The way Eric watched her, with a mouth in a grim slash and a serious gaze, made her think she wasn’t alone in feeling that electricity between them.
He’s got a girlfriend.
Her body refused to get the message.
He’s James’s best friend.
That slowed down her heart a bit and centered her in reality.
Dimly she heard her uncle calling out the end of the match, and when Eric bowed at her, she followed suit. Then they were shuffling on to new partners, and as quickly as they’d been thrust together, they were again torn apart.
She couldn’t decide if that was a relief or a disappointment.
*
Eric sparred hisnext partner, another black belt, with more force than usual. There were several emotions warring inside him right now, and none of them exactly healthy.
God, he’d had his hand wrapped around her delicate ankle. Felt the smooth skin and his mind had nearly gone blank. But a certain part of him had started to come embarrassingly alive, and to distract himself, he’d used the moment to score a point on her.
And then she’d fallen. How the hell he’d caught her before she hit the ground was still a mystery. But he’d felt like fucking Superman with how fast he’d moved.
And Master Myeoung had seen the whole thing with that analytical stare of his. He missed nothing. Never had. And without a doubt, he’d figured out Eric and Hannah weren’t strangers.
Eric snuck a glance over at her sparring a blue belt. Her energy seemed about half of what it’d been, and he caught her glancing at the clock.
Yeah, she was ready to split.
When class ended a short while later, she made her way to the back to grab her purse and sweatshirt. Her uncle approached and Eric kept his distance, trying not to be obvious that he was listening to their conversation.
“SooJung, I’m glad you’ve come back.”
“Me too. You run a great class, Samchon. I should’ve come back sooner than this.”
“Why did you return?”
Eric grabbed the towel in his backpack and mopped the sweat on the back of his neck, not glancing their way, but definitely listening.
Had she told her family about the parent at school who was bugging her?
“I wanted to find a new fitness routine. Not to mention getting out of the apartment more.” Her tone was bright. “Also, you know very well Umma and Abba have been bugging me to sign up again for years now.”
Ah, so that was it? He doubted that was the entire reason.
Eric dropped the towel in his backpack and headed toward the door.
“Well, I think you will do well here. And Eric can help if you have any questions and I’m not available.”
She turned and caught sight of him.
“So I take it you two know each other?” Master Myeoung glanced between Eric and Hannah.
“We do,” she said carefully. “He is friends with James.”
“Ah. James.” The older man’s words turned dry. “I can’t say that I’m sad you two ended your relationship. But Eric is a good man.”
Eric choked on a cough as Hannah gaped in clear shock. Clearly, her uncle hadn’t held much fondness for James.
“Anyway, you two have a good night. I will see you in my next class.”