Wednesday
The gymnasium was packed, students crowded left and right, especially the girls. Of course, it was because all the Royals were hosting the game.
The sharp squeak of sneakers echoed against the polished floor while basketballs bounced endlessly in the background. On one side of the gym, a group of girls lounged around on the benches, pretending to care about stretching while secretly watching the boys play.
Soo-ji lazily watched the game while sipping her strawberry milk, unlike Joon-seok and Bo-ram, who were fully invested in it. As she looked around, she noticed that almost every girl held either an unopened bottle of water or a can of soda, like it was some kind of ritual.
Curious, she leaned closer to Bo-ram.
"Why does everyone have a drink with them?" she whispered.
"It's a Byeolrim ritual," Bo-ram whispered back. "Girls usually hand drinks to the Royals after their games."
"They'll drink all that?" Soo-ji asked in disbelief.
Bo-ram shook her head. "No. The lucky one gets picked."
Soo-ji scoffed. "I wish I was handsome and rich too." Then she paused. "It feels like the crowd is separated though."
"You know how the heirs are divided into two groups?" Joon-seok asked.
Soo-ji nodded, suddenly interested.
"The Royals are divided too. Team Jae-hyuk and Team Jae-woo," Joon-seok explained.
"It's like that for everything," Bo-ram added. "Games, academics, literally everything."
"The girls over there are Team Jae-woo," Joon-seok continued. "Jae-woo likes soda, and the girls over there are Team Jae-hyuk. Jae-hyuk likes things simple, like water."
"I really wish I was a handsome man," Soo-ji muttered before taking another sip of her strawberry milk.
The basketball game ended quicker than they expected, and immediately, the girls rushed toward the boys, crowding around them.
"Idea!" Joon-seok suddenly exclaimed before turning to Soo-ji. "Why don't you talk to Jae-hyuk today?"
"Today?" she repeated, startled.
"I can't do it here," Soo-ji said, her eyes widening.
"Luckily for you," Joon-seok said with a smug grin, "you know someone who knows everything about Jae-hyuk."
"Who?"
"Me, obviously," he replied, sounding almost offended as he handed her a key.
Soo-ji stared at him in confusion.
"Nobody ever follows him to the changing room," Joon-seok explained. Then his eyes widened. "Hey! He's leaving already. Go now!"
Still confused, Soo-ji quickly nodded and rushed off.
Bo-ram nudged Joon-seok's arm. "Where did you even get that key?"
"Your boy has his ways," he said proudly, flipping his imaginary long hair before walking away.
Bo-ram sighed. "Even I question his sexuality sometimes," she muttered before following after him.
Meanwhile, Soo-ji had already made her way to the changing room. Standing in the middle of it, doubt immediately crept into her mind. Was this really a good idea?
But before she could turn back, she heard approaching footsteps outside the room.
Instinctively, she rushed into one of the lockers and pulled the door shut, her heart pounding wildly in her chest as she peeked through the tiny vents.
Jae-hyuk walked in, drenched in sweat from the game. He ran a tired hand through his damp hair before letting out a quiet sigh.
Then, before Soo-ji could even process anything properly, he started taking off his shirt.
Her eyes widened instantly, and she slapped both hands over her face.
What is wrong with him?! she screamed internally.
A second later, she peeked through her fingers.
Then she slowly lowered her hands completely.
"Incredible..." she whispered under her breath.
He looked nothing like an ordinary high-school student. His back was broad and perfectly defined, evidence of years of training. As he turned slightly while drinking from a bottle of water, Soo-ji nearly lost her mind completely.
That was it.
She was dead.
Defined abs. Broad shoulders. A ridiculously perfect chest. The full package.
Even the way he drank water looked unfairly attractive.
Soo-ji covered her mouth in complete shock.
Jae-hyuk casually walked toward the door and locked it.
That was when she realized she had officially dug the biggest grave known to mankind.
How was she supposed to escape now?
Before she could finish regretting every decision she had ever made, Jae-hyuk started walking toward the lockers.
Her heart immediately began pounding faster.
No. No, no, no.
She screamed internally.
He stopped in front of the locker beside hers.
Soo-ji quietly exhaled in relief.
She didn't even get to finish exhaling before the locker door she was in suddenly swung open, sending her crashing onto the floor like a lifeless corpse.
"This can't be happening," Soo-ji muttered weakly, tears nearly slipping from her eyes.