[Sowon x Jin] Of Sunshine and Hurricanes

two

I woke up to the first snowfall of the season. From the window, I saw the thick blanket of snow that had piled up on the ground. Looking at the abrupt change of weather, I felt funny. Last night I was just thinking about how winter was approaching fast, and all of a sudden, it was already here right before my own eyes.

Finally, drawing the curtains down, I leapt out of my bed and skidded into my bathroom to start my day. After getting dressed for school, in one go, I grabbed my bag, a red scarf from my drawer and a black hooded coat that I had been wash-and-wearing since the last few weeks of autumn.

As soon as I finished breakfast, I headed out with Sangwoo. Releasing my bicycle from its rack, I put on my helmet, kneepads, and elbow pads before I pedaled my way to school, closely following my brother who rode another bike.

At the end of the first street where the railroad crossing was, Seokjin, in his own bike as well, was waiting for the red light to turn green. Sangwoo drew himself near Seokjin and kicked him on the ankle, making the unsuspecting Seokjin lose his balance on the bike. Though with his fast reflexes, Seokjin got back on his feet quickly without totally falling over with his bike.

I could only shake my head at my brother's ridiculous antics.

"Morning, loser," Sangwoo snickered.

Seokjin just gave my brother a playful punch on the arm.

"Is that what you call getting even?" I asked, mocking Seokjin because if I was him, I would have choked my brother to death.

"That'll only make me a greater loser than him, though," he said, puffs of mist coming out of his mouth. I tsk-ed but found myself agreeing to Seokjin, anyway.

"Shut up, Jin," was all Sangwoo could say.

Minutes later, after the train had gone past us, the gates were lifted up eventually. The three of us went on.

.:.

"I'm a dead meat," Yuju whined, shaking me. As we ambled along the hallway, she glided backwards, blocking my way. "Let me copy your homework, please."

"Are you crazy?" I freed my arm from her grip. "Even if I let you, Mr. Choi will know just by comparing our answers, idiot."

"I'm a dead meat, Sowon," Yuju repeated, tousling her long hair out of frustration before I pulled her by the hand on our way to the school canteen.

When we arrived, the canteen was packed as usual, but the line moved quickly. After filling up our lunch trays with rice, kimchi soup and stir-fried vegetables, we occupied the nearest empty table we could find.

I ate my lunch in silence, while Yuju made various comments about the food, including her disappointment about the lack of fruits to choose from today's menu. From time to time, she would fill me in with gossips I was not particularly aware about nor interested in, but I kept listening to it anyway, because if there was something that I learned from being friends Yuju since we were in fifth grade, that would be her odd talent for keeping you engrossed in whatever she says.

"I heard this one just yesterday, too," she leaned over the table, whispering to me as if we were the only people who should know whatever rumor that was. "The Tigress likes Seokjin oppa. She plans on confessing to him soon."

I flinched at hearing Seokjin's name, and the fact that he was supposedly involved in a rumor with the school's muse and Taekwondo champion (thus, the moniker Tigress) baffled me more than anything else. In a way, it sounded funny, too.

"Eyy, you serious?" I replied, doubtful. "Does that Han Soeun even have time for that? With all that training and competitions?"

Yuju smirked, eyes expectant. "What do you say about betting on it?"

I pushed another spoonful of rice into my mouth. "Bet on what?"

"Them becoming together or not."

"No."

"Why not?"

"You know too much of these things. I'm at disadvantage."

"It's just a rumor, though. We can take it with a grain of salt."

After gulping a glass of water, I sighed. "Fine. I don't think Seokjin will like her back. That guy's only interested with his video games and playing with my brother. And he rejected all the girls who confessed to him, that heartless guy. He even lets us have the boxes he receives every Pepero Day!"

"Right, right," Yuju nodded. "But I have a feeling it'll be different with Han Soeun. She's pretty, a good role model and most importantly, an Olympian-in-training. What's not to like about her?"

"Well, I guess we'll see," I finally stood up, taking my empty tray. "Give me half of your monthly allowance if I win."

Yuju took her own tray and walked beside me. "Call. You'll give me half of yours, anyway."

Laughing, I nudged her by the elbow as we returned our dirty food tray on the counter. On our way back to the classroom, after a bit, the bell rang.

.:.

My first thought was: I haven't saved enough money yet.

"You're Kim Sowon, aren't you?" the girl asked. For the second time now, because the first time was just a few seconds ago. When she tapped me on my shoulder, one morning, while I was putting my books inside my locker.

"Kim S-Sowon, a f-freshman?" she stuttered at first, and I could sense the nervousness behind her friendly smile. "Oh my gosh I think I got the wrong per-"

"No! No!" I refuted and bowed, gathering myself on the spot for the upperclassman standing in front of me. "I'm the right person- I mean, I'm Kim Sowon."

She exhaled, relieved. With a calmer smile, she said, "Um, I don't really want to sound creepy, but I just happened to know you're Sangwoo's younger sister..."

I waited for her to carry on.

She pursed her lips before she continued, "And that makes you probably the next closest person to Seokjin after Sangwoo, so I thought I could ask you a favor..."

A silence.

"Will you please help me give this to Seokjin?" she told me, and I could have sworn she said it in just three seconds.

I bowed, taking the small pink scented envelope from Han Soeun's hands.