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Even when you fall, get hurt, fall sick, run endlessly towards your dreams
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Days until competition: 56 days
It was Sunday already and I was getting ready to leave to find part time jobs, like maybe working at a cafe or something, but my phone suddenly started buzzing. To my knowledge, I thought I was getting a phone call but it was actually a ton of messages coming into my phone.
"Whaaa", I said in surprise as I held up my phone. I was getting a ton of messages from Sana who was basically spam texting.
Lil cute WITCH
Sana: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
MA'AM
I CAN'T BREATHE
WHAT IS GOING ON
HELP
SU- OH MY GODDDDDDDDDD
PLEASE
AM I WITNESSING A DRAMA PLAY OUT IN FRONT OF ME??
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE!
SUNG- OH MY GOD I CAN'T FORM WORDS PROPELY
PROPERLY**
LOOK WHERE YOU AT???!!!
Me: HEY HEY HOLD YOUR HORSES. WHAT'S WRONG?
TAKE DEEP BREATHS. THEN SPEAK.
So what's the matter?
Sana: PARK SUNGHOON JUST ASKED ME FOR YOUR NUMBER.
HE.ASKED.ME.FOR.YOUR.NUMBER.
Me: oh? Reolli?
I-
Did he say why he wanted it?
Sana: no but I don't know man, there's something going on between you too and I can smell it.
Me: yeah yeah whatever. I'll just have to wait and see what he wants—
Just as I sent that message my phone began vibrating and without having a chance to look at the caller's id I accidentally swiped up, answering the unknown caller.
??: H-Hello?
I hesitated before answering the voice that registered through the phone.
Me: uh...h-hello? Who- who is this?
On the other end I heard a chuckle. The person's voice sounding a bit too familiar. Could it be—
??: It's me Princess.
I sucked in a deep breath, realizing who it really was by the use of the nickname. I guess he really did take my number from Sana but why?
Me: Sunghoon...?
Sunghoon: hey, can you meet me at the rink? I'm sorry for..uh calling out of the blues.
He said slowly, sounding a bit hesitant. A smile was tugging at my lips as I held the phone up to my ear.
Me: sure.
After hanging up, I informed both of my grandparents that I was leaving then left. Instead of walking there I took the bus which was quite empty for a Sunday morning just because I didn't want to keep him waiting. Many thoughts plagued my mind, pondering over why he wanted to see me. What does he have to tell me? Why does he want to meet?
I got off when the bus stopped, walking into the compound of the Ice Rink. The place was empty, almost deserted. Do people not come on Sundays? Why does it say it's closed when the door is open?
I walked inside cautiously, looking around the empty, silent building for him.
"Sunghoon?" I called out, my voice echoing in the dead silence of the rink, only hearing my voice in response. It seemed as though he wasn't anywhere in sight so I just casually strode over to the walls that separated the normal floor from the ice. My hands were resting on the top of the wall, looking out at the vast span of ice in front of me. I sighed, disappointed in the fact that I couldn't skate for a while due to my broke skates.
"Hey-"
"AH WH-!" I yelled, flinching by the sudden voice that erupted from behind me. I slowly turned around, facing the person I was hoping to meet.
"God you scared me!" I exclaimed while placing a hand over my erratically beating heart. Sunghoon was looking at me with a mischievous smile on his face.
"Sorry" he said in a low chuckle, setting himself beside me, positioning himself the same way I was with his hands hanging over the tiny wall.
"Are you..feeling better?" He whispered out in a soft voice, keeping his gaze up front at the ice. A warm smile spread across my face, feeling comfortable with the calming atmosphere between us.
"Thanks to you I do." I replied, giving him a pat on the back with a smile.
"Also thanks to you I was able to tell my parents. I really can't thank you enough...you really gave me the courage. Thank you for listening to me that day." I said, gripping onto the edge of the wall while leaning back on my heels.
"You don't have to thank me..I'm just glad you're staying strong."
-
"So what you're saying is, your dad owns this place??! So that's why you were in that room the night I almost went crazy because of a rat.." I chuckled nervously, rubbing the nape of my neck.
Sunghoon nodded, kicking up his foot while both of us sat down on the ground that separated the hard floor from the ice with our upper body on the hard ground and our feet lightly brushing against the ice.
We had been talking so comfortably that I hadn't even notice how much time had passed.
"The competition..." he started off, hoisting his upper body to sit upright.
