I like you too

"What are you doing?" I held the hand of a passerby, a girl who was trying to snatch my wallet away from my pocket.

She didn't look weak, dirty or any sign of being needy. Rather, she had better clothes and footwear than mine.

Dyed hair and tattoo on her neck. She was edgy too. Behind those apologetic eyes I could perfectly see the arrogance.

A delinquent maybe?

She started to get scared and trembled in fear. And as usual, people had the time to watch the drama on the roads.

It didn't even take a minute for a whole crowd to gather around.

"I…I didn't do anything." I could tell that she was trying to escape by looking innocent.

"Then what's this? Stealing from a stranger; this isn't a game girl. You can't do anything out here as you please." Seriously, I wouldn't even be saying anything usually.

I would've even let someone steal my empty as people's heart wallet.

But since it was my last day, why not try to be a little braver?

"I... I am sorry ajusshi. I needed money and I didn't have anyone to ask for it. I am sorry." Tears welled up in her eyes.

Who was she trying to fool? Her footwear was priced twice my daily expenses.

Her clothes were some brand I would avert my eyes from, afraid looking at them would make me greedy.

The smartphone that was sticking out of her pocket was something I used to dream of as a high schooler.

"Is that so? With all that expensive stuff on you, I don't see why you don't have money. Do I seem like an idiot?"

Maybe my words triggered her or the fact that she was being humiliated in public, but she punched me in the guts.

It hurt but not that her frail hands would make me cry.

My anger which originated from many other reasons started to surface.

She slapped me again, accusing me. Making it seem like I was trying to take advantage of her even though she apologised.

The people who were silent till now started to support her. How fucked up was that?

Maybe I should wear a skirt and accuse people now, will that satisfy people?

"Hey man, let her go already. She apologised right?"

"Yeah, what are you? A child?"

"Why are you tightening your grip? Are you going to hit me?" The girl asked me, as mischief swirled in her eyes.

"Hah…" I sighed. It was so frustrating.

I left her hand and she smirked.

-Slap-

My hand landed on her face, making her wince. I didn't even use a lot of force and she was already crying.

"Hey you fool, is that how you treat a girl!? Did your parents not discipline you?" An old lady started to hit me with her purse.

I turned around and looked at her. My anger still hadn't calmed down, but I tried to stay sane.

"Look here you old hag, don't go shouting about other's parents and life if you don't know them. Did I ask you why you are running around with that ugly thick make-up on your face?

My wallet is in her hand, she doesn't seem like a beggar to me. And I am no Mother Teresa to bless her just because she is doing that petty act.

I don't get why she gets to hit me despite being in the wrong and I don't. She is a girl not a little newborn to be fooling around like a thief.

If any of you have a problem with it, pay her your money. Don't bark at me." I took my wallet from her hand and walked away. The crowd dispersed as soon as I left. No one tried to console the girl, that's how it is everywhere.

"That felt a bit good."

I am 20 years old, Kang-Min Seok is my name and a dropout. Since the author asked me to, I will be telling you my story.

Life was good for me until my father died due to cancer when I was 18.

After he died my family started to show their true colours. My own mother threw me out of the house and my siblings laughed at me as I was thrown out.

It's unbelievable but she is also my birth mother. I used to think that such people never existed, the insanely evil ones.

Not that I didn't know about her feelings. From the start, she favoured my siblings more. Though she was never harsh with me she was never loving either.

But it didn't affect me since my father was very Lovable. He was the only reason why I lived in the house.

After he left the world, I didn't know what to do.

And later when they threw me out of the house, I had to start using the money my father had left me.

Maybe he was aware of my wench of a mother's actions and feelings? But no one knew that the larger sum of money was with me.

But it was of no use since it was spent in a year. I dropped out of university in only a month since the expense of its fees was something I couldn't afford.

I worked at many part-time jobs and started to fend for myself.

Since there wasn't anything else I needed as a shut-in, I bought games and became an addict.

But the misery still wasn't reduced. I started to fall deep into that darkness. The apartment haunted me and the people scared me.

My nightmares increased and I started to see my family in them.

Everything in the world was somehow aggressive to me.

It was clear; I had started to get in the clutches of depression and become mentally ill.

It's been 6 months and I think this is what they call the last stage of depression.

Yeah, I am going to die. More specifically, I 'want' to die.

Maybe it's depression affecting me or reality but it all seems meaningless. I have no one to care for and no one cares for me.

There's nothing I have in this world. The one I had left me behind.

Living life just to be miserable and meaningless, it's better to leave.

It's said that dying hurts. It's painful. But I don't seem to be scared. Guess that's a boost from depression.

I kept walking and soon reached the junction. On this road were my most beautiful memories.

My father used to work in the company on this road and I used to come here to meet him many times.

The last time I was here was to pay off some loan I had borrowed.

I stood on the sidewalk and observed the surroundings. How funny it is, that once I die here people will start noticing me.

But now that I am alive and miserable, I don't have anyone.

As I took a step forward, I saw the familiar brown hair and light brown eyes. The familiar beautiful face.

Aera Gwan. She was once my classmate. I wasn't a sociopath but I wasn't a social butterfly either.

I only had two friends. Well, not friends exactly. We only stuck around for our personal benefits, for example, notes and porn.

Just the everyday high schooler needs.

Aera was the only person who seemed to notice me. Our relationship wasn't something to remember about. We always bickered from the smallest issues to huge problems.

At some point, it increased. I had started to think that it was because we were close that we fought.

But the realisation hit me soon that she really did hate me. Because except for the fights, we never really talked. She didn't even glance at me when we met outside.

And soon our bickerings increased so much that we both cried at the hurtful words we spewed to each other.

'God, how idiotic.' Now that I think properly, I only fought because I was jealous.

Jealous that she was so cheerful with other boys and fought with me. I tried to get her attention by quarrelling but it just ended up bad.

I hated her since then and afterwards she was completely forgotten by me.

Well, it seems I will get to see her before I die.

Of course, I wouldn't walk up to her and talk. She won't even recognize me, it's been over 3 years now.

Aera did look at me but didn't seem to recognize who it was and looked away.

It doesn't matter, it's no use remembering me now.

I walked forward and stood in the middle of the road.

The crowd went insane. People started screaming, to make me step back.

I looked at them. Their faces seemed like they cared.

'At Least they care now. Guess I accomplished to get someone worrying for me…' a small chuckle left my mouth.

Many cars stood in their way, some even crashed slightly onto the sidewalks.

But unlike the small cars, a huge truck couldn't stop. Its speed was too much for the driver to hold it still.

"Kang-Min!!!" I heard someone screaming my name. It was a familiar voice. It was living vividly in the back of my head and suddenly it grew louder.

Then I saw Aera running towards me, her face was red and tears were falling one after another.

But it was too late, the truck crashed into me and I was sent flying.

It hurt. But the pain went numb in just a few seconds.

With my heavy eyes and losing consciousness, I could see Aera's face. It was blurry but she was close to me I think.

My ears were ringing and I couldn't hear much.

But her sniffle containing speech had these words from what I heard.

'Sorry, no, you, love.'

Maybe she was confessing? No, that's ridiculous.

Even if she was, what's the use?

But yeah, "I like you too..."

I don't know if the words came out of my mouth or were they understandable but i was able to say them out loud.

'Something good did happen while dying. Someone remembers me and is crying for me.'

I closed my eyes even though Aera kept telling me not to. My consciousness faded and Aera's wails went quiet.

But instead of darkness, I was in complete brightness.

Everything around me was white and it was shining.

And what happened later wasn't what I was expecting.