The Day the Boy and the Girl Met
It happened so suddenly. Why did I have to throw such a tantrum? If only I had held it in just for that one day...
Like a fool, I whined and threw a useless tantrum to my parents. I was the one who caused their deaths. It was all my fault.
For my birthday, I had begged my parents to take me to the amusement park.
I knew how busy they were with work, but I just couldn't let it go.
Unable to ignore my childish pleading, my parents had said,
"We can't go on your actual birthday, but let's go the very next day."
Of course, I readily agreed. Perhaps that was where everything first went wrong.
On our way to the amusement park, a dump truck heading in the opposite direction crossed the center median and crashed directly into our car. Whether it was a curse or a blessing, I survived without any major injuries.
Yes, only I survived. I was told both of my parents died on the spot.
In the beginning, it was definitely sympathy.
"Oh no, what a tragedy... losing both of his parents like that."
"If there's anything we can do, just say the word! We'll help you."
"Hanbyul, remember that I am always here to help you."
Whether it stemmed from pity or something else, it was undoubtedly comfort at first.
But as time slowly passed, my classmates and teachers stopped pitying me. My teachers treated me with cold indifference, while my classmates subjected me to exclusion and mockery.
"Hey, you motherless loser."
"What are you talking about? He doesn't just lack a mother—he doesn't have a father either."
"Haha! So he's just an orphan, then?"
Back in elementary school, I was timid. Even when I heard my classmates' taunts and endured their contempt, I didn't know how to get angry.
So that day, too, I sat alone in a deserted playground, crying.
After my parents passed away, this had become my daily routine.
"Mom... I miss you. Dad, please help me..."
Sitting alone on a swing, crying out for my parents—there was nothing else a child like me could do back then. Yes, until I met you.
"Hey, what are you doing there?"
Those were the first words you ever spoke to me as I sat on that swing.
Hearing the voice, I lifted my head. In that instant, I forgot I had been crying and gasped.
Standing there, looking down at me, was a girl who looked exactly like a doll.
Long, pitch-black hair that looked like the night sky unfurled, skin whiter than the purest snow, and transparent black eyes so clear they reflected my own image. She was a girl far more beautiful than any real doll.
That was the very first thought that crossed my mind when I saw you.
"Hey, I asked what you're doing sitting on the swing."
You asked me once more. Fidgeting nervously, I mumbled,
"Uh... well..."
I couldn't bring myself to say it. I mean, how could I? I had just shown my tear-stained face to a girl as pretty as a doll...
I couldn't exactly say, "I was sitting on the swing crying my eyes out all by myself!" could I?
When I remained silent, you spoke first.
"Why were you crying so sadly all by yourself on the swing? Like a child who lost their parents."
Hearing your words, the tears spilled over once again. They brought back the thoughts of my parents that I had momentarily forgotten.
When I suddenly burst into tears, a look of panic crossed your face, and you didn't know what to do.
It was only natural. You had only asked why I was crying, and suddenly I was sobbing uncontrollably.
You quietly wrapped your arms around me and patted my head, repeating, "It's okay... it's okay..." over and over.
After some time had passed and I finally calmed down, I felt incredibly embarrassed. I had cried in front of you again.
"Can I ask what happened?" you inquired softly.
Your quiet question snapped me back to reality.
I hesitated. If you found out about my situation, would you change and become like the others?
But I quickly brushed that thought aside. Even if you did change, the comfort you had already given me wouldn't disappear. Besides, you, who had wiped away my tears, deserved to know.
With that thought, I briefly explained my situation to you.
I told you about how my parents had died in a car accident, and how my classmates and teachers had comforted me at first, but not anymore.
I told you how the teacher hated having to deal with me, and how the other kids constantly ignored me or mocked me for having no parents.
Once I poured everything out, I felt a weight lift from my chest.
Too afraid to look up and see your reaction, I kept my head bowed. That was when I heard your angry voice.
"What kind of awful people are they?!"
"If they're a teacher, they should act like one and at least protect their student!"
