Chapter 3. And so, I've taken the path... (3)

Author's note: Does it remind you of someone?

For the past week, he had been the school's main topic of gossip. Everywhere he went, Ronan was met with glances filled with hatred and disgust.

"I heard Ronan harassed Na-ri in front of the whole class"

"It's expected from that weird kid"

"I wish he would just leave our school, such a disgrace."

You see? This is what I get from trying to save them. In this world, in this damned society helping someone who didn't want help could be a curse. However, some people couldn't ask for help despite needing help. It was because they had never asked for it before. I managed to prevent greater problem, saved few desperate ones who couldn't ask for help, that alone is enough for my sacrifice. 

"Ronan I would like to have a word with you."

"Yes, Mrs. Ye-Jin."

They walked through the corridor, students giving them cold stares and whispering amongst themselves. Warm sunlight streamed through the open windows, and a gentle wind rose, rustling papers and hair alike. Eventually, they entered an empty classroom, Mrs. Ye-Jin closing the door behind them with a sigh.Kids in this class must be lucky. The view from here was amazing. The ocean stretched into the distance, and since it was almost Spring- cherry trees would soon blossom. The cherry blossoms which had been waiting for their Spring moving along the wind proudly, the ocean reflecting the warm sunlight. I wonder how wonderful would it look?

"So, what's up the most 'hated' person in the school." a faint smiled could be seen on her face. 

"It is good to have your presence known you know?" a grin formed on my face.

She chuckled "Yeah, that's right." We stood against each other, silence dawning on us. She slowly opened her mouth, Ronan knew what she was about to say.

I interrupted her, "It's okay. I've always been alone, so it comes natural to me. Also... seeing them happy is my salvation."

He had managed to give Na-ri the attention she wanted, he had managed to resolve the "Student annual showcase" event successfully and most importantly he saved Mrs. Ye-Jin"

"Up until now, you've been the one to save right Mrs. Ye-Jin. Take a break because this time I will save you."

Mrs. Ye-Jin is one of the few who couldn't ask for help despite needing it. It's because she has always been saving others. 

"Being alone isn't healthy you know?"

"Don't put me on their level. I don't care about looking interesting, being surrounded by people. I wasn't created in this world to entertain everyone. Plus, there are people who ruin the atmosphere just be existing, you know." Being alone was actually a privilege to me, free from stress and the dramas, and even if they tried to be in a friend group, I'll just end up ruining the atmosphere by saying something or just by existing.

"I know, I have no authority to say this stuff to you, because I too am alone. I am almost thirty and still single. I don't have any special people whom I consider as my best friends. Still, I don't wish for you to end up like me. We only live once, we don't get to redo things, that's why take action now, don't run away from it, don't accept it. Enjoy your youth, build strong bonds and create memories you can look back to."

"They say, you should never give up on your dreams and they also you should just accept it and let go of things that aren't yours. So, what's mine and what's not mine? The truth is... people tell you all kinds of advice but not every one of them works for you. We all have different stories, we understand things using different contexts. Hard work betrays none, but dream betrays many."

I slowly approached her, standing beside her I slowly raised my hand to put it on her shoulder.

"So don't you worry about me. I will be like the wind, I will just float around do what I want." 

She stood frozen, looking down clenching her fists as I opened the door. But before I left "You are a good teacher and a good teacher. I really look up to you, that's why I will once again save you Mrs. Ye-Jin." I slowly closed the door back, exiting the classroom. 

And so, I've taken the path of loneliness. 

I decided to skip rest of the class and just go home. The sound of my footsteps was extremely loud, students constantly staring at me with hostility. Probably because I had drawn too much unwanted negative attention to myself.

I walked through the empty hallway, some teachers were there but without the student's energy the hallway was as good as dead. 

After exiting school, I took a deep breath. 

The air outside from that place sure smells different. Freedom?

My house wasn't that far from school, so I got there in a considerate amount of time. 

"Hey Ronan, how was your day?"

I ignored the neighbors trying to strike a conversation. Right now, I just want to be alone so, leave me alone you extras. 

After I got into my house, my body moved on its own like a metal being pulled by a magnet, leading me to my bed. 

"Who the hell is flipping pages so loudly."

When I opened my eyes, I was standing alone in a middle of a vast endless snowfield. Letters were floating around like fallen leaves along the warm wind, the sun setting in the distance emitting bright warm light. Is it a dream?

I decided to explore it a little. Puff, puff, puff. Each step was heavy, but strangely when I looked back my footprints weren't there. But soon enough, I found something- a footprint going straight forward and another one going diagonally, separate from the main one. 

"Which one do you think is your path?" I reflexively looked back at the direction where the voice was coming.

A white coat was fluttering in the wind, a man was standing behind me. Letters orbited him like a shield, some making sense, others not. "Reader," "Path." I see, I know who that man is. Throughout my lowest times he was there for me, he was my salvation. The man who loved stories more than anything. 

"Even though it's a dream, it's nice seeing you, Kim Dokja." it was a sincere word. 

He smiled faintly. "Being a dream doesn't mean it's fake, doesn't it? Which pathway do you think is your path?" 

"I don't know, I walk along the path given to me." I replied.

"Does that mean you only read my story because you were given? Does that mean our bond exists because it was only given? Everything has a value, whether it's boring to you or not, because that very boring thing could be someone's salvation."

"Then the diagonal path must be mine, because I'm different from others. I've always walked alone."

An expression seemingly saying "As expected" formed on his face.

"Correct and Incorrect."

"You are different from others, but you are also similar to some. And you were alone at somepoint but you never always alone. You were with me, and us." I could hear heavy steps being taken behind him, in the distance. Soon enough, multiple figures began to emerge. A tall man standing in the middle, grabbing the hilt of this sword, a large- bear-like man standing on his right, patting his neck. On his left a girl with a ponytail was standing proudly. A woman with orange hair and a woman with short black hair was standing beside the ponytail girl. Another woman with black hair and a woman with white hair standing with them, a middle-aged man wearing a grey hat in the rear looking grumpy. Two kids running around running around. It was the 'Kim Dokja's company'.

And then I felt a warm hand touching my hand. My little sister was also here...

"Do you see it? You are with us." Kim dokja smiled.

"You should create your own pathway." their footsteps could be seen behind them. They are people who had all completed witnessed their conclusion, creating their own path. 

Suddenly the world turned achromatic, time slowing down. And then... It was my little sister, shaking my shoulders. 

"Why are you home early huh?" 

"I felt a little sick." 

My own path....

"Dinner's ready by the way, go wash your face."

Dinner?"

When I opened my phone to check the time, I saw another unexpected message from whom I never expected.

Tae-hyun sent you a message.

liam :/ sent you messages.

I first opened Park Somin's message and replied to her videos. 

Streak updated to 93.

And then Tae-hyun's message.

"I have something to talk about tomorrow. Please meet me at the cafeteria during lunch."