7 (intro+game)

(I actually used Sunghoon's Dark blood: the blood altar comic character name without even knowing it.)

 'It's a shame you've worn these to school today.' Sunghoon said pointing to the small, almost inconspicuous, red tops I had accidentally worn to school today. Not my fault if last night was spent late at a promotion party of my father's company, and I would have been late if not entering the school gate five minutes prior. Plus, my best friend pointing me out on an already sore morning with the bright lights on my dry eyes is exhausting.

'It's by mistake Sunghoon, you are getting on my nerves all the time.' He chuckled at the remark while I looked around the ground for potential rivals incomings. It was a surprise to me for the amount of haters I had garnered over the years at this school, no wonder school always has a bad idea for me in it's fate. 

I met Sunghoon in my first grade alone. I still remember that it was during me participating in a football match against the roughest combination team of the school at annual sports programme. I was badly hurt by the end of the game and of course we couldn't manage to win. I was the first one to slip to the dressing room during the other team's celebration like hell for the win. I hated losing all my life. There he came and i recognized him after catching a glimpse of him cheering for the rival team. He told me how well we played and exclaimed that he was surprised all the way. I never expected more or less but I guess it was relieving after a tiresome march. We started moving together after that day and since i guess we have been inseparable like a storm without dust, whatever, blending into each other's personality like white color with pure milk, again whatever.

'Are your eyes searching for him again?' He said in a sardonic tone and i for once held back my fist for not being angry at whatever came my way today. Is this day meant to be bad or am I just not in a good mood since morning? But I flinch a lot at the hint of Sunoo from Sunghoon's lips.

'Sunghoon, you know.' I wanted to add 'how much of an annoying deep crush I have developed over time' but held back the growing disgust from my mouth.

'Yeah, i wish he just knew about it. It's only been a week since you caught feelings but honestly, I never knew you could by the way. Anyways it's just a crush. But you being a cold heart entity walking on earth, to becoming a loving bird the other when your eyes locks with his' for once. It sounds intimidating to me but it's okay as long as you....are you sure you're never gonna confess to him? Because I don't know, it can get cranky inside your heart sometimes when you don't ever get to say what you want. But i guess i like the idea more that you want to focus on yourself than spending all your energy on another person being official. Yeah, I like it.' He would have kept on yapping if i hadn't budged in though. 

'It's high time you realize that too, because, seriously, Raya? I will gnaw my fingers off than meet it for a handshake with her for, which you made me too once when you had decide to reveal it to me and I didn't because I didn't like her anyway and that was our, me and Raya's, Roman empire for sure.' I rolled my eyes when I said that.

'She's pretty nice by the way...only if you knew. But I don't even know myself about why I like her so much already. Maybe I will cut ties if the breaking point ever comes.' He said thoughtfully looking down at the ground the whole time. Because it's the truth anyways.

We walked around in silence in the ground for a while before heading back to class when the bell rung. I noticed Sunoo, while leaning on a fence at the basketball ground with Sunghoon this time. He was walking with his best friend Ni-ki to the class, from where i could see they were heading i guess. He didn't notice me but of course it's nothing new. Another day, another sore eye wasted at someone.

But it's something about his manners that gets me every time. The tall lean posture he carries around everywhere and the literal sunshine on his face all the time, gosh I wonder sometimes how God's creation could be so perfect. But it sounds as cheesy as the girls I can hear bawling over the popular guy of the class, of course, Yang Jungwon.

We reached the class room before I got a sudden urge to get a drink from the vending machine.

'Should I get one for you too?' I asked Sunghoon who was taking out the first period routine books from his bag. 

'Yeah, strawberry for me though.' He said smiling. I thumbed up at the remark and was about to step out when Sunoo and Riki enter at the same time. We would have bumped if not watching our steps and i somewhere, something hidden in my wretched heart, wished we weren't. We both smiled at the sudden meet, while Riki changed his glance from my face to his. I obviously didn't stay long enough for him to catch what it was with that itty-witty brain of his and made way for them because it was two for one. I quickly ran out the door when they went and heard their soft talks continuing after me.

I sprinted to the vending machine as the class was to start soon. But as I was about to reach close, I bumped hard to someone and we both bounced back on the floor. When I caught my senses back I saw Sim Jaeyun, the back bencher of my class, rub his back in pain. My heart skipped a beat in shock. 

'I am sorry. Are you okay?' I quickly got up and freed a hand to help him get up. He eyed me once and ignored my help the other. He got up on his own in of course the coolest way out of his personality and straightened himself before me.

'Are you blind, who runs like that in the corridor?' He narrowed his gaze to mine as if to stare deep into my soul. I flinched a bit at his deep-threatening voice.

