Chapter 27

"Go, and find a table for ourselves. I'll order for the two of us," Hyunjin said as he pointed at the dining tables not far from them.

They decided to eat breakfast the moment they arrived in Busan. There were a lot of restaurants and fast-food chains near the school they're be playing at.

Yiyeon went to sit at a table by the window. The counter wasn't far from the table, and she could see Hyunjin from there. Her cousin really treated her food, just like what he promised when they were still in Seoul.

She then remembered that she has to review some of the sports jargon that could help her write the article about the game. So Yiyeon got the handouts Jaemin gave her and reviewed the words one by one.

Yiyeon was engrossed in reading at this point, but she was still aware of what was happening around her. She could hear the bell ringing, signaling that there were new customers who entered.

Hyunjin dragged the chair in front of her and raised a brow when she saw that his cousin wasn't paying attention to him at all. "What's that-" He was about to say something, but Yiyeon immediately raised her hang, making Hyunjin stop the question he was about to ask.

The bell rang once again, and she heard people talking, but she doesn't even care at the moment because she was already immersed in reading the handout Jaemin gave her, even if she doesn't really want to read it. It was quiet inside the restaurant they're in, that's why her mind finally had the time to concentrate, unlike inside the bus earlier.

"Oh, Yiyeon-ah!" Her eyes landed on Renjun, who was waving his hands by the doorway. Beside him were Yangyang and Jeno.

Renjun skipped towards their table and greeted the two, "I didn't know that you guys were here." He chuckled. "We could have gotten here together."

Yiyeon's attention wasn't on Renjun but on the two, who were talking at their table. There weren't any hints of awkwardness between the two, which made her sigh in relief. Yangyang was trying to keep Jeno's consciousness awake, even if Jeno looked like he was about to pass out any moment.

"Is he... okay?" Yiyeon asked.

Renjun's eyes traveled to where she was looking, "Jeno?" He sighed. "To be frank, we don't really know. The moment we arrived, he immediately looked for a restroom and vomited. It's not like him at all..."

Hyunjin looked at her cousin, who looked genuinely worried about the other guy. He felt something inside him churning. The scene in front of him makes him remember the night of Yiyeon's birthday.

He could remember Yiyeon crying, and back then, he wanted to blame himself because he couldn't even stop her from going to where they were supposed to meet.

But now, he doesn't know what to do. He just doesn't want to see her wear that hurt expression.

He patted her hands, "He'll be alright. We'll all be alright, okay?" Just then, Hyunjin's name was called from the counter, a sign that his order was ready. "I'll just go get our food," he said as he threw Renjun a knowing glance.

"Hyunjin's right," Renjun nodded. "We'll make sure that Jeno's in perfect condition when he plays later. Otherwise, traveling to this extent won't mean anything," he sighed. "I'll go back to our table now. I have to watch over the two. I'll see you later, Yiyeon," he said and waved his hand before walking back to their table.

Hyunjin arrives with a tray in his hands. Yiyeon assisted him by placing the drinks on the table before Hyunjin could spill them.

"Everything alright?" Hyunjin asked.

She shook her head, "A bit anxious, but I'll be fine." Yiyeon said as she gripped onto her pair of chopsticks tight. "Hey, Hyunjin, would you mind looking for a drugstore with me after this?"

Hyunjin, although confused, nodded.

***

The basketball team gathered inside their given locker room as they changed their uniforms. The members of the newspaper team who will be covering the game, Yiyeon, Jaemin, and Renjun, were outside, checking out the court to

know where to position themselves later on.

"I saw you sneak inside the locker room earlier when they were outside," Jaemin nudged as he whispered. "Did you do something?"

"No, of course not, you idiot," she scoffed. "I just... went there to place..."

"Place what?" Renjun asked.

Yiyeon rolled her eyes, "Okay, fine. I placed some painkillers and some medicine for fever inside Jeno's bag. I also got him pain relief patches and his favorite, strawberry milk." She sighed. "Don't get me wrong... I'm just... doing this out of concern!" She said as she glared at the two boys who were laughing.

She walked away from the two of them, and they just trailed behind her.

"In all seriousness, Yiyeon-ah," Jaemin started. "Aren't you mad at him? I mean, he practically ruined your special night. He ditched you. He has hurt you several times. I'm pretty sure you're hurt... but why?"

"I'm stupid, that's why," she chuckled bitterly. "Yeah, I'm hurt. I'm human, and I was also hurt by what he did. But there's still something inside me, telling me to hold on a little longer, and that's what I'm doing."

Jaemin and Renjun looked at each other before looking at Yiyeon, who was about to sit down on the bleachers.

"It's been one heck of a ride, but I don't know... I think I can still hold on for a little longer," she sighed.

"You know," Renjun started. "Jeno doesn't deserve you at all."

"Renjun-ah," Jaemin said in a warning tone.

"As his friend and your friend, I don't know what to do. Especially at times like this. I'm surprised that Hyunjin and Yangyang are still at their wits." Renjun sighed.

Yiyeon could only chuckle.

The commentators began testing their microphones, and the audience of today's game was starting to enter.

The three looked at each other, "Let's guard our places." Jaemin said.

***

The auditorium was almost packed with people, and the three could barely hear each other. They have worn their club id's so that they could move around without someone calling them off.

Their first five starting players were Mark Lee, Zhong Chenle, Lee Minho, Lee Jeno, and Hwang Hyunjin.

"Okay, here's the plan. Yiyeon and I will be taking turns in capturing the photos, while Renjun would be listing the points, as well as the highlights of the game. Make sure to take note who scores, okay?" Jaemin instructed. "Rina-noona is already positioned somewhere with the reporters for the videos that will be uploaded in our SNS pages and website." He looked at somewhere in the crowd and they saw Rina waving her hand and saluting at them.

