Yunjin found me when I was at my lowest, my weakest. She saved me from something that was way out of control for me as a little, fragile child. Fifteen years ago, at the age when my mother said she wanted me to start being brave I made two friends.

It was a chilly autumn afternoon, the skies blending with dark clouds and turning the world grey. After the final school bell chimed, I eagerly skipped out of the classroom filled with bright colors and headed towards the nearby park.

All the kids flocked to the park after class, waiting for their parents to pick them up. I joined in the fun, playing like any other child, eagerly anticipating my mother's arrival. As the minutes ticked by, one by one, the other children were collected by their fathers, mothers, or guardians, until finally, the park was nearly deserted, with only me left.

Alone, I found solace in the sandbox, shaping the sand into towering mountains and embedding fallen leaves in them. Yet, despite the sense of freedom of having the park to myself, a feeling of loneliness crept in, accompanied by silent tears for my absent mother.

Then, he appeared.

Dohwa Jang.

He was notorious in our school, known for his short temper and propensity for violence. With his scrawny frame and a perpetual scowl, Dohwa struck fear into the hearts of his classmates. Raised in a wealthy yet demanding family, he had always rebelled against expectations, his frustration evident from a young age.

Dohwa approached me with an unsettling expression, one that screamed animosity and hatred. We had never exchanged a single word before, our paths rarely crossing since we were not in the same classes. But that day, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, our lives intersected in an unexpected encounter.

"Hi. I'm Dohwa," Dohwa's voice broke through the silence as he crouched next to me in the sandbox. I glanced up, a bright smile lighting up my face. "I'm Jongyun," I replied cheerfully, oblivious to the storm brewing beneath the surface of this seemingly innocent interaction.

At that moment, I had no inkling of Dohwa's reputation as the mean child. To me, he appeared like any other potential friend, his presence not triggering any alarm bells in my young mind. Despite my introverted nature, I had many friends, though I rarely initiated contact with them.

Dohwa seemed "nice" enough, simply sitting beside me without any overtly hostile actions. "Are you waiting for your mother?" he inquired, breaking the ice.

"Yes," I nodded eagerly, happy to engage in conversation.

"...looks like you have a good relationship with your mother," Dohwa remarked, a hint of bitterness lacing his words.

"I do. She is my mom after all," I responded innocently.

Dohwa's demeanor shifted, his expression darkening as he spoke of his own mother. "Is that so. You know how my mother treats me?" His voice carried a weight of resentment.

"Hm?" I murmured, curious yet apprehensive.

"She holds my head like this," Dohwa demonstrated, clutching the top of the sandcastle in his palms, "and then throws me away like this," he added, demolishing the sandcastle in one swift motion.

I recoiled slightly, taken aback by the sudden outburst. "D-Dohwa..." I started, unsure of what to say.

"People like you are the reason why I hate being like this even more," Dohwa continued bitterly. "People like you who think you can console those who have it rough. You can't. Because you will never know what that feels like. And you know, that is where I feel like you should know what it feels like."

Before I could respond, Dohwa's aggression escalated unexpectedly. With surprising agility, he unleashed a barrage of kicks and punches, each blow landing with painful precision. I crumpled to the ground, the sand absorbing my tears and the sting of his assault.

But just as despair threatened to consume me, a ray of hope appeared in the form of Yunjin. Though she attended a different junior school, fate had brought her to the park at the right moment. With trembling determination, she intervened, pulling Dohwa away from me.

As Yunjin bravely faced Dohwa, wielding a plastic shovel as her weapon of choice, I found solace in her protective presence. Despite the pain and fear, her act of defiance empowered me, giving me the strength to endure. And as Dohwa retreated, defeated by her unwavering resolve, I knew that I had found a guardian angel in Yunjin, someone who would always stand by my side in times of need.

As Yunjin lifted me to my feet, offering me her juice box with a reassuring smile, I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me. Her kindness was a balm to my wounded spirit, a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos. With trembling hands, I accepted the juice box, taking comfort in its familiar sweetness.

