ALL NOVEL Chapter 3.3
The oversized hat covered my head so completely that only my facial features were left visible.“By now….”Kwon Jungwoo trailed off, his gaze shifting momentarily to my lips before returning.As Kwon Jungwoo imagined me with longer hair, I quietly let him examine my face. No, it’s more accurate to say that I was completely frozen. His large hand cradling the back of my neck made it feel like he might pull me closer at any moment. No matter what I did, I felt like I was firmly within his target range. Even with Kwon Jungwoo’s sun-like face right in front of me, I couldn’t even move my eyes.It wasn’t long before the hand that had been gripping my neck fell away. Suddenly, Kwon Jungwoo leaned back, putting distance between us, as if he were leaning on thin air.“You don’t suit being a girl.”“…….”“You were born well as a man, Han Jiwon.”With that, he swiftly took off the hat. My hair, which had been lifted along with it, fell back down, and my hoodie returned to its proper position. The only thing that didn’t return to its original state was my racing heart.Kwon Jungwoo was likely just curious about how I’d look if I were different, but even though I knew that, my heart kept trying to interpret his actions as something more. It was just a playful joke between friends—no need to overreact. I desperately reminded myself of this and forced a smile.“No matter how pretty I look, a man is still a man.”“That’s why it’s even stranger. You’re not a woman, but….”Kwon Jungwoo’s gaze was unusually serious.“There’s something about you that makes me more cautious.”He exhaled as he spoke. And he didn’t give me a chance to respond.Suddenly, he stood up, saying he needed some water, and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge before sitting back down across from me. His face was obscured by the bottle as he drank, but I imagined he still looked as composed as ever.I must have drunk a lot. The atmosphere around Kwon Jungwoo kept tickling my insides, making me feel like something in my brain that was responsible for interpretation had malfunctioned. Kwon Jungwoo had a way of making people misunderstand, so I always needed to filter what he said carefully. Taking his words at face value could lead to a dangerous desire for something I couldn’t have.Even so, the reason my heart wouldn’t stop racing was because I could still vividly feel the touch of his fingers on my cheek.The scent of his cologne, which had lingered strongly as his hand brushed past my face. The warmth that touched my ear when he put the hat on me.The grip of his hand on the back of my neck was making my heart flutter uncontrollably. His hand, which could easily envelop my entire head, had made me feel this way just by putting on a hat. My overly conservative heart must have taken after its cautious owner.Don’t read too much into it. I tried to steady myself again. I had never been good at pretending to be composed, even during my playing days, but I had to try my best now.“Training starts again tomorrow, right? It must be exhausting to go straight back to practice right after exams.”Maybe my attempt to change the subject was too abrupt. Kwon Jungwoo just stared at me silently without replying. Perhaps he found my effort commendable because he soon shrugged his shoulders.“It’s tiring, but the stiffness from not being able to work out for a few days is worse. I’d rather be exercising than taking exams, anyway.”“Yeah, that’s true…. Do you want me to get you more to drink?”“No, I’ve had enough. I didn’t think I was drunk, but something feels a bit off compared to usual.”“…….”“I’m definitely not drunk, but….”The way he looked at me made it seem like the earlier tension might return. The atmosphere grew quiet again, and I felt sweat forming in my palms. The words that came out next were purely from a sense of obligation to maintain composure.“If you’re really tired, you can sleep here. I’ve got an extra pillow.”“My house is right around the corner. Why would I sleep here? I’ll go home.”“Oh? Ah…! Right, of course. It’s so close you could walk home; no way you’d sleep here.”I laughed awkwardly, feeling embarrassed. It wasn’t just the rejection that stung, but in hindsight, the suggestion itself seemed foolish. Kwon Jungwoo must have found my reaction amusing too because he chuckled lightly and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.“What? Do you want to sleep with me?”“What!?”My voice shot up as I straightened my back. It wasn’t until I saw the playful glint in Kwon Jungwoo’s eyes that I realized it was just a light-hearted joke, but I had already overreacted. I quickly corrected my posture and cleared my throat.Maybe Kwon Jungwoo was just teasing me without any hidden meaning. There was a 99% chance that I had misinterpreted it, so I had to play it off as if I hadn’t thought of anything improper.