The next day came and, as expected, I was being bullied by those kids from the morning.
As expected, the other kids just sat there, watching me like that, and I just waited for them to get tired and stop hitting me.
at that time,
“Hey~! Why are you bothering my friend?!”
“ ..?!! ”
“What? Friend?”
Choi Beom-gyu entered the classroom and yelled at the kids who were bullying him. This caused everyone in the class to stop, and all eyes turned to me.
"He's my friend, so don't bother me."
" her.. "
“Don’t be ridiculous~ How is this guy Beomgyu’s friend?”
"It's true, isn't it, my lady?"
"Is it real?"
" .. don't "
I felt a sense of unwarranted pity. I don't even know who you are to defend me. I pity you, and it's so...really...
I just felt like the child's behavior was nothing more than sympathy towards me.
" what? "
" uh..? "
"I told you not to do that, if you're going to act like I'm not good enough, then get out."
“Huh… what the hell is going on here? This is hilarious.”
“ … ”
In the end, I said some nasty things to you. Looking back now, I realize that perhaps that seemingly insignificant pity was actually just what I felt for myself.
So the morning passed and I thought you wouldn't come to me anymore.
but,
“Lady! Let’s sit together.”
" ..what? "
"Let's sit together! Hurry up and sit down. The seat next to me is popular."
" her.. "
As expected, you were a completely different person from what I expected.
I deliberately sat in a corner far away from you, not next to you. I thought I'd at least get less attention from you if I stayed here.
After class ended, it was lunch time and I headed to the cafeteria alone as usual.
At that moment, when I was about to sit down to eat alone,
Swish,
"Ta-da! Here comes Choi Beom-gyu!"
" you..!! "
"Haha, I told you to have lunch together yesterday! Sit down quickly."
" .. really "
Swish,
"Ah~ Hurry up!"
” … “
Eventually, I couldn't resist your enthusiasm and sat down in front of you, and you were smiling the whole time you were eating, as if you were having so much fun.
I ran away from you to the playground bench and quietly looked up at the sky, feeling a sense of peace that I hadn't felt in a long time.
“.. pretty”
at that time,
" I? "
“What are you doing here..!!”
"Because there's nothing I don't know"
I don't know how he found me again, but he shoved his face in front of mine and smiled again.
In the end, I exploded.
“.. Really, do it in moderation”
" uh..? "
“I showed that I didn’t like it, so are you ignoring me?”
“That’s why I…”
“Now, it seems like you are bothering me more than them.”
“ … ”
“ .. go “
at that time,
widely,
“Didn’t we make a promise yesterday..? We...”
"Huh... is that a promise? You said it unilaterally and left."
“..You just have to take one step.”
" what..? "
“I can keep coming closer, so just take one more step from now on.”
“ … ”
“Please, my lady.”
“What the hell are you...”
I don't know why he keeps trying to get closer to me. What's so good about being with me that he wants to keep being with me? What's so fun about being with me that he keeps laughing?
I hate myself and I find myself boring, but I don't know how you can be so happy and smile next to me.
“Just come one step further.”
“ … ”
“ .. I’ll stop here for today, see you in class later.”
” … “
So you went up to the class and I continued to sit on the bench and think, why are you doing this to me?
It was time to get off school, so I quickly ran to the convenience store in case I was late for work.
For me, who struggled to make ends meet, the violence those children inflicted seemed like child's play. As long as it didn't hurt, I could overlook such violence and verbal abuse.
In fact, I thought my appearance back then wasn't much different from what they said about me. In fact, I thought they were right.
Because I looked and felt like a beggar. I smelled, was dirty, and was torn to shreds.
So, from a young age, I only thought about myself. I acted and spoke for myself. I was always worried about my future.
But from the moment you approached me, you started to enter my head, which was filled only with me.
“..what the heck”
I couldn't help but keep thinking about you, trying to predict how you would turn out, even though you always went against my expectations.
Well, you've always been someone who exceeds my expectations,
“You can just finish organizing your supplies and go today.”
" yes. "
I was always working extra hours, even into the wee hours of the morning, receiving overtime pay. It was early that day, too. I'm sure no one knew, but
“.. Will you come today too?”
As time passed, it became dawn and for some reason I felt anxious and kept looking outside.
at that time,
match,
Just like that time, the sound of a slap echoed through the quiet street. Startled, I looked outside and saw the same woman and child standing there.
“How much more do I have to torture you before you feel better?! Huh?!”
" .. sorry "
" .. under "
I couldn't do anything but watch. I couldn't possibly be of any help to you.
at that time,
Swish,
” … ”
“ ..!! ”
(( .. you just have to take one step ))
In that fleeting moment, our eyes met, and what you said that day struck me. Strangely, it was as if by magic that those words flashed through my mind.
Eventually, as if drawn by something, I opened the door and went outside.
And then, he opened his mouth.
"It's dawn now. It's not polite to be so noisy."
“Wh..what?! ”
“I understand you’re upset, but please be quiet.”
“Huh.. how old are you, student?!”
“That guy is my friend.”
“ ..!! ”
“Is it true?”
"..haha that's my friend"
"..what are you laughing at? Anyway, he has to do his performance evaluation with me, so you should go first for today."
" her.. "
"I'll be back soon. You go in first."
So the woman drove off alone. Why are you treating your son like a doll?
“..sigh”
“Thanks, friend.”
“..I was just making a beating around the bush. Don’t try to make any sense of it.”
"No. I'll put a lot of meaning into it."
“This is real...”
“But why did you suddenly help me?”
"That's you..!"
” ..? “
"..I begged you to come just one step closer"
“Huh.. Really?”
"Yeah! So now it's really over."
"Okay. Now I'll keep approaching you."
“ … ”
It was true. Just one step closer, those words drove me closer. I hated to approach you even if it meant dying, but those words forced me to approach you, to look into your eyes.
As if possessed, I can't resist
In that way, you and I became one step closer.