'I am sorry I was just...oh I am sorry okay?' I was too stunned by the bumping pain that I couldn't care to spit any words out. I was about to sway past him to the machine when he grabbed my wrist and yanked me back to the wall. 

'Don't repeat this again, okay?' We both glared at each other and this would have turned into a physical fight as i was about to push him off when i heard the familiar monitoring voice before us, Park Jongseong, my bench mate and the class representative. 

'Don't you have any manners Jake? To the class now, or else I will have to get this to the staff room.' He said in an alarming but calm voice. 

Jake eyed him hard. 

'Of course the fussy representative.' He tugged on his jacket and looked at me before leaving his way. 'Remember the call Solon, another and you are in a bad game.' 

I scrunched my nose at his tacky remark and slouched as the bell rang eating up his retreating footsteps. 

'Thanks by the way.' I said sighing to Jay as he walked back to class with me. 

'I just happened to be on the way. It was fate.' He said smiling at me.

'Of course.' I chuckled.

When i entered the class i could already feel the angry gaze of Jake on my back, but what can go too wrong after all, i was a back-bencher myself.

Jay and I also met in first grade, back when we shared the same anxiety of senior school vibes. I remember the time i entered the classroom and got a near heart-attack from the bustling new children, all happy and yapping about everything while they were social butterflies. But my heart always seemed to be searching for peace which i found eventually when i looked at Jay at the back end. That bench and position seemed a lot easy to me when i sat beside him and looked around. I remember Jay telling me that he thought this place seemed to be the safest of all, and we continued to be seated in the same peace filling seat until we dwell in comfort of being bench-mates every year. 

I was eager for new things in life, to learn and grow but socializing is surely not my cup of tea. I seem to like everything except that one thing. When i heard many children whispering about back-benchers being the bully of the class but i had my expectations fixed with studies and students- learn and focus, if willing, share and spread too. I never seemed to like sitting at any other place other than the back bench. It seemed more like a friend to me and Jay now. And there went all the typical school notions in trash.

When i had first heard Jay telling me his name, i thought of what to call him-park or Jongseong? 

'Oh, you can call me Jay though. I have lived in America for a while. There everyone used to call me that.' He chuckled at my question and told me this. Though i think of calling him Jongseong a lot of times. He said my named rhymed with 'colon' which was funny and weird, but i never mind and i knew he joked.

Jay slipped into the seat next to me and we thorough through the class, our eyes pinned one time on the board and the other on our textbooks, but this was not the same case of all back-bencher, speaking of typical back-benchers. I was focused much on studies but from the corner of my eye, could see Jake being the special nerd in football, commenting and ranting about the last match, including his favorite team, which took place last night and aired on the national television. His talks felt like poison in my mind but i tried my best to not die. 

When the class ended I stretched my back and leaned on the low headrest with my left arm supporting my head and looked at Jay. 

'Did you color your hair Jay?' I asked and he, for once, suddenly looked at me wide eyed, and continued on his work, being flustered. 

'How did you notice, is it so visible?' But i couldn't see anything about him hiding it then, which proved me much that he wanted me to see it. Those pink highlights go really well with his blonde hairs but i know i am not gonna say it.

'It is of course. Why are you lying?' I lined a wide smirk on my face and started packing up my things inside. It was five minutes until the short recess will end and the next class will begin. There I thought of going to the vending machine but fell short of the ugly encounter with Jake there. I didn't know much about Jake though but i have never heard of him bullying someone. The one time i remember him being talked about was when he saved a junior from being bullied instead around the backside of the school near the lawn. Still i couldn't seem to fancy his daunting presence much.

I looked around the class for some other initiation of fun but i could only found Raya eyeing Sunghoon who was busy in his textbook and Jake throwing hands in the air about some bad goals in the match with Jungwon. Surprisingly, Jungwon instantly noticed my eye on him and i quickly looked away without making it obvious that my heart skipped a beat. I wonder why i am so bad at just eye-socializing, if it's something. I could see him smirk though from my side eye when i pulled off. 

'Can you solve this, Solon?' Jay asked me after crossing much with his chalk on the black board, while i stood staring blankly at the ceiling beside him. It was recess and i couldn't feel through half the time in school today. Nobody seemed to notice my red tops which was such a relief to me. I looked at the question and it hit me that i had solved this a day or two before. 'Yeah, i remember. I think you should go like this.' And i solved the whole thing there.

'Seems like the handwriting of a nerd to me.' I noticed Jungwon eyeing the board while standing with his hands inside his pocket and leaning on his tall spine. His presence maybe intimidating but his voice sounds just like some...i don't know, i can't get the right word but the pressed sound, which appears to be coming from his nose but is his actual tone, feels really satisfying to me. 

