True Love

"Sana, would you like to go to the movies with me this Saturday?"

Another boy was trying to pursue Sana. The others in the class were used to this, but they still couldn't help but exclaim excitedly. Everyone admitted that their class vice president was indeed very attractive. She was pretty and cute, a top student, and had a friendly, approachable personality. Who wouldn't want a girlfriend like her?

So, one after another, countless attractive students from Wondo High School wanted to get to know her. Sana's locker was always full of letters and gifts, and as for breakfast or lunch, it went without saying; every day someone would leave something on her desk. But for some reason, those dishes never reached Sana’s hands, except for the lunchbox from this morning.

"Sana, accept it. Hoon really likes you. He mentions you every day."

A boy from Younghoon's group of friends spoke up. Both main characters felt embarrassed. There were many classes having PE on the field at this time, and the students were all focusing their attention on the pair.

Only Nayeon was still diligently practicing basketball. Earlier, her friends had also put down their rackets to go watch the commotion. With no other choice, Nayeon switched to playing basketball, dribbling and dunking as forcefully as possible. 

Nayeon was annoyed, very, very annoyed. Like the day she ran to find Sana to remind her about the cleaning duty, and coincidentally saw her happily talking and laughing with Younghoon. The jealousy made her want to vent all her anger on Sana the next day, but Nayeon could only say a few serious words and make a stern face. In reality, her heart was soft. Nayeon knew she was being a bit too much, but she didn’t think Sana would cry. Seeing her swollen eyes made Nayeon’s heart ache.

When she gave Sana a ride home, Nayeon felt her heart pounding in her chest. No matter how heavy Sana was, Nayeon felt light. No matter how far the road was for the class president, it felt short.

Nayeon liked Sana. She had liked her since the beginning of tenth grade, but now it was the middle of eleventh grade, and she still hadn't been able to express her feelings. Nayeon knew she was being foolish. But she could only make Sana hate her. Only in that way would she be impressed by her and not see her as just another person. There were so many people pursuing her, and Nayeon didn't want to be like them. She didn't want Sana to see her as someone who just passed through her life.

Because being pursued by others was a very normal thing for Sana.

Lost in her own thoughts, Nayeon suddenly heard cheers in the distance.

"Sana agreed."

That was what Nayeon heard from her friend. Nayeon's heart skipped a beat. She made a powerful dunk as if from the heavens, then let the ball roll into a corner. She listlessly walked into the restroom.

"Snap out of it, Im Nayeon! What right do you have to be jealous?"

From the beginning, when she liked Sana, Nayeon knew this would happen. But she didn't expect it to be this painful. Originally, Nayeon thought Sana would refuse as she had countless times before, but no, she had agreed. 

It was precisely because Sana had always refused such invitations that Nayeon had enough confidence to continue this useless one-sided love. Because she was still standing there alone, meaning Nayeon would still have a chance. But now, Nayeon suddenly felt afraid. She didn’t dare to speak up, but if she didn’t, she risked losing the person she liked. Nayeon was truly shy.

"Nayeon, are you crazy? Why are you splashing water on your face so much?"

Nayeon saw Sana looking at her with a strange gaze. She didn't want her to notice her.

"I'm annoyed. You better stay away from me."

She said and walked out. Nayeon's face clearly showed her annoyance, her eyes still streaked with red blood vessels. That expression really scared Sana.

"No one did anything to you, why are you making that face? You're always frowning. It's annoying."

Sana didn't understand why the person who was smiling at her just 30 minutes ago had suddenly changed her attitude towards her.

Actually, Sana had glanced at Nayeon's expression earlier. She didn't even glance at her and Younghoon. Yet there were times when Sana had the delusion that Nayeon liked her. 

The class president always bullied her, always overpowered her, but she really couldn't stay angry at her for even a day. Sana herself didn't understand why she could so easily let everything go. She was just sad that Nayeon could be nice to others, but not to her. Sana wanted to be friends with her, but it seemed too difficult. She was always like a thorn in Nayeon's side. Everyone loved her, they were willing to do anything just to get her attention. Yet that class president didn't even bother to care about her.

Sana accepted Younghoon's invitation just to see how Nayeon would react. In the end, she only received indifference.

Until the end of that afternoon, they didn't say a word to each other. Normally, Nayeon would always be the one to provoke Sana, make her scold her, and then they would bicker. But today, only silence responded to everything.

