Blue Flower (Boys Over Flowers Fanfiction)

Chapter 15

The school pool was packed. Students lined the stands, cheering my name while booing Jan-Di. It was almost comical. I wasn't here to play hero or villain—I just wanted to swim.

"Go, Sora!" They chanted, their voices grating against my ears. I gagged at the attention. The whole thing was ridiculous.

The sharp scent of chlorine filled my nose as I stepped to the edge of the pool. F4 stood nearby, their eyes flicking between Jan-Di and me. They knew Jan-Di could swim—her scholarship was proof enough. But me? They were uncertain.

I took my position.

The whistle blew.

We dove in.

The moment my body cut through the water, everything else faded away. My strokes were strong, steady, but my mind wandered. How did I even get here? I shouldn't have been dragged into this childish battle. My friends should've stayed loyal to Jun-Pyo. But life wasn't that simple. It was like swimming against a current—the harder you fought, the more it pulled you under.

I kept my focus on myself, ignoring Jan-Di. I was almost at the finish when—

Darkness.

The lights shut off. The race ended in confusion. I surfaced, wiping water from my face, and smirked.

A school this rich doesn't just lose power.

This was intentional.

"Sora, you were ahead of Jan-Di," Jun-Hee explained, "but she beat you by a second."

I nodded. A lucky win.

The crowd erupted as Ji-Hoo was declared the winner. F4 congratulated him—except Jun-Pyo, who left without a word.

Jun-Hee suddenly wrapped me in a warm hug. "Thank you for standing by my brother. I'm glad he has you as his fiancée."

Her words made my chest tighten, but I didn't respond. Jun-Hee had to leave for France today. It was abrupt, but I wished her well, watching as she walked away.

Then, Ji-Hoo turned to me.

"Welcome back to F4," he said, flashing a rare, genuine smile.

I crossed my arms, smirking. "I wouldn't be here without you."

He nodded. It was a simple exchange, but it meant something. Ji-Hoo could be a jerk sometimes, but deep down, he was a good guy. A little lost, maybe—but weren't we all?

That evening, I found Jun-Pyo waiting outside my house.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He grinned like he had no worries in the world. "Let's go out. The weather's nice."

I glanced at his suit and tie—way too formal for a weekend—and chuckled.

"Fine. Give me a minute."

After a quick change, we drove off.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes. "You didn't plan this, did you?"

He smirked. "Nope."

Typical. I gave him directions, and soon, we arrived at a bustling market.

Jun-Pyo stiffened as we stepped in, his eyes widening at the lively atmosphere. I could tell—he'd never been in a place like this before. Probably never even considered it.

I bit back a laugh. This should be fun.

The market was filled with people, stalls selling everything from clothes to street food. The scent of grilled meat and spices filled the air.

When we passed the fish section, Jun-Pyo cringed.

I grinned. Of course, he hates the smell.

If Jan-Di were here, she'd scold him to act normal. But I wasn't her. I wanted him to experience this.

"Oh! Let's try this!" I tugged his hand toward a food stall, where a woman was making fresh Hotteok—sweet, crispy pancakes.

Jun-Pyo eyed it suspiciously. "People actually eat this?"

I rolled my eyes. "Obviously. It's delicious."

He hesitated, like his mother might appear any second to scold him.

I hit him with my best puppy-dog eyes.

With a sigh, he gave in, taking a cautious bite.

His face twisted at first—then softened into a smile.

I smirked. "Told you."

As we wandered through the market, I felt Jun-Pyo's grip tighten around my hand. His gaze darted from stall to stall, absorbing every detail. He was fascinated.

His world had always been luxury, control, expectations. This place? It was free, chaotic, alive.

And I think he liked it.

"Oh, look!" I stopped at a small jewelry stand. A silver butterfly necklace caught my eye.

I reached out, tracing the delicate wings.

Butterflies reminded me of my childhood—of chasing them with my father, watching them soar freely under the sky.

"Do you want it?" Jun-Pyo asked. "I'll buy it for you."

I shook my head. "No, it's fine."

He frowned. "Sora, I could buy this whole market if I wanted to."

I smiled, squeezing his hand. "I know. But I like window shopping. Just looking makes me happy."

He didn't understand. Yi-Jung and Woo-Bin were always buying gifts for the girls they dated. No one ever refused.

But I didn't need him to buy things for me.

I walked away, giving the necklace one last glance before it disappeared into the crowd.

"Jun-Pyo, should we—" I turned, but his attention was elsewhere.

He was staring at Namsan Tower.

A knowing smile tugged at my lips.

"Go," I said simply.

Jun-Pyo blinked. "What?"

"You're thinking about Jan-Di."

He looked at me, guilty as a child caught sneaking candy.

"Sora, I—"

I cut him off. "I'll only say this once: Jan-Di suits you."

His breath hitched.

"She may not realize it yet," I continued, "but she will. Go to her, Jun-Pyo."

Despite the ache in my chest, the words felt right.

I had always known—his real smile, the one that reached his eyes, only appeared around her.

This was inevitable.

I wasn't going to hold onto him for my own sake.

Jun-Pyo exhaled, staring at me. "Thank you, Sora." His voice was low, almost regretful. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," I said. "Just go."

And with that, he ran.

I watched as he disappeared into the night, heading toward the girl who had unknowingly stolen his heart.

I sighed, rubbing my arms against the evening chill.

"I just hope," I whispered to myself, "that I find the right guy for me, too."