Jeon Jiwon never liked Kim Minki.
It wasn't that Jiwon hated him. He just found Minki… exhausting. Whether it was his constant teasing, his overly friendly attitude, or the way he effortlessly drew people to himself, Minki was a constant source of irritation for Jiwon.
Jiwon's hair was a soft black, falling neatly just above his sharp eyes, giving him a composed, almost aloof air. Minki, on the other hand, stood a head taller, with warm brunette hair that never seemed to stay in place, and a smile that felt both infuriating and magnetic.
Minki was everything Jiwon wasn't. Loud, boisterous, and always the center of attention. To Jiwon, he was a thorn in his otherwise quiet and orderly life.
Yet, despite his best efforts to avoid him, Minki seemed to pop up everywhere. It was as if the universe had a cruel sense of humor, pushing them together at every opportunity. And now, as fate would have it, they were assigned as partners for the physical education class.
They were required to warm up together before the main exercises began. As they stood facing each other, Minki's mischievous grin was already in place.
"Ready to be outshined, Jiwon?" Minki said, his tone dripping with mock enthusiasm.
Jiwon crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing. "Just focus on the exercise, Minki."
Wonwoo stretched his arms above his head, trying to ignore Minki's relentless chatter.
"You know," Minki said, his voice annoyingly cheerful, "you're pretty flexible for someone who spends all their time with their nose in a book."
Jiwon rolled his eyes and bent down to touch his toes. "And you're surprisingly limber for someone who spends all their time showing off."
Minki laughed, a sound that echoed through the gymnasium. "You've got a sharp tongue, Jiwon. I like it."
"I don't care what you like," Wonwoo muttered, moving into a side stretch.
They continued their warm-ups in relative silence, the tension between them palpable. Minki, never one to let a moment of quiet last, started bouncing on the balls of his feet, his energy seemingly endless.
"Come on, Jiwon, lighten up! It's just a warm-up," he said, nudging Jiwon with his shoulder.
Jiwon stumbled slightly and shot Minki a glare. "Can you take anything seriously for once?"
Minki grinned, unfazed. "What's the fun in that?"
Before Jiwon could respond, the teacher blew the whistle, signaling the end of their warm-up period. They were to pair up for a series of partner exercises, and as luck would have it, Minki and Jiwon were still together.
"Alright, next up is a trust exercise," the teacher announced. "You'll be doing a series of moves where you have to rely on your partner. Start with back-to-back sit-ups."
Minki and Jiwon positioned themselves on the mats, sitting back-to-back. Minki glanced over his shoulder, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Think you can keep up, Jiwon?"
Jiwon set his jaw. "Just try to keep up with me."
They began the sit-ups, their movements synchronized. For once, there was no teasing, no snide remarks. Just the rhythm of their breathing and the coordinated rise and fall of their bodies. It was almost peaceful, if not for the underlying current of competition.
As they moved through the various exercises, Jiwon couldn't help but notice how strong Minki was. His earlier irritation started to wane, replaced by a grudging respect. Minki, for all his teasing and bravado, was a solid partner.
"Hey, Jiwon, think you can touch your toes without pulling a muscle?" He sneered, earning a glare from Jiwon.
"Would you just shut up for once?" Jiwon snapped, frustration bubbling over.
"Relax, it's just a joke," Minki replied, his tone not losing any of its joviality.
As they moved on to more dynamic stretches, Minki's antics only grew. He exaggerated his movements, making faces at Jiwon, and throwing in unnecessary flourishes that drew giggles from their classmates.
Jiwon's patience was wearing thin.
"Stop messing around and take this seriously," Jiwon hissed through gritted teeth.
Minki smirked. "Why so serious, Jiwon? Loosen up a bit."
"Seriously, Minki, just back off!" Jiwon shouted, pushing Minki away.
Minki, not one to back down, shoved him right back. "Make me, Jiwon!"
Their commotion quickly caught the attention of Mr. Kim, who stormed over, his face a mask of anger. "What on earth is going on here?" he demanded.
"He started it!" Jiwon and Minki said in unison, pointing at each other.
"I don't care who started it," Mr. Kim said sharply. "You both are behaving like children. This is unacceptable. Detention, both of you. After school."
Jiwon's stomach sank. The last thing he wanted was to spend more time with Minki, but now they were stuck together in detention. He shot a glare at Minki, who simply shrugged, a smug look on his face.
"Great," Jiwon muttered again, this time with more frustration. "Just great."