Chapter 30

Yikyung started the engine and waited for Hyunjin and Yiyeon to get inside. It was almost time for dinner, and the three have decided to order food and take it home.

"How did you guys like my mini-treat for the two of you?" The eldest among them asked. He began driving and waited for the two to answer.

"It was fun, really," Hyunjin said. "Thanks for treating us, hyung!" He smiled.

Yiyeon, who was seated at the back seat, sighed. Her brother looked at her through the rearview mirror. "I hate to admit it, but this was a good day," she said as she stretched her arms.

Her brother smiled, "How was the feeling of being able to play volleyball again after roughly two years?" Yikyung asked.

"It was... surreal," she smiled as her eyes focused on the buildings outside. "When Yunseo asked me to play with them, I was a bit uncertain because I haven't trained for quite a while." Yiyeon sighed as the car slowly stopped at a red light. "The feeling of my arms being hit by the ball hurts, but it's quite refreshing. It somehow feels new, but the familiarity still lingers."

"You did great earlier," Hyunjin said and looked at her. "You even attracted some people because of how you played earlier."

The girl scoffed and rolled her eyes, "You're the one to talk." She took a deep breath, "I really missed it... like... playing volleyball."

Yikyung chuckled as he stepped on the gas, "They even asked if you were indeed a middle blocker because of your spike and serve. I was really proud of you earlier, did you know that?"

Yiyeon smiled, "You guys are sappy. Stop it!" She said, making the two laugh at her reaction.

Noticing that it became silent, Hyunjin connected his phone to the car's speakers. He scanned through his playlist and pressed a song.

"You don't know, babe
When you hold me
And kiss me slowly
It's the sweetest thing
And it don't change
If I had it my way
You would know that you are..."

"I didn't know that you knew this song," Yiyeon commented.

Her cousin scoffed, "Thanks to the person who plays this on loop for I don't know... maybe three hours?" Hyunjin rolled his eyes even if she couldn't see it.

"Well, it's a good song, don't you agree?" She chuckled.

"Alright, alright. I would appreciate it more if you guys shut up," Yikyung shushed.

"You're the coffee that I need in the morning
You're my sunshine in the rain when it's pouring
Won't you give yourself to me
Give it all, oh..."

"Hyunjin-ah, when will the semi-finals happen?" Yiyeon asked.

Hyunjin thought for a while and then looked at the girl who was seated in the back seat, "They told us that it's on the first week of November, but it's not yet final, I think?" He shrugged.

Yiyeon nodded and took note of the week that Hyunjin mentioned. Then, she opened her phone and highlighted the first week of November in her calendar.

"I just wanna see
I just wanna see how beautiful you are
You know that I see it
I know you're a star
Where you go I follow
No matter how far
If life is a movie
Oh you're the best part, oh oh oh
You're the best part, oh oh oh
Best part..."

"Yunseo gave me her number earlier and said that we should hang out sometimes," Yiyeon said. "It feels really nice to reconnect with an old acquaintance."

"We were also happy to see you play earlier," Yikyung said. "You also looked happy."

"It's the sunrise
And those brown eyes, yes
You're the one that I desire
When we wake up
And then we make love
It makes me feel so nice..."

"Hey," Yiyeon looked to her side to see a boy towering over her. He was holding a gray gym bag, and she would be lying if she said that she didn't know him. "Aren't you supposed to be in the volleyball court? Don't you guys have to practice for the semi-finals?"

The girl looked away and shook her head. She didn't even know how Jeno found her there. Heck, she doesn't even know that Jeno knows her.

He raised a brow as he sat beside her, "What do you mean? I saw your captain wearing training clothes earlier." Jeno looked confused as to why the girl looked so lifeless. It was as if he was facing a different person. It's not like the Hwang Yiyeon they all knew.

"I... don't play... anymore," Yiyeon said, and it was almost a whisper. It was almost as if she was scared to utter those words. It was as if she was hurt.

The boy's eyes widened, "What do you mean?! Weren't you just playing with them days ago?" He asked. "I know that it's not my position to say this, but... is everything alright?"

Yiyeon finally looks at him in the eye.

"You're my water when I'm stuck in the desert
You're the Tylenol I take when my head hurts
You're the sunshine on my life..."

She was rather surprised to see that Jeno looked genuinely concerned.

"You... watched the game, right?" She asked, and Jeno nodded. "If you did, then why are you asking me?"

"Oh, that—uh," Jeno scratched his nape. "Actually, me and my friends were kicked out of the court because we were too loud." Yiyeon raised a brow. You could never be too loud in a game, let alone in a sports festival. So how could they be kicked out of the court because of that reason? "Well, you might be curious as to why... but... yeah, Jaemin brought a megaphone with him."

Yiyeon suddenly remembers the boys who were yelling incoherent words during the game. She remembers the staff giving them several warnings, but they didn't listen.

