With the weather getting warm but still cool enough to enjoy the outdoors, many students roamed the wide fields of Running Man High. Most of the clubs took out their trainings and practices outdoors. Even the chess club members can be seen with their boards on the pavilions. Club day has always been a lively and happy day for the over-energized boys but with the cool wind and warm outdoor sun, it made the atmosphere ten times better and even more.

Song Ji hyo looked out the window as she reviewed a script being the new Drama Club assistant coach. Beside her, Mr. Kim Myung Min was selecting students for various roles. It was a pleasure working with the man, though Ji hyo couldn’t help a smile at the thought of another Mr. Kim that she knows. She looked out longingly at the sun but resumed reading right away. It was just the two of them since their members have gone outdoors too, working on some voice exercise and gathering a curious audience.

“It’s a good strategy to attract members Ms. Song. Half of this school could qualify to become the next boy-band sensation and yet all they do is sports. When there are other avenues to spend their energies in.” the drama coach says, interrupting Ji hyo’s thoughts. He was a serious man and very passionate in acting. Ji hyo has seen some of his works and she was not just impressed but became an instant fan. She couldn’t help but wonder why a very good actor would moonlight as drama coach in a school known for sports program. The Maestro could have his pick of any university with famous programs for the arts but instead he chose this school.

“You can join them Ms. Song, familiarize yourself with the students and see their strengths. I will come out as soon as I finish delegating the roles.” Mr. Myung min added with a clipped smile as if he could read Ji hyo’s thoughts. And he probably could the way Ji hyo stared at him. The female teacher smiled sheepishly but heeded the man’s advice nonetheless.  

“Thank you sir, I guess I’ll just go check on the kids.” She was quietly dismissed with a wave of a hand so the new assistant coach went out to the backs and found the herd of kids gathered under the tree. Four boys were fiddling with guitars and some were tapping passionately on a beat box while the majority was singing along.

Ji hyo said hi when the group saw her but she motioned for the kids not to mind her before they stopped practicing. She found a root high enough to substitute for a chair and after a few wiggle, she found a comfortable position to sit in and a trunk to lean on. The kids went on with their activity, carelessly and freely singing along the music the band created. Ji hyo watched the free-spirited group, enjoying the soft but passionate melody, noticing the distinct rawness and unpolished technique of their singing. It was, refreshing, young free and hopeful. Not naïve enough to hint that the interpretation came from real experience but also not jaded enough to lose a hint of innocence. It was beautiful and Ji hyo couldn’t help but close her eyes and remember her younger days.

Days spent running in the gardens, running towards her parents’ outstretched arms. Days spent in the pasture chasing animals or getting chased by them. It made Ji hyo smile remembering that one time that she escaped from a little harmless looking pup -- how wrong was she to think it was harmless. And days spent with her best friend just sitting under the shade as he told her stories of a beautiful princess who lives in a pink castle.

“I told you Ms. Song, these kids have talents not just in roughhousing. Now the challenge is for us to teach this rascals not to forget their natural sound, we give tips, find them something they want… maybe suggest a role, but really it’s just letting them grow and run wild. Welcome to the Drama Club Ms. Song.” An approving voice startles Ji hyo but she quickly gained composure as the coach made himself comfortable in the grass. “I’m glad to have you as my assistant Ms. Song. You truly care for them and you see them. Myung min adds to which Ji hyo agreed silently.

Now, Ji hyo could also see the Maestro, a passionate teacher and an amazing actor who believe in raw talent and what place is better than Running Man high? All her kids are talented and not just in sports. He sneaked a peek at the man who is now writing notes on his journal and he strangely reminded her of his Pa. Ji hyo couldn’t help but look forward to club days from now on.

---/::::/---

Running was temporary freedom. It’s an activity where your brain is more focused on distributing oxygen in your body instead of worrying over matters of the heart. You are more aware of your surroundings, the view, the trickling of liquid down your shirt… your loud breathing, the pounding of your heart and when you run enough, even the pain only adds to the feeling of being alive. And it was a good to feel alive.

Jong kook loved to run. He liked the rushing of wind especially at this time in Running man High -- cool but sunny enough. Even the voices and chatters of the lively kids calm him. They sometimes run alongside him even if they often fall back behind. Besides, long hours spent running drains him enough to guarantee that he will sleep faster at night though it doesn’t help much with the nightmares. But it is still better than lying down his bed comfortable but unable to even close his eyes.

And when he thought running could give him respite from everything, he was betrayed once again by his own mind. It suddenly thought reminding him, that running was not the only activity which can guarantee a peaceful sleep, was fun. His thoughts immediately switching to the best sleep he’d had in years. Frustrated at the memory of her against him, so trusting and deep in sleep as if she was so safe, like she belonged there in his arms was a very cruel taste of what he could have.

