This World is too Cruel to Men

At first, I thought it was a movie about a long-time friendship between a man and a woman that transforms into a romantic relationship due to a specific event, and the trials and tribulations they experience in the process.

Perhaps because the movie’s plot unfolded in a completely different direction than I had secretly hoped for, it felt like I was on a rollercoaster.

Nevertheless, I liked the movie because the ending was quite satisfying.

‘Yes… Of course, it has to end this way.’

As if proving their long-standing friendship, the two bickered even on the plane to their honeymoon destination.

I was feeling content watching them when the movie ended with a scene of them collapsing onto a bed so large it seemed more than enough for two, glancing at each other.

“Aw… It ends there.”

Hearing Dokgun’s voice just then made me curious about his impressions of the movie.

How did Dokgun perceive this film?

Did he watch it casually, without much thought, or did he, like me, flinch every now and then because it hit too close to home?

I wanted to ask him right away, but I held back.

It felt a bit awkward to ask such a question right after the movie ended.

It would be a little too obvious.

So, I waited.

I waited patiently for the right moment to ask Dokgun, so it would seem like I was simply curious about another viewer’s opinion.

“Ah, I need to use the restroom.”

And that opportunity came much faster than I expected.

As soon as Dokgun left for the restroom, other kids followed suit, and conversations about the movie began among those who remained.

Of course, only a few people discussed the plot; most were busy talking about the male or female lead’s appearance.

“But when you think about it, isn’t the female lead a real jerk? She rejected him first, and then when he starts dating someone else, she throws a fit because she can’t stand it.”

“That’s the truth, when you get down to it.”

…That kind of conversation was going around.

Anyway, a natural atmosphere of discussing the movie we had just seen formed among those left behind, and thanks to that, I was able to immediately throw the question I had been eagerly waiting to ask at Dokgun as soon as he returned.

“So… how was it?”

Of course, I didn’t just ask.

I grabbed a pamphlet from the stand near the exit, as if I had been deeply moved by the movie, and then asked.

“Huh? What?”

“What do you mean, what? The movie, of course.”

For some reason, my heart was pounding as if I had just run a sprint.

“The movie? I thought it was just okay… Why? Didn’t you like it?”

I had only one question for Dokgun. Or rather, one point of view.

Did Dokgun disagree with the female lead’s actions, saying it was understandable, or did he see her as a jerk like the kids talking earlier?

Personally, I hoped it was the latter.

If it was the former, it meant Dokgun might act the same way.

“No, I just… I thought the female lead’s actions were a bit… you know…”

“Huh? What?”

Was he really asking because he didn’t know?

“Well, think about it. She rejected the male lead when he finally worked up the courage to confess, and then when he gets a girlfriend, she interferes and…”

“Hmm, now that you mention it, that part was a bit much.”

“Right? Seeing her needlessly sabotaging their dates and fighting with his girlfriend, I thought, ‘What a jerk!'”

“Haha…”

Did Dokgun also think, ‘Wow… that’s not right…’ while watching that scene?

Seeing him nod as if agreeing with me, I felt relieved that he didn’t seem to be on the female lead’s side.

However, as someone once said, you never know how a story will end until you hear it all.

Just like the movie’s plot, which took a sudden, unexpected turn, Dokgun’s words were completely different from what I had secretly hoped for.

“But I can understand the female lead’s actions to some extent.”

“…What?”

That was a truly unexpected answer.

Understandable?

It was only thanks to the movie’s happy ending that she wasn’t labeled a total jerk.

If it had ended with the male lead breaking up with his girlfriend, what part of her actions could possibly be understandable?

“That’s a bit…”

“Well, the female lead didn’t reject the male lead’s confession for no reason.”

That was true.

Although it wasn’t a story I could relate to at all, the female lead initially rejected the male lead’s confession because she was afraid of ruining their long-time friendship.

However, when you think about it, that reason is completely absurd—

‘Wasn’t their relationship already ruined the moment she rejected him?’

