You're My Target

Chapter 17

After a rather uneventful sunday, Troy found himself back in school on monday. he wasnt exactly sure what he would be walking into after all that had happened over the weekend, but it turned out the day was pretty casual. no mention of his fight with Jun, or any crazy rumors. today was the day however that all after school activity would be resuming. This meant hockey would be back and also his agriculture activity.Troy made his way to the cafeteria to meet with Hank and Pryor like he always did, but on his way he was stopped by Narsha.

"hey Troy!" she said tapping his shoulder. "we got club activity today after school."

"today?" Troy asked rubbing his chin.

"yea, we have a lot of work to do and make up for all the time we were away." Narsha informed him.

"but i have hockey..." Troy started to say, but was cut off.

"no excuses Troy, you better be there!" narsha snapped.

"ill try..." Troy shrugged timidly, knowing he couldn't argue with her.

"you better. or else." narsha said before continuing on her way.

Troy rubbed his head. he couldn't miss the first day back to hockey practice... when he got to the cafeteria, Hank and Pryor were already waiting for him.Hey guys." Troy said greeting them.

"hey man, how is it going?" Pryor said slapping his hand. hank also slapped it as well.

"Narsha just told me the agriculture club meets today. but we have hockey practice too." Troy said."oh that bossy girl who brought the beer right?" Hank asked.

"yea thats her." Troy nodded.

"this is our first practice after all that happened. we can't not be there. plus we're deciding on a new captain." Pryor said.

"yea i get all that. im itching to get out there and play. but i was hoping to talk to Hyomin. thats all." Troy replied.

"already back to your old self." Hank said. "you just cant stick with one girl."

"listen i dont wanna hear any of that stuff. especially from you." Troy said sticking his hand in hanks face.

"whats that supposed to mean huh?" Hank said maneuvering his face around Troys hand.

"it means you were all about your girl Jiyeon 'til Qri was up in your business at the party." Troy said smirking.

"well what was i supposed to do?" Hank said throwing up his hands acting innocent. "you don't just turn down a dance with QRI!"

"hes got a point Troy." Pryor chimed in.

"ohhh sure, if you guys do it its fine, but if i do it 'im a player. im a crazy out of control city boy'." Troy grumbled.

"well its just that you had a shot with Hyomin then turned her down for Soyeon." Hank said.

"do you guys listen to anything i say?" Troy asked getting frustrated, but trying to keep cool.

"yes. we just dont always believe what you say." Pryor admitted.

"well i just wanted to ask Hyomin about soyeon. we are partners in the club so when Narsha told me we had stuff to do today i figured id just ask her." Troy explained.

"but you dont ask Hwayoung or Jiyeon who are in your homeroom?" Hank said skeptical of troy.

"hes got a point again troy." Pryor said.

"Hwayoung wasnt in homeroom today and Jiyeon was busy with her fanboys!" troy shouted.

mhmmmm" Hank replied rolling his eyes.

"I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!" troy said loudly losing his temper and visibly aggravated.he stormed off to the lunch line to get food.

"he wouldn't get so mad if it weren't true." Hank said.

"you got a point." Pryor smiled.

Later on, Troy hoped to run into a tiara before the end of the day but of course when he needs to, they are no where to be found. he headed to hockey practice because it was his priority, but felt guilty about skipping out on Agriculture club.as he walked toward the locker room, he noticed a familiar figure standing outside the main gym doors. it was Eunjung.

"hey look who is finally back in school." Troy said as he approached her.

"Troy, i knew youd be here." Eunjung said.

"hey, are you ok?" troy asked, noticing she was lingering around the gym a place he didn't expect to see her now that Jang was gone.

"yea, why?" Eunjung replied unsure of Troys question.

"oh, i guess i just didnt think id see you around the team as much anymore now that Jang...uhh" Troy stopped himself noticing Eunjung looking away from him and at the floor.she didnt say anything, and just stared at the floor for awhile.

"im sorry. i shouldnt have said that." Troy said apologizing.

"no Troy. you're right. maybe i shouldn't be around it. maybe i should just forget everything. the smell of his equipment. the sounds of the game. waiting outside the locker room like hes just magically going to come out back from the dead." Eunjung said choking up.

"ahh, man i didn't.. mean it like that." Troy tried to take back what he said.

