Life suddenly brings two old acquaintances together, who were separated due to a tragedy. Hwang Seohyun (황 서현) meets her classmate again after so long.
Their worlds that were different for 7 years collide once again and become one. Unexpected secret...
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I closed the diary, overwhelmed with the memories of the past. I was thankful that he's doing better in the present. Those days, I'm glad he didn't stay there. Shaking off my thoughts, I started writing again•••
“ I realized Sunghoon needed sometime alone, so I left hesitantly. When I was walking downstairs, I saw Mrs. Park patiently waiting for me but I tried to ignore her gaze. I didn't think holding on to him was a nice decision anymore but I didn't know how to explain it to his mother. She noticed the change in my behavior as she didn't try to stop me when I was at the door but someone else did it for her.
"Don't leave, eonnie" I felt someone gently hold my hand from behind causing me to stop. Turning back, I was met by a younger girl than me. I didn't fail to notice the resemblance she had with Sunghoon, she was his younger sister. I stared at her, taking a moment to capture the glimmer of hope in her eyes and the innocence on her face.
She smiled at me, a smile that melted me more than anything. "It's the first time someone from his class visited him" Her voice was calm and I already knew who she was talking about. "He's always left out and forgotten, making him live like an outsider. Can you please not leave him like others? Please stay as his friend, don't leave him." She doesn't want me to leave him whereas he wants me to leave, what do I do? But I didn't know that hearing a sister plead to someone to stay by her brother's side would cause my heart to cry. It was as if the dying of Sunghoon's youth was burying the happiness of his sister with him.
"I understand he's rough with the people around him." Mrs. Park walked closer to us, "that's because he's going through a rough time as well. But, I'm sure he'll soon realize that being rough doesn't take your helplessness away." She took my hand in hers, making me look up at her. "Let's stay with him until he softens for I know, my son's a very soft person with a gentle heart." She glanced before me and her daughter.
I was silent the whole time as I listened to her, she looked like she had bottled those feelings for too long. "His words are harsh not because he's a harsh person, it's just the circumstances..." Mrs. Park's voice broke as she let go of my hand and cupped her face with her palms. She began to sob silently. I was surprised as I immediately pulled her into a hug, patting her back gently. I wanted to whisper some words of comfort but I couldn't, not myself knowing what to say. I held her in my arms until she pulled away herself. She wiped her face, giving me a faint smile. How can she smile so purely when she's going through a hard time?
Well, now I know, it's not all about him anymore. It's about Mrs. Park and his sister both. I don't care if he wants me to leave, I'll stay when that's what his younger sister and mother want.
I took a deep breath and forced out a smile. I lowered my head slightly to match his sister's eye level. "What's your name?" I asked, trying my best to sound as soft as possible.
"Yeji, Park Yeji." She replied. I smiled again before gently grabbing her hand as I connected my pinky finger with hers.
"I'll stay as your brother's friend. I'll not leave, it's a promise."
When I could tell that Mrs. Park and Yeji were feeling better than before, I gave a smile to Yeji and went upstairs. I needed to clear out a few things with that boy. This time I didn't even knock once, I just barged in. He stared at me surprisingly, probably wondering why I haven't left yet. His eyes once again turned cold, his face screaming the same kind of hatred.
I didn't care about that coldness and hatred any longer. Before any second thought could arise in me, I was walking closer to him. He didn't try to stop me and I wouldn't care less if he even did. I stopped when his wheelchair was just a few steps away and I looked in his eyes.
"Say all you can, do all you want but I'm not leaving you. I'll stick to you, Park Sunghoon." I spoke firmly, for the first time taking his name in front of him. He looked blankly at me without uttering a single word. I couldn't read if he was surprised or angry but that coldness in his eyes did fade.
He didn't say anything, neither did I wait for him to do so. I already said what I wanted to. I glanced at him for the last time before heading out. I was about to close the door behind me but stopped and faced him instead. "I'll come again tomorrow." I said plainly, holding the door open. He opened his mouth to spit out something rude as I could tell by his face but I immediately shut the door, stealing the chance from him.
And since that day, I decided to deeply build a friendship out of nothing with someone who was just a little more familiar than nobody. It was a start from the worst but still a start. A terrible start that could bring spring in his heart that has dried for a long time, a start that could make him bloom again. A start which would bring life back to him and his family with me and my friendship by his side.”
I put the diary away and placed my head on the table as I stared out of the window. I chuckled, remembering how I practically forced my friendship on him.
It took him a little time to let me in but when he did, he welcomed Jiyeon too. He never accepted to be friends with Jaeyun but I supposed it was the other way around. Him and Jaeyun would quarrel everytime they met but it made their relationship more unique and understanding.
My bond with him became as strong as mine with Jiyeon and Jaeyun. Maybe, that's why I couldn't forget about him just like how I could never forget Jiyeon and Jaeyun.
My eyes landed on the clock hanging on the wall as my eyes widened when I realized it was three in the morning. Did I just stay up this late? I searched for my phone and typed a message to Aecha, telling her to leave for work without disturbing my sleep.
