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- Sam-sik, watch your back, damn it! - Kang-ho shouts as he chases after the ball.
Sam-sik stumbled over his own foot while trying to kick the ball and ended up on the ground. Kang-ho manages to dribble past his teammate and pass the ball to his teammate, who scores a goal.
Cheers and celebrations from Kang-ho's team could be heard even from the other side of the school; they had won the game 3-1.
After all the commotion, the teenagers were sitting and lying on the grass in the courtyard. Most of the players were laughing at Sam-sik, who was making a scene.
- It was a foul! - Sam-sik, who was on the opposing team, exclaims.
- Accept that you lost, jerk - Kang-ho says, laughing and then taking a drink of water.
- I won't accept if it was a rigged game! I want another match - Sam-sik stamps his foot on the ground.
- I'm out, kid. There are 20 minutes left before the break is over, and I'm going to stay in the storage room drawing - Kang-ho says as he gets up, grabbing his sketchbook that he had hidden there.
- "BlaBlaBla i'm staying in the storage room drawing." GET A GIRLFRIEND, KANG-HO, ALL YOU THINK ABOUT IS DRAWING - Sam-sik yelled at Kang-ho, who is already running towards the storage room. Kang-ho stops in front of the storage room door and turns towards Sam-sik, raising his middle finger to his friend before entering the room.
- Well, if Kang-ho is really that smart, he'll come out of that storage room with a girlfriend - Sam-sik hears his classmate and friend, Kang Jong-su, say.
- What are you talking about? - Park Jeong-ho, another classmate, asks.
- I saw Lee Mi-joo entering the storage room a few minutes ago while we were playing - Jong-su responds, shrugging his shoulders.
- Lee Mi-joo? - Sam-sik asks, a mischievous smile growing on his lips. - I have an idea, guys.
✥
Mi-joo was hiding behind a box where they store the balls, trying to paint her nails pink when she hears the sound of the door opening. Her reaction was spontaneous, she huddled against the box to avoid being seen.
When Mi-joo doesn't hear any other noise except a rustling, she lifts her head slightly to spy on what was happening and is surprised to see Kang-ho, the smartest boy in school who also happens to be her childhood friend and her lifelong crush, sitting and drawing something.
Rising silently to avoid making noise, Mi-joo slowly approaches Kang-ho.
- BOO! - Mi-joo taps Kang-ho's shoulder, and he jumps startled.
- Mi-joo, what are you doing here? You almost - Kang-ho says, placing his hand on his chest.
- I'm here for this - Mi-joo raises her hands, showing her pink-painted nails.
- Because of your hands? - Kang-ho asks, furrowing his brow.
- No, silly! - Mi-joo goes behind the basket where she was hiding and retrieves a little bag full of nail polishes, showing it to Kang-ho. - You know how strict Mrs. Jung is; if she sees me with these, she'll confiscate them, and I'll never see them again. I hid here to practice.
- Ah, why don't you do that at home? - Kang-ho asks, returning to sit on the bench he was at before.
- You know I don't have time; I have to help my mom - Mi-joo says, sitting down next to Kang-ho. She takes out another little bag and opens it. - I also brought some snacks; feel free to take one.
- And your sisters? - Kang-ho asks, taking a snack.
- The twins? They went to Seoul, those idiots. They don't even care or send money to Mom. It's such a neglect. Didn't I tell you?
- No. Lately, you don't hang out with me anymore; you're always with your friends or that Min Woo-Cheon - Kang-ho says, shrugging and taking another snack.
Mi-joo looks at Kang-ho with a mischievous smile on her lips.
- Are you jealous, Kang-ho? - she teases, lightly pushing his shoulder. Kang-ho blushes slightly, avoiding eye contact.
- Don't be ridiculous, Mi-joo. I just miss our moments together, that's all.
- Wow, you're so dramatic, Kang-ho. We had ice cream together at Blitz last week - Mi-joo says, laughing and closing her lunchbox.
