Short story collection

melancholy

When I opened my eyes this morning, I felt good. On the way to school, and even at school. I felt good.

After school, I came home and played. I was talking to Hyejin on the phone and eating snacks. Two hours passed, and it was 10 PM.

I suddenly felt unwell. I was in no mood to laugh, chat, or joke around with Hyejin. Why am I like this? Was I feeling good just a moment ago? Come to think of it, it wasn't all that good. I'd just had a minor issue with Hyejin. The depression had come with that issue.

"Hey... hang up."

"Huh? Why?"

"just.."

"Okay. I'll contact you tomorrow."

I guess the sadness was seeping into my voice. It wasn't Hyejin, who'd suddenly asked me to hang up and then said nothing. I hung up with Hyejin and fell into a state of endless depression.

To shake off this gloom, I watched videos of my favorite celebrities. But nothing caught my eye. Then I tried listening to music. I put on earphones and turned the volume all the way up. But that didn't work either.

The depression grew increasingly uncontrollable.

11 p.m. An hour later, the gloom showed no signs of going away. In fact, it only grew worse.

Today, there was nothing particularly sad.
Today was a day without any difficulties.

It was such a day, but tears flowed without me knowing why. Tears flowed without me knowing why. There was nothing to cry about. But why?

Ring ring ring ringThe phone rang. [Hyejin's quirky bastard] It was the name I had saved for Hyejin. I guess I was worried.

Click-

"Hello? Hey Jeong Hwi-in, are you okay?"

The tears that had been flowing silently began to flow loudly when they heard Hyejin's voice.

"Hyejin...ugh, I don't know why, but tears are falling."

I didn't wipe away the tears streaming down my face. I held the phone, from which Hyejin's voice was coming, tightly with both hands.

"Hey.. Jeong Hwi-in.. It's okay. Cry as much as you want."

"Hyejin, your tears won't stop."

Tears flowed ceaselessly, soaking the pillow. Like those ceaseless tears, Hyejin's words of comfort continued to resonate.

"Wheein. No matter what, you're a friend I'm proud of, and a person I'm proud of. So don't worry about anything."

I cried so much that I fell asleep, and the call didn't stop until the next morning.