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Hara swept her opponent in minutes, knocking him down hard on the blue mat.
She pushed back her short hair, damp from sweat. Getting it cut might've been the best decision she had ever made in her life.
Even though the tight ponytail was practical in keeping hair out of her face during practice, it became steadily obvious that Judo was a sport that clung firmly, no matter how much she attempted to shake it off.
Freeing her head from the extra weight with a temporary action for an unfaltering goal proved something to her. Judo wasn’t just a hobby she could get lost in; it was her life.
Her mom reacted like she earned a lifetime sentence in prison.
Dad’s reaction was…interesting. More or less. He did sneak a thumbs up when her mom’s back was turned as she wailed out sobs. That was at least something.
Her opponent looked up at her with his mouth hanging open. She smiled and reached down, hauling him to his feet. They bowed, complimenting each other in good nature, though Hara suspected he was trying to hide his embarrassment.
She watched him hurry away and sighed.
Before she turned to gather her things, the most beautiful words graced her ears after two restless hours of playing: “Hara, I brought food!”
Minju delivering after-school snacks was a new tradition she accepted with open arms. Her dad would trust a boxed lunch to her (which at first he was hesitant about after the last incident) and Minju would stroll around to the gym and call out to her.
Then they would sit on the bench pushed to the sidelines and talk about whatever popped into their minds. By then, most members would have shuffled out back to their dorms. So they were free to talk as loudly as they wanted.
More often than not, when she opened the box, she would also find an extra bag of chips or special sweets alongside the food.
This time, a nice box of chocolates greeted her through the transparent plastic.
“Is he new?” Minju asked while she slid over the boxed foods between them.
“...Who?”
She turned her head and pointed in the direction of the dark-haired boy Hara had taken down a few minutes ago.
“Oh!” She lowered the fork from her mouth. So close, yet so far. “Yeah. He’s one of our newest members. The Judo club has been getting a lot of publicity lately, and it seems like more and more people keep flooding in every day.”
“Wow, Judo sure is getting more popular lately.” She smiled. “You must be setting a good example, Hara.”
She flushed and rubbed the back of her neck. “Nah, it’s always been a popular sport at this school.”
Minju nodded. “I guess so…one of the reasons my mom wanted me to come here was because of the coaches. But by then I had already lost interest. Oh well.”
“You know Judo?” she asked. Although the food in her mouth made it come out sounding more like, “Moono Jufo?”
To which Minju casually shrugged with a smirk. “Yeah, I picked up a few things.”
“Really?” She smiled because, somehow, from all of their conversations, the topic never seemed to come up. Until now.
But it obviously meant that Hara had to challenge her to a fight right then, right now, to test just how far her knowledge went.
“Won’t back down from a fight,” Minju replied, sliding off the bench and onto the blue mat with a determined look.
Hara stretched, standing tall on the mat while she reached her right arm across her chest, placing her left hand on her right elbow. She gently pulled her right arm while Minju followed similar shoulder stretches.
Minju jumped in place a few times, getting the blood flowing. “Ready?”
“I was the one who challenged you,” Hara answered.
They both bowed, heads dipping low. “I’ll go easy on you.” Hara lifted her head and examined Minju’s clothing as she said that. Cami top and blue jeans: not exactly the ideal Judo wear, but it would have to do. Adrenaline was running, and Hara itched to see just how well Minju would test her expectations.
“You don’t have to worry about that,” Minju taunted as they breathed out their final moments as friends. “As will I.”
On the blue mat, when they stepped into beginning positions, all was fair in love and Judo.
Hara started with one hand high on Minju’s shoulder, the other hand lower, around her opposite elbow. Then she kicked from the inside, snaking her leg around the back of her knee.
The contact caused Minju’s body to go off-balance. Like a dance, Hara moved forward, and she moved back as a response. She advanced once more, and when Minju’s foot remained unstable, her left leg in the air, Minju had no option but to move back.
The ideal position was set. She made the same foot circle back around and behind the opposite leg. With that, she was pushed more unevenly balanced, making the opportunity for the takedown shine brighter.
The hand position was a tricky thing for the next move, and as long as her hands were in place, she retained control. Since Minju wasn’t wearing a gi, the places Hara could hold tight were limited. It was technically a disadvantage on her end. Even though it was not too late to reverse the odds.
In the end, it was Hara who pinned Minju down after a throw over the shoulder.
She laughed and pushed to her feet, still pink in the cheeks. She pouted, but the edges of her lips curved into a soft smile. “Best of three?”
Hara nodded.
Minju went after her first, taking her leg around the other’s ankle with one foot. Hara staggered but didn’t fall, yelping as she regained her balance with her grip on Minju’s sleeves.
But then a hand grabbed Hara’s sleeve with the other high around her neck before she could blink. They’d never fought before. Hara didn’t know who she was up against. Most of this play-fighting was so Hara could understand what she was getting into.
Minju’s ability to be quick with her movements proved to be an advantage.
She charged at Hara, who teetered on the mat, trying to keep her other leg grounded. But as Minju pushed, she attacked the weak leg. Hara was able to withstand the charge for a few minutes before a leg swept under her, sending her to the ground.
“You need a break?” Minju asked.
She shook her head, taking Minju’s outstretched hand. “No thanks. I’ve got you figured out now.”
Hara enjoyed Judo for a multitude of reasons. There was, of course, the physical aspect of it. The guarantee of takedowns and slams at every practice. Through a mix of throws, holds, and ground techniques, it coursed in her veins.
