Paper Friendship Chapter 25

When Joo Sunhye struggled because of the entrance exams, setting aside my position as her boyfriend, I genuinely comforted and cheered her on because I knew how long she had been preparing for it. Joo Sunhye will absolutely get into all the universities she wants and become a wonderful flight attendant.

∞ ∞ ∞

The day of the CSAT exams arrived.

I was assigned to the same school as Park Yoonchul, while Joo Sunhye and Choi Juoon were at different schools. I went to the exam site in a taxi with the other boys. When I entered the exam site, the atmosphere was heavy. But as soon as I received the test paper, curiously, the tension disappeared. I just solved the problems as I usually did. After eating lunch and solving more problems, it was the final period.

Once everything was over, I received my phone back and exited the exam site, mingling with the other students. While I was looking ahead dazed, someone put their arm around my shoulder and said.

“What should we do for fun now?”

I turned my head and saw Park Yoonchul smiling. We left the exam site together. Park Yoonchul was rambling on about something beside me, but I felt really strange. A feeling of relief was stronger. The sunset was setting in the sky. I had run through my entire school life looking only at the CSAT, and just now, I finally finished it.

Checking my phone, I had a message from Joo Sunhye. She asked to meet at night. There was no mention of the exam, but judging by her tone, it seemed like she did well. I was planning on telling Joo Sunhye that we should break up today. I shoved my phone into my pocket while looking at the screen.

Looking at the other kids, they were on the phone with their parents. But what on earth are my parents doing that they aren’t even home on the day their son took the CSAT…. The text message my mother sent in the morning telling me to do well was all there was. I thought about it for a moment, but deciding it wasn’t a big deal, I climbed into a taxi.

I decided to go to the billiard hall at night after being at the PC café with the guys. I told them in advance that I probably wouldn’t be able to go to the billiard hall.

“Are you meeting Joo Sunhye?”

Kim Minjae said, and I just laughed it off. According to Park Yoonchul in the taxi, Choi Juoon did amazingly well on the CSAT. I thought about calling Choi Juoon too, but… I didn’t do it separately. My head was filled only with thoughts of Joo Sunhye.

I stayed at the PC café like that, then came out around nine o’clock. I slowly walked to the meeting place where I would see Joo Sunhye. It was the park where we first met. My heart was truly, truly, truly heavy.

∞ ∞ ∞

Joo Sunhye cried her eyes out. I couldn’t do anything. Is it okay to comfort her? Am I giving her false hope for no reason? Thoughts like that crossed my mind for a moment. But soon, hearing her scream-like cries, I hurriedly searched for tissues in my bag. I handed her the tissues and said.

“I’m sorry….”

Joo Sunhye had her hands buried in her face, so she didn’t see the tissues I offered. I remained unable to do anything.

Maybe because it was night, or maybe because there was no one around. Joo Sunhye’s sobbing felt really loud to me. I was so sorry that I couldn’t look at Joo Sunhye.

I didn’t know Joo Sunhye would cry this much. I had thought perhaps we would break up calmly. But… it seemed that wasn’t the case for Joo Sunhye. I waited for Joo Sunhye to calm down while staring only at the ground. As time passed, Joo Sunhye barely opened her mouth.

“What’s the reason?”

“….”

“I’m genuinely curious, so tell me.”

“Sorry….”

“Did Choi Juoon tell you to break up with me?”

“Huh? No.”

At the name I hadn’t expected, I lifted my head. Joo Sunhye said, taking the tissues from my hand.

“Isn’t it because of Choi Juoon?”

“No, it’s really not because of Choi Juoon.”

“Then what on earth is it….”

I pulled more tissues from my bag and took the used ones from Joo Sunhye. Joo Sunhye muttered, as if letting it spill out.

“It’s true that it’s because of Choi Juoon….”

“It’s really not because of Choi Juoon. Why do you think that….”

“Because Choi Juoon hates me….”

“No, Choi Juoon likes you.”

“What are you talking about, he hates me so much.”

Joo Sunhye answered quickly while wiping the corners of her eyes with a tissue. Honestly, since this was true, I didn’t have much to say. Although it was a long time ago, they had dated, and above all, they got along really well at the beginning of the semester. But I don’t know why their relationship soured this much.

