After the bus ride and saving Jackson’s number to her phone, it was only a quarter ‘till five. Having nothing better to do, Yejin decided to take a walk around her neighborhood, something she hadn’t done in years. The area she lived in was well off and consisted of twists and turns that made the roads short and difficult to navigate. Knowing herself and her lack of direction, Yejin made a mental note that her phone’s gps was an option if she got confused and lost her way. The sun was not as high in the sky as it had been, so she only had a few hours before it grew too cold for her in her school uniform.

            The girl started her short journey by passing her own house, feeling relieved that she could do so without feeling guilt of ignoring responsibilities. She continued down the road and heard the dribbling of a ball. To her left, a mere seven houses down from her own, she saw Youngjae, one of Jackson’s friends. The girl recalled him telling her that the boy lived down here, but she forgot until now. Youngjae seemed focused on getting the ball through the hoop. Yejin stopped without thinking and watched as he missed again and again. If she had to guess, Youngjae was up to seven unsuccessful shots. The boy yelled out of frustration and threw the ball at the backboard. It hit the metal frame and flew behind him and rolled right in front of Yejin.

             Before the girl could move, the boy turned around and was making his way to pick up the ball. When he saw her, he paused before a massive grin grew on his face.

           “Hey, you’re that one girl. That one Jackson talks to,” he said as he leaned down and retrieved his item. The girl looked around, thinking of how to reply before just saying ‘um, yeah’.

         “Do you live around here?” He said as he stood back up and held the ball under his arm. Yejin nodded and decided she should say something.

         “Yeah, I was on a walk,” the boy nodded and looked left then right and an idea popped in his head.

         “Want to play with me?” he said while not giving the girl an option as he tossed the ball at her and ran back towards the goal. Youngjae threw his hands up and jumped from side to side, making a show of being defense. Yejin couldn’t help but smile at this and with her backpack still on, she walked closer and threw the ball towards the net with both hands. The orange sphere flew forward before curving down and landing in front of Youngjae, far from the hoop. The two looked at each other before the boy burst into laughter.

“You’re even worse than me,” he said while letting out loud laughs as he picked up the ball and attempted to throw it in the hoop. Yejin walked closer after her giggles subsided and watched as the ball went behind the goal. Youngjae turned around to look at her.

“You didn’t see that,” he said with a smile while walking to grab the ball. The girl decided this could be a fun game and ran to grab it before he did. Youngjae stood off to the side as she went in front of the goal, closer this time, and tried to make a shot. With the ball ending up too far to the right, it missed the hoop and rolled into the grass.

“Let’s make a bet. Whoever can make a shot first, gets to give the loser a dare,” Youngjae said as he grabbed the ball and waited for Yejin’s response before moving to his so called ‘sweet spot’.

“Deal,” Yejin said. With this, Youngjae lined up his shot and the girl took off her bag and sat it on the sidewalk behind the basketball goal. She smiled and jogged after the ball when Youngjae missed his shot yet again. The two took turns like this as they kept any conversation light and about the game, never referencing school or anyone from it. Soon enough the sun was low in the sky and it was cold outside. Youngjae took what they both agreed upon being the last shot. The ball rose in the air and hit the backboard. This gave it a tap just strong enough to make it leap forward and into the hoop. The two looked at the goal in shock. Youngjae turned around and looked at the stunned Yejin as he started to chuckle and do a little victory dance.

“I won, I won, I finally got a point,” he said while bouncing his shoulders and swaying from side to side with a massive smile on his face.