Anyway, I'm not the one who went
Request for reconciliation
[3 days after the fight, lunchtime, school hallway]
Dongmin is leaning against the window, with only one earphone plugged in, and is looking at his phone with the sleeves of his uniform shirt rolled up.
The heroine hesitates several times, wondering whether to speak or not, and finally takes a deep breath.
최여주
"…hey."
(Dongmin raises his head slightly. His expression is indifferent.)
한동민
"why."
최여주
“Why… you haven’t contacted me or spoken to me for several days?”
한동민
"You go first."
최여주
"But if we're friends, shouldn't we be able to contact each other first?"
한동민
(Shrugs) "Don't you remember that you were the one who got angry first?"
최여주
“…Ha, you really have the pride to beat me.”
한동민
"That's how it was originally."
(The heroine feels annoyed for a moment, but eventually bites her lip and speaks.)
최여주
“(Coughing) But, come to think of it… you were the only one who listened to me when I was having a hard time, who comforted me…
한동민
(Avoiding eye contact) "So?"
최여주
"So… I came first. To request reconciliation."
한동민
“…This is the first time you’ve suggested reconciliation.”
최여주
"Let's solve this. For real."
한동민
(After a moment of silence) “…Or so it is.”
(Dongmin puts his phone in his pocket. He adds in a small voice.)
한동민
"But you need to change too. If you're just going to endure it all the time, it'll be frustrating for me to just watch."
최여주
“Okay. I’ll try.”
한동민
(raising the corners of her lips slightly/a victorious smile) "Okay. Then I'll walk you home from school today."
최여주
"I'll walk you home from school!?"
한동민
“Not dislike?”
최여주
“Oh… well… that’s what you said~”
The two of them walk side by side, pretending nothing happened. It's awkward, but their steps are much closer than before.
최여주
“Oh, I heard you’ve been working hard at school lately… Kim Dong-hyun said that?”
최여주
“I heard you did all the preparations for the launch..?”
한동민
(Without even raising his head) "Yeah. Well, I just have to do it."
최여주
"But why didn't you announce it?"
한동민
(After a brief pause) "The kids didn't let me do it because they were afraid the atmosphere would get awkward if I did it."
Life in high school wasn't just difficult for Yeo-ju... Although he pretended not to care, Han Dong-min also...had a hard time.
최여주
“…Did they really say that?”
한동민
(bitter smile) "Well, I didn't say that directly. You can tell just by looking at the atmosphere."
최여주
"That's too much. You did the most with the materials."
한동민
"It's okay. I don't expect anything like that. Anyway... no one in my class likes me."
In fact… 60% of the girls in Han Dong-min’s class liked him.
It’s just that Han Dong-min feels cold, so no one talks to him… .
(The heroine sighs softly and sits down next to Dongmin.)
최여주
"Then why do you pretend not to expect it?"
한동민
(slightly embarrassed) "What?"
최여주
"If you weren't expecting it, you wouldn't have prepared so much. You stayed up all night. Today, you have dark circles under your eyes."
(Dongmin doesn't say anything and just takes a sip of milk.)
최여주
“You pretend to be indifferent, but… you’re not insensitive. You get hurt easily.”
한동민
(Pauses briefly, then mutters softly) “…Why aren’t you the only one who knows that?”
최여주
(Smiling quietly) "I'm your old friend. No one knows better than I that you're not a person who can handle things alone."
(A brief moment of silence)
It seemed like only Yeoju was relying on Dongmin, but in reality, they were relying on each other.
최여주
"The kids in your class are idiots. They just judge people by their looks."
한동민
“…But sometimes I get a little scared that you might be among those kids too.”
(The heroine looks at Dongmin in surprise. It was the first time she heard such sincere words.)
최여주
"I'm on your side, Han Dong-min..!! From now on, always."
Dongmin just nods his head slightly without saying anything.
His expression is as indifferent as usual, but the milk carton he is holding is slightly crumpled.
Back in the present...the two left the tteokbokki restaurant.
Street.
As we came out after eating, we saw a sign for a sticker photo shop in the heart of the downtown area.
Neon signs and pink lights flash.
최여주
"Hey, let's take a picture too!"
한동민
"Okay. That's something kids do."
최여주
“What are you talking about…? Where is my age on the sticker photo?”
최여주
(Holding arms) "And hey, we're kids too. We're in the second year of high school."
한동민
"…bothered."
최여주
"Even though it's annoying, your expression seems a bit expectant."
한동민
(Laughs softly) "Don't get me wrong."
Inside the sticker booth.
Twinkling lights, a cute backdrop, and a bunny ear headband on her head.
최여주
(Putting the headband on Dongmin's head) "Perfect. Rabbit Dongmin."
한동민
(grimacing) "When are you going to take this off?"
최여주
"After taking the picture~ Okay, smile."
한동민
"I don't laugh."
최여주
"If you don't laugh, it will come out weird. I'll print it out later and distribute it around the class."
한동민
“Ugh!…..If I spray it, I die?”
최여주
“Huh?? 3 seconds left!”
Han Dong-min hastily smiles and poses.
Click.
In the four small photos, the two bickered but strangely got along well.
The heroine burst into laughter as she came out and looked at the photos.
최여주
"Hey, I can use this at your funeral later."
한동민
“Oh, what are you talking about? LOL (I find it funny too) If you spray that, you’ll really die?”
최여주
"Haha... I'm just kidding. Thank you for today."
한동민
"what."
최여주
“Just… what… because I feel most comfortable when we’re together?”
Dongmin didn't say anything in response.
However, I slowed my pace a little and matched the female protagonist's.
한동민
“I’ll take you there.”
최여주
“Oh yeah! It’s my birthday today. What’s going on?”
한동민
“What are you talking about? Hahaha. I brought you here a lot before too.”
(Hands in pockets, head slightly raised, looking at the sky)
최여주
"Wow, look at the sky. Doesn't it feel like autumn?"
최여주
“It’s still hot, but now that the exams are over, it really feels like fall.”
한동민
"It's hot in the summer, so why do you keep pretending it's fall? Is this some weird romance brewing? LOL"
최여주
(Smiling and pushing Dongmin slightly) "Oh, what are you talking about~ I'm just excited about the upcoming sports competition."
한동민
(Turns his head to look up) "Sports competition?"
최여주
"Yeah. I'm really going to try hard this year. I just spent my first year of high school observing the atmosphere and letting it pass by."
최여주
“This time, I’m going to sign up for the race and cheer properly.”
한동민
"You? Cheer?"
최여주
(Running her hair back with her hand) "Hey~ Why are you laughing? I'm secretly quite funny. The cheerleading uniform looks pretty too. I want to try it on."
한동민
"A kid who's too embarrassed to even go up on stage?"
최여주
“That was a long time ago~ It’s a bit different now, isn’t it?”
최여주
“Last year, I was just so concerned about what other people thought that I couldn’t do anything.”
최여주
(Pauses briefly, smiles slightly) “This year, I want to enjoy myself a little.”
한동민
"oh…."
최여주
“What about you? What do you want to do?”
한동민
“Not really…?”
That's amazing, 9th place overall best
Hohoho... It takes 2 hours and 30 minutes to write once...ㅠㅠ