Nayeon coldly watched her class vice president doing the cleaning. Because the person who was supposed to clean with her had something to do and had to leave early, Sana was left to do everything. Everything! There was no help from the respected class president. 

Even when Sana clumsily bumped into the edge of a desk, hurting herself and almost crying, Nayeon just stood there. She looked at her with the coldest eyes, as if the two of them were unrelated.

Well, in fact, they were indeed unrelated.

Sana thought Nayeon really didn't care about her, but then an unexpected event happened. It made her realize that she wasn't completely heartless.

"Be careful!"

Sana accidentally bumped into a cabinet at the back of the classroom while stooping to sweep. It caused a vase on it to almost fall on her head. Sana didn't have time to react, but in a split second, quick as lightning, Nayeon was there to catch it for her.

Their eyes accidentally met, and then they glanced away without lingering. But still, Sana managed to see the worry that Nayeon was trying to hide with anger.

"This vase is very expensive, you know?"

Nayeon blurted out a deceitful sentence to cover up her concern for the other girl. Because Sana knew very well that she didn't mean it that way. She silently cursed her for being stupid, but at the same time, she couldn't help but smile.

"Nayeon, thank you."

It felt like something just exploded in Nayeon's mind. She didn't expect that one day Sana would smile at her so sweetly. Because the action just now was spontaneous, a natural reflex.

Before that, to be able to coldly watch Sana in pain but still continue cleaning, Nayeon had to restrain herself a lot. 

If it were a normal day, she would have probably run out and done it for her. Of course, there would be no shortage of harsh words for her, but only Nayeon knew that it was loving scolding. 

However, when she saw Sana in danger, something urged Nayeon to step up and protect her. No matter how angry she was, the class president still couldn't let her vice president get hurt!

"Okay, is everything done? Let's go home. You go first. I'll put the brooms away," Nayeon said and pushed her out the door. Actually, she was trying to hide her blushing face and her thumping heart.

...

"YAH, NAYEON AH! ARE YOU BUSY AGAIN TODAY?" It was Jeongyeon's booming voice again.

She didn't say anything, just smiled and nodded. She had to take her "crush" home, after all. Giving Sana a ride on the back of her bike was much more interesting than playing badminton.

Why was Sana talking to Younghoon again? Nayeon felt unhappy about that. And she even let that guy touch her hand and pull her away.

"Sana, I want to ask you if you want me to give you a ride home?"

Without even glancing at the boy standing opposite, Nayeon only looked at her vice president.

"No need. There are still buses today. Thank you."

Seeing her smile made Nayeon's heart ache. Oh my god, what should she do to get closer to her?

"Then... then be careful," Nayeon glanced slightly at the boy next to Sana.

"Don't worry, I'm going home with Younghoon today. He'll protect me, right?"

"Of course," Younghoon patted Sana's head, which made Nayeon extremely jealous.

The person standing next to you is the most unpredictable threat, Sana.

Without saying anything, Nayeon turned her bike around and rode straight back into the school.

"Hey, wasn't she going to give you a ride home? If she couldn't, she should have just gone home. Why did she go back in?" Younghoon scratched his head in confusion.

"Nayeon usually stays to play sports," Sana shrugged. There wasn't a day she didn't see her playing badminton.

"If that's the case, she could have just stayed inside to play. Why did she come out here to ask if you wanted a ride and then go back in like that? It's really strange."

Wait a minute, if that's the case, didn't that mean Nayeon intentionally didn't stay back yesterday and today because of her? Sana suddenly startled. So the class president really wanted to give her a ride home. This made Sana feel strangely happy, even though she didn't understand why.

"The bus is here, let's go, Sana."

Sana only looked out the window during the entire ride, a small smile playing on her lips.

...

"I'm so tired, let's take a break," Jeongyeon slumped into a chair after playing about three or four matches. "Why are you so energetic today? Oh, you said you were busy earlier."

"Yeah, I wanted to be busy, but someone wouldn't let me," Nayeon said, dejectedly hanging her head.

"What do you mean? I don't understand," Jeongyeon couldn't understand. If she wanted to be busy, that was a good thing, why would anyone stop her?

"Have you ever liked someone, Jeongyeon?" Nayeon looked up at the already dark sky. There were no stars tonight.

"Yes, you know who I'm dating, why are you asking?"

"So, how did you confess back then?"

