True Love

"Come on, don't be so upset."

Momo patted her best friend's shoulder, and she was startled by Sana's soft sobs.

"I'm so sad, Momo. Why does she keep picking on me?"

"Hey, are you crying? Please, don't cry anymore," Hirai Momo became flustered seeing tears streaming down Sana's beautiful face.

"I... but... hic... I..."

Sana only cried harder, refusing to stop, which gave Momo a massive headache.

"What can make you stop crying? Should I go beat her up for bullying you?"

Immediately, Momo rolled up her sleeves, charging forward like an arrow through the night, only to be stopped by Sana before she could even draw her bow.

"What now? Are you going soft? She's been bullying you day in and day out, and you're still not angry?"

Sana looked at her with such eyes that Momo deflated. Goodness, this squirrel is too cute.

"Who said I'm not angry? I'm very angry, but whatever. I'm used to it," Sana raised her fist, but her voice trailed off at the last few words.

"Then why are you crying? If you're used to it, why are you crying?" Momo shook her friend's shoulders, utterly confused.

"I don't know..."

After that, they didn't say anything until the bell rang for class.

Sana looked out the window. The afternoon sunlight had faded but was still radiant. The wind blew her hair, carrying away her tears as well. Sana slumped onto her desk. It was the fourth class of theaàternoon’s schedule, and she wasn't in the mood to continue studying. Her nose was red, eyes were swollen, eyelashes were still wet, and her clear gaze rested on someone's straight back, filled with sadness.

Then Sana felt angry. She pouted. She hadn't done anything that bad, just forgotten her cleaning duty. Why did that person have to be so cold and harsh?

"Hey, how can you be so irresponsible? You left Jimin to clean alone while she's sick. Don't you think that's too much?" Nayeon crossed her arms.

"I didn't do it on purpose. I just forgot. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? You're really taking Jimin's side, aren't you?"

"I'm just doing my duty. I'm going to make you clean for a week. Don't even try to argue. You're clearly in the wrong."

With that, Nayeon walked away without even looking at her. Being a good student and class president is great, huh? She's the class vice president too, you know.

That was the morning's incident. What happened in the afternoon made her even more furious. They had a chemistry lab practical during the first class of the afternoon. But because Sana usually slept deeply after lunch, she took a nap at her desk and didn't hear the bell. It wasn't until thirty minutes into class that Momo—her best friend but in a different class—passed by and saw the empty classroom with only Sana inside. She rushed in to wake her up.

But what made her even angrier was the neat writing on the board: "QUICKLY MOVE TO THE CHEMISTRY LAB. NO NOISE, DO NOT WAKE SLEEPING PEOPLE." Whose handwriting could it be but that precious class president? Of course, it was her words. In this class, who dared to disobey? Nayeon was so mean, making her run like crazy to the lab. Luckily, the teacher believed her excuse about going to the infirmary because her face was as green as a leaf. That face was caused by fear and running too fast to breathe. So, there was some luck in the misfortune.

Anyway, Sana was now angry with Nayeon. Before, she was gentle and didn't mind Nayeon's trivial things like ordering her around, teasing, or mocking her, but now she was angry. Really angry, no joke!

Sana kept muttering about being angry and hating her until she fell asleep. This Physics class was so boring. She probably would have slept until evening if no one had woken her up.

"Wake up. You eat and sleep, sleep so much that your eyes are swollen, and you still want to sleep? Sleeping too much will make you fat."

This voice was too familiar. Sana barely opened her eyes. It was a girl with long hair. The light was against her, but it was still clear enough to see Nayeon's hateful face. Sana sat up. The sun had almost set, or rather, dusk had fallen. Nayeon was packing her things. The sunset seemed to melt on her shoulders, casting a honey-colored light on her back.

Oh no, Sana suddenly remembered she hadn't done her cleaning duty. She'll probably make her clean for another week.

"Why haven't you gone home yet?" Nayeon had reached the door, but seeing no sign of the other girl getting up, she asked.

"I... I haven't cleaned the classroom yet."

Sana's voice was on the verge of tears, making Nayeon smile.

"Go home. Someone else did your part. If we waited for you to wake up, this school would close."

Nayeon said and disappeared behind the door.

...

"NAYEON, AREN'T YOU STAYING TO PLAY BADMINTON TODAY?"

Jeongyeon shouted when she saw Nayeon taking her bike towards the gate.

"NO, I'M BUSY."

Nayeon looked at the girl walking ahead and shouted back.

Sana was waiting for the bus in front of the school gate. She was a bit anxious because she was later than usual today. Looking at her watch, theoretically, there should still be buses, but sometimes the last one comes a bit earlier, and what if that “bit” had already passed?

"Want a ride home? I'll take you."

Nayeon's familiar bicycle braked sharply in front of Sana. She was a little confused. Why was she being so nice today?

"No need. I'll wait for the bus."

"Really? But it seems like it's already gone."

"What? How do you know?"

"My friend usually waits for the last bus to go home, but she's not here waiting, so she must have left."

"Then I'll walk home."

Sana said and, without looking at the hateful person, walked away.

Nayeon didn't say anything and rode straight ahead.

Sana stomped her foot. How annoying. She thought she would chase after her and persuade her until she agreed. When she asked her like that earlier, she had calmed down a bit, but now she was even angrier.

She walked for a while and was already tired. Sana's house wasn't very close to school. At this rate, she'd probably only get home by night. Suddenly, someone ran out from a small alley and blocked her way.

"Ah!" Sana was startled and screamed in fear.

"What? It's me. Why are you screaming so loudly?"

Sana looked up and saw Nayeon's eyes full of worry, but her mouth was smiling as if she was teasing her. How annoying. She dared to scare her?

