a/n: Hello everyone! Sorry for the late update. I was sick after back from my short vacation. I tend to fall sick during summer 🥺 so, I'll try to update as much as possible during my rest days. Thank you for showing support on my books! Ily.
Dedicated to kingjibeom
Ahreum just a typical bookworm. She isn't the best students nor she's a bad at study. She still managed to stay in top 30 in her grade considered her batch has more than two hundreds students. People tends to label her as nerd but without the big glasses. She dressed decent even though it's not that fashionable.
She's an introvert but she still has a lot of friends around her. People tends to mistake introvert to always be alone when in fact they can love someone company when they're comfortable with them. However, there's a person who she really wants to avoid at all times - The Bully. It's probably her personality as Pisces that hate violence and loves peaceful surroundings. Sadly, she can't have that peace easily when Choi Sungyoon exist.
"Ahreum, there are some cardboard at the rooftop store could be use for the festival. Can you check it for me?" Mrs Lee, the homeroom teacher asking for a favour.
She nods her head, "Sure. I'll go check and update with the union later."
Mrs Lee smile motherly, "I know I can count on you Ahreum."
After the school last bell ring, Ahreum pack her stuffs into her bag and rush to the rooftop. Luckily, today has no union meeting if not she'll stay later than usual to finish her task. As she ascend the stairs, voices of giggles become clearer. She thought there are some students probably hanging out at the rooftop. She prayed it's better not the delinquent because she hates them.
She open the door and step outside then look to her right to only see something she really despise the most, bullying.
"You break the rules!" Sungyoon shouts at the poor guy on the floor. His fist already in the air, ready to sway and make contact with the victim face when it stopped midway when Ahreum shout a loud, "NO!"
Sungyoon stop whatever he's doing and turn to look at the disturber. He smirk smugly when it's non other than the his childhood friend, Ahreum. Yes, they used to be friends until they have different friends at school and fall apart. Ahreum start to dislike his attitude and Sungyoon finds it Ahreum isn't a fun friend anymore. Sometimes Ahreum wished she could get back her 'old' friend.
"You're lucky there's a saviour comes to the rescue." Sungyoon emphasize his word to the victim and he runs away from the scene.
Ahreum sigh in relief when she finally could save that guy from Sungyoon's punch. No matter how bad he is now, Ahreum relief at least Sungyoon still listen to her at some extent. He knows how much she hated violence.
"What should you do? My hand is itching to punch someone." Sungyoon walk closer to her.
She glare at him timidly, "You're helpless Choi Sungyoon."
He laughs at her remark, "Well, I can't hit girl so, I probably should find someone else."
He about to leave when Ahreum grab his forearm. Sungyoon turn to look at her and raise his left brow, questioning her action.
"I can help you."
🎳🎳🎳
Ahreum did this probably because a part of her heart still care for her childhood friend. Or maybe because of her humanity sense. She wasn't sure where she got that braveness to drag Sungyoon here. Furthermore, it's been years since they last interact with eachother.
Sungyoon chuckles, "Here? For real Ahreum?"
"At least this gym has a punch bag to help you released your anger." She gulp and look away.
"I need human Ahreum, not a sandbag." He says in mockery.
"At least it help you stay-"
".. out of trouble." Sungyoon finished. She bite her lower lip, feeling lost.
"Since we were a kid, that's your favourite sentence. Well, you're the devoted daughter who stay out of trouble but I'm not." Sungyoon grab the gloves.
"I know we're different but Sungyoon, doing all that makes people walk away from you."
Sungyoon throw a punch and Ahreum flinch, "And you're one of them."
Ahreum hurt by his comment. She knows he's right but she can't help it. She no longer can be friendly with someone as troublemaker as him. It's ruining her peaceful life.
"If I stay, will you change?" She ask unconsciously.
Sungyoon stop punching the sandbag. There's a silent in the gym. Suddenly, Ahreum regretted ask him that. Who is she to make him change? She's no one but his past.
"I won't change but I'll be better."
🎳🎳🎳
Over the week, Ahreum will company Sungyoon at the gym after finish doing her festival tasks. It's her brother's personal gym and she let Sungyoon has the spare key. She feels great now when Sungyoon stop punching students even sometimes she saw him threatened students but with only words. At least he's a little bit better managing his anger issue.
"I brought you McDonald's." Ahreum say loudly when she saw Sungyoon plugin his airpods.
Sungyoon stop and take out his airpods. Then he wipes his sweats. Maybe because he keeps working out that he slowly has a little bit muscles shown.
"Cheeseburger?" He takes a seat next to her.
She smiles, "I remembered your favourite."
He smiles at that and start devouring it. Sungyoon notices Ahreum still that caring girl. He was a fool to unfriend her years ago. Well, it's the puberty during preteen make him being so hardheaded.
"Don't you have boyfriend to care about instead of me?" He ask casually.
"I-" She was cut off by her phone notification sound. It's the student union member, Daeyeol.
I hope you're home safely. Maybe we can have meal at McDonald's again tomorrow or probably the new cafe next to it. - Daeyeol
"So you were having a date before coming here." Sungyoon wasn't sure why he's unhappy with the text message.
"It's a group meal after the meeting." She explained and Ahreum don't understand why she needed to explain herself when it's unnecessary.
"I thought you care about me?" He throw the cheeseburger on the floor. Ahreum look at him in disbelief.
"You know what? You're damn selfish!" With that Ahreum left him.
🎳🎳🎳
Ahreum thought she finally had her childhood friend back but no, she's fully wrong. She wasn't sure if Sungyoon still using the gym because she stopped coming there. She focused herself on the festival that due in few days. Since it's open for outsiders there's a lot of thing they need to consider. She's in charge of security.
"Ahreum!" Daeyeol shout in hallway. She stop in her track and turn around. Daeyeol jog up to her and pant a little.
"Yes?"
He pull his gummy smile, "Wanna grab a bite?"
She was about to answer when her eyes makes contact with Sungyoon at the end of the hallway. He looks hurt and upset. She excused herself without answering to Daeyeol's invitation and left him hanging. Ahreum run to Sungyoon direction when she see him walking away. Unlucky, she lost him in the crowd.
🎳🎳🎳
"There you are." She pants after running around the whole school looking for the troublemaker.
He's punching the sandbag mercilessly like a madman. Sungyoon put all his rage and heartache in every punch. But none of them making him feel better. The scene on the hallway keep flashing back in his mind.
"CHOI SUNGYOON STOP!" Ahreum shout on top of her lungs.
His fist stop on the midair. Ahreum carefully and gently grab his bloody bare fist in her hands.
"You're hurting yourself. Where's the gloves?" Her voice become softer and she quickly wipe the wound with her handkerchief. Sungyoon let her doing everything and stayed still like a statue.
"I'll go grab the first aid kit." She want to go but Sungyoon pull her into his embrace, "Stay."
She could hear his uneven breathing become more steady. They stayed like that for few minutes and Ahreum want to pull away. However, Sungyoon won't let go.
"I can't let you go again." He said above whisper.
"I... I won't... go." She wasn't sure what to answer him.
Sungyoon tighten the hug, "I think I fallen in love with you, Ahreum.