“Of course! Who wouldn’t want to sleep with you? Ah, it’s too bad—I wanted to sleep with you.”Did I say that too seriously? Kwon Jungwoo’s expression shifted slightly. I hadn’t meant to steer the conversation in this direction, but now the atmosphere felt even stranger. I needed to clarify.“What I mean is…”I tried to look Kwon Jungwoo directly in the eye, as nonchalantly as possible. I kept repeating to myself that I was just sharing a moment of friendship with a buddy. Then, I emphasized each word carefully.“I really have wanted to sleep with you for a long time.”“What are you saying…?”Kwon Jungwoo was visibly flustered, which in turn made me flustered.The more seriously I spoke, the more it seemed to be coming across differently than I intended, and I was at a loss for how to fix it. Just as the heat began to rise in my cheeks, Kwon Jungwoo’s phone rang at the perfect moment. I glanced at the screen and saw the name “Byun Seungjin” displayed in large letters.Despite the ringing, Kwon Jungwoo didn’t immediately answer the call. He stared at his phone for a moment before looking back at me, as if deciding whether or not to take the call.In the end, he chose to answer it.“Yeah.”— Where are you? I thought you’d be at home.“Hold on a sec….”His deep-set eyes briefly flickered toward me before turning away again.“…I’m outside your place. Why?”Byun Seungjin’s voice, which had been clearly audible in the quiet room, was soon muted as Kwon Jungwoo adjusted the volume. I wasn’t sure why he was hiding that he was with me, but Kwon Jungwoo only responded with short answers, and before long, the call ended.“I should go.”The end of the drinking session was rather abrupt.“Is Seungjin asking you to stay long?”“No. I just need to go.”Kwon Jungwoo didn’t provide specific details, and he didn’t seem particularly tired. Maybe he was worried I’d ask him to stay over. Earlier, I had mentioned it on a whim without any real intention of having him stay, and now it felt too late to explain myself. I kept my mouth shut, fearing I might embarrass myself further.Despite my protests, Kwon Jungwoo insisted on tidying up before he got ready to leave. Once he put on his shoes at the entrance, he turned around to look at me. His height, which I still wasn’t used to, made my heart flutter as he looked down at me.“I’m leaving.”“Okay, take care.”Our eyes met only for a brief moment. Just as he was about to leave, Kwon Jungwoo suddenly turned back toward me, his expression inexplicably filled with anger.“I’m talking about the way you look at me.”“Huh?”“When you look at me like that…”His voice, unlike his usual self, came out hoarse, as if he had been holding these words in for a long time.“…it makes me question everything I’ve said to you.”Kwon Jungwoo’s brow furrowed in frustration. He didn’t seem to care whether I understood or not. Although he asked if I knew what he meant, it didn’t feel like he was expecting an answer. But despite everything, he came closer, as if he needed some sort of answer, and quietly asked,“Why do I keep wanting to look good in front of you?”The slight curve of his lips made his smile seem self-deprecating.Did Kwon Jungwoo even realize? How much his cryptic words made me want to interpret them in my own way?“What’s the point of impressing me? I’m no longer a national athlete or even a sports person….”“Exactly. What do I hope to achieve by impressing you?”Kwon Jungwoo’s hand, which had naturally started reaching towards my face, suddenly hesitated, then shifted its course. His fingertips touched my hair, and then his whole hand rested on it. It stayed there, as if it had always intended to be there, before he withdrew it.“I don’t know what I’m trying to do.”“…”“Goodnight.”Despite the tension lingering in the air, Kwon Jungwoo’s farewell was calm. I heard his footsteps fade away as he left, and I wanted to ask him what his words had meant, or if they didn’t mean anything, why he had to say such insignificant things in a way that made me ponder and become an unreasonable dreamer. But, predictably, I didn’t have the courage.Today had been a particularly long day, and even after Kwon Jungwoo left, it still felt long.