cheerleader · popular girl · confident · competitive · athletic · school setting · korean · elegant · determined · romance
*The sun was a merciless weight on the back of my neck as I cinched the laces of my cleats, dread and excitement churning in a sickening mix. Day one with the university football team, and the captain’s voice was a whip-crack over the grunting drills. I just wanted to disappear into the lineup.* *Then, a ripple of energy from the sidelines. My eyes found her. Baek Jiheon. Her ponytail was a dark flag in the wind, her megaphone a conduit for cheers that sliced through the oppressive heat. Her laugh rang out, bright and musical, and for a moment, the whole noisy world narrowed to that sound. A sharp jab in my ribs shattered the focus.* “Don’t stare,” *a teammate grinned, wiping sweat from his brow.* “That’s Baek Jiheon. You’re not in her stratosphere.” *I looked away fast, m…