"To be honest, I'm not that worried about the competition anymore. There's just one big issue." He started off, running his fingers through his hair, brushing it away from his eyes.
"Oh yeah? What's that?" I asked, leaning forward to meet his gaze.
"See, there's this girl who's really good at figure skating...and she already beat me twice. I can't match her and she's so good I'm not even complaining. You should see how she skates...it's so...", He paused looking over at me deep into my eyes which only encompassed me at the moment.
"Magical." -Sunghoon
"Magical." -Ji-eun
We both admitted it the same time, immersed in each other's intense gaze. We were now both aware of the small distance between us.
A smile appeared on Sunghoon's lips as he tore his head away from the gaze, possibly hiding his face due to it literally being flushed.
My cheeks were also red, heating up by the way his words fell off his lips with sincerity. I really meant it. The way he danced across the ice was a sight to behold.
"It's funny because I have that same issue, it's just that he's a guy. The way he glides over the ice is so...mesmerizing. I guess he doesn't see how much of a professional skater he is." I said in return, crossing my legs in an x, facing him as I braced on the wall.
His eyes flickered across my face, a precious smile tugging at the corners of his lips but suddenly his expression changed and he got up quickly from the floor. "Wait here." He whispered before disappearing behind the stands.
Confused, I stayed right where I was, waiting for Sunghoon to reappear after leaving me like that. I checked my phone a few times, realizing five whole hours had past since I was with him. It was already 3pm and soon Sunday was going to be over.
I sighed, pressing my hands against the floor, lifting my body up and standing properly on my two feet. Where did he go? I looked behind me, holding up my phone in my hand as I looked at the time.
"Ahem". His voice surged through the silence, making me jump by how loud it sounded. I turned around, looking at him in confusion as he held up a cute pastel pink box that had a bow on it.
"Sorry I took so long-" he said in an apologetic tone, gripping onto the box in his hands.
"Uhh..", I breathed out, my eyes trailing down at the box then back up at him.
"Here." He simply handed it to me, a look of nervousness splayed across his face.
I took it from him in confusion, my eyes widening at the contents in the box with shock as I opened it. My jaw dropped slightly as I blinked a few times to make sure I was looking at the right thing.
"But why...?" I asked in surprise, my eyes fixed on the pair of band new silver studded skates which laid untouched.
"Just because." He shrugged, a tiny smile appearing on his face.
"Just because??! This is probably worth over $30,000 won! Are you sure you wanna gift this to me??" I questioned him in awe and disbelief.
"Yes, I'm sure. I won't take it back." He folded his arms over his chest with a pout.
"I-"
I placed the box down gently on the bench and pulled him into a hug. My hands slung over his shoulders, slightly pulling him down to my level as I embraced him tightly.
"Thank you so much." I whispered contently in his ear before pulling away. In the moment I was truly overthrown with happiness, not even caring about how I just hugged him like that.
When I got a glimpse of his face it was cherry red and even the tips of his ears were red. Is he embarrassed?
"Oh- uh sorry about that.." I said apologetically, unsure if I made him uncomfortable due to the sudden contact.
I turned away, looking down at the pretty skates in the box with a smile on my face.
Could the day get any better? I grinned happily.
Sunghoon's pov
I was taken aback when I felt her hands snake around my shoulders, pulling me into a hug but soon felt myself hugging her back. My hands gently caressing behind her head as she pulled me into the embrace.
Due to the sudden contact without warning I felt my cheeks heat up and warmth flushing through my chest. My heart was beating so fast I was scared she might feel it palpitating through my chest.
Why am I feeling this way?
"Thank you so much." Her voice melted in my ears as she slowly untangled her arms from around me.
When she pulled away, I couldn't dare look at her in the eyes, feeling nervous that she might notice my tainted cheeks.
"Oh- uh sorry about that.." She said apologetically, fixing her eyes at the floor before turning away.
Does she think I'm uncomfortable? Does she think she crossed the line?
"Hey you better watch out. I might steal your first place again." She teased, clearing her throat to ease the slight awkwardness that encased us.
"Pffft. Don't get your hopes up Princess. I'm going to be the one who'll steal the first place from you." I shot back, both of us now chuckling at the absurdly funny situation. I sat down beside her on the bench, looking out at the rink.
"You know-" I was interrupted but the sudden ringing of my phone, making me avert my attention elsewhere. I quickly picked it up, realizing it was my father.
Crap.
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