F I R E

II

There were no coherent thoughts in my head besides run. The moment he left our table, I threw 30,000 won on the table and bolted. I heard Soo Jin calling my name, but all that was in my head was runrunrunrunrun. By the time I got home and nearly collapsed out of breath, I realized there was no reason for me to run. He was the one who was working there, so he should be embarrassed to see his classmates eating where he was working. Why did I run? The more I thought about it, the more I realized I couldn't stand to see his face. I knew I couldn't lose it in front of Soo Jin. 

I called her and apologized over and over again, only to receive scolding about how rude it was because we hadn't finished our food. That's Soo Jin for you.  After getting off the phone with her, I realized I had two hours until TKD practice, so I decided to take a short nap before heading over. 

Fully dressed in my robes and my black belt wrapped around my waist, I began stretching on the blue mats laid out for us. I tied my hair back as tight as this morning and stood up to do back and torso stretches. 

"Hey Hye-Myeong!" Cheul Eun Gi was walking over towards me with his hair in a weird part as always.

"Eun Gi," I acknowledged before beginning my arm stretches. He walked over to my side and I began to suspect why he wanted to talk to me.

"Hye Myeonnnnng, we've known each other for so long. Don't you think it's time for us to get closer? This weekend, do you want to go on a date with me? Are you--" He lunged at me, trying to catch me off guard.

I ducked and rolled him off my back and threw him back-first onto the mat before brushing loose strands of hair back. 

"I faintly remember promising you a date the day you can take me down," I said back before finishing up my stretches on the other side of the room. 

"With that form, he'll be getting dates in no time," came a voice behind me. 

I turned around and pulled up my stance, my eyes locking onto matching dark brown ones. It was the same silver hair and almond eyes.

"Namjoon?" I stood up quickly and bowed my head. "What are you doing here?"

Master Ben smiled and put his arm around Namjoon, only reaching his elbow, but nonetheless a sweet gesture, "This is Kim Namjoon, as you already know, and he'll be joining our studio as of today."

What? I glanced at Namjoon before I realized I could not escape this situation as well as I could the other one. I forced a smile and bowed again.

"Annyong haseyo," I said coldly as I replayed his criticism from earlier in my mind. 

"Kim Namjoon has competed in last year's nationals and he won 3rd place in sparring and his team won first in poomsae." Master Ben seemed to be drowning Namjoon in praise. "He's probably the best in South Korea."

"Ah ni oh, hyung, you're exaggerating," Namjoon replied, a smile written all over his face.

I clenched my fist at his growing smile, which seemed to be mischievously directly towards me. Does he think I'm scared of him? Master Ben pat him on the back, "Alright, alright, let's warm up." Namjoon came behind me and I quickly turned my head, and with a quick whip slapped him from behind with my ponytail. 

I turned around and put my fingers to my lips, "Oops." I flashed an innocent smile and he turned his head elsewhere in agitation. I turned my head again, this time on accident, and he caught my hair in his hand. I gasped and he pulled up close behind my ear, "Don't test me." He dropped my hair and I rubbed my head slightly before practicing some of my kicks with a flushed face.