At those words, the girls rushed to the front gate.
As always, Beomgyu came in dragging his kendo sword, greeting me so naturally, and smiled faintly when he saw me.
"Don't pretend you don't know."
As I spoke in a small voice, Beomgyu's expression instantly changed to a blank one.
"You guys are really...tiring to live."
"If I pretend to know him, I'll get more tired."
"What if he gets a girlfriend? Are you two really not in a relationship? Choi Beom-gyun seems really upset."
"We've been friends for six years. We're not even that close. I have a boyfriend."
Yes, that's right.
Beomgyu and I, the prominent member of the kendo club, are childhood friends who have been close for six years since elementary school.
...
"Oh, it's annoying to have to sit next to a crybaby."
When I was in elementary school, I was an unloved kid.
Because I was an only child and grew up to be the envy of others, I had a hard time adjusting to school life and because of my timid personality, I cried every day.
The boy sat down and spoke loudly.
At that time, Beomgyu, who was sitting in front of me, made eye contact and spoke to the boy sitting next to me.
"Would you like to switch with me?"
The girl who was always popular and had many friends readily agreed to switch seats, and she quickly switched seats with the guy who was sitting next to her.
As I was lowering my head and holding back my tears, wondering if it was because of me, that girl spoke to the boy she had changed to.
"Yuji! I'm Choi Beomgyu!"
When I took Beomgyu's hand that was reaching out, Beomgyu smiled very prettily.
"Let's get along, buddy."
...
The friendship that began with Beomgyu's affection in the third grade of elementary school continued into high school.
Beomgyu, who was popular in both elementary and middle school, always stuck with me for some reason.
"I'm hungry!! I'm hungry!!"
Even though the class was split, he would always come to class during lunch time.
For six whole years, Beomgyu was always by my side, so naturally.
"Choi Beomgyu, be quiet. Why is your voice so loud?"
"I'm so hungry!
I ended up smiling and saying this to Beomgyu, who was shaking my shoulder as if he was whining.
"Okay haha let's go"
Whenever I saw the two of them always together, there was always something that followed.
"Are you two dating?"
Or something like that
"Yuji and Beomgyu don't really match.. haha"
Or something like that.
I was under the guard and jealousy of girls throughout middle school.
Eventually, I didn't want to endure this exhaustion and fuss any longer, so I brought it up with Beomgyu during summer vacation.
"Hey... Beomgyu"
"Why? When you go to high school with me, the world becomes so beautiful? Are you thankful?"
"Will you do it?"
When I spoke to Beomgyu with a serious expression while he was eating Jjujjuba while pretending to be cute, Beomgyu laughed.
"lol"
"No, that's not it...hey, let's pretend we don't know"
"In high school?"
"huh"
Beomgyu's once playful expression hardened.
I said carefully.
"I don't think I can study next to you, and you're too eye-catching. You know I have a dream, right?"
"Was I too noisy? Why can't we just study quietly together?"
"It's not that you're noisy... you're just conspicuous. And whenever we're together... there's always something like that. So let's pretend not to notice."
"..okay"
Although he couldn't hide his sad expression, Beomgyu answered that he understood.
So we became strangers at school.
But that doesn't mean they gave up completely.
When I wasn't meeting my boyfriend, Beomgyu would drive me home from school and sometimes he would come over to my house and play for a few hours.
Because whenever something upsetting happened, he was the first to come running and comfort me.
It was a good relationship because we were friends, a relationship that should last forever.
Today, too, I was studying at a cafe after school.
Beomgyu sat in front of me while I was studying before going to school.
"Are you studying for the Goyuji?"
When I just nodded without looking, Beomgyu lay down on the table and twisted my earphones with his fingers.
“Wouldn’t you get bored if you studied every day?”
"I don't get bored. Even if I do it every day, there are still dozens of things I don't know."
"Yuji, people are happy even if they don't know each other."
Knowledge is power
There's a saying that ignorance is bliss.
The two made eye contact and burst into laughter.
I took out my earphones and spoke to Beomgyu.
"What are you doing here? I heard there's a match today."
"Mom is coming here anyway."
"Did you come here to play?"
Beomgyu opened his mouth as if to answer, then closed it again.
The bright expression from before disappeared.
And then I heard a voice behind me.
"What are you doing here, Goyuji?"
Husky and high voice for a man.
It was my boyfriend, Nam Jin-goo.
"Brother?"
"Are you with him again?"
"No, we just met by chance."
When I spoke hastily because I didn't like Beomgyu and I being together, Beomgyu crossed his arms and slightly raised the corners of his mouth.
"hello"
But Nam Jin-goo just ignored me and asked me.
"Do you have time tomorrow? Let's go see a movie."
"Ah... my academy ends tomorrow at 9..."
"Miss...I already made a reservation."
"Excuse me, how much was it?"
"50,000 won"
50,000 won.
It was an absurd number.
Even if you rent a VIP seat, it won't be that expensive.
"Let's go together next time. Sorry, oppa.. I told you I'd get in trouble if I skipped school."
"I'll just take a friend and watch it. I don't have time except for tomorrow."
After Nam Jin-goo left, Beom-gyu got up and asked.
"How can a movie ticket cost 50,000 won? Where the hell do you have to go to see it?"
"I haven't been very good at dating lately..."
Beomgyu sighed and asked after seeing me sullen.
"Check in tomorrow and then run away."
"I was going to get caught anyway"
"You can just tell them I'm sick and I'll go first."
When I looked at him as if I hadn't thought of that, Beomgyu smiled.
"Have fun on your date. Don't be gloomy."
I asked because I was curious as to why he was cheering me on.
"Why are you helpful?"
"I hate seeing you gloomy. Should I go?"
I was a little touched and said with a smile.
"Thank you!! Good luck in the match!!"
And so the last day as 'friends' passed.