He was a boy who really suited summer. His smiling face was as bright as the bright summer sunlight. He was a boy with a bright aura that made me wish I could feel that warmth too.
Compared to him, I was like winter. My answers were mostly simple, and my heart was cold and numb because of the wounds I'd endured. The children who approached me quickly grew tired of me and left. I didn't bother to hold on to them. I thought being alone would hurt less.
So, when I saw the kids around me, I felt a sense of vicarious satisfaction. I expected that I would spend my school days like that.
"hi?"
I looked to the side at the familiar bright voice and saw you sitting on the hallway window, looking at me.
โUhโฆhelloโ
The kid chuckled at me, wondering how I should react because I was embarrassed and hesitant. Then he looked at me and said,
โLetโs be friendsโ
That's how winter and summer met. Even in spring, the child melted my cold energy, and in that atmosphere, I too was slowly approaching spring.
โKim Woon-hak, but why did you ask me to be your friend?โ
"I just wanted to be friends"
โItโs pretty bland.โ
โThatโs what I am, lolโ
As I watched you always answer and remember every little thing I said, I found myself gradually sinking into you. I was falling for you. For that light.
But I guess happiness doesn't last long.
โHey, why are you friends with him?โ
It was the voices of the boys in our class that I heard coming from the classroom.
Him? Who is he?
โHey, isnโt he a bit gloomy? Heโs always quietly writing something down at his desk, just scribbling away.โ
Ah, it's me. I'm the only one who's quiet in class and spends most of my time with my notes. Those are... .my own lyrics. Precious lyrics that I'll show to Kim Woon-hak someday when they're finished, though I haven't shown them to anyone else.
โShould I just say itโs pitiful..hahaโฆ.โ
Poor..? Did I hear wrong? It was definitely Kim Woon-hak's voice. Ah, I'm the only one getting hurt again. I'm just a poor kid, so you're just helping me. It was pity. You were the same.. Haha... What did I expect? Didn't you know this would happen? No, why are you like this... ... Ah, you liked it. You liked it like an idiot. Like an idiot.
โโฆ..โ
โHuhโฆ? Did you hear that, heroine?โ
โโฆ..were you pitiful?โ
"No..that's not it"
"No, go play with your friends and don't worry about me anymore. I'll take care of myself. Isn't it a win-win situation?"
โNo, thatโs not it..โ
"No, don't say that"
I liked itโฆ but it was a toy again. So this is me, this is a toy. This is me.
It's starting to get cold again. It's just going back to the time when Kim Woon-hak wasn't around. It's not that hard. It's just going back to that winter when I was alone.
It's been a tough few months because of you. I waited for summer vacation to come. I wanted to stay home and listen to music. I wanted to play the piano. I thought that would make things better.
By the time Kim Un-hak and I became almost strangers, summer vacation had arrived.
"Everyone worked hard this semester. See you after summer vacation."
Everyone cheered at the teacher's words as they packed their bags and prepared to go home.
Knock...knock knock knock
The irregular sound was the sound of a rain shower. It seemed like the monsoon season had arrived, signaling the arrival of summer. Originally, I liked the name because it was rainy, but now that it reminds me of that child, I've started to dislike it.
Why do you think about it so much when you could just ignore it?
โโฆ.I should go home.โ
I didn't bring an umbrella, so I just walked around getting rained on.
Oh, I looked up wondering why it wasn't raining and saw a blue umbrella, and behind it was you. Kim Woon-hak.
โWhat? Arenโt you going with your friends?โ
"โฆ.uh"
โWhat? Just go home. Itโs going the opposite direction.โ
I answered nervously, turned around, and started walking again, but I heard a thumping sound behind me.
โWhy are you following me?โ
"โฆ.Sorry"
โWhat do you have to be sorry about?โ
โI did that because I was afraid the kids would tease meโฆโ
"what?"
"I thought you'd tease me if I found out you liked it."
What are you talking about? Does this make sense? How much pain and sadness did you have? And now...?
โIf you liked it, you should have said it proudly.โ
โโฆ.You donโt like me.โ
โNo.โ
"uh?"
โI like you, but I played with you because I felt sorry for you.โ
โNoโฆ thatโsโ
โDo you know how hurtful those words are?โ
โIโm sorry about that..โ
No... If I had known this would happen... I should have told you. I shouldn't have left you crying.
โSo whatโs the conclusion?โ
"โฆ.i like you"
"so"
โDo you want to go out with me..?โ
โโฆโฆ.Are you confident that you wonโt do that in the future?โ
"Ugh...oh!!! Of course!!"
"Okay, let's date."
Ah, I'm so stupid. Isn't this what it feels like when ice can't stand the sunlight and melts? I'm such a fool. But I like you, Unhak. I'd have liked you even if you were hurt, Unhak. I'll just wait and see.