Chapter 23: Sports Day Part 3

“Block those two only! Don’t worry about the others!”

A heated voice echoed across the field.

Currently, the score between Class A and Class B was 3:2.

As Class B caught up with two goals, Class A immediately adjusted their strategy, focusing on marking me and Jinyoung.

Jinyoung was surrounded by two defenders at the forefront, restricting his movement.

I, too, was being pressured in the midfield by Shaggy Cut and two other midfielders.

‘Ha, how annoying.’

Receiving a pass from the defender, I scanned the surroundings.

Glancing toward the wing, I noticed the right winger standing relatively unmarked.

That was because all the attention was on me and Jinyoung.

‘Hmm… Not the most reliable option.’

But given the current situation, it was my only choice.

Dodging the opponent’s pressure with a slight feint, I shifted my body toward the right.

Quickly, I tapped the ball forward to create a passing lane.

Following the trajectory of the ball as it left my foot, I watched it cut through the defenders at a low and swift pace.

When the ball finally landed at the right winger’s feet, “Wow, what the hell? That pass from Dohyun is insane.”

The winger looked momentarily flustered but soon regained composure and began sprinting with the ball.

Shaggy Cut yelled, “Defenders! The side is wide open!”

The defenders belatedly chased after him, but the gap had already widened too much for them to catch up.

Near the penalty box, he lifted his head slightly to check the goalkeeper’s position before skillfully curling the ball with the top of his foot.

‘That’s going in.’

The sound of the net rippling filled the air.

For a moment, the field fell silent.

Then, an explosion of cheers erupted.

“Wooooah! Kim Dohyun, seriously, what was that?”

“That was incredible!”

“So cool…”

From the canopy area, cheers from Class B’s friends rang out.

Drenched in sweat, Jinyoung ran over to me and shouted, “Hey, what the heck are you? Shouldn’t you be heading to England or something?”

Catching my breath, I replied casually, “Don’t overdo it.”

***

The heat of the game continued to rise.

Under the canopy, Yuna quietly watched the game unfold.

“Wow, Kim Dohyun is seriously amazing. Is this real?”

“The others scored the goals, but why does Dohyun stand out so much?”

“He’s not just athletic; he’s good-looking too. Is he a character straight out of a comic?”

The murmurs of the girls nearby tickled her ears.

Each word seemed to grow louder in her mind.

Unconsciously, her gaze drifted more toward Dohyun.

He stood calmly on the field, as if unaffected by the attention.

Even though he wasn’t the one who scored, it felt like all eyes were on him.

The usually indifferent Dohyun now shone brighter than anyone on the field.

His skilled footwork, impeccable decision-making, and his composed demeanor only made him more striking.

‘…He’s really cool.’

Biting her lip, Yuna felt her heart race and her face grow warm.

‘I must be crazy.’

She tried to tear her eyes away from Dohyun but couldn’t.

At that moment, “Hey, Yuna.”

Choi Dabin nudged her and said, “Your boyfriend is amazing.”

“What? He’s not my boyfriend…”

Yuna turned her head, waving her hands in denial.

But Choi Dabin teased her with a mischievous grin, “Yeah, sure. Who’s going to believe you with that look on your face?”

“He’s really not…”

“Then when are you two going to start dating?”

Yuna didn’t answer, instead hesitating as she turned her gaze back toward the field.

Dohyun was high-fiving his teammates with a smile that could make anyone fall for him.

‘Why does he have to be so popular?’

A twinge of jealousy rose within her.

Every time the girls praised Dohyun, a strange feeling stirred in her heart.

‘Still… He really is amazing.’

Every time Dohyun got the ball, cheers erupted.

Wherever he went, the atmosphere seemed to change.

‘What does Kim Dohyun think of me…?’

Yuna couldn’t find an answer to her own question.

She just wanted to watch him shine from the closest spot possible.

And secretly, she hoped that light would be directed at her alone.

‘I’m in real trouble.’

***

The game was nearing its end.

Both teams were visibly exhausted.

The score was tied at 3:3.

Only two minutes remained.

Class A launched a final attack, putting pressure on Class B.

The defenders barely managed to clear the ball, and it rolled to a stop at my feet.

‘I really don’t want this to go into extra time.’

