The air carried a subtle warmth, a precursor to the approaching summer.

Once everything was vibrant greenery, the trees now displayed hints of gold and amber.

I had been walking in a park for quite some time to clear my mind.

Despite walking for this long, nothing seemed to be working out.

Lost in thought, I gazed at the trees around me, their branches swaying in the breeze.

“These leaves are more beautiful than…”

I trailed off, unable to mock myself.

Sigh…

With a sigh, I decided to leave the park.

Laugh…

Just as I took that step, the sound of children's laughter filled the air.

Until a moment ago, I couldn't hear anything other than the rustle of leaves.

After a brief moment of contemplation, I decided to walk in the direction from where the sounds came.

Quickly finding the place, I noticed some children were chasing each other, while a few were playing on the ground.

Watching their playfulness, a soft smile appeared on my lips.

However, my expression abruptly changed to shock the next second.

I saw Jianna surrounded by children and playing with them.

The children were coloring her face, yet she didn't say a word.

Jianna is enjoying this! Jianna!

The scene was so surprising that I blinked and rubbed my eyes repeatedly.

Jianna is typically aloof and serious, so much so that others don't even come near her.

But now, she was not only allowing the children to do what they were doing but was genuinely happy.

As if her stoic facade was a mask she put on every day.

"Sis, please stay still. You're moving too much for us to put color on you.”

Jianna saw her face in the mirror and helplessly said, 

"Isn't this enough? You've put too much color on me."

"It's not enough.”

Jianna made a scary face to scare the children.

“That's a good angle. Statue! Don't move!”

However, it didn't work on them. They started to put more color on Jianna's face.

Hahahaha!

I couldn't hold back my laughter any longer, bursting into giggles and plopping down on the ground, clutching my stomach.

Surprised by the sudden outburst of laughter, Jianna turned her head toward the source of the sound.

Our gazes locked when I looked up while wiping my eyes.

Jianna hastily rose to her feet, her face turning redder than the paint color.

“W...what are you laughing at?”

Her voice wavered slightly.

“Nothing... You look quite colorful.”

I stood up and tried to calm myself; however, it was hard to contain my laughter.

“I...It's... not what it looks like.”

Seeing Jianna's welling eyes, I realized it was a mistake to laugh in front of her.

Given her personality, she might not like it if I were to apologize.

With a soft smile, I started walking in the opposite direction.

After going some distance, I leaned against a nearby tree and burst into laughter once again.

I never imagined that Jianna had this kind of side to her personality.

The next day, the classroom buzzed with whispers and gossip.

Despite Jianna's composed exterior, she was clearly paying attention to all the topics.

“Hey, you know….”

Whenever Jianna heard those words, she flinched.

Seeing this from my seat, I pressed a hand to my face and pretended to be interested in the world outside the window.

Suppressing a smile proved more challenging than I thought.

As I had been suppressing my smile for a while, my body started to tremble.

“Bian, are you okay? You are trembling.”

Observing my intense trembling, my desk mate grew concerned. I turned my head to talk to her.

However, the first thing I saw was Jianna's large, attentive eyes in front of me.

Cough…

I could no longer contain my laughter and almost choked in the process.

The moment I started to breathe normally, my deskmate held my hand and told me, 

“Bian, let's go to the infirmary.”

“Wait, I'm completely fine.” 

However, she didn't listen to me and pulled me to my feet.

As I was thinking about what I should say to stop her, unexpectedly, Jianna held my hand.

“I'll take her to the infirmary. Just inform the teacher.”

Her tone was so cold and authoritative that there was no room for argument. 

I realized Jianna wanted to talk with me. That's why I didn't say anything and followed her lead.

Instead of going to the infirmary, we went to an empty room.

After some time, Jianna looked at me and broke the silence.

“You know….”

“Hmm?”

“........Why didn't you talk about it? You know… about the park.”

Jianna's pupils trembled slightly as she said those words.

“I don't think it's something to talk about.”

Jianna's expression was tinged with a hint of confusion.

“If you have nothing more to say, we should go back to class.”

After saying this, I took a step to leave.

“......ou.”

I turned my gaze back to Jianna when I heard some whispers.

Seeing her struggle, I waited in silence, giving her the time she needed.

“Thank you.”

Her face became as red as it had that day.

With a soft smile, I told her, 

“Let's go back together.”

The pillar of our friendship was founded that day.

Despite Jianna's reserved nature with others, she never ignores me. Eventually, she started to demand, 

“Hey, call me Jia.” 

Her sudden proposition left me stunned. I tapped my ears a few times before questioning her.

“Is that a request or a demand?” 

“Who cares?”

Yet her response was the same as ever. 

I looked at Jianna with doubtful eyes, thinking, 

Will she bury me somewhere if I do it?

Sigh…

“Fine.”

“.....I'll also help you with those.” 

“Help me with what!?” 

I tilted my head in confusion. 

Jianna's gaze was fixed on me, yet it looked like she was looking beyond somewhere else. 

I playfully waved my hand in front of her eyes and said, 

“Don't look at me as if you can see right through me.” 

Without answering me, Jianna placed her hand on my head and started to ruffle my hair until I couldn't see her face.

“I'll help you with these things around you.”

“What?! Ugh... Stop messing with my hair before you say anything.” 

“I didn't say anything.”

“What? Ugh, let go.”

That day passed without me catching a glimpse of Jianna's face until the following day.

Back to the present…

Even after all these years, some of Jianna's words left me perplexed. 

I sometimes don’t understand what she is talking about.

Turning my gaze towards Jia, I found her behaving in her usual way, as if she wasn't angry just a few moments ago.

Sensing my eyes on her, Jia glanced back at me and immediately began to do something as soon as she looked away.

Within moments, a piece of paper landed on my desk. Raising my gaze, I noticed Jia signaling for me to read the note.

I swiftly picked up the paper, assuming she had written down the reason for her anger.

“I know you love me way too much. But stop staring at me like….”

Without reading further, I abruptly ripped the paper.

Even without looking, I could tell Jia was laughing while she thumped the table.

"Haaa...! This girl... Forget about helping. If she could, she would have already eaten my head.”