Category: Apple’s Story

It was just a simple activity on the playground that the kids were playing in teams. Apple didn’t take it serious until other kids got serious.

Apple was in A team and Apple’s best friend, S, was in B team. They played in the separated teams as a single player and Apple was also charged in checking the scores of A team.

Playing the game, Apple noticed S missed a ball and lost a single point. Actually it was a bit hard to say clearly if S lost it or not because the timing was quite tricky. It was more like missing the ball anyway although S caught it again. Apple might have more believed that S did not miss it because S was her best friend. So Apple said so.

The thing Apple missed was that the game was at the final round and S’ point was important for winning of the game. Apple’s team lost in the game by this and A team was furious about the result. After the game, the kids in the A team all asked Apple if she saw it clearly S did not miss the point.

Apple was embarrassed to answer their questions because she did not remember the scene clearly and she just simply wanted her close friend to get the score. Seeing the pals’ serious reactions, Apple realized her judgement was not that simple thing to be.

Apple had no idea about winning and losing like the other kids. In fact, she was not even interested in the game at all. Reminding the scene, Apple was thinking about something else at the moment. Then suddenly the children all gathered around Apple and were demanding her clear answer.

“Well…S got the point…I guess…?”

A team seemed to be all doomed as Apple answered in doubts.

“We have to score it again! S missed the ball! I saw it clearly and Apple is also not sure about that!”

“What are you talking about? She said S got the point!”

One kid shouted and then it was chaos after that. Children were separated in two groups again and started arguing who lost it and won. A team could not admit they lost the game and B team was same to take their victory back.

Apple felt awkward what to do for the things around her. It seemed to be too late to say the truth who won the game which would make both teams upset whatever the result was. As more time passed by, the more Apple felt confused what the truth was but the one thing was clear that Apple felt very uncomfortable about the both teams’ aggressive, competitive desires to win.

Kids from both teams came to Apple one by one and asked several but similar questions.

“You did not see that clearly, did you?”

“We can win if you say the truth now, Apple”

“Why don’t you say that clearly we won the game, we won the game, right?”

Now Apple felt a headache with the strong tensions. The ground was swirling and falling towards her. She was suddenly afraid what would happen to S if she took her saying back. B team would blame S that she made her team lose the game.

While the kids were still arguing about that, Apple met S on the playground after the break time. Then S asked the same thing to Apple.

“Did you really see it clearly, Apple? If it is for me, I am fine. You can say that I lost the point if it is as it is.”

Wish Apple could do it as S said. S seemed to know why Apple did it and be more worried about lying rather than losing the game. The thing was that Apple was not even sure what the truth was and she was not willing to say the truth in the midst of the arguments. At least Apple had to say it clearly S lost the point if she was not sure if S won the point but Apple was not sure about it either.

S seemed to be ok to accept the truth but now Apple was not ok at this moment. Apple did it first for S’ sake and now S did not want Apple’s favor so that Apple could say the truth. Though Apple realized it was time to keep her dignity whatever the truth was.

The dignity Apple might have ignored the truth so made her team lose the game over friend’s small benefit which was Apple’s thoughtful consideration that nobody wanted now.

It was a normal school day as usual for Apple when she woke up. Though she felt very different and happy not like other days in the morning.

‘Do you like comics?’ Asked Jin to Apple reading a comic book the other day.

‘The Girls high school is behind my house and there are tons of left comic books which students threw away on its back yard’ Said Jin.

‘Really? Could you bring them to me?’ Asked Apple with excitement.

‘Sure, it is not a big deal’ Smiled Jin.

‘Now I can read tons of comics!’ Imagined happily Apple.

Apple could not wait going to school as soon as possible. She hurried to finish her breakfast and packed her stuff in a bag. It usually took half minutes to the school on foot and it seemed longer and far away on the day. Arriving at school, Apple quickly searched Jin on her desk but she was not there yet.

