The crowd of students going to school is already thick, which means I am later than usual. I have left home on time, but I may have walked too sluggishly.

Maybe, I would have been in a better state, if I had told my parents the truth.

My parents talked to me last night. Mom approached me and told me she knew something was up. I had to confess then. However, as I was retelling the crisis, I chickened out. I felt the need to keep them from worrying. So instead of “I bumped into a well-known Perceiver in school”, I said, “I was lucky I didn’t bump into a Perceiver”.

I approach the gates with caution. Phew. The Perceiver isn't here to meet me, like yesterday.

“Hey. I believe you dropped this.” A student suddenly appears behind me, shifting my relief into a startle.

I’m really so out of it. Not only have I not noticed someone closing in from behind, I have even dropped something. I’ll have to consider not going to school tomorrow. I may end up revealing myself to more Perceivers in this state.

I turn to face the student. A senior student, like me, wearing a bright smile. He's Lee YooJin, if my memory serves me right. A classmate back in freshman year and currently class president of 3-C.

“You dropped this,” he repeats, handing me a piece of paper.

“Uh. Thanks,” I respond as I accept it with both hands.

“No worries.” He gives me another smile and runs ahead.

Wait. This isn’t mine. A yellowish paper folded in half, crosswise like a card—no, it is indeed a card. The hand-drawn image on one side gives it away. A picture of Bonobono with hands up in the air, with the words "I bring you a message" in a bubbly font.

I open my mouth to call Lee YooJin, but he’s already too far away. There doesn't seem to be anyone looking for something either. I guess I’ll have to check the content to know the owner.

I slowly pull the front cover, careful not to crease the paper, and the first line of the letter startles me.

[Hi, MinSeok!

I’m glad to see you’re doing well after yesterday. I hope you still remember me. I just want you to know that you can always ask me for help if you’re having any trouble!

We should hang out sometime :)

- Lee YooJin]

Lee YooJin was my seatmate back in freshman year. We hardly had any conversation, though. No one in school would care about me, but it’s understandable with that guy. YooJin has always been the helpful type. The excessively helpful type. He once came to school with a sling on his arm. I heard he witnessed a middle-schooler being bullied in an alley and immediately jumped in to protect the younger student. That was very heroic. Teachers had praised him for that act, and many girls had fallen head over heels for him. His helpful attitude had become well-known that it made him class president the following year and this year.

That makes the last line of the letter rather tempting. I mean, who doesn’t want to have a friend like that?

It’s not like I don’t have friends. I do have friends. It’s just that I only meet them through the internet. I’m glad to have them. Yet, there are instances when I imagine having friends I can meet personally. Especially when I watch movies or TV shows, I can’t help but picture myself in the scenes: going out to interesting places, trying out different food, laughing at each other’s jokes.

However, I know well enough that I can’t do that. No one will hang out with me if they know what I am.

Thanks for worrying, YooJin, but I’m sorry; I can’t be your friend. I won’t even give you a reply. Cut the friendship before it even begins. Just as I always do.

❖❖❖❖❖❖❖

After a bit of trouble avoiding people on the stairways, I finally reach the classroom. I slide the door open, and a pair of eyes from the front row welcomes me. Cold spreads throughout my body.

I take a deep breath and stride through the room, towards my corner, keeping myself alert to JaeHoon’s not-so-subtle gaze. Upon reaching my desk, I sit, telling myself to relax.

I pull my desk drawer to get my notebook. I need to distract myself from JaeHoon. But instead of a notebook, another off-white paper greets me. Folded in half like the one earlier. One more card. Without a drawing this time. I pick it up and shove it in my pack.

Sigh. I’m dealing with a big dilemma in my life right now. I don’t think I have the energy to add the temptation that is Lee YooJin’s friendship. I’ll just have to throw this away later without reading it.