thank you.

I was a bit hesitant to title this post "thank you", because I never use my titles more than once. There are so many people I would like to thank, so once I use this standard title, I'll never be able to use it again. However, you're the one I'd really like to thank right now. So here you go, thank you.

This sounds cliched, but it was evident that there was something unique about you. If I've remembered correctly, we met at a service project. We had briefly talked before that, I believe, but the first time we really interacted properly was during the summer service project last year. We were looking after the same group of children. At first, I felt a bit lonely because none of my friends were in my group, and I didn't know how to deal with the kids alone. However, later that day, you seemed quite friendly to me, so I initiated a conversation with you. I'm not sure how we sort of became friends on our first real encounter, but I started talking to you about my love for T-ara, and you laughed at me. It was a bizarre experience.

I really didn't expect to be able to converse with you so easily, but it happened. After that, during GMs, or even I ran into you by chance, you would shout T-ara at me. Trust me, it was really, really adorable. We became friendly acquaintances, but I never expected to become friends with you. After all, we only conversed briefly during mutual functions, and we were in different forms. There was nothing much I could say to you on a daily basis.

But then, more extraordinary things happened.

I somehow made the odd choice of signing up for Swimming Gala first aid service. You were among us, a bunch of old and lifeless senior students. We were deeply lamenting about the terrible things we had encountered in the school, shouting about how stressful school life was. As we talked about our electives, you fell silent. I looked over to you and you laughed bitterly. I told you, "you have a bright future ahead of you, so don't become like us."

Then I decided to join the first aid competition. It was tough, and extremely demanding. I had to wake up early almost every day for morning practises, and that was the most difficult for me. You would always be earlier than any one of us, bubbly and energetic. Without me even noticing, you became my biggest motivation to wake up in the morning. Because you were the one who faced the same challenges as I did, you became the person who understood me most when I felt lost and scared.

You asked me why I was everywhere.

When I was invited to help out at the junior app inventors' training that day, I had no idea that you would be there. I really didn't know why you were everywhere, but I was beyond grateful that our paths crossed at so many points in life. We laughed together for a while and it was the best thing that happened to me that day.

When I ran down and awkwardly demanded a hug after a discouraging Physics test, you comforted me and hugged me back. Whenever I became unsettled and started to cry, your presence always seemed to calm me down.

During this short period of time, you were kind enough to tell me your stories and your feelings. You listened to my trivial, meaningless stories, and we laughed together at the people whom we thought were careless and idiotic. We connected over our shared values and beliefs.

Now that it's over, the one thing that brought you and I together, I don't know what will become of us. To speak the truth, I'm scared that you'll either forget about me, or hate me so much because I'm awkwardly creepy. I don't know how I can connect to you anymore. Not having you by my side makes me feel very lonely and nervous, for some reason. Because we've been meeting everyday for such a long time, not having any reason to see you makes me feel oddly unsettled.

Despite that, nothing matters. You will always be the same to me -- my biggest delight, my motivation during the most difficult times. I'll always be here to listen to you when you feel the urge to express your dislike towards a certain someone. In the future, you might pass by me without even greeting or acknowledging me, but I'll always remember you as the one who brought me immense joy and happiness, and I'll look at you with gratitude. I'm not of much use, but if you happen to need help, I'll do everything within my ability for sure.

You are a kind-hearted and cheerful soul, and I'm sure that you'll be able to accomplish many wonderful things in the future. I look forward to seeing you succeed in life, and I know that you have a fruitful life ahead of you.