ChapterFive
1311 Words
The door swung open, and light spilled into the storage room.
Ha-eun looked up.
Kang Tae-jun stood in the doorway.
His eyes moved over her disheveled appearance, taking in the milk dripping from her hair, her stained uniform and the bruises on her arms.
“What happened to you?”
Ha-eun tried to answer, but her throat felt too tight. She pushed herself away from the shelf, only for her knees to weaken.
Tae-jun stepped forward.
“Hey. Easy.”
He noticed how frightened she looked.
“It’s all right. You’re not locked in anymore.”
Ha-eun pressed a hand against her chest.
“Look at me,” he said gently. “Take your time. You’re safe.”
She tried to focus on his face, following his steady voice as she struggled to control her breathing.
When he offered his hand, she hesitated before taking it.
He helped her out and waited until she was steady.
“Can you walk?”
She nodded.
“Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up.”
He led her to a bench near the first-aid room. After asking her to sit, he returned with a first-aid kit and a bottle of water.
Ha-eun took a few sips while he crouched in front of her.
“Your hands.”
She looked down at her scraped palms.
“It’s nothing.”
“Doesn’t look like nothing.”
He poured antiseptic onto a piece of gauze.
“This might sting.”
She winced as he cleaned the wounds, but he handled her hands gently before wrapping them.
His gaze shifted to the bruise forming on her cheek.
“Who hit you?”
Ha-eun looked away.
“Your girlfriend.”
His hands stopped.
“Ha-rin?”
“Who else?”
He stared at her briefly, but she offered no explanation.
After closing the kit, he stood and glanced at her uniform.
“Your clothes are soaked.”
Before she could respond, he removed his jacket and held it out.
“Here. Wear this.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know. Take it.”
She accepted it.
“Thank you.”
Tae-jun checked his phone and swore.
“s**t. I’m late.”
“For what?”
“My game.”
He looked towards the gym.
“Wait here until I’m done. I’ll take you home afterwards.”
Ha-eun hesitated. She didn’t want to inconvenience him, but travelling home alone in her condition wasn’t appealing.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Just stay here.”
She nodded.
He handed her bag back, and they headed towards the gym.
The moment they entered, the noise from the court filled the space. Players were warming up while students crowded the bleachers.
Several people turned towards Tae-jun, but their attention quickly shifted to Ha-eun and the jacket around her shoulders.
Whispers began almost immediately.
Tae-jun seemed not to notice.
“Captain!” a group of boys called.
“About time!” one shouted. “Coach has been looking for you.”
“Then don’t give him another reason to complain.”
His teammate laughed.
Tae-jun turned to Ha-eun.
“Sit over there. I’ll come and get you after the game.”
He placed her bag beside an empty seat before jogging onto the court.
A whistle sounded, and the game began.
Ha-eun settled at the far end of the bleachers. She hadn’t planned to spend her afternoon watching basketball, but she needed to wait for Tae-jun.
He was different on the court.
His teammates listened when he called out instructions. He watched the opposing team’s movements, directing his players whenever they lost their positions.
A few minutes later, he received the ball near the three-point line. He shifted past his defender and drove towards the basket, changing direction just before the player could block him.
The ball dropped through the net.
The crowd erupted.
Ha-eun turned when someone stopped in front of her.
Ha-rin.
Her eyes went straight to the jacket.
“Why are you wearing Tae-jun’s jacket?”
“He gave it to me.”
Ha-rin’s expression hardened.
“Take it off.”
Ha-eun glanced down before looking back at her.
“What?”
“I said take it off. It belongs to my boyfriend.”
“He told me I could wear it.”
Ha-rin stared at her.
“Are you seriously refusing to give me my boyfriend’s jacket?”
“I’ll return it after the game.”
One of Ha-rin’s friends shifted uncomfortably.
“Ha-rin, people are watching.”
Several students had stopped talking. A few were openly staring, while others whispered behind their hands.
Ha-rin lowered her voice.
“Take it off. Now.”
Ha-eun held her gaze.
“I told you I'd return it after the game.”
“Do you have a hearing problem?”
“No. I heard you the first time.”
Her friend’s eyes widened.
Ha-rin stepped closer.
“Don’t mistake his kindness for something special. He feels sorry for you. That’s all.”
Ha-eun glanced briefly towards the court.
“Then you have nothing to worry about.”
Ha-rin’s expression changed.
“What did you just say?”
“Ha-rin,” her friend warned, touching her arm. “Let’s go.”
Ha-rin pulled away. For a moment, it looked as though she might reach for the jacket, but Ha-eun didn’t move.
A whistle sounded, followed by a burst of cheering. Ha-rin glanced towards the court. Tae-jun was already running back into position, completely unaware of the confrontation.
She looked at the watching students again. She couldn’t afford to make a scene over a jacket.
“Keep it,” she said, forcing a smile. “You’ll have to give it back eventually.”
Ha-eun said nothing.
Ha-rin held her gaze before turning away.
“Come on.”
Her friends followed.
Ha-eun watched them leave before returning her attention to the court. Tae-jun was still playing, apparently unaware of what had happened. He called for the ball, received a pass and moved towards the basket.
She adjusted the jacket around her shoulders.
She only had to wait until the game was over. Then she could return it and leave.
That was all.
Ha-rin walked towards the opposite end of the bleachers, keeping her expression composed.
She could feel people watching her. That was the worst part.
She had never been embarrassed in front of a crowd like that, especially not over a girl who had barely been at Myeongseong for a few days.
One of her friends caught up with her.
“Ha-rin, are you okay?”
“Do I look like I’m not?”
The girl fell quiet.
Ha-rin glanced back at the court. Tae-jun was still playing, completely focused on the game. He hadn’t even noticed the scene she’d just walked away from.
And that scholarship girl was sitting in his jacket.
What the hell was going on?
Tae-jun barely paid attention to other girls. Even when students approached him after games, he usually gave them a polite smile before returning to his teammates.
But he’d found Ha-eun, helped her, given her his jacket and brought her into the gym with him.
In front of everyone.
Ha-rin pressed her lips together.
“Who does she think she is?” she muttered.
Her friend glanced towards Ha-eun.
“Maybe Tae-jun was just helping her. She looked pretty upset.”
“Then why did he have to give her his jacket?”
“Ha-rin…”
“Don’t.” She shot her a warning look. “I don’t want to hear it.”
She turned her attention back to the court.
Tae-jun hadn’t even looked towards her.
Shibal. Since when did I have to compete for my own boyfriend’s attention?
Her nails dug into her palm.
That girl had better not mistake one act of kindness for an invitation to take her place.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD