Because it's my first loveW. Gotseol-young (꽃서령)
I thought you had forgotten.
No, I thought you would pretend not to remember.
Taehyung is-
I clearly remembered what happened a year ago.
Now that the eventful first class was finally over, as soon as the bell rang, I made an excuse, "Toilet!" and ran out of the classroom.Today was my first day of school, and even though I didn't know where I was, I just ran.
When I felt I was far enough away from the classroom, I leaned against the wall and crouched down.
"So, why did you pretend not to know?"
"Isn't it a bit strange to call someone an 'acquaintance' after only meeting them twice?"
"But I know your face... I know what I know."
"...Right."
Throughout the lesson, Taehyung kept asking me "Why?" from the side, so I couldn't concentrate on a single word of what was being said.
Even after the doorbell rang, he continued to follow me as I tried to run away, saying, "I told you to go to the bathroom!"
Now that he was finally out of sight, I couldn't help but let out a dry laugh.
"You transferred here yesterday, and you think you know where the girls' bathroom is? LOL"
Also, if a handsome guy shows you to the bathroom, the girls will stare at you like crazy.
If such a rumor were to spread on my first day at school... just thinking about it made me shudder, and I shook my head vigorously.
As I was taking a breather, my smartphone vibrated in my uniform pocket.
Caller: [Song Kang]
Apparently, he had finally found out about my transfer.
Normally, you'd say hello to your classmates before transferring schools, but...
I'm shy and I don't have any friends other than Song Kang that I want to say hello to.
I just asked my homeroom teacher to "please just let everyone know."
However, it seems that the news had not yet reached Song-gang, who was in a different class.
"Haaa, he's probably sulking, thinking, why didn't you tell me?!"
Other people might say, "You're childhood friends, so you should tell me," but
For me, there was no other way.
We've been together 360 days out of 365 since we were little.
Strangely, Song-gang was a child who never wanted to leave my side.
When I was in junior high school, I had to transfer schools due to my mother's circumstances,
The person who had made the effort to transfer to that school was Song Kang.
At times it felt heavy.
But when I remember that "incident"...
I couldn't be cold to Song Kang.
So, I thought this time it would work, and used a bit of a forceful tactic...
As expected, my predictions were not disappointed.
"……hello?"
"Yoon Soo Hyun?! Why did you transfer schools without telling me?"
The loneliness and anger seeped from his voice.
I was prepared to some extent, but... I was a little taken aback by the reaction, which was more intense than I expected.
"I was surprised when I went to your class!
Even though we were together every day, the others would think, 'He doesn't even notice!'"
Ah, I hadn't thought of that.
I kept quiet with good intentions,
On the contrary, I ended up turning him into an "indifferent childhood friend"...
I said "I'm sorry" jokingly,
He replied in a slightly calmer voice.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because... you're going to follow me to school again, aren't you?"
Yes, the answer is simple.
"You're not going to come to school, are you?"
Anyone who says that really doesn't know Song Kang.
That's just the kind of guy he is.
Song Kang doesn't deny it.
As I thought, I was right not to say anything.
"But I was really lonely..."
"I'm sorry... but I had no choice."
"If you don't do this, you won't make any friends."
I told myself quietly in my mind.
This is also for Song Kang's sake,
Above all...it was for my own sake.
"So? Can you tell me which school it is?"
I can picture his depressed face on the phone.
He'd probably look dejected and like, "Poor me"...
I've been fooled by that face all this time,
It's different now.
We are 19 years old and soon to be adults.
At some point, you have to distance yourself a little.
So now is the first step.
"...Sorry. I can't tell you."
"...You're really cold."
"It can't be helped even if it's cold."
I couldn't help but laugh at Song Kang's cuteness.
Your body may be bigger than mine now, but your insides are still the same as before.
Why did he protect me so much back then?
Time passed and the time for the chimes approached.
I have to hang up the phone now.
Song Kang still complained, "What's this?"
The voice was much brighter than before.
"Well, I have to go now."
"...I don't want to cut it."
"It's class, so make sure you're there."
He sighed in disgust,
He listened carefully.
Before hanging up, he asked me, "Can I meet you after school?" and I nodded in response.
"Yeah. I'll come to your house later."
"Okay, do your best in class."
After saying that, he hung up the phone and put his smartphone in his pocket.
I lightly brushed the dust off my skirt and stood up.
I ran away to avoid Taehyung, but...
It was time to go back.
--But still.
"The phone call was so damn long."
Just as I was about to turn the corner and head back to the classroom,
As if waiting for the call to end,
Taehyung, who was leaning against the wall, slowly turned his gaze towards me.
"Wh, why are you here...?"
"I searched quite a bit."
Taehyung said it as if it was no big deal,
My mind went blank.
(No, no, no, why? How? Why me...?)
But I didn't have the courage to ask that question.
I closed my eyes and looked down until he began to speak.
I'm sure they'll also ask me, "Why did you pretend not to know?"
Or maybe...
"Because you're too handsome, and I didn't want to get involved with you because it would draw attention!"
Should I be honest?
With such delusions swirling around in my head,
His soft voice came from above my head.
"Are you scared of me too?"
My eyes weren't watering,
That voice and expression...
He really looked lonely.
Words that I shouldn't have been able to hear gently touched the depths of my heart.
"You alone, don't be afraid of me"