Sooyoung wheezes as she put her hands behind her head, walking out her sprint, her eyes side glancing at her coach. Her coach had the timer in his hand, giving her a look that makes Sooyoung close her eyes in frustration when she walks towards his direction.

 

“You’re 3 seconds behind your regular time.” a stern look on his face “This is the fourth time just this week, Sooyoung.”

 

She gives a deep sigh and pushes her hair, wet from her sweat, back and replies “I’ll try harder next time.”

“You better because if you don’t improve by next practice then you can give up your position to the next girl who wants it.” He points to the armband on his student that had a white ‘C’ on it.

 

Sooyoung unconsciously gripped the band on her left arm “I understand and I’ll work even harder.” she understood, she really did. 3 seconds is a big difference for a track runner and could literally cost her the race.

 

Still.

 

It didn’t stop her from being in a foul mood as she stood in front of her clothes in the locker room. She pulls the taunting ‘Captain’ armband from her arm and shoves it into her gym bag, not wanting to even look at it.

 

God. How was she going to make up those 3 seconds? Sooyoung’s mind was scrabbled in her head, thinking of a way to at least save her a spot on the track team. Sooyoung wasn’t a smart girl, Hell running was just about the only good thing she was good at and she couldn’t even excel in that?

 

She puts on her post workout tracksuit and reties her messy ponytail, slamming her locker as she leaves.

 

Sooyoung gives another deep sigh, followed by a small grumble. She was in that bad of a mood and she couldn’t wait to get home. Could she just go home and cry in peace?

 

The girl literally slams her body against someone else once she exited out the gym’s door. Sooyoung felt it. She felt cool liquid, sinking in her outfit and no it wasn’t her sweat either.

 

Her eyebrows furrowed and she has to look down at the girl who spilled all of her strawberry milk on her. Could this day get any worse? Sooyoung opens , ready to let out all her frustrations at the girl who was there at the wrong time.

 

The shorter immediately looks up to her with the sorriest look on her face “I’m so sorry! I didn’t know anyone was still here.” she starts to pat down on Sooyoung’s shirt, trying to dry out what little she could. “I can’t believe I did that, I’m so sorry.”

 

Sooyoung keeps open, contemplating whether or not to curse at her because oh gosh was this girl so cute. Like really cute. But was she cute enough for Sooyoung not to yell at her?

 

The taller grabs her wrist to stop her from doing whatever the stranger was attempting to do because quite frankly...Sooyoung was starting to feel embarrassed. The shorter girl looks up to meet Sooyoung’s eyes and she starts to speak “Look it’s fine.” Ok even Sooyoung could tell how force that sounded. “I just-....look I’m just trying to get home. Just forget it about it.” she let’s go of her grip, her hand dropping almost immediately.

 

Sooyoung walks past the girl, who mumbles another ‘sorry’, her head dropping and oh boy did Sooyoung already mention that this girl was really cute?

 

She ends up seeing the girl again, apparently Doyeon knows a little bit about her or something like that. They’re in the same class and her name is Kim Jiwoo.

 

Sooyoung is leaning her back against the wall, arms crossed as she talked to her friend in front of Doyeon’s classroom. She sees Jiwoo sitting in her desk, laughing at whatever her classmate sitting across from her said.

 

“Yeah, she’s really nice! I think she’s trying out to be in the cheerleading team.” that would explain why she bumped into her yesterday “She’s getting popular you know, Jiwoo’s personality is really cute.” Doyeon motions with her hands dramatically.

 

Sooyoung looks back to her friend, an annoyed look on her face “I ran into- more like she ran ran into me, literally. She spilled all her drink on me.” she wrinkles her face.

 

Doyeon raises both eyebrows in surprise, a hand over “She did not.”

 

Sooyoung looks back at Jiwoo who was already staring and keeps her gaze, almost as if she wasn’t interested in the girl who made her day even worse. But in all honestly Sooyoung wanted to keep looking at the cute girl or more like couldn’t stop staring but didn’t want to keep the awkward eye contact.

 

“Poor Jiwoo, you need to be nicer to her. She’s really nice I’m telling you.” Sooyoung brings her attention back to Doyeon, who looked like she wanted to laugh at her misfortune. “I can literally imagine you going off on her. Ahhh I wish I was there to witness that.”

 

The older rolls her eyes but doesn’t bring up the fact that she didn’t say a word to Jiwoo because oh God would Doyeon not let that go. She’s supposed to be ‘Mean Sooyoung’, ‘No filter Sooyoung’, ‘Savage Sooyoung’ or whatever other nicknames her friends gave her. And Sooyoung would not have it if Doyeon so wishes to call her soft.