But there was also something about Judo. She didn’t really have to force anything. The throws were like magic when she hit them right, and it was satisfying to see her mind adapt to the opponents before the final slam.
Hara enjoyed Judo even more when she found another opponent unwilling to go without a fight.
The only way to beat someone fast like Minju; be even faster.
Her right foot moved up to sweep her right foot to the opposite side. With a swift movement, she pushed her foot out from the inside. Reactionarily, once she swept her foot back, Minju was forced to take a step back, leaving her right side back.
It was a rookie mistake that Hara used to make countless of times. On the other hand, she took full advantage of the fact that she was left exposed.
Hara turned Minju to the right and, using her right foot, swiped at her parallel leg with the turn. The action allowed her to turn herself carefully, and move her right hip into Minju and throw her down, slamming to the mat.
She laughed as she knelt. “I guess I win, huh?” But it came out airy and shaky, so she paused to catch her breath. Minju didn’t move from under her, didn’t even squirm as she similarly took in air.
They stayed like that for a moment. In their little bubble, breathing in each other’s personal spaces.
”You gonna let me go?” Minju asked under her.
“I’m thinking about it…”
When Minju gently pushed against Hara’s shoulder, she allowed herself to be moved.
“Hara,” Minju started when they sat up, “you’re popular with girls, aren’t you?”
She blinked. ”What are you saying?”
The girl innocently turned her head to the side. “A lot of girls and boys like you. You must’ve noticed it recently.”
“I guess that’s true.” She shrugged. Minju was an interesting type of person. Normally, her type would have been hard to get along with. It was easy at first because they had Marie act as a middle ground between them.
Even though they had gotten much closer, her boy-talk and general bluntness over topics made her pause.
“But even if people like me…it’s not like I’m looking to date anytime soon. I have Judo obviously, and my mom would freak if anything else pulled me from my studies,” she cringed at the idea. “A boyfriend wouldn’t be any good.”
“What about a girlfriend then?”
She quickly turned at that.
Minju smiled, clearly amused. “If you don’t want a boyfriend, then how would you feel about a girlfriend.”
Hara blushed. She averted her eyes from the girl, darting them from the mat to the ceiling and then the bleachers. “I guess that would be, um, better.”
”Really?” Minju leaned in closer at the news.
“What the heck are you getting at?” She snapped. “I thought you were busy chasing around Haejoon or something like that.”
“I think he got a little scared,” Minju admitted.
‘Only a little?’
“I think Juwan has a little crush on him anyway. Even if he won’t admit. I’m just going to back off from now.” She looked directly at Hara. “We’ve been getting closer though, yeah? Haejoon’s cool, but there’s something about you that I like even more.”
Again, that heavy bluntness she didn’t know how to handle. Her mouth went dry and all ability to speak died on her tongue.
Minju gave a nice dramatic pause before flashing a mischievous smirk. “Do you have feelings for anyone at school?”
“Minju,” Hara frowned. “I haven’t had a lot of time to think about things like that.”
“So, you really haven’t thought about going out with anyone?” she asked, and if Hara wasn’t going crazy, with a hint of disappointment.
She felt her face heat up from embarrassment. She tried to convince herself that it was because of the fact they went through three rounds of Judo, but the thumping of her heart didn’t feel like how it usually did after practice.
She rubbed the back of her neck. “I guess there’s been…one person.”
Minju’s eyes lit up. “A girl?”
A hesitant nod.
Her smile widened.
“She’s around 167 cm tall…has really nice hair that’s usually tied…and she’s pretty popular with an outgoing personality.” Hara swallowed what was left of her dignity. “And she’s the head of the Broadcasting Club.”
“Wow.” Minju stared at her for a beat. “She sounds like a really cool person! I’ll be cheering you guys on!”
Hara almost depleted.
Thankfully, Minju laughed and shook her head. Oh, her heart thumped, she was joking.
With every last bit of caution, Hara moved to close the remaining gap between herself and Minju.
It took her a second to realize when she started leaning in.
It took her two to realize Minju was leaning in as well.
They looked into each other’s eyes and Hara lingered to her lips and back to her face. Then they nodded, and in a snap, Hara’s lips were on Minju’s.
She was soft. That was the first thing Hara noticed about Minju. It didn’t surprise her as in between hangouts, she would always reapply strawberry lip balm. But what did surprise was the fact that she could still clearly taste it.
They let themselves melt into this kiss, and it feels so nice. Warmth fluttering in them with their eyes closed and blindly guided by the fact that they both wanted this, this delicate sweetness.
Minju weaved her fingers through her hair. It was gentle but it still caught her off guard. Shocked by the touch, Hara pulled away.
“It suits you,” she said.
”Yeah?”
She rubbed a curl against her fingertips. “Feels good to play with while kissing.”
Hara was definitely going to text Juwan everything later.
Hara:
I guess I have a girlfriend now. Heehee~
Juwan:
Oh my gosh~
Juwan:
Who is it? Tell me!
Hara:
Minju…
Juwan:
…
Juwan:
WHAT
Juwan:
Hara Kang you’re coming over to my house right now what the fuck
Juwan:
I SEE YOU READING MY TEXTS PLEASE
Juwan:
I just wanna get the details T-T
Juwan:
HARAAAAAAA
Hara:
Hold on, hold on. I’m still getting my shoes on!
Hara:
Get out those really good chips you have
Juwan:
Aye aye Captain