Few hours later, school was finally over.
Under the gazebo, Heejun and Woorin sat side-by-side, lazily smoking.
In front of them, Suwon and Daegyu slouched on the bench, while Park Dong stood with Jisung hovering awkwardly behind him.
Park Dong crossed his arms, voice low and certain.
"...It's certain isn't it? Who the hell comes all the way from Suwon Yujin High to Yongin Sangji High unless there's a reason? And he was wearing the same Radidas shirt as Irina. Same color, same print. No doubt about it."
Suwon blinked at him. "People go from Suwon to Yongin all the time. It's right next to each other."
"'Right next to each other'? It still takes thirty minutes," Park Dong shot back.
Heejun scoffed, waving his hand. "do you know how many people go to Yujin High? My school's in Suwon too, and I also have that Radidas shirt in every color." He chuckled and leaned against Woorin, slipping an arm casually around her shoulders.
"I'm telling you, it was exactly the same shirt Irina wore!"
Heejun rolled his eyes. "Come on. I've checked Irina's Cyworld a few times I know her boyfriend's face. No way that guy would cheat with that face Lol."
"...I swear it was him…" Park Dong muttered.
Daegyu shrugged. "Even if he is cheating, what are you gonna do about it? And if you're wrong, you're gonna get roasted alive."
"Yeah, dumbass," Heejun added, flicking ash. "And even if it's true, Seol Hyorim and her group will deal with it themselves. You know she's got a serious temper."
Woorin nodded. "The eonnie seemed really scary. Her dad's scary too…"
Daegyu snorted. "...That's her brother, honey."
"Oh."
The group fell silent for a moment.
Daegyu stretched. "Anyway, forget it. Let's just go to the arcade."
"I'm good. I'm going home," Park Dong mumbled, still troubled.
Behind him, Jisung stood stiff as a board, expression blank as he wondered why he was even here in the first place.
Got no lines in this.
After that, Suwon and Park Dong walked home together.
The evening air was quiet just their footsteps echoing down the road.
Park Dong glance at Suwon, noticing how he'd been staring at him since earlier."…What's up with you?" he finally asked.
Suwon, who had been staring holes into the side of Park Dong's face, suddenly blurted out:
"You like Irina."
Park Dong froze mid-step and snapped his head toward him."Not yet, idiot."
Suwon's lips curled into an teasing grin. "Hehehe~"
Park Dong's ears went bright red. "What....WHAT did you just say, you idiot?!"
Flustered, he tried to roundhouse kick Suwon, but he swung too hard, missed completely, and almost toppled over.
"Hehehe, you're acting weird, man," Suwon teased, easily dodging him.
"What's weird about me!! WHAT?!"
"You're so dead, you little shit!"
Suwon backed away, laughing. "Since that day… when you saw Irina cry… something changed in you. It was obvious, I could tell. Hehehe."
Later that night, Park Dong lay flat on his bed, one arm over his forehead.
"Acting all clueless is definitely an act, That Ji Suwon is sharp," he muttered to himself.
His thoughts wandered back to Irina her tear-streaked face that day.
The memory made his face flushed and worried.
But… I'm worried about it. If she found out about her boyfriend cheating, she'd cry again . With that ugly crying face of hers, she'd look even more pitiful.
He turned to his side, clutching his pillow.
But Im only saying this because Im her friend.... Yeah, that's all it is. I'm just worried as a friend. That's how solid I am when it comes to friendship.
…Well, That's just how it is.
-
Irina clutching her head. "Ugh, I'm done for! My gym uniform my mom forgot to pack it. She must've forgotten! What do I do? The teachers don't go easy, even if we're girls."
Jinkyung chuckle at her.
"hahaha You're screwed. Your butt's gonna be sore tomorrow."
"Damn it, wait for me here! I'll try to borrow one!!" Irina dashed off, leaving Jinkyung and Seolhyo.
In our room after P.E. class, our classroom was filled with the sound of heavy breathing and groans. Everyone was drenched in sweat, crowding desperately under the air conditioner at the back.
Park Dong pushed through them with his usual grin.
"Hey, move losers! Those who didn't score shouldn't be hogging the A/C."
He turned dramatically toward me, then bowed.
"Your highness, your place is prepared."
Everyone stepped aside knowing that I'd scored five goals in soccer while Park Dong had managed to score one.
