GOODBYE SUMMER

-Sulli & D.O.-

 

“Chinguraneum ireum eoneusae miwojin ireum, gamchudeon gamjeongeun jigeumdo apeun bimirui gieogil ppun”

My alarm sound rings loudly and it wakes me up. I’m Do Kyung Soo or people called me D.O., 21 years old, a college student. I stopped my alarm and I noticed something was on top of my table. I rubbed my eyes to see clearly what’s on top of my table. It’s a letter, with a heart sticker. I picked it up and opened the seal.

Long time no see,

Do you remember me ?

Ah, I bet you didn’t.

I’m Sulli, your friend at high school. Do you remember what we did before ? I hope you did.

I’m still living in the States. And how about you ? Are you still studying in Seoul ?

Ah. I have something to tell you today.

When I was in high school,

I used to like you. But, I didn’t get the chance to say it to you.

It’s different now. It’s just in the past.

Well, I hope I don’t make you feel burdened.

Well, that’s all. Reply me later. Bye.

P.S. Be happy

From : Choi Sulli

 

I sighed and looked at the ceiling. I had the same feelings as you but I didn’t have the courage to tell you.

--------- 7 years ago --------

 

“Students ! We have a transfer student from California today ! Let’s welcome her, okay ?”, teacher said.

At that time, I didn’t know that I could possibly fallen for her and really wanted to be by her side. I only thought, girls are boring.

Sulli came in with her hair tied like a ponytail.

“My name is Choi Jin Ri. You can call me Sulli. I’m from Yangsan but then I moved with my mom to California. And.. Um.. Nice to meet you all”, Sulli said and she bowed.

I thought that Sulli was the same like other girls I’ve known before, but I never know that she will make me fall for her at the end.

“Sulli-ah, sit there, um.. beside Kyung Soo”, teacher said, pointing at the chair next to mine.

I really hated that teacher told her to sit beside me. I was really annoyed and I pretended not to see her and just read my textbook.

“Hi. Nice to meet you, um… who ?”, Sulli said.

I pretended not to hear her and continue to read my textbook. But, Sulli kept telling me to tell her my name. Until I was really annoyed and smashed my table. Sulli was really surprised when she saw that. I gritted my teeth and told her, “You’re annoying”

After that, Sulli stopped asking my name. She only studied quietly and listened to the teacher’s explanation and write something if it’s important. I looked at Sulli, still feeling annoyed and feeling sorry at the same time. I tried to do something so that she doesn’t look down like that.

I ripped a small piece of paper form my notebook and write “도경수(my name, Do Kyung Soo)” and gave it to Sulli. Sulli noticed the paper that I gave her and she smiled happily. She rips another little piece of paper from her notebook and write something there. I noticed that she was writing “thank you” and she gave it to me.

I pretended I didn’t notice what she was writing and continued to hear the teacher’s explanation. A while later, Sulli and I become friends, but not best friends because I don’t really liked her attitude. She was really energetic and it makes me annoyed every time she was too energetic.

One day, I went to school earlier than usual. It was still 6 a.m. in the morning, so it was really quiet, and peaceful without so many annoying people. I opened my locker’s door when I realized that someone had pasted a post-it on my locker’s door. A pink heart-shaped post-it with neat writing. I took it and read it.

I made you lunch tomorrow so don’t buy any snacks from the cafeteria, okay ?

-Sulli-

“Geez. Choi Sulli. Even though I told her that I’ll be her friend, doesn’t mean she can makes me lunch without my permission. I won’t eat it”, I said, crumbling up the post-it and throw it into the trash can.

I walked to the classroom, bringing my notebook and my pencil on my hand. Class, was really peaceful without so many annoying people there. I took a seat near the window, as usual so I can glance and take a look what everyone was doing at the field.

“Hey D.O. !”

I was surprised by someone who slapped my shoulder really hard. Choi Sulli, she came. I tried to look normal, not annoyed. I was actually annoyed.

“Choi Sulli. Can you just be normal ?”, I said.

“Sorry. But, I’m just to excited !”, Sulli replied.

“Annoying girl”, I whispered to myself.

When it was time for lunch, Sulli took out something from her little bag, which is, as I guessed, two lunchboxes. I tried to go out from the class as soon as possible so that I didn’t need to eat her homemade lunch. But, my attempt to escape failed. As soon as I stepped out of the class, Sulli noticed me and grabbed my collar.

“Eish”

I turned back, looking annoyed.

“Your lunch !”, Sulli said, grinned.

“Didn’t I told you that I don’t want it !”

“B-but, I made it for you”

“Then throw it away ‘cause I don’t want it”

I turned my back against her and walked to the cafeteria. I could feel her sadness from her glance but still, I hated her. I didn’t notice back then that Sulli was watched by some girls older than her and she was hit by them just because of me. I really regretted that time when I left her alone. But still, Sulli didn’t say anything about it and I only knew when the other girls gossip about it. After that day, Sulli didn’t talk to me energetically like she did before.

Three days after she was hit, I prepared myself to apologize to her. But, that day, she didn’t come to school. Maybe she was late, I thought like that. I waited, waited and waited. But she never came. Soon after, the teacher told us that Sulli had a cold so she can’t come to school today. Ah, geez.

The bell rang.

I tidied my things and put them in my bag. Although the others were still bowing to the teacher, I quickly ran out from class without anyone knowing. I went to the teacher’s office and asked my homeroom teacher where Sulli lived and, I got the address.

I rang the doorbell as soon as I get there.

“Yes ? Who is it ?”

It was Sulli’s voice. I recognized it as soon as she talks.

“It’s me. D.O.”, I said.

“D-D.O.-ah. What are you doing here ?”, she asked.

“I’m here to give you the notes for today’s lesson. Are you okay ?”

“I’m fine. You don’t need to hand it for me, just-“

“Isn’t that impolite. I came here running and now look at me, drenched in sweat. Just let me in for a while. I also have something I wanted to say to you”

“Oh. Okay”

Sulli opened the door and I came in. I still remember the tea that she served me when I came in. It was a rose tea.

“What is it that you wanted to say ?”, Sulli asked me suddenly.

“I heard you were beaten up by some girls yesterday, and why is it ?”, I said, trying to be calm.

“It’s my fault. They said, why I was following you and forcing you to do this and that and pretending to be close. But, that’s not your fault, it’s my decision to follow you. I’m just too happy that I got a friend when I came back to Korea”

“I’m not your friend. I’m just someone whom you know”

“Nope. You’re my friend. My very first friend”

I just silently heard what Sulli’s saying, don’t have any words to talk about. Sulli opened a jar beside her and offered me a cookie. And… I pushed the jar away. Even if I wanted to fix my habit every time I thought of that moment, time just couldn’t go back. I regretted it, even until now.

“I’ll be going”, I said, after sitting there with an awkward pressure for a long time.

“Oh. Okay”, Sulli replied.