Seolhyo wrinkled her nose slightly when he got near her, catching the strong smell of sweat.
"Hey, you're all sweaty," she said. "Can't you play a little lighter? It's not even a serious match."
Her tone sounded more worried than scolding.
Before he could say anything, she pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and stepped closer, gently wiping the sweat from his face.
"Don't overdo it. You might get sick." She glanced behind him. "Turn around. I'm gonna do your back too."
Seojin smiled faintly and turned around.
Seolhyo lifted the back of his shirt slightly and slipped her hand underneath, using the handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his back.
Seojin just hummed quietly to himself.
Irina groaned dramatically beside them.
"Ugh… get a room. Some of us don't want to watch you two being this sweet."
Right then, Suwon walked over to them.
"Hey guys. Jinkyung, I talked to Ono earlier about working out. He said he doesn't mind if you join. When do you want to start?"
Jinkyung's eyes widened.
"Really? He said it's okay?"
"Yeah," Suwon replied. "He just said not to get in the way."
Jinkyung tried to hide her excitement.
"Th-then… maybe after all the exams are over? Starting Friday?"
Suwon nodded. "Great. Then text me after school on Friday."
"Got it!"
Suwon then turned to Seojin, who was still standing there while Seolhyo wiped the sweat off his back like he was a kid being cleaned up by his mom.
Ignoring the scene, Suwon asked, "You'll come too, right?"
Seojin thought for a moment. "I'll think about it. "
Suwon nodded back before jogging off toward the field right as Park Dong was sneakily trying to run toward the exit.
After finishing, Seolhyo left the handkerchief hanging from the neckline at the back of Seojin's shirt.
"Your shirt is soaked," she said. "Don't you have a change?"
"I've got one in my bag," Seojin replied.
"Then change immediately. You might get sick."
"I can just change at home."
Seolhyo squinted at him, giving him a clear warning look.
Seojin raised his hands in surrender.
"Fine, fine."
He set his bag on the ground and opened it, pulling out a clean shirt.
Then he started lifting his shirt to take it off right there.
Seolhyo quickly grabbed his hand.
"What are you doing?!"
Seojin blinked at her, confused.
"…Changing?"
A vein popped on Seolhyo's forehead.
"Not here," she snapped. "Somewhere private."
Seojin smirked at her and suddenly lifted the front of his shirt, exposing his bare stomach.
His well-defined abs glistened faintly with sweat under the sunlight.
Before she could react, he grabbed her wrist and playfully guided her hand toward his stomach.
Seolhyo's face flushed instantly.
She yanked her hand back.
"Go change now!"
Seojin chuckled teasingly at her before turning and walking into the school building toward the locker room.
Behind them, Irina and Jinkyung stared with obvious annoyance.
"Look at these two," Irina complained. "Flirting like it's their job. Hello? Some of us are still single!"
Jinkyung muttered under her breath, "These two are just straight-up ignoring us."
Seolhyo bent down, picked up Seojin's bag from the ground, and waited for him.
After a moment she glanced at the two of them.
"Ah… you guys were still here?" she said casually. "You two go ahead. I'll go home with Seojin."
Irina waved her off dramatically. "Wow. Now she's ditching us for her boyfie."
Jinkyung sighed. "My friend isn't my friend anymore."
Irina turn her head as she shouted at her.
"Don't forget we're going to study at your house later!"
Seolhyo, standing a short distance away, raised a hand lazily and waved without much enthusiasm.
"Yeah, yeah."
A few minutes later, Seojin came back wearing a clean shirt.
He walked over, took his bag from her, and casually wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Where are the others?"
"They left already."
Seojin nodded. "So what do you want to do?"
Seolhyo paused, thinking for a moment.
"I'm kinda hungry," she said. "Let's eat something before we go home."
Seojin nodded.
-
This evening at the billiard hall.
In the stairwell, two people sat close together on the steps, their faces leaning toward each other.
The guy had long dyed hair and a handsome face.
The girl beside him had fair skin and chubby cheeks, looking extremely cute.
It was none other than the professional Pokémon trainer, Choi Giryang.
"Your face is red," Giryang teased with a grin. "Hehe."