With a smug look, I stepped onto a desk near the A/C while Park Dong plopped onto the chair below.
"You idiots," Park dong "To really enjoy the A/C, you gotta go shirtless."
Without hesitation, Park Dong tugged off his shirt.
I followed suit, peeling my shirt off as well.
The moment I did, the room fell silent.
My athletic build, shoulders broad and well-defined, stomach lined with abs, drew every eye in the classroom.
Murmurs broke out instantly.
"Holy shit…" one guy muttered.
"Wait was he always this ripped?!"
"No way, I thought he just looked average in uniform."
"Bro, is he an athlete or something?"
"Man, no wonder he runs like that in soccer…"
Even some of the guys swallowed nervously, suddenly aware of their own soft bellies.
Park Dong, look at my body then to his that seem to have not have a muscle, turned to glare at me.
"Tch… show-off."
The classroom door suddenly slid open.
"Park Dong, can I borrow your gym-"
Irina froze mid-sentence, eyes going wide.
"AHH What the hell!!"
Her gaze flicked once at Park Dong's bare torso then lingered on mine.
Park Dong's face turned beet red as he crossed both arms over his chest like a scandalized maiden.
" Oh shit!! What the hell are you doing here?!"
The guys panicked, throwing at Irina with sandals, rolled-up socks, and crumpled shirts like she'd intruded on some sacred ritual.
"GET OUT!"
"PERVERT DONT LOOK!!"
"...i cant get married anymore"
"The hell you talking about?!"
Irina face flushed covered her eyes with both hands.
"W-Why are you all changing in here instead of the locker rooms?!"
Park Dong snapped back instantly, his whole face glowing red.
"This is a guys' classroom, why the hell would we go to the locker room, dumbass!? Go borrow from girls class!"
Before she could fire back, Irina turned to Suwon, not forgetting her purpose for coming here.
"Damn it! Suwon!, lend me your gym clothes!!"
Suwon, still panting from exhaustion, gestured to his drenched shirt sticking to his back.
"We just played soccer, they're soaked in sweat..."
Jisung clutch his stomach, laughing so hard he could barely breathe.
"Pfft hahaha! Im dying!"
"GET OUT NOW!" the boys chorused again.
"F-Fine, fine!" Irina staggered out, slamming the door behind her.
Inside Suwon laughed at Park Dong. "Well at least you didn't take your underwear off, HAHAHA"
Park Dong shot him a look, face burning red all the way to his ears. His hands curled into tight fists.
"Tch… you!"
He swung both fists down on Suwon's back in a frantic flurry of smacks.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Suwon let out a strangled noise before collapsing dramatically onto the floor.
"Guh!!"
He lay there face-down, unmoving, like a corpse.
Park Dong stood over him panting, hands trembling."Ugh… I should've worked out a little… I've got zero muscle…" he muttered,
Irina mind was a mess as she jogged down the hallway clutching her head, her face burned.
"Ughhh… I didn't know Seojin had a body like that." Her heart pounded faster just remembering the sight. "And Park Dong too ugh, I saw his stupid boobs… That's totally going to haunt me in my dreams!"
She smacked her cheeks with both hands, groaning.
"Damn it! Why do Seojin's abs keep coming to my head?!"
Irina finally stumbled into the girls' classroom, face still red as she poked her head inside.
"Hey… I'm really sorry, but does anyone have a spare gym uniform by any chance?"
One girl looked up at her.
"I don't."
"Oh… okay."
Irina walked in fully, going desk to desk.
"Could you maybe lend me your gym uniform?"
"I didn't bring mine…"
"Do you have one?"
"Nope."
"If you have one, please just lend it to me."
"I only brought the winter one."
At the back, Hong Aera sat with her arms crossed, silently watching her.…She really treats this place like it's her own.
Irina approached her sheepishly, fiddling with her fingers."I'm really sorry, but… could you lend me your gym uniform?"
Irina recognizing her.
She's one of those flashy girls…
Aera raised an eyebrow, then shrugged."Yeah, I can lend it to you."
Irina brightened only for Aera to lean forward on her desk, resting her cheek on her hand, and add lazily.
"But… even if I do, it won't fit you. It'll be way too long."
Hong Aera 175 cm.
Irina froze, staring at her.
…She's not wrong… but
Irina's eye twitched.
This really hurts my fuckin' feelings.
155 cm, the blow to her pride was fatal.