A while later, my mother arrived, her worried eyes immediately zeroing in on me. She swept me into her arms, cradling me close as I clung to her, seeking refuge in her embrace. She whispered soothing words in my ear, her voice a soothing melody that lulled me into a sense of security. With each gentle sway, I felt the tension drain from my body until I drifted into a peaceful slumber.

When I awoke, nestled in the safety of my own bed, my mother's presence a comforting presence beside me, I knew that things would never be the same again. She had made a decision, one that would alter the course of my life forever. Pulling me out of that toxic environment, she enrolled me in the same school as Yunjin, determined to shield me from further harm.

The next day dawned with a sense of anticipation, tinged with apprehension, as I embarked on a new chapter of my life. Walking through the gates of my new school, hand in hand with Yunjin, I felt a glimmer of hope ignite within me. Perhaps here, amidst new faces and fresh beginnings, I could find the acceptance and belonging I so desperately craved.

As Yunjin led me through the bustling corridors, her presence a steady anchor in the sea of uncertainty, we approached a cheerful-looking boy engrossed in his notepad. This was Songjae, Yunjin's friend, and my potential ally in this unfamiliar territory. But as Yunjin introduced me, Songjae barely glanced in my direction, his attention consumed by whatever he was writing.

I offered a tentative smile, hoping to break through the barrier of indifference that seemed to surround him. "Hi, I'm Jongyun," I ventured, my voice barely above a whisper.

Songjae nodded absently, acknowledging my presence but offering no further interaction. His disinterest stung, a reminder of the challenges that lay ahead in forging new connections in this foreign environment.

***

"Do you remember the day we met?" I asked Songjae, curiosity tinged with a hint of apprehension in my voice.

"Of course," Songjae nodded, his brow furrowing slightly as he recalled the memory.

"...you didn't even look at me," I continued, unable to shake off the lingering uncertainty that had plagued me since our initial encounter.

Songjae's expression shifted, confusion clouding his features as he tried to make sense of my words.

"To me, it seemed like you were not interested in me. At all," I elaborated, laying bare my feelings of inadequacy.

Understanding dawned on Songjae's face, his eyes widening in realization. "Oh! No, no, no!" he exclaimed, waving his hands in dismissal.

"What? What is it?" I pressed, eager to unravel the mystery behind his distant behavior.

"Silly Jongyun," Songjae chuckled, shaking his head fondly. "Actually, my mother had given me something to solve. She said she would punish me if I got it wrong, so I was focusing. Even small punishments are still scary at that age, right?"

"Oh..." I trailed off, feeling a mixture of relief and embarrassment wash over me. So, it wasn't personal after all. Just a simple misunderstanding.

"And what about now?" I ventured cautiously, bracing myself for his response.

"What do you mean?" Songjae raised an eyebrow, genuine curiosity flickering in his gaze.

"Why are you awkward around me?" I blurted out, unable to contain my curiosity any longer.

Songjae paused, his lips forming a thoughtful frown as he considered my question. "Because you don't talk to me, Jongyun," he admitted, his voice tinged with vulnerability.

"I do-I mean... The day we met is still fresh in my head, so..." I trailed off, feeling a surge of guilt for inadvertently perpetuating the distance between us.

"All of this because of a silly misunderstanding...wow..." Songjae shook his head in disbelief, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Yeah..." I murmured, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders as the tension between us dissipated.

"I guess it really was nothing after all," Songjae remarked, his tone lightening with relief. "Then let's be good to each other?"

"Mm-hm," I agreed wholeheartedly, a genuine smile spreading across my face as I embraced the opportunity to start anew with Songjae. In that moment, I realized that misunderstandings could be easily cleared away with open communication and a willingness to forgive. And with that understanding, a newfound friendship blossomed between us, grounded in honesty and mutual respect.