The moment the male lead confessed and the female lead rejected him, their relationship had already crossed the point of no return.

Why did she even need to reject him in the first place?

“…That’s true, too.”

“Right?”

“But… I still think…”

He was sticking to his opinion?

Perhaps because Dokgun’s statement was so different from what I had expected, an ominous thought began to creep into my mind.

‘Could it be…’

Was he doing this on purpose, having sensed something?

Was he sending me a signal, indirectly telling me not to do what I was planning…

‘No… It can’t be.’

But what if, just what if, I was right?

Then what should I do?

Should I kill my desire to confess, just like the male lead in the movie, and choose to maintain our current friendship?

Would that be… the best option?

As someone had said, enduring might be the best way to avoid ruining our relationship.

But… what if things turned out like they did in the movie?

What would I do then?

It was unlikely, but I couldn’t shake off my worries.

This was especially true since we were about to enter high school.

Until now, we had been lucky enough to be in the same class thanks to the small number of classes and sheer luck, but there was no guarantee that would continue in high school.

What if we were placed in different classes?

Having witnessed countless friendships drift apart after being separated into different classes, I didn’t want that to happen to us.

Of course, unlike those other friendships, we lived right next door to each other, but… I still didn’t like the idea.

“…Hey!”

I didn’t want… that.

If, by any chance, someone else took Dokgun away from me, then truly—

As these ominous thoughts raced through my mind—

“Hey! Oh Yoon-seo!”

Dokgun’s voice called out to me, and I snapped back to reality.

Dokgun was looking at me with a mixture of worry and curiosity in his eyes.

The problem was that he was so close… I instinctively recoiled.

“Are you back with us now?”

“…Whatever.”

I answered curtly, trying to hide my suddenly flushed face.

“You were so quiet I thought you were lost in some deep thought.”

“We’re going back?”

“Yeah.”

“Ha… Can’t they just send us home from here…?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Grumbling together, Dokgun and I walked back to school along the slightly slippery path.

Of course, my worries continued.

I still couldn’t figure out the right answer, no matter how much I thought about it.

‘I want to tell him…’

I wanted to tell him that I had liked him since we were kids.

I wanted to hear him say that he felt the same way.

If that happened, I wouldn’t want anything more… but ominous thoughts kept creeping in.

That’s why I hesitated.

If a movie doesn’t turn out well, you can just reshoot it, but real life doesn’t offer that luxury.

If my confession was successful, great, but what if I failed?

I would cross a bridge of no return.

So, of course, I hesitated.

“Okay, next is Dokgun.”

“Yes.”

Preoccupied with my endless worries, I hadn’t been paying much attention to my surroundings… but Dokgun’s expression as he returned to his seat after receiving something from the teacher’s desk was strange.

It was the kind of expression you make when faced with a completely unexpected outcome.

And his gaze was fixed on the paper in his hand.

‘Could it be…’

Seeing that, I started to worry—

“…Hey.”

“…What.”

“I… I didn’t get into Whispering Willow High School.”

As if to prove the saying that what you fear most comes true, the words I never wanted to hear came out of Dokgun’s mouth.

And it was quite… a shock.

I hadn’t even considered the possibility of us being separated.

Even though it was supposedly a lottery system, middle school grades and talents played a significant role, so I had assumed that Dokgun, who, contrary to appearances, had decent grades, would definitely get in…

‘What happens now…?’

I had imagined us being in different classes.

But… I had never imagined us going to different schools.

Perhaps that’s why I was as shocked as Dokgun, who had confidently put Whispering Willow High School as his first choice only to be rejected.

And I was even more… anxious.

Even when we were in different classes, friendships drifted apart. What would happen if we went to different schools altogether?

Wouldn’t it be difficult to maintain our current relationship?

I wished I had been rejected too—

“Okay, next is… Yun-seo!”

Sadly, my wish didn’t come true.

Unlike Dokgun’s paper, mine had the unnecessarily large print of “Whispering Willow High School,” along with a message congratulating me on my acceptance.