Chapter 21:

Korean Ninja Warrior, Second Challenge

"You did amazing there." Ga Eul said, breaking the silence after that sudden embrace while going to their second challenge activity.

Yi Jung was surprised about her statement, knowing that he looks rather awful while doing the first course activity and that he took it longer than her to finish. He didn't mind it though, he was just plain happy with having the course finished without a scratch.

"I'll take that as a compliment" he said to her. He's not really sure whether she's making fun of him or if she really just means it.

"whatever you say then" was her only reply. She looked earnestly upon her map, seeing that their next destination was the muddy area and that "the pig challenge would be next" she said to him.

"great. First was a dirty, nasty pond and now, a mud. What could be the next one after that?" Yi Jung is now surely getting a bit off.

"Relax, no need for you to be angry." Ga Eul understands that he is just a bit worried over his self, that he might slipped or might lose his eye glasses. She's not too stupid to understand him that much.

"easy for you to say, since you're always hyped up with any physical activity" was all he managed to say.

Now, that rang a bell in Ga Eul's ears and stopped on the bottom of her feel, she didn't expected that coming.

"First of Yi Jung, I am honestly doing my best to somehow give you support as your partner, most especially that we're going to be partners for a year. But look you're making it worse-no, hard, hard for me, for us both to work together over things." Yi Jung also stopped by his feet and then stared instantly at her.

"I don't mean anything bad or wrong when I am talking to you. And let me get this straight, I always say the truth whenever I talk. Judge me all you want but I always do." She did felt a bit pissed off. She has been trying her best to reach out for him- most especially that they are partners and yet, it seemed like nothing is happening.

Yi Jung took a deep breath and explained his part "Look, I don't care of whatever things that you are saying or what you're going to say, I just don't. All I care about is t-"

"Yeah, I get it," she shoved her hand for emphasis of not wanting to continue the conversation with him anymore. "You just only care about yourself. Sorry for forgetting that part."

She didn't want to argue again with him over such pointless things, but he really is going beyond her limits already. It might really be pointless to make things good towards him.

She instantly went on her feet and walked in a faster pace. I just can't understand why I needed to be partners with him.

Inside, Yi Jung felt like he was struck by a sharp knife. Whatever that is that she had just said, well it really hurt him bad.

I… I am being selfish? Neither him didn't want to argue pointless things with her, most especially that he is stuck with her and can't do anything about it.

If I needed to work things properly, then I better be in good terms with her- whether I like it or not. He tried to pursue her, but they were already in their second course and are the only pair who is in there to do the said activity.

"no way," muttered Yi Jung

"Sir, how come we're the only one here?" Ga Eul asked nicely towards the man who seemed to be the guide the course.

"Well, I guess the other pairs are having some difficulties in the other courses, I guess. I already had 4 pairs here, and they managed to finish the activity for more or less 5 minutes each" said the guide to them.

"so then, enough with this conversation and let's start with the activity challenge" the guide continued. He does looked a bit bored and seemed to be in a hurry, as though he would go somewhere anytime soon. He heard a faint 'okay' from the pair in front of him and prepared his pigs in the pen.

Ga Eul was deadly quiet. She just grew tired of reaching out towards Yi Jung and she is no longer thinking of doing the activity challenges together with him. If only I could finish this on my own, she told herself. She did not even dared looking back to his eyes and see how he's doing. She then fixed a few strands of her hair, checked her rubber shoes and fixed her shirt.

I think I've pushed her to far this time. Yi Jung can't even tell whether she's still mad at him. For some reason, she's not looking annoyed, but rather looking as if no fight had happened between them. Seeing that she is preparing herself for the activity course, he decided to prepare well himself too.

He fixed his eye glasses and tucked in his shirt. He even double-tied his shoe laces so that it won't loosed up that fast. He eyes the muddy pen which is in size of a kiddie pool with 6 pigs in the middle of it. Realizing of not knowing the rules and mechanics yet, he decided to ask the guide directly and not to Ga Eul. He fears that might just look ridiculous in not getting any response from her.