I immediately began dribbling forward.

Shaggy Cut and Class A’s midfielders tried to press me one last time, but their energy was completely drained.

With a slight feint to the left, I changed direction.

The opponent lost balance and fell.

Two defenders, visibly exhausted, rushed toward me.

I twisted my ankle slightly, nudging the ball to the side.

As their feet sliced through the air, I sprinted toward the penalty box.

The only thing left in front of me was the goalkeeper.

‘Stop me if you can.’

The goalkeeper stepped forward to narrow the angle.

Staying composed, I aimed for the corner of the goal with an instep kick.

Bang!

A thunderous sound echoed across the field.

The ball flew at incredible speed.

It grazed the goalkeeper’s fingertips and shook the net.

“Goal!! Kim Dohyun scores the winning goal at the last moment! This is unbelievable! Kim Dohyun saves Class B from the brink with a one-man show!”

The field erupted into cheers and shouts.

“Wooooaaaahhhhh!!!”

***

After the game ended, I walked toward the canopy.

The girls held towels in their hands, and soon they began gathering around me.

“Dohyun, here! Use this towel to wipe your sweat!”

“No, use mine! It’s softer!”

“Move aside, idiots! I was here first!”

They all shouted, pushing their towels toward me.

‘What am I, an idol? This is overwhelming.’

Keeping a nonchalant expression, I walked past them.

I could hear their disappointed sighs and groans behind me, but I didn’t have the time to pay attention.

I noticed Seo Yuna standing quietly by the canopy.

Unlike the noisy scene around her, she stood still, holding a small towel in her hand.

She simply stared at me absentmindedly.

I slowly approached her.

Yuna opened her mouth slightly as if to say something but remained silent.

Her awkward expression caught my attention.

I glanced at the towel in her hand.

Without a word, I gently took it from her.

“Thanks. I needed this.”

Yuna’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked at me.

She looked so adorable that I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Wiping the sweat off my face with the towel, I looked at her and said, “Why are you so surprised? Weren’t you planning to give it to me?”

“N-No, it’s not that…”

Yuna shook her head in a flustered manner.

Noticing her slightly flushed face, I couldn’t suppress my laughter.

“You waited here just to give me the towel, didn’t you?”

“T-That’s not true!”

Yuna waved her hands in denial, but her bright red face gave her away completely.

Leaning in slightly, I quietly said, “Hey.”

“Y-Yeah?”

“Next time, just hand it to me directly.”

Yuna jumped in surprise and lowered her head.

“I’m sorry…”

Her voice was soft, and I smiled lightly.

“There’s nothing to apologize for. Thanks for the towel.”

As I carefully folded the towel to return it to her, I paused and teased, “But it’s probably dirty now. Should I wash it and give it back?”

“N-No! It’s fine! Since you used it… it’s okay.”

Yuna hesitated before answering.

Nodding, I handed the towel back to her.

***

The sports day ended with Class B’s victory.

All the tension built up over the various events was finally released.

The wins in soccer and the three-legged race were particularly decisive.

The students hugged each other, cheering loudly, while our homeroom teacher, Jeonghwan, was so ecstatic he tried to toss me into the air.

I barely escaped.

‘Man, I’m exhausted.’

After all the events, our teacher grabbed the microphone.

“Everyone, you did a great job today. I can’t believe our class won.”

Jeonghwan smiled and added, “Especially, let’s give a round of applause to our ace, Kim Dohyun!”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

I felt my face heat up.

Sure, I did well, but this kind of attention was a bit much.

I looked around the field.

Everywhere, people were laughing and chatting about today’s games.

‘It’s nice to see.’

Jinyoung, looking thrilled, came over and patted my shoulder.

“Hey, you carried us today. But seriously, you should’ve let them toss you in the air.”

“No way.”

“You’re such a buzzkill. There’s no one else in the world who’d react like this after being MVP.”

“I’m the normal one.”

Yuna, who had been quietly listening, walked up and said softly, “You did great.”

I smiled faintly and replied, “Yeah. You too.”

Jinyoung glanced between us and joked, “Hey, what’s up with you two? Why’s the vibe so weird?”

And so, the sports day ended with laughter and a bit of excitement.