Chapter 104: Goodbye to Memories

[Juho: Reply when you have time.]

I read this message after arriving at the dormitory following my conversation with the teacher.

A message asking me to reply out of the blue. On a normal day, I would have wondered why he was being so strange, but today it made sense. If Juho hadn’t shown up for class, even I would have reached out.

So I was about to reply without hesitation… when I suddenly stopped my fingers.

Checking the time, it was the break after first period.

Given the circumstances, it seemed better to call him.

Having decided this, I pressed the call button without hesitation.

After several rings, I finally heard the familiar voice.

“Hey, Min Woo-jin. Where are you and what are you doing?”

Juho skipped any greeting and blurted this out. His exaggerated tone made me chuckle despite myself. Of course, it wasn’t really a situation to laugh about.

“Why?”

“What do you mean, why? I’m asking because you didn’t come to class. The homeroom teacher looked upset earlier. He even skipped your name during roll call.”

After listing various suspicious circumstances, Juho paused briefly.

“…Did something happen to you?”

He asked this pointed question as if he had already guessed something.

It was a perfectly reasonable response. I hadn’t shown up to class, the teacher hadn’t called my name, and I was even making a proper phone call, so I clearly wasn’t sick.

Considering all the evidence, it wouldn’t be difficult to deduce that something serious had happened.

Unfortunately, I lacked the courage to explain everything myself. If I tried to confide in someone now, I feared the emotional dam I’d forcibly constructed might burst.

Instead, I asked just one question.

“Sorry, but how is So-yul doing?”

“…Han So-yul?”

Juho’s hesitation was palpable. The way he sighed instead of speaking and seemed reluctant to answer gave me a decidedly bad feeling.

His response finally came after quite some time.

“She’s been crying. All morning.”

“…I see.”

Hearing that So-yul had been crying all morning since breakfast.

I had expected as much, but having it confirmed made my heart feel like it was being torn apart.

I wanted to rush into our classroom right now and comfort her in my arms.

I’d hoped she could simply forget someone like me and live peacefully. But apparently that was too difficult for So-yul, who was naturally full of affection.

When forcibly separated from someone you love, anyone would feel heartbroken.

Both So-yul and I were now experiencing that reality painfully.

Juho continued:

“I don’t know what happened, but her friends are sticking close and comforting her, so don’t worry too much. She seemed to calm down a bit during first period.”

“Well… that’s good at least.”

“That’s why I felt even more strongly that I needed to contact you.”

With these words, Juho let out a groan as if he were the one suffering.

He was the person who had witnessed the development of our relationship most closely. I understood that he might feel more affected than others.

After a moment, a serious tone came through the phone again.

“So I’ll ask you once more.”

Juho began, then lowered his voice to a whisper.

“Did something happen between you and Han So-yul?”

“…”

The fact that he specifically pointed out “you and Han So-yul” suggested he had already figured everything out.

If so, there was even less reason to explain the circumstances. Talking about it now would be pointless.

In a situation where I couldn’t turn things around or ask for help, all I could do was swallow my feelings.

Therefore, the only answer I could give was:

“You’ll find out soon enough, whether you want to or not.”

◎

Whether you want to or not, you’ll find out soon.

This statement, which had been something of a prophecy, soon became reality.

Just a few hours later, notices were posted throughout the school.

The content was utterly absurd.

‘Second-year student Min Woo-jin stalked his classmate Han So-yul unilaterally…’ I stopped reading there, let out a bitter laugh, and turned away.

Though I had obediently followed the school’s decision, I was surprised by how swiftly they handled everything.

Apparently, the supposedly formal disciplinary committee wasn’t just skipping formalities but the process itself.

The subsequent proceedings moved at lightning speed.

Sending my belongings from my dormitory room back home, one by one.

Attending the disciplinary committee meeting where I wasn’t given any right to speak.

Completing administrative preparations like transfer paperwork with my homeroom teacher’s help.

In the midst of all these processes, my mom, who was my guardian in name only, was also contacted.

I was actually grateful when she indifferently replied, “Ah, yes. Go ahead with the transfer.”

Since I couldn’t attend classes, I stayed shut in my dormitory room unless I had something to do.

Occasionally when I headed to the cafeteria to fill my empty stomach, I received unfriendly glances.

On the other hand, I also received sympathetic looks from those who understood my situation, so I tried to let it go.

“At least our classmates are all trying to defend you.”

Indeed, Juho called to tell me this.

“Our classmates are defending me?”

“Yeah. The classroom atmosphere has been unsettled lately. Everyone’s saying it couldn’t possibly be true since you two clearly liked each other. Outside the classroom, they’re saying the school must be up to something strange again.”

“…Huh.”

They’d been so suspicious during the semester, causing me so much trouble. Yet when an incident actually occurred, they ended up supporting me. It was quite ironic.

Slightly amused, I held a bitter smile and said:

“It’s surprising since I’ve never seen our class truly unite all year.”

“That’s because the story is so incredibly absurd.”

“I see. Thanks. Please thank everyone on my behalf.”

When I made this simple request, Juho chuckled loudly for me to hear, then:

“…No message for Han So-yul?”

He suddenly asked this.

“Oh my, Cupid has suddenly appeared.”

