Chapter 5: I Found Narnia

Whenever I had too many things on my mind I grabbed my old basketball and went to shoot hoops. Not very girly, you might think, but hey, I used to be the captain of the basketball team back in high school. That’s all thanks to my father who was a basketball enthusiast and taught me everything from the scratch. Actually, I wasn’t that interested in basketball until Ji Yong became interested in it. When he started spending his time in our backyard playing basketball with my father or then just working out, doing pushups and sit-ups and whatever, for some strange reason I joined him.

When I was a kid I used to be chubby – not cute kind of chubby but really overweight. I just happened to love food and my mom abandoning me might have had something to do with it, who knows. Sports did not interest me, but a thought about Ji Yong becoming stronger than me was irritating; yes I am quite competitive and hotheaded.

Playing basketball, jogging, and working out became a healthy habit that made lose weight. I guess I owed it to Ji Yong for helping me to get in shape. Back then, I used to follow him around out of boredom because I didn’t have any friends due to my arrogant personality. They say: either be rude and pretty or then nice and fat. Me? I was rude and fat. That’s the worst combination!

*

Wiping the sweat off my forehead, I shot another hoop. When I concentrated properly I rarely missed the target.

“Park Sandara!”

I glanced over my shoulder before throwing the ball. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Taeyang the nice guy. We met about three years ago, pretty soon after Ji Yong’s disappearance. That night I was drowning my sorrow with alcohol at the usual roadside stall where I used to go with Ji Yong, how ironic. Taeyang happened to be there on that day too, also drowning his sorrow with alcohol. Apparently he had broken up with his long-term girlfriend. We spent the night drinking and talking, then went to grab a bite and talked some more. That’s how we became friends.

 “Where have you been these past weeks? Why haven’t you replied to my messages?” There was a hint of worry in his voice and that made me feel all gooey inside. When he stopped in front of me, his light brown eyes demanding answers, I just smiled like an idiot. “Hey, I’m asking you questions so answer.” He pinched my nose gently.

“Just here and there”, I hummed. Breaking our eye contact, I stepped away from him and went to get the ball.

“And what’s that talk about some debt? I heard from ahjumma.”

“That… I almost got it solved.”

He watched me as I threw another hoop, seemingly lost in his thoughts. The ball bounced from the ground and rolled to his feet, he squatted down and picked it up, staring at it for a moment.

“How?” He then shifted his gaze at me.

“It’s a long story but- hey!”

Instead of giving me the ball he held it higher. I could have easily stolen it from him but decided against it, instead, I gave him a questioning look, crossing my arms over my chest. Taeyang was dressed in sweatpants and matching hoodie, clearly he had his day off because usually he’d be wearing a suit. His cap threw a shadow over his face as he frowned at me.

“You should have told me instead of going there alone. To that place, whatever bar it was.”

“I know.” I could only nod in agreement and wonder why didn’t I tell him. Somehow I had been too tired and way too preoccupied with my own thoughts that I had forgotten about Taeyang altogether. In fact, I hadn’t even touched my phone for a few weeks. “I’m sorry.”

“Are you okay? Nothing bad happened, right?”

“I’m doing good!” It was a lie.

I knew that wherever Ji Yong went and whatever he did, there was always trouble and I didn’t want to get Taeyang involved into that kind of trouble. He was too innocent and I had the feeling he’d only get hurt if he somehow got involved into the whole mess.

“For sure?” He sounded relieved, but I saw concern in his eyes – something that warmed my heart. I nodded and he let out a sigh, handing the ball back to me.

“Don’t make me worry like this again.”

“I won’t.”

That was the last hoop I shot that day. Suddenly my mind had become clear – freed from all heavy and hurtful thoughts. Such was Taeyang’s presence.

When I glanced at him he seemed dissatisfied, standing there with his hands tucked in his pants pockets, with a slight frown on his face. I grabbed the ball under my armpit and slapped his back.

“Stop worrying and buy me dinner.”

“Dinner, huh?” H