Sports Festival (6)
Pulkkot High School's lunchtime. Just as the preliminary rounds using the lunch break were wrapping up, someone knocked on the infirmary door.
"Come in~"
With the school nurse's permission, Seonwoo opened the door and stepped inside.
"Oh dear, you've got a scrape there? Have a seat over there."
"Yes, ma'am."
Seonwoo sat on the edge of the bed she'd indicated and waited. The infirmary was empty except for one bed curtained off with fabric, where a student lay.
"There, I've disinfected it, so just be careful not to irritate it."
"Yes, thank you."
"You can walk on it, right?"
"Of course."
It was just a light scrape on his shin. The nurse had said it was fine to leave alone, but Seong Juyeon and the others had pushed him to come all the way here. He'd told Juyeon to head back to class on her own. Anyway, treatment was done, so he was about to leave when the curtain on one of the beds rustled aside. From within emerged a girl with hime-cut black long hair and pale skin, looking faintly fragile and worn.
"Yuli, you could've slept more. Was I too noisy?"
"I'm fine. I'll head out now."
"Alright, take care."
Yuli shook off her drowsiness, bowed to the nurse, and spotted Seonwoo.
"Oh, Yuli."
"...Seonwoo."
"You two know each other?"
The nurse sounded genuinely surprised. Not to put it harshly, but in the two years since school started, Yuli hadn't had a single friend—or even an acquaintance—in the entire school. Plus, Seonwoo and Yuli were in different classes.
"Yes, we're friends."
"Ho ho~ Is that so?"
At the nurse's admiring tone, Yuli fidgeted, unsure how to respond.
"Well then, off you go, both of you. Oh, and Seonwoo, since your leg's scraped, Yuli—keep an eye on how he walks, okay?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Haha, I'm fine, really."
As they left the infirmary and walked down the hallway, Seonwoo and Yuli fell silent for a while. Feeling the awkwardness, Seonwoo dredged up a topic.
"What're you doing for the sports festival, Yuli?"
"Nothing."
"Huh?"
"I'm not doing anything."
"Oh... yeah? Won't that get boring?"
"I've always had a weak body."
"Ah, well, can't be helped then. Still, cheering from the sidelines should be fun."
Seonwoo kept the conversation going as best he could, but Yuli didn't seem thrilled about the sports festival talk.
"It's not fun at all."
"Hmm..."
From the nurse's reaction earlier and what he'd vaguely picked up visiting her class, Seonwoo had noticed Yuli seemed to have no friends. That had to make school life dull. Deciding on the spot, he made Yuli an offer.
"The sports festival's gotta be fun! If you're bored, I'll make it fun for you!"
Seonwoo's initial Yuli flag was progressing smoothly.
A girls' bathroom at Pullyip Middle School. Washing her hands at the sink, Lee Yuyeong stared at her reflection in the mirror.
Her expression had grown darker lately from nagging worries, and it wasn't a good look. Today was no different—Ha Eunju, that sneaky stray cat, had latched onto Taeyang and stolen Yuyeong's spot. They'd been chatting happily when she barged in and hijacked the conversation. And now Taeyang seemed more comfortable with Eunju than with her.
"Haa~"
She let out a sigh, then forced a smile to fix her expression. No, this wasn't her. She was Lee Yuyeong, always bright and bubbly, radiating good energy to everyone around her. If she moped like this, people would think something was off. She still had a shot if she approached Taeyang with her usual cheer.
Yuyeong practiced her smile in the mirror until she heard someone enter, naturally turning her gaze. Her smile froze solid.
The subject of her thoughts, Ha Eunju, approached the sink next to hers with a grin.
"Hm hm hmm~"
Humming a tune, she casually touched up her makeup. Heavy makeup was against school rules, but Eunju's was just shy enough of the line that sweet-talking the teachers got her a pass.
Yuyeong flashed a sardonic smile. What, acting all high and mighty? It's all just makeup in the end, huh? No idea why guys fawn over girls like her, calling them idols or whatever.
"Oh, hey, about that..."
"Huh? W-what...?"
Caught trash-talking inwardly, Yuyeong stuttered guiltily. Why're you panicking? She cursed herself for the slip and plastered on a fake smile for Eunju.
Eunju smiled back and asked, "You're sitting next to Taeyang, right?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm... You two seem close. What's the deal?"
Eunju met Yuyeong's eyes directly.
"Just friends."
"Really? Not dating or anything?"
"N-not dating..."
Flustered, Yuyeong answered honestly on reflex.
Eunju sighed in relief, then switched to a chipper tone and chattered on.
"Knew it! I was worried maybe I'd wedged myself between you two, the way you sometimes stare at me and Taeyang~"
"......"
"Oh, sorry if that offended you—total misunderstanding. I mean, you two don't even seem that close. I'm such a busybody."
Eunju nodded to herself like it was all settled. She's totally messing with me, right?
Yuyeong's gut boiled at Eunju's smug grin, but she kept her cool.
"Why do you care?"
"Truth is, I'm kinda into Taeyang."
"......"
Yuyeong froze at Eunju's blunt admission.
"Was worried he had a girlfriend, but now I can relax."
What was she supposed to say? Should she admit she liked him too and tell her to back off? As her mind tangled in confusion, Eunju spoke up.
"You're Yuyeong, right?"
"......"
"Name tag checks out. Let's be friends from now on."
Eunju grinned while packing away her makeup. It was a clear signal she no longer saw Yuyeong as competition—or never had.
Yuyeong caught it: the subtle glint in Eunju's eyes looking down on her. Faint, but she'd read it loud and clear.
