Sports Day (3)
Park Jeong-hyun had liked Yoon Seo-ha ever since his first year. And he wasn't the type to just bottle up those feelings and suffer in silence like some loser.
So he'd confessed right away—and gotten shot down flat.
"No."
The answer came back in one second flat the moment he said he liked her and asked her out. No hesitation, no second thoughts.
Park Jeong-hyun was stunned.
Usually people at least pretend to soften the blow, right? Say they're sorry, or that they don't feel the same, or beat around the bush to save face.
"Bye."
Yoon Seo-ha turned away coldly, without a shred of courtesy, and walked off.
Any normal guy would've been mortified and sworn off ever talking to her again.
But Park Jeong-hyun didn't give up. A real man doesn't just dust himself off after one fall, does he?
Besides, Yoon Seo-ha had seemed like that type from the start. Expressionless, icy, not giving an inch. But surely her face would soften for the one she liked.
He'd fallen for that cool demeanor in the first place and blurted out his confession—that rejection wasn't about to cool his feelings.
He hadn't expected her to melt after one try anyway. She struck him as the type who opened up slowly.
"You idiot. She said no. Give it up."
"Not Yoon Seo-ha. I told you. Oh, and one more—Lee Seol, Yoon Seo-ha."
In an alley near school where no one would spot them, his friends were squatting or leaning against the wall, smoking. Park Jeong-hyun scowled, feeling wronged.
"What do you guys know?"
"Sigh, here we go. Stubborn sheep."
"Quit acting like a simp."
His friends kept ribbing him like he was pathetic, but Park Jeong-hyun brushed it off.
These idiots don't know shit about girls.
He confessed a few more times after that. And each time, the rejection came at lightspeed.
Her face never changed, her voice stayed flat. Not even a hint of annoyance—she acted like it wasn't worth the expression.
But the last time, Yoon Seo-ha added one little line.
"You smell like cigarettes."
"…."
That one stuck with him weirdly long.
It was a different kind of embarrassment from just getting rejected. Park Jeong-hyun could picture exactly how she remembered him.
Once he realized that, his feelings cooled a bit.
Around the time he was starting to resign himself to it...
On sports day, Park Jeong-hyun spotted Yoon Seo-ha alone by chance.
She was bent over, scanning the ground like she was searching for something. Black hair fell across her cheek, her gaze calmly sweeping the floor and surroundings.
God, she's gorgeous...
One look, and his mind went blank.
Help her out. That's how you swoop in naturally and win some points.
He headed straight over.
"Hey... looking for something?"
Yoon Seo-ha glanced at him once, then shook her head silently and went back to staring at the ground like nothing happened.
Utter indifference, like even making an excuse was a waste of time.
It almost stung, but Park Jeong-hyun played it cool. That's just how she is.
"You lost something, right?"
"…."
"I got nothing better to do. Let's look together."
Yoon Seo-ha started treating him like he wasn't even there.
That sparked his pride. He stood beside her silently, staring at the ground too. Just find whatever it is, problem solved.
Finally, she spoke.
"Can't you just leave?"
"…I'm trying to help."
"I said I don't need it."
"You didn't say anything."
"I did."
"You mean that head shake? That counts as talking?"
The air turned frigid.
He'd imagined smiling it off and playing the helpful guy, but she wasn't giving him an opening. He'd meant well—ignoring him like this was too much.
Then he heard footsteps approaching.
Park Jeong-hyun looked up casually—and froze awkwardly.
It was Lee Min-woo. Not close, but he knew who he was. Who didn't? The most famous guy in school.
Park Jeong-hyun himself didn't care, but he'd seen plenty of dudes sucking up to look cool around him. No idea why grown-ass guys fawned over another dude like that.
Anyway, as a fellow guy, he rubbed him the wrong way. Not just the height difference that made eye contact impossible—not that. Something about him was off, and the world should be fair, so he deserved to be 3cm shorter or whatever.
"Yoon Seo-ha. What're you doing? The class is waiting."
Lee Min-woo stood in front of them, tilting his head.
Sensing the bad vibe with Yoon Seo-ha, Park Jeong-hyun blurted an excuse without thinking.
"Oh, she said she lost something, so I was just helping..."
Lee Min-woo looked straight at Yoon Seo-ha, like Is that true?
She shook her head. He turned to Park Jeong-hyun, like She says no.
What an asshole...
