Unintentional Love | Shimkongz

Fractures and Frustrations

The weeks flew by in a blur of school projects, late-night study sessions, and burgeoning friendships. Gyuvin and I had settled into a comfortable routine, and for the first time in a long while, I felt genuinely happy. But, as with all things, the calm was temporary.

One Thursday morning, I walked into school to find the usual buzz of chatter and laughter replaced by hushed whispers and curious glances. I furrowed my brow, trying to figure out what was going on. As I made my way to my locker, Matthew intercepted me, looking uncharacteristically serious.

"Ricky, have you seen the bulletin board?" he asked, his voice low.

I shook my head. "No, what's going on?"

He sighed, glancing around before leaning in closer. "Someone vandalized the mural."

My heart sank. The mural had been a labor of love, a symbol of the tentative truce between Gyuvin and me. I hurried to the courtyard, my pulse quickening with each step.

When I arrived, a small crowd had gathered around the mural, their faces a mix of shock and disappointment. The vibrant colors we had carefully painted were marred by ugly black spray paint, spelling out hateful words and crude drawings. I felt a wave of anger and sadness wash over me.

Gyuvin was already there, his expression a storm of fury and hurt. He glanced up as I approached, his eyes narrowing. "Did you see this?" he demanded, his voice shaking with barely controlled rage.

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "Yeah. I can't believe someone would do this."

Gyuvin clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "We worked so hard on this, Ricky. Why would anyone want to destroy it?"

"I don't know," I said quietly. "But we'll find out who did this. They can't get away with it."

Our classmates began to disperse, muttering amongst themselves. Gyuvin and I stood in front of the mural, the weight of our frustration hanging heavily in the air.

"Let's talk to Ms. Park," Gyuvin said finally, his voice steadier. "She'll know what to do."

---

Ms. Park was just as horrified as we were. She promised to launch an investigation and assured us that the culprits would be found and punished. But as the days went by with no leads, our frustration grew.

One afternoon, Gyuvin and I sat in the art room, trying to come up with ideas to repair the damage. The mood was somber, and the silence between us felt heavy.

"I can't believe this," Gyuvin muttered, his fingers tapping restlessly on the table. "We were finally getting along, and now this happens."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I know. It feels like we can't catch a break."

Gyuvin looked at me, his eyes dark with anger. "Do you think someone did this because of us? Because we're friends now?"

The thought hadn't crossed my mind, but it made a sick kind of sense. Our rivalry had been the talk of the school for so long, and our sudden truce might have upset the delicate balance. I shrugged, feeling a knot of unease in my stomach. "Maybe. But we can't let them win, Gyuvin. We'll fix the mural, and we'll show them that they can't tear us down."

Gyuvin's expression softened slightly, and he nodded. "You're right. We can't let them get to us."

---

Despite our determination, the strain of the situation began to take its toll. Gyuvin and I started snapping at each other more often, our patience wearing thin. One afternoon, during another frustrating session in the art room, our tempers finally boiled over.