“Have….Have you been hit in the head?” Ahyoung asked for the third time as they rolled into Gu property, Hyunjae rolled his eyes at her.

“What’s so bad about wanting to drive you around?”

“I’m going out with my friends, oppa. Can’t you be cool for once?” She muttered under her breath, the older male grinned and reached out to pinch her cheek.

“I have a meet later, so I’ll just drop you off. Are you sure Juyeon can~”

“Yes, he can drive us home.” Ahyoung murmured as she slid down from the car, Chaerin broke into a grin as she saw the girl.

“Juyeon’s a little confused we changed plans, he loves carpooling.” Chaerin jokingly said as she walked towards her friend.

“I know, but my brother~” Ahyoung heard the door open behind her, then Chaerin paused, her eyes going to the older Lee.

“Hi!” Hyunjae smiled at her.

“My brother volunteered to drive us. Or something like that, or he just wants to torture me.” Ahyoung nodded along, Chaerin swallowed, and she glanced back at her house.

“O—Oh, y—you didn’t tell me on the phone.”

Ahyoung shrugged and opened the front seat door for her, Chaerin balked.

“No, I~”

“I prefer sitting at the back, and, let him talk your ears out for a change.” Ahyoung said as she opened the Audi’s passenger door.

“Lee Hyunjae, be nice.” She said before sliding into the vehicle, Chaerin grimaced, then Hyunjae tapped on the car, catching her attention.

“Get in, I’ll get you two there safely. I’m sure Haneul’s already waiting.”

“Y—Yes, sunbae.” Chaerin blurted out as she carefully got inside the vehicle, Hyunjae chuckled and started the engine again.

“What’s in your plans today?” Hyunjae casually spoke as they drove out of the house, Ahyoung looked up from her phone.

“A movie, and maybe…lunch or late lunch. Oppa, what time does your meet end?”

“Around four, I think. Younghoon’s not feeling well, so he decided not to join.” Hyunjae said, Chaerin glanced at her friend.

“Really? He didn’t tell me.”

“He’s probably still passed out asleep, we spoke last night, he sounded…like a wheezing..duck.”

Ahyoung chuckled and leaned forward, her chin resting on the back of Chaerin’s seat.

“So, do I have to act as buffer?” She said, and the car grew quiet, Chaerin turned to look at her.

“Haneul gets along with him, because he forced a friendship with her. So, please, please, vibe with each other. No matter what I do, he will always be around. Please be friends, you two. I did the same thing for Juyeon and you, miss Gu.”

“You two naturally clicked.” Chaerin said through gritted teeth, Hyunjae met his sister’s gaze and he smiled at her, Ahyoung stuck her tongue.

“Well, yes, that too.” Ahyoung winked at her before leaning back onto her seat, she deliberately put her Airpods on and closed her eyes.

“Why are you looking him up?” Jungwoo asked as he sat down beside friend, Jaehyun glanced at him briefly and he set his phone away.

“I saw you this morning, you were searching for photos of their past games.”

They were currently on campus, training for the next game. Jaehyun pressed his lips together before speaking.

“How long do we have left?” The team captain spoke, referring to their break.

“Maybe twenty minutes.”

He nodded back and leaned his head on the bleachers, Jungwoo grinned before speaking.

“What did she say that has you so worried, Jung Jaehyun? Coach looked like he wanted to murder you yesterday.”

They had a game yesterday with a neighboring school, while they won, no one missed how the team captain was not playing well yesterday. He lost his grip on the ball a couple of times too.

“Why can’t…you let her go?”

“She just met the guy, Jungwoo. I’ve known her for years.”

“What~”

“This Lee Juyeon. She said she’d drop me for him. And, you…you didn’t see how she willingly went with him.” He mumbled under his breath, Jungwoo sighed and leaned back.

“So? What can you do?”

“Things…they weren’t supposed to end like this. She…She’s..”

“Hey, before you get there, you hurt her best friend, Jaehyun-ah. She’s always said that he was off limits and I was there when she told you who he was to her.”

Jaehyun remained quiet, Jungwoo picked up his Gatorade and faced his friend again.

“Yes, maybe things weren’t supposed to end like this. But, I’m sorry to say this…you started this.”

“That doesn’t mean I’d let him take her, you know.”

Jungwoo wanted to sigh, but he shut his mouth.

“You know what they call him? At their school.”

“What?” Jungwoo muttered, pushing his bag away from him.

“The Stealer. Because, he’s good at steals, and from what I heard, he’s the candidate for team captain next year. Some say he might go pro.”

“Jaehyun-ah~”

“I had the chance to talk to her that day, to ask her to come back to me. And,” Jaehyun his lips and shook his head.

“He shows up and steals her.”

“Please don’t start trouble, Ahyoung~”

“She’s mine, she’s always been mine, with or without her Berry.”

