𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐌𝐄//𝐏𝐉𝐌 𝐅𝐅

🐴12

Today is the day. The day she was supposed to be registering her attendance. The day she was supposed to be grooming Lion to present him in his finest coat. The day she should be wearing her signature black velvet blazer with golden buttons. The day she should be preparing at the grand entrance with her giant palomino.

Instead, Kim Haemi found herself at the side benches with steaming hotdogs and sweet corn. Not quite the ideal athlete diet but the girl was in bad mood for greens and fruits. Although she couldn't compete, she wished to at least spectate her possible future rivals or rising riders that might cause threat to her career.

She watched muscular horses trotting around the courses and warming up, getting heated up for the grand cross-country. No doubt Lion is going to stand out if they were in the course but they weren't. Why? Because-

"Do you want coke? Or smoothie?"

Because of him.

Her personal vet held two beverages in front of her, waiting for her reply. Honestly though, Haemi couldn't stay angry at him for causing her absence in the competition because, apparently, Jimin became quite the gentleman in just a few hours. He sent her a morning text asking how's her shoulder plus an extra apology, again. Not to mention his sudden appearance in front of her apartment, offering a ride to the cross-country. And now, now he's asking which drink she would like to have.

"Smoothie is fine. Thanks"

Haemi took his kind offer and Jimin seated beside her. Because of Haemi's respected reputation in the equestrian world, the duo was offered an upper bench where VIPs were seated and a perfect view over the course.

Haemi shifted a little away when Jimin's shoulder brushed against her. Weirdly, her cheeks heated when the close contact pulled her back to the incident last night where her vet barged into her apartment, saw her half-naked AND stood close to her while she's in just a towel.

Yikes

"Wow look, it's Light Cloud. Damn he's one fine gelding"

Jimin's statement snapped Haemi out of her embarrassing flashback. The vet leaned forward as if he could get a better look of the lean and fit dapple grey Thoroughbred. Sure was a fine horse. A champion that brought threat to Haemi and Lion as well. With Light Cloud's beautiful performance on cross-countries, Haemi couldn't help but envy the fortunate ride who had the chance of showing their talents while she's here with a bandaged shoulder.

The duo stayed quiet all the while watching the competition. A few gasps here and there whenever the competitor almost knock down the jumps. A few hiss whenever the competitor get thrown off or fell off. Nothing too surprising as cross-country was a rough sport.

The competition finished shortly and the duo proceeded down to greet the competitors and also to have a look at the beautiful horses. Haemi got excited and bounced from horses to horses while her vet struggled to catch up. The riders greeted her with sparkling eyes as the girl was quite the big star among them and she quickly got surrounded by her juniors and riders.

The poor personal vet had to squeezed through the small crowd while whispering apology whenever he bumped into someone. Eventually, he reached the girl and as if he found hope, Jimin grabbed her sleeves and pulled her to him. Haemi yelped softly when she got yanked and crashed into his chest.
She glanced up and found Jimin panted above her and slightly sweating.

"Don't....don't run away like that....gosh...."

Jimin breathed out while still holding onto her, afraid of losing her in the small crowd again and somehow felt the need to be beside her while the crowd got bigger.