Neighbourhood Flowers - Chapter 18

Juhwan walked towards the shooting club office before seeing a woman in maroon trench coat standing in front of the club, blankly staring at the entrance.

"Kang Sora.." he calls her. Not sure if that is really Kang Sora or just another of his imagination again.

Sora turned and looked at him. "Lim Juhwan.." She tucks her long hair behind her ears and smiles.

Juhwan smiles back and walk nearer towards her. "The news that you've come back is true then.."

"I am.. safe and sound." She said knowing the answer to everybody's question. "What are you doing here?" She asked.

"What about you?" He asked back. This is the place she last visited before she disappeared for 2 weeks. The place he least expected to see her again.

Sora look back at the building. "Wanted to try holding some guns.." she replied after pausing for quite a while.

"After what had happened? I don't think it's the right idea though.." Juhwan frowned.

Sora smiled to him. "Can you teach me?"

"What if what had happened before, happened again?"

"I have you with me.." naively she smiled not knowing how much that words are making Juhwan's heart beating hard.

"Ae.. arasso.." he stammered.

* * *

"Put your feet firm on the ground and aim to your target." Juhwan is teaching Sora step by step to shooting posture before handing her a real gun for her to hold.

Sora look at it for a while before decided to take it from Juhwan's hand.

Juhwan caught her shaking hand and looked at her. "You're shaking again. Are you sure you can do this?" Sora seems fear of something. Something that he does not know.

Sora put down the gun as she sharply staring at her own hand. She seems to have no control over it no matter how hard she tried.

"Here, let’s do this again..” Juhwan picks up the gun and give it to Sora again. “This is unloaded.." he added.

Sora nodded as she took a deep breath before taking the shotgun from Juhwan's hand. Trying hard to control her hands from shaking.

"That’s a good start.." Juhwan smiled before turning Sora's body facing the target.

"Aim that projectile.." he pointed it out as he stands close behind her. "When you shout GO! they will release a pallet. You must anticipate it’s motion and shoot as they’re moving.”

Sora chuckles. "It feels like learning physics.." trying to make a joke even though Juhwan is not replying to it. He seems so strict when it comes to shooting. His passion.

"This butt.."

Sora looked at him, surprised. "Did you just swear at me?"

He chuckles. "This part of shotgun handle, we call it a butt.. it’s the part that hold against your shoulder when shooting."

"Ahh.." Sora's biting her lips.

"You must hold this against your shoulder." He looks at Sora's posture and corrected it. "Make sure to stand your feet firm or else you'll lose your ground when it recoils."

"Will it hurt?" She asked.

"It will.. but the jacket will lessen the impact." Referring to a special jacket that is equipped with a shoulder pad for shooting purpose.

"Most important thing is to stand your ground firmly.." He added.

Sora nodded as she practiced with the posture again. "I'm not shaking anymore.." she said while looking at her hands.

Juhwan nodded. "It’s too early to say that.." He turned her facing the target and help to load her gun from the back. Close enough to smell of her Lilac shampoo. He thought to himself.

"Are we practicing with the real bullet now?" Sora asked as she started to feel that her hand is trembling again.

Juhwan hold her hand noticing it. "Relax. You'll do just fine.." he whispered near to her ears.

Sora looked at Juhwan as she squints her eyes over the unnecessary action he just done.

She looked at the range again and took a deep breath trying to find her inner strength.

"Aim to the projectile." Juhwan said before he took a pair of earplugs and put it in Sora ears.

Sora nodded as she firmly stands on her feet and started aiming the target. Trying hard to maintain her composure and fighting her fear. Getting ready to shoot her very first bullet.

"Go!" She shouts and a pair of pallets shoot out from the projectiles.

Sora moved her gun together with the motion and bang! She managed to shoot down one out of two.

She looked at the blown-up pieces and again the images of that days came to her mind.

She put down the shotgun and closes her eyes. Her hands and her body started to tremble again but not as worst.

"Are you okay?" Juhwan asked as he put aside the gun and turns her facing him, assessing her condition whether to stop or to continue.

Sora walk to the bench and take a sit to calm herself down.

"Do you need some water?" He asked.

Sora nodded as she is trying to regulate her breathing again. That is what Woobin has thought her to overcome any trauma and panic attack.

After a few while Juhwan came back with a bottle of cold mineral water. "Drink slowly.." Juhwan worries.

Sora looked at him and eventually smiles. "Thank you, Lim Juhwan.."

Juhwan took a seat beside her. "Are you okay now?" He cupped her hands. "It has stopped shaking.." seems that she overcomes it fast compared to last time.

Sora surprised with his gesture and pulled her hand. "I’m getting better.." She avoids Juhwan's eyes and look at the shooting range.

Juhwan keep his hand back and stay silent for a few whiles. The environment suddenly turned a bit awkward.

"So you are here.." Woobin came to the shooting range to find her together with some other guy that he is not being introduced yet.

Sora looked at Woobin surprised. "How do you know I'm here? You've learnt about this campus fast!" she replied.

Juhwan looked at that good-looking guy that just came in, someone that Sora seems to know well. "You are?"

"He's my master's son. Kim Woobin.. Woobin shhi this is Lim Juhwan.." she replied on behalf.

Woobin extended his arms towards Juhwan. "Nice meeting you.."

"You too.." Juhwan replied as he stole a glance at Sora with her bubbly self-back. Not like how they are being awkward with each other a few moments ago.

"Are you done exploring the campus?" She asked as she got up from her seat.

"Yup.." Woobin replied. short.

Sora looked at her watch. "It’s time for us to go back.."

Woobin looked at his watch too. Time is already 4pm without they are realizing it. "My car is outside. Is it okay with you Juhwan shhi?" He looked at that man.

"Sure.." he replied as he grabs her hand. "Take a very good rest Kang Sora. Do not pressure yourself for too much.."

Sora surprised as she looked at their hands and slowly nodded to his words. "See you tomorrow." she said before walking away.

"Your boyfriend?" Woobin whispered.

Sora gave him a sharp glance. "Should every man I know be my boyfriend? You make me sounds like a player." Sora is being cynical.

"I didn’t mean that.” Woobin laughed. “The way they look at me seems like I’m a rival to them. I knew those look well.."

"Stop making up nonsense.” Sora glares at him. “I'm just a nobody.." Sora continue walking, ignoring the headless conversation.

"It didn’t seem like that to me, Kang Sora.." Woobin replied. He is sure of his instinct especially looking at how Song Joongki and Lim Juhwan reacted earlier.

Woobin runs to get the door for her.

Sora sharply stares at him. "Was that necessary? We're in the campus." They need to be subtle and careful with their surroundings, especially in the campus. They have promised that.

"Ops. Sorry." Woobin scratches his head for being careless before he looks at the shooting club building.

"I think I will start making enemy very soon." Woobin smiles as he waved at Juhwan who has been looking at them from afar.

Sora nudged his elbow. "Enough that you see through it. Do you have to rub more salt to it?" Sora pushed him away.

Woobin laughed while walking towards his door. "What an interesting student life you’ve had Kang Sora." he winked.

Juhwan looked at both from a distance, watching how close and informal their relationship is. "Kang Sora, you are really a heartbreaker..." he sighed as he thought to himself.