iii

There was this certain silence when our classmates saw Nari and I enter the room together, talking. I noticed the change in the atmosphere, and I began clocking Nari's movements, too. She was unfazed. It gave me the notion that something like this was an expected reaction.

By the time we set our things down, Nari said she'll run to the vending machines to get some drinks, and she asked me if I wanted anything. I said I didn't.

"I'll go with you," I offered.

"You're fine," she countered. "I'll be really quick."

When Nari left the room, Jangmi, the girl sitting in front of me, turned around to face me.

"Are you and Nari close?" she asked.

I gauged the way she spoke. If there was a tinge of malice in it, or if it was plain curiosity. Jangmi was our class president, and she always had her hair styled in loose curls.

"I feel comfortable around her," I said, taking the bait.

"You better be careful, then," she replied. "The thing with Nari is, you'd think you picked up a rose, but it ends up being a lily, instead."

"I like lilies, though," I shot back.

Jangmi's brows furrowed. "W-What?"

"I said I like lilies," I repeated. "More than roses. What's wrong with that?"

Jangmi clicked her tongue. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

"Warn Jihoon about what?" a familiar voice behind me chimed in. Jangmi's shoulders flinched, and I tried hard not to scoff. Jangmi didn't turn around.

"Say it to my face next time," Nari said. "Do yourself a favor and get to know Jihoon first before you spread things about me. Gossiping about a person who isn't in the room is a bad icebreaker. I don't claim people as mine, Jangmi. You're free to talk to him."

I looked around the room, which remained eerily silent. They weren't looking in our direction, but I knew they were listening to Nari's words, which pierced the tense air.

The bell rang, and as if on cue, our classmates began to move.

I don't claim people as mine. What an interesting choice of words.

///

"What was that about?" I asked, after making sure Nari and I were the only ones on the rooftop. The sky was clear, and we both decided to eat our packed lunch there. "I sensed they kept their distance from you the moment I joined the class, but I never expected someone to speak up."

"The thing with small towns is," she began. "They're quick to protect their own, and they're even quicker to condemn them, once they notice the person's not doing the same thing as the rest."

"It's not that different from Seoul, then," I replied.

She looked at me, and said, "You're consistent, aren't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I thought you were just speaking big when you said you'd rather let people tell things about them on their own terms. Turns out you were telling the truth."

I scoffed. "That's not worth lying about, anyway."

"Oh, so do you lie when it's worth it?"

"I haven't been in that kind of situation," I said. "So I don't know how to answer that."

"Only children are weird," she remarked. "But I like it that way."

I chuckled at her remark.

"But then..." Nari cleared her throat and proceeded to take a drink from her bottled water. "I think this is worth telling you: our mom right now is not really our mom. She's Jangmi's mom. Our biological mom died several years ago."

"I see."

"I'm the one near her, so I've been thinking Jangmi's letting her anger out on me. It's all words, anyway. If she does something to physically harm me, though, then that's another thing altogether."

"I see..." I muttered. "And what about Jangmi's dad?"

"Why don't you ask Jangmi yourself?" Nari returned. "I don't want it to come from me."

From the tone of Nari's voice, and from the way she stared at me, I somehow felt that she was—somewhat—protecting Jangmi.

"Even small towns have deep stories to tell, huh?" I remarked.

"You have no idea," she agreed. "But what about Seoul?"

"Hm?"

"Seoul," she repeated. "The young people here can't wait to escape to Seoul the moment they graduate. Me included."

"Seoul has its stories," I said. "But I honestly think the people there are too brash for me. I think living in a city does that to you."

"I see. Why don't you like it?"

"It's difficult to breathe there," I admitted. "That's why Ulhwa's been a great change of pace for me. It's therapeutic, in a sense."

"Do you plan to stay here?" Nari asked.

"If I can sustain myself, why not?" I answered. "I plan on working remotely, anyway. Or maybe I'm just saying this because I'm so fed up with Seoul."

"Jihoon."

I turned to look at her. "What?"

We stayed in that position I don't know for how long, but it gave me enough time to notice the subtle tints of brown on her hair and eyes. She looked ethereal. No. Resplendent.

However, Nari was the one who broke off the eye contact. Her cheeks turned a bit rosy.

"It's your eyes," she muttered. "I feel like I'm getting drawn in."

I smiled. "I'm sorry."

"You don't sound sorry."

I stuck my tongue out. "Maybe I really don't, then. But, you were about to say something."

"I'll practice dancing again this afternoon," she said. "Why don't you join me?"

"I've got two left feet," I replied.

"Doesn't matter," she said. "It's going to be fun."

///

We ended up going to the local arcade.

"I thought you'll practice," I said.

"Oh, but we are," Nari replied with glee, as she led me deeper into the building. We ended up stopping in front of a dance machine, which said DANCERUSH STARDOM in big, bold letters. She inserted her tokens and proceeded to scroll through the song list.

"Anything you're familiar with?" she asked.

I looked away, and mumbled something.

Nari leaned closer. "What?"

"Mr.," I said. "By KARA."

"You just read my mind!" she exclaimed, before pressing one of the buttons.

She gave me a quick tutorial on how to do it, but everything she told me flew out the window the moment the music started. I kept on pressing on the wrong position and the both of us could only laugh, which made it so much worse for me because I was already out of breath.

We danced to a few more songs, and I finally surrendered and asked if we could have some snacks before heading home.

"What do you feel like having?" she said.

"Something spicy, then something cold after."

"Tteokbokki and ice cream?"

I nodded. "Sounds good to me."