Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: It Seems My Childhood Friend Has Regressed
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#01
"Why don't you two just date?"
It was a question I'd heard countless times from my childhood friend, someone I'd known since we were six. We'd gone to the same kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and now high school together.
At first, I'd freak out—What are you talking about? Why would I date this loser? I'm way better anyway!—reacting in all sorts of ways. But at some point, it was like I'd reached enlightenment.
"Nah~ We're basically family~ We can even go to the bathhouse together~"
I'd just laugh it off like that.
Our friends didn't believe us at first and kept teasing, but once they saw we really stayed just friends for thirteen whole years, the teasing and questions eventually stopped.
"Do we look like we're dating to everyone else?"
One day, while we were chilling at a café, killing time, the thought popped into my head, and I voiced it.
"Us?"
Lee Jun-woo, sitting across from me, paused mid-sip of his bubble tea, eyes widening like I'd said something totally out of left field as he stared at me.
Lee Jun-woo. My frenemy and precious childhood friend since we were six.
Looks? Honestly, he's one of the better-looking guys around. Tall, good build, athletic.
Personality? Well... we've never had a big fight in thirteen years, so that says it all.
No rough edges anywhere—a top-tier childhood friend, if I do say so myself. But I've never seen him as anything more than that.
So why did everyone think we were a couple?
"Hmm... When you look at me, do hearts just pop up in your eyes or something? Be honest, that has to be it. Admit it?"
He furrowed his brow, pretending to think hard, then spouted that nonsense with a straight face. I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.
Yeah, as if I'd ever see this guy as a man.
"Are you insane?"
Smirking, we bickered—It's because of you! No, you!—before leaving the café and heading home.
By the time we stepped outside, the sun had already set.
But even as kids, I'd never once felt scared walking dark night streets.
Because this guy was always solidly by my side.
"What if... we actually dated, like they say? What do you think?"
The cool weather had me humming a tune when his voice from beside me made me tilt my head.
Date? Us?
"Hm... Seriously?"
"Yeah. Seriously."
Was he for real? I turned to look up at him, and Jun-woo stared back with the most earnest expression.
"It'd be... tough, I guess? Not sure. Dating's supposed to have that thrill, right? butterflies or whatever. We've known each other thirteen years already—we know everything there is to know. Could we even feel that spark?"
His sudden question and the serious vibe threw me off, but I answered with my honest thoughts.
Yeah, we know each other too well.
Dating wouldn't change a thing.
But—
"You think you know everything about me? About us?"
Jun-woo let out a soft sigh, and something felt off in that moment.
I didn't know what exactly, but the emptiness in his eyes as he looked at me made me want to rewind time and take back my words.
"No, that's not what I—"
"No, no. You're right. We do know each other too well. Like you said, we've been around each other forever."
I wanted to fix it, but he cut me off like it was fine.
Or like he knew it all, so there was no point saying more.
Jun-woo, you do this when you don't want to talk anymore...
That conversation was the last one. We walked home in silence.
I wanted to ask why he was acting like this, but his profile looked so hurt that I couldn't bring myself to speak.
That was my mistake. I should have said something, anything.
The walk home, usually filled with laughter and chatter about our day, felt endlessly long that night.
#02
After that day, it got hard to see Jun-woo.
For the first time in thirteen years, I learned something.
Even living next door doesn't mean you'll always see each other.
"Did you two fight?"
Mom asked worriedly as I picked at breakfast before school.
"..."
"...Is it obvious?"
I flinched inwardly but also felt a bit wronged.
We hadn't fought.
If anything, not fighting was why I couldn't fix this. I had no idea why he was acting this way.
"Yeah. Super obvious. You two always walked to and from school together, he came over all the time for meals, chattering about 'Jun-woo did this today~' without me even asking. Now he's nowhere to be seen, and you don't mention him at all. How could I not notice?"
Like she'd been waiting for me to confirm, Mom rattled off her detective work, then looked relieved yet dying of curiosity.
"So what happened? You bicker a lot, but you've never fought this long."
Yeah. Why?
