The academy buzzed with excitement as students gathered in the main hall, decorated with colorful ribbons and banners announcing "Academy Gifts Day." The air smelled faintly of incense and polished wood, mixed with the sharp tang of anticipation. Today, everyone would pick a name at random and exchange gifts with their assigned partner a simple tradition, yet enough to stir rivalries, crushes, and competitive tension in equal measure.
Coach Kang stood at the podium, his voice booming across the hall. "Remember, this is a day of goodwill and camaraderie. Choose thoughtfully, and give from the heart. Now, begin."
Students shuffled forward, dipping hands into the basket filled with folded slips of paper. Soon Hae's pulse raced as she stepped up, fingers brushing against countless slips before she drew one out. She unfolded it with care and froze.
"Lu Han"
Her eyes widened. The slip trembled slightly in her hands. Across the room, Lu Han's dark eyes met hers briefly, expression unreadable but with a faint lift at the corner of his mouth.
"Seriously?" Soon Hae muttered under her breath, trying not to draw attention. Her mind raced: What could she possibly give him? He was skilled, serious, and impossible to impress.
Before she could react further, a sharp voice cut through her panic. "Oh, how… convenient," Kim Nana said, stepping forward with a fake sweet smile. Her eyes were fixed on Soon Hae, sparkling with barely contained irritation. "Looks like you got the one person who actually matters around here."
Fang Yu snickered from nearby. "This is going to be interesting," he murmured, leaning toward Bai Cao, who simply shook her head. "Soon Hae's going to survive or crash spectacularly. Either way, entertainment."
Soon Hae, cheeks burning, ignored the whispers and began brainstorming. She didn't have much money, but she knew enough to make something personal. Something that reflected her own determination, her struggles, and maybe… a hint of her playful clumsy personality.
By the end of the day, all gifts had been prepared, wrapped, or otherwise presented. Students paired up, laughter and chatter filling the hall. Soon Hae approached Lu Han, who was standing with his usual calm, seriousness, the gift in her hands trembling slightly.
"I… um…" she stammered, holding out a small box she had painstakingly decorated. "This is… for you."
Lu Han tilted his head slightly, taking the box with one hand, his other hand resting casually at his side. "Hm," he said softly, examining the wrapping. "You made this yourself?"
"Yes," she admitted, glancing down at her feet. "I… I wanted it to… show effort." Her voice was barely above a whisper.
For a moment, Lu Han simply stared at the gift, then gave the slightest nod. "Effort is noticed," he said, his tone serious but not unkind. "Thank you."
Soon Hae's heart lurched. That small acknowledgment so simple yet so rare made her feel both embarrassed and proud. She straightened slightly, inhaling sharply, trying to hide the warmth spreading across her face.
Kim Nana, however, did not hide her fury. She strode over, face tight with anger, voice sharp. "How dare you? That's my spot!" she hissed at Soon Hae, her tone a mixture of jealousy and disbelief. "Lu Han was supposed to be mine! Not some clumsy rabbit who can barely keep her balance!"
Fang Yu let out a low laugh from the sidelines. "She called herself clumsy; the nickname seems to be sticking."
Bai Cao sighed. "Focus on the gifts. Don't get caught in her drama," he said quietly, eyeing the growing tension.
Lu Han, shocked by the outburst, simply opened the gift slowly. Inside was a hand crafted charm, delicate yet carefully detailed a small boxing emblem, symbolizing his zeal and determined spirit. It was clearly made with time, effort, and thought.
He glanced up at her, expression calm, a faint shadow of amusement in his dark eyes. "You're… persistent, aren't you?"
Soon Hae felt heat rush to her cheeks. "I… I try," she mumbled.
The hall seemed to freeze for a second, the tension from Kim Nana's anger and the surprise of the gift creating a strange, fragile bubble around them.
Kim Nana's face contorted further. "You ...this is ridiculous! A boxing charm? You're embarrassing yourself!" She stomped away in frustration, whispering angrily to herself.
Despite the chaos, a small crowd of juniors whispered excitedly among themselves, many of them glancing at Soon Hae with admiration. The "clumsy rabbit" had somehow managed to hold her ground and even earn a small nod from the academy's most skilled fighter.
As the rest of the students exchanged gifts, Soon Hae felt a small thrill. For once, her effort, her personality, and her determination had been acknowledged—not mocked or dismissed.
Later that evening, as she walked home with Fang Yu and Bai Cao trailing behind, she allowed herself a quiet moment of pride. "I can't believe I actually got Lu Han," she admitted softly. "And he… he didn't even laugh at my gift."
Fang Yu grinned, nudging her gently. "That's huge. Most people would've ignored it or thrown it away. You actually made an impression."
Bai Cao added, more seriously, "It's not just the gift. It's your determination. You're starting to show the real side of yourself, not just the clumsy stuff everyone expects."
Soon Hae smiled faintly, glancing at the rabbit charm she had placed in her bag carefully. Maybe, just maybe, she was starting to step out of the shadow of her nickname and maybe even into Lu Han's notice.
But she knew Kim Nana wouldn't let it slide. The jealousy, the anger it was a storm brewing in the academy, and Soon Hae realized she need more than determination to survive the next wave.
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