It’s Yeju’s birthday.
“Happy birthday, happy birthday”
Kim Yeoju: Hey, happy birthday, and here’s your present.
Choi Yeonjun: (taking the present) Oh, what’s gotten into you to actually prepare something for once?
You didn’t give me one last year.
Kim Yeoju: If I give you a present, just say thank you and take it. Back then you were
so butthurt because I didn’t give you one;;
Choi Yeonjun: Was I? Anyway, thanks.
Yeoju and Yeonjun had been friends for a long time.
Maybe since birth..
A friendship ring shone on Yeoju and Yeonjun’s left index fingers.
Maybe they’d worn it for so long that the ring had settled there,
and it felt more natural to leave it on than to take it off.
March 3, 2014.
It’s the first day of middle school, second year.
Choi Yeonjun: (opening the door) Hey, get up. Why are you so slow?
Are you a sloth? Let me see the time, seriously.
In my view, Choi Yeonjun was already fully dressed in his school uniform.
Feeling around the side with my right hand, I found my phone.
I looked at the time…..8:20?!
Kim Yeoju: Hey, why did you wake me up so late!
Yeoju jumped up in a panic and started getting ready.
8:40.
Yeoju hurriedly put on her shoes and left,
and Yeonjun, already wearing his shoes, left at a leisurely pace.
Yeonjun grabbed the top strap of Yeoju’s bag.
Choi Yeonjun: Hey, if we walk like this we’ll be late.
You’re good at running, so let me see it.
Yeonjun grabbed the top strap of Yeoju’s bag and started running.
Yeoju was flustered for a moment, but because they might be late she started
running from first thing in the morning.
8:45.
Yeonjun and Yeoju passed through the school gate.
They kept running, cutting through the wind without a moment to spare.
8:48.
They safely made it into the classroom.
Kim Yeoju: (panting) Ah, fuck, this is so hard..
Choi Yeonjun: You’ve got terrible stamina. You should work out more.
Yeonjun held out some milk to Yeoju.
Choi Yeonjun: Drink it.
Kim Yeoju: Why are you giving me this?
Choi Yeonjun: Are you that tired? Ah, if you don’t want it, then give it back.
Kim Yeoju: I’m gonna drink it?!
That was our morning routine.
8:50.
The bell rang.
Soon, the homeroom teacher came in.
Homeroom Teacher: I’ll be your homeroom teacher for this whole year.
You can sit wherever the board shows.
The homeroom teacher clapped twice, telling us to switch seats.
Yeoju and Yeonjun didn’t need to move.
They were already sitting next to each other, as if it were natural.
1st period..2nd period..3rd period…..
Time kept passing.
4:00.
The bell rang.
The class started leaving the classroom.
Choi Yeonjun: Hey, get up.
Kim Yeoju: Ah, it’s over?
Choi Yeonjun: How much do you sleep? I thought you’d passed out halfway through.
Kim Yeoju: What are you talking about;; I only slept a little, okay?
Choi Yeonjun: Oh, really? I saw you sleeping from 5th period on.
Kim Yeoju: Hey, enough talking. Let’s just go home.
Yeoju and Yeonjun naturally went to Yeoju’s house.
Yeonjun’s family was less well-off than Yeoju’s.
So Yeonjun’s mom and dad were busy working
and couldn’t come home often.
Whenever that happened, Yeonjun would sleep over at Yeoju’s house.
And just like that, a day passed…
A year passed too…
Winter vacation of middle school, third year, had arrived.
One day.
Kim Yeoju: Mom, where’s Choi Yeonjun? He wasn’t home either when I went by.
Yeoju’s mom: Didn’t you hear? He moved.
Kim Yeoju: Huh? When? Without even telling me?
Yeoju’s mom: I told you last time, but I guess you didn’t hear me.
Yeoju quickly looked for her phone.
She typed in Yeonjun’s number. She had memorized it perfectly.
‘Riiing… riiing… riiing…’
He didn’t answer.
She sent a text.
He didn’t read it.
In an instant, you disappeared.
It seemed fine until just yesterday.
I thought.
‘He must be busy. That’s why he couldn’t see my messages.’
And so winter vacation went by.
Maybe even a year passed.
‘Will I be able to see you again?’
Even this thought is fading away.
]}]}
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