When We're Together [양정완]

20.

"Everybody, Listen up." Mr. Hwang started. "Today we're playing dodgeball. The teams are your homeroom classes, so group up." The students groaned and reluctantly formed their groups.

There were 4 second year classes, so the coach announced that 1 and 2 would play, then 3 and 4, and then whoever won those matches would play each other.

Yang Jungwon, who was in class 1, easily eliminated the class 2 players, including a few of his own friends, and easily won. Next, class 3, Aera's class, and class 4 were more even. The match had already gone on for 8 minutes and she was starting to get tired. Finally, her class eliminated the last player from class 4 and won.

At last, it was time for the last match, class 1 vs. class 3. It started out normally. Aera hid at the back, Yoona was aggresively chucking balls everywhere in the front, and Sunoo was smiling as he easily eliminated other players. Aera picked up a ball from the floor and was about to throw it, when she noticed something strange.

Jungwon, who usually aimed at her, jokingly, was now aiming with full force at Baek Junhyun. And even more strange, Junhyun was doing the same. It was as if the two were on a battle field and they were the only two there. She watched with a confused expression as the two sent dodge balls flying back and forth. She didn't even notice when a flying ball soured right into her arm, eliminating her.

Eventually, it ended up being Yang Jungwon and a few other boys vs. Baek Junhyun and some other boys from class 3. Chae Aera was sitting on the bleachers next to an out of breath Yoona and a tired Baram.

"What's up with them?" Yoona whispered to her friends. Aera shrugged and ran a hand through her hair. "I don't know. When I introduced them, they seemed fine. Maybe they're both just feeling really competitive?"

The match continued until the bell rang, and the two boys, neither of which had won, glared at each other before dropping their ammo. Yang Jungwon spotted Aera leaving and ran up to her, even though he was still pretty out of breath. "I think that was the most intense game I've ever played in this gym."

The girl chuckled, "Yeah, what was up with you and Junhyun?" The boy went quiet and she turned to him confused. "Wait, there's really something between you two?"

The boy quickly changed the topic before Sunoo called him off. Aera stood, puzzled. Why did the two dislike each other so much if they had only just met? Unless, they hadn't? Maybe they knew each other before?

Her thoughts were interrupted by that deep voice again. "Chae Aera!" She turned again to find Junhyun running up to her. "Wow," he said as he stopped in front of her, "How can somebody still look so pretty after playing that game?"

His comment caught the girl off guard and she froze, not knowing what to say. "I- uh- you- thanks?" The boy simply chuckled at her and patted her shoulder before jogging off to change.

She stood, even more puzzled than before. What just happened?

~~~

A few days later, Aera arrived at school to find an ivory colored envelope with a chocolate attached to it waiting on her desk. She confusedly picked it up and examined it. There was nothing written on the outside. She was about to open it, when her homeroom teacher entered. She placed the note in her bag to open later.

But, being busy with her friends and her school work, the girl forgot about the letter in her bag. By the time classes were over, and she had not opened it. She was on her way to the library to meet Jungwon again, when she finally remembered the letter and let out a small gasp. She figured she could just open it in the library.