—— Seori
The next day at school, Yeji and I found ourselves in the cafeteria, surrounded by the familiar buzz of students. As we sat down to eat with our friends – Yerin, Hyunsoo, and Kyungmin – Yeji couldn't resist sharing the latest development about Jungwon.
"Guess what, guys? Seori here has a new friend," Yeji announced with a mischievous grin.
I rolled my eyes, knowing exactly where this was headed. "It's not that big of a deal."
Yerin leaned forward, intrigued. "Spill the tea, Yeji. Who's this mysterious friend?"
Yeji pointed at me dramatically. "It's the Bad Boy Racer, Jungwon!"
Their eyes widened, and Hyunsoo chuckled. "Wait, the guy who hit Seori with his car? Now he's her friend?"
Kyungmin raised an eyebrow. "That's an interesting turn of events."
I sighed, realizing that my encounter with Jungwon had become the talk of the school. "We're just friends, okay? It's not a big deal."
As lunchtime chatter continued, my friends couldn't resist teasing me about the infamous Bad Boy Racer, Jungwon. Yerin nudged me with a playful smile. "So, Seori, spill the details. What's he like?"
I shrugged, trying to downplay the situation. "He's just a guy. We met under unusual circumstances, that's all."
Hyunsoo raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Is he as mysterious and brooding as they say?"
I rolled my eyes at the dramatic description. "More like annoyed and exasperated, but yeah, something like that."
Kyungmin joined the teasing. "Does he always race with that intense, bad boy aura?"
I laughed, recalling our conversations. "Off the track, he's not as intense. We've been texting a bit, and he's surprisingly... normal?"
Yeji chimed in, "Normal for a bad boy racer, I guess."
As the banter continued, I couldn't shake off the feeling that this connection with Jungwon was turning into a story of its own, with each interaction adding a layer of intrigue.
The teasing took an unexpected turn as my friends, unable to resist a bit of good-natured ribbing, shifted their attention to the age difference between Jungwon and me. Yerin smirked, "So, Seori, a 16-year-old with a street racer friend four years older? That's quite the friendship dynamic."
Hyunsoo chuckled, "Does he ever scold you for being too immature?"
I rolled my eyes, feeling the weight of their playful banter. "Age is just a number, guys. We're just friends. And, no, he hasn't scolded me for being immature... yet."
Kyungmin joined in with a smirk, "Well, as long as you don't drag him into any mischief, I guess it's fine."
Yeji couldn't resist adding, "Seori, you're living the teenage dream – a mysterious street racer friend. Who would've thought?"
The laughter echoed in the cafeteria as I playfully defended my newfound connection.
—— Jungwon
As I prepared to leave the racing house and pick up Seori from school, I could feel the curious gazes of my friends following me. Niki, engrossed in a racing game, was the first to ask, "Hey, Jungwon, where are you going?"
I glanced over, casually slipping on my shoes. "Picking up someone."
The words lingered in the air for only a moment before the others caught on. Heeseung raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "Picking up? Like, a date?"
Laughter erupted from the group, and Jay chimed in, "Come on, spill the details, Jungwon. Who's the lucky girl?"
I shook my head, trying to dismiss their teasing. "It's not like that. Just giving Seori a ride. She asked."
Niki chuckled, pausing his game to join the banter. "Wait, isn't she the girl you said was too immature and just a one-time thing?"
Sunghoon added with a grin, "Looks like Jungwon's got a soft spot for the Ramen Queen."
As the laughter and teasing from my friends continued, I couldn't help but feel the need to defend myself. I turned back to face them, the door still ajar. "Come on, guys, it's not like that. Seori's just a friend. I'm giving her a ride because she asked. No big deal."
Jake, with a sly grin, nudged me, "Oh, a friend? Not what it sounded like before."
I rolled my eyes, feeling the need to clarify. "Look, it's just this one time. She's a bit... persistent. Nothing more."
Sunoo, always quick with a quip, chimed in, "Persistent or not, you're playing chauffeur for the Ramen Queen. How romantic."
I shook my head, a smirk playing on my lips. "You guys are reading too much into it. It's just a ride."
As I closed the door behind me, the echoes of their teasing lingered.
