Remember me

chapter two.

Han Ki-Joo

In a fit of rage and sadness, I tug on his jumper. "Cha Moon-Bin. Make some sense, will you? I'm so confused." I start raging out at him, and perhaps it's because I can't stop thinking about his betrayal or the fact that this is all going on. Sol-Ah isn't my childhood friend? There's a clear image in my head. His facial expressions instantly changes into becoming calm and he grabs tissues out of his pocket and wipes my tears. "Calm down. I'm sorry."

He suddenly covers my face as people start to come into the area. "What's going on?" I can hear familiar voices. "It's okay, she just has to fix her hair. You know..." He makes awkward conversation with people and I use that short moment to gather myself properly. He doesn't say anything and just sits there with me. "Let me know when you're ready."

I take his jacket off me and stand up. I have to gather myself for Seol-Hee's sake. "I'll tell Ki-Joo to go back to class without me and then we can talk." Moon-Bin nods and suddenly,  someone rushes to Moon-Bin. "Ki-Joo... She's in trouble."  The guy pants and without thinking, I rush over to the canteen to see Ki-Joo on the floor with curry all over here. "What's going on?" Moon-Bin yells as I rush over to Ki-Joo.

Of course - Sol-Ah is the one who did this and she apologises. "I'm sorry, I tripped." I can hear her snort. My heart aches for the girl on the floor. She didn't deserve it at all. It doesn't make me sad anymore, it makes me angry. "Apologise." I mutter under my breath. "Sister, what did you say?" Sol-Ah tries to play it sweet as she holds out her hand for Ki-Joo. I watch myself take the hand only for the tray to fall yet again. "I'm so sorry!  I'm so sorry."

Moon-Bin helps myself up and then tells me to take Ki-Joo to the bathroom. "Sol-Ah, apologise to her." The others start to murmur. "I already did, sister. It was just an accident. Right, Moon-Bin?" I look back at him and he gulps looking down, ashamed. "Let's go." I hold onto Ki-Joo who simply pushes me off. "We're not friends. Don't stand up for me." She says coldly walking past me and Moon-Bin and I'm about to run after her, but Moon-Bin stops me.

"It's okay. She's okay." The only reason why I don't go to her is because I hate the feeling of being pitied. It's annoying. "Then, let's talk." I fold my arms and follow him into a private room.

"Why didn't you help her?" I clench my fists. "Listen to me first. Then you can talk. Please." He seems desperate.

"Ki-Jo was always alone before. She was outcasted because of something that wasn't even her fault. It's not her fault that her parents were murdered. Everyone avoided her, aside from you. You're the one who helped her." Right at that moment, my eyes widen. Memories start to flicker.

"You're the one who brought her out of her shell. One by one, the other kids accepted her and grew to like her. Aside from your sister. I'm ashamed..." He looks down and I notice his hands are red and sweating - Cha Moon-Bin is nervous. "I let her become an outcast again and pretended not to know. Especially with Sol-Ah's threats... I thought I was helping her." Threats? Sol-Ah was threatening Moon-Bin?

"I'm sorry. I couldn't keep our promise. Seol-Hee, I'm sorry. I have to ask you for this favour. Remember what happened between you and Sol-Ah, and stop her. I'm scared that something will happen to Ki-Joo.  I want to protect her, no matter what."

I notice the pity in his eyes, which makes me rethink everything. Was our friendship a facade? "Why would she hate us though?" I ask.

"We left her in middle school. We all got in a big argument and stormed off, but Sol-Ah. Sol-Ah accused her of something she never did. Ever since that day, our effort. All gone. It was our fault." My eyes widen. My memories were blurred? Sol-Ah started bullying me from middle school?  Everything starts to collect together.

"I tried to talk to Ki-Joo all summer but I couldn't get through to her, but when I saw her again, she looked happy with Sol-Ah. I thought everything was okay. It's my fault she's being treated like this."

At first, I was angered that they never came out with the truth, but after hearing everything. It wasn't their fault. They tried to protect me and Sol-Ah was threatening Moon-Bin? I regret it all. "It wasn't our fault. It wasn't your fault. I don't know what I was thinking, but I know for a fact. Ki-Joo wouldn't hate it." I place my hand on his hand in an attempt to comfort him.

At that moment, my phone lights up with Sol-Ah's phone call. I shut off my phone. Knowing who my real childhood friend, I'm angered. I felt guilty and remorseful towards Lee Sol-Ah, I accepted the beatings because I thought it was my fault, but no. She was never a friend at all. I was wrong about everything.

She will pay.

***

The class after lunch is awkward as Ki-Joo won't even look at me.  Our awkward conversations doing group-work. "Han Ki-Joo, you're trying to protect me from her right?" I look over at Sol-Ah and she doesn't respond. "It's okay. She can't do anything to me and she can't do anything to you now. I approached you because I wanted to be your friend, give me a chance."

After a long thought, Han Ki-Joo nods just as the bell rings. "Let's be friends." I reach my hand out again and this time Ki-Joo takes my hand. "Let's go home together?" Ki-Jo shakes her head and I say it's on my way home, despite it being the opposite way. I ask if it's okay to link hands and she nods. "Siste." I'm stopped by Sol-Ah and i can feel Ki-Joo's hand start to shake. "We need to talk!"

"Wait here for me, okay?" Ki-Joo nods and I follow Sol-Ah outside. "You must remember everything right? Even then, I can't understand. Do you really want to be her friend?" Sol-Ah's smile is sinister. I finally see her for what she really is. An absolute monster.

Others pass us and her face makes me angry. "Should I tell our sweet Ki-Joo everything?" She scoffs and I bend closer to her to ensure no one else can hear anything. "I'm not scared of you, Lee Sol-Ah. How about you go ahead and try?"