We all sat in a circle around the fire, chatting about anything and everything. But none of those conversations interested me. Tushig wrapped his arms around me from behind, occasionally brushing his cheek against mine. Meanwhile, my thoughts drifted endlessly.
Does he truly like me? Or did he kiss me just to keep up the act? Maybe he only wanted to win the game… What should I do now? Gantulga must think I'm that kind of girl… or maybe not. I don't know…
As I wrestled with my own thoughts, Tushig asked softly,
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I replied.
We talked through the night. Some of them may have even been drinking. Eventually, the girls returned to their tents to sleep, and morning came.
As I stepped outside to wash my face, I saw Tushig and Gantulga standing face to face, glaring at each other. For a moment, I thought they were arguing. But as I approached, Gantulga glanced at me, lightly patted Tushig on the shoulder with a faint smile, and walked away.
Tushig turned to me.
"Did you sleep well, cutie?"
"I did… Are you two fighting?" I asked.
"No," he said with a smile. "Don't worry."
The trip ended, and we all returned home. With summer break beginning, Tushig left for the countryside. He didn't even say goodbye.
I was a little upset… but I soon let it go.
Before I knew it, summer had passed. As I stood once more on my balcony, the new school year began. We were now in eleventh grade—a crucial year, as our teacher reminded us.
September 1st—my birthday.
As class was about to end, Gantulga called out from the back,
"Hey, Gerlee, happy birthday."
He handed me a small souvenir, delicately folded like a flower. My heart pounded, and tears welled in my eyes.
"It's a gift from the class," he added.
Tushig wrapped an arm around my shoulder.
"What a beautiful day to be born," he said, kissing my cheek. "Happy birthday."
At that moment, I felt truly happy.
Then Gantulga and Boldoo stood at the front of the classroom.
"We only have one year left before we graduate," Gantulga said. "So let's make this year full of good memories."
Boldoo added,
"The boys have decided—we'll give gifts to all the girls on their birthdays."
And just like that, the joy I had felt collapsed within me.
The girls clapped and cheered happily.
But Tushig… seemed distant.
The boy who once laughed and brought joy to everyone had grown quiet. He even stopped walking me home. Once again, I felt alone… abandoned.
A few days later, I was walking home with Boldoo.
"Did you and Tushig break up?" he asked.
"I… don't know," I replied.
He looked surprised.
"So you didn't?"
"He never said we did."
"Oh… I see," he said, hesitating. "Gantulga… might've pressured him a bit. I mean, he has his own girlfriend, so…"
My anger flared instantly.
"What do you mean, pressured him?"
"I don't know… anyway, I'll go now," he said, quickly leaving.
What was wrong with Gantulga? Why would he do that to Tushig?
Without thinking, I ran toward Tushig's apartment building. I knocked on his door, and his mother opened it.
"Yes?"
"Hello… I'm his classmate. Is Tushig home?"
"I'll call him," she said.
He came out, surprised.
"Gerlee? What's wrong?"
Without a word, I hugged him tightly.
"I'm sorry… I heard Gantulga bothered you because of me."
He gently pulled my hands away.
"It's okay. It wasn't anything serious."
Then he looked at me and said,
"I was actually meaning to talk to you… Should we break up?"
Tears filled my eyes.
"Why? Did Gantulga tell you to leave me? Did he threaten you?"
"It's not because of him," Tushig said softly. "I just thought… it wouldn't be right to let you get too attached to me. My family is moving soon. I'll stay here until December, then transfer to a school in the provincial center."
A quiet sadness spread through my heart.
After a moment, I wiped my tears.
"…Then… can we stay together until you leave?"
He smiled gently.
"Of course. If that's okay with you."
"It is," I said, forcing a small smile.
As I walked home, I kept talking to myself.
Strange… The feelings I once had for Gantulga… have somehow changed. Now they belong to Tushig. And yet… he's going to leave soon. Maybe I shouldn't fall deeper…
But no matter what I told myself, I decided that for the time we had left, I would create beautiful memories.
Our relationship slowly returned. We walked home together, lingering along the way. Sometimes I clung onto him playfully, asking him to carry me. We chased each other like children. Day by day, we grew closer.
Time passed far too quickly.
Before I knew it, it was late December. At the school's New Year celebration, we danced together as a couple.
I didn't know then… that it would be one of the most precious moments of my life.
Soon after, Tushig transferred away.
Once again, I was alone.
But this time, the emptiness inside me felt far deeper.
A month later, I received a letter from him.
As I read it, my hands trembled.
"Hello, my dear Gerlee.
There's something I wanted to tell you.
It's true—Gantulga pressured me during the trip. He told me to break up with you, that I shouldn't kiss you. He said if I ever did something like that again, he would beat me every time he saw me.
At first, I ignored him. But one night, he came with his friends… and they beat me. After that, I decided to distance myself from you. My parents were angry too. They even argued with his parents. My mother told me to leave you, so I followed their decision.
And now, my father has been transferred, so we moved.
But… I truly liked you.
I miss you so much.
—To my beloved Gerlee."
Tears streamed down my face.
Why hadn't I realized it sooner… when my love was right beside me?
Only after he was gone did I understand—I had fallen in love with him.
Clutching the letter to my chest, I whispered through my tears,
"I miss you too… I'm so sorry."
Of course, I wrote back.
"Hello.
I hope this letter finds you well.
I didn't know that so many bad things happened to you because of me. I'm truly sorry. I miss you too.
I realized only after you left—that I love you, not Gantulga. I'm sorry for not seeing what was right beside me.
I'll come to see you soon. And when we both go to the city as university students, we'll always be together.
—To my dear Tushig."
He replied.
Three months later, we planned to meet when I went to the provincial center for my entrance exams. Waiting for that moment… time seemed to move unbearably slowly.
I finished my exams and traveled there.
I ran to his school.
From afar, he saw me—and ran toward me.
I ran toward him too.
The distance between us vanished in an instant.
He lifted me into the air, spinning me around before pulling me into a tight embrace. In that moment, as I rested against his chest, I felt a warmth and peace I had never known before.
I looked into his eyes… and gently kissed him.
"I love you…" I whispered.
He smiled softly.
"I love you too… more than anything."
In that moment, time seemed to stand still.
All the sorrow, the doubts, the mistakes, the regrets… were left behind.
I was no longer holding onto a first love—
I was holding onto something real.
Sometimes, love does not come to us directly. It leads us astray, makes us lose our way, separates us—only to guide us, at last, to the right person.
And that was when I understood—
True love… is never too late.