 

“So what are you doing later after practice? Karaoke?” Doyeon makes an imaginary mic in her hand.

 

Sooyoung shakes her head “I think I’m gonna go job hunting today.”

 

Doyeon makes another stupid face “Really? You? A job?” opening wider with each word.

 

“What, you think I can’t do it?” the older throws an offended look.

 

Doyeon has a know it all smile  “Nope.”

 

Sooyoung then has a evil look on her face, suddenly thinking of an even better idea “I bet if I last two months at my new job, then….” her smile getting even bigger “You have to join me at whatever job I choose to work at.”

 

Doyeon’s smile falters a bit but nods her head nonetheless. “Okay..” she crosses her arms because when has Kim Doyeon ever say no to a bet? “If you last two months at your job then I’ll work with you.”

 

The older stands up and straightens her posture “You do know that now I’m going to pick the worst job I can think of just so I can see you suffer with me.” she rubs her hand down Doyeon’s face and pushes it with a laugh “Now go back to class, lunch is almost over.”

 

 

---

 

Sooyoung pulls her leg back, doing some last minute stretching before doing a small jog in place. She decided. She decided it’ll be okay if she were her to lose her captain position, sure it’ll be disappointing but she’ll have to be fine with it.

 

This thought still didn’t stop her from being nervous as she made her way to the starting line.

 

There was a loud group of laughter coming from across the field that made Sooyoung look that way. It was the cheerleading team who were taking a small break. She sees Jiwoo push Doyeon slightly on the shoulder. Wow that was fast, Doyeon seemed to be better friends with the girl.

 

Doyeon then points to her direction and Jiwoo looks at her with a small frown on her face that soon turned into a surprised look.

 

Sooyoung then turns her attention back to her coach that had his timer in his hand, whistle resting on his lip throwing her an encouraging look to do well.

 

She gets in place, taking a deep breath, her gaze landing back to Doyeon and Jiwoo who were still staring her way. Doyeon suddenly throwing her body up and down, yelling encouraging words. Her stare finally lands on Jiwoo who had a small smile on her face.

 

She tenses up at the sudden attention on her because how uncool would she look in front of the two if she did poorly. This was the thing she was good at. Sooyoung was going to do good, she had to.

 

Her coach blows his whistle and Sooyoung sprints, she sprints with everything she had. She could not afford to disappoint.

 

She reaches the finish line and felt like she was going to throw up. Sooyoung could literally feel it coming up.

 

Her coach throws her a look that she couldn’t read, she keeps her hands on her hips trying to even her breathing.

 

“I don’t know what you did different today but you somehow ran 4 seconds faster than your regular time. I’m impressed but that’s also why I made you captain to begin with. Keep up the good work.” A pat on the back.

 

Sooyoung takes another glance at her friend, Doyeon throwing her a thumbs up. Jiwoo not looking at her anymore, she was talking to another member.

 

And now Sooyoung couldn’t help but wonder just what Doyeon had told Jiwoo that made her frown once she met eyes with her. Stupid Doyeon.

 

---

 

“She thinks you hate her.” Doyeon says the week after, she stretches her body out on Sooyoung’s bed letting out a small groan along with it, sitting in a classroom for hours really does stiffen her body.

 

“I hate everyone Doyeon, try to be a little specific.” Sooyoung flops beside the younger, her phone in her hand. She goes through her instagram feed, bored.

 

“Jiwoo, Kim Jiwoo. That girl I told you was trying out for the cheerleading team.” the younger sits up and leans on the headboard and Sooyoung lies her head on her thighs, getting comfortable. “She thinks you hate her.”

 

Sooyoung rolls her eyes “I do not hate her. I was just having a bad day that’s all.”

 

Doyeon throws her hands in the air, defensively “You should tell her that, not me.”

 

The older’s fingers hover above her phone, thinking “I don’t know her like that, I’m not going to just go up to her, it’s weird.” Sooyoung had a sudden thought of looking the girl up on instagram. She types her name in while Doyeon was looking at videos on her own phone. Sooyoung looks up to Doyeon wondering if she was even looking.

 

“I’d think you’d really like her. She talks a lot but not the annoying kind, it’s rather cute. She’s a younger sister type of cute. You should make friends with her.” Doyeon gives a deep sigh, she didn’t realize just how tired she was.

