"Choi Yeo-ju?"
"Kim Taehyung? Why are you here.."
"A normal student who always went to school started skipping school for some reason. Did he skip school just to do this?"
First, get off that railing. Choi Yeo-ju. Unless you want to die.
"...uh"
I saw it clearly. As soon as Choi Yeo-ju stepped down from the railing, her legs trembled like aspen leaves. It was truly pathetic.
Heukheupheup
"Why are you climbing up the railing like this? Tsk."
"That's not it, Taehyung. I think I was crazy for a moment. I shouldn't have done that, even if it was just for the sake of Mom..."
"Actually, my mother is very sick...so the hospital bills are really high, and I can't afford the rising hospital bills with my part-time job, so it's really hard..."
This was something I already knew from background checks. Since the teachers didn't know why Choi Yeo-ju wasn't coming, I had no choice but to send someone to investigate. Everything about Choi Yeo-ju. But I had to pretend I didn't know anything. If she found out I was investigating, she'd run away in an instant.
"Should I save you?"
"What and how?"
"I can help you with your mother's hospital bills. And not only that, I'll help you with all the material things, too. As long as you keep one condition."
"What is it?"
The eyes that looked at him with boundless trust, as if they were his salvation, were focused only on him. On himself, and nothing else. That was quite satisfying.
Just do what I tell you.
"Really? But you can afford it. Can you help me?"
"Ah. You'll find out later."
"Okay. I'll do anything you ask. If it really helps with my mother's hospital bills."
Finally, I had it. The lamb, unaware that it was caught in a trap, looked at me with its reddened eyes from crying. Then I realized something I hadn't known before: Choi Yeo-ju's swollen eyes were also incredibly pretty.
Open your mouth and let me kiss you.
Short story/author. Samsami