It Seems Like My Childhood Friend Has Returned

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Within the classroom, only the sounds of writing and turning pages could be heard.
With midterms looming near, it felt like a typical high school senior scene, as many students sat at their desks, poring over textbooks and problem sets, even during break time.
For those who weren’t studying, the atmosphere seemed too tense for talking, resulting in a quiet stillness filling the room.
I considered myself decent at studying, bouncing between the second and third tier grades, but being constantly compared to Han Seo-ah, the straight-A student next door, was grating.
—Suddenly, I’m feeling angry.
It’s not like I’m bad at this.

Usually, I’d think this level of stress was acceptable and study with ease.
But this time, I felt the weight of the moment.
If I really ended up dating Han Seo-ah… I wanted us to go to the same university.
While I hadn’t imagined she would stray, I knew my surroundings wouldn’t let that happen.
I desperately wanted to attend the same university just to avoid seeing her with someone else.
Ah, but getting a top score isn’t easy.
I wish I could just study moderately well, damn it.

As I ruffled my hair and forced myself to look at a math workbook that wasn’t registering, someone poked my shoulder from behind.
Turning around, I found Kim Seung-hyun, my not-so-great friend.
“What?”
“Hey, come out for a sec.”
“Why? This is so annoying.”
“Everyone’s studying. Just come out, will you?”

Seriously, I was trying to study (not really), but these two were doing nothing to help.
As I stood up and walked into the hallway, Park Jae-hwan, who was already waiting outside, came into view.
“What’s up?”

Wondering what was going on, I saw my friends shoving their phones in front of my face.
“…What’s this?”
A valley? A pension?
“Come on, after this exam, let’s go here!”
“Kim Seung-hyun’s relative runs this pension, and they said we could get a discount. We HAVE to go.”

As the two of them excitedly insisted we must go, I felt a tiny pang of guilt.
“Hey, I can’t go.”
“What? Why?”
“Dude, what do you mean why? Why can’t you go? This is a rare chance!”

Debating whether I should reveal the truth to the two guys, I figured they’d find out sooner or later.
It might be better to just let them know now, so I said,
“I’m going on a trip with Han Seo-ah after the exams.”

In that instant, it felt like time froze.
Even though the hallway remained noisy, a silence thick enough to cut could be felt between the three of us.
Then, suddenly, as if he just had a realization, Kim Seung-hyun clapped his hands brightly.
“Oh right! Your family goes on trips with Han Seo-ah’s family every year, don’t they?”
Park Jae-hwan, as if remembering too, exclaimed, “We went last year too. Are you going again?”
“…”

Unable to tell the truth to these two, my forehead was now sweating coldly.
“Hey, you don’t mean…?”
“Are you serious…?”
With disbelief etched onto their faces, both sets of eyes stared at me.
“…It just turned out that way.”

As I finished speaking, the two of them let out screams like they’d just turned into gorillas.
“Dude! Is this for real? Where are you going?”
Kim Seung-hyun looked at me with wild curiosity, while Park Jae-hwan smirked and slapped Kim Seung-hyun’s shoulder.
“Hey, where you’re going isn’t important. Is it a day trip? Or… an overnight stay?”
Instead of answering, I awkwardly laughed.
That seemed to be enough of an answer for them, as their expressions lit up with astonishment.
“Wow, Joonu is a real man… Look at him, no hesitation once he sets his mind to something.”
“Are you already going out with her?”
“Not yet… still not yet.”

Feeling my face heat up, I waved my hands to halt this conversation, but the guys only got more excited, bursting into uncontrollable laughter.
“Wow, Jae-hwan, did you hear? He said ‘not yet,’ not ‘never.’”
“I heard, Seung-hyun. These kids today, they really make you feel old.”

Their teasing made me roll my eyes, but I couldn’t help but crack a smile.
“Crazy bunch. Anyway, I can’t go, so sorry about that.”
“If that’s the reason, I understand. I wouldn’t go either.”
“But we don’t have a reason not to go…”
“I’m getting teary-eyed suddenly.”

Seeing them laugh while also pretending to cry left me shaking my head in disbelief.
Finally, we all erupted into laughter.
“Ugh, I’m so jealous. Go and have fun. Be sure to tell me all about it!”
“I’m not telling you anything, you jerk!”

