𝗨𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗞𝗘𝗡 | p.sunghoon

𝟏𝟕.

𓏵

SPORTS CLASS wasn't exactly Sarim's favorite part of the week. She wasn't athletic, and her attempts to stay inconspicuous usually meant sticking to the edges of the field during any game. Today was no different. A soccer match was in full swing, and Sarim, as usual, tried to remain unnoticed, focusing on avoiding the ball—and the chaos that followed it.

On the other side of the field, Sunghoon kept his eyes on her, subtly observing her movements. She was clearly out of her element, flinching every time the ball came too close. He couldn't help but smirk a little at her efforts to stay out of trouble.

But that amusement quickly turned into concern when he noticed his classmate — Lee Hanjun, charging toward her, far more aggressively than necessary.

Before Sarim could react, Hanjun collided with her, knocking her off balance. She hit the ground hard, a sharp pain radiating from her knee as the breath was forced out of her lungs. The impact left her stunned, her mind racing to process what had just happened.

"Sarim!" Shuhua's voice rang out as she sprinted toward her friend, concern written all over her face.

Before Shuhua could reach her, Sunghoon was already there. His protective instincts kicked in, and anger surged through him as he saw Sarim sprawled on the ground, clutching her knee. Without hesitation, he stormed over to Hanjun, his face a mask of fury.

"What the hell is your problem?" Sunghoon growled, grabbing the boy by the collar and shoving him backward. His voice was low but carried a dangerous edge that made everyone on the field freeze.

Hanjun stumbled, taken aback by the intensity in Sunghoon's eyes. "Chill, man. It was an accident," he muttered, though the smirk playing on his lips said otherwise.

"An accident?" Sunghoon's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. "You think it's funny to hurt someone?" His voice shook with barely restrained rage as he shoved Hanjun again, harder this time.

The field fell silent. All eyes were on them as the tension crackled in the air. No one dared to intervene, and even Hanjun seemed to lose his bravado under Sunghoon's glare.

"S-Sunghoon," Sarim's soft, shaky voice cut through the tension. She struggled to sit up, wincing as her knee throbbed. "I-It's okay. I'm fine."

He didn't look away from The Lee boy for a moment, his chest heaving with anger. But after a long, tense pause, he finally let go of the boy's collar, shoving him one last time for good measure. "Stay the fuck away from her," he muttered, his voice low and menacing.

Turning away from Suyeon, Sunghoon knelt beside Sarim, his expression softening into one of genuine concern. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle now, a stark contrast to the harshness he'd just displayed.

Sarim nodded weakly, though her knee throbbed painfully. She tried to push herself up, but the moment she put weight on her leg, she winced and stumbled. Sunghoon caught her immediately, his hands steadying her.

"You're not walking on that," he said firmly, slipping her arm over his shoulder. Without waiting for her to protest, he helped her to her feet, keeping her close as they made their way off the field.

The whispers and stares of their classmates followed them, but Sunghoon didn't seem to care. His focus was solely on Sarim, ensuring she didn't stumble as they headed toward the nurse's office.

The nurse had wrapped Sarim's knee in a snug bandage, advising her to rest and avoid putting weight on it for the rest of the day. She assured Sarim it wasn't a serious injury, though the throbbing pain still lingered.

As Sarim limped out of the office, she stopped abruptly. Sunghoon was sitting on the floor outside, leaning against the wall with her black bag hugged protectively in his arms. He had fallen asleep, his head tilted to the side and his expression peaceful.

Sarim's heart fluttered at the sight. She didn't expect him to wait for her, let alone fall asleep holding her bag like it was something precious. The image of him, so calm and unguarded, made her chest tighten in a way she couldn't quite explain.

Quietly, she moved to sit beside him, careful not to wake him. As she leaned back against the wall, she stole a few glances at him. The sharp edges of his usual demeanor seemed to melt away in sleep, leaving him looking almost... soft. Gentle. The fluttering in her chest grew stronger, and a thought crept into her mind before she could stop it.

Am i in love with him?

She quickly shook her head, dismissing the idea. No, I can't be. Not with someone who used to bully me. It doesn't make sense.

As Sarim sat quietly beside Sunghoon, lost in her thoughts, the sounds of the hallway faded into a comfortable background hum. She couldn't help but admire him—his features softened in sleep, the way his hair fell across his forehead, and how peaceful he looked despite the chaos of the day.

Just then, The Park boy stirred. He blinked a few times, his eyes slowly adjusting to the light. For a moment, he seemed disoriented, then his gaze landed on Sarim. A sleepy smile crept across his face, and he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Hey," he said, his voice rough from sleep. "How are you feeling?"

Sarim felt her cheeks heat up as she realized he had caught her staring. "Um, I'm okay," she replied, a bit flustered. "Just... resting."

He glanced down at her bag resting in his lap, then back at her, concern flickering in his eyes. "Did the nurse say you were alright?"

"Yeah, just a scrape," she assured him, her heart racing as she met his gaze. "I-It's not that bad."

Sunghoon shifted, sitting up straighter. "Good," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "I was really worried."

Sarim couldn't help but notice the way he looked at her, as if he truly cared. It made the butterflies in her stomach flutter even more. She glanced away, biting her lip to hide the smile threatening to break through.

"Sorry I fell asleep," he added, yawning. "I didn't mean to make you wait."

"It's okay," she said softly, unable to suppress the warmth spreading through her at the sight of him. "I didn't mind."

Sunghoon stretched, his muscles flexing, and then he caught her gaze again, his expression suddenly serious. "I really meant what I said earlier. No one has the right to treat you like that. If anyone gives you trouble again, you let me know."

Her heart swelled at his words, a mix of gratitude and something deeper stirring within her. "T-Thanks, Sunghoon," she replied, her voice sincere. "I-I really appreciate it."

For a moment, they simply looked at each other, the air thick with unspoken emotions. Sarim felt the urge to confess everything swirling inside her, the confusion of her feelings, but the words wouldn't come.

Sunghoon broke the silence first, shifting slightly as if nervous. "So, uh, do you want to grab something to eat?" Sunghoon took his phone out of his pocket and looked at the time. "We missed lunch and you must be starving right now."

The invitation took Sarim by surprise, and she felt her heart race again. "Y-Yeah, I'd like that," she said, a shy smile creeping up her face.