***Unfortunately, the day of the sports festival was clear. Until yesterday, the sky had been overcast, threatening rain, but today, it was as if the weather and the event organizers were in perfect harmony, with even the air feeling fresh.The annual sports festival involving all departments of the College of Arts was a highly anticipated event on campus, known for its vibrant displays. According to the head of the department, the sculpture department excelled in tug-of-war, the dance department in talent shows, and the painting department in banners, but our photography department had no particular strength—until I enrolled.I didn’t think it was anything special, considering I had already retired from the national team due to injury, but it seemed the students at the university, including the head of our department, felt differently. The bleachers were packed with students, and they openly chanted my name. They even remembered and sang the cheer song from my active days, a song that made me self-conscious and lowered my head repeatedly.The decision to have me perform a tumbling routine was made just a few days ago, but word spread quickly. I heard that some journalists had come but were turned away by the student council. I couldn’t understand why they were still interested in me when there were many juniors still competing professionally.“Next up, photography department, please get ready!”While another department’s talent show was in full swing, the event staff called us to gather. Wearing our yellow department t-shirts, reminiscent of Kodak film, we waited at the edge of the field, and even then, the surrounding students continued to chant my name.My ankle was fine. Though performing on sand rather than a mat was a concern, I felt that as long as I kept my balance, I wouldn’t slip. I did a few small jumps while waiting to get a feel for the surface (though I couldn’t jump freely because the crowd screamed every time I did) and regained my confidence.Soon, the announcer introduced the photography department, and a cheerful melody filled the field. My classmates shouted “fighting!” as they moved onto the field to form their formation. Our department’s talent show entry was a cheerleading routine. I wasn’t sure what it had to do with photography, but about half of the first-year students participated, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves.I stayed at the waiting area, preparing for my entrance. Watching my classmates smile and dance, I continued to warm up. Surprisingly, I wasn’t too nervous. This wasn’t a national competition, and my parents weren’t watching a live broadcast with the villagers, so I felt more excitement than anxiety.This might be the last time I perform. The last day of my gymnastics career had come earlier than expected, but I thought maybe I could conclude it on a high note with the energy of my fellow students.As the second song neared its end, the classmate in charge of the cheerleading routine signaled me.“One… two… three! Now!”Following his cue, I sprinted out. The fresh wind brushed against my cheeks, and my hair, free without a cap, bounced up and down. Unlike in past competitions where the arena fell silent as I began my routine, the field erupted in cheers the moment I appeared.Thankfully, it wasn’t distracting. Instead, it made me feel emotional and exhilarated.From the moment I started running, most of my senses shut down. My mind was solely focused on the techniques, and my eyes were fixed on the takeoff point. The gap between my classmates, sitting in a V-shape, became my final stage.When I reached the point, I quickly planted my feet and leapt powerfully. I leaned my upper body in the direction I intended to rotate and twisted as tightly as possible. I started with a few handsprings, followed by a side flip and a backflip. Then, I returned to handsprings and transitioned into a double aerial twist.The sensation of the sand beneath my hands was rough. The thrill of pushing off the ground and soaring through the air was still as incredibly exhilarating as ever. It felt like every cell in my body remembered gymnastics and moved in perfect harmony, just as they had been trained for years.After what felt like a dreamlike series of flips, I landed smoothly, thankfully. Adjusting my center of gravity to match the friction under my feet was something I could do effortlessly after years of experience.The roar of the crowd hit me right after that. Despite being outdoors, the cheers from the audience were so intense that they felt like they could crush me. My classmates rushed over, hugging me and patting me on the back. I was a bit taken aback since some of them had never even spoken to me before, but I was in such a good mood that I gave them a big smile.I only noticed the tingling in my ankle when I was being jostled around by my classmates. My injured left ankle was throbbing slightly, indicating that I had pushed it too hard.The pain wasn’t severe enough to show on my face, so I was able to maintain a light smile as I left the field. Having thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of being a gymnast again after so long, the joy outweighed any concern about the injury.