Bada hit the ground with a painful thud, dust clouding around her like smoke.
For a moment she just sat there, stunned.
Then her eyes filled with tears.
Not loud sobs—just big, warm tears welling up and rolling down her cheeks without her permission, dripping off her chin. Bada cried easily. Over sad movies. Over broken pencils. Over raising her voice. Over everything.
But this time she cried quietly… because she didn't understand why someone would throw her like that.
Because the girl inside the house had looked at her like she was nothing.
Because something in that girl's eyes felt cold and lonely and frightening.
She wiped her tears with her sleeve, stood up shakily, and ran toward the street corner.
Her friends saw her immediately.
"Badaaaa! You're late again!" Mina called, waving both arms dramatically.
Ray squinted. "Why are you crying this early in the morning?"
Hori stepped forward, concerned. "Did someone say something to you?"
They saw her red cheeks, watery eyes, and dirt-streaked clothes.
And suddenly all three surrounded her like anxious bodyguards.
"Who hurt you?"
"Did someone push you?"
"Tell us right now!"
"We'll beat them up!"
Bada shook her head quickly, voice trembling.
"N-no one! I'm fine! I just…"
Her throat tightened, and more tears spilled out.
"I just tripped—really hard."
Mina sighed and hugged her tightly. "You cry at everything, you little dumpling."
Ray handed her a tissue.
Hori held her backpack.
They tried cheering her up. Jokes, stories, making funny faces. And slowly, Bada smiled again—though her chest still hurt with the memory of that dark house.
Her friends didn't know she was lying.
They also didn't know she had seen someone who would occupy her mind for years.
After school…
Her friends handed her snacks, asked if she wanted to hang out, and even offered to walk her home just to make sure she didn't fall again.
But Bada shook her head.
"I—I need to take care of something… alone."
They paused.
Mina frowned. "Are you going to cry again?"
Bada's lips trembled. "Probably…"
Her friends exchanged looks—worry mixed with exasperation—but they let her go.
And the moment they were out of sight, Bada walked the long, winding route straight toward that house.
Saeles's house.
A gloomy, half-dying place wedged between cheerful homes. The windows were covered with thick curtains, and the air around it felt strangely cold.
Bada swallowed hard, hugging her backpack.
Tears prickled her eyes again—because she was scared.
But also because she couldn't understand why she needed to come back.
Why that girl's blank, hollow stare had stuck in her mind.
Why she wanted to apologize… even though she didn't do anything wrong.
She stepped closer, heart pounding.
Just a peek, she told herself.
Just a little peek…
She reached the fence, stood on her toes, and—
She saw her.
Saeles.
Inside, training. Punching a bag with exhausting force. Shoulders tense. Eyes empty. Hair damp with sweat. Move after move after move—like she was trying to beat something invisible.
Watching her made Bada's throat tighten.
She didn't know why.
Maybe because Saeles looked like she'd never been hugged.
Never been told "good job."
Never been loved.
Tears filled Bada's eyes again, spilling over silently.
She sniffled and wiped her face, but the more she watched, the more her heart ached.
Inside…
Saeles felt a presence.
She turned sharply—and through the thin gap in the curtain, she spotted her:
The same little girl.
Crying.
Again.
Saeles's face hardened.
Why does she keep coming back?
Why can't she mind her own business?
Why is she looking at me like that?
Anger and confusion tangled inside her.
She shut the curtain harshly, blocking Bada from view.
But the image of those watery brown eyes stayed with her.
Outside…
Bada gasped softly.
The curtain slammed shut.
Her tears fell faster, her breath shaking. She felt rejected, foolish, and painfully small.
"Why… am I crying again?" she whispered to herself.
She had friends.
She had a loving home.
She had no reason to feel so heartbroken.
But her chest hurt.
A strange pull had formed—something soft, fragile, and impossible to explain.
She tried to leave, but her feet didn't move.
She just stood there crying quietly, staring at the house.
Eventually, her friends passed by the street and spotted her.
Mina pointed. "There she is! I told you she'd be crying somewhere!"
They rushed toward her.
"What happened?"
"Are you hurt?"
"Do we need to fight someone?"
Bada shook her head desperately and wiped her tears.
"N-no! I just…"
Her voice cracked.
"I saw something sad."
Her friends didn't understand.
They hugged her anyway.
And Bada—held tightly between her friends—still glanced over their shoulders at the closed curtain.
Because even though it made no sense…
even though she cried every time she came near…
she wanted to see Saeles again.
Something inside her had already begun to attach itself.
Quietly.
Painfully.
Completely.