Clear Boy
08.
Back at my class, I leaned against my desk and clicked my pen. Rejection wasn't my first or second, but this was the first direct rejection, so I was a little taken aback. I should've said something cool. I could really help you. It didn't have to be so hard. For the first time, my lack of words was frustrating. Was our first meeting a disaster? Yeah. Honestly, even if I were Yoon Ah-reum, I would've thought, "What kind of crazy person is this?" What if I just rushed at him out of the blue? The more I thought about it, the more embarrassed I became. In the end, I just tore my innocent hair out. "Hey, what's wrong with you?" my deskmate asked, genuinely worried. "Just... I feel like my life is screwed." My deskmate nodded silently at my answer. "It's okay, Beomgyu. It only happened once or twice."
Spring has a knack for elevating the human heart. I think this is why there are so many couples. When the cold winter winds turn into the warm spring breeze, your heart can't help but soften. Like a frozen body melting in an instant. The flowers that fill your eyes also contribute to this. How can you not be excited when the world becomes more beautiful? It's the season when cherry blossoms bloom profusely outside the window. It's the season when the occasional breeze tickles. It's the season when your body becomes tired even when you're still. Perhaps that's why sleep came easily. I was lost in thought, thinking my life was fucked, and before I knew it, I was asleep. When I opened my eyes, it was already time for school. Crazy. How long have I slept? I quickly wiped the drool from my lips and looked around.
"Are you awake now?"
"Hey, why didn't you wake me up?"
"Don't you think you might not wake up?"
"Slap me once."
"I wonder if he really didn't do it?"
Stop complaining and just pack your bags. "If I said more, I'd be in for a real fight," he said, so he tidied up his desk in silence. His cheeks felt a little tingly. Surely he hadn't actually hit me, I thought. I glanced around furtively.
"Ah, Choi Beom-gyu."
"ok."
"Do you have an umbrella?"
"Umbrella? Why?"
"It's raining outside."
"rain?"
"Yeah. It was supposed to rain."
The weather forecast said it would be sunny all day, but suddenly a shower is coming. Do you have an umbrella? If not, would you like to share one? Hearing that, I looked anxiously out the window, and it was indeed raining. Spring rain, indeed. A romantic spring rain. The torrential downpour was drenching the world. Hey, Choi Beomgyu. Do you have an umbrella? My friend's voice, asking from behind, sounded piercing. Suddenly, a person came to mind.
"No umbrella."
"Then we can go out together..."
"Yoon Ah-reum doesn't have an umbrella."
What the hell is that crazy guy talking about? Worried about her in the middle of all this? My friend frowned, as if fed up. He would have gone on his own. She's not a one or two year old. That wasn't the issue. For Yoon Areum, getting wet wasn't the problem, the rain was the problem. Why would you sleep on a day like this? Normally, I would have run to Yoon Areum's class as soon as the bell rang. I quickly packed my bags and left the class. Hey! I had already ignored my friend's cries from behind. I was anxious. What if she cries again? My heart was pounding fast.
09.
Perhaps because it was school dismissal time, there were a lot of people. I took advantage of the gap and looked for Yoon Areum. Her unusually round head. But no matter how much I looked, I couldn't find her. I chewed my lips anxiously. Then, suddenly, a place came to mind. The rooftop where I first met Yoon Areum. For some reason, I felt certain. Yoon Areum would be there. I ran without hesitation. The raindrops were getting heavier, creating puddles on the ground. Every time I ran, I heard the sound of water splashing. My sneakers were soaking wet. Even though it was the same path I always took, I was trembling. As soon as the rooftop came into view, my rapidly beating heart was on the verge of exploding. What if she wasn't there? A vague worry filled my mind. I didn't run for long.
If it's not there, I have to keep looking. I have to find it and tell it I'm not alone. I have to make the rain stop. Sometimes, simple conclusions are helpful. I ran for a long time, but I ran again. To reach the rooftop quickly. My breath was ragged, but I swallowed hard. Finally, I was at the door. The rusty iron door was slightly ajar, as if someone had entered before me. "You're here." I opened the door with slightly trembling hands. I saw Yoon Areum, whom I had been desperately searching for.
"Beautiful!"
