"What's this?" I think to myself as I read the files in my hands.
"Athlete name: June Su Lee
Lab ID: 984516
Date of Birth: 1996-08-17"
-What exactly am I supposed to see here?
-Read the whole thing.- Shieun dictates terminantly.
"ANALYSIS REQUESTED.
Specimen was analyzed for all prohibited substances.
Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors and Related Substances (S2): Beta-2 Agonists (S3): Hormone and Metabolic Modulators (S4) and Diuretics and Other Masking Agents (55) using GC/MS, LC/MS and Immunoassay test methods.
…
ANALYSIS DETAILS
The sample tested negative for exogenous testosterone and recombinant erythropoietin (EPO). Chlorothiazide and hydrochlorothiazide are not detected, as well as Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) not identified.
However, Stanozolol and its metabolites 16b-Hydroxystanozolol, 4b-Hydroxystanozolol and 3'-Hydroxystanozolol measured greater than 50ng/mL.
The athlete is hereby notified that a violation of anti-doping rules has occurred, subject to B-sample confirmation."
My pulse drops and my sweat becomes cold. There's no way that June could've done that.
-Is this a fucking joke? -I ask Shieun.
-You tell me, kid. -She responds angrily- You talked way too big about your team, only to end with them being a bunch of druggies.
I slam the table as I look down. I can't allow her to talk about my friends like that, but as long as this thing is here, I've got nothing to say to her.
I take a deep breath and try to regain my composure, keeping a cold look as I speak.
-You sure these tests are legit?
-Look, kid, why would-
-Just answer the question, godammit!-I shout, interrupting her.
She clenches her fist and bites her lower lip, as if she held back what was going through her mind. After a few seconds, she closes her eyes and exhales, letting her words out.
-Just face it, the guy's tested positive for doping, end of story.
-And how can we be certain that this isn't another one of Sangho Choi's shenanigans?
-Because the guy just fucking lost. -Shieun claims as she brings her right hand to her face, sighing loudly- What good would it make him to screw up your team now?
-That's not the fucking point! Just-
The words are stuck in my throat, and there's no way of letting them out. What do I even do in this situation?
-Just leave…-I mutter as I send her off- I gotta get my head wrapped around this first.
Fuck… Just… Fuck…
What are we supposed to do now?
BEEP
Hmm? A message?
"Mia: Are you coming"
Shit, that's right… I forgot about Jay's victory celebration…
*Sigh* What am I supposed to do now…
(Meanwhile)
-Jay! Hey, Jay!
-Huh?! -He gets startled.
-Finally… You've been lost in your mind for way too long.
-Oh…
Oh? What does that even mean?
Argh! Sometimes I wonder why I like him…
How do I even pick up the conversation now? Or, better said, monologue, because this shithead hasn't said a single word since we sat down.
We both stay silent for a while. I can't say anything because I don't know how to pick our earlier conversation, and he's probably staying silent because… well… because he's Jay…
…
Now that I think about it, he seems quieter than usual… And his eyes look more serious than they usually do… I didn't expect him to be Dom-level cheerful after winning, but he looks awfully lost in his thoughts.
*Sigh* Guess I'll have to do my work as his girlfriend.
-Umm… -He says before I interrupt him.
-So, when were you supposed to tell me what's going on?
-Huh?
I smile teasingly, knowing he'll blush and fluster any second. He moves his head to match my gaze and then moves it back to its original place.
-I'm just tired… -he vaguely replied.
Is he for real? Not a single reaction, just his usual blank expression. There's definitely going on.
I lift my arm, reaching for his cheek with my hand. I cup it and smile at him warmly, trying to create a safe environment for him to talk to me.
-Are you ready to tell me?
-Hmm? Tell you what?
-Oh, you know, just whatever-the-fuck is going on your mind right now.
I pinch his cheek, my patience faltering.
-Jay, I'm your girlfriend. You might be able to hide everything to the team, but it ain't the same case with me.
His expression changes for a moment, a slight doubt appearing on his face. It's almost like he's arguing internally on whether to tell me or not.
-Uhmm… -He begins saying- To be-
Right at that moment, Jay gets interrupted by a cheerful face that gets between us from behind the bench where we're sitting.
-Guys!
I yelp with Dom's sudden appearance, letting go of Jay's cheek and falling back on the bench.
-You're kinda fucked… -I hear my boyfriend whispering before I get up.
Dom's big smile fades quickly, leaving an empty shell with an empty expression behind. He tries to make up an apology quickly, but it's no use, so he recurs to shield himself behind Jay.
-Jay! I choose you! -He shouts while pointing at me- Protect me from your crazy girlfriend!
They both look at each other before turning their attention to me. As I get closer, Jay becomes smaller, and with him, Dom does it as well.
Just as I'm about to unleash my fury on them, I sense a big sense of relief on their faces.
-Hyung!
In the blink of an eye, Dom picks up Jay and runs behind June's back, who was standing right behind me. I give them a deadly stare, focusing on Dom's stupid face with more intensity than I do with Jay.
I turn my attention to June, trying to convince him to give those two to me before he gets caught in the crossfire.
-Shelly, come on. Just leave him off the hook this time. -He tells me with his usual gentle expression.
I try to protest, but I'm quickly silenced by his aura of gentleness.
-Fine… -I scoff-
Dom shakes Jay's body energically, which is immobile because his mind hasn't processed what just happened during the last minute.
-We're alive! Thank you, Hyung! -He shouts happily as he hugs June and forces Jay to do the same.
June smiles weirdly as he tries to shake them off, his eyes meeting with mine as if he was asking for help. I raise my arms in indifference, leaving him to deal with those two idiots. (Or one, since Jay is being moved around like a puppet by Dom).
-Guys… Come on… -Our senior grunts as he struggles to keep on his feet- We can't keep the girls waiting.
-Hmm? What girls?
After my question, Dom suddenly stands up, as if he had just remembered something.
-Holy shit! Yuna!
Just like a little kid, Dom begins tugging on June's and Jay's shirt, trying to pull them in the direction he wants.
-Come on, guys! We can't keep Yuna waiting! -He yells before his hyung connects a little knock on his head, correcting him.
-Yuna AND Mia -He sighs.
I look around for them, not being able to find them anywhere in the vicinity.
-Where are they?
-They said they were going to wait for us at Vinny's house. -June answered.- Jay said he wanted to eat ramen with him again, so we thought of inviting him personally.
Hmm? Eating ramen with Vinny again… So that's why Jay is looking like that…
I direct my gaze in his direction, hoping to see a relieved expression after June told his "secret", but somehow, he looked even gloomier.
-If we're going… -Jay whispered as he took out his phone, putting it against his ear- We should at least let him know first…