“Some arguments aren’t meant to be won.
They’re meant to be remembered.”
Wednesday afternoon.
The final bell rang.
As always…
The six friends gathered outside the school gate.
Heosok stretched dramatically.
“I’ve made a decision.”
Jisoo sighed.
“That’s usually dangerous.”
“I’m entering the school sports festival.”
Jiwoo blinked.
“…You?”
“Yes.”
“You get tired walking upstairs.”
“That’s slander.”
“It’s yesterday.”
The group burst into laughter.
“What event?”
Yongi asked.
Heosok proudly pointed to the notice board.
“The relay race.”
Jisoo looked at him for a long moment.
“…You’re going to slow your team down.”
He placed a hand over his heart.
“That was personal.”
“It was accurate.”
Jiwoo couldn’t stop laughing.
Zaizai quietly covered her smile with her hand.
Even Jeheon smiled.
Heosok suddenly pointed at Jisoo.
“Fine.”
“If you’re so confident…”
“I bet I’ll finish before you.”
Jisoo raised an eyebrow.
“…You’re challenging me?”
“I am.”
“You’re going to regret that.”
“We’ll see.”
The entire group instantly became interested.
Jiwoo clapped once.
“Oh…”
“This is going to be fun.”
The next afternoon…
Practice began.
Students gathered around the field.
Heosok confidently walked to the starting line.
He looked at Jisoo.
“Ready to lose?”
She didn’t even look at him.
“I’ll apologize after you finish crying.”
The whistle blew.
They ran.
For exactly five seconds.
Then—
Heosok tripped over absolutely nothing.
“…AH!”
He somehow managed to stay on his feet.
Barely.
The students watching burst into laughter.
Jisoo ran past him without saying a word.
She crossed the finish line first.
By a lot.
Five seconds later…
Heosok finally arrived.
Breathing dramatically.
“I…”
“…almost won.”
Jisoo folded her arms.
“You almost reached the ambulance.”
The crowd laughed again.
Heosok looked around.
“I’d like everyone to know…”
“…the ground attacked me.”
“The ground has excellent taste.”
Jisoo replied.
Even the teacher laughed.
As everyone walked off the field…
Jiwoo was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.
“I can’t breathe!”
Zaizai gently handed her a water bottle.
“You laughed more than he ran.”
Jiwoo nodded.
“Worth it.”
Later…
The six friends stopped by a store.
Heosok stared at Jisoo.
“…Rematch tomorrow.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I’ve already proven my point.”
“You got lucky.”
“I finished while you were arguing with gravity.”
Jiwoo almost dropped her drink laughing.
Yongi quietly closed his novel.
“I believe…”
“…this argument will continue for several years.”
Everyone looked at him.
He blinked.
“…Statistically speaking.”
Zaizai laughed.
“I think you’re right.”
As the group started walking home…
Heosok suddenly matched Jisoo’s pace.
“You know…”
She looked at him.
“…What?”
“You laughed.”
“I did.”
“You usually pretend you’re too cool.”
“I was laughing at you.”
“I’ll take it.”
She shook her head.
“…You’re impossible.”
He grinned.
“And yet…”
“…you keep talking to me.”
For a second…
Jisoo didn’t have an answer.
She simply rolled her eyes…
And kept walking.
Jiwoo quietly leaned toward Zaizai.
“…Did you see that?”
Zaizai smiled knowingly.
“…Maybe.”
Neither of them said another word.
Ahead of them…
Heosok was already telling another ridiculous story.
Jisoo complained the whole time.
Yet…
She never walked away.
Sometimes…
Friendship begins with kindness.
Sometimes…
It begins with two people who simply refuse to stop arguing.