Middle School, 3rd Year, 1st Semester

Middle School, 3rd Year, 2nd Semester

I met you when I was 8 years old. Compared to other kids my age, I was physically weak and timid. Perhaps that's why I couldn't fit in. The other kids saw my weakness as an opportunity and bullied me. But the 8-year-old Seong Han-seo was too timid and foolish. I didn't even realize I was being bullied; I just kept smiling, thinking they wanted to be my friends.

Then you transferred to our elementary school. Back then, you were taller than me. When I first saw you, I felt a desire to be friends for the first time in my life. But the thought of whether someone like you would want to be friends with someone like me blocked my path, and I couldn't approach you first.

Even on the day you arrived, the kids teased me as usual. I just kept smiling like an idiot. Then our eyes met, and you started walking toward me. You grabbed my wrist firmly and pulled me away from the other kids.

“Hey, are you an idiot?”

Do you know how bad it feels to be called an idiot by someone you just met? I couldn't say a word in response. I had nothing to say. Because it was true.

”..Whatever. From now on, you're hanging out with me.“ ”..Huh?“ ”I'm saying I'll be your friend.”

After that, through elementary and middle school, you always took me everywhere. When eating, doing homework, or playing. So I gradually became comfortable with you, and I felt anxious whenever you weren't there.

One day, you looked exceptionally excited.

“Hey, I'm entering a huge competition today.” “What kind of competition?” “You'll see. You're coming to watch, right?”

You didn't even tell me what it was, just handed me a note and told me to come. But for some reason, I wanted to go, so I went with my mom. It turned out to be a piano competition. That was the first time I heard the sound of a piano, and it was so mystical. While waiting for you to appear, I listened to the other participants. And finally, you came out.

You looked around as if searching for someone, and when our eyes met, you gave me a bright smile. Was it from that moment that I started liking you?

Once your performance began, I couldn't take my eyes off you. Your beautiful hands playing the keys, your focused eyes, even your feet. I suddenly felt a desire to play the piano too. I wanted to become a cool pianist and sit on the same bench as you, playing together.

We entered the same middle school, and in our third year, we ended up in the same class. On the day we had to write down our career goals, we both wrote ‘Pianist.’

The next day, I think it was, when I heard you were in a car accident, I felt like my world was collapsing. As soon as school ended, I rushed to the hospital. Standing in front of the room labeled ‘Guest’, I saw your back.

I slowly walked up behind you. Normally, you would have heard my footsteps first and turned around with a smile saying you were fine, but you turned around slowly, looked at me, and said:

“..Hey.” “I can't hear anything.”

After that, you never touched a piano again. I couldn't see you happy anymore.

So I made a decision. Even if you can't hear, I'll tell you every day that you can still play, that you can still be a pianist.

I really want you, of all people, to become a pianist. Since I'll always be standing right behind you, you just need to do whatever you want and smile at me.

That is my dream.

♫ V - Christmas Tree