the field, school clinic, and strawberry milk
Part one of School Memory Crumbs | A Jisolb short stories collection | #LawSchool K-Drama Alternate Universe
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During recess, Kang Sol who is known as the smartest person and always at the top of the class, sits alone on the stairs near the grass field. She is reading a book and eating a popsicle on a hot summer day that might actually melt her cold exterior. The wind breezes, but still, the sun is scorching hot. She gazed at the crowded soccer field. Boys in her class are having fun playing soccer. She focused back on the pages.
Suddenly, the soccer ball flew and hit her forehead. It was Jiho who went to kick the ball that time. He gasped, and ran to her to apologize and made sure that she was okay.
Jiho wipes his sweat from his forehead, then bows twice in front of her while saying sorry.
"I'm sorry, I'm very sorry!"
Jiho looks into Sol's eyes, with his looks examining her. He asked with much concern, "Kang Sol, are you okay? Does your head hurt? I'm really sorry—", as he extended his arm unconsciously towards her forehead and almost touched her hair..
With her eyes closed enduring the pain from the ball hit, Sol then opened her eyes and briefly looked at Jiho's hand. A bit fazed, she pulls her head away.
"I'm fine."
She lied. It actually hurts. She hated it was her rival who hit her. She stood up and leave. She murmured to herself, "That geek can't even play soccer well, huh."
"Ah, is she really okay though?" Jiho worries, putting his hands on his hips.
...
Jiho decided not to continue to play again and went back to his class. He looked around searching for Sol. He then noticed that Sol's chair is empty — She is not in class. Without asking anyone, he had a hunch that she might be in the school's clinic because of what happened.
After a while, he goes to the school clinic room and finds Sol there, pressing a bag of ice to her forehead.
Sol scoffed and rolled her eyes, "What are you doing here? Leave."
"Here. I.. Um, apologize for what happened earlier," said Jiho softly, while he handed her a small carton of strawberry milk that he had just bought before.
“How many times should you say sorry? I'm really fine. I don't need it. Now go."
"Right then, I'm just going to leave this here. See you in class." Jiho put the milk on the bed and left.
Sol just stares a little bit too long at the strawberry milk that Jiho puts near her. She then gazes at the door where Jiho had gotten out five minutes ago, she sighed, and slowly picked up the milk.
"Huh. What's wrong with him? Crazy. It seems like he's the one who got hit in the head." she said in her mind.
As she inhales a deep breath while sipping her milk, it comes to her surprise that she finds comfort in the sweetness of the taste.. It was sweet, but soft and tasted fresh, much to her liking. She looked at the packaging, and smiled slightly. She tries to remember it for the next time she wants to buy it.
Or was it his kind gesture that actually comforted me?
She was a bit surprised by her thinking. She wouldn't even dare to bring herself thinking such thoughts before.