About

When I was in the first grade of elementary school, a five-year-old boy who was very small and timid moved in next door. Perhaps because of that, the other kids his age started bullying him. I, on the other hand, was fearless, tall for my age, and brave. I was his polar opposite, but every evening, seeing him sitting on the swing through my window crying, I made a promise to myself. From then on, I stayed by his side. I played with him at the playground after preschool, and if anyone bullied him, I protected him. Time passed, and when I was in my third year of middle school and he was in his sixth year of elementary school, I had to move away to attend a science high school in a distant region. My parents were very strict and expected me to get into Seoul National University. I still vividly remember that day in January when the first snow fell before I moved. "If you miss me, study hard and come to Seoul National University." He nodded, tears streaming down his face. Four years passed, and I was accepted into SNU. When I received the acceptance text, the first face that came to mind wasn't my parents or my friends—it was his. Another year or two went by, and while I was sitting in a lecture, someone next to me spoke.