"Say sir, what should we actually do with those pigs of yours?" he asked kindly. The guide poured a pail of water towards the pigs as the poor animals squawked in fear and of the cold of water.

"Hey," Ga Eul suddenly bursted out on the top her lungs. "you don't need to do that to them. They're feeling cold because of the water" she cannot just afford to see poor animals being mistreated right in front of her.

"I never thought that you were once a pig before miss. It's amazing how you can understand how they are feeling where in fact, I am just giving them a bath." He even let out a series of laughter to her. "

As if," Ga Eul quietly whimpered to herself, not wanting to also start another pointless argument over someone who wouldn't even understand. "you are just trying to liquefy the mud so that it'll immediately go to us." She stared at the ground, feeling rather down. I even thought I'd enjoy myself here. She let out a deep sighed before trying to focus on what to do.

Yi Jung suddenly touched her wrist and caught Ga Eul off-guard. She immediately looked at the owner of the hand that was holding her wrist.

"Wha-"

"Don't mind him. We'll show him that we can finish this course fast. Then you can go and tell him that he don't have the right to do that to the pigs again." He gathered all the bravery that he could get in order to say that into her.

Ga Eul didn't expected that he could understand what she is feeling at the moment. It even confused her even more. But Yi Jung is right. Maybe if they could show him that the course is nothing to them, then can boss around him even for a bit.

She let out a nod in agreement as he let go of her wrist, understanding what he means.

"Okay love birds, you are needed to catch all 6 pigs here. I don't care how you're going to do it, as long as you catch them within 5 minutes. Other pairs caught them by having 3 pigs each, while there is this other pair where the girl even caught 4 pigs and the boy caught 2. Once 5 minutes is over and you're not yet done catching them, you'll receive plus minutes for your over all time count as a pair. Got that?"

"yeah wait." Yi Jung butted in.

"What now son?" Yi Jung raised a brow once he herd he just called him son.

"Are we allowed to go together inside the pen, or do we need to take turns?" Ga Eul immediately looked at him, wondering what he is trying to imply all of a sudden right after having a little argument with her for the past 15 minutes.

"Ah yeah, like I said, I don't care as long as you catch them."

"Even if we do harsh things towards them?" Now it's Ga Eul's turn to butt in. "Like kicking or hitting them just to catch them?"

"yes little missy. Now run along now and play with your mates."

Ga Eul's brows met in disappointment towards what kind of answer she just received. This guy is definitely going to say wow to me after I catch those little piggies.

"wait," Yi Jung started. Somehow, the guide seems to be annoyed and wanted to get rid of them as fast as he can. "can we catch them together or we need to take turns?"

Right. Ga Eul didn't thought of that, good thing he asked that.

"Like I told you, I don't care as long as you catch them. Any more questions?"

Yi Jung took a glance at Ga Eul, actually waiting for some plan or any form of preparations before doing the second course.

"maybe we can go one after the other? Like once who ever goes first then caught a pig, the other will get have the turn to catch then so that the first can even rest for a while, I doubt that we can catch them that fast." Ga Eul then turned to look at the 6 pigs playing in the mud. They are in the same size like some normal puppies.

Yi Jung was relieved to have some good feedback from after their quick argument just 30 minutes ago. At least, she is the type of person who has anger management.

"Alright then, but who goes first?" he finally answered her.

"maybe, ladies goes first again?" She stared at him, waiting for an answer, then suddenly broke into a smile then giggled. He may not fully understand why she laughed at him so sudden, maybe because that they both remembered what he said during their first course of challenge activity but he sure is that he did broke into a small laugh too with her.

"yeah maybe, but do you want to go first?" he asked nicely. He didn't want to argue with her anymore, besides, keep your enemies close right?

"Well, do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Do you want me to go first?"

"if you wanted too. They seemed friendly enough anyway." Then they both looked at the pigs once again.

Ga Eul placed her hand in her chin, looking rather thinking intelligently for an answer. Finally, she placed her hands down and have them crossed in front of her.

"Well, I go first then."