Younghoon grimaced when he heard his phone ping, the male slowly pulled himself off the bed. He grabbed his phone from his desk and looked at the screen.

How dare you not tell me you’re sick?

Am I joke to you? -Ahyoung

He let out a dry laugh before typing.

I didn’t want to disturb you. Aren’t you going out with friends today?

I would never be a hindrance to progress, sweetheart.

He headed for the bathroom to wash his face and brush his teeth, moments later, his phone pinged.

Progress? I’m with Chaerin and Juyeon. With Jikyung and Haneul.

How is that “progress”? And, it’s not funny. -Ahyoung

His brows went up, he puffed his cheeks and read her text again.

You said it was a girls’ day out.

He started gathering his things for the meet, he took a quick shower before stepping out of his room, Younghoon was about to grab for his car keys when he heard his mother calling for him.

“Younghoon-ah?”

He made his way towards the living room and halted when he noticed that they had guests over.

“I didn’t want to wake you since you said you weren’t feeling well, but, come say hi.” His mother spoke, Younghoon nodded back and looked at the two women before him.

“I don’t think you remember, but this Eunhee, you two used to attend the same kindergarten together.”

The girl smiled as she met his gaze.

“I don’t think he would, they were so little back then.” The lady beside Eunhee chuckled, Mrs. Kim shook her head in amusement.

“Her mother and I go way back, I was wondering if you could show Eunhee around today. You shouldn’t go to your meet, you seem a little pale. I’ll ask driver Jin to take you both.”

Ahyoung raised her palm as she saw the familiar tall figure walked in through the revolving doors, the male broke into a smile as he saw her.

“Why does she look…queasy?” Juyeon leaned his head down to whisper to Ahyoung, the girl looked up and watched as Chaerin chatted with Jikyung and Haneul. Seo Jikyung completed their trio back in her previous school, and the two girls had taken an instant liking to Chaerin.

“I don’t know. Maybe, she got car sick?”

“It’s only a twenty-minute drive to here.” Juyeon mused in reply, the girl shrugged and hooked arms with him.

“Like I told you, oppa makes her uncomfortable, vice versa.”

“That’s him?” Jikyung nudged Chaerin, the latter followed her gaze and saw Juyeon making his way towards Ahyoung.

“Yes, that’s him.” Haneul answered for her, Chaerin smiled as she looked at the two chatting.

“I approve.” Jikyung nodded as she picked up their popcorn.

“I told you, he has the face, the height and the strength to deal with our Lee Ahyoung.” Haneul chuckled, Chaerin grimaced at her words but she nodded, agreeing.

“Definitely better than Jung Jaehyun. Ugh.” Jikyung shuddered, Chaerin turned to the girls.

“Oh.” Jikyung’s hand flew to , Haneul sent her a look.

“Actually, I already…know, her cousin mentioned it. I’m sensing..things didn’t end well between..them?” Chaerin asked, Haneul exhaled.

“Well, not~”

“What are we watching?” Juyeon asked just as he slung one arm around Chaerin’s shoulder, Jikyung couldn’t help but stare at the male.

“Lee Ju, this is Jikyung, and you’ve met Haneul.” Ahyoung began, Juyeon nodded and stretched his palm to the girl.

“Girls, Lee Juyeon, my current seatmate.” She said just as Jikyung shook the male’s hand, Juyeon gave her a small smile.

“Wow.” Jikyung blurted out, Haneul elbowed the girl while Juyeon blinked at them.

“I thought the same thing, but then we became friends.” Ahyoung nodded at them before proceeding to get popcorn for herself, Chaerin couldn’t help but chuckle.

“What is she talking about?” Juyeon asked his friend.

“You…You really couldn’t be more obvious about it, huh?” Haneul asked him, Juyeon turned to the two.

“Yes?”

“You’re interested.” Jikyung hummed, tapping her Doc Martens clad feet on the floor.

“I~”

“Wow, in just matter of minutes, they caught on. And it took me weeks to notice.” Chaerin said under her breath.

“Lee Juyeon, you’re interested in her, aren’t you? Oh god, Angel oppa is going to have a field day.” Haneul let out a laugh.

“Angel oppa?” Chaerin said, while Juyeon shut his mouth.

“Not a good one, a bad field day.” Jikyung murmured as they walked towards the cinema doors, Ahyoung looked up and gestured for them to go ahead, Juyeon grew pensive.

“I bet you know him, Kim Younghoon.”

Juyeon’s eyes went to Haneul and Jikyung, Chaerin nodded.

“He’s quite popular at our school. He’s good friends with her brother.”

“Yes, him.”

“Well, we’ve always gotten the feeling that he likes her and he doesn’t exactly see Ahyoung the way she sees him.”

“Oh.” Chaerin murmured, her eyes locking with Juyeon briefly.

“So, good luck, I guess. Her ex tried to get between them, but Angel oppa won.” Jikyung patted his arm before moving along.

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