I'll Come Running If You Call My Name
'I don't like you. And I never will.'
The moment those words hit me, something snapped inside my head. So I just ran. From the second I heard him say it, I ran to fight the stabbing pain in my chest, to find something—anything—that could make it stop.
I ended up in a quiet park as the sun dipped low, the playground empty now that even the kids had gone home. I was the only one there. Yeah, here I can do whatever I want.
Mary slumped onto an abandoned swing, staring endlessly at the ground as she poured out the lump of emotion choking her chest.
"You jerk…."
It was probably the first time. I'd always seen that boy as nothing but a rival, yet here I was, seething with this much resentment….
The humiliation of a lowly commoner I'd looked down on surpassing me—it stung worse than just admitting defeat in our little contests.
"After everything I've done for you. I bought you whatever you wanted, paid for every trip we took… And now you say what? That you'll never like me?"
To me, heir of a massive conglomerate, it was downright laughable. Everyone around me always fawned, inching closer in hopes of some handout. But that boy I'd known for over ten years? He was always the same. Meeting my eyes as an equal, treating me not as some chaebol princess, but just as a girl his age.
"Don't you have an overgrown ego or something?"
I didn't hate it—not at all. But my innate pride twisted that disappointment into blame aimed straight at him.
"I'm Mary. Mary Christine, heir to Mary & Chris. And you're telling me a commoner like you mistook my pity for something more? How dense do you have to be to even think that? As if I'd ever like someone like you…."
I hated him. More than the hundreds of losses I'd endured before. This one rejection was a stake driven deep between minor scratches I could've brushed off, churning up my heart without mercy.
"Forget it. I don't need you."
That's what I should've said. That I never wanted to see his face again.
But… "I don't need you, so why…."
The girl's hand drifted slowly to her chest. The wild thumping from her surging emotions was so intense it bordered on pain.
"It hurts. Why…?"
Wasn't this wrong? From my perspective, he should have been beneath me—a wall to overcome. All my feelings toward him should've been pure negativity.
"Why does it hurt this much? Why…."
Maybe some sudden arrhythmia? I even thought about bolting to the hospital to escape the idea. But my legs stayed rooted, like nails driven into the ground.
No, I already knew. With my top-tier medical checkups, nothing like this could just pop up out of nowhere.
His face still lingered in my mind. Denying that thinking of him made my chest ache was impossible.
"No, I…."
I couldn't like him. No way I'd feel affection for a childhood friend I'd always seen as a thorn in my side, just because we'd known each other forever.
"No way I'd have feelings like that for him…."
All I'd ever felt was contempt for his audacity to challenge me, pity for his birth without my advantages. That's all it should've been.
But then… why had I panicked so much when we got that couple's drink? If it meant nothing, I could've drunk it myself or given it to him. So why did I insist on sharing it with him?
Thump, thump.
Just pondering it made my heart race harder, my breath catch. In the frozen quiet of time, my emotions sharpened into focus.
A feeling built over years, so natural I'd taken it for granted—yet now so intense and unfamiliar.
'You like me, right?'
Pairing it with his words aimed at me finally gave shape to what I'd ignored. Bliss bloomed from the mere sensation, my mind fixating endlessly on him….
That passion someone might call humanity's most beautiful emotion—it was what made my heart tremble now.
'I really….'
Bit by bit, I realized it. The feelings I'd held for the boy who'd filled most of my life, always on my mind.
'I really do… like him.'
For a fleeting moment, that emotion began to take a name. Then—
"Whoa-ho! Check it out—there's a cute girl all alone in the park!"
Sudden footsteps crashed into the park. My breath hitched, guard up as I glanced toward the streetlamp. Three rough-looking high schoolers eyed me with interest.
The menacing vibe told me everything: these were the kind of delinquents society scorned.
"Why the tears all by yourself? Heartbroken or something?"
"Kya~ Dumping a pretty girl like you? Whoever he is, what a jerk~!"
"Can't just leave a lonely girl like that. Wanna hang with us if you're free?"
They closed in, rough hands reaching out. Mary flinched back instinctively, scrambling away and yelling at them.
"S-Stay back! Do you even know who I am?"
"Heh, whoever you are, you look fun."
"Hold up, she's got blonde hair. Some rich kid?"
"Whoa-ho! Jackpot~ If we play nice, maybe we score a connection with a chaebol heiress~"
Even guessing my status didn't dim their malice. No—if anything, it grew darker, thrilled at the chance to pluck a flower from a cliff.
"Seriously though, you sure about this?"
"Worst case? Juvenile hall for a bit."
"This country's great. Shed a few tears in court, and the punishment's a slap on the wrist."
Their steps quickened. I backed away faster. Realizing I couldn't stop them with words or status, Mary spun and bolted at full speed.
"Hey, she's running!"
"Haha, that's a dead end with no people. Why bother?"
"First to catch gets dibs!"
The park faded into encroaching darkness. The dim streetlights offered no help—no one around to call to.
Best bet was calling home or the cops, but I'd turned off my phone to avoid him.
"Please, just turn on… Ah!"
distracted by my phone, I tripped over an obstacle and crashed hard.
As I struggled up through the pain, the delinquents were already right there.
"Haha, game's over?"
"Don't worry, we'll be gentle~"
Evil closing in. No respect for my authority, no basic human decency.
Yeah, they were beasts—pure instinct, no thought for consequences.
Facing them dredged up a memory of something similar.