By the time Yi Jung made a response, the guide then asked them again. "

Are you love birds already done talking? We're taking too much time here and there are other 2 pairs coming this way already and you're still here." He made a frown then went back to his seat and took out his timer.

The pair did look out towards the other 2 pairs approaching their direction and felt that they do are already taking too much time and should be going already. Still, the words 'love birds' that has been called for them did made Yi Jung feel a little shaky, he is not used being called in a 'sweet' and 'different' way.

"Alright, alright. I'll be the first one to go." Ga Eul said as she approached the pig pen.

Yi Jung is torn in saying good luck to her, feeling that it is not proper for him to wish her that since they usually get into fights but also feel like he should since they are partners in anyway.

The guide immediately started the timer as Ga Eul tries to calm down the piggies, raising her hand as if she wanted to hug them. As one of the pig approach her, she tried slowly to touch its snout.

"Okay piggy, nice piggy," she tries to touch the snout of the pig as it squeals, making Ga Eul smile. As the pig tried to smell her hand, she slowly raised her hands, "Now come and hug me!" and immediately gave the pig a nice bear hug.

Once she have caught the pig, she made no possibility for the pig to get out of her tight embrace even it tried with all its might to get out. Luckily, the pig's struggle is not painful enough for her to let go. "Now now mr. pig, behave okay?" as she tried to pat the pig to calm it down.

Yi Jung has observed her strategy of catching the animal and thought of another good way for him to catch one too. As she immediately went out of the pen, Yi Jung immediately enters and tried with all his might to catch another one. He was able to observe the strategy of Ga Eul, but he was not able to even formulate his own while she is busy inside the muddy and nasty pen.

"Wow, Ga Eul still looks pretty even if she got her entire self covered in mud!." Yi Jung was surprised to hear such comment, and saw that it came from Jun Ho.

Yi Jung turned to his gaze to the now smiling Ga Eul and her newly caught piggy. He is surprised to see that what Jun Ho is saying is true, that she does looks still cute and pretty even if she is covered in mud. He have never seen any girl before who looked this pretty before, even if they should be really look horrible with mud on them. But her, she's different. She's naturally beautiful. His heart is pounding real hard in his chest, and he can't do anything to stop and can't understand why. He was just looking at her that's all!

Then, he saw her stepped out of the muddy pen and came back to reality and have forgotten to plan for a great strategic way to catch a pig.

Guess I don't have any choice then but to ran after those pigs until I catch them. He felt devastated for not being able to come up with a strategic plan for him not to look bad in catching a pig. But it's too late now, and it's his turn to catch a pig.

He saw Ga Eul talked to the pig that she just caught. She even laughed as the pig squeaked at her, feeling as though that it responds to her. Seeing that, a peaceful smile was formed in the face of Yi Jung. He did not know why, but he find it 'cute' and funny that the pig enjoys Ga Eul's presence.

"Stop smiling out there boy and keep your butt moving here so the others can have their turns next." Yi Jung's gaze immediately turned to that guide, and felt ashamed being scolded that way in front of the others, most especially in front of Ga Eul's. He never wanted to show weakness to a person who plans on taking down his throne, and that consider today's very task. If he failed, Ga Eul has a better chance of receiving a higher grade than him, and he might no longer be the top A-lister of his class. She even turned her gaze towards him with the pig, making him feel more nervous than focused.

"Alright, here goes nothing." He jogged first into the pen and tried to spot for a pig that seems easy to catch. Very randomly, he luckily saw one which has a violet spot by its' leg. He does not remove his eye glasses, no longer caring if it gets dirty or lost. All he needed to do catch one stinky pig too. He taught of cornering the pig, and so he did. But still, he was not fast enough to catch the pig as it ran quickly by his leg and in return, had his face landed directly into the mud. Ga Eul was surprised of what she saw, and felt the need to support her partner.

