Noon let out a deep sigh before he began to speak. Sein was watching him intently, her gaze unwavering. She didn't interrupt him—not even once.
"I think it all started back in high school... My first year, to be exact. That's when I realized things weren't right anymore.
I used to be such an active, hardworking kid. My dad always encouraged me, and I had my best friend who'd been with me since elementary school. I studied hard, loved almost everything.
But that year... my friend came to me and said he'd be moving with his father to another city for school—far away from here. We were going to be separated.
And in the same year, my father's business finally took off. He barely came home anymore. He became distant, always busy...
I know these might not sound like big things, but they all hit me at once.
My sister stopped going to high school—she entered college.
My mom was drowning in her own work...
And I was left completely alone.
The school I loved became cold and unfamiliar. My friend was no longer there… and home wasn't the same anymore either.
I ended up hating both places."
Noon sighed again, lowering his eyes. His voice grew tighter, as if something heavy gripped his throat.
"My grades dropped. I stopped joining any clubs or activities… and I became more isolated.
The more I felt sad, the more I hated myself.
So, I decided to withdraw—to focus on myself and try to improve.
I started watching self-help videos, changed the way I dressed and talked...
But… in the stupidest way possible, someone from class saw me watching those videos.
He spread rumors about me.
I spent the rest of the year alone, isolated, surrounded by whispers and stares.
I hated it.
I hated myself.
So I decided: I would never stand out again.
I started wearing only black, kept quiet, avoided attention.
Then summer break came… My mom decided to go stay at Grandpa's with my sister. I was sick, so I couldn't go. They left me with my dad—the one who barely ever came home in the first place.
I spent the entire vacation alone… and miserable.
I think that was when I stopped being... me.
I lost the version of myself that used to exist.
I preferred staying home.
I hated putting in effort.
I became lazy, pessimistic… stuck in the same cycle of sadness over and over, sinking deeper each time, never climbing out.
And the more I spiraled... the more I realized I was drifting away from everything.
I was drowning.
But even then, I didn't stop myself.
Eventually, I hit rock bottom.
That's why I told you—I never expected anyone to love me.
Because I... just didn't think I deserved it.
Love is supposed to be something bright, beautiful, pure.
How could it ever reach someone like me?
Someone hiding in the dark... at the bottom of a well?
It just seemed impossible…"
He gave a broken smile, closed his eyes, and turned away slightly. His voice was soft and sad.
"So… thank you.
Really… thank you for proving to me that even I... can still see the light."
That was all he could bring himself to say.
Sein's face was unreadable. No sadness, no anger—nothing at all. It was like all emotion had vanished from her features. She looked like a statue carved in stillness, frozen in time by the weight of Noon's confession.
She didn't know what to say.
Instead, she sighed quietly.
And after a few long seconds of silence… she moved.
Gently, she raised her hand and ran her fingers through Noon's hair. Her motion was soft and measured, as if she was trying to soothe him from the inside out. The way her hand glided through his hair—left to right, back and forth—carried a warmth that words could never express.
Noon opened his eyes, startled.
But strangely… he felt calm.
A wave of something tender washed through his chest.
It was warm.
It was beautiful.
And in that moment, he was genuinely… happy.
Maybe—just maybe—this was what he had needed all along, without even knowing it.
Suddenly, Sin let out a long sigh. Then, after locking eyes with him for a moment, she spoke in a faint tone, forcing a small smile:
"So… since you talked about yourself… I guess it's only fair I talk about myself too."
Noon looked at her seriously and nodded.
She finally smiled, then turned her gaze to the river, avoiding his eyes.
"Well… as you know, my family is pretty normal—if I can even say that. I haven't lived through anything like what you've gone through… really. And I guess that's how it's supposed to be. But I'll try to talk about myself. I never thought I'd fall in love with anyone either. Not because I didn't deserve it… but just, why? Honestly, I asked myself that a lot. Is love even something important to me? I wasn't a cute or particularly pretty girl, and I never really cared about that stuff. I always felt like love wasn't something made for me. Because, in the end, I wasn't special in any way."
She paused for a moment before continuing in a quiet voice:
"Out of all my siblings, I'm the most… average. My older sister is incredibly smart and stunningly beautiful. My younger sister, Reem, is pretty, sweet, and good at sports. My older brother is a natural-born leader and successful in life. Even my little brothers are athletic and will be joining a high school for elite athletes, and my youngest sister is already amazing at drawing, even though she's still so little. But me… I'm just a normal girl. I'm not particularly good at anything. Just average, in every sense."
Her voice trembled a bit.
"I didn't let myself think about things that were out of reach… because that's who I was. No matter how hard I studied, my older sister always got better grades. No matter how hard I tried to look pretty, my younger sister would still look better than me the moment she washed her face in the morning. No matter how many friends I made, my brother would still be more popular and admired. I got tired… No one noticed me. I wasn't special. I just wanted to be the best at one thing. I wanted to feel what that was like. So I pushed myself for years… but I just couldn't. It's like I was born to live in someone else's shadow—just a background character."
She paused again and let out a long, warm sigh:
"That hurt… it really, really hurt. So when I thought that maybe, maybe, I could be someone's number one… that I could be important to someone… my heart started racing. Just the thought of it made me so happy, so excited. And before I knew it, I started having feelings for you. I didn't want to lose the one person who saw me for who I was—before anyone else did. I know it's selfish, and maybe it's a terrible way to think… but I couldn't stop myself. I was really happy… just thinking about it."
That was all she could manage to say. It was the most she could get out.
Sin pulled her hand away from Noon's hair and lowered her head.
As for Noon, he stayed completely silent the whole time. He didn't interrupt—not even once. He just… listened.
And her words hurt. Even if he didn't have romantic feelings for her, he could understand her.
> "She's lived a tough life… She tried so hard, but never got the results she wanted. Unlike me. She's really been through pain. She must've hated herself at some point. But even so, she's still standing. She really is like a manga character…"
That's what Noon thought.
In that moment, Noon raised his hand and gently placed it on Sin's head, patting her softly. Then, quietly, he pulled his phone out of his pocket.
He said:
"Seems like it's been tough for both of us… So, Sin, would you like to listen to some music from my playlist?"
Sin lifted her head slightly and replied:
"Yeah."
Noon played the playlist he always turned to during his hardest times. But now… it didn't feel so heavy. The piano notes no longer stirred up painful feelings. Instead, they brought a quiet kind of peace to his heart.
He placed the phone between them. As the music slowly shifted, the two sat in silence, watching the river flow. The sun was setting quietly, painting the sky in soft orange hues. Only the music, the water, and the comforting silence remained—carving itself deep into their memories.
It was a quiet, beautiful moment.
This… was their true beginning.
---
Later, as the sun disappeared beyond the horizon, they walked back from the bridge, step by gentle step. Along the way, they talked about when they'd meet next, how they'd tell their families, and all the little details in between.
Noon walked Sin home, then said goodbye with a warm smile. On his way back, he glanced at his phone.
It was already 8:30 PM.
But he didn't mind.
He thought:
"Looks like I'm heading home early tonight…
But why do I keep feeling like I forgot something?"