from the start | jake sim

4

Seoyun's POV

"I've paired you guys up," Mr Kim begin announcing the names of the pairs, and when it got to me, my smile fell. "Seoyun and Jake."

"Mr Kim, I revoke my partner." Jake said while raising his hand up, "Jake, did I ask for your thoughts?" He shook his head.

Jake put his hand down, and he walked over to me while looking visibly upset. "Listen up, I take sports very seriously and I'm very competitive. I know you're all pretty pretty, anti-sweat team, but since we're partners I hope you can cooperate."

I stared at him in awed, as I motioned Hana over. I wrote something down on my phone, and she looked over at Jake.

"All that just for a game in PE?" He groaned as he turned his back, and was about to walk away when she called out to him.

"Seoyun said you're lucky she's competitive too." He turned around, looking unamused. "Competitive in what? Fashion?" I furrowed my brows.

Jake eyed Hana, "Don't you ever feel used by her? You're literally like a slave to her." I kicked him on his shin, and he held his shin while groaning in pain.

"Hey! That's foul!" I rolled my eyes, before walking off.

When it's time for the game, I stood at the starting line with Jake next to me. "It's a team game, so later I'll raise my left leg and you'll raise your right. Understand?" I nodded.

"I don't get it, why can't you talk for yourself?" I ignored him, and Mr Kim blow the whistle which means the race has started.

Jake cling onto my arm, as we did the plan that he said. "Faster." He said, and I sped up too.

"Just a few more steps." He kept repeating, until we got to the finishing line and Mr Kim blew the whistle once more. "We have a winner!"

Jake was grinning from ear to ear, and he looked over at me. "Not bad, Ariel" He smirked.

"You did it!" Chaeyeon came running to me while squealing, "You mean we did it?" Jake eyed her, and she just ignored him.

I punched some words into my phone and showed it to Chaeyeon. "Seoyun said good job." He rolled his eyes before walking off.

"Are we thinking too much into it? I re-" Chaeyeon cut me off, "I've read almost the entire teenager series with all the juicy tips and stories, of course we're not thinking too much."

She placed a hand on my shoulder, "Trust me."

"But it's getting a little hard to not fight back, I mean Jake is annoying." She pursed her lips, "If you want him to get the hint, this is the only possible way."

When the last bell rang, I went to the carpark again. While walking there, I heard someone calling out to me and I turned to see Jay.

He grinned, "Did you receive my message? or did I send it to someone else." I nodded, "I did receive it."

"Oh, why didn't you reply me?" I pursed my lips, "I don't know what intentions you have, but I'm really not interested."

Jay blocked my way, "Look, I just want to get to know you. What do I have to do for you to give me a chance?" I let out a sigh.

My eyes widened and I shot him a teasing smile, "introduce yourself in the field in just your underpants." His smile fell, "You're kidding." I shrugged and was about to walk off, when he grabbed my arm.

"Is there no other way around this?" He pointed at the sky, "It's winter time, I might get hypothermia."

I let out a sigh, "Jay, it's just a matter of seconds."

"You're a bully." He said, "Then don't be friends with a bully." I shrugged, as I walked off and got into the car. As the door closed behind me, I looked out of the window to see Jay in deep thoughts.

A small smile crept up on my face, "Interesting."

"What is?" Mr Park asked as he got in, "Nothing."

"Sorry Seoyun, I have to get something on the way back. Can I trouble you to wait for a while?" I nodded with a smile, "No worries."

Mr Park have been circling the area for a bit, "Is something wrong?" He shook his head, "It's just that there isn't any parking space."

I shrugged, "What do you want? I'll get it for you." He looked back at me with an apologetic expression, before telling me his order.

I walked into the cafe that he told me, as I scanned through the dessert aisle. "Hi, how may I help y-" His smile fell when he saw me.

"Am I seeing things? Ariel is buying her own food at a lowly cafe?" I let out a sigh, "Can I get a macchiato and a cheesecake to go?" 

Jake smirked, "I thought you're resting your voice. What happened to the Ariel facade?" I glared at him and he shrugged before preparing my order.

"So you work here?" I asked, "No, I just got bored while eating and decided to go behind the counter to prepare food." He stared at me with an emotionless expression.

"A simple yes would be sufficient." I muttered.

He motioned me to the counter, "Total would be 18,000 won. Payment by?" I paid, and he gave me the receipt.

"How's the working environment?" He shrugged, "It's fine." He eyed me, "Are you thinking of working?"

I pursed my lips, "The working environment here is horrible, I have to work 24/7 and it's just so hectic. 10 out of 10 would not recommend."

I placed a hand on my waist, "The environment seems good." He shook his head, "You just came at the right time."

"Why do you need to work? I thought you're all rich and wealthy, and whatever." I forced a smile.

"Is my food done?"

7 December 2023