I was the only one flustered, I was the only one who liked them

I was the only one who got excited

I went to a taekwondo studio for two years, from 7th grade to 8th grade. During those two years, you shook my heart.

You were kind to me from the moment I first walked into the studio. You were about my height too.

You joked around a lot and treated me so casually.

When I was going to my first competition, you asked me kindly.

박지훈(2)

Are you really nervous?

작가

U..huh? Y-yeah..

박지훈(2)

Haha, you're more nervous than usual.

작가

Ah, I'm seriously freaking out. What if I mess up?

박지훈(2)

Ah, it's fine, it's fine. It's your first time.

That's how you reassured me.

Before the competition, there was a time to take an oath. Two people from our studio had to go up and do it.

It didn't matter who, but everyone seemed reluctant. Since everything was new to me, I just stayed still, and then you came up to me.

박지훈(2)

Hey, let's do it together.

작가

Huh..? But there are other kids too?

박지훈(2)

Come on, let's just do it.

So I ended up going up there without really knowing what was happening. On the way out, I had to cross something like a safety bar that reached up to my waist, and maybe I was too hasty because I almost fell.

But you grabbed my hand in an instant. Even after I got over the safety bar, you didn't let go of my hand. You held it tight as we went down the stairs, and even after we got down the stairs, you still didn't let go.

Honestly, I was fluttering then.

박지훈(2)

Hey, be careful. What if you get hurt?

작가

Come on, I didn't get hurt lol

We practiced the oath together and laughed and talked. We got scolded for being noisy, but it was funny and fun.

When it was time to take the oath, my hand naturally relaxed. Just as I was feeling disappointed, you grabbed my hand and led me back up the stairs.

My cheeks felt like they were turning red.

One day

Everyone at the taekwondo studio said we should all go to the pool.

I wasn't planning to go, but my friends said to come, so I had no choice.

The pool was bigger and deeper than I expected. I'm on the short side, so I was worried, but I went in carefully.

The water was just shallow enough that I had to stand on tiptoe for it to reach my neck. The older boys at the taekwondo studio kept teasing me.

태권도장오빠

Haha, ○○, we can't even see you.

작가

Hey!!

태권도장오빠

Hey, where'd you go?? ○○ disappeared!!

작가

I'm right here!!

We joked around like that and went to the slide. I rode down the big slide on an inflatable tube with a closed bottom.

I got all the way down, but a mischievous boy next to me flipped over my tube. I fell straight into the water and flailed around. I tried to get out, but that boy pushed me deeper underwater.

My eyes and nose stung, and my feet touched the bottom, but I couldn't breathe. I was totally panicking. That's when you saved me.

박지훈(2)

Hey!!!

When I was dazed, you grabbed my hand and pulled me up. Then you sat me in a chair and put something warm in my hands.

박지훈(2)

Hey, are you okay? You didn't die, did you?

작가

Wow, I really thought I was going to die. If I had died, would I be here?

You stayed by my side until I felt better.

작가

Aren't you playing?

박지훈(2)

I'm just taking a little break too.

I wasn't feeling well, so I stayed in the chair until the end. But you kept sitting next to me too, and it felt a little strange.

A few weeks later

The head instructor said we should have a pajama party at the studio this time.

I said yes when I heard you were going to do it.

The day of the pajama party

My friends and I stayed up late and only talked in the tent. Outside, I kept hearing your voice.

By 3 a.m., I was getting ready for bed. I couldn't sleep, so I left the tent and looked around to see what the others were doing. Honestly, I couldn't sleep because I was curious about what you were doing.

The boys were playing games. You stopped playing, said you were going to sleep, and came over to me.

박지훈(2)

You're still not asleep?

작가

Yeah, I can't sleep. At this point, I think I just have insomnia.

박지훈(2)

Go to sleep if you want to get taller lolㅋㅋㅋㅋ When are you gonna grow?

작가

No, you're about my height too?

박지훈(2)

What are you talking about? I'm way taller.

작가

Okay, okay. This short one is going to bed.

박지훈(2)

Yeah, you little dwarf, sleep well.

작가

Hey!!!

박지훈(2)

(handing me warm water) Hurry up and sleep, shorty.

작가

You're really a master at giving medicine after giving poison.

박지훈(2)

Is that a compliment?

작가

No.

My heart was pounding, but I went off to sleep.

A few months later, I had to quit taekwondo because of cram school. But you didn't seem very sad.

One month after quitting taekwondo

I went to a bowling alley with my friends. I wasn't good at bowling, so I just watched.

But then I heard a familiar voice from behind me. When I turned around, it was you.

You recognized me right away and came up to me.

박지훈(2)

Oh, long time no see

작가

Oh, long time no see

While we were talking about this and that, your friends started bowling first, but you didn't care and kept talking to me.

I asked first.

작가

Are you good at bowling?

박지훈(2)

Oh, I'm really good at bowling.

작가

Show me.

박지훈(2)

Okay, wait.

You went confidently, knocked down all but one pin, and walked back over to me looking smug. It was cute.

박지훈(2)

(smugly) See??

작가

Haha, yeah, good job.

박지훈(2)

Hehe

박지훈(2)

(looking at my clothes) Aren't you cold?

작가

A little? It's okay. I'm barely cold.

You took off your jacket and covered my knees with it.

작가

Oh, thanks thanks

And then we parted ways.

After that, we couldn't meet again.

And then we got into the same high school, but it seemed like you had forgotten me. I mean, we hadn't seen each other for a year, so how would you know to talk to me first?

Honestly, I wanted to talk to you too, but there were already a lot of female friends around you, so I'll just back off.

I took all your actions as kindness, and even when I tried to forget you, I couldn't really do it. You were popular and had tons of friends, so did you forget me?

You danced really well at the talent show. Watching you, I got lost in memories, and all the things you did for me—was I the only one whose heart fluttered?

I keep thinking about how you used to smile so kindly at me, but I'll try to forget it.

You looked at the scratch on my knee, asked if I was okay, and put a bandage on it.

You grumbled that my skirt was too short and told me to pull it down.

You brought me medicine when I said my stomach hurt.

Right, it was all kindness, wasn't it? Yeah, I was the only one whose heart fluttered again.