"maybe im not ready to be back around it Troy. thanks for pointing it out. ill just go now that i know for sure Jang isnt really ever coming back." Eunjung said with teary eyes, turning her back on Troy. her emotions were pouring out.

"Eunjung wait!" Troy said grabbing her arm.she tried to pull it free.

"im not letting you walk away upset." Troy told her. "your friends will murder me, and im sorry i shouldn't have brought him up."

"its not your fault Troy." Eunjung cried. "of course i still miss him... and it is hard being here right now. i know i'm not ready to be back.. but i had to try"

"it's expected you miss him. we all do." Troy told her.

"but that isn't why i'm here. or maybe it is and im just making excuses to say otherwise." eunjung said sniffling. "i came to see you."

"me?" Troy said surprised. "why me?"

"well, i could use your help. you jerk." she said wiping her nose with the back of her hand.

"yea, of course, with what?" he said to her concerned.

"well i have some of Jangs things at my place and he has some of mine at his place..." she paused and looked up at him and the look on Troys face showed he was already regretting he said yes to her so soon.

"and you want me to help?" Troy asked.Eunjung nodded. "you have the moped now and thought it would make the whole process quicker."

"Eunjung.. i dont know, i mean. " Troy said, not keen on going to Jangs house or the idea in general. he thought he was done with the ordeal.

"please Troy, i don't want to ask Jun." Eunjung said.

"alright. fine." Troy sighed. "its the least could do after making you cry i guess."

"thank you." she said smiling. "i knew i could count on you."

"don't mention it." he smiled back.

"we'll probably do it sometime this week. but if not then this weekend ok?" Eunjung said.

"sure. keep me updated." Troy said to her nodding his head.

"i will. thank you again." she said backing up from him before turning around to leave.as she walked away, she turned and looked back at him. Troy just smiled and waved, and she waved back.

"real smooth." Troy said to himself as he entered the teams locker room.

he was a little late thanks to his run in with Eunjung. the other team members must have already geared up as the locker room was empty. Troy quickly got dressed and made his way to the rink as well. when he got there he noticed the team was all gathered around the bench area. Troy spotted Hank and Pryor and went to see what they were all discussing.

"sorry im late." Troy said. "whats up?"

"things dont look good for us." Hank said as Troy joined them.

"what do you mean?" troy asked with a concerned look.

"after Jangs death and the calamity in the town where it happened, they want to stop all traveling sport activities." Pryor said. "for safety purposes."

"o man, i dont even know what to say." Troy said.

"they cant do this!" Pryor said frustrated . "we cant just not play."

"i know but, they have a point with the increased violence along the border, it puts the students at risk if they go to that area. would it be fair to just not allow teams in a high risk area not to play?" Hank said.

"Troy come on you have to be against it, the whole reason you came to this school was to play for our team. do you want it to be for nothing?" Pryor urged him.

"i know what you're saying Pryor." Troy said in agreement. "but i don't want another incident like that day..."Troy was torn.

"well its all in the hands of the school boards." Hank shrugged. "if enough schools agree on not participating then there's nothing we can do."

"this is bogus." Pryor said leaving the rink, and heading back to the locker room.troy excused himself and followed Pryor into the locker room.

"you alright?" Troy asked sitting down on the bench beside Pryor who was looking flustered.

"its just... i mean, it doesnt make sense to take sports from us." Pryor said. "do you know what i mean?"

"well. sort of." Troy answered him honestly. he didnt expect Pryor to be taking it so hard. "dont get all worked up, im sure things will work out."

he gave Pryor a pat on the shoulder. Pryor just sat silently looking at the floor.Troy didnt know what else to say or do."well, if practice isn't happening, i don't think you'll mind if i scoot on over to the agriculture club right? cause like they were expecting me..." Troy said awkwardly knowing the timing was bad.
Pryor just waved at him to go. troy quickly took off his equipment and changed back to his uniform and hurried over to the Agriculture classroom.when he got there the classroom looked empty. he poked his head inside the door.

"hello?" Troy said looking for anyone.

"who's there?" said a voice from a closet beside the door.

"its Troy.." he answered. a pale skinned girl emerged from the closet with a curious look on her face. she had black wavy hair and dark eyes.

"oh, youre very late." Said Sunhwa, greeting him.

"oh hey Sunhwa, where is everyone." Troy asked.

