"WE'RE going out now, Ji-ah."
It took three full seconds for the news to sink in in Eunji's system. Actually, the only words she understood were: Joohyun and Chanyeol. Together.
"How?" She asked and was surprised by her own question. Good thing was it did not sound like a protest from her lips.
Chanyeol started narrating how things actually came to be. He did not really go with the details but he mentioned about how being with Joohyun made him very happy and when he shamelessly told her these things, she said she felt the same and somehow from there, they came to develop mutual understanding. Honestly, Eunji could not fit in all of these in the time frame of their interactions. This must be among the mysteries of love-- two unlikely persons finding love together.
That night when he was spilling words about how he had possibly met his first love, Park Chanyeol looked the happiest. He did not stop talking about her and he was all flustered with his ears turning red each time he mentioned her name. Jung Eunji listened thoughtfully to him. At the back of her mind, she felt bad about entertaining the idea of falling for him. Especially when he would never feel this way about her.
"Oh it hurts." Placing a hand on her chest. The pain that had swelled up on her chest apparently felt physical now.
"What?" He asked, eyes filled with concern, thinking it stil was related to her cramps earlier.
Eunji's eyes popped when she realized she had actually blurted out loud her thoughts. "It must hurt me if you didn't tell me." She said with a shy smile.
"Of course, you'll be the first to know." The guy assured. "You're my best friend."
Eunji thought that the remark hurt more but she smiled.
-----
Words had not gone out about the new campus couple. It was Joohyun's request to Chanyeol not to tell anyone. She knew of his following at the school and even outside so she did not want to be the target of his fan girls.
Eunji was extra careful not to tell anyone even with Im Sohye. Park Chanyeol on the other hand had continued to be himself around Eunji. The annoying and thoughtful Chanyeol that he always was. They'd still hangout together inside the school because spending more time with Joohyun would just raise up more rumors between them.
Eunji also was careful to draw the line the separates her from Chanyeol whenever they were together inside the school. But the guy was too dense to even notice such things. Just like now, they're walking together from their classroom to the school yard.
Their school was conducting the sports fest in the midst of November. It had drawn a lot of criticism from students since the weather was already cold but somehow, as the children they were, they still looked forward about the school activity to play games.
Among the excited youngsters was Chanyeol who was chosen as his class's representative for the ball games. His competitive nature urged him to accept the challenge but somehow the training had made his muscles sore.
"Ahhh I don't think I can play any games today." Chanyeol complained as he lightly punched his shoulder.
"I told you to go the infirmary to get muscle relief patches. You're so stubborn." Eunji reprimanded.
"Go get some for me, Ji-ah. After the games."
"In your dreams."
They walked down the stairs to head for the school yard. Eunji who was too excited at the crowd of students she had spotted. Their third years were wearing hot pink shirts that Eunji found tacky. She started running down the stairs but almost tripped after stepping on her loose shoe laces.
"OY JUNG EUNJI!" Thanks to Chanyeol's long arms he was able to grab her wrist and pull her back. "You okay?"
She looked pale and did not respond. Probably horrified about almost falling down the stairs. Chanyeol shook his head at her and bent down to tie her laces.
"Yah Eunji, you have to be careful from now on." He warned. "I can't always look after you."
Eunji was not really listening to him. Her eyes were on the field where Baek Joohyun was, staring or glaring at them. She kicked Chanyeol right after he finished tying her laces. "Thanks!"
His butt landed on the ground, "Really? Do you really have to kick me?"
"Sorry,"
"What an ungrateful girl." He scowled.
They started walking on foot again quietly. Eunji decided to tell him about what concerned her lately. "Hey Chanyeol, I think you should stop doing things like that..." She suggested.
"Things like what?" Chanyeol asked cluelessly.
"Things that..." She searched for words. "Might give Joohyun the wrong idea about us."
Chanyeol stared at her. "You mean things Joohyun might be jealous about?" He corrected.
Eunji pretended not to hear what he said. She was fine as long as he got the idea. Chanyeol took her silence as a yes though.
"Seriously?" He asked. "HAHAHAHA! Why would she be jealous at you? You're my Ji-ah!" He said proudly and even dared to wrap his arms around his shoulders which she was quick to dodge.
"God, Chanyeol!" Eunji screamed. "You're so annoying." She said and started running to the school yard.
"My Ji-ah!" He went to tease, following just right behind her.
------
When they reached the yard, students had gathered in front of the mini-stage already.
"Alright! We'll start the first game now!" The announcer yelled. "What do you think the first game would be?"
The students cheered, saying the names of the games they wanted to play.
"Our first game is.... The 3-legged race~" Everyone cheered as if it was really an exciting game, Eunji thought. "Each year has to send 2 pairs as their representatives. In count of three, your class has to choose your representative." The announcer started counting that sent students into panic.
The class presidents gathered their respective classes in the bleachers to find the worthy one to send for the first game. The year who got most wins for the games would be declared champions so they class presidents were taking these childish games seriously.
"Who shall we send?"Mirae, the president of Eunji's class asked as the girls formed a circle.
"Who else?" Sohye asked. "Eunji of course! She won first place last year."
Last year, Eunji won the game with Chanyeol. They also won the same game when they were first years. The girls started nodding their heads, convinced that she was the right choice.
"Hey! Class B is sending Chanyeol..." Hanji squealed. "Let's have Baek Joohyun from our class!"
All eyes turned to Joohyun this time who looked so surprised. "What? I... I can't." She said shaking her head and hands to convince them more that she couldn't do it. But before she could do more protests, Joohyun had found herself in the tracks with Chanyeol. Chanyeol was also shocked after seeing her. He honestly thought that it was Eunji since they had been doing this since forever.
