The day dragged on, as if someone had walked with pebbles in old shoes.
There was no burden on the shoulders, but the heart was so heavy that even breathing made me restless.
I tried to talk to Nami in the classroom. The answer was like the breaths of a tired patient—weak, brokes
There was an invisible wall between us, and I couldn't even hold its edge.
The bell rang. The crowd surged like a herd of animals. Everyone ran, I remained standing there—like a broken bench.
Nami also left. I called out—"Nami!"—but she didn't stop.
She didn't even turn around .As if I was some dirt lying on the road.
I stood, kept looking.
There were people—many—but I was alone.
Even in such a crowd, the world seemed empty.
I reached the scooter. My fingers were clenched on the handle.
The color of my bones had turned white. Nami…Arin…everyone had gone away.
But what had I done?
Was I due for punishment?
Arin's indifference was understandable.
But Nami?
She was my confidante.
And me?
I had done nothing.
Or maybe this was the biggest crime—not doing anything.
My throat was hurting.
Not my heart—my throat.
As if someone was tightening it with a rope.
But tears?
No.
Tears are for the weak.
I started the scooter.The sound of the engine was also tired—like an old man groans before dying.
And then…
I saw him at the mouth of the street.
Arin.
The sunlight was pulling his shadow and rubbing it on the road.His blazer was hanging from his shoulder.The tie was loose, his hair was scattered.
A dirty layer of indifference on his face.
I wanted to leave.
But the heart?
That damn heart is worse than a street dog.
It runs where it is hurt.
I Slowed down the scooter.
Stopped nearby.
Like a patient sitting on a chair, I spoke"Waiting for a cab?"
He moved the corners of her lips a little.No smile, no compassion—nothing.Just a piece of emptiness.
"Waiting for you," he said.
The words pierced straight into my heart.
Silently.As if someone rubbed glass on a dried wound.
I turned my face away.
"Don't you have any other work?"
Even while speaking, there were cracks in my voice.
He came forward slowly.No hurry, no shame.
"I have a question," he said.
Cold penetrated my bones.I knew what the question would be.But I didn't have the strength to listen.
"If it's about Suhina, then..."I started to say.
"Did you do it?"His words... no, the silence behind his words was louder.Like a cop hitting a criminal on the cheek.
I straightened myself.I straightened my back on the scooter.I put on a fake layer of bravery on my face.
"You really think I would do that?"My voice came out without trembling.
But inside, I was falling apart for so long.
He didn't say anything.Just kept looking.As if he wanted to rip me apart and see the filth inside me.
Then he smiled.No, he didn't laugh.He didn't even smile.Just pulled his lips a little—like a finger is rubbed over a wound.
He bent a little.So much so that his breath touched my face.
"We'll see," he said.then he turned and left.
Without looking back
I was there.On the scooter.Hands clasped.
The street became silent again.
But there was noise in my veins.
Noise like that of a graveyard.
Mother always used to say -
"If even the shadow of a girl falls with a boy, people start gossiping."
I used to think that mother was from the old times.
But now it felt...
Really, this world is rotten.