Jong kook had always been a rebellious kid who thought so little of himself. And he run faster until his body screamed at him; to numb the pain from thinking all those pessimistic thoughts. And because he’s so good at punishing himself, never has he even thought once of the possibility that it was just him who was being cruel to himself. And if he only chooses to, he could have actually good things -- even love.

---/:::::/---

“And Kyung! He’s not really a singer; I’m not too but his tweak a little but leave it natural strategy was brilliant! Like what’s a man like that doing in this school. But I was fooled because this place is the proverbial potential talent mine for him!” Ji hyo gushes like a ten year old girl with a crush while squeezing Kyung soo’s arms. The boy smiled but sneakily tried to tug his abused arm away from his best girl friend.

“Noona, he’s too old for you…” he reminds her and it was also effective as escape tactic because her painful clutches suddenly loosened enough to pull away. Ji hyo gaped at him like fish out of water. It was so hard not to laugh and pinch her cheek when she’s being cute like that, but Kyung soo thankfully has an arm to prioritize.

“What? I admire the man like I admire my dad. I’m not admiring him like I admire--" Ji hyo’s jaws drop down comically but snapped shut immediately, her ears tinged pink. Kyung soo have an accurate guess of the name she was about to say but acted clueless. His noona was really cute. It doesn’t matter anymore if he’s nursing a crush because seeing her and his hyung acting like a married couple was cuter than anything else. Well he can always just ship and nurse a crush on the relationship.

“Admire who noona? Who?” Kyung soo teased, carefully hiding his arms away from her reach. Before Ji hyo could splutter and deny things, Jong kook entered the living room looking like he ran a marathon from South to North Korea.

Now, Ji hyo has never really been into ogling men, except during that time when Secret Garden took Korea by storm and Ji hyo fell in love (so she says) with the glittering tracksuit guy. She wasn’t like those girls who drooled at photos of their idols’ abs. she get crushes now and then but it was just mild attraction, some fluttering of the heart and butterflies on the stomach… so she wasn’t prepared at the sight of one PE teacher in black skintight sweatpants.

Jong kook entered the dorms panting like he ran miles and he probably did, Ji hyo thought. But looked good enough only people who know him would notice.

“He’s in that mood again.” Kyung soo mutters. Ji hyo filed the comment away because her mind is lacking the processor to analyze the statement while digesting the view in front of her. Kyung soo handed his hyung a bottle of sports drink that the PE teacher grabbed with a small grateful smile. Ji hyo then discovered that there is a manly way to drink from a bottle of Gatorade. She just sat there staring, watching the trickling bead of sweat make its way down that column of throat, just like in commercials. His head was tilted high, displaying all those tanned skin and impressive collar… Ji hyo tried to avert her eyes but unfortunately she casted her gaze downwards instead of sideways or to Kyung soo’s.

His white shirt didn’t leave anything from the imagination. It was damp enough to highlight everything and thin enough to know Jong kook doesn’t only run but loved the weights too (too much). Then she repeated the same mistake and looked further down blushing furiously after learning that Jong kook’s pants also gave away too much detail.

Ji hyo swallowed hard and finally averted her gaze to the safest direction. She turned away until her cheek hit something cool which was just the end of the bottle. She found herself staring at a bottle of another Gatorade. “Thanks…” she grabbed the bottle but noticed the smug smile on Kyung soo’s face that made Ji hyo redden.

“He’s gone noona, it’s safe to look ahead again. I don’t know, but you look like you ran a marathon too, noona.”

“W-what? I uh, don’t know what you’re talking about…” Ji hyo straightened and attempted a show of nonchalance when she’s actually just checking if Jong kook is really gone. The deep exhale of relief after seeing that he’s not really there anymore prompted another chuckle out of Kyung.

“Do you have a crush on hyung, noona? Is Jong kook hyung the person you admire as a man, while Myung Min sunbae-nim was the man you admire like your dad?” the younger one teased, but instead of answering, Ji hyo focused on drinking. “You know noona, he’s a hopeless man so if you like him, don’t expect him to do the first move.”

“I don’t like him that way Kyung soo!”

“Okay, like you said, you don’t admire him. But as his friend… you’re his friend too you know so you’d understand why I worry. I never really saw him get close to anyone and I worked so hard to be able to call him hyung -- anyways, that man is full of insecurities. He loves to run literally and metaphorically. He doesn’t reach out. He’s a decent teacher and he genuinely cares for the kids, but his personal life? If he even has one… it’s really ty.”

“You shouldn’t share too much Kyung, I don’t think he’d like it… us talking about him like this.”

“I’m not sharing his secrets noona. I’m sharing what I see. Surely you’ve noticed it too? I mean, I could see that you don’t have close friends from college? Or maybe I just didn’t notice, but you have a healthy relationship with your Pa and you’ve made good friends here in school. I also saw that you seem to be close with your chef and even your Pa’s secretary… but Jong kook hyung? He has us now, but you haven’t seen him last year or the year I arrived here… there’s a reason he’s developed the strict disciplinarian image.”

