Reading that one text 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. Maybe when I was in middle school. Small and timid, I was a toy for the delinquents. I got called out again that day...
"Don’t."
Someone taller than me appeared and blocked my way.
...Honestly, the entrance was cool, but in the end he got beaten up with me. I couldn’t go home looking like this, so I crouched in a corner and sniffled.
"...Aren’t you going home?"
"I can’t..."
"Tch... Wanna come to my place?"
"But... is that okay...?"
"My parents are away on a trip, so there’s just my little sister at home... Maybe she can treat you?"
At that time, the hand he held out to me was warm. On the way, we introduced ourselves by talking about our grade, class, and names, and soon we arrived at Taesan’s house.
"Hey, what were you messing around doing that you’re only back now... who... are you...?"
"The kid who was getting beaten by Kim Gyuho’s gang. His name is Lee Sanghyeok, and he’s the same age."
"H-hello..."
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I gloriously took down five people all by myself, so this is the honor of my shoul..."
"We both got wrecked. Come in, let’s get you treated."
"Thanks~"
Taesan grinned. I also smiled at the corners of my mouth. The girl I saw for the first time was rough and looked strong, but that was only her tone. The feel of that hand she gently placed on my face to check for injuries is still vivid.
"Was your name Lee Sanghyeok? I’m Han Taeri. Did she say I was her little sister again?"
I gave a small nod.
"Hah... We’re twins, but she acts like that just because I was born a few minutes earlier. Arm."
She spoke casually and bluntly, but her hands moved busily as she applied ointment and peeled off a bandage. Those delicate fingers looked like they’d break if they twitched.
"Ah, it’s cold..."
"Haha... hang in there a little."
Even now, your smile, made while listening to me, remains vivid in my mind. Until Taesan’s treatment was done, I kept fiddling with the bandage stuck under my eye for a long time.
It felt like I could still feel the warmth from earlier.
I probably liked Taeri from around then. Even now, Taeri is kind. Her words may be rough, but she’s someone who cares about others more than anyone. Seeing Taeri asleep, I remembered the time I sneaked into Taeri’s room to prank her during a pajama party with Taesan. Taeri is pretty even when she’s asleep.
Thump-
"Hm...?"
Something heavy felt like it was on my shoulder. Slowly turning my head, I saw it was Taeri’s head. It seemed she’d drifted down to the side because it was hard to lean still against the backrest. I needed to lift it back up... but I didn’t feel bad. Rather, it was nice... I was. And so I stayed frozen still until Taeri woke up.
Saaek- Saaek-
Taeri’s breathing could be heard softly by my ear.
(This one’s kind of meh...)