"Ah! Don't look!!" the girl said, quickly covering her face.
Giryang stood up and gently patted the top of her head.
"Aren't you going? Your friends are waiting."
The girl's face turned even redder.
She covered her mouth with the long sleeve of her oversized hoodie, which hid her hands completely.
"Huh? Oh yeah… right."
She stood up as well.
Giryang kept his hand resting on her head while she fidgeted nervously with her sleeves.
"When can I see you again…?" she asked quietly.
"I dunno," Giryang replied casually. "Just text me for now."
The girl looked up at his face and suddenly noticed something.
"Uh, oppa… your lips… hehe."
Giryang raised his hand toward his mouth.
"What?"
Before he could touch it, the girl quickly wiped his lips with the sleeve of her hoodie.
Giryang let out a low chuckle.
"Ahh. haha"
"Hehe…"
The girl started walking downstairs but kept looking back at him, waving as she went.
"You better reply, got it?"
Giryang waved back lazily.
"Don't worry."
Once she disappeared, Giryang exhaled, rolling his neck before heading back inside.
Inside, Jeung Seung-hyun and Kim Kwangwoon were playing pool.
Cigarettes rested between their lips as they leaned over the table.
Back then, some pool halls let students smoke as long as they took off their school uniforms.
Seung-hyun stood nearby with both hands in his pockets and glanced at Giryang.
"Hey… did you really just walk her out?"
Kwangwoon bent over the table, cue stick ready as he aimed his shot.
He glanced at Giryang too.
"…You know what happens when Choi Giryang disappears with a girl."
He focused back on the table.
"No way a simple walkout takes that long."
Giryang shrugged casually. "What are you talking about…? So who's winning?"
Seung-hyun pointed at Kwangwoon.
"He is. Damn it! Like this stupid ball game even matters!"
He walked over to Giryang and elbowed his side.
"Dude, don't keep all the fun to yourself. Hook us up with some of her friends too… yeah?"
Giryang tiredly look at him.
"I already introduced you to Aera last time. You were just too impatient, man."
Seung-hyun grabbed the ashtray and leaned over it, flicking his cigarette and spitting.
"Phew… don't even bring that chick up. Treated her nice and she turned out rude."
He shook his head in irritation.
I loved her…
even if it was only briefly!
Kwangwoon straightened up and rested the cue stick against the table before looking at Giryang.
"So… how's it going with Hyorim?"
Giryang paused for a moment.
Then he let out a low chuckle, raising his phone and waving it lightly.
"Nah. She doesn't respond to any of my texts. I'm pretty sure she blocked me."
Kwangwoon laughed, openly mocking him.
"Ha! Of course she did. Why are you even trying with her? You know she already has a boyfriend."
Seung-hyun raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Oh? That's new. Someone blocked you, Giryang? That's a first."
Kwangwoon leaned against the table with a smirk.
"Well, her boyfriend can match or maybe even surpass Giryang's looks. No wonder she ignores him."
Seung-hyun scoffed.
"For real? Someone as handsome as Giryang? That's hard to believe."
He paused, thinking about it.
"And how can anyone even date her with that scary-ass brother of hers?"
Kwangwoon shrugged.
"She's super pretty."
Seung-hyun nodded in agreement.
"Yeah… Can't argue with that."
Seunghyun clicked his tongue.
"Damn… dating a girl that pretty," he said, shaking his head. "I'm so jealous. How far do you think they've gone, huh?"
Choi Giryang slowly turned his head and looked at him with a blank expression.
Seunghyun noticed the look immediately and stiffened.
"Ah.."
He quickly changed the subject.
"It's my turn to shoot, right? Hey, Kwangwoon, why is this ball here? Are you cheating?"
Kwangwoon scoffed. "What are you talking about? Just shoot already."
Meanwhile, Giryang casually took out a cigarette and lit it.
He inhaled slowly, the smoke drifting upward as his eyes lowered slightly in thought.
I should probably make a move soon…
Or else that guy might get it first.
He exhaled smoke quietly.
Knowing Hyorim…
I'm pretty sure they haven't done it yet.
I'm the one taking her first.