How long are you going to chase me?
성덩이도
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Woonhak
I don’t like one-sided love.


On Wednesday morning, gym class—the class I disliked most—was coming up. And it was early, so I hated it even more.

I had no energy, so I sat down in a corner of the field. Should I just fake being sick and skip it?


나여주
Gym from second period...!!


김운학
What are you mumbling about?


나여주
Because I don’t want to do gym today.


김운학
Well, yeah. You don’t really like moving around.


나여주
Should I just say I’m sick and ditch.


김운학
You really just said skip class out loud. You hate it that much?


나여주
Yeah. Every gym period, I just wish I were sick.


김운학
Don’t say that, even as a joke. You’ll jinx it.


나여주
Hey, as if I’d actually do that?

(Gym class starts shortly after)

체육쌤
Today we’re going to try partner dodgeball. The rules are simple. The defense person’s job is to protect the teammate behind them from getting hit by the ball. If your teammate gets hit, both of you are out. Got it?

학생들
Yes!!

(Everyone’s busy picking teams)


나여주
Who should I do it with? If it were usual, I’d do it with Sol.. (Sol is absent because she’s sick)


김운학
Then team up with me.


나여주
Huh? Are you sure? I’m really bad at dodgeball.


김운학
I’m good at it, so what does it matter?

That kind of grounded confidence is enviable. If only I had good athletic ability too..

(The game starts soon)


김운학
Hold on tight so I don’t fall off. It’ll be easier to dodge that way.


나여주
(Lightly grabs the collar) L-like this?


김운학
No, not like that.

Finding me so flustered annoying, Unhak grabbed my hand and slapped it right onto his waist.


나여주
!


김운학
Hold on tight. I’m going to move pretty fast.


나여주
(Isn’t this too close?)

While I was still confused, the game started right away.

남학생 B
Hey, hey, pass it over there!!

남학생 A
No, how do you miss that?? Are you seriously an idiot?;


나여주
Ugh.. this is chaos.

The field had become a complete mess. I was terrified of how balls kept flying in from every direction.


김운학
How are you? You okay?


나여주
I’m okay, for now.


김운학
Ha.. there’s literally no time to catch my breath.


나여주
(glance)


김운학
Why?


나여주
... Nothing.

Even in a situation this chaotic, I was weirdly aware of the warmth where our bodies were touching.


나여주
(Let’s not worry about it. It’s not that big a deal.)

안태민
Wait, she turned around—hit her with the ball!

남학생 C
(throws the ball hard)


나여주
!!


김운학
Huh?

(And then the heroine gets hit by the ball)


나여주
Ugh...

남학생 B
Whoa;; the heroine’s nose is bleeding?

학생들
What do we do about her;;


나여주
...


김운학
This is bad. (quickly wipes away the blood with a sleeve)


나여주
Sniff..


김운학
Let’s go to the nurse’s office first. Get up.


나여주
(nod)

(The two arrive at the nurse’s office)


나여주
If you lie down for a bit, maybe it’ll get better.


김운학
No. If it’s a nosebleed, it’ll all run down your throat. Press on the bridge of your nose to stop the bleeding.


나여주
(obediently) Okay.


나여주
But your gym clothes got soaked in blood. What are you going to do?


김운학
Is my clothes the problem right now? Worry about yourself.


나여주
Heheh.


김운학
You’re injured, and you can still laugh.


나여주
Wellㅎㅎ I just thought maybe being in pain once in a while isn’t so bad.


김운학
Are you crazy?


나여주
Then you’ll keep worrying about me, won’t you?


김운학
No, that’s not something you just say..!

Am I being a little mean? His unusually flustered look was pretty amusing.


나여주
Was that too much?


김운학
Yeah. It was.

When he suddenly swept my hair back, I jolted in surprise.


김운학
Don’t ever think that again. I’ll take good care of you whether you’re hurt or not. Okay?


나여주
Uh... okay, but could you back up a little?


김운학
Why.


나여주
It’s overwhelming.


나여주
(I already was since before this..)


김운학
But why is your face red? Do you have a fever?


나여주
!? Really?


김운학
(puts a hand on the forehead) I’m not sure. I’ll go get a wet towel or something.

(The heroine is left alone)


나여주
There’s no way, right? Am I crazy..?

It was at least a relief that nobody heard the muttered words to herself.

>> To be continued