25
𝙧𝙤𝙝 𝙝𝙮𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙖

it was early morning, and our team was busy running around the track. other sport's teams were there, as well.

i panted heavily, because i hadn't ran like this in a while. i can run really fast for a short time, but anything over five minutes is a no-go for me. i die.

"hyeona hurry the hell up!!"

"what are you guys??? a bunch of sonic the hedgehogs??" i asked.

just then, two hands reached up and covered my eyes from behind. i nearly tripled over my own feet because i couldn't see. "nam joohyuk!!!"

"haha. you guessed correctly." he said, running beside me. "come on, faster! faster hyeona faster!!!"

i groaned. "fuck off."

joohyuk went behind me and gave me a little push. i turned around and glared at him, watching him as he ran off back to his team.

i groaned, and then that groan slowly turned into a scream of frustration. "god, who invented running?? i'll murder them."

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later that afternoon, we had free time, so i dashed off campus. i was going to see my mother, and pay for the hospital bills at the same time too.

"yah! roh hyeona!!"

"can't talk now, gotta go joohyuk-" i yelled back behind me, but then i stopped, walking backwards.

i looked at him. actually, mainly the bike that was next to him. i pointed to it. "is that yours?"

joohyuk raised his eyebrow and nodded.

"can you give me a ride then? to the hospital?" i asked. "cabs are too expensive."

"hmm...i don't know." joohyuk said, carelessly looking around and up at the sky for no goddamn reason. i bet he just wanted to piss me off.

"come on!" i tugged his bike. "or, i'll just take it."

"agh! fine." he said, getting on it.

i quickly got in the seat behind his and awkwardly grabbed his arms.

"yah, how am i supposed to steer this thing when you're latching onto my arms??" joohyuk sassed, grabbing and wrapping them around his own waist. "it's not that weird."

i rolled my eyes. "tch. you're too picky. just hurry up, go go go!"

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when we finally reached the hospital, i got off joohyuk's bike and saluted at him. "thanks you weasel."

"weasel?? i'm no weasel!!"

"you look like one." i said. i waved to him one last time, when walked away.

"hey! wait up! i want to meet your mom!!!" i heard joohyuk yell, then followed by a loud crash and joohyuk howling in pain.

"oWIE hyeona!!!! i'm hurt!!!" he whined.

i ignored him, figuring that he was being extra once again.

"tch. she won't even look back once." he said. i heard loud footsteps, before joohyuk threw his arms around my shoulders, almost making me loose balance and fall to the ground.

"get off of me you idiot." i shrugged his arm off, but it didn't budge.

"no. i'm going to stay like this." he insisted.

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after i paid the hospital bills, i entered my mother's hospital room, where she laid on the gurney. she looked pale and green, and really skinny too.

"should i wait outside-" joohyuk whispered, trying to escape but i yanked his arm back.

"hi mom." i said.

my mother looked up at me weakly and smiled. "my daughter. you're here?"

i nodded. "this is my friend, joohyuk." i said.

joohyuk bowed 90 degrees and greeted my mother.

"ah yes, nice to meet you." she said. "sit down, you two."

we both sat down.

"how have you been, hyeona?" she asked.

"i think i should be asking you that, mom. you look so pale. did you eat? do you want to go outside? i'll take you for a walk-"

my mother shook her head. "i ate a little, but didn't have much of an appetite."

i frowned. "is the food here bad? i'll go and get your favorite dumplings for you-"

my mother shook her head again. "don't worry about me, my daughter. just focus on your training. i don't want to affect your life badly too."

"you're not!" i insisted.

"you look tired, hyeona." she said. "have you been working? you're not paying my bills off again, are you??"

i shook my head quickly, because i knew that if i said yes, she'd feel horrible. "i'm not." i lied.

joohyuk slowly shifted in his seat. i had forgotten about the poor guy.

"you go to the same school as hyeona?" my mom asked him.

joohyuk nodded. "i'm on the swimming team."

"aigoo...you gotta train too." she chuckled. "please treat my daughter well." she yawned. "i'm going to go sleep since i'm tired. take your friend to go eat something for dinner."

i frowned. "i could just eat here-"

"go. i want to sleep." she said.

i rolled my eyes. "fine, mom. have a good night then, and make sure you eat a lot, and tell the nurses if you need something. don't just sit around because you feel bad for them."

"fine fine. come on, go." my mom shooed me out the room.

i sighed and we exited. "she's always like that. i wish she would be selfish sometimes."

"i can tell you care for your mom a lot." joohyuk said, flicking my ear. "you're so perfect, aren't you?" he joked.

"can't you tell?" i bluffed jokingly.

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