episode_0003

The next day’s inquiry time still bore the remnants of chaos.

“…….”

“…….”

The peculiarly subdued gazes of the students were all directed towards Ma-yeonseo.

The homeroom teacher, standing at the platform, announced with a notably fatigued expression, “Due to certain circumstances, all three friends have decided to transfer to different schools. It’s not because of yesterday’s incident, so please don’t misunderstand. If there’s anything you’d like to say to your friends… ”

The guys who had tormented me and mercilessly beaten Ma-yeonseo were all transferred.

That was it.

There wasn’t a single mention about Ma-yeonseo.

As if she had no connection whatsoever.

“No, does this make sense?”

It was obviously strange.

No matter how I thought about it, this wasn’t a situation to just let pass.

It wasn’t just a minor dispute among kids; it was an outright brutal assault.

Instead of any disciplinary action against Ma-yeonseo, it was hastily concluded with an abrupt transfer, which was difficult to accept rationally.

“What on earth…?”

Suddenly, her words from yesterday flashed through my mind.

“Don’t worry.”

“It’s okay.”

Even after committing such a tremendous act, her tone was remarkably composed.

“…….”

I slowly shifted my gaze towards Ma-yeonseo sitting beside me.

As I did, she glanced at me subtly and formed a faint smile.

*

After that incident, Ma-yeonseo and I, who were already somewhat isolated in our class, became even more secluded.

I was afraid to initiate conversations for no reason, and I started to be seen as a somewhat eerie presence.

I, too, was slightly taken aback at first and found Ma-yeonseo a bit intimidating…

“No, why would I dislike her?”

Looking back later, I realized she had finally acknowledged me as a friend, and I adjusted my mindset.

I’ve finally made a real friend!

“Hey, do you live around here? I always thought it looked great whenever I passed by… It’s awesome!”

“Where do you live?”

“There’s a villa complex across from your apartment building. I live there.”

Coincidentally, we even walked home together, although I usually got picked up by car.

Just recently, did your car break down?

I had a feeling something was off, but when I finally heard the whole story, it was truly astonishing.

“As expected, the rich are different.”

It had been two years since I had first met and gotten to know Mayeonseo, and we were just starting to become friends.

“It’s summer vacation, so don’t stay up late and sleep in. Don’t procrastinate on your homework. Got it?”

“Yes!”

Summer vacation had arrived.

“Ah… It’s here already.”

Normally, I would have welcomed the summer vacation with open arms, but this time, for some reason, it didn’t sit quite right with me.

Was it because I couldn’t hang out with the friend I had made?

Or was it due to some other reason that I hadn’t realized?

The important thing was that I wasn’t the only one feeling this way.

“…Don’t you have a cell phone?”

Mayeonseo, who unusually asked me about my contact information first, expressed subtle dissatisfaction with a furrowed brow.

But a cell phone is a luxury.

“I have a home phone.”

“Hmm.”

When I mentioned using the home phone as an alternative, Mayeonseo sighed as if feeling frustrated.

Since she was planning to spend the entire summer vacation in the United States, the phone was our only means of communication.

“Just wait until the vacation ends, right?”

Without knowing a word of English, I absentmindedly scratched my head, then suddenly clapped my hands together with a bright idea.

“Oh! My mom’s phone!”

“…What?”

“My mom is always at home in the evenings. Would it be okay to borrow it then?”

Proudly admiring my own brilliant idea, I looked at her with enthusiasm.

“It’s my idea, but it’s a good one!”

For some reason, after showing a dumbfounded expression for a while, she reluctantly handed me the phone.

“…Give me the number.”

“What for?”

“The home phone and your mother’s number.”

“Sure.”

I gave her the home phone number and my mother’s contact without thinking much of it.

At that time, I didn’t realize the significance of exchanging contact information.

*

“This is boring.”

In the second week of summer vacation, I was rolling around at home, engulfed in intense boredom.

I couldn’t bring myself to read the books I usually enjoyed.

Even the TV shows that never bored me started to lose their appeal.

And the occasional computer games I used to enjoy were no longer appealing.

Life itself was so boring.

“…I want to go to school….”

Just when I reached the point of even hoping for a return to in-person classes.

Knock, knock. My mother, who had been in the living room, quietly came into my room.

“Yoochan, are you busy?”

Perhaps due to her mood, she had a teasing smile on her face as if she had found something to make fun of.

“No, I was just lying down.”

“Do you want to take this call?”

“Me?”

Suddenly, my mother handed me the phone that was already connected.

“It’s a call from your friend Yeonseo.”

!

It was the call I had been expecting from Mayeonseo.

“Her voice is really pretty. Did you become friends at school by any chance…?”

“Mom, um, can I take this call?”

“Oh, sorry, sorry. Hahaha.”

After managing to shoo away the intruder, I firmly closed the door.

“Phew. Let’s stay calm….”

Then, after clearing my throat calmly, I cautiously answered the phone.

“Hello?”

[ Why haven’t you contacted me? ]

A familiar voice came through the speaker.

The tone was casual as usual, but there was a subtle hint of dissatisfaction.

“Is she mad because I didn’t contact her?”

Completely caught off guard by the first words, I hastily blurted out some excuse.