I really didn't know.
Did it hurt his feelings when I said I knew everything about him?
Did it feel like I was treating him lightly?
That wasn't it at all...
My thoughts spiraled, chasing reasons, until—
"...I don't"
"Huh?"
"I don't... sob, know... I don't know..."
The frustration hit me so hard tears welled up unbidden.
I just wanted to make up, go back to normal, hang out happily like always. But not knowing the cause or how to fix it was so heartbreaking and suffocating that I cried.
Would we ever go back to how we were?
"Oh no, why are you crying? Don't cry...! Stop, Mom will go next door and ask. No more tears, okay? You're ruining your pretty face."
Startled by my sudden outburst, Mom rushed over, hugging me and wiping my tears.
"Really...? You'll ask for me?"
"Uh, y-yeah~ I'll check it out. Stop crying now!"
Her promise tempted me; I asked again to confirm. A flicker of dismay crossed her face, but the relief of her investigating outweighed it.
Thanks, Mom.
#03
That day after school, I came home alone feeling lonely. No one was there, which was weird, so I called Mom.
Ring ring ring—
"Honey~ Home already? Early today!"
"Yeah... Wasn't feeling great, so I came straight back. Where are you and Dad?"
I couldn't say I'd ditched my friends and rushed home because I was dying to know what she found out.
That'd make me sound desperate to make up with Jun-woo.
...Which I was, but still.
"Oh no, what do we do? Mom and Dad are at your high school friend's funeral. Can't make it back tonight. Sorry it's so sudden—can you manage alone? Or go next door to Jun-woo's! I'll let them know."
Suddenly being alone and hearing his name threw me, but what could I do?
"Got it... No need to tell them. I'll stay home, Mom."
"You sure? Come on, go next door. Why make it weird? What did you do to fight that bad?"
"Mom...! It's not like that. Stay safe with Dad. Hanging up now...!"
"Okay. Love you, sweetie~"
She chuckled teasingly, oblivious to my turmoil. Feeling petty for snapping, I showered quickly and hit the bed.
Thinking: Would I see Jun-woo tomorrow?
#04
"—————!"
Something noisy jolted me awake.
But even with eyes open, it was pitch black like smoke-filled haze. The air reeked musty, and heat seared like an oven.
Not just nighttime dark—something blocked my vision.
Something's wrong. I opened my mouth to call Mom—
"M-Mom...! Cough, hack...!"
Words choked in my throat, dissolving into coughs.
Panic surged. I grabbed the doorknob to the living room—
"Hot, ow...!"
Scorching—I yanked back. Like a fire...
Fire?
The word flashed in my mind, snapping reality into horrifying focus. All the sensations clicked.
Was our house on fire right now?
"Han Seo-ah—————! Open the door NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The pounding and shouting snapped me alert. Now I knew why I'd woken—what sound it was.
A voice I couldn't mistake. Thirteen years together, the one I'd longed to hear most lately.
"Jun... cough, Jun-woo...!"
Jun-woo, I'm in here!
So scary, save me!
I wanted to scream, but smoke from sleep had wrecked my voice.
Desperate, I threw on my summer blanket for cover—
Crackle—
Flames devoured the door, spilling into the room.
Without it, the house was hellish red inferno everywhere. Nothing else visible.
I laughed bitterly at my naive plan to bolt wrapped in a blanket.
Run through that? Lucky if I didn't burn alive.
Terror blanked my mind as fire raced in.
Stumbling back, my head spun—vision dropped.
Ah, not dropping—I'm collapsing.
Without the door's shelter, smoke overwhelmed me. Couldn't stand.
Am I... dying like this?
For real?
Mom and Dad's faces flashed by in disbelief.
Then... Jun-woo's hurt expression from last.
That day, I shouldn't have said those words.
After, I should have spoken to you.
It ached that his sad face was my last memory of him.
If I got one more chance...
Eyes drooping, vision blacking out, a crunch! sounded. I prayed inwardly.
Please let me open my eyes again.
#05
Amazingly, the prayer was answered.
Halfway.