2 PM
At the end of school today, the rain started pouring heavily—and once again, I forgot to bring an umbrella.
One by one, people went home. It was my fault for forgetting to check today's weather.
Some people offered their friends umbrellas and left together, while I just stood frozen in front of the school lobby, waiting for the rain to stop.
I took out my earbuds from my school bag and played my favorite song—just a ballad & R&B track. Loneliness makes this genre feel more comforting when you listen to it often.
I just focused on standing there, listening to my favorite song while faintly hearing the sound of the falling rain.
It would feel better with some coffee.
An hour later.
The school was already quiet—all the students had gone home.
Rin (her first name)—a girl I always played games with—but now, her attitude isn't the same anymore. Sigh… I'm starting to miss our memories together.
How does it feel to fall in love?
I don't know if I'll ever feel it. My personality… nobody really likes it. It's not like I don't want to change, but my mother… she's just too sweet to have a son like me.
I'm okay…
At the school gate, there was someone in a wheelchair, stuck—as if they couldn't move. I shouldn't care about others. Better to pretend I didn't see.
Five minutes passed.
She was still there, silent, struggling to move her wheelchair. Why is she putting herself through this?
Damn it…
I ran toward her—maybe there was something I could do to help. The rain still hadn't stopped. My body hesitated, but my heart… it's still human.
"Hey, miss… can I help?"
I already knew what she'd think when she looked at me. They always get scared—especially with my hair soaked by the rain, covering my face. She'll think I'm some kind of criminal.
But when she turned to me… her face looked like she was about to cry.
I didn't expect that… People are usually so easily frightened of me. But what shocked me more—
"M-my… blind date… I'll be late… but this wheelchair—it's stuck on some tangled thread. I can't push it."
My chest tightened. She's out here in the rain, struggling just to meet someone. Without a word, I bent down and started loosening the knotted thread tangled in her wheel.
The rain kept pouring, drenching both of us. It only took a little time—my strength made it easier to pull free.
I tried pushing the wheelchair back and forth a few times. It seemed to move easily now. My job here is done.
Without a word—or waiting for any thanks—I turned to leave. But my steps felt heavy, like someone was holding me back.
I glanced back. She was clutching my bag.
Wait…
She reached into her small purse and pressed something into my hand—something to cover my palm with.
"Take this… Thanks for helping. You're kind."
Her smile was like an angel's on this rainy day. For a second, it stirred something in my heart. But I just brushed it off.
Then, she started pushing herself forward happily. I looked down at what she'd given me.
…Just a piece of candy.
Hahaha. How rare—someone actually giving me something like this.
Thud!
Not far after we parted ways, she fell, her wheelchair hitting a pothole. What a mess of a girl I've met today.
Without thinking, I scooped her up in my arms, one hand steadying her wheelchair. Luckily, it wasn't damaged. I set her back down, but her clothes and body were a little dirty from the fall.
"Let me help you… Where's your date?"
I didn't even know why I was helping. No reason. She tried to refuse.
"No, no… I can go alone. Don't trouble yourself for me—"
I ignored her and just started pushing the chair. The more she resisted, the more I felt rejected. I have my pride too. Eventually, she quietly pointed the way.
She fussed with her clothes, brushing off the dirt, then pulled out compact powder from her bag, checking herself in the mirror.
"I hope I still look pretty…"
This girl is terrible at makeup. Her natural face was way better. But I didn't dare say it—if you don't know how to apply it, don't force it.
Soon, we reached the café where her blind date was waiting. I held the door open, and she wheeled herself in.
…For some reason, I pretended to order a drink there.
She approached her date—a normal, average-looking guy. Then his voice cut through the café, sharp and impatient:
"Why are you late?! I've been waiting forever! And what's with the wheelchair? I didn't know you couldn't walk!"
She didn't look angry—just a little sad from his words…
"But you said in the game that you're okay with whoever I am…"
I heard it and realized—Oh, they met through a game. That's the worst place to fall in love.
"We were already happy for a year in the game… We grinded together, and you always cared about me in Wisdom of Qurt."
I nearly spit out my drink. That's a game I play too… Now I get it—why she played it. It gave her a path forward, some kind of hope.
She tried to hold back her tears. She's stronger than I thought. Maybe I should just leave—it's about to get dramatic.
But then the kind of words no one ever wants to hear came out of the guy's mouth…
"You stupid crippled bitch… ! If you knew you were disabled, you shouldn't have fallen for someone. You should've just died. You're a burden to your family and—"
Before he could even finish that sentence, a drink went flying toward his face.
"Who the hell threw that?!"
The next second—a kick landed straight on his face, sending him crashing to the floor.
Oops. Sorry.
It was Shin—the one who threw the drink and kicked him. Shin placed his foot firmly on the guy's face and pressed down hard.
Shin's smile at that moment was something else—he looked like a psychopath who was ready to kill someone.