As usual, I went to school with Choi Soo-bin. But with the unexpected rain, an uninvited guest...
“Wow.. why is it raining so much all of a sudden?”
"Yeah. It's good I brought an umbrella."
“But if you’re short, will you get rained on later?”
“..I’m familiar with that build-up, my friend.”
" lol.. "
“This is real..!!”
“Ugh..ah!! But seriously, why don’t you grow taller? Your older sister is so tall.”
“Oh, I guess you gave me a hard time! I told you not to tease me about my height.. ㄲ”
Swish,
“Honestly, I don’t like that girl.”
“ ..!! “
"I think he's secretly playing the part between Soobin and Beomgyu"
"No, what is that.."
widely,
" wait for a sec..! "
“ ? Are you saying this because you didn’t hear that story? ”
“If you or I leave here... I’ll really get bullied.”
It was my first time. I'd never heard anyone gossip about me like this before, so I was a bit surprised by how much was said. Well, I figured it might seem that way to other people.
I also think it's not right to be hesitating like this right now.
But if Choi Soo-bin or I say a word to those kids, the rumor will become true. It's easy for something false to become a rumor. And that rumor will gradually consume the truth, becoming the truth itself.
In the end, I smiled and went into class as if nothing had happened.
Knock knock,
“..hello kids”
“Huh..? Oh, hello, Yeoju! Hello, Subin too.”
“ … ”
Those children's faces were truly like masks. The scolding faces quickly vanished, replaced by bright smiles. Ever since I was little, I've hated smiling masks.
It was creepy to see the corners of the mouth raised excessively and the eyes closed to make it look like a face, even though it wasn't a real face.
And I was scared of the real face that might be hiding inside. Because I didn't know what kind of face might be inside.
Because it could be a monster, an evil witch, or a scary lion.
But I ended up wearing that mask too.
“Do we have gym class today?”
"Yeah, yeah. It's 3rd period."
" .. okay "
Choi Soo-bin glared at the kids and then went back to her seat. "What the hell is going on so early in the morning?"
at that time,
Knock knock,
“Hey, heroine!”
" .. hi "
Even when Beomgyu greeted me with a cheerful smile, I didn't feel any better. I was just worried about the rumors and gossip that would arise from that greeting.
“Did you bring an umbrella? It’s raining outside.”
“Ah.. yeah”
"..? What's wrong? You don't look well."
"Oh... no. It's okay."
" really? "
Swish,
“ ..!! ”
“I don’t have a fever...”
widely,
“Oh..hey lady”
“I’m sorry about that...”
Before I knew it, Beomgyu slapped the hand that was on my forehead, and the children's attention seemed to be focused on the louder sound than expected.
For a moment, I became nervous and my hands were shaking and I didn't know what to do.
I've had a very glassy mentality since I was young. Unlike Choi Soo-bin, who's soft on the outside but tough on the inside, I'm strong on the outside but soft on the inside. I may look tough, but I definitely have a glassy mentality.
This situation is very toxic to me right now.
at that time,
widely,
"Kim Yeo-ju. Let's go to the store."
" uh..? "
“It’s okay, let’s go drink chocolate milk together, quickly.”
" .. Yeah "
In the end, I apologized to Beomgyu and left the class with Choi Soobin and headed to the store.
Swish,
“Here you go”
" .. thank you "
"Kim Yeo-ju's glass mentality isn't going anywhere."
" .. Sorry "
“What is in it for me?”
“Honestly, what the kids said wasn’t wrong.. Between you and Beomgyu, I.. “
"Why is there nothing wrong? It was wrong from the start."
“ … “
"I'm the one who postponed that decision. I asked you to wait."
“ … ”
“You just did me a favor as a friend.”
“ … ”
“It’s okay. You will never be bullied.”
“ ..? ”
“I’ll be your friend for life!”
“ … “
"Even if I get dumped by you, we'll still be friends. If you can't be a boyfriend, you should at least be my friend, right?"
“ … “
"So, straighten your shoulders, straighten your face, and stop shaking your hands."
” … “
"Go with confidence. Choi Soo-bin's friend."
" .. okay. "
Even the muggy weather seemed to lift my spirits. Perhaps I'm relying on Choi Soo-bin more than I thought.
Thanks to Choi Soo-bin, I was able to enter the class feeling better.
Swish,
“Are you feeling a little better?”
"Huh..? Yeah.. I'm really sorry about earlier.. "
"I've been feeling very sorry since earlier~ You can stop talking."
"But.. "
“I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
" he.. "
“.. I feel this every time, but I think your smiling face is really pretty.”
“Huh? Really?”
"Yeah. She's so pretty that I feel like I should pay to see her smile every time."
"Phew... It's like listening to some idol song"
I thought there was a cuter side to Beomgyu, who talks about high-level idol slang. Beomgyu's comforting words were also really nice to hear and seemed to give me strength.
"Huh? Look, I laughed again. How much do I have now?"
"Beomgyu, I didn't know you were this kind of character"
"I'm showing it to you specially."
" uh..? "
“There’s so much I want to show you.”
“ … ”
“.. Strangely, I wanted to show myself to you more.”
“ … ”
“I’m a little embarrassed because this is my first time doing something like this.”
“ … ”
“It’s not bad. I’m actually looking forward to it and excited.”
“ … ”
“So, please stay with me a little longer. I still have a long way to go before I can show you everything.”
“ … ”
The hotter the air, the higher the temperature. The colder the air, the lower the temperature. My air, which had been so cold it felt like it was about to freeze, quickly warmed and seemed to rise into the sky.
The clouds created by the rising air in my mind were soft and sweet, like cotton candy.
at that time,
“Huh? Look over there!”
“ ..? ”
Swish,
" wow.. "
As I looked out the window, I saw soap bubbles rising one by one. I've really liked soap bubbles since I was little.
Looking at soap bubbles, I somehow felt like I was riding them up into the sky. I was especially captivated by the tiny rainbow colors reflected in the sunlight.
For a moment, I felt a strange tingling sensation, as if I had returned to my childhood. I was clearly no longer sad or irritated.
I felt a surge of joy in my heart. I think it was because I was so happy.
That day was the day my own rainbow bloomed.
Behind the scenes
“Subin, why is it so slippery here?”
" uh? "
Swish,
"What is this? A soap bubble?"
"Ah..! I didn't take that off.."
“Oh my, it’s all gone... I need to wash my bag.”
“.. Yeah. I have to suck it.”
“Go suck it quickly”
" I..? "
“Then you didn’t take it out, so I’ll do it?”
" ..lol "
“Go and suck it quickly~ Fighting, son~!”
“Ha.. Really”
widely,
“I don’t know why I like this so much, even when I was young.”
Swish,
“Haha, but you definitely looked happy, so whatever.”
“What~? Son?”
“Oh no! I’m sucking it now!”