DEARG Ch 0

He put his hand into his desk. The corner of a piece of paper touched his fingertips. A white envelope, with neither a sender nor a recipient written on it, was pulled out along with a book.

He tore open the envelope.

Dear. George

A scornful smile brushed across the boy’s eyes as he saw the phrase written at the beginning. Without even reading the letter’s contents, the boy crumpled the paper as it was and threw it into the trash can. He slung his bag over his shoulder and left the classroom.

Every time he walked down the empty hallway, the sound of his footsteps followed closely behind him. A gentle evening breeze drifted in through the open windows. The shouts of the kids playing soccer on the athletic field sounded distant, as if in a dream.

“Jo Jihyun.”

The boy, startled by the firm voice that sounded from so close, turned his head. His gaze first went to the shoulders silhouetted against the backlight. It did not take him very long to realize who he was.

“Did you read the letter?”

The boy was about to instinctively reply, asking what he meant, but he shut his mouth. A look of bewilderment flashed across the boy’s face. He remembered the letter he had crumpled and thrown away without even reading it.

“Why.”

A question came back. It was not an accusatory tone, nor was it a threatening one. It was a face of pure, simple curiosity.

“It’s just….”

The boy bit his lip and then released it. His pale cheeks flushed red. Because of his appearance, which did not fit the rough atmosphere of the all-boys school, the mischievous kids would often tease the boy. The boy’s nickname was George. It was because of his name, Jo Jihyun. The kids would often shout, “Oh, George, please accept my heart,” while pounding out a terrible tune on the piano in the music room and singing.

It was all just silly pranks. A short while ago, chain letters had started spreading like a trend. The boy had received a few letters as well. The letters always began with Dear. George. That was why today, the moment he saw the beginning of the letter, the boy had dismissed it all as a prank not even worthy of being read.

“…I’m sorry.”

The boy answered with his head bowed. He knew who the other person was. Fear came first.

“It’s alright. It doesn’t matter.”

A compliant answer returned. It was an attitude different from the rumors. The boy slowly raised his head. Only then, for the first time, did he make eye contact with the other person.