Our Tale - Old Tale

“Minji! Minji, let down your hair, so that I may climb thy molten st—" You were stopped by something.

Smack!

“AWW!” She smacks you with a book, its hardbound cover digs your skin with no ease.

“It’s golden! Not gilded!” You thought she was a princess, but she roared like a dragon.

Both of you sit on a concrete bench, sharing the same shade by the maple tree, giving enough protection from the afternoon sun. The tree itself shed its leaves, its scarlet leaves falling with grace in the crisp autumn season.

Your eyes followed a certain leaf; it kept falling until it disappeared behind her.

There, you stared at the prettiest girl you ever knew.

It’s your childhood buddy, best friend, and your first love.

Kim Minji, the woman you unconsciously loved.

“...”

“What are you staring at? You’re giving up already?” She was about to hit you one more time, and you instinctively flinched, snapping out of your daydream at just the right moment.

“Sorry, okay? Stop nagging, we’re both rookies.” You scratched the exact spot you got hit.

“Why did you insist on being my prince instead?” She picks up the book she launched at you, shaking off some dust from it.

“I just… just wanted to be the male lead!” That’s a lie.

The main reason for that was jealousy. You’re afraid to see her with another guy. You didn’t want to admit it yourself, but you can’t just deny it forever. However, you can’t plainly show it, no one knows you like her but yourself.

You’re afraid to lose her; you knew that. Most of the dramas and novels had this cowardly guy who secretly likes his girl's best friend. Yes, most of them succeed after confessing, even realizing that what they felt was mutual.

But you already thought about it. Your life isn’t a novel; you’re not a protagonist destined to be with her. The risk was high, the result may be differ than those fictions, you don’t want to lose her.

“You know that there’s a twist: the prince was wicked, right?” MInji tilts her head, as if it’s something you should already know.

“There is?” That doesn’t make sense; you don’t have any idea about it.

“Yes, Gyuri sunbae-nim added it; she thinks that twisting the story must have caught the audience in shock,” Minji said while watching the maple leaves fall.

“I didn’t know that…” Your sunbae’s twist works really well; it caught you off-guard.

“Then one more ti–” She fixed her posture.

“So! Who’s your male lead then? Are there other princes? Is the witch male? Wootch?” You can’t keep yourself from thinking about whether you should audition for another role, but which role?

“What? Wootch? What’s that?” There’s a questionable look at her face.

“A male witch?” Honestly, it just came out of your mouth.

“Wait, isn’t it also a witch? Or a warlock? A wizard?” She added more terms to consider.

“Uhh, whatever. Hey, tell me… who’s your male lead then?” You wonder if it wasn’t the prince, then who?

“I don’t know, sunbaenim didn’t tell me.” Minji shrugged her shoulders.

“Hey! One more time. This will be our first theatre play, and we’re the leads. Do you even realize how big that was? We’re rookies, remember?” She’s beaming with excitement. Her smile alone can lift every trouble you’re facing.

“Let’s just go, you know, I don’t want to be the villain if the prince were really wicked.” You should know what the lead role was.

“Oh, right. I almost forgot.” Minji stood up and grabbed her stuff. She walked her way, but stopped and waited for you.

“I thought you'd leave me.” You felt a slight relief, how much if she really left you?

“How could I? You’re my best friend!” A wind blew, maple leaves flew with it, and her hair was lightly blown with it.

Every step takes you closer to her, but your heart can’t make the same step your foot makes. It kept its distance; there’s a wall of friendship that needs to be cherished.

But what can you do?

You kept falling for her.

“Sunbae! I don’t want to—” Right after you enter the club room.

“Okay! The leads are here! Get ready, hey, suit up.” Gyuri pushed you to the wardrobe side.

Jang Gyuri is a year older, but she grew up together with you and Minji. It’s still weird for you to call her a Sunbae, but formality is a must, though you aren’t scared of her as other freshmen do.

“Gyuri, I like yo—”

“No.”

Before you fell for Minji, you had a huge crush on Gyuri. But, right at the exact day you confessed, you got rejected as well with just one word. It’s one of the reasons why you’re scared of confession.

“But—” The curtain shuts, as everyone gets ready as well.

After everyone changed into their costumes, Gyuri huddled all of you for an opening talk. 

“Everyone, this will be the first play of the year. I hope no one messed this up, understand?” Gyuri’s in the middle, with her hands on her waist. She’s only a sophomore, but you can tell she’s well respected in the field.

“...”

You did not understand a thing; you didn’t even realize Gyuri was speaking.

Your eyes are just glued to one person, Minji—