SpartAce I: School Love Affair

Waver.

Ji Hyo peeks at the gate one last time before she goes inside.

Jong Kook is already walking away, his face smiling as he waves at her over his shoulder.

She waves back, her heart beating abnormally fast ever since what happened earlier in the lake.

She can not help but giggle as she remembers, her body shivering at the cold brought by her wet clothes. Jong Kook is alao walking along the road with his clothes still wet from the incident.

She enters the house and climbs upstairs before she could get a questioning look from her mother who is fortunately not in sight.

She feels triumphant as she manages to get inside her room unseen, and jumps in her toes as she sees her aunt, turning away from the window of her room to face her.

She is frpzen in place, totally aware that her aunt has been watching the whole scene ever since she arrived home.

"A-aunt Miran.. ", she says.

Her aunt's eyes are stone cold, her expression firm as she stares at her.

"I see that you haven't really heed my warnings.", Miran says, her statement simple but her voice making a huge and scary impact towards Ji Hyo, like shivers of ice is creeping right into her lungs and up to her heart.

She is well aware of the weight of the situation, and for the first time ever, she does not know what to do or say about the situation.

"I--"

"I've seen what i've seen. I'm done with my warnings."

Ji Hyo can only hang her head low, not trusting her tongue for once to save her from the situation.

"I hope you know the impact of your doings, Ji Hyo, and you better learn from this.", Miran says and then walks out of the room.

Now crazy happy beat that had been drumming in her chest all afternoon is now replaced with a heavy, sinking beat that makes her stomach upset.

She knows what her aunt is capable of doing.

Ji Hyo is worried while she goes to school on monday. Her mind keeps getting back at the memory of her aunt warning her, and she is expecting a bad news coming up any time now.

She is sitting in the cafeteria at lunch time, her eyes blank and her mind drifting at this very thought when Jong Kook comes with his tray and snaps a finger in front of her face.

"Are you alright? ", he asks, his voice low to avoid the others who are also on their way to their table to hear.

She stares at him, his brows furrowing as he waits for an answer. She remembers tge times his dark eyes glint whenever they forget the burdens of their world and just enjoy each others' company.

She always feels free and at ease whenever he's around. She knows he already have enough problem of his own to deal, and she doesn't want to add one more creasing line to his already scrunched forehead.

So she smiles and nods her head. "Yes."

But instead of getting relaxed, his forehead creases even more. "You know very well that I can read your bluffs like an open book, right? "

She chuckles, her eyes brightening as she meets his meticulous gaze. "I'm not bluffing."

By the look in his face, Jong Kook isn't gonna give it a pass, but fortunately, Jae Seok and the others arrive and settle in the benches around the table.

Ji Hyo looks around and sees that Gary isn't around. "Where's Gary Oppa? ", she asks.

"He wasn't in his class this morning. I think he's absent.", Suk Jin answers.

Another worry that Ji Hyo is reminded of. She knows Gary is disappointed about her and Jong Kook, though he tries not to show it.

But the thing about Gary is that he is as transparent as a glass. He could never hide a lie or his feelings.

She may have to talk about it whenever she sees him.

She feels a gentle kick in her left foot, and immediately knows it came from Jong Kook, who is facing Kwang Soo's direction but is obviously looking at her through the corner of his eyes.

He might have noticed that she had drifted off again.

She replies with a light kick under the table to assure him there is nothing wrong. Then she looks down and starts eating her food before he could nag her about it by his glares.

Kim Jong Kook has just gotten out from their club's training room when a person's presence surprised him.

There, right in front of him, stands Ji Hyo's Aunt. Her face is stone cold as she stares at him, her eyes has this discomforting glint as if she was sizing him up. The same get up that Song Ji Hyo used to have towards them back when she was still distant and unapproachable. Despite the fact that the woman's height ends a couple of inches below his shoulders, he could still not help but feel a little scared.

Knowing exactly why she is there, he braced himself for the upcoming pain that he is about to endure.

"Seeing the unquestioning look in your eye, I guess you already know why I am here.", Ji Hyo's aunt Mi Ran says. "Still I want to talk to you. Follow me."

The woman walks before he could even reply, as though she is certain he would follow.

He does, reluctantly sliding inside the black car where the woman enterred.

"I won't be beating around the bush. I'll be saying directly what I came here to say.", she begins, her eyes not wavering in his face. "I see that you and the others seems to be influencing Ji Hyo far more than I expected. I did not do anything more before because i thought she would soon come to her senses and snap back to reality."

Jong Kook's temper rises to danger point, but he clenches his fist to stop himself from answering back. He knows it would do no good for the situation.

Back to reality? She's talking about them as if they weren't real.

"But Ji Hyo is getting out of control, and you seem to be involved a lot more than the others."

He could not help but look at her gaze. Does she know about him and jI Hyo? Is she gonna split them apart?

"No. I'm not gonna do those drama things where I will take Ji Hyo away from you forcibly.", Mi Ran answers as if she had read his mind. "But you will leave Ji Hyo alone. As soon as possible."

Jong Kook scoffs, bitterly finding humor from the way she made it sound so easy. "I think you're underestimating the bond that Song Ji Hyo has with me and the others, Ma'am."

Mi Ran shakes her head. "No. Of course not.", she answers as if dealing with a child, gently but in a commanding tone. "That is definitely why I know you'll do it. Because I know how Ji Hyo means to you guys."

"What are you making me do?", he asks.

"I'm not making you do anything. Yet. But eventually, you will. In your own accord. Just remember this, boy..", Mi Ran leans in as if putting emphasis to her next words. "Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do for the person important to you.. Is to stop. Give up."

It has been almost ten minutes since Mi Ran's car left, but Jong Kook is still staring at the direction where it disappeared from his sight.

He is trying to figure out ways to block whatever she is trying to do. He doesn'tknow what it is, but he is certain it'sgonna affect not only Ji Hyo and him, but also the other guys.

He'll just have to hope that no one will waver.

He'll have to hope that Ji Hyo won't waver.