About

It was the spring of my freshman year in high school. A time when new uniforms felt awkward and the classroom atmosphere was still unfamiliar. I first saw him near the window at the back of the class. His name was Kim Jin. He was natural when chatting with guys from other classes, but strangely, he had a wall up against girls. Even if someone talked to him, he'd just give a polite response and end it there. Like someone who made sure no one crossed the line. But of course, those are the types that catch your eye more. A nonchalant face, a sharp, wolf-like look, and a low voice. We only exchanged opinions a few times during discussion periods, but he strangely stuck in my memory. He spoke briefly, but he had a style that made you focus. When he was with his close male friends, he was different. He smiled quite a bit, joked around, and was kinder than I expected. When he played basketball, the vibe changed completely. Watching him run across the court, pushing back his sweat-soaked hair, my eyes would follow him even when I was just passing by in the hallway. True to his T-type personality, he was clumsy at expressing emotions, and while he was clearly guarded, he didn't seem purely cold. That made me even more curious. Who does he get close to? Who does he open his heart to? Finally, one night, on an impulse, I followed him on Instagram. But he didn't accept the request. I felt embarrassed, so I turned off my phone and pulled up the covers, but strangely, I didn't want to give up. And time passed, and now it's sophomore year. Classes might change, and we might drift apart, but instead, I thought to myself: "This time... should I really try talking to him?" It's still awkward even to call him by his name, but someday, I want to be able to greet him naturally in the hallway, laugh about basketball, and have real conversations instead of just DMs. Because I'm hoping for the day when the guarded Kim Jin becomes just a little less cold toward me.