That day, until classes ended, those two unwantedly labeled me as a ‘real man,’ and when Han Seo-ah came by my desk on our way home, she seemed to catch wind of it.
With that bright smile she had, asking why I was being called a real man, all I could do was break out in a cold sweat and avoid the question.

“Yeah, why are you a real man?”
“…It’s a thing.”

Han Seo-ah, curious as ever, kept probing for more.
—Damn it, all because of those annoying idiots.
Why was I the one left to clean up their mess?

Desperate to change the topic, I stated, “By the way, I’ve narrowed down a few places we could go for our trip. Do any of these catch your eye?”
“Already?”

As I pulled out my phone and showed her the options, Han Seo-ah looked surprised.
“Why?”
“When did you find all these?”
“A little while ago. There are plenty of good spots.”

It wasn’t a hard task, so I responded calmly, though truthfully, I had done extra research because I was excited about going with her.
Her eyes brightened with appreciation as she smiled, “Hehe. You must’ve worked hard to find these, thank you, Joonu.”
—I feel good!

Although I hadn’t really struggled, seeing Han Seo-ah so pleased filled me with pride that made my lips twitch.
“Hmm~”
Giggling, Han Seo-ah took my hand holding the phone and turned it so she could see the screen.
Then she froze, eyes blinking rapidly in disbelief, her complexion paling.
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“This…”

Following the direction of her trembling finger, I saw only the travel spots I had found.
Was there an issue?
Travel destinations centered around the West Sea.
I glanced over them again, but there appeared to be nothing odd, so I questioned,
“Are none of these good?”

“Is there a reason you chose these places, Joonu?”
Just a moment ago, she had seemed excited about picking a destination, but suddenly her eyes grew moist, and her lips quivered with sadness.
It seemed like she was trying to hold back tears that were on the verge of spilling.
No, it didn’t just seem sad; it felt as if she was yearning for something deeply.
Her gaze, filled with disbelief.
“Reason…? Well, I picked some well-known places…”

Coming up with reasons for my choices under Han Seo-ah’s sudden twenty questions left me flustered, but as I pondered, the reasons dawned on me.
“First, you mentioned wanting to visit the West Sea. Plus, there’s a popular salmon sashimi place nearby that you like, and a nice walking trail where we can stroll after enjoying the beach during the day. Once we return to our lodgings in the evening—”
The places you mentioned in passing.
Your favorite foods.
The spots you might enjoy.
And… the perfect place to express my feelings for you.
I’d held all of it in a little corner of my mind and wrestled with it overnight before carefully curating this list.
I wanted you to like it.
I wanted you to accept my feelings.

Keeping my heartfelt hopes hidden, I recalled reason after reason for choosing these locations, seeing her face morph through joy entwined with sadness.
She managed to feebly smile, but it was clear that smile was a struggle against tears about to cascade down her cheeks.
Like a Cinderella who’d lost her voice, she opened and closed her mouth, trying to find a way to express herself amidst the emotional turmoil.
Her deep, longing gaze locked onto mine.
“…What’s wrong? Are these all bad? Should we go somewhere else?”

I didn’t understand why she was reacting this way.
But seeing her with those painful, soulful eyes made it hard for me to remain passive.
Quietly, I reached for her small, slender hand and gently clasped it.
Her eyes widened momentarily in surprise but quickly intertwined her fingers with mine, as if to say she didn’t want to let go.
As I waited quietly for her to settle, her trembling gradually ceased, and she looked up at me with a sniffle, signaling she was alright.

Noticing Han Seo-ah’s adorable button nose turning red like Rudolph’s, I couldn’t resist teasing her.
“Seems like it’s still cold, huh?”
Pffft “What’s that supposed to mean…?”

With her commenting on my complete lack of sense, she also playfully smacked at my hand, her mild humor easing the tension.
“So, should we check out somewhere else?”

When I cautiously brought it up again, her glimmering, tear-kissed eyes met mine.
“No, it’s not that I don’t want to go. I actually want to go here very much, Joonu.”
“…? With all the places listed?”

As I asked with bewilderment, I felt the grip on my hand tighten.
“Yeah. Definitely.”

She stepped closer, almost close enough for our breaths to mingle, in a space where only we could fit into each other’s gaze.
“I remembered these places because I wanted to go them with you. Every single one.”

Her words were so heavy with emotion that I felt her sadness weighing down on me; all I could do was nod silently and grip her soft hand tighter.
Like I’m conveying that I’m here for her.