The next day arrived, and it was already midnight. I'd been thinking about it all day and hadn't gone to the beach. Surely he wasn't waiting for me. I was getting anxious. I was debating whether to go or not, but Kim Min-gyu kept poking me in the arm.
"Why do you keep doing this!"
"Play with me."
"No, go away..."
"Oh, why are you like that? What's bothering you? Tell me."
"...Okay, I'll just go out."
***
Finally, I made it to the beach. I came between the rocks and looked out at the sea. It was so blue and beautiful. I closed my eyes and felt the cool breeze. Jeonghan hadn't come. Or maybe he'd gone back.
As soon as I thought of Jeonghan, I heard Jeonghan's voice.
"Dawon."
"Yoon Jeong...han."
"You came. I thought you weren't coming."
Jeonghan's eyes seemed powerless. When we first met, they were strong and bright. But looking into Jeonghan's eyes, I felt a strength I never knew existed...
"I wasn't going."
"Yeah. I've been waiting."
"I kept waiting."
"...I told you not to come."
"I don't want you to come. I don't want to see you. I'm tired."
I don't regret saying those words. I said them for Jeonghan's sake.
It was clearly meant for Jeonghan, but Jeonghan had a hurt expression on his face.
My heart felt like it was going to fall.
"If you know, then go now."
"I won't be coming here again. So there's no point in coming."
Even though I knew Jeonghan would be hurt, I ignored him and headed home.
"Dawon..."
Even though I knew I would regret it later,
I turned my back on Jeonghan.
***
"Did you come crying?"
"Why am I crying?"
"But why are you here? What about Kim Min-gyu?"
"Kim Min-gyu said he's going out for a bit... I came here to play."
"Where is Kim Min-gyu?"
"I don't know."
***
Dawon left. Truthfully, I knew from the beginning. The reason Dawon spoke harshly to me. It was all for my own good. But I didn't care if I was in danger.
If only Dawon was by my side, I was confident I could do anything, I was confident I could persevere. But now Dawon is no longer by my side. But I have no intention of giving up. I will be here every day, from morning till night. Until Dawon comes to see me, until Dawon changes his mind. I won't give up even when I sleep.
After Dawon left, I couldn't leave my seat. I didn't want to go home. Maybe she'd change her mind and come see me again... There's a chance...
Dawon sat in the same spot he sat in every day.
"They say first loves never come true."
I overheard people talking. They said first loves don't come true. They said it could happen, but the odds were slim.
That sounds right...
"That story, doesn't that include mermaids?"
I remember. That's Da-won's twin brother, Kim Min-gyu. We almost got caught before. Now that I look at it, it seems like he knew everything.
"We're old friends, right? We met eight years ago and saw each other briefly then."
" ... "
"Your eyes are red. Did you cry?"
" no. "
" no..."
"Why are you doing this? Is it because of my little brother? Did you make my little brother cry?"
"Ugh... I'm sorry."
"Hey, why are you so down? You look completely different from 8 years ago."
"Tell me everything. I'll give you some advice."
"The name was Jeonghan... was it like this?"
This is the result of squeezing it out... My head hurtsㅠㅠ
Sorry for keeping you waitingㅠㅠ
How many times has this happened...ㅠㅠ