Chapter 17 The thing is...

"Hey!! Are you crazy?!!" Seung Ah yelled. "Joon-Woo my man!" Yang Ji was there too. "I fucking hate him", Seung Ah added.

Our boy Joon-Woo was squatting, holding the barely catched ball in his hands. 'That was close...' he thought, sweat running down his face.

"Oops. Sorry, Seung Ah! So funny though. The bum trying to act cool in front of a girl. Reminds me of the good old days. Always trying to act cool but you ain't shit! So how is he?" Tae Yang crossed his arms. "What's his name again?"

Yang Ji used that moment of distraction. Tae Yang wasn't paying attention.

Silence. They then stared at each other.

"WHAT THE FUCK?! Yang Ji you bastard! That was a fucking ambush!" Dae Hyun dragged the angry Tae Yang with him. "You said to hurry and play soccer.." Yang Ji said.

'What was he trying to say?' Joon-Woo thought about what just happened and what Tae Yang was talking about just now.

"Ok then. Let's continue", Dae Hyun announced.

'Whatever... It's better for us that he's out.' While they were playing dodgeball again the students continued dodging the ball out of fear of getting hit, Joon-Woo decided to subtly protect Seung Ah of getting hit.

"Ha.. How is it just the two of you?" Seung Ah and Joon-Woo both were out breath. "That kid is good at dodging! What was his name? Jin-Ho?"

Though it was unfortunate. On the other side of the team... Dae Hyun and Eun Jung. The fiercest members of the other team. 'The situation is bad but we can still win.' For some reason Joon-Woo decided to take dodgeball serious today. 'They have the ball.' Inspecting his enemies he thought the following: 'Class Rep. Hasn't thrown once. He's probably trying to avoid hitting Seung Ah. Eun Jung will probably throw again.'

Shifting into position he had a strategy to work with. "Ok, this time I won't hold back!"

'Eun Jung's throws are pretty scary. Even if I don't catch it, I won't be knocked out.' He raised his hands as she prepared to lunge the ball at them.

"Eun Jung, wait!!" Just before she released the ball Dae Hyun grabbed the ball and.. 'She was faking?!' noticing too late he raised his arms to shield him. Class Rep was just too strong and too fast. There was no way Joon-Woo would've dodged it. 'He was holding back because of Seung Ah, so he took his chance when I stepped forward! He predicted what I was going to do.' He let out a disappointed sigh. 'Why did I even try acting cool in front of Seung Ah anyways?'

Yet the game wasn't over. "Caught it! You're not out!" Dae Hyun and he were giving her a perplexed look. What a turn of events! "Wow! Haha, how did I catch that?!"

'I was forgetting one thing...' he thought while his expression lit up. "Nice!" he said. 'I was taking her for granted.'

"What are those bastards doing?", Tae Yang asked with a plump face.

Seung Ah handed Joon-Woo the ball. "Here! Go take revenge on Dae Hyun! Aim for him!" "You want me to throw? He glanced over to Dae Hyun. 'Would I be able to get him?' The mere thought let his heart beat faster. 'But before that...' Class Rep smiled at Joon-Woo. 'I know it's just a game but can someone like me hit the Class Rep?'

Seeing how nervous he was Seung Ah asked him what he was doing. "The bell rang! Time for lunch!" the coach announced. "Haha! What a shame Joon-Woo, you did well! Hope you enjoy your lunch!"

Just like that P.E was over and Dae Hyun walked away. 'I couldn't throw it' Joon-Woo thought. 'It was just a game during recess but I'm too scared to throw the ball at him... Why am I bothered by such little things?'

Jong Hwa and Joon-Woo were sitting on some stairs, chatting. "Wasn't lunch wack today? I fucking hate dried fish." Jong Hwa was on his phone whilst talking to his friend who just said "Agreed" with a rather bored expression on his face. 'I don't eat lunch. I just pretend that I do.'

"Whoever invented dry fish went too far." He wasn't listening. 'Jong Hwa eats with his class. Probably just like everyone else. Even if I wanted to each lunch I wouldn't have anyone to eat with. I could muster up the courage to eat, but I'd end up alone.'

Being pretty down he rested his head on his crossed arms. 'That's worse than starving. All these comics, movies and dramas say these things are natural. How come it doesn't come naturally for me?'

"Didn't see you in class! What are you doing here?" someone asked Joon-Woo. Both Jong Hwa and him looked to their right to see who it was. Guess who turned to stone when they saw a girl. 'Huh! She...'

"Hehe, it's been a while! How have you been Joon-Woo?" It was the girl who helped him out when he had gotten beat up by the stalker. 'She goes to our school?!'

"Your scars are healed?! Healthy as I thought", she inspected him with a smug. Beside her was a friend. "Oh, it's this kid?"

'Who is she? She's speaking to me as if she knows me. I can't remember her though!'

Nervously poking Jong Hwa who wasn't present mentally he stuttered "Oh! From before! Thank you for that! B-but what's your name?" - 'This bum is useless for times like these!'

"What? You still don't remember me?" She made a quite unpleased expression. "It's me, Yuri Lee."

Yuri Lee, 17, first year class 5. Her characteristics are her pigtails. She has long blonde hair in pigtails which is also covering her forehead, has amber brown eyes, wears green three-leafed clover earrings and always uses blush make up. Another thing making her stand out is the fact that she was pretty lean. "Do you remember me now?"

He still looked pretty clueless. "Uhm.. Not really. No."

'I can't remember at all! Even after hearing her name! There is no way I know a popular looking girl as her!'

She kneeled down in front of Joon-Woo. "How disappointing! Hehe, it's okay though, cause I'm nice! I have a favor to ask though."

'What? Why is she coming closer? I feel so awkward!'

He turned red. "Y-yes? I mean... What is it?" - 'No! Don't imagine things! There is no way!'

She grinned. "The thing is..."

"... Can you introduce me to Tae Yang?"

~Chapter 17, end.

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