The gym was loud with chatter and sneakers squeaking against polished floors. You sat on the bleachers, stretching lazily while your P.E. class slowly gathered for whatever torture was next. Hyunjin stood across the gym with his friends—tall, effortlessly cool, already spinning a volleyball in his hands like this was his court. Which, to be fair, it kinda was.

He noticed you instantly. Narrowed his eyes. Smirked.

You did the same back.

It was your thing lately—these silent, flirty stares. You’d call it harmless fun, but the slight racing in your chest every time he looked at you like that? Not so harmless.

“Volleyball!” the P.E. teacher announced. “Two teams. Let’s move.”

As if fate knew how to stir the drama, you and Hyunjin were placed on opposite teams.

“Try not to cry when I win,” he called across the court, flashing you a grin that made the girls on your side swoon.

“In your dreams,” you shot back, tying your hair quickly and stepping into position.

The match started light, full of banter and dramatic dives. Hyunjin was playing dirty—but only to tease you. He’d serve the ball dangerously close to where you were, every now and then sending you a smug wink. And you? You were holding your own, even impressing some teammates.

Then came the fateful play.

Hyunjin’s team served, and he jumped, smacking the ball with a little too much force—his teasing went a bit too far. The ball slammed straight into your face at full speed, causing your nose to bleed. Before you could catch your balance, one of your teammates stumbled trying to save you, another one bumped into someone, and suddenly—crash.

You were at the bottom of a very clumsy human pile.

The gym froze for a second.

Hyunjin sprinted towards you across the gym, and could see you pouting underneath.