Song Woo Bin was used to the stares and whispers that followed him everywhere he went. He was the son of a notorious narcotics officer, and people in his small town treated him poorly because of it. Despite speaking English fluently, he was often ridiculed and isolated, leading him to cry himself to sleep every night.
One day, Sabrina Carpenter and I, two new students at his school, took notice of Song Woo Bin's struggles. We approached him, struck up a conversation, and were pleasantly surprised to find that he was pretty funny and comfortable to be around.
We quickly became friends and made it a point to include Song Woo Bin in our activities. We invited him to sit with us at lunch, study together, and even hang out on weekends. Slowly but surely, Song Woo Bin began to open up and come out of his shell. He laughed more often and didn't seem as sad as he used to be.
One day, as we were walking home from school, I saw Song Woo Bin looking particularly downcast. I asked him what was wrong, and he confided in us that he felt like he would never escape his father's shadow and the stigma attached to his family name.
Sabrina and I shared a look, and then I took Song Woo Bin's hand and told him that he was not his father. He was his own person, and he had the power to create his own path in life. Sabrina added that he was a good friend and that we were lucky to have him in our lives.
Song Woo Bin's eyes filled with tears, but this time they were tears of relief and gratitude. He hugged us both tightly, thanking us for our kindness and support.
As we said our goodbyes, I impulsively planted a kiss on Song Woo Bin's cheek. He blushed and smiled, and we all knew that our friendship had taken on a new level of intimacy. From that day forward, we continued to support and uplift each other, knowing that true friendships know no boundaries.