Jeongyeon literally choked on her water. It was well known that Nayeon was very cold and aloof. She had many pursuers, both male and female. Because she was very good at studying, good at sports, and also good-looking, it was no surprise. 

But Nayeon had never shown interest even once, and all of them were rejected ruthlessly. Everyone thought she was a cold person who only knew about study. So it turned out that she also knew how to love like everyone else.

"I simply ran to tell her. I gathered all my courage and told her, regardless of the outcome."

"Aren't you afraid that after knowing, you'll be alienated?" This was what Nayeon feared the most. Because... she often did that to the people who liked her.

"I was afraid. But I was more afraid of losing her. And if I'm always afraid, how will I know if she likes me too? I don't know who you like, but don't hesitate and waver. If you feel your feelings are strong enough, just say it. So you won't have any regrets later."

"I'm afraid of failure," Nayeon's voice was very small at this time.

"Tell me, how long have you liked that person?"

"For more than a year."

"Since the beginning of high school? No wonder you didn't pay attention to those confessions. Then I think it's enough. You think so too, right? That's why you're telling me, otherwise, you would have continued to be silent. Everyone is afraid of failure, but failure is something that everyone has experienced. Moreover, failing in front of the person you love isn't too embarrassing."

Jeongyeon's words made Nayeon think a lot. It was true that she seemed to want to tell Sana too much, so she asked for other people's opinions like this. Nayeon was tired of having to be cold to her, tired of having to hide too many feelings. She wanted to pat her head like Younghoon did this afternoon, wanting to naturally protect or help her without needing a reason. Even... Nayeon wanted more than that!

But then, Nayeon continued to be silent. She silently watched Sana’s Facebook status light up but didn't dare to start a conversation. Silently liked every status, every picture. 

Every day, Nayeon stayed up with Sana, but the next morning she would arrive at class earlier than her, so she could hide the lunch boxes that other people gave her. 

Nayeon knew she was being childish, but she didn't want to see Sana eat those lunch boxes at all. Receiving letters and gifts in her locker was more than enough. Because Nayeon couldn't take the gifts in Sana's locker, she reluctantly left them there. If she could, she would even want to hide Sana herself!

"I really want to drink a matcha latte."

That was Sana's latest status, at 10 p.m. And Nayeon immediately ran out of the house, going to buy a matcha latte.

Nayeon didn't know what she would get by doing this, she only knew that she had to do it. As long as Sana wanted it, Nayeon would do it.

Right now, when Nayeon was standing in front of Sana's house with a matcha latte in her hand, she was still trembling and didn't dare to ring the doorbell.

"Sana, I'm standing in front of your house. Come down," Gathering all her courage, she sent a message to the vice president, while waiting for her, Nayeon's heart felt like it was about to explode.

Sana was surprised when she received Nayeon's message. Lifting the curtain, she was indeed standing there.

Quickly putting on a jacket and a scarf, she ran down to open the door.

"What are you doing here so late?" Her voice was a little shaky; it was very cold!

"I just went out for coffee with a friend. I saw you posted that you wanted to drink a matcha latte, so I bought one for you," Nayeon said, keeping her head down. She didn't know if it was because of the cold or not, but her face was flushed.

"How nice of you. Or do you have some ulterior motive?"

"Do you want it or not? If not, I'll take it back," Nayeon was embarrassed and turned her embarrassment into anger, raising her voice at her again.

"Who said I don't want it? Why wouldn't I drink it?" Sana reached out and snatched the drink. "Okay, now you can go home. I won't stop you."

Nayeon was very happy that she accepted it, and without saying anything, she got on her beloved bicycle.

"Wait!"

As she turned around, she only saw Sana's red scarf thrown straight at her face.

"Are you crazy? It's so cold, and you're only wearing a jacket. If you get sick tomorrow, the people who like you will scold me again."

Sana only left that sentence and went back into the house. She couldn't understand why she felt so warm even though it was freezing. There were many comments under her status earlier, from the boys who liked Sana, but they only commented like that, saying so much and doing nothing. Only Nayeon, even though didn't say anything, acted silently. 

She liked that, liked people who talked less and did more. The others were nothing compared to Nayeon.

"Is it good?"

It was a Facebook message from Nayeon.

"Good."

"Okay."

"Hmm."

"Good night."

Short and concise to the point of being strange.

Good night, my love.