- That doesn't count! My dad and Sam-sik were with us. We never hang out together anymore, just you and me - Before Mi-joo could say anything else, the bell signaling the end of the break rings. - It's the bell; we better go to the afternoon classes.
Kang-ho stands up, and Mi-joo follows him.
- Yeah, you're right.
When Kang-ho tries to open the door, he realizes it's locked.
- What? Did they lock us in? - Mi-joo asks, trying to open the door with Kang-ho. When they realize it won't open, they start banging on the door and shouting.
- HELLO? ANYONE? WE'RE TRAPPED HERE. ANYONE?
Mi-joo steps back from the door and tries to come up with a plan, until she realizes that she's locked in a storage room with her longtime crush. With a mischievous smile, Mi-joo turns to Kang-ho and says:
- Kang-ho, stop! No one will hear us. It's best to wait until they notice we're missing.
- Damn it! I'm sure that Sam-sik did this, that idiot - Kang-ho says, still looking angrily at the door - It's a shame they confiscate our phones at the beginning of class; we could ask for help.
- Yeah, we could, but now there's nothing we can do. Just sit here! - Mi-joo, who was already sitting back on the bench, pats the spot where Kang-ho was sitting before.
Kang-ho sighs and sits down next to her, taking out his sketchbook and returning to his drawing. Mi-joo stares at him indignantly but doesn't say anything.
✥
Youngsoon and Hae-sik were laughing and dancing to the sound of a romantic song when they heard someone knocking on the gate.
- Huh, who could it be? - Youngsoon asks, moving away from her husband and turning off the music.
- Kang-ho must have forgotten the key - Hae-sik says, grabbing the gate key.
He and Youngsoon head towards the gate, and when they open it, they are surprised to see Gum-ja and the village chief along with his wife.
- Is Kang-ho here? - Gum-ja asks hurriedly.
- Is something wrong? Kang-ho isn't here, he went out with Sam-sik and their friends after school - Youngsoon responds, and Gum-ja starts trembling.
- Mi-joo is missing, Mrs. Jin. We've searched everywhere and can't find her - the chief, Mr. Son, replies.
- We thought maybe Kang-ho would know where she is since the two of them are always around each other like lovebirds - Mrs. Son, the chief's wife, says.
- Wait a minute, I'll call him - Hae-sik says, picking up the phone and dialing his son's number.
- That's strange... - Hae-sik says - It went to voicemail, that never happens.
- Well, dear, call Mr. Bang and ask if Sam-sik has returned home - Youngsoon suggests to her husband, who quickly does so.
After ending the call, Hae-sik turns to his wife and their concerned neighbors.
- Sam-sik isn't home either.
- I think we need to have a meeting and go look for these boys then - Mr. Son says, and everyone nods.
✥
Several hours had passed, and Mi-joo was bored. She had played with some balls and materials that were there, painted her nails, and even studied a bit.
Meanwhile, Kang-ho wasn't really talking to her. They exchanged a few words, but he quickly turned his attention back to what he was drawing.
Mi-joo tried various topics to get his attention, but nothing seemed to work. Well, hadn't he said he missed their moments together? So why didn't he take advantage of the fact that they were both stuck in this storage room to do something?
Frustrated, Mi-joo sighed. It was probably already dark, and she was hungry. Searching her uniform pockets, she found a candy.
— Kang-ho, I found a candy here, want some? - Mi-joo asked, getting up and heading towards Kang-ho.
— I don't like candy, thanks - Kang-ho replied, without taking his eyes off his notebook.
— Whatever... - Mi-joo popped the candy into her mouth and continued speaking. - Yah, doesn't your wrist hurt? You've been drawing for hours. You said this morning that you missed me, but you don't even enjoy my company. - Mi-joo said this and swallowed the candy forcefully. She approached Kang-ho and held his face. - Pay attention to me, cmon. If it were that idiot Ha-young, you would be paying attention.
Kang-ho was caught off guard by Mi-joo's sudden act and stared at her with wide eyes.
