It was an extremely ordinary day, nothing special.
"Director, you called me."
"Oh, okay."
"What's going on?"
“Aren’t you an adult now?”
"...."
"Shouldn't we form a team?"
"... team."
A few words turned an ordinary day into an extraordinary one.
Team. Only one thing came to mind at that word. You. A word for the people I care about. I could feel my heartbeat gently flowing through my wrist, vividly. I want to form a team. With you.
"If there's no one who can do it, I was thinking of designating someone."
I think you already have it.
I nodded slightly. I knew better than anyone that if we formed a team, there would be no chance of us falling apart. The thought of welcoming a new beginning in my twenties with you all lifted the corners of my lips, which had been frozen for so long. Ah. I'm so happy.
I'm so happy, I feel like I could fly.
The documents I held in my hand felt like a mirage. As if they would dissipate into dust if I let them go, they felt so dreamlike. Arriving at my room, eight sets of eyes focused on them, I held up the documents I'd been clutching tightly in my hand.
"that...."
"...Yeah. That's right. Team application form."
"We're making a team? Really?"
"Then it must be fake?"
Voices brimming with happiness filled the small room. The youngest, Jungkook, finally shed tears, while Yoongi, my first friend, appropriately chimed in. He matched the mood, offering a cheerful guiding voice. Everyone, without exception, wore a happy smile.
"Bring me a pen quickly!"
"Oh, you take it!"
"N, you?
okay.
If only I could be this happy
"...."
If we could be happy like this for the rest of our lives, wouldn't anyone ever get sick again?
"What should we name our team?"
"... Team O."
"Team O?"
"All of our names have the letter O in them."
For a moment, everyone recited their names in English and then clapped. "Jung Ho-seok, you're a genius," he said. Without hesitation, he drew a circle with his pen. The roundness, without any sharp edges, felt very much like our relationship. It felt like the perfect team name for us, who don't hate anyone.
We'd decided on a team name, and now we were writing down each member's name in order. By unanimous consent, I was naturally chosen as the leader. Just in case, we chose Yoongi, who'd been the center for the longest time after me, as the vice-leader. Looking at everyone's handwriting, it was strangely similar, except for Jungkook and Namjoon.
"Except for Jungkook and me, everyone's handwriting is similar."
"For a year after the center was established, we trained them to make sure their handwriting was the same."
“But, Jung Ho-seok, you came in last.”
"My older brother was at the center. He taught me languages, so I guess my handwriting is similar to his."
"... ah."
The air in the room became even more tense. The reason Hoseok joined us was because of his brother, who had lost his life to anti-government forces. I reached out to him, seeing him weeping with his eyes closed in a dark alleyway, and brought him to the center. In a way, I guess I wanted to embrace you, so wounded.
"The heroine takes after her mother. She has a very kind heart."
...I want to hug you.
I really wanted to pull you off the cliff.
"The team name is O. I will send the team members separately."
"Yes, don't worry."
"Please sleep well. I am with you now."
"I'll send it to you right away."
"...what were you dreaming about?"
"You're smiling like that, heroine."
When can I make you unhappy?
When will I be able to make you struggle in pain even in your dreams?