The air was tinged with a hint of warmth. It signaled the impending arrival of summer.

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

With this picturesque setting, I was taking a walk in the park.

I had been walking for quite some time to clear all the thoughts in my mind. But even after 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.

“Even the leaves are more beautiful than…”

I trailed off because I was unable to even mock myself. With a heavy sigh, I turned to leave the park.

However, 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 which the children's sounds came.

It did not take me long to get to that place. A few children were chasing each other, while a few were playing on the ground.

After watching their playfulness, a soft smile appeared on my lips. However, my expression changed to shock the next second.

When I saw Jianna surrounded by children and playing with them, the children were painting her face, but she didn't say a word.

Instead, she was laughing with them. The scene was so surprising that I blinked and rubbed my eyes multiple times.

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

But now, Jianna 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, stay still. We can't put color on you because you're moving too much.”

Jianna saw her face in the mirror and helplessly said, 

“Isn't this enough? You guys put way too much color.”

“It's not enough.”

Jianna made an expressionless face to scare the children. 

However, it didn't work on them, and they started to put more paint on Jianna's face. 

I was unable to contain my amusement any longer and burst into laughter.

Caught off guard by the sudden outburst of laughter, Jianna turned her head toward the source of the sounds. 

I was laughing so much that I sat on the ground while clutching my stomach. 

When I looked up while wiping my eyes, our eyes met. 

However, Jianna's face turned redder than the paint color. Jianna hastily rose to her feet and said,

“W..what are you laughing at?” Her voice wavered slightly.

“Nothing…. You look quite colorful.” 

I also stood up and tried to calm myself. However, it was hard to contain my smile. 

“I…I…It's... not what it looks like.”

It looks like she'll start crying any second because of embarrassment. That's why I didn't say anything and gave her a soft smile. 

Then I started walking in the opposite direction. After going some distance, the laughter bubbled up within me once again.

I started laughing while leaning against a nearby tree. I never thought I would ever see this side of Jianna.

“Ha…Ha…Ha! I think it's not a mistake to come here. I momentarily forgot about everything.”

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, do you know….” 

Students were talking among themselves. However, 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. I fought the urge to burst into laughter.

However, because I had been holding back my smile for a long time, my body began to tremble.

“Bian, are you feeling cold? You are trembling.” 

My deskmate became concerned after seeing me tremble so much. I turned my head to see her. 

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

“...Ha…Cough…Cough…” 

Unable to contain my laughter anymore, I almost choked. Without a word, Jianna handed me water, and my deskmate started to pat my back. 

The moment I started breathing normally, my deskmate held my hand and told me, “Bian, let's go to the infirmary.”

“Wait, I'm completely fine.” 

However, my deskmate 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. Both my deskmate and I looked at her.

“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, and my deskmate let go of my hand.

I knew 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 in the opposite direction. After some time, Jianna looked at me and broke the silence.

“You know….”

“Hmm!?”

“........Why didn't you tell anyone? You know…..about the park.”

Jianna's pupils trembled slightly as she said those words. It is still surprising for me to see this side of Jianna.

“I don't think it's something to talk about. And you wouldn't like it anyway.”

Jianna remained silent for a moment. Her expression was tinged with a hint of confusion. Seeing this, I smiled slightly without realizing it.

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

After saying this, I started walking. 

“......ou.” 

I turned my gaze back to Jianna when I heard some whispers. She looked like she was struggling with something. 

That's why I waited in silence, giving her the time she needed. After some time, Jianna spoke again. 

“Thank you.” 

Her face became as red as it had that day. 

I gave her a soft smile and said, 

“Let's go back together.” 

After both of us entered the classroom, her aloof expression also came back. However, 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, just call me Jia.” 

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

“Are you requesting it or demanding it?” 

“Who cares? I'm the one who told you that.” 

Yet her response was the same as ever. 

I'm still looking at Jianna with doubtful eyes, thinking, will she bury me somewhere else if I accept it? 

But her eyes were saying otherwise, so I eventually said yes. 

“.....I'll also help you.” 

“Help me with what!?” I tilted my head in confusion. 

Jianna looked at me, yet it looked like she was looking somewhere else. I waved my hand in front of her eyes and jokingly said,

“Don't look at me like you could see through me.” 

Jianna suddenly placed her hand on my head and started to mess up my hair until I couldn't see her face. 

“.......right.” 

“What!!? But first, stop messing with my hair.” 

I struggled to free my head from her hand, but she was surprisingly strong, and I couldn't move her hand even a little. 

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, there were moments when Jianna's words left me perplexed. I sometimes couldn't understand what she was 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.

Perhaps sensing someone's eyes on her, she glanced back at me briefly.

After she saw me, she started to do something as soon as she turned her gaze ahead.

After a few seconds, a piece of paper fell on my desk. When I looked up, I saw Jia gesturing to me to read the paper.. 

I immediately took the paper because I thought she had written why she was upset before.

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

I didn't need to read the rest of the message and abruptly tore the paper. It was my mistake to expect something from her.

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

“Haaaa…! This girl… Forget about helping. If she could eat my head, she would have already eaten it.”

My head also started hurting because of her mischievous antics.