"Oppa, I think I'm losing my eyesight," I groaned as we headed down the stairs. I had stayed up late studying the previous night.
"Come on, let's get to school," Scoups chuckled, taking my bag from my hand as we walked.
"Morning, guys! Ready for exams?" Joshua greeted us as we joined him.
"Yeah, I guess," I mumbled, still half-asleep.
"Stay awake, A. You've got to beat me, remember?" Joshua teased, nudging me playfully.
"Please, I don't even have to try," I shot back, turning around and continuing on my way, trying to wake up fully.
The boys laughed at my groggy response, amused by my morning demeanor.
As we arrived at school, Jiyeon came up to me and wished me good luck. Returning the gesture, I wished her the same before we settled into our assigned seats. The teacher soon distributed the exam papers, and the room fell silent as everyone began scribbling away. Unlike the others, I took my time. There was no rush; after all, the results would likely be the same regardless.
I breezed through the exam like it was a piece of cake. Seriously, why stress when you know you've got this? Jiyeon beside me was zipping through her paper too, probably aiming for that perfect score. Around us, everyone was scribbling away, but I took my time, making sure every answer was spot on.
Scoups shot me an encouraging nod from across the room, and it kind of boosted my confidence even more. After what felt like both forever and no time at all, the teacher called time. I handed in my paper feeling pretty good about it.
Jiyeon and I exchanged a quick grin as we packed up our stuff, ready to bounce out of that classroom and onto the next adventure: waiting for those results.
It was after school, and as usual, I found myself taking a seat on the sidelines while the boys changed for their basketball practice.
Staring off into space, my attention was suddenly drawn to a group of guys from another school walking into the gym. "Hey, what's up with more smelly dudes running in?" I joked, glancing over at Joshua for an explanation.
"Oh, we have a practice match today," Joshua explained, a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Practice match, huh?" I replied, leaning back against the bleachers. "Guess I'm in for another thrilling afternoon of basketball."
As the guys from the other school were warming up, I felt a lingering stare from one of them. When I glanced in his direction, he quickly averted his gaze. Initially thinking it might be my imagination, I decided to brush it off and ignore it, focusing instead on watching the practice unfold.
As I was refilling the water bottles outside, I heard an unfamiliar voice and turned to see a tall guy standing beside me. "Hey," he greeted casually.
"Oh, I'll be done soon," I replied with a smile, assuming he was waiting to refill his water bottle.
"That's not why I approached you," he said, catching me off guard. "I think you're really pretty, and I was wondering if I could get your number?"
I hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond. "Um, I don't think that's a good idea," I said, trying to politely decline.
"How about this then," he suggested with a confident grin, "if my team wins the match today, can I get your number then?"
I chuckled nervously, thinking to myself that there was no way Scoups and the guys would lose. "Yeah, I guess so," I agreed, secretly betting on my brother and his team.
"Cool, I'll see you later then," he said cheerfully before strolling back onto the court.
I sighed to myself, realizing what I had just agreed to. "Ah, crap, what have I gotten myself into now? Why did you have to make me so beautiful, God?" I muttered humorously to myself as I finished refilling the water bottles and returned to take a seat on the sideline.
As the game progressed, my excitement grew alongside my anxiety. Scoups and the team were playing with their usual precision, dribbling and shooting with skill.
Throughout the match, I noticed the guy from the other team occasionally glancing in my direction. Every time our eyes met, he flashed a confident smile that made me blush a little. It was flattering, yet also nerve-wracking, as I wasn't sure how serious he was about our bet.
During a break in the action, Scoups looked over at me and gave a thumbs-up, acknowledging my support from the sideline.
As the game neared its end, it was tied with just ten minutes left. My nerves were at an all-time high. The back-and-forth action was intense, with both teams pushing hard to gain an advantage. Then, in the last few seconds, the guy from the other team managed to steal the ball. He made a clutch shot, a buzzer-beater that won the game for his team!
I couldn't believe it—luck seemed to be on his side today. As the teams shook hands, I sat there in shock like my literal jaw was on the floor, realizing I had lost the bet.
Panicking, I was at a loss for what to do. Should I run? Should I faint? Before I could decide, he approached me with a confident smile. "Hey, remember that bet? Looks like I won," he said casually.
"Haha, yeah," I nervously laughed, avoiding his eyes as I glanced over at the boys, who were watching with curious expressions.
"So, am I going to get your number or...?" he trailed off, clearly expecting an answer.
Feeling overwhelmed, I panicked and hastily pulled him aside. "Listen, I..." I began, but before I could finish, I was interrupted.
"Sorry, she's got a boyfriend," a voice cut in. I turned to see Jeonghan standing there.
"Oh, sorry about that, man. She didn't tell me," the guy explained, looking a bit taken aback.
"Well, yeah, I didn't know about it either," I mumbled to myself, looking away to avoid any eye contact.
"Come on, Ara," Jeonghan said gently, intertwining his fingers with mine and leading me away from the awkward situation.
He walked me back inside to where the boys were waiting, giving them a casual wave. "So, girlfriend, want to explain?" Jeonghan said with a grin, easing the tension.
"Yeah, what does he want anyway?" Scoups scoffed.
"Well, when I went to refill your water bottles, he came up to me and asked me for my number," I explained.
"And what did you say?" Scoups raised an eyebrow.
"Of course, I said no. Then he proceeded to make a bet, saying that if his team wins, he could get my number," I continued.
"So you betted on us?" Joshua chuckled. "Well, yeah, who knew you would lose," I said playfully, looking somewhere else.
"He was just lucky," Jeonghan added.
"Yeah, he was lucky I missed the three-pointer 'cause my hand slipped," Scoups exclaimed, shaking his head.
After the match, we quickly gathered in the locker room to change, leaving Ara to wait outside.
"So, you're the one who hit on my sister just now?" Scoups said, his voice low and serious as he approached the guy from the other school.
"Yeah, why? I was just being friendly," the guy replied nervously, but his tone remained steady.
"Friendly or not, if you mess with her, you'll regret it. I don't take kindly to anyone crossing that line," Scoups said firmly, his gaze unwavering.
Jeonghan walked up beside Scoups, his expression calm yet assertive. "Look, buddy, she's already said she's not interested. I suggest you respect that."
The other guy chuckled nervously, trying to downplay the situation. "Come on, man, just having a chat. No harm done."
Scoups shook his head firmly. "It's not about harm. She's off limits. Understand?"
The guy hesitated, sensing the seriousness and determination in Scoups' and Jeonghan's voices. "Yeah, okay. Got it."
YOU ARE READING
Reputation
Romance"You know what's the most attractive thing about you?" I whisper into his ear, my voice barely a breath. "Your brain." "I know, love, that's why I can keep you entertained," he replies softly, his grin filled with promises that send shivers down my...
