In a crowded part of the school's cafeteria a short squeal of a familiar voice echoed all over the four walls, "Mark!"
"Shit, what now?" I muttered to myself as I see people staring at me, they know this scene all too well by now, I'd be shocked if they don't.
Her thick fringe, long dark hair and pale skin paired with those tacky glasses, what wouldn't make you cringe? She wears almost every clothe you could find in their home, you could only her hands and face with what she's wearing. Nobody even knows how her forehead look like, since it's always covered with thick black hair that doesn't seem to fit well with her face.
She walked over to my direction, very slowly with her head down. Unsual, she always looked at me straight in the eyes. Whatever, she's still embarassing to have around.
She faced me with a wide smile despite the tired look on her face as she handed me a blue envelope. Weird, she's always so jolly and loud around me. Tugging at my bag or my shirt, which tormented me ever since she came around. Finally, she doesn't seem so happy today. I can notice her red eyes even behind those stupid thick glasses of hers.
"Mark," there goes her smile fading into a mere curve on her lips, "Read this, alright? I'll-- I'll wait for you."
Everyone's watching us. There are eyes staring at me. As panic took over my body, I snatched the paper from her fragile little hands. Tore it into two, four then six pieces, crumpled it in my fist and threw it right on her face.
"What do you think am I? I'm not a stupid loser like you to read stuff you write. A loser like you deserve to be six feet underground." Words I didn't mean came out of my mouth.
I heard loud giggles, people laughed at what I just did. Of course, I laughed with them. I thought it was funny, so did everyone. She's probably used to it by now, but as soon as I glanced back where she's standing, I could see tears run down her cheeks. My wide smile and loud laugh slowly faded and turned into something I've never felt for her before, worry. I didn't know what to feel, I didn't know what I felt.
I watched her turn away and run out of the room, pushing the crowd of people as she left. I was left there, standing. For some reason, I felt alone.
Lunch was an agony, I barely ate remembering how she looked right in front of me. The day went by slower than any day I've ever had. I haven't seen her after the incident, even after the day ended. Which was very odd. She's always around me, riding the same bus even though her home's the other way. The next day wasn't much different from the one before, so was the other days.
Days turned into weeks, and even just shadow of her outline was never seen. But today was very different, not much. But it is. A girl from our class, Diane, handed me a blue paper taped together neatly. She's usually quiet and alone in the corner, so hearing her talk besides when the teacher asks her to is rather surprising. "You, read this. I did, and I think there's still time." She said as soon as she left.
It's the same envelope she gave me, it's the same paper but torn apart. I didn't hesitate to open it, right then and there. School's over, I was all alone inside the room once again. Today's the day between autumn and winter, I can see snow fall with the backdrop of the bright autumn colors. I sat back as I started to read,
"Hey, Mark! I really don't know what to say to you in this letter ㅎㅎㅎㅎ But I'll just tell you what's in my heart and how I feel, I think that's gonna be enough. Right? Mark, I know I've been such a pain to you for the past few years and I probably annoyed you quite a lot. And I'm here to apologize. I just want you to know that I love you, I don't know how and I don't when but I just do. Why, is a question I couldn't answer as well. But I do. I really do. You probably don't feel the same way, anyways. I just wanted to let you know. But if you do, I just want to show you something. I'll take it as a yes if you come meet me. Remember when she broke up with you? That night on the bus stop? That's where I'll be. Same time, same place. That's where I'll always be.
I've been watching over you ever since we stepped into Highschool. I never had the courage to talk to you until I saw you that night, you were so lost. I knew I had to do something, I wanted you to be happy. I guess I already did that part. I know I could never be the one to make you truly happy. I'm just glad I had the chance to be someone you knew. And I think that's more than enough. I'm glad I met you. I know you might despise me for being annoying or being too loud and clingy, I just want to spend as much time as I can with you. I know you don't like me nor wanted to be anywhere around me, but you gave me so much hope even when you push me too hard or say the harshest words. Please, be happy. Mark, always wear a smile and be happy. You'll forever be in my heart.
서헤린"
As soon as I read the very last words and her name, things started making sense. What I felt, what I was feeling. I didn't know what came over me, I bolted out of the room. Running through the empty halls of the school, out and to the place where she said she'd wait for me. She wasn't there. I sat on the same spot I sat where she said she saw, the night I first met her. The night she irritated me, talking about how to make an amazingly spicy kimchi at home. Where she once told me how people could be so mean at times. I never said anything nice to her when I still had the chance. I don't why she disappeared, I never knew why she gave me that letter. And I have no idea why she looked sad the day she gave it to me.
Hours ticked by like years, she still hasn't come. I didn't mind, I'd still wait. An elderly man sat beside me, holding a cup of hot caffeine. As he asked, "Mark, right?" Much to my surprise, he knew my name.
"Uhm-yeah?" I fumbled for words as he looked at me straight in the eyes. "How--"
"She really knows you. Every detail on your face is exactly how I imagined you to be, she talked about you a lot. She said a lot of things about you. She talked about you a lot. She must have really loved you."
I finally understood how and why he knew me, but before I could even ask him anything about her, he already answered my question.
"Even in death I can feel her love for you, son. That's how much she loved you." He looked back at me and said, "She wanted you to have this."
A silver necklace with the ring she always wore and never took off ever since the day I first saw her hanging on it. As the man stood up, bid his goodbye and boarded the bus.
Original version