 

Sooyoung finds her page and she takes a quick breath of air, eyes glancing back to the younger for a quick second “I don’t know, I’m okay with the friends I have now….” she presses on her profile.

 

“Sooyoung you have like four friends.” Doyeon rolls her eyes playfully “You need to go out and meet more people, it’ll be good for you.”

 

“I know what’s good for me.” She grumbles as she looks through her pictures, thank god it wasn’t on private.

 

“You drink coffee everyday, you do not know what’s good for you. This is why your skin is getting bad.” Doyeon cracks a joke that makes Sooyoung put a hand on her face, covering up her acne “Look! Right there, don’t rub your face! It makes it worse.”

 

The older ignores her comments because Sooyoung was confident that she still looked pretty either way. This is why her and Doyeon made good friends.

 

The more Sooyoung looked through Jiwoo’s profile that more she was convinced that Doyeon’s friend was an angel. Like who looks this good? “How is your job searching going?”

 

Sooyoung gives a small huff “I haven’t found anything embarrassing enough for you to do yet so I’m still looking.” It had to be bad. She wanted Doyeon to be too embarrassed to even bring it up.

 

“You do realize that you’re going to have to go through that for two months right?” She questions the older’s intelligence.

 

“Yeah but it’’ll be worth it.” It had to be worth it.

 

---

 

Sooyoung closes her locker, head resting against it. Running track was honestly so exhausting and she’s starting to wonder if it was even worth it.

 

She looks around the room, Sooyoung was always the last one here. Mainly because she had to make sure all the equipment was put back in the gear locker.

 

It was time to go home but she didn’t want to leave, it was a fifteen minute walk to the bus stop and her legs were feeling like jelly.

 

She spots a familiar figure walking out the door as she walked closer to the main doors. It didn’t take long for her to catch to the younger and Sooyoung almost wants to start a conversation.

 

Would she seem too weird? They weren’t friends or anything, would the girl think ‘Why is Doyeon’s mean friend talking to me?”

 

Jiwoo turns around, feeling the presence of someone else. Her gaze immediately looking forward with her head down and Sooyoung felt slightly offended. The older suddenly remembers  what Doyeon had told her earlier last week.

 

“Hey.”

 

Jiwoo suddenly turns around, stopping in her tracks “Hello, sunbae.” her voice squeaks and Sooyoung has a mini heart attack, she even squeezes her eyes after hearing that come out of Jiwoo’s mouth.

 

“I don’t hate you or anything, or whatever you’re thinking in your head.” Sooyoung looks her into her eyes. sticking her hands in her pockets.

 

Jiwoo’s face turns red, probably embarrassed that Doyeon told her. She keeps quiet and Sooyoung walks closer to her, she puts a finger on Jiwoo’s face and makes the girl look at her “So stop looking so sad, smile. It’s too pretty of a day for someone like you to be frowning at me- wait scratch that. You’re too pretty of a person to be frowning at all.”

 

Jiwoo’s face breaks out in a smile and Sooyoung drops her hand, she looks away from the younger and continues to walk ahead. Her own face burning, Sooyoung felt embarrassed.

 

She hears Jiwoo do a small run to catch up with her but not wanting the conversation to end Sooyoung keeps talking “I’m Ha Sooyoung, Doyeon’s friend.” she looks at Jiwoo “I’m on the track team too.”

 

“I’m Kim Jiwoo, Doyeon’s classmate. I’m on the cheerleading team.” Jiwoo keeps the smile on her face “I know who you are. You’re a really good friend of Doyeon’s and I’ve seen you a couple of times on the track field. You look really cool out there.”

 

Sooyoung blushes and Jiwoo points it out “Oh, so the cool track runner Ha Sooyoung knows how to blush too?”

 

The older pushes her playfully “Yah, I can also be a bully too you know.”

 

Jiwoo laughs at this reply and now Sooyoung understands why Doyeon always talked about her friend, Kim Jiwoo was absolutely adorable.

 

----

 

Sooyoung groans the moment Doyeon walks into her new job, camera already in hand. Doyeon swivels her head around looking for her. The older let’s out an even bigger groan as she watched Jiwoo follow in behind her.

 

Doyeon has a big smirk on her face once she spotted her older friend, a flash from her camera blinding her eyes. “I cannot not believe this.” Doyeon has a hand against , trying to muffle in her laugh and Jiwoo looks at her in surprised, finally understanding why Doyeon was so eager to walk into this cafe.

 

Maid cafe.

 

“Yeah yeah shut up.” Sooyoung rolls her eyes, smoothing out her maid outfit. If Doyeon was going to take pictures, might as well make sure she looks good in them.

