Wicked Fox

Chapter 7

SANA WAS EXHAUSTED from fending off the curiosity of her new classmates. She'd grown accustomed to the few get-to-know-you inquiries she always encountered as the new kid in class. But this time was different, more intense. And she laid that blame directly at the feet of one Kim Minmin. His stunt with the note had garnered her a lot of unwatched attention, and she was starting to regret saving his useless life. 

The large indoor gymnasium echoed with the chatter of her classmates, mingling in small subgroups of friends. Sana stood in the back alone. Her normal position. 

The gym teacher was an unassuming man with the face of a toad and a name Sana didn't bother to remember. 

He informed the class that today's lesson would be partner dodgeball. The students' moans bounced off the high rafters. 

The teacher handed out five red balls and explained the game. Students made teams of two, with one as the guard, the other as the guarded. Only the guard could touch the ball. If the guarded was hit, they were out. If the two separated, they were out. It seemed unnecessarily complicated to Sana. 

The kids quickly began pairing up. Anytime someone approached her, Sana sent them a glare that stopped them until all the kids were paired except for her and Minmin, who walked toward her with a rueful smile. Sana's frown deepened. 

"I guess we're partners," he said, seemingly unperturbed by her glower. 

"I can't play." Her annoyance was so thick it choked her. "My foot hurts." 

"Did you hurt it when you fell?" he asked in a whisper. 

His question confused Sana. "I didn't fall." 

"Not today, the other night." 

Her eyes narrowed as she tried to decide what level of idiotic he was. 

"Begin." The gym teacher blew a whistle. The kids spread out, some already squealing in distress before any balls were thrown. The loudest of whom was Seungmin clinging to Chaeyoung's shoulders. 

Minmin took the front position. Sana held on to the hem of his shirt with two fingers. They wove and dodged, Sana easily following Minmin's jerking movements. He stumbled as he dove to the right, avoiding the ball instead of blocking it. 

Sana jerked back as another ball almost hit her in the face. And she found herself annoyed at the prospect of being one of the first pairs out. 

She could practically hear Mitsuko's voice. No daughter of mine would lose at a human sports game. Especially one as insipid as dodgeball. 

"You have to keep your eyes open. Pay attention to who has a ball," she growled through gritted teeth. 

"They're moving too fast." 

"Left!" she snapped. He scooted over, barely batting away the ball. 

Sana felt the beginnings of a headache, and each time she dodged a ball Minmin failed to block, her stomach rolled. At first, she thought it was anger, until the nausea climbed into her throat. 

"Are you okay?" Minmin asked, glancing back at her. 

"Of course." She took deep breaths to slow her rapid pulse. She normally never got sick. Her bead bumped against her leg, like it sought to remind her that all was not normal. 

"You don't seem like you're okay." 

"Watch it!" She pulled him to the side and narrowly avoided a ball. "Will you pay attention to the game?" 

"Is this because of what you did the other night? How you fought that–"

"Would you shut up?" Sana's annoyance made her headache swell toward a crescendo.