episode_0007

Taeyang and I first met when we were seven years old.

Our fates intertwined when Taeyang’s family moved into the vacant house next door after a long period of vacancy.

“Hello, we are the new neighbors.

We brought some rice cakes as a gift and to introduce ourselves.”

“We’ll probably see each other often since we’re neighbors. Nice to meet you.”

“Oh, you didn’t have to bring anything, but thank you. We’ll enjoy it.”

“Taeyang? Shouldn’t you say hello?”

“Yes!”

“Hello!! Let’s get along well from now on!”

“She’s bright and lively. Nice to meet you, Taeyang.”

“Se-hee, you should say hello too.”

“…”

“Se-hee, say hello.”

Se-hee, sticking closely behind her parents like a tiny ant, speaks in a voice as small as an ant.

“…Hello.”

“Ah, she’s already so passive. Mom told her not to be like that.”

“Haha, it’s okay. It must be because she’s seeing a new face for the first time.”

As the adults converse, the little ones make eye contact.

“Hi!”

“…”

Swoosh

She casually ignores the greeting and sticks even closer behind her parents’ legs.

“We have some nice tea at home. Would you like to have a drink before you leave?”

“Is it okay? I hope we’re not causing any trouble.”

“No, no, it’s fine. Since we’ll be seeing each other often, let’s break the ice, let the kids play together, and get along well.”

“Alright, then. Thank you, we’ll enjoy it.”

“Se-hee, go play with Taeyang in his room.”

“..Okay.”

“Taeyang, have fun playing with Se-hee too.”

“Got it!”

While the parents chat over tea, Se-hee and Taeyang face each other in her room.

“…”

“Hehe.”

They remain silent for a moment.

Even in this awkward silence, Taeyang breaks the ice confidently with a big smile.

“Hello, Se-hee!! Let’s be good friends from now on!”

“…”

“Se-hee…?”

“Don’t suddenly act friendly. I don’t like you.”

“Huh?”

Shocked by these words he didn’t expect to hear, Taeyang looks puzzled.

“I see.”

Since she clearly expressed her dislike, he probably won’t bother her anymore…

However, ignoring his own thoughts, Taeyang boldly says,

“I’ll keep talking to you until I feel like we can be friends!”

??

What’s with this kid..?

“Are you stupid? You say you don’t like me, yet you want to be friends… it doesn’t make sense.”

Even when faced with harsh words, Taeyang confidently maintains a foolish expression.

“I don’t know about that! Se-hee, do you like me? Let’s be friends.”

“…”

Speechless, Se-hee.

It seems that even when they were young, they never quite clicked.

But thanks to Taeyang’s relentless efforts, perhaps?

No matter how mature she tries to act, a seven-year-old who hasn’t even started elementary school,

Children quickly become friends with each other.

Even the passive Se-hee gradually starts exchanging words with Taeyang,

Slowly easing the awkwardness.

In the midst of their chatter,

They eventually bring up their parents.

“My dad is really cool~! When I grow up, I want to be just like him, hehe.

Se-hee, you like your parents too, right?”

“…Not really.”

“Huh?

Perhaps wanting to release the pent-up feelings to someone,

She brings up sensitive family matters to Taeyang, whom she just met today.

“It feels like my parents only dislike me…”

“They haven’t shown interest in me since my sibling was born….”

“They always scold me for being timid… I want to change, but how can I when this is my personality?”

“They don’t understand my feelings or try to understand me… Is it right for them to like me?”

Suddenly, Taeyang stands up and shouts at me.

“No!! Your mom and dad definitely like you, Se-hee!”

“How do you know that?”

What do you know?

“Um… just?”

“…”

Did I regret bringing this up to this fool for a moment, unexpectedly,

“Still, it seems like your dad and your late mom saw me.”

“Can you see that even your parents cherish you, Sehee?”

What a meaningless thing to say without knowing anything. But wait.

“What…?”

They passed away? Did I mishear?

“Your mom passed away?”

“..Yeah.”

Sun replied with a somewhat bitter smile.

“…Are you okay? Bringing up this kind of story to me might make you unnecessarily sad too.”

“When my mom passed away, it was really tough, but now I’m fine. Mom always told me to keep being bright and brave!”

Even facing such a sad event, she stands up and moves forward.

I wonder how I would have been in Sun’s shoes.

It’s unimaginable.

Most likely, I would have crumbled.

How can she be so lively?

“..I envy you.”

“Huh? I didn’t hear you clearly, what did you say?”

“I said I envy your cheerful and lively personality.”

“If I had just half of that personality, I wouldn’t be fighting with my parents like this.”