"Yuyeong~ So, about that—help me get with Taeyang~"
"Why ask me?"
"'Cause you're friends with him, and now friends with me too. Got it? I'm counting on you."
With that arbitrary declaration, Eunju sauntered out. The class bell rang midway, leaving no room for retort.
"Like hell I'm helping you!"
Yuyeong fumed alone, kicking the air.
She's so annoying—total self-centered bitch!
But oblivious to Yuyeong's seething, Taeyang and Eunju were all chummy.
"For real? You've been there?"
"Yeah, my sister took me with her friend."
"Your big sis really knows her stuff."
No matter how Yuyeong glared from the side, Eunju had swiped another guy's chair up front and was facing Taeyang, chatting away.
"So you saw the teddy bears too?"
"Yep, they were identical to the real dolls, just like the rumors."
"Whoa~ I wanna try it so bad."
"Seems like a lot of girls secretly love sweets."
"Well, everyone's different, but me? I'd skip breakfast and sprint to the shop first thing for dessert!"
"That's exactly like my sister."
"Really? True big-sis material."
"Ahem! AHEM! AHEM! AHEM!"
Yuyeong flipped open her workbook, signaling them to quiet down.
"Oh, Yuyeong. Caught a cold?"
"No, just... a bit..."
You fox of a girl.
Eunju was pretending not to notice on purpose. Taeyang glanced between them and asked, "You two close?"
"Yeah, we decided to be friends today. Yuyeong's a good kid!"
"Oh yeah?"
Like I'd be friends with the likes of you!
Yuyeong wanted to scream it, but she couldn't let this image-obsessed girl win. Steel resolve, she nodded with a bright smile.
"Yeah, let's all three get along—you, me, and Taeyang... Eunju!"
A petty revenge in mumbling Eunju's name, then Yuyeong called out.
"Hey, Eunju. So, wanna hang out sometime, just us two?"
"When?"
"After school or something."
"Ah, practice then."
"Break time?"
"Eh, my other friends keep looking for me. Say they get lonely without me. Haha."
"Lunchtime...?"
"Yeah, perfect! Let's eat together—all three of us."
It felt like everything revolved around Eunju, which grated, but Yuyeong held back. Fine, I'll be straight with her at lunch.
Lunchtime came, and Eunju showed up for Taeyang like it was routine. Taeyang, who'd initially balked, now accepted it casually.
He dodged when I asked to eat together.
Swallowing her jealousy, Yuyeong approached Taeyang. This time for sure...
"L-let's eat... together!"
Taeyang nodded without protest. We made a promise, and ditching her alone feels like bullying. Plus, no more yandere vibes from Yuyeong lately, and she's Eunju's friend too.
"Taeyang. Here~ the egg roll I mentioned last time."
"I can feed myself. What if someone misunderstands?"
"Hehe, who cares~ Take my egg roll!"
There was a minor fiasco when Eunju tried feeding him with her chopsticks, but Taeyang blocked it. They'd moved to the rooftop outside class where few people passed, just in case.
The trio's lunch hung heavy with tension thick enough to choke on, if anyone outside noticed. But the three involved were oblivious—even Taeyang.
"Be right back—gonna chat with Yuyeong~!"
Yuyeong calmed her racing heart as best she could and followed Eunju. It was hard to actually say it. She had to confess her honest feelings.
"So, what's up?"
Eunju finally stopped and faced her. Slightly taller, she looked down with an oddly condescending vibe.
Yuyeong clenched her fists, steadying her voice.
"Eunju, do you really like Taeyang?"
"Yeah, the more I see him, the cuter he gets~ Plus, he's great at sports."
Eunju beamed. Yuyeong paused a beat, then spoke.
"Me too..."
"Huh?"
"Me too!"
Yuyeong laid her feelings bare. Eunju's smile faded, her expression hardening. Silence stretched, her bright face turning stern as she eyed Yuyeong.
"Yeah! You're cute too, Yuyeong! And great at sports!"
"Huh?"
"Saw you at morning training—you were flying! First time I've seen someone keep going past 10 laps when everyone else stopped!"
"That's..."
"Oh, was that what you wanted to hear? So dramatic for Taeyang's praise—and now you're all 'me too.' You've got your cute side, Yuyeong!"
"No, that's not it!!"
Realizing her words hadn't landed, Yuyeong opened her mouth again—
"But you and Taeyang don't really match."
"What?"
No more cheer; Eunju smirked slyly. Maybe this is her real face.
"What're you talking about?"
To Yuyeong's question, Eunju replied casually, sweetly.
"I mean~ Taeyang doesn't seem into anime or that stuff, right? Doesn't really fit with an 'otaku'."
Normally, Yuyeong would've snapped at "otaku," but now she had no room for it. More chill than outrage—a cold sweat down her spine. How does she know? She never let it show at school, told no one but Taeyang. Even then, she'd whispered, mindful of ears around.
"Did Taeyang tell you?"
"Nah, not him... Oh, you didn't know? I asked around about you to get close. Turns out the rumors are everywhere—anyone who matters knows."
Yuyeong's heart sank. I thought no one knew... Everyone's just pretending and gossiping behind my back?
Seeing her shock, Eunju gave a wry smile, feigning concern.
"Guess not. Sorry for assuming. I mean, no way you're that type. Don't sweat it."
Unable to deny or confirm, Yuyeong stood frozen as Eunju placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I'll tell everyone it's BS and shut down the rumors. We're friends, right, Yuyeong?"
"......Yeah."
"Friends help each other. I'll help you out too, so you help me land Taeyang. Deal?"