Later during attendance, Yn felt someone's eyes on her.
She looked sideways.
Jungkook was staring at her.
Not smiling.
Not teasing.
Just quietly looking.
As soon as she caught him, he looked away quickly and coughed.
Yn blinked.
Why does he look at me like that sometimes?
She couldn't understand him.
Not yet.
Sports Day arrived with full excitement and chaos.
Students were running everywhere, teachers blowing whistles, and houses cheering loudly.
Yn was sitting with her girl group under the shade, tying her shoelaces.
Jinhee said loudly,
"Relay race is last event. Jungkook is in the running team!"
Sol Hee clapped.
"He'll definitely win. He runs so fast."
Yn pretended she didn't hear anything.
He always shows off… let's see what happens.
BEFORE THE RACE STARTS
The relay teams lined up.
Jungkook stood third runner in his team — tall, confident, stretching his legs like a professional athlete.
Taesung waved at Yn.
"Come on! Cheer for our class!"
Yn crossed her arms.
"I'm not cheering for anyone. I'm just watching."
But her eyes automatically followed Jungkook.
He jumped slightly in place, stretched his neck, then did a small hop.
He looked focused… and annoyingly cool.
Then Jungkook looked toward the audience stands.
His eyes scanned the crowd…
And paused exactly where Yn was sitting.
For a brief second, their eyes met.
He didn't smile.
But he nodded — a small, confident nod — like he knew she was watching.
Yn quickly looked away, pretending to drink water.
THE RELAY RACE BEGINS
PIIIIIPPPP!!
The whistle blew.
The first runner took off.
Students screamed from both sides.
When the baton reached the second runner, the intensity doubled.
Taesung yelled,
"Jungkook!! Get ready!!"
Yn remained expressionless, but her heart sped up a little.
When it reached the third runner — Jungkook — everyone stood up.
He grabbed the baton smoothly and exploded forward like lightning.
His hair flew back, his arms powerful, and his speed was unbelievable.
Yn blinked in surprise.
How is he running so fast? Is he a machine?
He overtook another team's runner at the final bend.
Classmates went wild.
Jinhee screamed,
"Jungkoooook!!!"
Yn didn't scream, but a tiny smile flickered for one second.
And then—
The final runner crossed the finish line.
Their class won first place.
THE INCIDENT AFTER THE RACE
Everyone jumped and cheered.
But Jungkook didn't stay to celebrate.
Instead, he slowed down, panting heavily, and walked straight toward the inside track area where the school nurse was sitting.
Yn frowned.
Why is he going there now?
She stood up a little to see better.
He talked to the nurse briefly, pointing to his thigh.
The nurse nodded and gave him a cold spray.
And then—
He stepped slightly behind a tall equipment stand
—not hidden from view completely, but enough for the nurse to help him.
He lowered his outer sports shorts a little (NOT fully removing, still covered by layer beneath), just enough so the nurse could spray his upper thigh where he likely pulled a muscle.
He was wearing proper sports under-layer (compression shorts), nothing inappropriate.
Still, the movement was sudden, so Yn reacted instantly.
"Yah—!"
She turned her face sharply away, cheeks going warm.
Jinhee beside her widened her eyes.
"What is he doing??"
Sol Hee panicked,
"He's applying spray! He must have strained his leg!"
Yn kept her face turned away.
Why does he do these dramatic things in public?!
She tilted her head slightly, peeking from the corner of her eye, annoyed.
"He could've gone behind the tent," she muttered.
After the nurse sprayed his thigh, Jungkook adjusted his shorts and stood straight.
When he looked around, he noticed Yn facing away, flustered.
He blinked in surprise…
Then a small, mischievous smile appeared on his face.
He jogged lightly toward her group.
Jungkook stopped in front of Yn.
"You were watching, right?"
Yn whipped her head around.
"What?! Watching what!?"
He smirked.
"When I was getting the spray."
"I wasn't watching!" Yn snapped. "I turned my face away!"
Jungkook tilted his head.
"Sure you did."
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Do you think I'm interested in your drama?"
He shrugged casually.
"Maybe."
Yn clenched her jaw.
"You're impossible."
At that moment, another boy from the relay team rushed to Jungkook.
"Bro!! Amazing run! You should join athletics club!"
He grabbed Jungkook's shoulder proudly.
Jungkook laughed with him, casual and relaxed.
Sol Hee jumped in,
"You were sooo good!! I shouted your name like crazy!"
Jungkook scratched his head, looking embarrassed.
"Ah— thanks…"
Yn stood silently, watching the crowd around him grow.
Suddenly, she felt something strange in her chest.
A twist she didn't like.
Everyone is praising him… he must be enjoying this.
He must like Sol Hee's cheering more than anything.
She looked away, pretending to tie her shoe again.
When everyone moved to the next event, Jungkook came back to Yn quietly.
"Why are you not saying anything?"
Yn didn't look at him.
"For what?"
He hesitated.
"For the race."
Yn rolled her eyes.
"You already received enough praise. You don't need mine."
Jungkook blinked slowly.
"Still… I was expecting at least one word from you."
This time Yn looked at him directly.
"Fine. You ran well. Happy?"
Jungkook smiled softly, almost shy.
"Very."
Yn felt her heart thump once—unexpectedly.
She quickly looked away again.
When Sports Day ended, everyone started packing up.
Yn grabbed her bag when someone called behind her.
"Yn."
It was Jungkook again, holding his medal.
"You didn't watch the medal ceremony, right?"
Yn shrugged.
"I was busy."
He stepped a little closer.
"I wanted you to see it."
Yn froze.
"What? Why me?"
Jungkook looked away, almost embarrassed.
"…because it feels different when you see it."
Yn's breath hitched for a second.
Before she could reply, Taesung called Jungkook from across the field.
"Yah! Quick, team photo!!"
Jungkook nodded at him, then looked back at Yn.
"I'll go. See you tomorrow."
He jogged away.
Yn stood there, confused, annoyed, and weirdly warm inside.
What is wrong with him…?
And what is wrong with me?
The Monday after Sports Day was strangely quiet.
Everyone seemed tired from running, cheering, shouting… and losing their voices.
Only one person walked into class with full energy:
Jungkook.
He entered with his sports medal hanging proudly from his bag.
The boys clapped for him, girls complimented his speed, and the whole class acted like he was a celebrity.
Yn sat at her desk, flipping through her notes, trying to ignore the noise.
Sol Hee whispered to her,
"He looks so happy today."
Yn didn't respond.
During lunch break, Yn went to the corridor with her two close friends to eat in peace.
Jinhee said teasingly,
"You didn't cheer for him at all on Sports Day."
Yn rolled her eyes.
"Why should I cheer for him?"
Jisoo laughed,
"Because he expected it. Everyone saw the way he looked at you."
Yn nearly dropped her spoon.
"Don't say that! He only looks at people when he's searching for someone or checking something."
Jinhee smirked.
"So he was checking YOU?"
Yn sighed loudly.
"You two are hopeless. He… is just loud. And dramatic. And annoying. And overconfident. And—"
Jisoo interrupted,
"You talk too much about him for someone who doesn't care."
Yn ignored the comment and continued eating.
But then Jinhee said something that changed everything:
"Honestly, I don't think Jungkook is that special. He thinks he's everyone's favorite."
Yn nodded without thinking.
"Exactly. He acts like he's the center of the world."
And that exact moment…
Someone's shadow fell beside her.
Yn looked up.
Jungkook was standing there.
His smile was gone.
His eyes were blank.
He had heard everything.