"And one of my friends, Renjun, was cursing at the opponents using the megaphone, that's why..." He chuckled. He looked at his wristwatch, which beeped, and his eyes widened. "Shoot, I'll be late for training!" Jeno stood up. "Look, Yiyeon. Let's continue this some other time?"

She slowly nodded, "Sure."

"Bye, Yiyeon!"

"I just wanna see how beautiful you are
You know that I see it
I know you're a star
Where you go I follow
No matter how far
If life is a movie
Then you're the best part, oh oh oh
You're the best part, oh oh oh
Best part..."

"We're here," Yikyung announces as he turns the engine off.

Yiyeon got off the car first as she carefully got the paper bags that contained their supper. Hyunjin ran around the car and helped her carry them. "I caught you smiling earlier. What's up?"

She pressed her lips into a thin line as she shook her head, "I just remembered something."

***

"I don't see them around anymore," Renjun said as he placed his tray on the table.

Jeno looks up at him and raises a brow, "What do you mean? Who's them?" He asked.

Jaemin dragged the chair beside Jeno and sighed, "Those crazy-ass fuckers who hurt Yiyeon," he said and looked at Jeno. "We don't see them around anymore."

Yangyang dragged the chair beside Renjun and sat down, "Yiyeon's wounds are also healing quickly. So far, I haven't seen a fresh bruise, too," he said as he picked his chopsticks up.

"Then that's good," Jeno shrugged. "But why are you guys telling me this?" He asked. "It's not like I ordered you to do so. Besides, Yangyang, aren't you mad at me, too? And shouldn't you be keeping an eye on Yiyeon right now?"

"Now, you're curious, huh?" Yangyang smirked. "Don't worry about Yiyeonnie because she's inside the club room, eating her lunch there. Yejin is absent because she's sick. Daewon has his dentist appointment, so he's absent, too. Jeongmin and Sungchan, on the other hand, are having extended Physics classes." He shook his head and began eating, "Okay, enough about me!"

"Dumbass, Yangyang wouldn't be eating with us right now if he's mad at you," Renjun said.

"I'm not mad at you. Pissed, yes," he shrugged. "We all are, to be frank."

Jaemin and Renjun nodded.

"We still haven't forgotten how you ditched Yiyeon on her special day, Jeno," Jaemin said. "It hurt for us. So imagine how much it hurt her, too..."

Jeno looked down, "It also... hurt me, too... especially when she told me that she waited for me that night, and I... just had... to say something mean," he groans out of frustration and pulls his hair. "I just want to jump off a building sometimes." Jeno clenched his fists and closed his eyes. "I'm such an asshole for letting the girl I love get hurt."

"Are you just going to let it stay like this?" Yangyang raised a brow and placed his chopsticks down. "She already got hurt several times. How much more does she need to get hurt for you to actually do something? She's doing the best she can to talk to you, even if it imposes danger for the both of you—especially to her, but you always push her away. If not, lead her on."

Jeno looks up at him, and he was surprised to see Yangyang's stern face. He and Yangyang have been friends for a couple of years, and it was the first time for him to see this kind of expression.

"Don't look at me like that," Yangyang scoffed. "Don't you get it, Jeno? Yiyeon loves you too much. I know you do, too... and as much as I try to forget it... I do, too," he said, barely audible. "Even if it pains me to say it... you have my whole support, Jeno. So don't let it go to waste."

With that, Yangyang stood up and left the three at the table.

***

"Noona, are you going already?" Jisung asked Yiyeon, who was already packing her things. She was also glancing at her phone from time to time. "Did something happen?"

The girl shook her head and smiled at Jisung, "No, it's nothing like that." Yiyeon chuckled. "I'll be meeting an old friend, and I think they're already waiting outside the gate."

Jaemin entered the room while carrying some folders when he saw Yiyeon packing up. "Leaving this early?" He asked and laced the folders on her table.

She nods, "I have done my work already. Just message me if I still need to do anything." Yiyeon picked her bag up and swung it on her shoulder. "I'll be meeting some friends, and they're waiting for me." She rushed towards the door and bid everyone goodbye.

Renjun stood up and crossed his arms as he stood beside Jaemin. "You felt it, too, didn't you?" He asked.

"What do you mean?" The younger asked.

"Yiyeon-noona doesn't leave early," Jisung said. "She always goes home with you and Renjun-hyung. If the basketball team doesn't have practice, she goes home with Hyunjin-hyung. Today, the basketball team has a schedule for practice... and it's still... 3:40," he said as he looked at the time on his phone.

"Why are you guys like this? She said that it's a friend, and it's not our job to meddle with her life outside the club," Jaemin rolled his eyes.

"Should we follow her?" Renjun asked. Jaemin and Jisung shook their heads. "Come on. I know that you guys are also curious!"

"Wouldn't that be too much?" Jisung asked.

"It's not like we'd do something that would harm them..." Renjun said.

Jisung and Jaemin looked at each other before sighing.

"So, are you in?"

- tbc.

beep boop :>

song used: best part (daniel caesar & h.e.r.)