"they all left to go finish planting some stuff." she answered. "i had to stay here with Sori and clean up."

"with who?" Troy asked.

"uhm, Sori. dont you remember her?" sunhwa asked. she pointed over to sori who was hunched over in some cabinets putting supplies away.

"im sorry but i don't think i've ever met her." Troy said scratching his head.

"shes here all the time... how could you not know her by now? and people call me an airhead." sunhwa said shaking her head at Troy.

"so is it too late to go out and help them or, should i stay here and help you guys?" troy asked her.

"we're good here. and i think Narshas gona be mad cause you were late. i think you can just go to hockey practice." Sunhwa said.

"i just came from there..." Troy sighed.

"well take some time off then. we can handle things here right Sori?" Sori just nodded, continuing to work diligently.

"shes not very talkative." Sunhwa said quietly

"alright, then i guess." Troy shrugged. "i will see you guys later."Troy slowly walked out to the school courtyard. the weather was a tad chilly. he remembered his first date with Soyeon and how cold it was that day. a soft wind blew across his face as he walked over to his moped. he sat on it and sat to think to himself for awhile. he decided to make a stop for something to eat on the way home now that he had free time. Troy pulled up to his usual dinner location. he was greeted by the mustached man and troy kindly waved back.

"i thought you said youd tell your cute little friend Boram that i missed her?" he said chuckling at Troy as he sat down.

"oh you're right." Troy said remembering the conversation they had previously. "i forgot, it was a hectic weekend."

"its ok. shall i make you the usual?" he asked smiling

"yes, please." Troy nodded. Troy noticed a girl who seemed to be in his age range sitting at the opposite end of the counter. she had very bright hair, almost orange in color and it was tied tightly back into a bun. she was looking at Troy out of the corner of her eyes. Troy didnt think much of it, and sat patiently waiting for his food.when it was ready the mustached man placed it in front of him with a smile. "enjoy it!"

"thank you, i will" Troy said looking delightedly at the hamburger.as troy dove into his food, the man walked down toward the girl.

"and are you finally ready to order miss?"she looked over at Troy and got up and slid a few stools down slowly. Troy noticed as the girl steadily inched toward him. he clutched his hamburger and started backing up as she got closer. his eyes widened wondering just what this girl was doing."whats this?" she said randomly, reaching out and pointing at Troys hamburger.Troy and the man looked at each other.

"its a hamburger miss." the man answered.

"can i try some?" she asked looking at Troy. she had a serious, but funny look on her face.

"uhm, i dont know you..." Troy said trying to hide his food.

"just a little, ive never seen anything like that before." she said reaching to take it.Troy tried to avoid her, but ... suddenly decided to hand it to her... the mustached man watched in a mixture of disbelief and awe.the girl took the hamburger from troy and took a big bite out of it. she closed her eyes and began to chew. a big smile crossed her face."its very good." she said after swallowing it.

"would you like to order one?" the man asked.

"oh, no thank you i haven't got any money on me right now." she said smiling.she handed the burger back to troy, who was looking a bit dazed from the odd girls behavior."actually, i have to be going, i totally forgot i had to be somewhere." she said getting up in a hurry.

"haha. okay then miss. have a good night." the man said

"thanks for the bite, Troy." the girl said before darting off.

Troy stiffened and quickly turned his head to her after she said his name."a friend of yours?" the man asked him.

"no. ive never seen her before" Troy said sounding a little worried."well she seems to know you, ladies man!" the man chuckled.Troy could barely finish his meal after the odd encounter with the strange girl. just who was she? and how did she know his name? he looked down the road and she was still in sight...Troy put some money on the counter and left the hamburger. he ran to his moped and decided to follow the girl and get some answers.his tires screeched as he took off after her. the chilly air whipped across his face as he sped down the street. he squinted his eyes as tears began to build up in them.as he got closer, the girl turned down a side street. Troy went even faster, to catch her. he approached the street she turned on but he didn't see her. he drove down it looking to see if she made another turn, but he still didn't see her. "where is she? i know she went down this road." Troy said thinking to himself coming to a stop. the street was empty, nothing but the dim glow of the street lamps that were beginning to come on and some trash blowing in the wind. it was as if the girl vanished or walked through the building walls...Troy looked around one last time, before giving up, and deciding to head home....