Anyway, it seems she thought I would break up if Choi Juoon told me to…. That’s really not it.

“I’ll bet everything I have, I’m not breaking up because of Choi Juoon. Really. I’ll bet my university admission on it.”

I hadn’t said it as a joke, but Joo Sunhye laughed very faintly. Thankfully, Joo Sunhye’s sobbing eased up a little. Only the sound of her sniffling could be heard.

“Then why…. I’ll do really well. I also…. I know it’s useless to try and hold onto someone who’s already had their heart move on…. but I’ll try harder. Can’t we keep seeing each other?”

“….”

“I have so many things I want to do with you….”

Joo Sunhye started crying again. I had used up all the tissues I had. I told Joo Sunhye I would go get more tissues and headed to a nearby restroom. Then, I washed my hands once and grabbed some tissues.

Checking the time, it was already past 11 PM, and I felt like it would never end if I went on like this, so I steeled my heart and walked back.

But… when I actually saw Joo Sunhye’s face, it felt like a large boulder was sitting in my heart. My throat wouldn’t move due to the sorry and heavy heart. I carefully offered the tissues I brought. And after agonizing for a long time, I said.

“You’re a really good person…. Honestly, our universities are also in different regions…. I’m really, really sorry, but I don’t think I can be any better to you. I’m really sorry…. It’s late now, too…. Let’s go home. I’ll take you.”

“….”

Joo Sunhye slowly gathered her things and stood up. Seeing that, I stood up as well. Joo Sunhye and I walked looking at the floor, and we didn’t share a single word the entire way home.

∞ ∞ ∞

Watching Joo Sunhye press the passcode for the shared front door, I turned around. Then, Joo Sunhye called me softly.

“Lee Juun.”

“Yeah?”

“….”

“Never mind.”

Leaving only those words, Joo Sunhye disappeared from before my eyes. I took a deep breath in and let it out long. Although the ending was a bit messy, it was over.

I felt nothing but genuine remorse. Thinking about running into Joo Sunhye at school, honestly, I didn’t even want to go. I wondered what I should do if Joo Sunhye contacted me. All sorts of random thoughts filled my head. After swinging on the swings at a nearby playground for a bit, I sent a text to Choi Juoon.

I broke up

11:57

As soon as I sent the text, a call came from Choi Juoon.

─ Really?

“Yeah.”

─ When?

“Just now.”

─ Who said let’s break up?

“Me.”

Choi Juoon must be in a good mood because the CSAT is over. His voice sounded better than usual. Choi Juoon was silent for a moment, then spoke again.

─ Are you okay?

“Ah…. I don’t know.”

A brief silence followed. I couldn’t think of anything particular to say. But it seemed the same for Choi Juoon. Then, suddenly, the conversation I had with Joo Sunhye just now came to mind, and I sniffled once and said.

“Hey, but what did you say to Joo Sunhye?”

─ No? Why would I?

“Really? Then never mind.”

─ Why? Did she say something?

“No, no. It’s not like that…. Just.”

His voice became slightly menacing, so I stopped asking. Did I bring it up for no reason? Why is he reacting so sensitively?

─ I didn’t do anything to her? Uh… I did glare at her a little bit, though.

“Why? Ah, no…. Forget it. It’s over anyway. But where are you now?”

─ Karaoke. Want to come?

“Karaoke? Why is it so quiet?”

─ I came out to smoke. Come here. But hyung Jaemin and hyung Sungjin are here, too.

“Ah, the hyungs are there? Then I don’t want to go.”

I heard the sound of laughter through the phone, saying, It’s because you’re scared, aren’t you? Of course. Since I spoke honestly without trying to hide anything, I heard the sound of him laughing even louder than before.

─ Then come to Park Yoonchul’s house. The kids say they’re drinking at his place now. I’m going there too.

“Ah, I’m not going…. I’m going home. I’m too tired.”

─ Lee Juun. Come, for real.

“I said I’m not going. The only reason I called was just…. Ah, I don’t know. You said you did well on the CSAT, right? Congratulations…. Let’s talk tomorrow.”

I said while smoothing my bangs. Choi Juoon didn’t answer. I looked at the screen thinking he might have hung up, but it wasn’t hung up yet. After a few seconds, Choi Juoon said.