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165. She sighed, tears beginning to well up in her eyes. She’d never be perfect. No matter how long she fasted no matter how she dieted or exercised, she would never be as skinny as all those perfect girls she saw while walking around school. She looked in the mirror. Her best friends said she was skinny, but she knew it wasn’t true. Had they ever looked in the mirror? They were far thinner than she was. She blinked tears from her eyes. She would never be enough…
——————–
Her best friend plopped into the seat next to her on the bus.
“Bohee, I brought snacks!”
She glanced over at the pile of snacks in his lap and back out the window.
“No thanks…I’m not hungry.”
Tae glanced up at her in surprise. “Are you sure?”
She nodded dumbly, not trusting her voice to respond.
Tae shrugged. “All right.” He shoved a piece of candy in his mouth, chewing slowly as he watched her stare out the window. What was up with her today…?
——————–
One day seemed normal enough, but she continued to refuse his snacks for days. And then weeks. One day, Tae had finally had enough. He approached her during lunch. She rarely ate anymore, and Tae was beginning to think something was really wrong. He set a bagged sandwich and some chips in front of her before sitting next to her.
“Eat, you’re getting too skinny nowadays.”
She looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears. He looked at her with a surprised expression on his face.
“Hey…what’s wrong?”
“Tae, can’t you see? I’m fat!” she exclaimed through tears.
Tae looked her up and down before finally settling his gaze on her face.
“How on earth would you think you’re fat?”
“I weigh too much…my clothes are too big…” she sniffled. “No guy would ever want a girl who looks like this…”
“Bohee…”
She looked over at him, something in the way he said her name catching her attention. She was surprised when a moment later, he leaned towards her, brushing her lips with his.
“I would.”
She burst into tears. “Tae…” she choked out. “Why…? Don’t play with my heart, please…”
He pulled her into a hug suddenly, burying his nose in her hair. “Please don’t talk so badly about yourself…it hurts my heart.” He sobbed.
She melted into his arms, burying her face over his heart. She didn’t know what to say. She was still shocked from his sudden kiss a few moments ago. They’d been friends since the first day of kindergarten. She’d never thought he’d ever think of her as more than a friend. Apparently, she’d been wrong.
