Straighten your back, steady your breath. Don't try to outrun your mates—maintain a uniform rhythm.
Mr. Cho's voice echoed across the ground. His passion for the game exuded through his words.
It was eight in the morning, and the students were already on the field, running under the coach's commands.
The team jogged in uneven lines, sneakers slapping dirt, lungs burning. Sweat already darkened their shirts.
"Are we playing volleyball or running a damn marathon… huh?" Auron wheezed breathlessly. His legs wobbling.
"Weren't you already aware of that?" Garam asked, maintaining his pace.
"I didn't know," Auron groaned. "Even though I've played before, I was always called in at the last moment."
"That makes you new to it." Garam said, amused.
"It's ironic how you tried so hard not to get selected, but look at you now," Terry teased.
"Sew your mouth shut if you don't want me to punch it," Auron snapped. "Anyway, I wouldn't even be here if Gyu hadn't been removed from the selection list."
"Maybe," Terry said, glancing toward the side stairs of the field, "but Gyu really needs a break."
From far away, Gyu sat quietly, watching the other students.
"Oy, you three!"
Mr. Cho's voice thundered again.
"Are you here for a walk in the garden? Don't just run your mouths—move your legs too!"
They immediately picked up their speed.
Mr. Cho looked at the other players and sighed.
"These young morons...only eager to be selected, but they don't want to do anything beyond that."
He shook his head.
"Do you think your competitors will have no skill?"
"Sir…" Auron panted. "We're seriously tired. Can't we catch our breath now and then move to play?"
Mr. Cho sighed and blew his whistle, gathering the students.
All of them were out of breath. Some had even removed their jackets to cool down.
"Your practice will start by two, so come accordingly," he announced.
"You are all going to follow this order: thirty minutes of exercise early in the morning, followed by practice sessions."
He paused sharply.
"Am I clear?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Aish… I'm so thirsty. Where's Ben?" Auron asked, looking around the ground.
"Must be lazily lying somewhere," Terry said, wiping the sweat with the back of his hand, "like the log of wood he is."
"Yeah, but why there?" Auron asked, confused.
Terry's eyes followed his gaze.
Ben was sprawled on the stairs, his head on the thighs of Gyu's.... who looked unimpressed.
Five minutes earlier
Gyu was alone on the stairs, staring at the field and sighing over the fact that he wasn't on the list.
Suddenly, a hand swung into his view, holding vegetable rolls.
Gyu blinked and looked up.
Ben stood there, smiling far too brightly for eight in the morning.
"My cheeks hurt," he announced like it was some tragedy. "I can't widen it anymore."
He tossed the food into Gyu's hand."Here."
"I don't need it."
"I know, but I don't like eating alone, so… accompany me." and he sat next to him.
Silence.
Ben turned to Gyu, who looked confused —obviously. Who wouldn't be? Which guy goes around tossing food to a stranger.
"Do you want me to feed you?" Ben asked innocently.
"What?" Gyu said, weirded out, but Ben looked so genuine that it almost made it worse.
Gyu hesitated, then took a bite just to end the conversation.
He wasn't hungry, but it was delicious... and now he wanted to eat the whole thing.
Ben took a bite of his roll and gazed at the ground, where Terry looked completely out of his mind.
He laughed at Terry's persistence, at how excited he was to be part of the game just so he could show off in front of his siblings.
The word siblings stirred something in him.
Gyu was Garam's brother.
Ben glanced at Gyu, who was munching quietly. The small pout on his face while chewing was a new sight.
Gyu was looking straight at the field, which gave Ben the chance to look at him a little longer.
"I was enjoying the food," Gyu said flatly, "but if you stare at me like that, I'm going to throw up."
Ben swallowed his embarrassment.
"Why are you sitting beside me?" Gyu asked, raising an eyebrow. "I guess you have more reason not to be here."
Ben schooled his expression.
"Well… I'm interested in you." He blurted.
The words were followed by silence.
He meant to say it and It didn't sound weird in his mind.. but now it did.
"I-I meant… I want to know you better."
"Yeah, you sure do," Gyu replied dryly.
Gyu sighed. For a moment, he thought he might finally meet someone normal, but it seemed Ben was also one of those weird ones.
He was about to stand up, but Ben suddenly lay down on the stairs, resting his head on one of his legs.
"I won't tolerate this anymore. What are you doing?"
"I can't let you go while you misunderstand me."
"I won't," Gyu said. "Now you can get up."
"I'm alone," Ben sighed. "And Terry, Auron, Garam… all of them, the ones I'm friends with, are in the games."
"So why didn't you participate?" Gyu asked unimpressed.
"It takes a lot of energy," Ben sighed. "And I don't have it."
Gyu remembered how Ben had been cheering at the top of his lungs for Auron.
"Yeah, I can see that," he said sarcastically.
Ben smiled slightly.
"Now you're opening up to me."
"Well, you're keeping me occupied," Gyu deadpanned, leaning back on his hand.
After a pause, Gyu asked quietly,
"By the way… does this game always have this much influence on people?"
"Yes," Ben replied. "This is our village pride game."
"This school is the only one on the outskirts, so most students are from our village. The next school is four kilometers away, and their students are from the neighboring village."
"What should've been friendly turned into a game of honor."
"So the students who participate get praised, and if they win, the whole village supports them."
"And that's also why many students don't want to get involved. It's overwhelming."
"I see," Gyu murmured.
Ben glanced toward the ground.
"Well… you see Terry? It's his first time participating because his siblings are coming on that day."
Ben looked back at Gyu.
"By the way… you were joining back then too. So, what was the reason?"
Just then, Terry and Auron reached the stairs.
Behind them were Kaven and Garam.
Ben watched Gyu carefully, noticing the ease in his expression when Garam arrived.
"Garam." Gyu said softly, looking at him.
And Ben realised... Garam waa already watching him.