Chapter 60: Sports Day (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 60: Sports Day (3)
The classroom was a chaotic swarm of noise.
“Whoa! Lee Seung-ho, what was that?!”
“Man, that last part was insane. Seriously.”
The boys of the class returned to the room, cheering loudly. Every single one of them wore a beaming smile.
While the preliminary rounds were still ongoing, they had just won their semifinal match today. Thanks to that, our class had advanced to the finals, which would be held tomorrow on the actual day of the Sports Day.
“I carried.”
A short, blunt declaration.
A small curve formed at the corners of his mouth.
“Hmm…”
Lee Sol watched him intently. She sat with her chin resting in her hand, observing him in silence.
The faint lift of his lips.
She thought he would be indifferent to it all, but it seemed he actually enjoyed the attention.
…She found that somewhat cute.
— Ahem.
She let out a small sniffle for no reason, trying her best not to let her feelings show.
Fortunately, Seung-ho was surrounded by the other kids and didn't have a moment to look her way.
“…”
Sol subtly shifted her gaze in the opposite direction.
“Do you think we might actually win the finals?”
The girls were also buzzing with talk about the soccer match. Today, the entire class was consumed by that single topic.
“What did they say the prize for winning was?”
“Pizza and chicken.”
“Oh, really?”
“That’s why everyone’s working so hard. I think they’re giving out one set per group.”
“Holy crap. Then we definitely have to win.”
“I think it’s actually possible. The guys in our class are really good at soccer.”
“Oh, right. Seung-ho was a total surprise.”
Lee Seung-ho.
That name rang out with particular clarity. It was the first time she had heard it from the mouths of other classmates.
“…”
Sliiiide—
Her upper body leaned ever so slightly toward them.
Sol perked up her ears, pretending she wasn't listening.
“Honestly, if he hadn't blocked that last shot, we probably would’ve lost. We scored another goal because of that save.”
“I’ll give you that.”
“I knew Seung-ho worked out, but he’s a really good goalkeeper.”
“Wait, he works out?”
“Yeah, we go to the same gym. I’ve run into him a few times passing by.”
“No, I mean, you work out? I had no idea.”
“Hey, you want to die?!”
Watching the girls playfully chase each other out of the room, Sol’s expression slowly sank. Her hands fidgeted restlessly, unable to find a comfortable spot.
…This wasn't good.
She was happy he was being praised, but at the same time, she felt a strange, complicated emotion. Hearing Lee Seung-ho’s name on the lips of other girls didn't feel great.
Was this anxiety?
“Hmm…”
Sol straightened her back and stared out the window.
She was deep in thought.
One specific word was stuck in her head.
‘The gym? The gy-ym…?’
The information that Lee Seung-ho went to a gym circled her mind.
‘Ummm…’
Her eyebrows twitched downward. She naturally crossed her arms.
‘…Should I start going too?’
Sol poked her own stomach.
Squish.
It was soft. Perhaps it was because she’d been eating so many sweets in the club room lately, but it felt a bit softer than usual.
‘I really should exercise, but…’
Sol was serious. Summer was just around the corner, not long after final exams.
Summer.
The season of short sleeves.
The season where skin was revealed.
Thinking about that, it was definitely the season to start moving.
“Ugh…”
Sol groaned, locked in an internal conflict.
To be honest, she just found it a hassle. That was simply her nature.
What was she supposed to do if she hated exercising?
“The finals are tomorrow, so should we practice after school today?”
In the midst of her thoughts, she heard the boys talking again. It was the group Seung-ho was part of.
“With who? Is everyone else free?”
“I’ll go ask the class next door.”
“…”
Seung-ho’s expression was clouded with a subtle, forced smile.
He clearly didn't want to do it. His eyes were darting around as if he were contemplating how to break the news.
…Should I help him?
Sol shifted in her seat. She wanted to pull him away, but she was struggling to come up with an excuse.
“Seung-ho, come here for a sec.”
Just then, Shin A-young called out to him.
“Hold on.”
Seung-ho’s eyebrows shot up at the summons, and he quickly escaped the group.
The two whispered as they walked side by side.
“…How did you know?”
He was asking how she knew he wanted to get out of there.
“I can just tell by looking at you.”
Shin A-young snorted and flashed a triumphant smile. She had pulled him away on purpose.
‘Ugh.’
Sol’s hand, hidden under the desk, tightened slightly.
While she was busy hesitating, A-young had beaten her to the punch. She realized only then that she could have just called him over confidently. It left her with a pang of regret.
“Oh, perfect timing.”
Ji Nuri stood up as the two returned. She jingled her wallet and pointed toward the hallway.