Back in the bleachers where the non-players were standing, Sohye could not contain her frustration. "That's supposed to be you."
Eunji ignored her when Mirae started calling her name.
"Eunji-ah!" She cried her name. "Give this to them." She handed the lace to her.
"Why me?" She asked.
"You're the fastest runner in our class."
Eunji would like to protest some more but the announcer started counting again so she ran to the field.
"Excuse me," She said interrupting the awkward couple. "I'll have to tie this to you." Eunji bent down.
"Don't bother, Ji-ah." Chanyeol said and leaned down too. He takes her hand before getting the lace, "I'll do it. Go back to the bleachers and cheer for us."
"Cheer my foot." Eunji scowled. She stood up and faced, Joohyun. "Joohyun-ah, fighting!" She said warmly.
Joohyun did not say a word but just smiled. Eunji left the couple and went back to the bleachers.
The race commenced right after. As expected, with Chanyeol's competitive spirit they were able to win the race. The short awarding ceremony followed right after.
They usually held awarding ceremonies at the end of all the games but since the campus couple was involved, they somehow took the opportunity to put them into spotlight.
"For the first place, let's call our power couple... Park Chanyeol and Baek Joohyun!"
The crowd of students cheered. The couple stood at the center stage and Chanyeol was the first to speak.
"Hello. Thank you so much for cheering for us. Third years!" He cried. "This award is for you!" He said raising the trophy they borrowed and gave finger hearts to his batchmates. The audience went wild.
When he handed back the microphone, the announcer gave the attention to Joohyun. "This time, let's listen to the other half of the power couple... Any message, Joohyun-ah?"
Joohyun seemed nervous to speak but she took the mic anyways.
"Hello everyone! This is my first time to join this kind of race. Thank you for rooting for us..." She glanced shyly at Chanyeol. "For Chanyeol and I..." Chanyeol smiled too and the audience swooned at the good looking pair. "I would like to take the opportunity to tell you guys that... Chanyeol and I."
Chanyeol looked horrified beside her. "Jooyhyun-ah..."
Down with the audience, Sohye gripped Eunji's arms. "Yah Jung Eunji what's this atmosphere?"
Eunji wanted to run away. Everybody else held their breath.
"We're going out now." Baek Joohyun announced over the microphone.
----
Contrary to what Joohyun feared, their relationship was gladly accepted by everyone in the school. Nobody hated beautiful people. They were two beautiful persons so the acceptance became easy.
Eunji eventually got used to this. Sohye expressed her dismay about her keeping this as a secret but eventually understood why she had to. She was also convinced that Joohyun had to do the announcement herself because she was clearly threatened about Eunji.
"Why would she be threatened about me?"
"She's just Joohyun while you're his Ji-ah..." Sohye simply explained.
It was partly true since Chanyeol had not changed his attitude towards her except that he would always be around Joohyun at school. He still fetched her from the after school academy. He would always be on his phone though, probably talking to Joohyun.
It was Joohyun whom Eunji noticed that had changed around her. Few weeks after their love confession, she asked the homeroom teacher to change her seats. She was transferred in front of the class due to her poor eyesight. They were still working together, going to school facilities together but somehow Joohyun was becoming hostile towards.
She did not think much about this except for one time. When they were in the shower room of the gymnasium and Joohyun asked her to do something.
"Eunji-ah..."
"Mmm?" She said, rolling her socks back to her feet. They just had finished playing volleyball.
"I'd like to ask you something."
"What is it?"
"Well, Chanyeol has been practicing a lot with the band these days." She started saying. "I'm very much concerned about his health since the weather is starting to get really cold. I don't think it'll be nice for him to still spend time outside after he had finished his practice, right?"
Eunji slipped her foot on her shoe. "Do you want me to tell him to stop waiting for me to finish after class academy?"
Bae Joohyun did not bat and eyelash when she said, "Yes. He wouldn't listen to me."
Was she stepping the line already? Eunji bit her lip. "Fine,"
"Thanks, Eunji-ah."
And with that, she left the locker room.
-----
As much as possible, Eunji did not want to get involved with the couple's issue. She was not built for that. She hated Joohyun and she hated Chanyeol for putting her into such turmoil.
That night, Chanyeol came to pick her up from the after class academy. He had been sneezing from the cold weather. "Hi Eunji!"
Eunji waved at him. He reached for her bag out of habit but she refused to give it. She was terrified that people might get the wrong idea if they would still be like this. Besides, Joohyun did not like the idea of their closeness.
"Are you sick?"
He nodded his head groggily. "It's cold these days."
They started walking on foot. Eunji was quiet the whole time and Chanyeol was obviously not feeling well. When they reached their little street, Eunji spoke.
"Chanyeol, I think you should stop picking me up from the after class academy."
"B-but why?" His nose was red already from sneezing and runny nose.
She faced him, his warm eyes looking down at her.
"Don't worry about your practice sessions." She assured. "I'll just tell Ahjumma that the time for your classes are shortened so just go home early..." She bit her lip. She felt her eyes getting watery so she immediately looked away. Fuck, why am I getting teary-eyed? "Umh... You... You just go home after your practice." She started walking again and Chanyeol grabbed her wrist.
"I don't want to." He said. "Your classes always finish late. We don't know the dangers that await for you in the streets these days."
"Yah, Chanyeol! Don't you get it?"
"What?"
"We can't do things like before." She said. "People might get the wrong idea. Do you understand?"
"Did Joohyun tell you this?" His eyes flared.
"No." She lied. "Just... Don't fetch me at the academy anymore. Please."
Chanyeol did not say a word and just dropped her hand, "Fine, do whatever you want."
And eventually, that night became the last night Chanyeol walked her home.