Yoon Areum, trembling and covering her ears with her hands, couldn't even stand when I called her. Just like the first time I saw her. I quickly ran over and picked her up from her half-collapsed body. Areum. Come to your senses. Yoon Areum! The hands desperately covering her ears were trembling. I grabbed her hand with mine. Only then did Yoon Areum open her eyes and look at me.
"Come to your senses. Okay?"
"...Ugh."
"I'll grant your wish. I'll stop the rain."
"....."
"So don't be nervous. Okay?"
“Senior... what do you know?”
"I know. I know everything. So just trust me this once."
Yoon Areum was completely blue. The hand I held was cold, like someone about to die. With empty eyes, tears streaming down her face, Yoon Areum nodded with difficulty. After confirming her appearance, I clasped her hands together. As always.
“Stop the rain.”
I closed my eyes loosely, clasped my hands together, and pointed sharply at the sky. Nothing grand was needed. A simple request to stop the rain was all that was needed. The rain, which had been pouring down heavily just moments before, had subsided. Sunlight filtered through the dark clouds once again. I opened my closed eyes and gazed at the world. The world, washed by rain, sparkled and shone. As I gazed at the world, I turned my gaze to see Yoon Areum. Her empty eyes were back in focus. Her mouth, which had been tightly shut, was slightly open. She seemed quite surprised by the situation.
"...what is this."
"Look. I know what you want."
It's just a power. If you make a wish, the rain will stop. The day you came to the rooftop and prayed for it to stop. I made it stop then too. Because I didn't want to see you cry. That's why I meant what I said to you. When I said we should be friends. When I said I knew your wish. When I said I wanted to be your only one. Yoon A-reum looked dazed. Well, I guess so. How could I possibly think that I would ever meet someone who could stop the rain in my life? I waited in silence. After a long moment of hesitation, Yoon A-reum finally spoke.
"...So that's why you followed me?"
"huh?"
“You knew everything and followed me around?”
"...That's it."
I'm sorry if I offended you. We just happened to see each other that day. You dropped your name tag and I knew your name. I'm sorry for rushing in without thinking. But, I really wanted to be close to you... Yoon Areum's expression seemed slightly angry, and her words came out randomly. Yoon Areum was silent again. After talking to myself for a while, I closed my mouth. If there's no one to talk to, at least be quiet. At that moment, Yoon Areum's hand came to my head.
"It's not wet at all."
"....."
"It's true."
A hand brushed against her forehead. The area where it had been touched felt hot, as if scalded. Her body instantly flushed. Yoon Ah-reum stroked her hair a couple of times and muttered, "It's true." I nodded without realizing it. "Yeah, it's true."
"I won't lie about something like this."
"I can't believe it even if I see it."
"That's true."
"It's scientifically nonsensical."
"That's how things are in this world," he said, shrugging. Yoon A-reum smiled faintly at me. Small, but definite. "Oh, she smiled." Yoon A-reum smiled. He muttered to himself. Her smile was beautiful.
"It was Choi Beom-gyu."
"huh?"
"Senior's name."
"Uh huh."
"Just in case."
"Hey, I followed you around like that and you didn't even know my name?" I felt a little disappointed. Yoon Areum, perhaps sensing my presence, quickly added, "I knew it, but I was just asking just in case. Just in case." It was the first time I'd seen you so flustered, so I laughed. You're such a squirrel." When I laughed out loud, Yoon Areum's expression became subtle. It was as if she was asking why I was laughing.
"It's okay if you don't know."
"....."
"I'll tell you again and again."
Choi Beomgyu. My name. You just have to remember it every time. This time, I did the opposite, stroking Yoon A-reum's hair. It was damp, but I didn't care. It was okay if the drops of water clinging to the ends of her hair fell onto my hand. It was only just beginning. Yoon A-reum obediently accepted my touch.
"Let's go now."
"....."
"Because the rain stopped."
I held out my hand. Yoon Areum couldn't take it, and hesitated. If even this was cute, was there something wrong with me? I bit my lip to keep from laughing. In the end, I took Yoon Areum's hand. It was still cold. I wanted to warm it up.
"From now on, don't hesitate and grab it."
I'll always keep it empty. Yoon Ah-reum stared intently at the hand she held. I said nothing more. Sunlight streamed through the rooftop. We were right in the center of it all.