“Jiwon hyung!”Suddenly, a familiar shout came from the nearby stands.Looking in the direction of the voice, I saw a group of tall men standing out above the rest of the crowd. They were all wearing dark blue basketball uniforms, looking like they had just escaped from practice.Yang Eunoh and Byun Seungjin waved energetically when they made eye contact with me, making a big fuss. The other basketball players also acted like we were close, even though I had only met them briefly at a recent get-together. With so many tall players gathered together, they stood out even more.The one who stood out the most was Kwon Jungwoo, who was quietly watching me from the center of the group. He was wearing the same dark blue uniform and a black arm sleeve, but unlike the others, his expression was calm, though he seemed a bit puzzled.Or maybe it was just me who was feeling puzzled. I never expected Kwon Jungwoo to come and watch my performance. It was a huge relief that I didn’t notice him before I started my routine. If I had known he was there, I would have surely made some kind of mistake.“Hey.”I was glad to see them and couldn’t just ignore Byun Seungjin and Yang Eunoh since they were so enthusiastic, so I gave them a short wave as I walked by. Seeing how thrilled they were, I realized I’d grown quite fond of them, enough to forget the pain in my ankle for a moment.Even as the distance between us increased, Kwon Jungwoo remained calm. For some reason, he had a serious look on his usually smooth forehead, creating shallow wrinkles, yet his intense gaze followed me relentlessly. It didn’t matter that his fans were taking pictures around him.“Jiwon hyung!”One of my classmates suddenly approached and threw an arm around my shoulder. Naturally, I ended up walking faster with him hanging onto me. What was his name again? Wonseok? Wooseok? Something like that. He spent the whole time praising me endlessly, whispering in my ear. I appreciated the compliments, but his weight leaning on me made my ankle hurt even more, so I wasn’t exactly thrilled.Because of this noisy classmate, I couldn’t even glance in Kwon Jungwoo’s direction until I got back to my seat. The pain in my ankle had worsened by then, leaving me with no energy to manage my expressions.Even when my classmates tried to carry on the excitement by patting me on the back, I could only nod stiffly, returning to my usual reserved self. Before long, I looked back to where Kwon Jungwoo had been standing, but the tall players were no longer there.The sports festival continued smoothly. Most of the players were second and third-year students, except for a few burly first-years, while the rest of the students just kept repeating the cheers. It was a truly empty and dull time.Since it was an open field, students from other departments would often pass by, showing interest in me. At times like that, I would pretend to be busy with my phone. I realized how uncomfortable it was not to have a cap on.I had just taken out my phone again, trying to look preoccupied. A notification icon appeared at the top of the screen, indicating a new message in the “Understanding Architecture” chat room.[Byun Seungjin]: Hey, player[Byun Seungjin]: Knock knock[Byun Seungjin]: Bless us today and forgive our sins, yada yada Jiwon—[Yang Eunoh]: Did you weigh the same as you did in elementary school?[Yang Eunoh]: You jumped so lightly, I thought you were going to fly away, lol[Yang Eunoh]: Seeing it in person is way different than watching a video[Yang Eunoh]: National team class, as expected[Byun Seungjin]: Damn, my phone camera sucks[Yang Eunoh]: Ghost photos?[Byun Seungjin]: Are you making a dead joke?[Byun Seungjin]: Do you want to die and take a picture with me?[Han Jiwon]: Guys😭 Why didn’t you tell me you were coming today😭 You must be busy… Did you not have practice?[Byun Seungjin]: Oh, Jiwon^^[Byun Seungjin]: We skipped! How can my future be more important than watching you tumble?[Yang Eunoh]: But we ran into the coach, damn it, lol[Han Jiwon]: Oh no, are you okay?[Yang Eunoh]: Yeah, we get a two-hour break, but practice got extended lol[Yang Eunoh]: We’re going to the PC bang, wanna come?[Han Jiwon]: No, haha. It’s hard to leave my seat, and my ankle is a bit sore after running around😭 I’m going to rest a bit😭[Byun Seungjin]: WTF—[Byun Seungjin]: Your ankle???? Shouldn’t you go to the hospital???[Han Jiwon]: It’s okay, it’s not that bad, haha.[Yang Eunoh]: I thought you finished rehab?[Han Jiwon]: I did, but maybe the floor was a bit tough on me, so I think I overdid it a little ^^;;[Yang Eunoh]: Are you sure you’re okay? Go to the hospital, like right now![Han Jiwon]: There’s nothing the hospital could do anyway. I’ll just rest today and tomorrow 😭[Yang Eunoh]: Okay, okay.