When they reached the group playing volleyball, Eunbi was holding the ball and talking about something. As Hana and Sera joined them, the conversation quickly shifted.
Eunbi: "Hana, we were just talking about you."
Hana: "I hope it was good things?"
Eunbi: "Hmm... Well... more like we were talking about Hyunwoo's 'stormy' love life."
Hana thought to herself, "Oh, not again?" but tried not to show too much interest.
Sera: "I'm bored of this topic! I think we should move on to something more important..."
Hana: "Like what?"
Sera: "Why does Okwon keep staring at us so seriously? Especially at you, not even me!"
Hana rolled her eyes.
Hana: "Sera, again? I haven't even looked at the guy. Maybe his eyes are bad, or maybe he's checking you out."
Sera: "Me?! Please, I deserve better."
Everyone burst into laughter, and just then, the volleyball suddenly flew and hit Hana right on the head.
Hana: "Whoa! Who threw that?!"
As everyone continued laughing, the person who threw the ball disappeared, not wanting to take responsibility. Sera threw her arm around Hana's shoulder.
Sera: "I think it was Okwon, he definitely did it to get your attention."
Hana: "Oh, please, the guy hasn't even come near us!"
Everyone continued laughing when Eunwoo suddenly appeared, spreading his arms dramatically and speaking.
Eunwoo: "As today's hero, I barely woke up and made it here!"
Sera squinted her eyes.
Sera: "I don't think you're a hero, you're just Eunwoo who's trying to skip class."
Eunwoo rolled his eyes.
Eunwoo: "Anyway, the important thing is that I'm here!"
Meanwhile, Eunbi was still holding the ball and suddenly, as if remembering something, she started speaking excitedly.
Eunbi: "Oh! Did you know, I heard in the cafeteria the other day that the new English teacher used to be famous!"
Everyone looked at her blankly.
Hana: "What do you mean? Famous as in a singer or an actor?"
Eunbi: "I'm not sure, but someone said 'I used to see him on TV.'"
Sera immediately jumped in.
Sera: "If he was famous, why would he come here to be a teacher?"
Eunwoo: "Maybe he went bankrupt?"
This possibility made everyone burst into laughter, and they were suddenly laughing uncontrollably.
At that moment, Hana accidentally noticed Hyunwoo looking at them from a bit farther away. When their eyes met, Hyunwoo slightly turned his head, but there was a strange expression on his face. It was as if he wanted to say something but was holding himself back…
Hana paused for a moment, unsure of what to do, but then quickly looked away and turned to Sera and Eunwoo.
Hana: "Let's go for a walk."
Sera raised an eyebrow but followed Hana without saying anything.
Eunbi: "Are they still not done with this issue?"
And they continued playing volleyball.
Just as Hana and Sera were about to start walking around the school, the bell rang, and they headed back to class.
When the class started, Hana absentmindedly doodled random shapes in her notebook, while Sera quietly leaned in.
Sera: "Gaeun just texted. She saw Hyunwoo, and he looked upset."
Hana: "I don't care."
Sera: "But he's probably sulking again."
Hana: "Let him sulk, it's not about me."
Sera giggled but didn't push the topic further.
---
When the bell rang, they left the classroom and headed toward the corridor. Just as they were descending the stairs, Eunwoo caught up with them.
Eunwoo: "Are we heading to the cafeteria?"
Sera: "Let's not go to the cafeteria, it'll be too crowded."
Hana: "Then let's go outside and take a walk."
The three of them walked together to a small park outside the school. They sat on a few benches and took snacks out of their bags.
At that moment, they spotted Hyunwoo and a few of his friends in a distant corner. The guys were talking among themselves, but Hyunwoo briefly looked up and glanced at Hana.
Sera immediately noticed and moved closer to Hana.
Sera: "He's looking again."
Hana: "Forget it."
Sera: "I mean… Don't you think it's a little weird that this is still going on?"
Hana thought for a moment but then shook her head.
Hana: "He chose his own path, and I'm choosing mine."
She clearly didn't want to continue the topic. Sera shrugged and dropped the subject, and their conversation became more fun.
The afternoon classes passed quickly. When the final bell rang, everyone rushed toward the exit. Hana and Sera mixed in with the crowd.
While waiting at the bus stop, Hana noticed Hyunwoo a few meters away, standing with some people from his class. Even though she felt his presence, she tried not to look at him. But her eyes occasionally drifted toward him.
Sera gently tapped Hana's arm.
Sera: "Isn't it weird?"
Hana: "What?"
Sera: "I mean… It's like you two went straight from being in a relationship to cold war."
Hana: "I don't care."
Sera giggled.
Sera: "Maybe you don't, but it kind of looks like he does."
Hana didn't respond, just took a deep breath and continued waiting.