"Sorry, son."
We didn't expect this to happen either."
"It's okay, I'm not a little kid anymore."
But, does the main character know? That I'm leaving."
"Has Yumi told him? I don't know.
By the way, kid, you're lucky to be able to meet the main character again."
"The main character probably hates me.
If he doesn't tell me to leave as soon as he sees me, I'll be lucky."
"Huh? Why does the main character hate you?"
"He's hated me for a long time. I'm the only one who likes him.
But don't worry about me, just go and do your best."
Due to my parents' sudden overseas assignment, I was forced to live in Korea alone. I needed to find a place to live for my final year of high school. I was torn between renting an apartment near the school or staying with a relative, but Aunt Yumi graciously offered me a room on her rooftop. It was about an hour from my old school, so I would have to transfer, but I didn't have to worry. Besides, I was about to take the national exam, so I didn't have to worry about other admissions. Most importantly, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet Kim Yeojoo after five years.
"I miss you."
Those words just came out of nowhere when I saw Kim Yeojoo. The once chubby and cute Yeojoo had changed into a completely different person. As soon as she saw my face, she immediately scowled. It turned out that after five years, she still hated me, and I felt a little bitter.
"What's this?"
"What else, it's me."
"Then what are these things? Why are you here?"
"It seems like Auntie hasn't told you yet.
I'm starting to live here from now on, in the attic room above yours."
"Why?"
"It seems like you're curious after five years of your first meeting.
We'll find out later, but I'm a bit tired from the long journey."
Yeojoo stared at me with a look of disbelief. Ah, it was the same expression she had five years ago. It was the look she had when she was confused, and every time I saw it, I just wanted to tease her. It was like a growling raccoon.
"Huh? Finally I can meet the Kim Taehyung I've been hearing about?"
"I don't know... And what does it mean by Kim Taehyung that I heard?"
If other people heard this, they would think I've been talking about Kim Taehyung for years."
"Right? You talk about it so much that I feel familiar with it, right? You still can't forget Kim Taehyung, that's why you're not dating, right?"
"What did you say! That's not true!"
"If you live in the attic room, do we eat together every day?"
"Yes, I just sleep in that room.
Why doesn't my mother ask me about important things like this...!"
"Is this hate or what? You like Kim Taehyung, right?"
"No, I've forgotten about him."
Kim Taehyung is just a memory. Even at a young age, I felt that feeling was still so vivid, because Kim Taehyung was the first person I liked, and because of that, I shared a little of my memories with my friends. And because his appearance was so extraordinary, it was also part of my elementary school story, so when I remembered it in the past five years, I talked about it several times. For me, Kim Taehyung is not love, but a memory that I want to keep, and it is only occasionally that I remember it. I have been apart from him for five years, and I am not crazy to still like him.
"Mom, where is my uniform?"
"Good morning?"
"...Thanks, it's morning in bed."
"I can only say, good morning."
"What is that uniform?"
"This one? Why?"
"Why are you wearing our school uniform?"
"I transferred to this school.
"The nearest school is here."
"What are you saying? You have to take the train for 30 minutes.
There are other schools nearby, why bother..."
"That's my wish, is there a problem?"
"... Do not talk."
"By the way, you've grown so tall.
You were really small before, now we're almost the same."
"You're getting smaller, little boy."
"I'm not short."
But, don't you feel happy to see me?
"... Not like that."
"Really, that's really bad."
"I even changed schools just to see you."
"..."
It's always been like this. Kim Taehyung has always said things like that without feeling anything. Of course, there's nothing sincere about it, but I remember the way I used to feel my heart flutter just by saying something like that. And even though I know it's not sincere, the fact that my heart still flutters after five years is deeply disturbing.
"Why else would you stare like that..."
"You're always like this, Taehyung. When I'm around, everything becomes easy."
"Yes, that's right. You're Kim Yeojoo, nothing is difficult.
Do you find me difficult?
"... You are really a bad person."
I've liked you since childhood, but I've never felt comfortable with you. But I'm still very easy for you.
"But, it's not too much to reveal like that, right?
"Kim Taehyung likes you, right?"
"He's just a coward. He already knows everything.
"From then on, and now too. He must have thought I still liked him. That's why he said things like that on purpose."
"Does that mean he's just playing with your feelings?"
"... I don't know, but what is certain is that he knows everything and still does. And what makes me upset is that I still feel nervous even though I know that."