"Aye-aye, captain!" Renjun said as he prepared his notebook and pen.

"Yiyeon, assist Renjun in note-taking, too. I'll be back here if it's time for us to switch," he said. Yiyeon nods as a reply. "Okay, then. I'll be going to my spot." Jaemin ran towards the other side of the court.

Yiyeon sighed, "This scene is awfully familiar."

"What do you mean?" Renjun asked and looked at her.

"That game... where Jeno saved me from the ball... he wasn't in good condition back then, too, right?" She asked. "And then his condition got worse because he sprained his foot."

"Yah!" Renjun playfully patted her back. "Don't think of such thoughts! He looks way better now," he said as he points at Jeno, who was in position for the jump ball. "He ate his breakfast, and he also took his medicine for his fever. And look," he said, now pointing at the pain relief patch that was peeking from his back. "I wonder where he got that from." Renjun grins.

***

"Hwang Hyunjin, for three points!" The spectator announces, earning another round of cheers and applause from the panthers' supporters. "He just got back in the game, yet he's already flying!"

"Way to go, Hyunjin-ah!" Yiyeon held as she gripped the camera tightly. She looked through the lens once again and focused on Jeno, who had the ball. "Come on, Jeno..." she said as she clicked the shutter for a couple of seconds.

Jeno passed the ball to Chenle, who was free and took his shot.

"Go, Chenle!"

"You don't wanna miss with Chenle!" The spectator said, and Yiyeon could only nod in agreement.

She could see Jaemin waving his hands from her place, signaling her that they should switch places already. She nods, running back to their place.

"Did you see Hyunjin's three-point shot? Man, that was so cool!" She exclaimed and passed the camera to Jaemin as she sat back down. "Mark-oppa passed the ball to him, and Hyunjin was like—gwah!!—and then he flew with the ball!"

"I could tell that you're really pumped with your brother's points," Renjun laughed.

"Well, of course!" She chuckled. "So far, he has scored the most."

"Lee Jeno, for three—and he scores!"

"Jeno-yah, fighting!" Renjun yelled. His eyes traveled to the girl who was seated beside her. She wasn't cheering, but Renjun could tell that her reaction was the same when Hyunjin scored earlier. "See, I told you, he's okay." He smiled.

***

Last 37 seconds.

It was like their ordinary game, but Yiyeon wonders why her heart was beating really fast. Maybe it was the fact that both teams were tied at 79, and a member of the opposing team has the ball.

"Am I the only one who's nervous?" She murmured.

Renjun shook his head. Yiyeon could see that he was gripping on his notebook tight, making the pages a bit crumpled. "Why is this so nerve-wracking?" He sighed.

29 seconds.

The opposing player stumbled, creating an opportunity for the panthers to make an opening and change the game's momentum.

Yiyeon's eyes widened when Yangyang got the ball and ran towards their side of the court.

"Yangyang! You better get that point!" Yiyeon yelled as she stood up.

17 seconds.

Yangyang passed the ball to Chenle, who was near him.

"We have to win this," Yiyeon mumbled. "If they win this, they would be advancing to the quarter-finals, right?" She asked Renjun, who was as nervous as her.

He nodded.

"If you guys don't get that in, we'll be putting ugly photos of you in the newspaper!" Renjun yelled, making the people around them laugh.

Yiyeon could only hide her face in embarrassment.

13 seconds.

Chenle looked hesitant.

He saw that both Hyunjin and Mark were signaling to throw the ball at them, but he couldn't figure out what to do as two people were guarding him.

Yiyeon clasped her hands together, "My heart is about to drop. What the heck." She said as she closed her eyes.

10 seconds.

"Chenle!"

Even if they were at the bleachers, they heard Hyunjin's voice loud and clear.

Chenle passed the ball to Hyunjin as the latter ran away from the people who were about to stop him.

4 seconds.

Hyunjin stopped in his tracks as he positioned himself, ready to jump. He let go of the ball, and it was as if everything went slow motion.

Yiyeon could clearly see the opponents trying to prevent the ball from going to the ring.

She and Renjun stood up and watched the ball as it perfectly went through the ring.

Even if she wasn't playing, she felt a wave of relief rush through her body.

The game ended with a score of 81-79 in favor of the panthers.

Jaemin rushed back to them as he immediately called the two to go to where the players were.

"Hyunjin-ah!" Yiyeon rushed to hug her brother. "You were so cool! I'm so proud of you!" He smiled. "You guys were so cool!" She said as she raised her thumbs up.

Hyunjin chuckled and ruffled his hair. "Thank you for the support, you three. We couldn't have done it without your cheers." He chuckled. "All of us heard Renjun when he said that he'd be placing ugly photos of us."

"What?!" Renjun looked away.

"But you guys won, so it's okay," Jaemin laughed as he high-fived Hyunjin. "Congrats, guys!"

Yiyeon's eyes traveled to Jeno, who was silently drinking his Pocari Sweat.

Jaemin noticed this and ushered the others to keep their distance from the two.

"Wait, I still have to go to their interview," Hyunjin said, rushing towards the reporters who were calling his attention.

"Man, it must be nice to be the most valuable player," Yangyang chuckled. He noticed his friends looking at him sternly.

"Yangyang, I thought that we'd be having our snacks outside?" Renjun yelled. His voice was emphasizing some words.

"What? You said that?" Yangyang raised a brow.

The shorter male stepped on his foot as he quickly glanced at the two seated next to each other. "Yes, Yangyang. I said that." Renjun said, now glaring at Yangyang.

Yangyang finally got what Renjun was talking about and went with him.

He took a quick glance at Yiyeon and sighed.

You got this, Yiyeon-ah.

- tbc.

hiii! I'm sorry for not updating the past few days, I just got busy ;-;