 

Doyeon puts both hand on her waist and argues back “Is that anyway to talk to a customer?”

 

“You are not a customer.” she argues back “I refuse to serve you.”

 

Doyeon clicks her tongue but nonetheless takes a booth seat with Jiwoo, who couldn’t help but look Sooyoung up and down with a smile on her face.

 

After purposely ignoring the two, Sooyoung serves the other guest before she receives a tap on her shoulder. Her co-worker points at the two “That girl said she wouldn’t order unless it’s you that serves her.”

 

Sooyoung gives her a force smile “Ah okay.” Why did Doyeon have to be so complicated?

 

She walks towards the two with a frown on her “What do you want?”

 

Doyeon still has that same smile on her face while Jiwoo was still looking at the menu “Wow Jiwoo, looks like our money is wanted somewhere else.” another picture is taken and Sooyoung rolls her eyes for the tenth time within the past five minutes.

 

“Pleaseeee go somewhere else.”

 

Doyeon shakes her head “You see.” she snaps her fingers “That’s what you want us to do and I’m not going to give you that pleasure now hurry up and take our orders. Our Jiwoo here is getting hungry.” a tsk.

 

Sooyoung turns to face Jiwoo, who greets her with a small smile “Okay fine, I’ll take Jiwoo’s order.” she then turns into full customer service mode “What can I get for you?”

 

Jiwoo shakes her head “Wow I’m hurt.” a hand on her chest “Am I just a customer? I thought we were friends now.”

 

Doyeon has a surprised look on her face and Sooyoung doesn’t even want to look her way. The oldest raises an eyebrow but decides to humor the girl. Sooyoung leans on the table, arms resting on it. She tilts her head and ask playfully “Then what can I get for our young master?”

 

Doyeon is about to have a after hearing that last word come out from her friend, her jaw dropping but still manages to take another picture.

 

Jiwoo looks down at the menu, heat rising to her neck that Sooyoung could practically see how red the girl was getting “U-uhh I’m actually just thirsty….” she shows Sooyoung the menu “I don’t know what’s good…”

 

The older stands straighter, she then starts to remember the day Jiwoo spilled her drink on her. Jiwoo liked strawberry “The strawberry shakes are pretty good.”

 

She watched as her face brightened up “That sounds great actually, can I have one of those?” she throws Doyeon a face “Do you want anything? I’ll pay.”

 

“My friend…” Doyeon nods her head “I’m touched.”

 

Sooyoung then starts to shake her head “Yeah sorry I’m not serving you.”

 

“Wooooowwwww…..”

 

Sooyoung let’s out a small laugh and writes down their order “I’ll be right back.” and holds up her notepad “Duty calls.”

Doyeon grabs her arm, stopping her from going any further with a pleading look on her face “Sooyoung….just once..” she holds one finger up “Call me master just this once.”

 

“You’re gross.”

 

---

 

Doyeon won’t stop looking at her, almost suspiciously and it keeps pissing Sooyoung off but she doesn’t pester the younger because when is Doyeon not being weird.

 

“Hey so I think we’re going to the track meet today.” Doyeon says eating her sandwich.

 

This was odd, it wasn’t often that their school’s cheerleading came to their track meets, maybe soccer or basketball but not track. But who was Sooyoung to complain? She gives a shrug “And is there a reason for that?”

 

The younger picks up her head “I don’t know, I think it’s something about supporting all our teams.” she wipes her hands on her skirt “But I can’t wait to see you run today. Do well today”

 

Sooyoung nods her head “No pressure, right?”

 

Doyeon gives a laugh, joking “No, a lot of pressure. I want to brag about you tomorrow.”

 

The older looks at the clock “You should go back to your classroom now. Class is going to start soon.”

 

“Trying to get rid of me?” Doyeon says with a smile “Or do you want to walk with me? Trying to see your new friend, Jiwoo?” her eyes sparkling with mischief.

 

Sooyoung rolls her eyes “Yah, you make not want to go with you.” it was annoying. Ever since the two had visited her work place that’s all Doyeon ever talked about. It was like a big ‘I told you so’. Doyeon wanted to hear that she was right.

 

She shakes her head, standing up from her seat and picking up her mess “Don’t say that.” another laugh “I’m sure Jiwoo misses you like everyday.”

 

Sooyoung crosses her arms with a frown “Jiwoo is probably tired of seeing me by now.” Okay maybe Sooyoung did want to see the younger, even if it was for a bit. But she was a little embarrassed to admit it, especially to Doyeon.