“You look pitiful even to me.”

Sehee’s self-deprecating remarks unconsciously resumed.

“So what if I am..?”

“Huh?”

“Whether shy or not, you’re still Sehee, my friend, right? Hehe.”

“You fool.”

“Huh?!”

In truth, despite saying these words, I’m secretly glad that Sun, whom I’ve just met, listened, unlike my parents.

Due to my passive nature, I had no friends even in kindergarten.

Sun is the one who has engaged in such a long conversation with me and brought out my emotions the most.

Maybe having a friend like her isn’t so bad after all.

As they gradually become closer, Sun and Sehee continue to meet and build their friendship.

Of course, Sun is the one who initiates these meetings.

Sehee’s parents also appreciate Sun for being there for Sehee and becoming her first friend.

“Sun, your dad is busy, so you spend most of your time at your grandfather’s place nearby?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Later, I heard that Sun’s dad is too busy to take care of her, so she spends most of her time at her grandfather’s house nearby.

“Then why do you keep coming to our house instead of staying at your grandfather’s place…? Is it uncomfortable or something?”

“No, not at all.”

“I love playing with Grandpa, kind Grandma, and fun Uncle who always play with me!”

“But I want to play more with Sehee!”

Playing with me is better…

Strangely, when I’m with Sun, my melancholy feelings seem to disappear.

Actually, if she visited more often than she does now… No, no, what am I thinking?

Time passes, and Sun and I enroll in the same elementary school.

“Sun, Sehee, look over here.”

“Looks good~ Smile! Cheese!”

Click!

“It’s really nice going to the same elementary school, right?”

“Yeah.”

Although it would have been great if we were in the same class, good things don’t come easily to me, it seems.

Looking back now, I never once ended up in the same class as Sun during elementary school.

Separated into different classes, our situations diverged.

Adapting quickly to school life with her lively personality and unique wit, Sun makes friends easily and socializes with many classmates.

On the other hand, due to my timid nature, even when girls my age try to talk to me, I often respond curtly or ignore them, eventually leading to me being alone.

Until the lower grades of elementary school, it was bearable.

Being alone made me feel lonely at times, but I had grown accustomed to it over time.

Moreover, Sun would occasionally come by to play with me, the friendless one, so the kids just thought I was a bit peculiar and quiet, not paying much attention to me.

However, as time passed, the once ordinary atmosphere began to change gradually.

The conflict intensified in fifth grade of elementary school.

Kids nowadays hit puberty really early.

As early as fourth grade, but at the latest sixth grade.

Unlike the innocent early years, their minds start to mature, learning about various emotions.

Consequently, the children began to realize negative emotions such as jealousy towards Sehee’s pretty appearance, and noticing the attention she drew from boys without even trying.

Everyone must have experienced it. Even if you are interested in a girl from the same class, you can’t help but act like you’re not interested.

The boys in Sehee’s class also started a kind of harassment that wasn’t really harassment, teasing her again for no reason when they saw pretty Sehee.

At first, the girls didn’t pay much attention to it, but they’ve already fallen into a bad path. Even the boys that the so-called “popular girls” like found out about their interest in Sehee and started gathering in groups to gossip about her.

Even those who sympathized with Sehee ended up being bystanders, afraid of getting involved in the harassment.

A continuing vicious cycle began to form around Sehee, gradually escalating.

It wasn’t that severe at first, but because Sehee had a passive personality and didn’t say anything or ignored it, the students in the class who thought she was easy prey or felt offended for some reason started crossing the line more and more.

They openly ridiculed Sehee in front of her face, treating her like dirt, saying things like, “Ew… I caught germs from Sehee,” “Hey, don’t come near me!” “ㅋㅋㅋ,” and even made derogatory remarks like, “Why does looking at her make me sick?” “She’s so shameless and sly, that’s why everyone hates her,” “Isn’t she doing this on purpose to attract guys’ attention?” “If it’s true, it gives me chills.”

There were even instances where they put spoiled milk in her locker.

Sehee acted as if nothing was wrong each time, but how could everything be okay? Her heart was gradually wearing down and breaking.

It’s hard. What did I do wrong? I was just quietly getting by in the class. Why are they relentless towards me, trying to devour me? Are they intentionally behaving like that? Why do they casually speak such unfounded stories without knowing the truth? Help. Can someone please help…

Mom… Dad…

…Taeyang…

Ha… Haha…

I’m so foolish. Even though I know that no one will help unless I change myself, and if I don’t expect anything, I won’t be betrayed, I’ll still be alone until now and in the future.

However, just as these thoughts of mine are about to shatter, an unexpected helping hand reaches out to me.