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Here we go again.
Another day, another pile of love letters was stacked inside Ryujin's locker.
Seeing Ryujin's smug expression, Chaeryeong rolled her eyes. Hiding the fact that she's also one of those girls captivated by Ryujin's charms, but just too shy and proud to admit.
So maybe Chaeryeong has feelings for the
other, it's not hard to fall in love with someone you spend a lot of time with. Especially if that someone is Shin Ryujin, ace of the Tennisclub, who still smelled freaking good even after practice.
Maybe that's why even if Ryujin can be a little annoying, Chaeryeong would still be by her side, not that she's afraid she'll lose her best friend to someone who sent a love letter.
Sure, Ryujin has a fiasco of a fan club, but
Chaeryeong gets to be called 'darling' by Ryujin, be it affectionately or just to tease her.
"You realize that I can see you every time you do that, right?" The shorter girl bent down to pick up the fallen letters. "I have a good peripheral vision, I see everything -"
"Except the top shelf, apparently." The taller
girl was quick to retort.
This was their usual banter. Chaeryeong
couldn't help but chuckle at the defeated
Ryujin.
The day rolled like always - morning classes, lunch break afternoon classes, and then club activities.
Chaeryeong was at the girl's locker room with the others, changing clothes for practice.
Yes, she was also a member of the Tennis Club, same as Ryujin, talk about joined at the hip.
"So what's going on between you and Ryujin? I heard rumors you guys are dating.” Minju, one of the club members, asked.
"More like an old married couple if you asked me.." Another member, Yeji, butted in.
"What? Me? Ryujin?" Chaeryeong said
sarcastically. "Pfft no, we're just friends...
besides, I wouldn't date someone shorter than me."
"Then what about calling each other
'darling'?" Both asked.
Caught off guard by the question,
Chaeryeong just hurriedly went to the door to get away from the conversation.
"T-That... that doesn't mean anything - I don't like her like that, okay, we better hurry up, coach might get mad again."
As soon as Chaeryeong opened the door, she saw Ryujin staring blankly just in front.
"The coach is waiting for you. We're doing
drills today." Is all Ryujin said before walking away.
★★
The next few days, Ryujin avoided
Chaeryeong.
It was pretty obvious. They used to go to school and go home together.
But this time, even if they were alone, Ryujin would find a way to escape.
"R-Ryujin..can we talk"
"No."
"Would you please listen to me."
Chaeryeong said, almost begging. "I know
why you're mad. Just let me explain
"No, you don't."
"Yes, I do."
"I thought we had something special. Why do you think I never answer any of those letters."
Ryujin looks up to Chaeryeong with
emotionless eyes. "I'm sorry I'm a few
centimeters shorter than you. I'm sorry for
coming up with a stupid nickname. I'm sorry but I have to go." She storms away.
Chaeryeong's hand hovered in the air, then
dropped.
If Ryujin was going to be like this,
she had no choice. She had to do the one
thing she was ashamed to do.
Ryujin went to school earlier than usual. She didn't want another confrontation after what happened yesterday. Her feelings were still mixed; ashamed, angry, but really just sad.
Inside her locker, she finds a note that
seemed different from the others. She
furrows her eyebrows at the familiar
handwriting, but soon smiles faintly reading the content.
Ryujin hears footsteps of someone trying to hide behind the lockers.
"Hey there...Darling!" She catches a surprised Chaeryeong who almost lost her balance.
Blushing furiously and trying to avoid eye
contact. "I can explain..you see-"
"Ssshhh."
Ryujin didn't expect this, that her best friend would also have feelings for her. Ryujin was a bit annoyed that the words Chaeryeong wrote was basically the same confession she had been practicing in her mind. So Ryujin tiptoed to silence Chaeryeong with her lips.