“Don’t try to deflect with sarcasm.”

Juho wouldn’t let me brush it off with a joke.

What he added next was in quite a serious tone.

“Just tell me anything. I’ll pass it along. Even if you can’t meet her, this should be okay, right?”

“…”

Perhaps he wanted to repay me for all the help I’d given him.

Or maybe he felt some sense of duty as a witness to our relationship.

Either way, I was grateful.

Indeed, I hadn’t even been able to say goodbye to So-yul before we were separated. I did want to at least send her a message wishing her well.

But…

“It’s fine. That would only create lingering attachments.”

What was the point of leaving a farewell message to someone I could never meet again?

It would be better to leave without a word, so she could forget my existence quickly.

“…Hmm, you too, huh.”

Strangely, a meaningful comment came through the phone.

“Me too?”

“Ah, no. Well.”

When I asked in confusion, Juho hesitated briefly.

“I asked Han So-yul this morning too. She also seemed reluctant. Actually, ever since she went out somewhere briefly yesterday, she hasn’t even seemed sad.”

He shared this information.

So-yul, like me, couldn’t say a final goodbye. Yet if she said she had nothing to say, it was probably because, like me, she didn’t want to leave lingering attachments.

Plus, hearing that she no longer seemed sad was a relief. It was much more reassuring than imagining her crying and hurting for a long time.

“…I’m glad she seems to have moved on somewhat.”

“My goodness, what a selfless boyfriend you are.”

“Come on. That’s unnecessary payback.”

I thought to myself what a well-matched friend he was.

I intentionally clicked my tongue in annoyance, and Juho replied with a smile:

“Are you leaving soon?”

“…How did you know?”

I blurted out in surprise.

I had just finished shipping the last of my necessities and was about to leave the school. I thought it was strange that he called right as I was exiting the dormitory with my bag. Was he watching me from somewhere?

As I was feeling grateful for his deep friendship, Juho snorted loudly:

“You’ve been taping up boxes since early Saturday morning and spreading the news all over. How could I not know?”

“…Oh, right. Sorry.”

Apparently, our friendship was as thin as paper.

Eventually, Juho laughed as if it had been a joke.

“Since we won’t be able to meet anymore, should I see you off to the school gate?”

“No thanks. What kind of send-off would that be for someone expelled for stalking?”

“Hey, I might believe that if it were someone else, but not when it’s you.”

Juho burst into laughter. Indeed, his statement was completely right.

Soon after, he cleared his throat.

“Anyway, hang in there. There’s that saying, ‘It’s not over until it’s over.’ Even movies aren’t over when they end. There’s the concept of post-credit scenes.”

“…So?”

“What do you mean, ‘so’? I’m saying it’s too early to give up. Love always triumphs in the end.”

Is that so?

I remembered Juho once rambling about love. Something about how ‘love is something you can’t resist.’ That I didn’t understand because I hadn’t experienced it.

I had a similar impression then as I did now. I wondered if he had ever actually experienced love himself.

In the end, Juho had been right back then. Love was indeed something impossible to resist. It was so impossible to endure that we had ultimately ended up in this situation.

But this time, I found it hard to accept.

“…That would be nice if it were true.”

What finally escaped my lips was a somewhat cynical remark.

It was time to leave. Even though there was no one waiting for me, an empty home was better than this wretched school. It wasn’t like we couldn’t call each other after I left school. It seemed better to end the call here.

“I should get going now. Take care.”

I said my final goodbye to Juho on the other end of the phone.

Juho exhaled a sigh mixed with various emotions.

“Yeah. You take care too.”

He returned an utterly ordinary farewell.

After ending the call, I stuffed my phone into my pocket.

I was eager to leave this place. Having lost sleep due to all kinds of worries recently, I wanted to get on the bus and at least close my eyes for a bit.

With that thought, just as I was about to take a step:

In the corner of my vision… I saw the path bench that had been like our secret base.

The place where So-yul and I first met, where we always had pleasant conversations.

A place invaluably precious to us, yet also painfully bittersweet.

In the distance, I could also see the arts track building standing tall.

The piano room where I’d listened to So-yul’s performances and been moved. The club room where we’d watched movies together and built our emotions.

These were spaces filled with memories I could never forget.

Walking a bit further would lead to the main auditorium.

The venue where the arts festival was held, where we rapidly grew closer. The place where our one and only counterattack took place during the charity concert.

Looking back at the dormitory behind me, I recalled the night we slept in the same bed.

Though it was an incident caused by unexpected, irresistible circumstances, I had the intuition that I would never forget the scent, the breathing sounds, the touch, and the warmth of that time for the rest of my life.

Over there, in the corner of the field, would be the sports storage shed.

The place where we were unexpectedly locked in and almost crossed a line.

Beyond these, memories of So-yul and me remained throughout this school.

The experiences of the past year, the emotions I had felt, the traces that had formed, the memories that had accumulated… they all seemed to tie my feet firmly in place.

…

I shook my head forcefully to clear away these distracting thoughts.

These were memories I should rightfully forget now anyway.

Recalling them would only make my heart ache and grow lingering attachments.

So, deliberately ignoring the emotions welling up in my chest, I slowly took a step forward.

Goodbye.

I bid a final farewell to all the memories remaining at this school.