Almond

by Won-pyung Sohn · 2020

Sixteen‑year‑old Yunjae lives a quiet, routine life under the watchful care of his mother and grandmother, who run a cozy used‑bookstore above their home. Born with alexithymia—a condition that blocks his ability to feel emotions—he navigates the world guided by colorful Post‑it notes that remind him when to smile, say thank you, or laugh. On his birthday, a sudden act of random violence shatters his sheltered existence, leaving him alone and adrift. As he retreats into isolation, a troubled classmate named Gon, initially a bully, reaches out. Their unlikely bond forces both boys to confront the monsters inside themselves: Yunjae’s emotional numbness and Gon’s hot‑headed anger. Through friendship, curiosity, and the tentative opening of his heart, Yunjae begins to experience love, fear, and hope for the first time, discovering that even the most unexpected connections can change a life forever.