*You can immerse yourself more by listening to the song above as background music!
Lee Sang-hyeok didn't come to school the next day.
"Why... aren't you coming... I'm worried..."
Hannah didn't really care at first.
There were so many things that happened yesterday, and it was so complicated...
I thought I might miss a day or so.
‘Well... it must hurt.’
That was about it.
During morning assembly, the homeroom teacher called attendance.
“Lee Sang-hyeok.”
There was no answer in the classroom.
“…He’s absent.”
The homeroom teacher's words were passed over lightly,
Hannah rolled the pen in her hand for no reason.
Break time,
“Hey, he didn’t come today?”
“Yeah... Hasn’t it been a bit strange lately?”
Children's voices passed by.
Hannah got up from her seat and left the classroom as if nothing had happened.
I stood in front of the bathroom mirror and washed my face with cold water.
The cold water touched me and I came to my senses a little.
"... Hey, it's nothing, I guess. He seemed like a good kid who knew how to do things on his own."
I tried to think that way, but one side of my chest continued to feel uncomfortable.
Even though it was lunchtime, Sanghyuk's seat was empty.
Always the same place, always the same time, 7:45
Because the spot where I always looked out the window is empty,
The empty space felt much larger than I expected.
"Hannah, what are you thinking? Let's go to the cafeteria quickly, I'm hungry!!"
"Uh...huh?? Uh...let's go haha"
Hannah was standing blankly in the cafeteria holding her lunch tray.
In the end, I couldn't even eat a few spoonfuls and left it behind.
After school that day,
Hannah deliberately stayed in the classroom a little longer.
In case I'm late,
But the classroom door never opened.
.
.
The next day too,
The next day too...
.
.
Sanghyuk didn't show up.
"It's 7:45... Why aren't you coming...
What the hell is going on with you....."
I asked my homeroom teacher cautiously.
“Teacher… This is Lee Sang-hyeok. Have you heard from him yet?”
The homeroom teacher said as he covered the attendance book.
"Yeah. I heard you can't even contact home... I'm worried too."
“And home too…?”
“Yeah, so the guardians can’t contact you either.
“Did you run away from home? Were you close friends with Hana?”
"Ah... yeah, recently...
Thank you for letting me know...."
"Okay, if you get in touch with Sanghyuk, please let me know right away."
The moment I heard that, my head went blank.
‘Then… where did you go…?
no way...
Their father.....'
Hannah also asked her classmates.
“Does anyone know Lee Sang-hyeok’s number?”
“Have you ever given him your contact information?”
“I don’t think you even use social media.”
Actually, I knew.
Sanghyuk was like that from the beginning.
A doll-like being that always existed at the same time, in the same place, with the same expression on its face.
He wasn't someone who would remain in anyone's memory for a long time.
"......... It's not fun anymore.......... Get out....."
So I was more anxious.
Hannah stood in front of the school gate almost every day.
After class, I waited for Sanghyuk, fiddling with my phone until the sun set.
‘Not today either.....’
But Sanghyuk didn't come.
Even after returning home, Hannah had trouble falling asleep.
When I closed my eyes, the words Sanghyuk had said back then came to mind.
“This will be my first and last rebellion.”
“Because it’s the only way to protect you.”
.
.
.
“…Why did you decide all that by yourself… Ha… I’m worried…
“Should I tell you or not.......”
Hannah muttered softly into the air, as if sobbing.
Tears just kept flowing without me knowing.
A few days later, the homeroom teacher said during morning assembly.
“Please keep in mind that Sanghyuk won’t be coming to school for a while.
If you guys get a call from Sanghyuk, come to the teachers’ office right away.”
That meant I still didn't know anything.
.
.
.
.
.
Time continued to pass so indifferently,
.
.
.
.
.
Two years later, graduation day arrived.
Even while sitting in the auditorium, Hannah kept looking around.
‘…I thought you would come today.
Was my expectation unfounded?
Sanghyuk was nowhere to be found.
After the graduation ceremony, the children came running to Hannah to take pictures.
“Hannah, let’s take a picture together!”
"Oh...oh okay!! Congratulations on graduating everyone!!"
"Hannah, you've really matured a lot~~ You really seem like an adult now!!"
"Thank you... haha"
"Oh my, are you crying because it's graduation? Hey!! I'm crying too ㅠㅠ"
".... Haha I'm feeling excited because it's graduation.."
Click-
“Oh, wait a minute…!! I’m taking a picture of you guys.”
Hannah slipped out and stood at the end of the playground.
The wind blew, and the school uniform skirt fluttered slightly.
and....
Sanghyuk looked out the window he looked out of every day.
Only then did Hannah realize.
No matter how much I search, no matter how long I wait
That there are people who don't come back.
‘Now… let’s stop.
well....
I have to stay.
Maybe you're like my first love, you little shit.'
I felt something quietly snap inside my heart.
Hannah decided not to look for Sanghyuk anymore.
"Kids!!! Let's take another picture!!! Hahahaha let's go!!"
And so Hannah's school days came to an end.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Continued in the next episode >>