'You're right, it's me.' I don't play with words when it is what it is. I took hold of a chalk and fiddled with it for the mini-second Jungwon took to answer me. 

'Never beating the allegations, are you? Anyways, Sunghoon told me to give this to you while we happen to be at the same place, in the baseball ground. He was leaving hurriedly, stating he won't be able to see you later so told me to give it to you.' He handed out a small paper note. I took it while i felt weird when my hands brushed against his for a split second. I opened the note and read the one line- i will see you after school. Imposter call. In the Town park at 6. 

My eyes wandered a bit after i read it before Jungwon barged in on my storming thoughts. 'Did you knew about this?' It was weird hearing the concern in his voice when none showed on his face but i assumed be because of my furrowed brows. 

'Nah, i never know. Why are you asking though?' I looked up at him with a raised right brow.

'We have a football match arranged in evening. Though i can see he can't come.' He flicked a hand in front of the note. 'Anyways, later tell him for me that i was asking about it.' 

'Sure.' I thinned my lips and he stalked away. 

The last period started with an alarming ring. It was mathematics, one of the few subjects which required more than attention from me, my will to study it. 

'Solon! Can you come on the board and solve it for me?' I jerked at the call and the pen i was fiddling with, lost in thoughts, flipped out of my fingers to the ground. I looked ahead to find the teacher tapping on the board with a chalk and gesturing me to come forward. After inhaling a long disappointed breath, all to the fate, i left my bench and went for the board. Taking the chalk from his hands, i stared at the question for a while before proceeding to solve it. I guess i reached the end but it was not the answer when i looked at a raised brow on his face in a sad remark. I put down the chalk and went for my bench, turned down of course.

'Okay then let's see who can, anybody?' And i saw one feeble looking hand but hiding enough magic of numbers, of course of Heeseung, the class topper.

The final bell rang and we started packing our things back. 'Are you free for a football match this evening?' Jongseong asked while keeping his eye fixed on his watch. I furrowed my brows. 

'Is it with the popular Yang?' I don't remember exactly when did we remarked Jungwon as the popular guy but i guess the talks gradually grew when he got famous in the feminine crowd.

'Yes, how did you know? Oh, he mentioned with the note. Ah, i forgot to mention it to you myself though.' He shook his head and turned to look at me. 'I am in it with Ni-ki. And i guess Sunoo should be there too then. Anyways, you free? I guess i could use some close cheering.' He smiled. 

I scratched my neck and thought deeply. 

'Venue?' I asked continuing.

'Town Park at 7.' 

'Oh, then i can be there sure. Sunghoon is supposed to meet me there at 6. I hope i can manage to come by.' I hopped my bag with one swing on my back, clearing damn well inside that i am coming. 'Alrighty then, see you.' We waved each other and he left, but i stood there for a minute contemplating my inner statement. Sunoo would be there too for sure if Ni-ki is. Gosh i think i am feeling nervous in my head. Hence without wasting a second more, i left the classroom leaving the only crowd of Jake behind. 

When the dusk rose in the pretty restless sky today, i put on my peanut colored basketball sweatshirt over a casual tee and pulled on harem pants before moving out. I met Sunghoon waiting at the park's entry gate. His aura looked sad somehow.

'Hey.' I said sneaking my hands inside the sweatshirt's pockets. He looked up and smiled. 

'Hi.' He didn't say much further which was odd looking at our long friendship. Of course he was a less speaker but not around me by how much i know. 

'Should we get a drink?' I pointed at the near vending machine and he silently nodded; somehow this town had a lot of vending machines i see. 

We bought two iced coffee and went to sit at the bench facing the ground. Soft breeze was blowing which tangled my hair much but i didn't seem to care. 

'So tell me then, what was the call. Everything's fine or not?' I sipped the coffee, and it slowly melted in my mouth as if it knew it was the cause of my euphoria from now. I looked about the ground which was nearly empty except for two boys playing with the ball near one goalpost.

'Oh, yeah. Someone called to say that my parents got in an accident, so i had to rush back.' He blew a sigh and inhaled long before speaking. 'Then i went to see how bad it was but everything was normal then, they just crashed with a car on highway. It wasn't that bad but they were injured much. I don't think I'll be able to speak out everything after that, is that okay?' 

I looked at his sorry eyes. 'Yeah, yeah of course. Take your time. I hope they get well soon.' I pulled out my hand in a gesture. 'I can help you if you want with school. You don't have to come often if you don't feel like it.'

'Nah, it will be fine soon. By the way, i think i will heal sooner if i am with you.' He lined a warm smile at me and it immediately came on my face too. Somehow, somewhere, it felt nice to have a friend. 

