Unforgettable Memories

7

I woke up slowly, my body feeling heavier than usual. A groan escaped my lips as I forced my eyes open, the faint light filtering through the blinds. My room felt distant, a blur of colors and shapes, as I lay there for a while, allowing the memories of yesterday to resurface. I sighed, the weight of it all sinking into my chest. My eyes were still glassy from the tears I had shed, but I couldn't bring myself to care.

Dragging myself out of bed, I stumbled to the bathroom. One glance in the mirror and I winced. My reflection was a mess—bloodshot eyes, pale skin, and hair that stuck out in every possible direction. I turned on the shower, hoping the water would wash away more than just the exhaustion clinging to me.

After a quick rinse, I grabbed the first dress I could find and threw it on. It didn't matter how I looked; I had bigger concerns. My eyes, still red and damp, betrayed my sleepless night. With my bag slung over my shoulder, I limped downstairs, pausing only to apply ointment to the bruised ankle that had been bothering me for days. A bandage would have to suffice for now.

Food was the last thing on my mind. I didn't have the appetite, not today. I left the house and walked the familiar streets to college, each step feeling heavier than the last. As I arrived at the gates, I took a deep, shaky breath, trying to gather my composure. It didn't help. Another sigh escaped me, the hundredth one that morning.

College was the same as ever—buzzing with life, with whispers trailing behind me as I passed. People with nothing better to do were clearly gossiping, but I ignored them, forcing myself to focus on the routine. I headed to my locker, mindlessly collecting the books I needed for the day. My hands were shaky as I shoved them into my bag.

And then, my fingers brushed against something. The photograph.

I hesitated, pulling it out gently. My breath caught as I traced the edges of the picture, my finger lingering on the face of my brother. Tears welled up again, and before I could stop them, they spilled down my cheeks. Why am I so weak? Why now? I shouldn't let them see me like this.

I wiped my face hurriedly, but it was too late. A familiar force slammed me against the lockers. The jolt pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Why is this their favorite hobby?" I muttered under my breath. Without even looking, I knew it was Jimin. It was always him.

"Well, yesterday was fun," he sneered, his smirk making my stomach churn.

I glared at him briefly, the exhaustion too much to mask. "Yeah, really fun. Now, move. I need to go."

But Jimin wasn't done. "Who said you could go, Ms. Stubborn?" he teased, his voice light, as if this was some kind of joke.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. "Jimin, please," I said, my voice trembling with frustration. "Just this once, listen to me. I'm not in the mood. Everything is a mess, and I can't deal with it right now. Just leave me alone. Tomorrow, do whatever you want—hell, kill me if it makes you feel better. But today? I can't. I can't handle it."

Without waiting for his response, I turned and headed straight to class, my body moving on autopilot. The words had poured out of me before I could stop them, and now all I wanted was to be invisible. I slumped into my seat, resting my head on my desk, ignoring the buzzing chatter around me. I bit the inside of my cheek, trying desperately not to cry again.

A gentle tap on my shoulder pulled me from my thoughts. Jiyeon, my closest friend, sat beside me with concern etched on her face. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked softly.

I shook my head, my throat tight as fresh tears rolled down my cheeks.

"What happened? Why are you crying?" Jiyeon's voice was gentle as she rubbed my back, trying to comfort me. "Let's go outside. We can get some fresh air, away from all this noise," she suggested.

I nodded, grateful for the escape. We slipped out of the classroom, and just as we passed the door, I noticed Jimin and Taehyung entering. Jimin's eyes found mine, but I quickly looked away, focusing on the hallway ahead. I didn't have the energy for another confrontation.

Once we reached the bathroom, the dam broke. I collapsed into Jiyeon's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. She held me tight, whispering soothing words as I let it all out.

"Tell me what happened," she urged after a while, her voice soft but insistent.

Through broken breaths, I explained everything. The incident yesterday. The picture of my brother—the last memory I had of him. How Jimin had thought it was funny to torment me, not knowing what that photograph meant to me.

"That bastard! I can't believe he did that," Jiyeon fumed, pulling away to storm out of the bathroom. "I'm going to give him a piece of my mind!"

I grabbed her arm, stopping her. "Jiyeon, no. It's not worth it. Yelling at him won't bring the photo back. He doesn't even know what it meant to me—he just wanted to see me cry. Let it go."

She hesitated, her face filled with anger, but eventually, she nodded. "I'm sorry I wasn't there with you," she murmured.

"It's okay. You're here now," I said, managing a weak smile through my tears.

"Come on, let's go outside. You need some air, and we can skip class for a bit," she said, tugging me along. I didn't resist. The first period passed in a blur as we wandered around campus, talking about everything and nothing.

By the time we returned to class, the bell for lunch had rung. I caught Jimin glancing at me as we walked in, but I avoided his gaze. Jiyeon sat beside me, her presence comforting, though my mind was still elsewhere.

Jimin's POV

I woke up early today, something unusual for me. Part of me just needed to get out of the house, to breathe. But the real reason? Somin. After what happened yesterday, I couldn't stop thinking about her. The guilt gnawed at me.

I didn't mean for things to go so far. When I saw her standing by the lockers, her eyes red from crying, I knew I had messed up. She looked...broken. Nothing like the stubborn, strong Somin I'd gotten used to teasing.

I approached her, unsure of what to say. My body acted on instinct, and I did what I always did—smacked her into the lockers. The moment I did it, I regretted it.

"Yesterday was fun," I said, forcing a smirk. But there was no joy in it, not this time.

She didn't even fight back. "Yeah, very fun. Now move, I need to go." Her voice was so empty, so defeated. It killed me.

I tried to joke, to lighten the mood. "Who said you could go, Ms. Stubborn?"

But her response? It cut deep. "Jimin, please... Just leave me alone for one day. Tomorrow, do whatever you want. Kill me if you need to, but today... I can't."

And then she was gone.

I stood there, frozen. She was right—I had crossed the line. I wanted to fix it, but I didn't know how. As I watched her walk away, I felt something I hadn't expected: regret.

By the time I followed her to class, she was already gone with Jiyeon. I overheard their conversation in the bathroom, my stomach sinking as I realized just how important that photo had been to her. It was her last memory of her brother, and I had destroyed it.

I needed to make this right. I would apologize, no matter what it took. Even if she never forgave me, I had to try.

The bell rang, and I decided I couldn't wait any longer. Today, I would apologize to Somin.

Whatever happens next, I'll face it.