"Go Yi Jung! You can catch that pig!" Ga Eul cheered. He quickly got up by his feet and removed the mud by his hand. Lucky enough, he did not swallow a few mud nor had it in his mouth. He took a quick glance of Ga Eul, and saw a worried expression drawn in her face. He didn't expect that coming, he was expecting for her to do the opposite where she will pretend that she cheers for him and smiles wickedly instead of worriedly. He didn't know how to react to that to be honest to himself.

He took another step of courage and hope of catching the pig. He planned on cornering it again and catch it quickly as he can as it tries to escape. Ga Eul keeps on cheering for him, giving him somehow the 'support' and encouragement that he denies that he needed but he actually do.

But cornering the pig was not easy enough. He took 7 minutes just to corner the pig, but to his happiness, he was able to catch it finally. He did still struggle though at first, managing to catch the poor pig by only one hand as he tried to hang on by the other leg of the pig and finally catching it with both hands. The pig squealed endlessly on his hands, and decided to let it go once the timer has been cut off.

"I know you can catch the pig." Ga Eul suddenly crept up behind him, giving him a surprised face once she had said those words. He never thought that she would say such comforting words towards him. Maybe because they are partners after all and needed to boost him up in order to move on to the next course. She then let go of the pig, as it looked up to her before walking back to the pen.

Yi Jung said nothing but nodded to her. He still feels a bit shy since he performed poorly than her. Well, he did expected that after all anyway.

Ga Eul let out her handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to Yi Jung as he just looked at it dumbly. He then looked at her and instead gave him a warm grin.

Since he is not taking it from her hand, she rolled her eyes, and approached him instantly and cleaned his muddy face.

"What I meant is to clean your face and wipe off these mud off your face" she let out a giggle and smiled as she cleans the face of Yi Jung.

He was so surprised of what Ga Eul was doing to him that he was not able to move any muscle of his body and looked at her instead. The only thing that he knows moving is his heart, furiously bumping and will soon get out of his chest. This the second time that she showed such caring act, the first one when he cut of his finger and bleed. This time, she is inches closer in front of him, and he feels his skin getting warm and hot. He is so not used to this kind of things, and it's getting out of hand, most especially he got a girl as a partner for a year.

"are you okay?" Ga Eul asked wide eyed as she felt him shaking.

He did felt his self-shaking, maybe because of the cold mud, or the fact that he can no longer take the sweet act of hers? But maybe looking at those cute, sweet and concerned eyes of hers made him shiver since he never saw such eyes with great beauty and didn't know how to react.

Sucks. I've been using the word 'cute' to describe her all the time today. He frowned, and took the yellow handkerchief from Ga Eul's soft hand that he did noted. "I can clean myself." And started wiping off his glasses first.

Ga Eul was surprised of the sudden move that he did, and frowned. Well, she is used of her partner being stubborn and smiled to herself instead. He does look like a cute baby being shown by his mother how to take care of himself. She looked at the map and find that the next course to finish is the "river challenge" which is in the foot of the water fall.

Ga Eul raised her head and her eyes instantly looked for her stubborn partner- who is right in front of her, holding her yellow handkerchief, raising it in front of her very own eyes.

Grabbing her yellow handkerchief, he muttered a quick 'thanks' as his eyes immediately focused somewhere else. A faint smile was made as he turned his back on her. "just exactly where are you going, mister?" Ga Eul teasingly asked him.

Yi Jung stopped by his feet and turned around to face. Stupidity 101. He sure does not yet know where exactly is their next activity. Looking at her as though he is looking for an answer already but actually did not received, looking rather confused about the way he looks towards her. He closed his eyes and sighed, "where is the next one?"

Ga Eul was dumbfounded and was surprised as he asked her, "oh, at the river."

Not making any move from any of them, Ga Eul started to catch by his side and walked together towards their next destination.

NOTE: Seriously you guys. This part of the story is rather quite long to finish. In the good side, I am still continuing and your continuous support is keeping me going and feeling determined to finish this. Also, I can see Jun Ho as a competitor for Kim Bum for Kim So Eun's, so I used his name here and please do wait for his role soon. I'll make it more interesting. Heck heck! I hope I don't fail you guys. Review is most welcome!

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