[Byun Seungjin]: Aww, I wish I could soothe your ankle 😭😭😭“…Huh?”Suddenly, the notification showing that the other person hadn’t read the message disappeared completely.It was the first time meeting Kwon Jungwoo in real-time on the messenger.[Byun Seungjin]: Kwon Jungwoo is here.[Yang Eunoh]: Where’s Jungwoo? At the basketball court?[Yang Eunoh]: We’re in the locker room. If you come, we’re going to the PC bang.[Byun Seungjin]: Haha, I remember earlier when Kwon Jungwoo looked so dazed.[Byun Seungjin]: Didn’t I say that if he saw Han Jiwon running in person, he’d be smitten?[Byun Seungjin]: Hehe.[Yang Eunoh]: Hahaha.[Yang Eunoh]: He was totally dazed, staring at the photography department until you arrived, Jiwon.[Han Jiwon]: No way, haha. Maybe he was just uncomfortable because there were so many people watching. A lot of fans were there too, haha.[Byun Seungjin]: Sorry, Jiwon 😭[Byun Seungjin]: But I have to bet my wrist on this, that’s not the case (prayer hands).[Byun Seungjin]: If Jungwoo was the type to care about others’ opinions, he wouldn’t have had a character controversy in the first place 😭[Han Jiwon]: Ah…[Yang Eunoh]: Ah… haha.[Byun Seungjin]: Haha, our honest Jiwon😭[Han Jiwon]: No, what I mean is…[Han Jiwon]: I saw earlier that his gaze was blurry, so I thought maybe that’s why he was dazed.[Yang Eunoh]: Speak slowly, I can’t hear you.[Yang Eunoh]: Hahaha.[Byun Seungjin]: Look how fast he’s typing, it’s so funny haha.[Byun Seungjin]: Why can’t he believe it when we saw it from the side, haha?[Kwon Jungwoo]: Exactly.The moment those three syllables appeared, my fingers froze on the screen.Just the fact that Kwon Jungwoo had shown up in the chat room for the first time made me feel like I was a person with a gun pointed at my head, unable to move.[Kwon Jungwoo]: I was so dazed, thinking about you for a long time.[Kwon Jungwoo]: Why can’t you believe it?“…”I should respond, but it felt like I could hear his voice through the message, and I couldn’t think of anything appropriate to say.If it were anyone else, I would have laughed awkwardly and moved on, but because it was Kwon Jungwoo, who had made my head spin with his recent confession of wanting to impress me, it was hard to react. Maybe he’s teasing me because he finds it amusing. I couldn’t imagine Kwon Jungwoo’s expression beyond the message.[Byun Seungjin]: That’s what I’m saying, haha.[Byun Seungjin]: They showed interest in you, so on the way, I briefed them on what makes Han Jiwon special.[Byun Seungjin]: I even used a lot of data showing them YouTube videos, haha.[Yang Eunoh]: Yeah, it was the first time I saw someone break down the running motion frame by frame like that.[Yang Eunoh]: And it was also the first time I saw Jungwoo listen to someone so intently.[Han Jiwon]: Thanks for the kind words, haha.[Han Jiwon]: Anyway, I’ll go focus on cheering now.[Yang Eunoh]: ?[Yang Eunoh]: Were you serious about the sports day?[Byun Seungjin]: Look at that sense of responsibility, it’s so cool😭😭[Han Jiwon]: Have a great afternoon, everyone^^I put my phone down as if fleeing. Even though Kwon Jungwoo didn’t say much, just knowing that he was still watching the messenger made me so nervous that it felt like my veins were taut. It’s ridiculous how a body that could handle multiple tumbles was now on the brink of exhaustion just from exchanging a few messages.Beeeep—At the sound of the whistle, I looked at the field for the first time in a while. I didn’t know if the soccer match that was underway was still in the first half or the second half. I didn’t even care which department our opponents were from. My thoughts, which had been drifting aimlessly while watching the students jog around in groups, naturally turned to Kwon Jungwoo.Whenever I thought of Kwon Jungwoo, time, which had been moving sluggishly, suddenly picked up speed. It was only much later that I realized I had been staring at my feet again, trying to avoid the gaze of the people around me.I don’t know how much time had passed. I became aware of reality again when my ankle started to throb, and I picked up my phone. I wanted to check if Kwon Jungwoo had really shown up on the messenger earlier because it suddenly felt unbelievable.There were a few more messages in the chat after I had said goodbye.[Yang Eunoh]: OK, OK.[Yang Eunoh]: Come hang out if you change your mind.[Byun Seungjin]: Good luck to the photography department^^[Byun Seungjin]: And don’t overdo it with your ankle!![Yang Eunoh]: When is Kwon Jungwoo coming? Let’s go to the
PC bang
[1]
