[Contest] Friends are not enough

Don't cross the line between friends

As we arrived at the store, Jeon Jungkook roughly shook my hand away. He must have been exercising, but his strength was incredibly strong.

전정국

Kim Yeo-ju.

나

... why.

I was startled by Jeon Jungkook's voice, which was lower than usual. Jeon Jungkook ran a hand through his hair and continued speaking.

전정국

I'm not mad at you. Why are you scared?

나

...Ah... No, I think you're really angry.

전정국

Then you don't look angry? I've heard of Kim Taehyung too. I heard he's a really reckless kid.

Jeon Jungkook, who was once again angry, surprised me and I lost the item I was choosing. Jeon Jungkook sighed deeply again. The children around me also left one by one, hurriedly, feeling the uneasy atmosphere.

나

...but why are you so worried about me?

전정국

what?

나

Anyway, if you treat me well, that's enough. What are you so anxious about that makes you act like this?

전정국

What are you worried about? I'm not worried at all, I'm just saying this because I'm worried that you might get into trouble.

나

Don't lie. You have a habit of biting your nails when you're anxious.

Jeon Jungkook was startled by my words and stopped biting his nails.

Having watched him for so long, I knew everything about Jeon Jungkook, and only I could notice it: that Jeon Jungkook had a habit of biting his fingernails when he was anxious.

Jeon Jungkook and I were nine years old. We lived next door to each other and were the same age, so we were always together and got along well.

Meanwhile, Jeon Jungkook's father had an affair. Even as children, we could tell that Jeon Jungkook's father was living a life of open indecency.

His shirt was stained with the bright red lipstick Jungkook's mother never wore, and his father, who often stayed out overnight, was also there. Every time, Jungkook would come to my room, cry, and fall asleep in my arms.

전정국

Heroine, I'm so scared...

Jeon Jungkook would tell me, his voice slurred from crying, that he was anxious. That he wished his father would come back. Every time he did, all I could do was silently pat his back.

Jeon Jungkook's habit began then. Whenever his father wasn't home, he'd tear off his fingertips like he was washing something dirty. Blood would often ooze out.

나

Give me your other hand too.

전정국

The band-aid is so stuffy...

나

If you don't put this on, you'll rip it off again.

Whenever Jeon Jungkook had a bloody finger, I'd wrap it with the bandage I was carrying. And Jeon Jungkook didn't hesitate.

After six hellish months, Jeon Jungkook's father and mother divorced. Having heard Jeon Jungkook's words that he never wanted to be apart from me, Jeon Jungkook's mother chose to continue living next door to him.

As if he was looking for his father's affection in me, Jeon Jungkook became attached to me as if he were one body from then on.

We were so young, but now we're eighteen. But the habits we've developed since childhood mean we can fool others, but we can't fool each other.

나

Are you worried that I'll only be hanging out with Kim Taehyung?

전정국

... no.

나

...Give me your finger. It's a good thing you brought the band.

Just like back in the old days, I put a bandage on Jeon Jungkook's injured fingertip. Jeon Jungkook stared intently at his fingertip, where the bandage was still attached.

전정국

Long time no see.

나

Yeah. I thought you had fixed that habit, but it's still the same.

전정국

I guess it lasts a long time because it was caused by a wound.

Knowing how shocked Jeon Jungkook must have been at that time, I couldn't help but hug him and pat him on the back. I don't know when he grew so much, but now I'm being held instead of being held, and I buried my face deep in Jeon Jungkook's arms.