“Let’s hit the school snack shop real quick before the break ends.”
“Now?”
Seung-ho checked the time. He seemed unsure if they could make it back before the bell.
“We’ll be fine if we hurry.”
“I wonder if there’s anything left.”
Seung-ho naturally quickened his pace.
“…”
Sol stared at the three of them walking ahead.
There was one more problem.
Ji Nuri.
She hadn't really been worried about Ji Nuri before.
Nuri was so easygoing that Sol had assumed she was far removed from anything romantic, but lately, she felt like Nuri and Seung-ho had been getting much closer.
She’d suddenly given him chocolate, for one thing.
Sol worried that perhaps Nuri had feelings for Seung-ho too.
Regardless, she was someone Sol couldn't afford to let her guard down around.
“Sol, aren't you coming?”
Nuri turned back as she walked.
She had a bright expression—a pure face devoid of any hidden motives.
Sol hadn't completely erased her suspicions, but she managed to let go of them just a little bit.
“…I’m coming.”
With a huffy breath, Sol stood up.
She wasn't letting her guard down.
She intended to follow them, if only to keep an eye on things. Her gaze followed Nuri quietly.
“…? If you don’t have money, want me to lend you some?”
Nuri opened her wallet, seemingly interpreting Sol’s stare that way.
Sol furrowed her brows. That wasn't why she was looking.
“…”
But.
It was also true that she was broke after buying clothes.
Sol tentatively touched her own wallet.
“…How much do you have?” she asked in a small voice.
*
The school snack shop.
“Hmm…”
I walked between the shelves, cradling an armful of food.
I picked out chocolate, sports drinks, and bread.
Unlike yesterday, I had moved around a lot during this match, so I was starving. I realized that being a goalkeeper also drained a lot of stamina.
“Sigh…”
I heard Lee Sol let out a long breath.
She was staring down at a choco bar while scanning the shelves.
“…?”
I narrowed my eyes at the sight.
She’d been like that for a while now. She was fine this morning, but she’d been acting this way since a moment ago.
I wasn't the only one who noticed the vibe.
— “…She really seems like she’s in a bad mood today.”
Ji Nuri’s Mini-Me glanced over.
For once, she had noticed that Sol’s condition wasn't great.
— “Hmm… It’s probably that time of the month.”
She reached that conclusion on her own.
“…?”
Another question mark popped up in my head.
No.
No matter how I looked at it, that wasn't it.
Sol’s Mini-Me was much more vicious during "that time." I’d hear intermittent noise, and she’d be far more sensitive than usual.
I could tell the difference.
Wasn't she just in a bad mood?
“Hey, hey.”
Nuri tapped my shoulder.
“?”
When I looked at her, she whispered.
“I think it’s best if you don’t talk to Sol for a while.”
— “It’s better to let him know.”
Nuri’s Mini-Me wore a proud smile. She thought she was being considerate by telling me.
“Okay.”
I nodded without saying much.
“…What are you two talking about?”
Sol poked her head between our shoulders.
“Huh?”
Nuri’s eyes flickered nervously as she stammered an answer.
“…Nothing, I was just curious what he was going to pick at the shop.”
“Hmm.”
Sol nodded as if satisfied.
— “…But why would she be curious about that?”
Her Mini-Me’s eyelids began to droop.
— “…No, well. I guess she could be curious.”
Her thoughts changed instantly. Her inner feelings were wavering back and forth.
“…”
I fell into silence.
Man, her emotions were heavy.
Being forced to hear that voice gave me an indescribable feeling.
— “…Lee Seung-ho. He’s unnecessarily popular.”
Sol’s Mini-Me shot me a cold look.
‘Is it because of the other kids?’
Was it because I was interacting with classmates I didn't usually talk to?
I thought it was just a brief surge of interest because of the soccer match, but I guess it felt different from Sol’s perspective.
‘Sigh…’
I couldn't even make an excuse. I just had to listen to her complaints.
After all, what the Mini-Me said was strictly her inner thoughts.
— “…”
Sol’s Mini-Me puffed out her cheeks while looking at me.
— “…I hope he lets in a goal or something.”
… Cough!
The sudden curse made me cough. I’d inhaled wrong and something went down the wrong pipe.
“? Are you okay?”
Shin A-young looked startled and patted my back.
“Geez, stop being so clumsy.”
Nuri shook her head, calling me a mess.
“…”
Seeing that, Sol’s eyes blinked in surprise. She seemed startled by my sudden coughing fit.
Her eyes darted around before her Mini-Me spoke again.
— “…Ca-cancel that.”
She muttered the thought briefly.