— What? - Kang-ho finally spoke.
— Come on, you say I only hang out with my friends and Woo-Cheon, but you only hang out with the boys and Ha-young. You even talked about your future as a prosecutor with her, when you never talked about it with me - Mi-joo said, stepping back from Kang-ho and pouting.
Kang-ho let out a sigh and closed his sketchbook, finally giving his full attention to Mi-joo. He had never stopped to think about his interactions with Ha-young and how it could affect Mi-joo. Feeling guilty, he stood up from the bench and approached her.
— Mi-joo, I... I'm sorry. I didn't realize that my actions were hurting you. I don't want you to feel excluded or neglected. You're important to me, more than anyone else.
Mi-joo looked at him, her eyes showing a mix of sadness and hope. She wanted to believe Kang-ho's words, but she needed to be sure he was sincere.
— Kang-ho, when you said you missed our moments together, I was surprised because I thought you didn't care about me anymore, so I distanced myself from you a bit - Mi-joo looked down and let out a sigh before continuing - I... I miss you all the time. You're my most special friend, but when I heard you talking about something as important as your future to a girl who wasn't me, I got really jealous because you used to talk about those things with me."
— Mi-joo, I... - Kang-ho began to say, but Mi-joo interrupted, lifting her head to face him.
" — I was really hurt, but I was also silly to avoid you afterward. I'm sorry. I ended up hurting you by thinking that I was losing the guy I care so much about.
Mi-joo's words surprised Kang-ho and, at the same time, relieved him. He realized how much he had distanced himself from his friend and how his actions had affected Mi-joo. Feeling guilty, he moved even closer to her and held her hands.
— Mi-joo, you're so much more than a friend to me. Since we were children, we've always been together, sharing laughter, stories, and dreams. I can't imagine my life without you. And now that I've realized how I hurt you, I want to make it right.
Mi-joo looked at Kang-ho, her eyes shimmering with emotion. She felt her heart race and a wave of warmth wash over her body. Kang-ho slowly approached, his face getting closer to hers. Time seemed to stand still as their lips met in a sweet and gentle kiss.
The two young lovers felt the intensity of the moment, the love and attraction that had always been present in their relationship finally manifesting. They embraced each other, surrendering to the warmth of the kiss and the emotion of the moment.
As the kiss deepened, Mi-joo felt a rush of emotions inside her. If Kang-ho weren't holding her so tightly, she was sure her legs would give way beneath her. But that didn't matter now; all that mattered in that moment was the connection they shared.
— Damn it, Kang-ho, finally! - Kang-ho and Mi-joo quickly pulled apart, blushing with embarrassment upon hearing Sam-sik's voice.
They had been so engrossed in the kiss that they hadn't noticed the warehouse door opening. There stood Sam-sik and the boys from school, along with the villagers.
Sam-sik and the boys were smirking mischievously, while the villagers had wide-eyed expressions, all of them silent and staring.
— I guess we've arrived at an inconvenient moment. Sorry for interrupting - Choi Hae-sik broke the silence, sporting a mischievous smile. Everyone laughed, and Youngsoon lightly tapped her husband's arm before approaching her son.
— Are you both okay? You must be starving, poor things- Youngsoon said, gently caressing her son's cheek. By that time, Gum-ja was already checking on her daughter.
— Oh, no, Mrs. Jin, I brought some pastries, and we... - Mi-joo began to say
— Forget about Mrs. Jin, dear. You can call me 'mother-in-law' now - Youngsoon interrupted Mi-joo, smiling softly. Mi-joo felt her face burning so hot she thought she might explode at any moment.
As they left the storege room, Kang-ho held Mi-joo's hand the entire time on the way home. They laughed and blushed at the jokes the villagers made about their relationship.
They knew they would be teased for a long time for getting caught in the act, but the truth was they couldn't care less.
Kang-ho and Mi-joo couldn't wait to spend more time together, not just as friends, but as boyfriend and girlfriend.