"Yoon Jeong-han~!"
She approached him with a bright smile, and she was incredibly beautiful. Jeonghan, unconsciously drawing a smile on his lips, gently stroked 00's hair.
"Why, what are you so excited about?"
"I'm dating Moon Jun-hwi~~"
" ···what..? "
...Yeah, maybe we weren't meant to be together in the first place. Maybe he wasn't someone worth looking up to in the first place.
-
Yoon Jeong-han, Choi Seung-cheol, Hong Ji-soo, Kim So-jeong, 000.
The five of them had been hanging out together since their first year of high school. Despite being a mix of men and women, they didn't harbor romantic feelings for each other. They were just like same-sex friends... and that's how they got along.
"What, Yoon Junghan, you didn't bring an umbrella?"
"I think I brought it, why isn't it here?"
"I have-,"
While I was gritting my teeth and internally cursing countless things because of a friend who suddenly disappeared.
"Yoon Jeong-han?"
00, holding a small umbrella, appeared before my eyes.
00 It was an umbrella that seemed too small for one person to use alone. Naturally, I figured we couldn't share it. I just wanted to make it clear I didn't have an umbrella.
"Oh, you haven't gone home yet?"
"Yeah, I'm going to go now. Why are you at school?"
"I'm going home now too."
" ···, "
As she silently opened her umbrella, Jeonghan thought to himself, “I’ll count to three and run once I’m gone,” and glared at the pouring rain.
"Come here."
But 00, as if it were only natural, wrapped one arm around Jeonghan's shoulder. He used the small umbrella, which was barely big enough for him to use alone, to block Jeonghan from getting wet.
"I'm okay."
"Do you have an umbrella?"
" ···ah, "
"Let's go. We're going home, right?"
00 walked slowly forward, wrapping his arm around Jeonghan's shoulder. He held his umbrella on tiptoe, determined to keep Jeonghan dry, while his own shoulder was completely wet.
"Hey, you're all right..."
"Oh, me? I'm fine. I wanted to get rained on anyway."
Honestly, Jeonghan's other shoulder was also getting soaked. How could they not get wet when they were sharing an umbrella that was too heavy for one person to handle?
"Give me an umbrella."
I took the umbrella from her hand as she walked with difficulty.
"It's okay _ "
For some reason, I didn't want to get rained on anymore.
" ···. "
Jeonghan tilted his umbrella. He tilted it slowly and discreetly so that 00 wouldn't get wet at all.
Even though his own body was soaking wet up to his neck, he covered the sky so that not a single drop could touch 00.
"Hey, aren't you getting drenched in the rain?!!"
"I guess it's because I'm taller than you _ haha it doesn't fit."
" ······. "
" I'm kidding. "
I looked at 00 while tidying up the bangs that had fallen down.
She, who I thought was ordinary, was uniquely...
It looked a little... different.
As if time had stopped for a moment. As if we were in another world where only the two of us existed and moved.
/
Jeonghan's house was a little closer.
Jeonghan covered his wet shoulders with his bag as he handed the umbrella to 00.
I didn't want to go in quickly, but I went in quickly so as not to show my shoulders.
"Why is he like that.."
00 stood in front of the hastily closed front door, bewildered.
--------------------------
What are you doing?
<...How did you know?>
Well?
<ㅇㅁㅇ Did you install a CCTV in my house..;;?>
Jeonghan burst into laughter as he imagined 00 getting up and looking around.
Love was beautiful in itself.
It was the driving force that started my day, the source of laughter, and sometimes the reason for living.
...That's what I thought. Even if 00 didn't like me, that was okay.
The frequency of our meetings and contacts increased. He always smiled and accepted everything... He treated me well, and looking back now...
Not once did he show feelings beyond friendship.
He was affectionate. He was kind, cheerful, and always had a smile on his face.
But those were the affection, cheerfulness, kindness, and smiles that made Jeonghan excited alone...
I've never once strayed beyond the line of friendship.
"What do you think of me?"
"You? Suddenly?"
"I'm curious, lol. I suddenly became curious."
"You're a good friend."
"...ah. "
"What a great friend!"
The question, which seemed like a joke, left me feeling gloomy all day. I hadn't received even a single hint of affection.
00 didn't even say anything,
I was just treating her like a friend, just a friend, but she...
At the time, everything felt so overwhelming. I felt so resentful.
"I'm dating Moon Jun-hwi~~"
···Moon Jun-hwi?
Are you dating?
me?
For some reason, those three words, so incongruous, floated separately in my head. The 00 that had once filled Jeonghan's world was no longer there.
I cried so much that I felt like I had no more water left in my body. School was canceled for three days due to a fever that reached over 40 degrees.
It hurts. It hurts so much.
I held onto my aching heart and cried and cried. I cried for days. I cried shamefully, not touching anything but water.
"Jeonghan, your friends are here..."
Could it be those, my friends...? I was afraid I'd have to meet the person I was most afraid of meeting in that situation...
I'm afraid that I'll confess everything to someone who already has a boyfriend, and that it'll be over forever.
But... there was no need to be afraid.
"···000 is, "
"She said she had plans with her boyfriend today..."
Yes, 000 has gone so far into the irreversible past.
I wish we could meet.
I like you, I'm really sorry, but I really like you so much that I had to say it. I should have pretended to be crazy and said it like that.
You said it so confidently, and I shouldn't have just looked at you...
It was more miserable, more painful, and more sad.
After that, I stopped receiving any further contact from 00 and naturally drifted apart from her.
Seungcheol, Sojeong, and Jisoo had a rough idea of Jeonghan's feelings. Seungcheol and Sojeong with 00, Jisoo with Jeonghan...
That condition persisted until graduation.
One day, Jisoo's suggestion was posted in the group chat, which had become quiet.
Okay, let's just see each other one more time and let go. Let's stop now. Let's stop now... Let's let go.
.
.
.
< Sorry, I suddenly felt like I had to meet Jun-hwi... I'm really sorry, you guys went out and played together ㅠㅠ >
-----------------------
" ... "
" ...It's been a while haha"
An awkward atmosphere flowed between us as we sat across from each other.
" ... "
He didn't seem to have any intention of responding to my greeting.
Is there anything uncomfortable? Did I do something wrong?
" how have you been doing? "
I spoke to break the silence that continued. Jeonghan simply nodded slightly.
"Hey, smile a little. I'm embarrassed."
◆◐ CAST ◑◆
All characters attend the same high school, and, except for So-jeong and Seung-cheol, they all belong to the ##corporate planning department. They're all two years younger than me, trying to keep their ages consistent..8ㅁ8
*000*
※ 25
※ I got a job at a large company and was anxious, but I met Jisoo and Jeonghan, who I had lost contact with, and I liked them.
*Yoon Jeong-han*
※ 25
※ I was happy to pass the exam at the same time as Jisoo at a large company, but I was uncomfortable seeing 00.
※ I only contacted Jisoo
*Choi Seung-cheol*
※ 25
※ singer
※ I only contacted Sojeong and 00.
*Kim So-jung*
※ 25
※ Obtaining a degree at university
※00, I only contacted Seungcheol
*Hong Ji-soo*
※ 25
※ I only contacted Jeonghan. He's very perceptive.
---------------------
I feel like it's lacking a lot.. But it's a prologue.. I plan to end it as a short story! Please take care of meㅜㅜㄴ Please subscribe, cheer, and give me a star rating (I'm sorry for asking for so many things..) 💟