 

“Stop being like that and hurry up.” Doyeon leaves her behind.

 

Sooyoung didn’t have a choice now, nevermind. She did have a choice but this gave her an excuse to follow her friend. Her eyes follow as Doyeon walks in her classroom, her loud voice already filling the room.

 

“Hey Jiwoo, you have a guest wanting to see you.”

 

Sooyoung groans outside the classroom, her eyes shutting. She then pops her head in the door, her long hair hanging and does a small wave.

 

Jiwoo gives her the biggest smile ever and Sooyoung doesn’t believe such a girl could exist “Hello Sooyoung!” she gets up from her seat, already walking her way. Sooyoung looks at Doyeon who gives her another look, the same suspicious look she had been giving her all week.

 

“Hey….” Sooyoung looks back at her “..Jiwoo.”

 

Jiwoo’s face starts to get red and she shakes her head with her smile staying on her face “I’ll be seeing you later at your track meet.”

 

Sooyoung gives a nod of acknowledgement “Yeah Doyeon mentioned that to me earlier.” her eyes go back to the clock that was above the board, she was going to be late if she didn’t leave soon “I got to go, study well.”

 

Jiwoo nods her head and watched as Sooyoung took her leave.

 

 

Sooyoung didn’t know why she was so nervous, it’s not like this was the first race she’s ever done. Maybe it was because Doyeon was standing there with her pom poms in hand, expecting her to do well. Or maybe it was because this would be the first actual race Jiwoo would see her run.

 

She was given her number and Sooyoung places it on her chest, smoothing it out.

 

It didn’t take long for her race to come up and now the butterflies were coming back. She looks at Doyeon, who looked at her like she was the best thing out there.

 

Sooyoung gets into her lane, positioning her feet and hands and she lets out a deep breath. She waits for the whistle and there it goes.

 

She runs, she runs stupid fast but it honestly feels like forever. Like the track was suddenly longer but Sooyoung runs anyway. She reaches the finish line, her hands going immediately behind her head as she walked it out.

 

Her coach greets her with a water in his hand, smiling from ear to ear “You did great, as expected from our captain.”

 

“Really? Because I think I’m just about ready to pass out.” she takes the water and slowly drinks it, trying to catch her breath in between each sip.

 

Her coach gives a throaty laugh “Can’t have that yet. You have one more race to do.” he looks at his watch “Get some rest before your next one.”

 

Sooyoung nods her head and makes her way to their team sitting area. Doyeon and Jiwoo were already there with big smiles on their faces and Sooyoung reflects it.

 

“You see Jiwoo, I told you Sooyoung is the coolest when she’s running.” Doyeon says with a proud smile, her chest puffing up with pride. This comment makes Jiwoo nod her head in agreement.

 

Sooyoung doesn’t say anything but pats the spot next to her, half expecting Doyeon to take the seat. Instead Doyeon basically shoves Jiwoo to take the seat but Sooyoung doesn’t complain about this.

 

Jiwoo throws Doyeon an embarrassed look, a glare following. Doyeon looks the other way, acting innocent “Oh hey I think I’m going to get something to eat with Yoojung. I’ll be back.”

 

Sooyoung tilts her head looking at Jiwoo’s face “Are you okay? Doyeon kind of shoved you a bit too hard. I know she didn’t mean it like that, sometimes that clown forgets just how much strength she actually has.”

 

Jiwoo smiles at her “Yeah I know she means well.”

 

Sooyoung doesn’t say anything, too tired from her race but still puts her awkward arm behind Jiwoo resting it on the seat.

“Sunbae.”

 

Sooyoung closes her eyes, leaning her head back with a hum.

 

“You did look really cool out there.” Sooyoung gives a small smile “Oh did I? Because right now I can’t move my legs, I’m sure if I got up right now I’d look uncool.”

 

Sooyoung opens her eyes and leans to one side, looking at Jiwoo fiddling with her fingers. “Sooyoung….do you….” Jiwoo looks at her “..want to hang out with me next week? Just the two of us?”

 

Sooyoung is pretty sure the younger could tell just how taken aback she was “No Doyeon?” she needed the clarification.

 

Jiwoo shakes her head and Sooyoung could tell just how nervous she “No Doyeon…” and how could Sooyoung turn down such a request from someone as cute as Jiwoo.

 

The older grabs a piece of her hair, twirling it with her finger “Let’s do that, Jiwoo-yah.”

 

 

---

 

finally finished the first part (sorry if it wasn't that great :/ )

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