Stepping out of the racing house, I made my way to the car and slid into the driver's seat. The engine roared to life as I drove towards Seori's school. Arriving at the gates, I spotted her standing there, and I couldn't help but notice the curious glances from other students as they eyed my car.
As I came to a stop, I rolled down the window, and Seori's eyes lit up when she saw me. I couldn't deny the small sense of satisfaction in her excitement. "Hop in," I said, a hint of amusement in my tone.
She eagerly walked over and opened the door, slipping into the passenger seat.
The tires screeched as I accelerated, leaving the school behind us. I stole a sidelong glance at Seori, her eyes alight with a mix of excitement and curiosity. "So, where to, Ramen Queen?" I asked, a playful grin tugging at the corners of my lips.
Seori's laughter filled the car, a sound that was both infectious and genuine. "Hmm, surprise me," she replied, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. The cityscape stretched ahead, a canvas of possibilities for our impromptu adventure.
I navigated the busy streets, weaving through the traffic with the ease of someone who knew these roads intimately. The wind tousled Seori's hair as we sped along, and I couldn't help but appreciate the way her laughter lingered in the air.
As we approached a bustling district, I turned to her. "How about a little detour to the best ramen place in town?" I suggested, a twinkle in my eye. Seori's eyes widened with delight, and she nodded eagerly.
We found ourselves in a quaint corner of the city, the aroma of simmering broth filling the air as we stepped into the cozy ramen shop.
Seori's excitement was palpable as she scanned the menu, her eyes lighting up with each enticing option. It was as if she wanted to try every ramen variation the place had to offer. I couldn't help but watch, amused, as she behaved like an excited kid in a candy store.
Her enthusiasm was infectious, and just as I was about to suggest a couple of options, she looked at me with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You're paying, right?" she declared, a playful smile on her lips.
I hesitated for a moment, considering protesting, but before I could say anything, she began rattling off her order, practically wanting to try everything on the menu. A chuckle escaped me as I thought, What have I gotten myself into? It was a stark contrast to the usual encounters with people who kept their distance from the Bad Boy Racer reputation.
As the waiter left to place the order, I leaned back, watching Seori with a mix of bemusement and intrigue. "You really know how to make an entrance, don't you?" I teased, my lips quirking into a half-smile. She shot me a playful look, unapologetic.
As we waited for the ramen to arrive, I decided to steer the conversation away from the culinary delights. "So, what year are you in at school?" I asked, genuinely curious about the Ramen Queen's high school life.
Seori looked at me with a playful glint in her eyes, as if amused by my lack of knowledge about high school years. "How can you not know what year 16-year-olds are in? Weren't you one yourself a couple of years ago?" she quipped, a sly smile playing on her lips.
I couldn't help but chuckle at her retort. "Touché," I replied, acknowledging the irony of my question. "Alright, then. What year are you, the all-knowing Ramen Queen?"
She grinned before revealing, "I'm a sophomore." Her eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, clearly enjoying the banter.
Our ramen arrived, steaming hot and tantalizingly fragrant. Before I could say anything, Seori wasted no time and immediately dug in, savoring the noodles and broth with evident delight. I followed suit, enjoying the flavors and the easy banter that flowed between us.
As we finished our ramen, I couldn't help but notice a small stain of sauce on Seori's cheek. Suppressing a smirk, I pointed it out, "You've got a little something right here." She chuckled and wiped it away with the back of her hand, giving me a mock glare.
With our ramen adventure concluded, I leaned back in the booth and asked, "So, what's next on the agenda?" The city outside the ramen shop twinkled with lights, offering countless possibilities for the rest of the evening.
Seori pondered for a moment before a mischievous glint returned to her eyes. "How about a midnight drive?" she suggested with a playful smile.
I couldn't help but chuckle at her spontaneity. "As tempting as that sounds, you've got school tomorrow," I reminded her, my tone laced with a hint of practicality. "But we can always save the midnight drive for the weekend."
Seori pouted, giving me a playful nudge. "You're no fun," she teased, but after a moment of consideration, she agreed with a nod. "Fine, the weekend it is. But you better make it worth the wait, Bad Boy Racer."
With a shared laugh, we left the ramen shop, the city's pulse guiding us into the night.
To be continued...