He cursed inwardly, but his mouth wouldn't move.
Probably because he knew picking a fight wouldn't end well. They lived in different worlds. Messing with him would just backfire.
He bit the inside of his cheek and backed off.
"Sigh. I'm out."
He tossed it over his shoulder and turned, but it felt off leaving like that.
Yoon Seo-ha didn't even reply.
*
Yoon Seo-ha looked up at me, her eyes asking if the class really wanted her back.
Of course it was a lie. It looked dicey, so I'd just butted in.
I'd heard she was looking for something from that guy who'd left.
And I had a pretty good guess what. The keychain she was attached to. I knew she got anxious without it, and didn't want to show it off.
"Lunch is soon anyway. Come back by then."
She nodded.
I started to turn away, but something caught my eye.
...Huh?
It was on the back of Yoon Seo-ha's pants. A small plush tanuki keychain tangled awkwardly in her jacket hem.
No wonder she couldn't find it scanning the ground—it had just come loose and snagged there.
"Hey. Something's caught on your back."
Yoon Seo-ha reflexively patted herself down and touched the keychain. She snatched it hurriedly.
I looked away casually.
"Uh... anyway, hurry back."
But she stuck right by my side.
"Weren't you looking for something?"
"Found it."
No intention of hiding it, huh? Surprising, after stuffing it away so fast.
Then she murmured, barely audible.
"...Thanks."
"Yeah."
"I'll grant you one favor since you found it."
I turned to her.
"Perfect timing. I was about to ask something."
"What?"
"Lend me your class notes. I've missed a lot."
She nodded without hesitation. Refreshingly straightforward sometimes.
"Got it. You see the teacher?"
I shook my head at her question.
"No idea. Let's just head back."
As we walked quietly, Yoon Seo-ha glanced at me a few times.
I pretended not to notice, then turned—and our eyes met.
She looked like she wanted to ask something. Maybe why I wasn't prying, or why I didn't react to her desperately hunting that keychain.
Maybe both.
I met her gaze for a moment, then looked ahead.
"I don't really care."
No need to explain—it was obvious.
"…."
Yoon Seo-ha fell silent. She didn't press further.
With that, we headed back to where the class was gathered on the bleacher steps.
The teacher and vice class rep had already brought all the lunchboxes. Drinks and snacks piled high—way more support than expected.
The kids' faces lit up with huge grins.
"This is insane. Thanks for the food!"
"Seo-ha, dig in!"
I sat, scarfed my lunch.
Seo Jae-hyun, Ji Hyun-su, U Hana—they'd all gone to watch Lee Seol's kickball.
They'd be back soon, but I finished quick and slipped out of the bleachers.
After lunch: arm-wrestling finals, three-legged race, then the whole-class tug-of-war. All backloaded.
Where to hide till then...
That's why I'd gone to the back gate earlier—and gotten dragged into something weird. My fault, though.
Anyway, I headed that way again.
Once behind the building, it got quiet. Up ahead, a group of a few kids—but the moment I spotted them...
Suddenly, someone yanked my arm.
"Wh—."
Too fast to resist. I was pulled into a narrow alley between walls.
Blinked, and there was U Hana's face.
Way too close. Her hair slightly mussed, huge eyes right in front of me.
Our bodies pressed together—no illusion. She'd dragged me in so fast her breathing was a bit ragged, and I felt it all.
I stared at her in shock, and her playful voice whispered right by my ear.
"Tired? Wanna hide here?"
Not even whispering, but the closeness made it sound low and soft.
"If we get caught like this... it'll be worse."
"We won't."
"...Genius?"
I shot back jokingly, but the situation left me no choice. We're way too close...
I felt her body tremble faintly as she giggled.
"Kinda thrilling. Heart's pounding."
She leaned in more, like she wanted me to hear.
My heartbeat thundered. Or hers? Unclear.
She looked up at me from there. Up close, her face was vividly alive—playful eyes, slight smirk, cheeks faintly flushed.
"Didn't you go watch Lee Seol's match?"
"It's over."
"Lunch?"
"Later."
"…."
We locked eyes like that for a while before I turned away first. Voices nearby—someone approaching.
We had to get out before they got closer.
I pulled back first.
Luckily, no familiar faces in that direction. They weren't even looking our way.
U Hana slipped out naturally after.
And the moment I turned around...
Lee Seol was standing there. Eyes wide, face frozen.
