Watching this one text message made my heart race so much... the truth is, I like Taeri. Stupidly, the twin of my best friend. It was love at first sight. Probably back in middle school. Small and timid, I was the plaything of the troublemakers. I got called over that day too...
"Don't."
Someone taller than me appeared and blocked the way in front of me.
... It looked cool when he showed up, but in the end he got beaten up together with me. I couldn't go home looking like this, so I crouched in a corner and sniffled.
"... You not going home?"
"Can't..."
"Tch... Want to come to my place?"
"Is that... okay...?"
"My parents are on a trip, so it's just my little sister at home... Maybe she can treat you?"
His hand, held out to me then, was warm. On the way there, we exchanged grades, class, and names and introduced ourselves, and soon we arrived at Taesan's house.
"Hey, what have you been messing around doing that you're only getting back now... who are you...?"
"The kid who was getting beaten up by Kim Gyuho's gang. His name is Lee Sanghyuk, and he's the same age."
"H-hello..."
"Why are you such a mess?"
"A glorious scar from taking down five of them all at once in a very cool 5-on-1..."
"You got knocked out too. Come in, so I can treat you."
"Thanks~"
Taesan grinned. I also smiled at the corners of my mouth. The first time I saw her, she seemed rough and tough, but that was only her tone. The touch of that hand lightly resting on my face to check for injuries was still vivid.
"Was your name Lee Sanghyuk? I'm Han Taeri. Did that guy say I was his little sister again?"
I nodded slightly.
"Ha... we're twins, but since I was born a few minutes earlier he acts like that. Arm."
She spoke carelessly, but her hands moved busily as she applied ointment and peeled off a bandage. I wondered if those delicate fingers might snap if they twitched.
"Ah, that's cold..."
"Haha... hang in there a little."
The smile you made while listening to me is still vividly etched in my mind. Until Taesan finished treating me, I kept fiddling with the bandage stuck under my eye for a long while.
I felt as if I could still sense the warmth from earlier.
I probably started liking Taeri from around then. Even now, Taeri is kind. Her words may be rough, but she's more considerate of others than anyone else. Watching Taeri asleep reminded me of when I sneaked into Taeri's room to play a prank on her during a pajama party with Taesan before. Taeri is pretty even when she's asleep.
Thud-
"Hm...?"
Something heavy settled over my shoulder. When I slowly turned my head, it was Taeri's head. It seemed like she had slipped off to the side because she couldn't stay leaned against the backrest. I should put it back up... but it didn't feel bad. Rather, it felt good... I stayed frozen still until Taeri woke up.
Saaek- Saaek-
Taeri's breathing reached my ear softly.
(This one isn't that good...)