'Yeah, back then too….'
Strutting confidently down the street, I'd run into a huge dog with no leash. It charged, frenzied, ignoring my words. All a little girl like me could do was turn and run.
But a kid couldn't outrun a dog. Cornered, I crumpled, shaking. Then someone showed up to protect me.
'Jeez, always so cocky, but trembling over one dog.'
A boy with a stick, facing down the beast. The one I always belittled fought fiercely, chased it off, then extended his battered hand to me.
'Grab on. I'll get you somewhere safe.'
He, whom I'd mocked, offered protection without hesitation. As I took his hand and we went, a faint ripple stirred in my young heart—a feeling I recalled now.
I didn't know what it was. Just that his next words made it sharper.
'If something like this happens again, just yell my name loud. If I hear, I'll come running.'
He was the one I'd resented, sworn never to see again. Calling his name would crack my upper-class pride wide open.
"…Kim."
But the terror mirroring that past fear pushed my fragile heart, craving someone to rely on.
"Kim Cheolsu!! I'm here!! Come quick!!"
My scream rang out, ignoring the delinquents' grasping claws. From the alley's shadows, something massive charged in like lightning.
"Gah!? W-What the hell?!"
It barreled between them toward me. In the dark, it looked beastly at first, scaring me briefly—but then it neared, tail wagging.
"Ch-Chabchu?"
-Woof!
Chabchu, the Golden Retriever he owned. The pet of the boy whose name I'd screamed.
"Jeez, phone off and all. Like he'd hear that."
Then he emerged from the alley, and Mary's eyes went wide.
"H-How…."
"Just out walking and happened by. Nothing else."
His stiff voice ignored me, like he couldn't face me yet. Or maybe sensing bigger priorities.
"Ooh~ Black knight arrives?"
"Black knight? Looks scrawny."
"Who the fuck are you, punk?! Piss off, we're busy!"
The intruders growled at the interrupter. Before them, the boy who crashed in declared himself boldly.
"I'm Kim Cheolsu, incoming freshman at Hyeoeun High School."
"Pfft, Kim Cheolsu? Classic."
"Call me whatever. Point is, messing with her won't end well for you. Best back off nice and quiet. I don't wanna see blood either."
"Fuck off, you think we're pushovers? That attitude ain't scaring shit."
"Dude doesn't get it. Needs a beatdown to wise up."
One thug cracked his knuckles, advancing with sharp eyes and swagger meant to intimidate. But the boy just stood firm, hand extended flat.
"What, frozen in fear? Pfft! Posing for the girl, huh."
The delinquent laughed, raising his fist.
"Here comes one~!"
His casual punch flew toward the boy's face—but never landed. The boy's hand caught the fist first.
"Huh? You little…."
-Crunch!
"Gaaah!"
A squeeze, and the fist crumpled. The thug swung with his other hand in rage, but the boy's palm slapped his face first.
-Smack!!
"Kahk! You bastard…!"
A slap packing a skull-rattling sting. As the thug recoiled, yanking free, the boy flashed his palm mockingly.
"You look tough. Not planning to grab a medical note over a slap and squeeze some settlement cash, right?"
"Lucky punk's cocky off one hit! What're you waiting for? Rush him!"
"Fuck this guy!"
All three charged. But none of their punches connected. They whiffed wildly; his precise slaps cracked their cheeks in between.
-Smack! Smack!
"F-Fuck, what's with this guy? Looks skinny but moves like lightning."
"More than that—strength's no joke. Never lost a schoolyard scrap."
"Freak. Where'd this monster come from?"
Realizing their spot, the thugs hesitated. He stared at their swollen cheeks, raising his palm in quiet warning.
"How 'bout we call it? Aiming to be a model student—no record stains."
His palm slowly clenched to a fist. A promise: step further, and it's full-force beating, not slaps.
"C-Count yourself lucky! Got urgent shit, that's why we're sparing you!"
"Next time, you're dead!"
Spouting bluster, they fled. Silence fell over the alley, leaving the fallen girl, her guardian retriever, and its owner boy.
"You okay? Can you stand?"
Yeah, just like back then. When the big dog chased me, he'd protected me and reached out.
Even after the humiliation he'd dealt me, he extended his hand like it was nothing—like always.
"…M-Mind your own business."
I couldn't take it. It only pissed me off more. After spitting words that trashed our whole history, acting like he could just patch things up casually.
"…Still pretty mad, huh."
"Why ask? This mess is your fault anyway… Ugh!"
I tried standing but faltered, ankle throbbing too much to ignore. He noticed, voice soft with concern.
"You good?"
"I said back off. None of your business."
"Such a show-off."
Tsk. He clicked his tongue, turning his back and crouching. His pose screamed intent: hop on, I'll carry you home.
"Get on. I'll take you back."
"No, I…."
"Too late, and your family'll worry."
"…."
My ankle still throbbed. No way I could walk. After inner turmoil, Mary chose to lean on his back.
"D-Don't get the wrong idea. Not 'cause I like you."
"Sure, sure. Let's go, Chabchu."
-Woof!
Step, step. His body cut through the streetlamp glow. Leaning on it for the walk home, the girl gazed at the back supporting her, lost in thought.
His back… was it always this broad?
The boy I'd seen as my equal had grown so much without me noticing.
Thump-thump.
Realizing it spiked my heartbeat—hoping he wouldn't feel it. All I could do was bury my face in his back and stay silent.