[Kwon Jungwoo]: You guys go without me.[Kwon Jungwoo]: I have something to do.[Yang Eunoh]: Okay, okay.I scrolled back up in the finished conversation and stopped at the point where the name “Kwon Jungwoo” first appeared.‘I’ve been dazed, thinking about you for a long time. Why can’t you believe it?’Why is doing a few flips so difficult…? My face heated up with embarrassment, but I couldn’t stop looking.I’m glad I decided to participate in the sports day.I even thought that without realizing the increasing chatter around me. The reward seemed quite sweet compared to the pain in my ankle. It felt like a pretty good deal—suffering a minor injury for a day or two in exchange for Kwon Jungwoo’s praise.The sense of discomfort set in when I noticed the sound of footsteps steadily approaching. The large strides didn’t slow down and eventually cast a shadow over me. As I looked up, a man was staring down at me with a slightly tilted head.“How long are you going to sit here like this?”“…Kwon Jungwoo?”“I can’t wait any longer; it’s getting boring.”With that, Kwon Jungwoo naturally sat down beside me.“What are you looking at that’s so interesting? I could see you smiling from a distance.”The familiar scent emanating from him in his navy uniform with a white tracksuit jacket was unmistakable. I quickly shoved my phone into my pocket, trying not to get lost in that scent.“W-Why are you here all of a sudden?”“Well, you know… for various reasons. I also remembered that yellow suits you well.”“Yellow? This outfit?”“Aren’t you guys from the photography department playing in the basketball game? I could take your place with your name on it if you want.”Is that not allowed? His playful expression made me even more confused by his sudden appearance and cryptic words. All I could do was stupidly watch as Kwon Jungwoo picked up a tennis ball nearby.“Don’t mind me; just keep cheering as you were.”He said in a laid-back tone while casually tossing the tennis ball into the air and catching it repeatedly. Leaning back with a relaxed demeanor, playing with the ball, he seemed so at ease that it made the students around him watch with interest.Did I do something wrong?I had no idea why he was acting like this, so I could only helplessly watch the green ball float up and get swallowed by Kwon Jungwoo’s large hand. The navy uniform underneath his tracksuit crumpled loosely with every visible movement of his prominent knuckles. The sporty outfit drew attention, especially the black leg sleeves and the clean calves visible below his shorts.Even though an outsider was sitting boldly in the photography department’s cheering section, no one dared to comment. The atmosphere around Kwon Jungwoo was too imposing, making it feel like if someone tried to talk to him, that tennis ball might come flying at their face.“People are staring…”“So, are you uncomfortable?”“Um… it’s not exactly comfortable.”“Then I guess there’s no choice. Pick one.”The ball that had been launched into the air safely landed in his beautifully structured hand.“Should I yell at them to stop staring, or-”The ball floated up again.“Should we go to the hospital together?”The reason I turned my attention away from the ball and back to Kwon Jungwoo wasn’t just because the ball had safely landed in his hand again and didn’t float back up.“Hospital? Why the hospital?”Unlike my startled reaction, Kwon Jungwoo’s gaze leisurely traveled from my ankle back up to my face.“Oh… If it’s because of my ankle, it’s not serious enough to go to the hospital. I’m fine!”“Then let’s go home. I’ll take you.”“Home?”His nod was deep. Then, as if he was about to get up immediately, Kwon Jungwoo adjusted his posture, seemingly confident that I would comply. Honestly, I was tempted. There was no obligation or value in staying at the sports day while enduring the pain in my ankle.And the same went for Kwon Jungwoo. He had no obligation or reason to go out of his way to take me home.“You said you had something to do.”“Yeah, and that’s why I’m here, doing it.”“Let’s go,” he said firmly, placing the tennis ball back where it belonged and stuffing his hands deep into the pockets of his tracksuit. His now expressionless face seemed even more handsome under the sunlight.Although Kwon Jungwoo had always been kind to me, it was the first time he had offered help in a situation where we had no prior connection. I wondered if he was doing this because he wanted to make a good impression on me again today. I wanted to ask why he was being so kind, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it, so I hesitated.“For the record, there’s no third option.”Maybe he thought I wouldn’t get up right away because Kwon Jungwoo slouched back down and leaned against the wall again, muttering in frustration. Watching him pick up the tennis ball once more, my desire to accept his offer clashed with not wanting to inconvenience him.But fortunately, having grown up as an athlete, I had a sense of modesty.“Thanks for worrying, but I’m really okay. Even though it’s a sports day, I’m just sitting here, not doing much. I don’t want to take up your time.”“…”