Polaroid
01
A freshman in high school. I was shy. Maybe that's why I didn't have any friends around me, and I was always alone. Some friends approached me at the beginning of the semester, but because I was so quiet, they usually turned away. Because I didn't have any friends, I liked doing things alone. Reading, listening to music, etc. During every break, I would take out my workbook from my bag and solve it or just lie down alone. I would go to the cafeteria sometimes, but I was still alone. Not long after the semester started, I was even given the title of "the gloomy kid." I had long, straight hair, my bangs were so messy that my eyes were barely visible... I didn't have any friends, and I even read books alone. Even I thought I was incredibly gloomy.
But even I, like him, had someone I liked. He was in the same class as me, but unlike me, he had lots of friends and was handsome. His hair was dyed red, which wasn't restricted by the hair style, and his personality was a bonus. He must have captured the hearts of countless other girls, not just me. If I hadn't been the "gloomy kid" I knew, I would have gone crazy trying to get him involved somehow... In any case, I could only watch him from afar.
One day, I was packing my textbooks for a mobile class. Seeing that I had plenty of time, I opened the book lying on my desk. I lost track of time and continued reading. So absorbed was I in my book that I forgot what was happening around me, and a loud noise brought me up from my book. As recess neared its end, the class was left alone with me and that group. They were chattering noisily, as if the classroom was theirs, and after checking the time, they hurriedly began to pack their textbooks. Watching them, I slowly started to stand, but as I did, I knocked a thin bookmark off my desk. It fell in an elegant curve toward the corner of the classroom. It was a very meaningful bookmark, one I'd made with a friend I'd been with for three years in middle school. That's why I couldn't lose it.
I checked where the bookmark had fallen and bent down towards it. Fortunately, it wasn't far away. After grabbing the bookmark, I straightened my back again and saw that the classroom was empty. I gathered my textbooks again, got up, and walked towards the classroom door, but something caught my eye. The child's pencil case was left alone in the child's seat. The moment I saw the pencil case, I had a dilemma. Should I bring it back to her, knowing it was a bother, or should I let her get scolded? The choice was mine. The image of her getting scolded flashed before my eyes. In the end, I decided to bring the pencil case to her. The thought, 'What if she doesn't want me to bring her the pencil case?' lingered in my mind, but I couldn't watch her get scolded with my own eyes. I put her pencil case in my arms and quickly walked towards the music room.
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Arriving at the music room, I looked around for her. She was sitting with her friends in the window seat, preparing for class. I debated her pencil case again, but I didn't have time to return it to the classroom. After placing my textbooks and pencil case on my seat, I picked up her pencil case and walked timidly toward her and the others. The others must have noticed my arrival, their expressions hardening one by one. Finally, I reached her back, and I hesitated, staring at her red hair. Then, suddenly, her face appeared before my eyes. I was startled by her sudden turn, my eyes widening. Unaware that I was behind her, he simply turned at the sound, his eyes widening as well. Her large eyes met mine, hidden by her bangs. It felt as if time had stopped. Each second seemed like a minute... That was the first time I'd locked eyes with hers. Just making eye contact felt awkward, so I lowered my eyes. There, I saw the boy's school uniform, and on the name tag above the uniform vest, the pretty name 'Kim Taehyung' was engraved in three letters.
“Uh… Um… Do you have something to tell me?”
“Oh, sorry. I thought you left your pencil case at your desk earlier, so I came to give it to you.”
“Oh, thank you. I didn’t even realize I didn’t bring a pencil case.”
“…”
Embarrassed, I couldn't answer, and just rushed to leave. Soon, all the kids' eyes were fixed on me. With the combination of a handsome, popular kid and a sullen girl, it was understandable. I returned to my seat and met their gazes. Some were filled with genuine curiosity, others with surprise. Each kid looked at me differently. One gaze stood out, a look of contempt from Joohee, who was practically glued to Taehyung. We weren't particularly close, but I sensed a murderous intent in her gaze. Feeling discouraged by Joohee's presence, I couldn't look around any longer. Just then, the bell rang and class began. I felt relieved, and focused solely on the lesson.
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After class, I gathered my textbooks and pencil case and slipped out of the music room. Students from other classes, who had just finished their classes, were milling about in the hallway. Suddenly, a huge crowd surged through the hallway, and I was tossed around. And just as I was about to fall, Joohee's hand suddenly snatched my arm away. Juhee had been looking at me like that in the music room earlier, so I opened my mouth, thinking she probably hadn't called me for something good.
“Why did you catch me?”
“Talk to me for a minute.”
Then, Joohee tightened her grip on my arm and dragged me up the deserted rooftop stairs. A "No Trespassing" sign was prominently displayed at the entrance, but Joohee paid no attention and stepped aside, climbing up the stairs.
“I have a guilty conscience so I won’t go up to the rooftop, but there’s something I want to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“Do you like Taehyung?”
It was a perplexing question for me. It's true I like Taehyung, but I've never once shown it. As I stared at the ground and groaned in silence, Joohee, frustrated, tapped my shoulder with her index finger.
"You don't have to answer. Everyone in our class knows you like Taehyung. What I'm trying to say is this: Do you think a gloomy, secretive person like you would ever get along with Taehyung?"
“…”
“Think about it. Honestly, you and Taehyung really don’t suit each other. It’s such a waste for Taehyung.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t like Taehyung.”
"You don't like him? Really? Anyone can tell you like Taehyung. But you really don't?"
“I said no. Can I go down now?”
"Yeah, well. Just remember what I just said. That you and Taehyung don't get along."
“…”
After Joohee finished speaking, I immediately turned around and tried to go down the stairs. After about two steps, a small shock hit my back and my center of gravity shifted forward. My foot got tangled in the situation, and I ended up tumbling down the stairs.
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After falling down the stairs, I hit my head and lost consciousness. A terrible headache came over me. I slowly opened my eyes and found myself in the infirmary. Next to me, Joohee was holding my hand, looking at me with worried eyes. And next to her was Kim Taehyung, who was looking at me with similar eyes. Taehyung's eyesExcept that their gazes were more genuine than Joohee's, anyone could tell they were worried about me. Joohee, upon seeing that I had opened my eyes, immediately stood up and shouted.
“Teacher! The heroine’s eyes are open!”
“Oh, really? Let me see. Is there anything that hurts in particular?”
“My head hurts a little..”
“Oh, then take some headache medicine and call it a day. Go to the hospital and get a proper checkup. It looks like you’re seriously injured.
As soon as the nurse finished speaking, I felt a terrible pain in my arm. The rooftop stairs, unused and neglected, had a scratch on my arm that was at least ten centimeters thick, and I could see a bandage over it.
"thank you."
"Ah! Then, lady, we'll cut off your leave of absence. Just wait here for a moment."
Taehyung suddenly announced that he'd break my habit of leaving work early. It was so sudden that both Joohee and I froze for different reasons. After speaking, Taehyung gently grabbed Joohee's arm and ran out of the infirmary. I was dumbfounded, staring blankly at the door until Taehyung arrived.
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