𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 - 𝘚. 𝘑𝘢𝘦𝘺𝘶𝘯

After School

The afternoon sun streamed through the clouds as Jake finished up his last football practice of the week. he leaned against the wall, taking a long sip from his water bottle. The scent of fresh grass lingered in the air, mixed with the sounds of laughter and playful conversation from his teammates.

"Jake! Great game today" one of his friends called out, playfully shoving him as they passed by.

"Yeah, you did great"Jake grinned, feeling a sense of pride swell within him. Just as he was about to join the rest of the team for post-practice hangouts, he remembered he needed to refill his water bottle.

On the other side of the school, Yeri walked down the corridor, clutching a stack of papers. She had been asked to drop off some assignments for a teacher in the staff room, and the quickest route took her past the boys' locker room. Her heart raced a little as she approached, not because of the boys inside but because she often felt shy around them—especially Jake.

As she passed the water fountain, she wasn't paying attention and nearly collided with someone. She looked up, her eyes widening as she recognized Jake, fresh from practice and looking effortlessly attractive.

"Oh! Sorry!" she exclaimed, stepping back a bit too quickly.

Jake's cheeks flushed slightly at the sudden close proximity. "No worries! I should've been looking where I was going" he replied, his voice a mix of surprise and warmth.

For a moment, they stood there, the sound of water trickling from the fountain filling the space between them. Yeri's heart raced, partly from the encounter and partly because of how good Jake looked. He flashed her that signature grin, and she felt her cheeks heat up.

"What are you doing here?" Jake asked, tilting his head slightly, curious about her.

"I'm just dropping off some papers for Mr. Kim" she explained, her voice quieter now as she gestured to the stack in her hands. "I didn't mean to interrupt practice or anything."

Jake laughed softly, shaking his head. "Not at all. I was just grabbing some water. I didn't expect to see you here."

Yeri, fidgeted with her papers, suddenly feeling a mix of shyness and excitement at their conversation. "i thought i should try getting these papers to Mr Kim as quickly as i could." She knew girls weren't allowed near the boys' locker rooms but she didn't think anyone would see her.

"Well, this is definitely a good change of plan" Jake said, stepping a little closer, the atmosphere making him feel bold. "You should come by the games sometime. It's fun to have some cheering from the sidelines."

Yeri's eyes widened slightly at the invitation. "wait, really?"

"I want you there." he smirked down at her. Yeri felt her stomach flutter.

"Hey, practice is finishing up and i've been gone too long. I'll see you later" He realised as he pushed himself off the wall.

"Bye."Yeri practically whispered, feeling a bit breathless.

As they stood there the air around them buzzing with excitement. Jake took a step back, but not before giving her a quick, teasing look. "Don't stand me up. I'll be looking for you at the next game."

"I won't" Yeri replied, her voice coming out softer than she would've wanted. "I'll try to make it."

With that, Jake turned and jogged back towards the field, leaving Yeri standing by the fountain, a mix of warmth and fluttering excitement washing over her. She couldn't help but smile to herself.