SpartAce I: School Love Affair

Anxiety

Ji Hyo is anxious.

She failed to go with the group the other day with Jong Kook, whose mother has been hospitalized.

She expected to see him the day after that, but it seems like he spent the day with his mother.

She wonders if they're okay.

And the frustrating part is that the others can always drop by after class, but she has to go straight home because her aunt comes to fetch her everyday.

She might have to escape again.

But then the pain and bruises that she got the last time sge escapes had been worse. She is afraid she might have to spend the rest of her life in a wheel chair the next time she escapes.

"What are you thinking? ", she hears Joong Ki ask.

She looks at him. She's in the rooftop to get peace and quiet, hoping she can come up with a plan.

She is reminded of what Joong Ki had said back in the yacht.

She feels her heart throb in that emory, and from the look Joong kI is giving her at the moment.

She had always thought of him as a little brother, and she thought those tender gazes were natural of him.

But this time, his eyes seems to say the words he had said back then.

And she doesn't know how to respond to that.

"Are you worried about Hyung? ", he asks.

"Aren't you? "

"Of course, i am. But Noona... "

"Hm? "

He pauses and looks down at the schoolnfield below. Soccer athletes are playing under the heat of the sun, enduring and determined.

Just like what they're all doing right now.

Enduring. And determined.

Butbshe waits for what Joong Ki has to say, but he hesitates at the last second.

"Nothing."

"She seems to be a loner you know.. That Ji Hyo.. ", they hear voices approaching.

Joong Ki and she exchange looks and seems to have the same idea.

To hide.

They hastily head towards the back part of the rooftop where lots of school junks are gathered.

She gets into the narrow space left, and he follows.

She leans her back against the wall and listens.

"But now she's hanging out with those guys. What a deceiver. ", the voice says, getting louder.

"I know. I thought she's an angel. And i think that's what the boys see in her, too."

Joong Ki is about to step out of their hiding place, probably irritated with what they heard. But she holds his wrist to stop him, and he stays still.

She just stands there, listening, accepting the fact that she's being insulted. And what is more painful is that she recognized that voice.

She once trusted the owner of that voice.

"Isn't that Eun Hye eonnie? ", Joong Ki asks in a low voice. "Why is she talking bad behind your back? "

She looks up at Joong Ki. "Because----!?"

She freezes, having just realized how close they are squeezed together.

His face is just inches away from hers, and she grows suddenly aware of the scent that is coming from him.