"Yah, what is it? Do you want to assassinate someone who kindly offered to take you home?"

Minatozaki Sana disregarded her usual ladylike image, grabbed her bag, and started hitting the stupid class president. Did she want to scare her to death?

"Stop it!"

Nayeon grabbed her hands tightly. If she let Sana keep hitting her, she’d probably end up in the hospital.

"What? Are you scared? Walking home alone can lead to situations like this. If it wasn't me just now, but someone else, what would you have done?"

Nayeon scolded her, making Sana so frustrated she almost cried. She clearly scared her first, and now she was being fierce.

"Get on the bike. I'll take you home. You're out of breaths. Walking so slowly, you'll never get home."

Nayeon's words were harsh, but thinking about it, they were true. So, Sana reluctantly climbed onto the back of the bike and sat quietly.

Throughout the ride, Nayeon heard soft sobs behind her. She didn't say anything but was actually very concerned.

Why was Sana crying? Who knows? Suddenly, she remembered all the things that had happened today. The person who bullied her, the person who was cold to her, was now giving her a ride home without saying a word. Looking at that back, her nose suddenly felt sore, and she started crying without realizing it.

"We're here. Go inside. Don't stay up late. You'll just sleep in class again. Study less. If you're too good, no one can catch up."

Was she concerned or mocking her?

"You keep crying. Your eyes are swollen and ugly. Stop crying. No one did anything to you," Nayeon reached out and wiped her tears.

"Who needs your concern?" Sana was also stubborn.

“Do I have to check if you need me to care before I can care? Go inside. I'm going home!"

Nayeon started pedaling her bike home. Her house was in the opposite direction from Sana's, but riding a little further wasn't a big deal. Why? Because Nayeon liked it that way.

...

Today, Sana was determined to arrive early. But she still didn't arrive as early as the class president. As soon as she got to the classroom, she saw her sitting neatly studying. Truly an exemplary student.

What surprised Sana even more was the lunchbox on her desk. Opening it, she found all her favorite dishes, decorated beautifully and delicately. Looking around, she only saw Nayeon in the classroom. She probably knew who had given it to her.

"Hey, Nayeon, do you know who put this lunchbox on my desk?"

"I don't know. Probably someone who wants to pursue you."

Nayeon replied nonchalantly and continued her work.

"But I already have one lunchbox. I should give this one to Jimin to thank her for helping me with the cleaning yesterday."

"It looks nice. Why don't you eat it for breakfast? Or I can eat it for you."

Sana was confused when Nayeon suddenly became anxious.

"No way. I'm going to eat it. I won't give it to you."

Sana said and happily ate her breakfast. Her every move was noticed by the other girl.

"Yah, why aren't you going to the cafeteria for breakfast today? You usually eat breakfast there."

Momo patted Sana's shoulder. She had been waiting for her downstairs in the cafeteria.

"Someone suddenly gave me breakfast today."

"Woah, it looks so nice. Is it good? Let me try a bite."

Hirai Momo's eyes lit up when she saw the food. Even though she had already eaten, she was still curious to try it. Sana happily picked up a piece of rolled omelet for her, but before she could eat it, Nayeon called her back.

"Momo, someone's looking for you."

Momo went to the classroom door and then came back because the entire hallway was empty. 

"There's no one. Are you so free that you like to tease even me, Nayeon?"

But when she saw Nayeon's eyes looking at her, Momo suddenly understood everything.

"Ahhh, yes, yes, I do have something at the class this morning. I'll go back. I wonder which idiot is pursuing you? But that's good!"

Momo winked at Sana and, before leaving, didn't forget to glance at Nayeon.

...

"Jimin, here you go!"

Sana handed a water bottle to her friend. They were in PE class.

"Huh? Why are you giving this to me?"

"You helped me with the cleaning yesterday. Thank you!"

"No, yesterday I only did my part. It was the class president who did your part. I was going to wake you up, but Nayeon didn't let me. Then she quietly swept the classroom. The day before when you left, she also did it for you. But at that time, I saw she was very annoyed. I thought it was because she had to do it herself after searching for you and not finding you. But yesterday, the class president seemed very normal, even smiling. You also know that her job is just to watch us do the cleaning. Normally, even if someone does it alone, she wouldn't care and would just watch. The class president is really good to you."

"Good? She left me alone in the classroom, I almost got punished. How is that good?" Sana pouted.

"Nayeon didn't seem to be joking when she wrote that on the board. And do you think Ms. Yoon Hye is that easy to fool? It's because Nayeon told her at the beginning of class that you were in the infirmary, Sana."

Sana was suddenly stunned. How could there be so many things she didn't know? Knowing them now made her feel strangely fluttered.

"Sana, this water bottle shouldn't be for me!"

She looked towards the badminton court where Nayeon was playing. Her face was always held high as if she was very confident. Before, Sana found that face extremely annoying, but now she found it strangely cute!

"Drink it!"

Nayeon was resting after the previous match when, out of nowhere, Sana came and put a towel on her head and shoved a cold water bottle into her hand.

She came and went like a gust of wind, but all day, just because of a towel and a water bottle, Nayeon couldn't stop smiling.

"Yah, class president, why are you smiling to yourself?"

"It's nothing," Nayeon waved her hand, trying to act like nothing was happening.

"Are you two dating?" Jihyo asked.

"Stop it! Come here and play another match with me."

Nayeon continued onto the court. The image of her running, her powerful badminton smashes, her agile movements, Sana saw it all. She even saw the beads of sweat on Nayeon's forehead, the reflected light making that face even more radiant.

And when Nayeon finished another successful match, she turned her head to look at Sana, smiling brightly like a blooming flower.

Suddenly, Sana felt like she was struck by lightning in the windy schoolyard!