"And those kids aren't your friends! Real friends don't mock and ignore you when you're going through a hard time. A real friend cries with you when you're sad, and rejoices with you when you're happy!"
You spat those words out so fiercely, you barely seemed to take a breath.
"Hey! What's your name?"
"Huh?! Me?... My name?"
"Yes! Is there anyone else here besides you?"
"N-no, but why do you want to know my name?"
"Geez, when someone asks for your name, you're supposed to answer!"
"Shouldn't you tell me yours first, then?"
"Oh... is that how it works?"
"Usually, yeah."
Seeing you react like that was somehow adorable. The contrast between your bold attitude and your slightly clumsy, scatterbrained side was incredibly cute.
"Fine, I'll go first! My name is Ha Pina! It's Pin-a, not Pi-na! Pronounce it right!"
"Ha Pina, Pina... That's a pretty name."
"Now hurry up and tell me yours."
"Ah! My name is Lee Hanbyul. Hanbyul."
"Hanbyul... Your name is pretty too!"
"Now that we know each other's names, we're friends, okay?"
"Huh?... What?! Friends?! Just like that?!"
I was taken aback by your pushy attitude. How could a kid be this outgoing?
"Why not? We know each other's names, and we talked. What's the problem? Or do you just not want to be friends with me?"
"No! I want to be friends with you too!"
"Hehe, great! So we're friends starting today?"
"Yeah! Friends. Haha."
"Then, to celebrate our first day as friends, I'll cast a spell on you."
"A spell?"
Suddenly, you took my right hand in both of yours and spoke as if offering a prayer.
"Hanbyul, you are not alone. You are absolutely not alone."
"There will always be people around you who protect you. Hanbyul, it's okay to cry. How can a person live without crying?"
"But you must never break and give up on everything."
"Never. That would be a terrible betrayal to the people who believe in you and watch over you."
"Still, there will be times when you are afraid. When that happens, the spell I cast on you will give you strength."
"It will remind you that you aren't alone, and it will give you the courage to stand up to bad people."
"But most of all, it will give you hope."
"The hope that you don't have to give up, the hope that you can do it, the hope that there will be people to help you when you're struggling, and the hope that we will meet again someday and laugh together."
As you spoke with your eyes tightly shut, you looked just like a benevolent saint from a fairy tale.
I realized then that a person could be so beautiful, that a person could look so noble, and that people could be this warm.
"Hanbyul, I won't promise to help you all the time."
"But I promise you that in this very moment, I am praying only for you. This is a spell meant solely for you."
The way you smiled then is something I will probably never forget for the rest of my life.
In that moment, I received both salvation and courage from you—just like a hero in a story receiving the courage to vanquish evil from a saint.
After that, we talked about so many things. What our hobbies were, what foods we liked, which school subjects we hated... We shared so much.
It was as if we both knew we didn't have much time left together.
The final question came from me.
"Which middle school are you planning to go to?"
"Me? I'm going to the girls' middle school over there."
"Ah... then we'll be going to different schools..."
"Yeah, I guess so..."
Neither of us said anything for a long while. Eventually, it grew too late, and it was time for both of us to head home.
Just like that, the awkward moment of parting arrived.
The thought of letting you go like this made me feel so reluctant and frustrated with myself. To be honest, even now, I don't know how I managed to say those words. Perhaps your spell really was powerful.
"Pina!"
"Yeah?"
"Let's make sure to meet again when we're in high school!"
"I'll study hard and exercise hard to become a friend you can be proud of! When that time comes, I'll help you. No matter what happens to you, I will definitely help you!"
The moment the words left my mouth, I felt my face burning red.
Looking at me, you replied with a smile that was filled with a sense of emptiness, yet carried a faint glimmer of hope.
"Okay! I'll be looking forward to it. Hanbyul... you have to help me, okay?"
And so, we both headed back to our respective homes. But I never forgot. Pina, this time, I will definitely help you. Just as you cast a spell on me back then, this time, I will cast a spell on you.
A spell called hope. Without fail.