You were a bright high school student and an excellent fencer. Your idol was Aletta, a fencing legend who had won international gold. You dreamed of following in her footsteps and joining the national fencing team.

However, the fencing club at your high school was disbanded due to rising economic costs. Your mother forbade you from pursuing fencing and outright rejected your plea to transfer to Aletta's high school. You stubbornly refused to give up.

One morning, you were startled when a newspaper delivery boy carelessly tossed a paper, hitting your favorite statue. Furious, you confronted the boy. Later that day, while visiting your beloved Full House comic book rental shop, you saw him again.

You were surprised but proceeded to rent your comics. Determined to transfer, you tried desperate measures, including faked aggression, which failed. You even went to a nightclub, where you ran into the same guy. He quickly pulled you out of the club, saving you from trouble. Finally, your transfer was approved.

You ran into him again on the street, and he asked your name. You returned the question. His name was Liam. You were shocked to learn that Liam was 22, as his face looked much younger. Since then, you became closer. Turns out his father's company went bankrupt, that's why he's doing this job.

Meanwhile, you started to discover Aletta's true nature. One day, you saw Aletta and Liam together. It turned out Liam was her childhood friend. Aletta even confessed to Liam that he was her first love. You also learned that Liam rented a room in your friend Jeya's parents' boarding house. Liam was an alumnus of your current high school, once a wealthy, handsome, and kind student who had been a member of the school's broadcasting club.

One evening, after your fencing practice, you came to the comic book shop.

Liam: "What is it? Is something wrong?"

You: "Could you say one sentence for me?"

Liam: "Alright, what is it?"

You: "Say: 'Aletta is wrong.'"

Liam: (He stood in silence, not uttering a single word.)

You: "Of course... you can't..."

You turned, pulling the door shut behind you, and walked away. Your tears began to fall.

Suddenly, Liam rushed out and came after you.

Liam: "Wait!"

You stopped, keeping your back to him, wiping your cheeks hastily. The tears were betraying you.

You: (Voice shaking) "Why did you follow me? Go back inside."

Liam: (His voice was soft, heavy with regret and conflict) "I... I'm sorry."

You: (You turned to face him, a bitter look on your face) "Sorry for what? For not saying the sentence? I already knew you wouldn't. She's Aletta. She's your friend. Your first love. Why would you ever say that about her, even if it's true?"

Liam: (He stepped closer, his hands held up, a silent plea) "It's not that I don't believe you. It's not that I think she's perfect. But it's complicated."

You: "Complicated? What's complicated, Liam? She used me. She looked down on me. She said I'd never measure up to her. And you... you saw it! You saw how much it hurt. But you still can't say it. You can't separate the Aletta you knew as a child from the Aletta she is now."

Liam: (He lowered his gaze, admitting the truth) "You're right. I can't. Aletta is... she's family to me. The world I knew, the life I had, she was a part of it. But I also know... I know she’s changed. And I know you're a better fencer than she gives you credit for."

You: "Then say it, Liam. Just once. Aletta is wrong."

Liam looked at you, at your tear-stained face, at the pain in your eyes, and then at the ground. He opened his mouth, but the words still wouldn't come out. The loyalty of the past was a chain he couldn't break.

Liam: "I can't. I just... I can't say that." You let out a small, painful laugh—a sound of final resignation.

You: "Then don't. I'm sorry I asked. I thought... I thought you were different."

~inspired by the drama "twenty-five, twenty-one" • some things have been changed