'The game will start soon i guess, only an hour left.' I peeked a glance at my watch and looked around the stadium which was starting to fill in. Sunghoon went to ground when his team members came and i sat at the bench alone looking at the guys. I suddenly spotted Ni-ki there too. 

'Can i join?' I heard the familiar honey voice meeting my ears close. I looked aside to find Sunoo in a dark green Peacoat, fingers stuffed inside the pockets, and his eyes thinning a bit at the soft smile he was lining at me. My mind seemed to instantly freeze at his sight, his so fair face glowing bit by the headlights around us, and i must have drifted to a different world right at the moment. I blinked back myself to life.

'Yes, yes, of course.' I tapped at the space beside me and shifted to the left a bit. He sat quietly and i looked at him again, this time not taking off because we are about to talk now and it's okay and i have no where else to waste my gaze anyway. 

'From the football, i had seen your match once at school last year. It was good, you tried hard.' He smiled me locking his eyes with mine, telling me it was the truth.

My face immediately heated up and i asked in shock, 'you were there?'

'Yeah, we all saw it, right?' He blinked.

'Oh, yeah, i recalled now.' I looked away. Shit. 'Thanks.' I flustered.

We stared at the starting game now. There was quite a crowd now on the benches. But me and Sunoo stayed as we hadn't recognized any other significant of us yet. Well, i knew i liked this fate now.

'By the way do you like...football?' Was i supposed to ask something else?

'I don't like to play it. It's not my cup of tea.' He waved a hand in a 'no' gesture. 'I only watch from distance, Ni-ki is nice at since.' He rubbed his fingers together.

'Oh. I was bad at it before, but i wanted to keep playing it.' I softly chuckled at my back story. He smiled.

'I know, right? It feels good. Though i think i don't have much of a stamina there. That's why i keep away. I like sports too, by the way. somewhere i think.' He tilted his head at the unknown feeling.

'Which sport do you like?' I sipped at my coffee now as i watched his head face up in thinking.

'Um, badminton and maybe table-tennis? I can keep myself at these.' He nodded at me.

'Wow, i like badminton too. Seems like we have something in common now.' I smiled my eyes at him.

'Really? We should play together someday then.' He beamed.

'Yeah, right.' My cheeks must have gone red; thanks to the night for shadowing it. 'You can give me your number then. We can text each other when we are free to play.' 

'Ah, okay.' He pulled out his phone and we shared it. 'It feels good now. Maybe i can build up my strength more. It would be fun with Ni-ki there. I should bet to you that he will make you laugh a lot.' He slipped his phone back in his pockets, saving my number as Solon: school friend, which i peeked at.

'Yes i guess he's good. We'll have fun.' I grinned at him and adored his reflection for a minute long. 

 

The game continued on with our school side being neck to neck with others'. But i couldn't pay much attention when Sunoo sat right beside me. I could smell his presence as something refreshing just like mint chocolate. 

'You must be having many friends at school, right?' I asked with a pretended nonchalant.

'Yes, why to ask though? You have so many too. I like Jay, he's kind. I am developing it with Heeseung nowadays to mention. We spent some time at the lobby discussing some questions and then decided for group study sessions to assist each other. Ah, i have grown so much with him. He is inspiring. I want to learn more from him though. To tell you, he is more than just a bookworm.' And he continued his talk, i knew he liked talking a lot, and i was happy to be someone he could share with.

'Once when we were at his house, his big brother came to get him to a game cafe. I didn't know they were supposed to leave at the time i came just 15 minutes before and Heeseung also didn't mention it himself so that i would have known to leave then. Maybe he did that to keep my heart, you know i should tell you he is that type of person.'

'Yeah i wondered too that he was a secret admirer of things. Nice trait of him i see.' I smiled.

'Yeah, and he also takes a lot care of me when i visit his place. He has so many sweets there, i love to eat sweets, you know?' 

'I do.' I was loving this talk now. I think we were both gone from the match going on.

He continued to talk about Heeseung, someone i didn't know much about before but now it seems as if he is a lot nicer person inside than he what he shows to others. 

The game came to an end after long. Horrific for me though that our school team won. Jungwon is going to tease me i guess looking at the board with his name at the top beside the 'most goals scorer'. I left football after last year when i lost and sought to focus more on studies, but i don't know if he knows i once played it. 

'It was nice talking to you Solon. I didn't know we could fit well so well to know each other.' Sunoo got up from his seat and wiggled a bit in happiness after our long conversation, which composed mostly of his voice. 

'I see that too. I also feel happy talking to you. I hope we'll keep seeing each other at badminton now.' I pursed my lips in contentment.

'Yeah sure. See you.' He waved at me, and left. 

I wish the game went on forever so that our talk just could never end. It was so satisfying somewhere in my heart that i finally had a converse with Sunoo and that we were somewhere to friends now. I am happy.