Mint Is Pure Love - Chapter 19

The next day at school, when I saw Seokyung again, we didn’t say a word to each other—just like always. He sat in the front, I was in the back, and we both stayed quiet during the self-study period while the teacher played a video. We just focused on our own things.

Even on our way to the second landmark, the Hodori Cathedral, nothing changed. We got on the bus in silence, took a photo once we got there, and got back on the bus just as quietly. Like strangers who had a falling out, we sat in separate seats and stared out the windows the whole ride back.

After getting off in our neighborhood, he still walked me to my door. Then, without a word, he went on his way. By the time I flopped onto my bed, I felt like all my energy had been drained. It was somehow more exhausting than hearing gossip about myself three times in one day.

I could’ve said something first. I just… didn’t.

Was I mad? Maybe. I mean, it’s true I wasn’t exactly thrilled with what Seokyung had said yesterday.

Maybe I shut down first, afraid he’d think I was trying to draw more attention again.

But more than that… I just kept thinking. What if the things I do—whether I mean to or not—end up hurting other people? What if, like Seokyung said, I’m unintentionally leading others the wrong way?

“…Noona.”

While I was lying there with my eyes closed, lost in thought, I heard a knock and my little brother calling me.

“Yeah, come in.”

Mingyu quietly opened the door and slipped in, carefully closing it behind him.

“Oh, Ji Mingyu! What brings the busiest person in this house all the way here?”

I teased, looking at his sun-tanned face. Ever since he started middle school, he’d barely been home—always out playing with friends.

He sniffled once and sat down at the desk chair, then spoke in a serious tone.

“Noona, can you… come to school with me?”

“Huh? What are you talking about? Did you get in trouble?”

Turned out Mingyu wanted me to come to his school—not for trouble, but because the soccer club was recruiting new members. After the selection match, there’d be a meeting with the PE teacher and parents. He wanted me to come, cheer him on, and talk to the teacher on his behalf.

When I squinted at him suspiciously, he avoided my gaze like he was guilty of something.

This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. A few years ago, when he was still in elementary school, there had been a similar situation.

Our stepmom had married Dad in her thirties—my grandma would call her an “old maid,” which I absolutely hate—and she was a bit older than the average mom of kids Mingyu’s age.

She was beautiful, so the age difference didn’t really show… but kids notice those things.

“Hey. Ji Mingyu.”

“…Yeah.”

“You remember what I told you before, right?”

He dropped his head, tanned face facing the floor.

“She’s your real mom, okay? Do you still not get how lucky you are?”

“……”

“You think it looks better for me to show up in a school uniform to cheer you on and talk to your teacher? No—it looks right when a mom is in that spot. You don’t know it yet, but that’s how it is.”

He didn’t understand yet how lucky he was to have someone he could ask things of—someone who was naturally supposed to be there.

“If you tell Stepmom any of this and make her feel bad, I swear I’ll deflate every single soccer ball you own. You know I’m not even scared of Grandma, right?”

Maybe because he’s seen me go toe-to-toe with our grandma since we were little, his small shoulders flinched, and he quickly nodded.

“Then go tell Stepmom yourself. Properly.”

He nodded again, then stood up. Just as he was about to turn the doorknob, he paused.

“I just wanted to brag about you to the other kids. You’re pretty, Noona.”

“Ugh. Fine, I’ll come cheer you on.”

I ruffled my hair like I was too tired to deal with this and waved him out. Only then did he finally smile.

The next day, not much had changed. Seokyung still didn’t acknowledge me, and I didn’t speak to him either—not even to mention the homework due today.

We’d probably go to the last landmark today, take another silent photo, and go home. I could already picture how the rest of the day would go.

But the first crack in that plan… surprisingly came from Seokyung.

He’d been missing the entire lunch break, only returning to the classroom right before fifth period started. Thankfully, the teacher hadn’t arrived yet.

Without a word, Seokyung grabbed his bag and walked straight over to my desk.

“I think I have to leave.”

The words came out of nowhere. When I looked up at him, his expression was familiar—calm, composed—but something around his eyes was off. He looked… flushed, almost like he had a fever.

“Are you sick? I can let the fifth-period teacher know.”

“No, I already talked to the office. But more importantly—”

He looked distracted, like his mind was somewhere else. His dark eyes met mine and flickered briefly before he continued.

“Today’s the last landmark.”

“Ah… I’ll go alone and give you the photos later. If I say I ran out of film and only got the scenery, the teacher won’t mind.”

It wasn’t like our world geography teacher checked homework that closely anyway. Bringing in a photo myself wouldn’t be hard.

But instead of saying okay, Seokyung glanced down at his watch. After hesitating for a second, he suddenly said.

“Let’s meet at 5. At the entrance to Yonghosan Park.”

He bit his lip as if debating whether to say more, then added quietly,

“Wait for me.”

I wanted to say he didn’t need to go through the trouble. But I nodded. I could tell he wouldn’t leave unless I did.

After hearing my answer, he headed for the door. I couldn’t stop thinking about how anxious his back looked as he walked away.

After school, I headed straight to Yonghosan Park. It was a bit of a distance, which was why we’d saved it for the last day. But the trip didn’t feel boring at all.

I popped in my cassette tape, stuck in my earphones, and watched the scenery roll by. It was all blue skies, green trees, and shimmering sunlight.

By the time I looked up, the bus had already arrived at the park entrance.

Perched on a gentle hill, Yonghosan Park was a local favorite—especially known for its open view of the city. On sunny days, the big pavilion at the top always drew a crowd.

Just as we’d planned, I stood at the bottom of the stairs leading into the park and waited.

It was a particularly sunny Friday afternoon, so there were tons of people around—families, couples, people with picnic baskets. Food carts lined the entrance, selling things like beondegi, sea snails, puffed rice snacks, and pinwheels.

I realized I was thirsty, so I bought a grape slushie and sipped on it. The icy chill gave me a brain freeze, and I had to rub my forehead for a second.

When I checked the time, there were still fifteen minutes left. I thought about how Seokyung looked as he left the classroom.

Had I ever seen him look that nervous? We hadn’t known each other long, and we weren’t exactly close… but still, something was definitely different about him that day.

Was something going on?

Still… today was the last day. Our three-day friendship would end here.

I decided I’d be the one to wrap things up properly. I wouldn’t act annoyed or cold. No matter what he said, I’d end it with a smile.

“…It was kinda fun. These past three days.”

Next week would probably feel like threading myself through a wall of needles again, but… even so, I had enjoyed these three days.

I walked around the area with those thoughts swirling in my head. The sky was blue, the clouds fluffy and clean.

I sat, then got up, then walked again. Before I knew it, thirty minutes had passed since our meeting time. Maybe he was running late. Or maybe I should just go home.

But… “Wait for me,” he’d said.

Just in case, I walked toward the bus stop. Then came back. Walked again. Sat down again.

My pink Converse kept pacing around the entrance of Yonghosan Park, as if I were carving a path into the ground.

By the time the sunset left streaks across the sky and the street vendors began packing up, I finally gave up and sat on a step, watching it all.

Seokyung never came.

Even after two hours had passed, and even after I stood up and dusted myself off—he never showed. No dramatic entrance, no late apology at the park gates.

It was like he had completely forgotten I’d be waiting here. Just like everyone else who had ever acted like they wanted to be friends.

He didn’t come.