“Well, you see… I was just a little busy studying and reading books, so to speak…?”

[ ……. ]

“Anyway! Are you doing well? You’re in the U.S. now, right?”

[ …Yeah. I’m in New York. ]

Thankfully, she seemed to believe my excuse.

…At least, that’s what I thought.

“Wow. New York? That’s on the opposite side of the Earth! What time is it there now?”

[ It’s 7 in the morning. ]

“Morning?!”

[ Yeah. I called before having breakfast. ]

I was slightly surprised that she had called me from early morning, but I quickly brushed it off.

Right now, I was just happy to be able to talk to her.

“How’s the U.S.? Do you really hear gunshots on the streets?”

[ Sometimes? Yesterday, I saw a monster too. It looked like some kind of chicken. ]

“Wow! Really? Then you must have seen superheroes fighting too, right?”

[ …I did. Saw them fighting. ]

“Wow, that’s amazing! I’m so jealous!”

That’s how we exchanged various conversations after a long time.

From what happened during the vacation to the books I’ve read recently.

“Oh… my battery’s dead.”

Around an hour into the call, my phone battery ran out, forcing me to end the conversation.

[ …I guess I have to hang up. ]

“…Yeah.”

A brief silence followed.

[ ……. ]

“…….”

Feeling a bit restless, I abruptly stood up and, after suppressing my disappointment, bid farewell.

“I should probably hang up now. My phone is about to die.”

[ …Sure. ]

“Next time, I’ll be the one to call first.”

[ Okay. ]

“Is it okay if I text you?”

[ …Sure. ]

“Alright then. I’m hanging up!”

[ Goodbye. ]

After reluctantly ending the call and looking forward to the next one, I asked, “Mom! Where’s the phone charger?” as I headed to the living room…

“My battery is about to die, so it will turn off soon….”

“Son.”

For some reason, my mother, who seemed oddly amused, made a suggestion.

“Should Mom buy you a new phone?”

“Out of the blue?”

“In exchange…. grant Mom one wish.”

I had a bad feeling about this.

“…What is it?”

“Tell me about that girl.”

“What girl?”

“The girl you just talked to on the phone for an hour! Who is she that you talked to her for an hour?!”

“…It’s nothing.”

“Don’t lie! Huh? Tell me too, Mom!”

“I don’t know!”

After a long time, my cheerful mother persistently interrogated me.

In the end, I got a new phone much earlier than expected.

*

Before I knew it, I was graduating from elementary school and facing the entrance to middle school.

“Ugh. This feels so awkward.”

The baggy uniform, supposedly grown into according to boys’ logic, felt as uncomfortable as wearing my dad’s clothes.

The only consolation was that there were many others like me, not just myself.

But the girls were different.

Unlike in elementary school, there were noticeably more girls dressing up in earnest. There were significantly more girls who had become much prettier than before.

Among them, Mayeonseo was undoubtedly the best.

“What did she eat to grow up and become so pretty all by herself?”

This time, I ended up going to the same school as Mayeonseo.

At first, I was just happy at the thought of being able to continue being friends with her…

Upon seeing her at the entrance ceremony, I felt an inexplicable sense of discomfort.

Long, thick curls without bangs adorned her jet-black hair.

Her fair face, lightly made up, seemed much more mature. And to top it off, a perfectly fitted school uniform accentuated the subtly curving figure that had already begun to emerge.

I vaguely felt this last year as well. It was a feeling that she wasn’t the Ma Yeon-seo I knew.

Of course, I was the only one who thought so.

“You’re here?”

Just as easily, she found me and approached, scanning my appearance from up close.

Then, with a faintly amused tone, she subtly complimented, “Cute.”

“…Are you teasing me?”

“Did it show?”

Insolent.

I wanted to tease her about her uniform too, but… I couldn’t bring myself to come up with the words.

“Oh! What, we’re in the same class again this time?”

“Mm, lucky us.”

She and I ended up in the same class.

Even after the class placement, ending up in the exact same class out of six. She really was lucky, just like she said.

“I guess we’ll be in the same class with Yeon-seo… Should be interesting, right?”

A secret to others, but in reality, I was greatly looking forward to middle school life.

Just as kindergarten differed from elementary school, middle school would be a completely different environment.

Naturally, I wouldn’t be bullied for being from a single-parent family.

With students from various schools mixed together, there shouldn’t be any biases among us.

In other words…

It meant I could make new friends too!

“Hey, Ma Yeon-seo, let’s have lunch together.”

During the early days of the semester when relationships were not yet established, kids usually gathered with those from similar backgrounds.

“Sit.”

Naturally, I, too, confidently opened the door to the new semester, relying on Ma Yeon-seo.

And then…

Time flew by, and before we knew it, the summer vacation was upon us.

“Hey! Let’s go to the PC room!”

“Who wants to go to the karaoke together?”

“We’re going to watch a movie, come with us!”

Excited kids made plans on the spot, enjoying their time during the vacation.

Except for me.

“…Huh?”

For some reason, I still hadn’t made any friends.

“…Why are you just standing there?”

“Huh? Oh, um. No, it’s just…”

It was only Ma Yeonseo.