate and long-term.
I'd really like to work with the elderly, I guess? But there's nothing that really pays well, and I actually want to be useful to my family at some point. So? Just making it out of high school would be nice. I test well. Have decent SAT scores-- better than decent, if we're talking about math or science. But really? I'm more focused on the twins getting out of school than me. So.
Dating? Never much thought about it. Mom insists there must be someone I'm interested in, but the pool of girls looking to date other girls isn't exactly huge around here, and I can't really imagine getting all invested in someone who's just gonna laugh at the idea and then sail me down the rumor mill.
What's your home life like? Specifically, what is your relationship like with your parents?
My father walked out on our family when I was seven years old; I can only ever remember having the one parent. My mom. It's just as well, if you ask me. He was an animal. Everyone always said I looked like him-- that I talked like him? But they never saw the way he really talked. I'd never treat anyone the way he treated... other people. Like? Do I look like an animal? Seriously. Again with the rhetoric. Pay attention if you're gonna ask all these invasive questions.
My mom works a lot. She takes care of my younger twin sisters and I. My older sister is in college in... Canada, I think? She might be studying abroad, at this point. She comes back for Christmas and her birthday. Not that we celebrate either of those... we're not a Celebrate-y kind of family. Don't need to be. We're happy. We love each other. Yeah, it's... hard to make dinner, sometimes, but we manage.
What's your favorite animal, and why?
The spotted hyena has always been my favorite. I thought they were dogs when I was little; I wanted one for our apartment. I loved the way they giggled as they ran away from danger. And that they don't take any guff from humans. Of course most of the stories of hyenas with "tastes for human flesh" are exaggerations or flat out, like, fabrications; that doesn't make me appreciate the notion any less.
...okay, that's not exactly true. But the way they chase off cheetahs or other predators? Taking what they want? I don't know. I hate it in people, but in animals? It's kind of... neat.
Favorite color?
Hands down, rose. A pretty, warm pink. Nothing washed out and sad, like those crayons you get as a kid. It's the color we painted my desk. And... also our bathtub. The twins got it so in their hair while we were painting. Mom laughed. I... was less laughing. Did not laugh at all, in fact. I was too busy trying to wash the twins.
Do you identify with any song or piece of music?
I like the violin. Wish I could play it; you've got to start that kind of thing young. Most cello pieces I'll enjoy, too, but... connect with? I can't say so much. Not off the top of my head.
Do you believe in aliens?
Is this Ha-eun? Ha-Ji? They keep trying to get me to agree with them that they're out there, or that I want-to-believe, or whatever? But I don't. I don't believe in aliens. Yeah, yeah. Call me a spoilsport. Bring it on. It's nothing the twins haven't already sung at me, before. Give me your worst.
