Chapter 15 — Sports, Smiles, and Small Hearts
513 Words
The afternoon sun beat down on the university sports field, casting long shadows across the grass.
It was one of those days the school set aside for student sports competitions—friendly, but competitive enough to draw crowds.
Alicia tugged her uniform shirt nervously as she joined her team.
Today, she was on Jae-hyun’s team.
Min-ho had been assigned to the other side, as if fate was teasing him.
The game started with energy buzzing in the air.
Alicia ran across the field, dodging players, trying to keep up with Jae-hyun’s fast pace.
She barely noticed the warm breeze blowing through her natural curls, the smell of the hair lingering in the air behind her.
Her heart raced—not just from running, but from the sheer thrill of the game.
Minutes later, the ball came to her.
Time slowed.
She dribbled past one defender, then another.
And with a final push, she scored.
The crowd cheered.
Jae-hyun ran up beside her, lifting her hand triumphantly.
“You did it!” he shouted.
Alicia laughed, her face glowing with excitement.
For a moment, her eyes met his.
Bright.
Natural.
Pure.
Jae-hyun blinked.
Wow.
He noticed the soft glow of her skin under the sun, the tiny curls escaping her hair, and the way her eyes sparkled without even trying.
“Uh… yeah,” he said awkwardly, still holding her hand up. “You… you’re amazing.”
Alicia grinned.
“Thanks! We make a good team, huh?”
Jae-hyun nodded, barely realizing he had never noticed her like this before—so beautiful, so alive.
Across the field, Min-ho was quietly watching from his team’s side.
He tried to focus on the game, but all he could see was Alicia’s smile, the way she moved, the way Jae-hyun laughed with her.
He clenched his fists slightly.
Why does it bother me so much?
He hadn’t wanted to admit it, but there it was—a pang of jealousy and something warmer he didn’t want to name.
Later that evening, Alicia returned to the library.
She spread her books across the table, exhausted from the game.
Min-ji was already there, chatting quietly.
Min-ho appeared shortly after, quietly sliding into the seat beside her.
He set down a cold strawberry drink.
Alicia smiled.
“You remembered,” she said softly.
He nodded.
“You need it after today.”
Alicia laughed quietly, leaning back in her chair.
Hours passed as she studied.
Eventually, her head began to droop from exhaustion.
Min-ho noticed.
Gently, without thinking too much about it, he took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
Alicia stirred slightly but didn’t wake.
Min-ho’s chest tightened.
He didn’t realize just how deeply he was already caring for her—the warmth of her small body, the smell of her hair lingering under the jacket, the faint scent of strawberries from earlier.
Across the library, Jae-hyun watched silently from a few tables away.
He leaned back, smirking faintly.
Interesting.
Min-ho had officially fallen.
And Jae-hyun intended to see just how far he would go.
- Writer
