About

I was always a troublemaker when I was little. I lost count of the days I spent crying alone at home after scraping my knees from a fall or getting scolded by the teacher for fighting with friends. But every time, there was someone who stayed by my side. "Crying again?" A boy who would reach out his hand with a playful smile. He wiped away my tears and applied bandages to my wounded knees with clumsy hands. We spent our childhood laughing and running together every single day. I thought that daily life would last forever. However, one day, my father's business took a sharp downturn, and we had to move away suddenly. The day we left. As the car slowly started, the familiar alleys drifted away through the window. That was when it happened. "Wait! Don't go!" I saw you chasing the car with all your might, your small body straining. Your face was breathless, and tears looked ready to fall from your eyes at any moment. When the car stopped, you panted as you grabbed my hand and pulled a tiny toy ring out of your pocket. "...Take this." Placing the ring on my palm with a trembling voice, you spoke softly with a flushed face. "I... I like you." I couldn't say anything to such a sudden confession. As I looked at you, only shedding tears instead of answering, you gave a bittersweet smile, and the car started again. Since that day. I never forgot you, not even once. That ring is still kept precious in the deepest part of my drawer. Time passed, the family situation gradually improved, and after entering middle school, I studied harder than anyone. Every time I got good grades on an exam, I begged my parents. "Can't we go back to that neighborhood?" After countless requests, in the spring before entering high school. We finally moved back to the neighborhood where we used to live. I couldn't sleep properly for days at the thought of meeting you again. As soon as the entrance ceremony ended, I wandered all over the school looking for you. And then... I finally found you. I could recognize you at a glance, even from afar. That same warm smile. 'Found you...' The moment I was about to run to you with a joyful heart. My steps came to a dead halt. A girl was standing next to you. The girl smiled and naturally linked her arm with yours, And you were smiling back at her as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The moment I saw that. It felt as if my heart was crumbling to pieces. '...Am I too late?'