𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 /GXG/

🔸️And then a scream.

It's already 10:22 pm.

From the avenue there are cherry trees with thick trunks on the sidewalk with bushes the height of my knee without pruning along the wide sidewalk, bushes again on the other side and then the iron fence of two meters or more protecting the ends of the park.

We are walking on the street in front of Cristian School. The one at the entrance, there is a ramp that makes a half-moon curve to the front courtyard.

''It's now or never,'' I say. Chae won and I exchange brief tense glances. A feeling of fear arises.

We leave the street limits and jump a first fence of just over two meters. First Na-young, Chae won and me. We climb the high hill. This part is the Nassam park area. Some thin, dry-looking trees. In the summer there's always a (criminal) fire caused by cigarette butts, so there is not much bush on this slope.

Chae won, going in front, Na-young in the middle and me behind everything.

For a second, I even believe that we are a trio and that we get along very well. Yes, we actually get along very well.

The wall rises, curving the perimeter. Much of the light comes from the distant buildings, so I only see a whiteness of the snow that stands out in my eyes and in our figures.

About 100 meters from the street, we stopped at a point on the wall where the possibility of anyone seeing us jumping was remote. There must be more than 80 cm of accumulated snow, and Chae won like a dog digging into the snow and pushing it, increasing the height.

''Help me!'' Chae won asks.

''I can't believe I'm doing this!'' says Na-young, handing me the backpack. She stands with her back to the wall and digs her feet into the snow, sinking her feet. ''This is the worst shit I've ever done in my life!'' she complains.

''It's worth it! Believe in me!''
Chae Won analyzes the top of the wall, steps forward to step on Na-young's left thigh, who has her legs slightly bent, and puts her hands together so that Chae Won can place her left foot and push off. Her hands reach the top of the wall. She puts her foot on Na-young's head, steps on it, and almost takes off her beanie. She uses the strength of her arms to climb up and sit on top of the wall.

I feel like I'm doing something absurd. My hands are shaking, not just from the cold.

I pull down the zipper, take the rope out of the backpack, and toss it to her. I wrap the rope around my hands, and Na-young does the same, holding it just above mine, brushing our shoulders, supporting Chae Won to descend the other side in a kind of rappel.

The second the girl throws her body to the other side, I feel the weight and friction of the rope burn my hands.

Seconds later, the grip eases.

''Tie it up!'' she shouts.

''Chae won, landed on the other side,'' I say, panting.

Soon, I hear the soft impact of Na-young landing behind me. ''C'mon, Akari!''

I start lightly, and it feels firm. Until I manage to climb up and fall on the other side.

We walked down the hill between some thin trees and bushes. All that remains are our footsteps crushing the softness of the snow.

The feeling that it is much colder here. My breath comes out long and painful.  Tears start to flow because the wind burns your eyes. I hug myself tighter to stay warm.

Chae Won is the first to climb over the middle bushes, even grabbing her jeans from a branch.

I quickly turn on the small flashlight just to see what's on the other side of the screen.