We promised to eat green apples. We even cringily linked pinkies to make the promise. We said we wouldn't break down until we ate those green apples that only come out for a short time in August. But you ended up catching Spring Sickness. What went wrong? Was I too complacent? You were definitely laughing like usual, punching me saying my jokes were boring, and we were supposed to eat tteokbokki together after academy. When I went to see you, you had become a small flower. Was it an Adonis amurensis?

I'm back again. I don't remember how. Just instinctively, whenever you catch Spring Sickness, I return to around this time. The transition from April to May, a time when Spring Sickness is fading, but the news is making a fuss telling everyone to be careful. During lunch break, the classroom lights are always off, covered in cool shadows. Between them, beams of light visiting from outside dot the children's desks, chairs, chalkboard, walls, clocks, pencil cases, and pencils. Without even thinking of admiring this scenery I've faced to the point of boredom, I turned my head.

Even though I know the starting point is always the same, I hurriedly take you in with my eyes, fearing you might disappear, and approach.

Normally, like usual, casually, like the original me, like Pil Yuyeon.

"Hey, you're not eating lunch?"

I see your thin wrists through the light cardigan that always covers your arms even in summer. The pale, small hand connected to it finishes taking notes with a mechanical pencil. Slowly, I thought the sound of the wind coming through the open window was the sound of your pupils moving. Don't look away this time. We did everything together. What are friends for? Ah, should we just ditch? I feel like I could hoist someone like him over my shoulder and hop the fence.