Si Yeon ran toward Seol Ah, sharpening her fist toward Seol Ah's face again. Before they both knew it, a shadow jumped out of the bleachers. A foot kicked Si Yeon's fist away, while a hand pulled Seol Ah behind.
Jin-ho.
"Why are you here?!" Jin-ho asked harshly.
Si Yeon stumbled away, glaring at them. The men quickly planted their feet, ready to fight Jin-ho if he dared. Seol Ah paused, her eyes widening.
"Jin-ho?"
"Oppa!" Si Yeon screamed, seething. "Why are you defending that bitch when she did this to me?"
Jin-ho stared at her nonchalantly before turning to Seol Ah. Seol Ah flinched when she met his gaze.
"Yes?" she whispered, averting her eyes.
Jin-ho then grabbed her chin, forcing her to keep her eyes on him. Seol Ah frowned, blushing.
"How are your injuries?" he questioned.
Seol Ah furrowed her brows. Before she opened her mouth…
HIC.
She gasped, covering her mouth. Si Yeon and Jin-ho widened their eyes.
Seol Ah turned completely red, closing her eyes with embarrassment. Please just kill me. This is so embarrassing. She pressed her lower teeth against her upper teeth.
Jin-ho chuckled, gently squishing her cheeks and teasingly making her puff out her lips like a fish.
"Ah!" Seol Ah frowned.
"Next time, scream for police… don't take the fight by yourself," Jin-ho said. Then he turned to look at Si Yeon, emotionless.
"Oppa—"
"Leave… or else my uncle will find your father and arrest everyone in your company," Jin-ho threatened coldly.
Si Yeon glared at Jin-ho, her hands trembling with restraint.
"What—? You would threaten—"
"You should be happy that nothing has happened to you or your father… yet," Jin-ho added chillingly.
Seol Ah listened to this and furrowed her brows. Wait… was he in their organizations before? Why is he protecting me over them? She glanced at Si Yeon, who startled her with a glare.
"Better protect her well, then… who knows what will happen next, don't you think, Miss TKD?" Si Yeon sneered. Then she stormed away, heading back home.
Jin-ho's grip on Seol Ah's cheeks tightened as he drifted into his own world. How dare she try to remind me about what happened—
"Ow!"
Jin-ho flinched, turning to her. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He looked down at his hand, still on her cheeks. She pouted angrily, shoving his hand away.
"I'm sorry…"
Seol Ah frowned, sulking at the thought that he dared treat her like a child. Her hiccups soon died down, and she stomped away from him to avoid any more talk, but—
"Where are you going?" he asked.
Seol Ah stopped, drew a deep breath, and then turned back.
"Class!"
"Go to the nurse's office. Treat your wounds," Jin-ho ordered.
Seol Ah squinted, weighing him. Why should I listen to you?
"No—!"
"Unless…" Jin-ho paused, stepping closer. He smiled and plucked a strand of her hair. "You want me to carry you there? I wouldn't mind…"
Seol Ah inhaled, heat flaring across her cheeks.
"I'm fine!" she snapped, standing her ground.
Jin-ho chuckled, leaning to her ear.
"Want me to carry you like a princess?"
Seol Ah clenched her fists and shoved at his chest.
"I'm not handicapped! I can walk and talk. Stop treating me like I'm weak!" she argued, then turned away, muttering, "Unbelievable! How dare he—?!"
Jin-ho moved quickly, grabbed her wrist, and placed it over his shoulder. She gasped as his other arm scooped her up off the ground.
"Kim Jin-ho!"
"Your mother will be worried if you return home with more bruises," Jin-ho said.
Seol Ah tightened her hands around his neck. Why is he acting like this? He usually hesitates to touch me.
"Jin-ho…" she called.
He began walking her along the track, glancing at her.
"Yes?"
"I have many questions to ask you…" Seol Ah said.
Jin-ho stopped on the track and stared at her.
"Okay…"
"But… how old are you?" Seol Ah asked. I know you won't answer all of them.
Jin-ho choked on his gulp, coughing as he helped her to her feet. She stood there, staring at him while he punched his chest to steady himself.
"I… hm… sorry, I just…"
"Didn't expect that question?" Seol Ah finished for him.
He laughed and nodded, spiraling internally.
"Okay… well, if you really want to know, I'm actually nineteen," Jin-ho replied.
Seol Ah's brows furrowed as she blew a raspberry.
"Wait, what? You're nineteen? Did you skip school or something? This is impossible," she asked.
Jin-ho chuckled, scratching the back of his head.
"Well, I did. I stopped going to school before junior high… for almost two years," he clarified. Seol Ah's jaw dropped. "I had to redo junior high, but then I got transferred here."
Seol Ah scanned him, then the surrounding area.
"Seriously? Did something bad happen? I've heard rumors, but I won't believe them unless you explain," she said.
Jin-ho's eyes glimmered at her words. He grinned slyly.
"I don't know… what if I told you I got beaten up and couldn't go to school for two years? Would you believe me?" he teased.
She looked at him, dumbfounded.
"Yes… I would totally believe you if you said that."
Jin-ho quickly swallowed his pride. Wait… you would?
"Why?"
"Because…" she took a deep breath. "You took a few weeks off because you got beaten up… so I figure you'd take a whole year or two off if you were lifeless."
Jin-ho stiffened, blinking a few times. The wind brushed around them, breaking the silence. He burst into laughter, nodding.
"I see… is that how you see me?" he wondered.
Seol Ah sighed, puffing her lips to the side.
"I don't know… but I do know that something happened that triggered… something inside you," she answered.
Jin-ho's fingers twitched as his lips pressed together. "Whatever it is… I guess I see why you're so… kind to me."
His heart fluttered rapidly as his gaze fell.
"What…?"
"There are more questions, yet you haven't answered them all… you probably won't in the future. Unless—" she paused. Her heart skipped a beat, hammering slowly. "You know something about me that you refused to let me know."
Jin-ho tightened his jaw, feeling vulnerable under her gaze. Has she been conscious of me all this time?
"Whatever it is, I hope that I'm wrong—that you're not a danger to me…" Seol Ah stated firmly. Her eyes flicked. I hope I'm wrong… about everything… and that boy in my dream, the one who always played the low notes on a piano I didn't see—does he exist, or was it just me imagining it? She looked to the field, avoiding his eyes. "I'll go to the nurse's office by myself. Bye…"
Jin-ho watched her walk away, his eyes slowly hollowing. Then he took a step forward—but not after Seol Ah. He headed straight to the music room… the piano. He hovered his hand over the keys, staring coldly.
"Seol Ah… Jang Seol Ah… Seol… Sela."
He pressed an E minor chord. The sound rang out, echoing in the empty room. What is the connection? I still can't figure it out.
And then, as if the world itself had shifted, the scene slipped from Jin-ho's gaze… to Seol Ah, quietly being tended by the nurse.
As time passed, the police arrived at the school and questioned Seol Ah. She just shrugged them off, saying it was just a confrontation between two students from different schools. However, many others said differently. Because there were male adults, they advised Seol Ah to be careful.
Jin-ho walked home without following Seol Ah this time. He stared at the ground on the way to his front door. Before he realized it—
"Jin-ho…" a deep, manly voice called without concern.
Jin-ho froze, raising his head slowly. His gaze locked onto the man… His uncle.
Kim Bin Sin.