‘Hurry up, Jin! Come on quickly!’ Wished Apple.

When Jin came into the classroom, Apple greeted her first faster than anyone.

‘Hi, Jin! Did you bring the comics that you said yesterday?’

‘What? Ah…right. I am sorry, I forgot…’

‘What? Did you forget?!’

Apple could not believe what she had just heard of. It was like all the energy with hope around her suddenly collapsed. Her happiness and joy soon turned into despair.

‘Do not worry. I will definitely bring it tomorrow’ Said Jin.

‘But I already waited for the looong one night!’ Screamed Apple in her mind. Yet she had no choice.

‘Ok, please don’t forget it tomorrow. You promise me?’ Begged Apple.

‘Don’t even mention it’ Answered confidently Jin.

‘Tomorrow is the day. I surely could read comics tomorrow.’ Dreamed again Apple.

The next morning, Jin was late again and she had no comics in her bag when came to school later.

‘Sorry, I was so sick last night that I couldn’t go outside’ It was Jin’s answer. Apple felt odd. She felt herself like a fool but couldn’t say a word over friend’s disease.

‘She could not lie to me as she knew yesterday how much I wanted the books.’ Thought Apple.

‘Did I express it enough yesterday? She could go outside quickly as it does not take a long from her house behind to the school!’ Apple decided to express a bit harder how she wanted it much.

‘Will you bring it tomorrow for sure, right? I really, really want to read those comics’ Almost cried Apple.

‘……oh, ok…I will.’ Seemed unsure though Jin.

Now Apple felt nervous. She had a sense Jin would not bring it tomorrow again as she seemed unsure and vague.

‘What is the reason? It is just in her back door. Why is it so complicated to bring it whether she is sick or not?’ Wanted to yell Apple.

It was the biggest challenge for Apple to understand it through her entire life for 9yrs. She had never felt frustrating like this before and it was also the first feeling to hold on the anger. Apple did not even know how to get angry. She just felt huge anger looking at Jin’s insincere attitude but did not know how to express it.

The first time for Apple to ask someone for something, she felt shame for that as it turned out as failure and disappointment.

The next morning, Jin was absent to school and Apple did not know the reason but she was not surprised this time. The anger was also not that big but it was more like embarrassing.

Now Apple started to doubt about Jin.

‘Think she has a serious memory problem in her head. How could she be absent if she knew I am waiting for the comics? She had to be here whatever happened to her.’

Apple decided to solve the problem on her hands.

‘Sorry, I forgot it again…’ Seemed real sorry Jin next day.

‘It is ok. I will go with you after school. I will bring it by myself. Just let me know where it is when we get your home.’ Said Apple.

‘Really? Will you go with me? It is a great idea!’ Said happily Jin.

‘I was a fool and dull. I had to do it on the first day. I trusted her too much…’ Thought Apple.

Jin and Apple happily walked and talked a lot on her way home after school.

‘You won’t believe how tons of comic books are there. It is stacked like a huge mountain!’ Said with excitement Jin.

‘Oh my gosh! How could I pack all of those books then?’ Asked Apple with amazement.

‘Do not worry. You can come by my house tomorrow again.’ Said Jin.

Unfortunately, Apple could not see a single comic book when they got Jin’s house. Actually Apple did not remember much after that. When they got home, Jin had to care of her younger sister and brother and asked Apple to have Ramyeon together.

Then Apple also had to play with Jin’s sister and brother for a while. It was not bad though. Noodle was delicious and Apple always wanted to have younger siblings. Then Jin’s Mom and other family came home and asked Apple to have dinner together so she did it. Later Apple realized the outside was almost dark.

When Apple came home, Apple’s mom was furious and asked her what had happened. Apple said honestly what had happened since she had a reasonable reason to be late. Luckily, Mom had understood it and told Apple not to be late again before the darkness. Next day, Mom kicked Apple’s butt with a broomstick when she was late again in the evening.

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