Ji hyo shrugged and leaned back, confused -- did he like Jong kook that way? At the same time it made her ache. Because it was true. Jong kook seemed lonely… and she knows how it looked because she’d seen it before, though she was just too young to understand it that time.

He lost his family and the media had never been kind to the young Jong kook. He was from a rival family though it didn’t stop them from being friends while their families sniped at each other, but losing everything? And the stain on his teaching career. And she could remember flashes of memory from her younger years. Jong kook never smiled when there are adults around but he would when it’s just the two of them. He even smiles when Ji hyo pleads for him to stay. He would always pat her head and tell her he’d come back, until one day that he didn’t.

But stranger still, was the urge to run after him again and see if he will still smile at Ji hyo.

---/::::/---

Jong kook loved to teach but he was also competitive, too much in fact. Ji hyo could still feel her body scream at her. all the drama club activities was pushed aside since everyone was preparing for the intramurals and it seemed like the students are gearing up for the Olympics instead of high school games. Ji hyo had just finished joining the practices happening around the school for the upcoming competition and she was already too sore to function properly.

“Wow Kyung, are you sure this is just against teams per year level or are we competing with the national teams?”

Kyung soo laughed, passing Ji hyo some steamed buns. “It is the biggest event here noona and during the actual tournaments, scouts and the media are invited. A lot also gatecrashes. So yeah, it’s a really big deal.”

“Oh… so that’s why everyone is showing off. How could I not think of that! I guess I have to make sure everyone’s all right and that they perform to their fullest potential.” Ji hyo perked up and took a bite, not noticing the students who were enticed by the smell of the steam buns.

“Less assignments so we can focus on the training.” a voice whispered in a poor attempt of imitating Kyung soo’s voice. Ji hyo nodded enthusiastically though, “right, no assignment until this event is done. That’s just two weeks anyway. Wait--”
 

Before Ji hyo could say another word, Chang min and Xiumin already grabbed the basket of steamed buns and was running along the hallways announcing that there’s no school works for the next two weeks. Ji hyo face palmed and Kyung soo opted to laugh instead of complaining about the thievery. He knows it was futile anyway because the Min Min duo is just that gaga when it comes to steamed buns.

So thus was Ji hyo’s first Intramurals at Running Man High. Right after school the kids would run to the fields. Jong kook was by default the overall coach of the second years and Ji hyo liked to think he wasn’t ignoring or avoiding her. She wasn’t blind… she knows that of course Jong kook wants his students to win or at least get noticed. Maybe some of them can get a scholarship from universities or get picked up by the national team… So Ji hyo also focused on helping everyone behind the scenes.

She looked after the production of Jerseys. She oversaw the medic squad and watched the cheer dancers and their routines. She made sure everyone rested on time and didn’t overwork themselves. Ji hyo smiled and offered encouragements whenever she could. She also made good on her accidental ‘no-homework-policy’ to the delight of her kids.

Some days she would run with them. Sometimes they would pass her the ball and she’d try to shoot hoops while everyone laughed heartily and cheered for her efforts. Ji hyo have tried soccer and to everyone’s surprise, managed to score a penalty kick. Ji hyo threw a baseball and caught an almost home run ball. She liked joining the ping pong team claiming that it’s the smallest court she could manage without collapsing from running too much. Ji hyo would stay on the poolside and time the laps when it gets too hot on the fields. She would check her kids who practice taekwondo, wushu and other martial arts after diner and ask them if they are all right, giving out hot packs for soreness and ice for bruises. And on quiet days she would just sit under the shade and do her lesson plans while she sneaked a peek at everyone. Then she would smile as if satisfied that everything is fine and smooth before she focuses again on her work.

Jong kook always knew where Ji hyo is and he can see everything. The way she would laugh and gamely try everything. How the kids adore him… how everything is more fun. How much she cares and thinks of everyone. Sometimes he wished that she would also check on him. But he is still afraid to let her.

If she asks him if he’s okay, he might probably say no.

If she asks why, he’d probably lose it and grab her into a tight hug. And never let go… and tell her it’s not okay when she’s not there.

It’s not even scary anymore; the falling for her every second and every day -- the scary part is that he loves her so much now that it’s so easy to forget why he shouldn’t. Because he wants to have her, but he can’t, not for fear of rejection but of what he’d bring her. Even if she could accept everything about him, his past wouldn’t be as kind and accepting.

I guess this is the longest chapter? Thank you for taking the time to read! I guess you guys are tired of the two dancing around each other, but just be patient. I don't want them to have it easy and I guess I just wanted more events and chances for them to interact and know each other... anyways next chap has more plot. 

Btw, Jong kook definitely likes to be mysterious even when he was a kid, but he never realized that Ji hyo sees and understands more than he thinks, he's practically open book to her. And I guess that's why I ship this couple so hard. because you can see that in their interaction. They think we don't notice at all hahaha sorry for the rant!! Thank you again for reading ^^