Chapter 1

"Aish!"

"Sorry!" I called out to the person that the ball hit.

"It's okay." He replied back.

We were practicing the serves for volleyball after school. Why? It's because it's the boy's season and my cousin and I are helping out our coach. She seems to have her hands full.

"Girls, can you do me a favor and help Yoochul?" Coach asked.

"Sure thing." My cousin, Kyungsoo, and I replied.

"E-excuse me, can you p-practice with me?" Some one tapped me on my shoulder. I slightly turned and raised an eyebrow at the timid looking guy staring at me.

"Yeah..." Kyungsoo shoved me towards him. "Why don't you help him out? I'll take on Yoochul myself. After all, serving is my specialty."

I glared at Kyungsoo's mischievous smirk.

"Hey, don't hate me. You know this is how I roll." She added before skipping off to help Yoochul.

Taking a deep breath, I turned to the timid-looking guy with a fake smile.

Glancing at the guy, I could tell that was the quiet type that had a lot of anger within him. His messy hair made him less attractive, and he was wearing skinny jeans. Who wears skinny jeans to a volleyball practice?!

This is a disgrace. This is a TOTAL disgrace!

And his thighs are so tiny! He needs some thigh muscles!

"So what do you need help with?" I asked.

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The Next Day
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After the practice yesterday, Kyungsoo had told our other friend what had happened and they were making fun of me. Why? Turns out that the guy was a complete newcomer. Usually, we'd have returnees from the year before. No wonder I didn't recognize him.

Yesterday, he impressed me with some of his skills, but if only he would hit the ball straight...

And he did not want to run after the ball! So I had to run after it in the end. By the end of the day, I was extremely exhausted.

I was not looking forward to practice today!

"Let's gooo!" Kyungsoo dragged on my arm and tried to pull me in the direction of the gym as I was grabbing my books to go home.

"No!" I was holding onto my locker for dear life. But me against Kyungsoo's amazing man-strength was no use.

I just barely managed to slam my locker closed as my body was dragged along the tiled floor.

"Unlike yesterday, we get to do a rally game today!" She was excited as she told me this.

"Pfft...I doubt it." I replied when I looked into the gym. The net was set up and the guys were in a circle, stretching before they ran their laps. There were a lot of familiar faces, along with a couple of unfamiliar ones staring back at us. Coach wasn't even here yet! "So many boys showed up today. We're not going to get to play. I might as well go home."

Before I could even turn the opposite way, Kyungsoo dragged me inside the gym, greeting the guys. I waved half-heartedly as I sat my stuff along the bleachers.

Kyungsoo and I were allowed to play in a game, luckily.

I was in the front row as an outside hitter (basically a spiker). The guy, Dongshin, that was setting the ball up had passed it towards my way.

I watched in slow motion as I began to run up and meet it with my left hand...until I was knocked down.

I fell onto the floor and glanced at the reason that caused this.

"Sorry." A guy with crazy hair apologized.

"Yeah..." I replied, like it didn't matter. I couldn't show the guys that I was weak. Even if my knee was in so much pain.

Across the court on the other side of the net, I could see Kyungsoo laughing at me.

T-T If only she felt the pain I felt in my knees!

Another round began. Once again, Dongshin had set the ball towards my way.

"Aemi!" This time, he actually called my name, so I KNEW that it was for me.

However, it was as if the guy behind me didn't understand.

I ran up to hit the ball. And so did the guy behind me.

I ended up on the floor (again), and he landed perfectly on his feet.

"Sorry." He said again.

After that, I was mad. I didn't say anything and ignored him.

I named him the ball-hogger.

Once practice was over, I complained all the way home to my cousin's house.

"I hate him! That stupid ball-hogger!" I threw my backpack onto my bed as we entered our room.

Yes, I live with my cousins. My parents are divorced and live in two different cities. When I moved here during my sophomore year in high school, I was supposed to live with my mom, but there were no rooms in her house. Therefore I was forced into living with my cousins. I don't mind though. At least over here, I can actually act like myself.