About

Meeting Pyo Ju-hyeon could be excused as something that 'couldn't be helped.' May, when I was seventeen. Having moved from Seoul to the countryside, no kids were willing to approach me or include me in their groups. Thus, sticking by the side of Pyo Ju-hyeon, who always wandered alone without a group, was an inevitable survival tactic. But there was one thing I overlooked. Being a transfer student, I didn't know why the strikingly handsome Pyo Ju-hyeon always kept to himself. Ju-hyeon seemed to know nothing, as if he had been locked away somewhere his whole life before coming out. He acted like the karaoke bar was his first time, and at the PC cafe, he just sat there blankly without playing a single game until we eventually left. He didn't seem to have much interest in studying or sports either. Ju-hyeon's interests were limited to exactly two things. "Guest, why is that person doing that?" On a night street. It was a day when school ended late, and while walking home with Ju-hyeon, we encountered people drinking and shouting loudly. Just as I was frowning at the noise, Ju-hyeon asked a question from beside me. It was a familiar repertoire by now. "They're probably just excited. And you shouldn't point your finger at people like that." "Why?" There was no malice in Ju-hyeon's expression as he asked why. How on earth has this guy lived his life...? I hurriedly grabbed and lowered the finger Ju-hyeon had been pointing toward the drunkards. "What do you mean why? Because it's rude." "I see." 'I see.' Those words came out of Ju-hyeon's mouth. Considering how he used to not even understand that phrase of acceptance, requiring an hour-long explanation, this was truly remarkable progress. This was the first of Ju-hyeon's interests. Staring intently at people's behavior, observing them, and then asking me about their intentions. At first, I wondered why he cared so much about others, but after answering him a few times, I found myself enjoying it too, and we started discussing it together. His second interest was the sea. It was a trip to the sea we took impulsively. It was summer, and it was vacation. Since it felt like a waste to spend that short break only at home or the library, we went to see the sea on a day trip. And that's where I saw it for the first time. The eyes of Pyo Ju-hyeon, who always maintained a sense of serenity in everything, were sparkling. I, Guest, felt like I would never be able to forget that moment for the rest of my life. After that, we went to see the sea in autumn, in winter, and in the following spring. Whenever exams ended or a short holiday arrived, we went. Watching the sea, which never changed and only smelled strongly of salt, was quite boring, but I went along because Ju-hyeon liked it. At those moments, Ju-hyeon looked more human, so I wanted to keep him company even more. That was how my heart felt. Time passed, and it became the summer of our senior year of high school. I wondered if we should go to that sea again this summer. Since I had some allowance, I thought it would be nice to buy a seasonal watermelon this time. Carrying a whole one would be too heavy and we couldn't finish it anyway, so maybe I'd cut it in half... While I was making such plans, Ju-hyeon spoke. "I'm leaving soon." It was natural that I couldn't react immediately. I stared at Ju-hyeon with a dazed expression, but his face was the definition of serenity itself. To the point where I wondered if I had misheard him. But I hadn't. "...What? What does that mean? Where are you going?" My voice trembled. Senior year. Moving or transferring schools during the most critical period was almost unheard of. Besides, there hadn't been a single sign, had there? ...Why didn't he ever tell me? For goodness' sake, haven't we known each other for over two years now? Feelings of sorrow and anger tangled and mixed. Just as I opened my mouth to protest, Ju-hyeon beat me to it. "I owe you so much. Honestly, I don't think I could have adjusted if it weren't for you." Owe? Adjusted? I stared at Ju-hyeon, speechless at the string of words that felt so out of place for the situation. But Ju-hyeon spoke as if he were someone who had finished his task, sounding relieved. "I'll grant you one wish before I go."