Get it Together, Taesan! ? han dongmin

chapter ix

And Minji? She wasn't sure what was happening.

All she knew was: she didn't hate it.

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It started casually.

Minji had no idea why she agreed. Maybe it was the way Leehan asked, or maybe it was the way he smiled, half-teasing, half-sincere.

"You can come if you want," he'd said, tossing his gym bag over his shoulder. "It's probably boring. Lots of sweaty yelling and spinning kicks."

Minji blinked. "So basically a normal school day, but with less algebra?"

"Exactly."

And somehow, that turned into a routine.

TAEKWONDO DOJO – LATE AFTERNOON

Minji sat cross-legged on the gym floor, watching Leehan go through the motions with his class. His form was clean, confident, precise—and lowkey kind of... hot.

She told herself she was watching for educational purposes. Definitely not admiring the way his hair stuck to his forehead or how intense his eyes looked when he focused.

When he bowed to his partner, he glanced over at her and gave a tiny nod.

Minji pretended not to melt.

After class, he threw a towel at her.

"Judge my form?"

She caught it, sniffed it, then recoiled. "Judging your hygiene, actually."

"Fair."

SWIMMING PRACTICE – EARLY EVENING

Minji waited poolside, sneakers swinging off the edge as she watched him dive in with barely a splash. The other swimmers ignored her, but Leehan always glanced up every few laps, like he was checking if she was still there.

He pulled himself out of the water during break, water dripping off his hair, chest rising with fast breaths. He grabbed his water bottle and plopped down next to her, still dripping.

"You good?" he asked, cheeks flushed.

"I'm good," she said, avoiding eye contact. "Are you trying to become Aquaman or something?"

He shrugged. "Just trying not to drown."

"...you're literally the best one here."

Leehan turned to her. "You think so?"

Minji blinked. "Don't make me say it twice."

( Asha later: "So you're just watching this man throw spinning kicks and climb out of pools and still claiming you're not into him?"

Minji: throws pillow "HE'S JUST ATHLETIC OKAY." )

After practice, Leehan slung his soaked gym bag over one shoulder and squinted toward the sky.

"I should drop this off at home," he said. "It smells like chlorine and regret."

Minji chuckled, nudging his arm. "Fine. But I'm not stepping inside. I might die from the scent."

"Fair warning. If I don't make it back in two minutes, avenge me."

She watched him disappear into his house, then turned on her heel without thinking and began walking away—slowly at first, then quicker. Her heart beat weirdly. She didn't know why.

She just... needed to go.

She was a few houses down when she heard quick footsteps behind her.

"Hey!" Leehan called, slightly breathless, jogging up beside her. "You just ditched me?"

"I wasn't ditching," she said, too quickly. "I was... strolling."

"In the opposite direction?"

"Strolling with mystery."

He grinned. "Right."

They walked in silence for a moment, the streetlight casting soft shadows on their faces. Then—

Minji slowed.

So did Leehan.

Taesan's house loomed quietly to their right, the porch light glowing like it always did. A pair of shoes sat neatly outside. The curtain on the second-floor window twitched.

She didn't look up.

Leehan noticed though. His gaze flickered toward the window, then back to her. He didn't say anything.

Minji kept walking.

So did he.

And behind them, the faintest shape watched through the glass.

( Asha's Daily Wise Words: "Girl. You passed his house. You're a masochist. And, don't tell me you're still not into Leehan. It's okay to change crushes every once in a while." )

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( author's note )

i added a new thing to the chapters now, called "Asha's Daily Wise Words." i hope you enjoy it and find it fun as much as i do <33