I kept thinking about her words all day.
"Because you're the only one I trust."
I wasn't used to being the center of anyone's trust—especially not the most popular girl in school.
✦ ✦ ✦
After school, I took the shortcut behind the building.
There, I found Bomi sitting alone on the swing, staring at her phone with a tired sigh.
I hesitated before walking toward her.
"Why are you here alone?" I asked.
Bomi flinched, then gave me a small smile. "I was… waiting for you to pass by."
"…I pass here every day?"
"Yeah."
She looked down at her shoes.
"I noticed."
I was stunned.
That sounded way too honest.
"About earlier," I said, "is the rumor really that bad?"
She nodded faintly. "I'm tired, Hanz. People think I'm strong because I smile a lot. But… I'm not. I don't like saying 'stop' because I don't want to hurt anyone."
I stared at her—really stared.
Oh Bomi.
The girl who always smiled.
The girl who always seemed fine.
The girl who… hid so much behind her politeness.
"…Fine," I said at last.
"I'll help you."
Bomi's head shot up. "Really!?"
"But only until the rumor is gone."
Still, she smiled—deeply relieved.
"Thank you, Hanz… really."
She stood up from the swing. As she took a step forward, her foot caught the uneven ground—
"Ah—!"
I grabbed her arm instinctively.
Her body fell toward me.
And suddenly… our faces were very close.
Seconds stretched like minutes.
Bomi's eyes widened, her cheeks burning red.
"S-sorry! I didn't mean to—!"
I slowly released her. "It's fine."
But my heart was pounding hard. Damn it.
A tiny, accidental moment… connected two worlds that were never supposed to cross.
And I knew—my life wouldn't be the same after this.