ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗧𝗬
─◌✰್ 𝖻𝖾𝗅𝗂𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗌
❝𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻'𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗹𝘆...❞

"No, no, nooo!" you wailed.

"I was gonna say something along those lines, but that was way better," Robin agreed, nodding vigorously.

"I might not look it, but I'm just as uncoordinated as all of you!" Jeongin joined in.

"I don't wanna play when I already know who's gonna win!" Jisung complained loudly.

"Yeah, it's totally not fair!" called Felix, pouting.

"Now now, Ladies and Gentlemen!" Yeonjun waved his hands in the air to quiet the group. "Please, stop the complaining. This soccer match is happening whether you like it or not."

"How will we know the teams?" Christopher asked. "Do we get to choose them this time?"

Yeonjun nodded in acknowledgement. "Yes Mr. Bahng, I was just getting to that. You are correct, I will not be the one picking the teams. That responsibility will go to the two winners of the last game. And that would be Prince and Princess Lee."

"Wait, they get to pick??" Robin cried. "That's so unfair, I didn't get anything special for winning the last game!"

Yeonjun shrugged, unbothered. "Too bad for you."

"Okay, that's just rude!" Mya exclaimed. "I won the first game, and I didn't get an extra bonus either."

"You didn't win the game, I did," Jeongin corrected.

"Oh, whatever," Mya sighed. "You know what I mean! It's not cool."

"As... charming as your complaints are, they don't change anything," Yeonjun brushed Robin and Mya aside. "The prince and princess won the last game, so they are the team captains."

"What if they're conspiring with each other, since they're married?" Changbin called out.

Minho shot the guard a glare. "Just because we're married doesn't mean we're stupid, Seo. You're just bitter that you haven't won yet."

"I'm just trying to make sure it's fair." Changbin shrugged, shooting a sassy look back at him.

"Well rest assured, it is fair," Yeonjun's lip curled as he leveled a harsh look at Changbin. "Now, Prince and Princess Lee, please come stand next to me. Princess Lee, you will get to choose first. Please ensure you have an equal number of guys and girls on your team."

Everyone glanced at Minho, sure he would be the one to complain about going second.

But instead, he just winked at you as he stepped forward. "Better pick well, Princess," he chuckled.

"Oh, you know I will," you smirked at him, and stood on Yeonjun's right. "Okay, for my first pick I choose Hyunjin."

The duke moved to stand next to you. "Naturally, I'm the first choice!" he crowed.

Alaska rolled her eyes. "Only because of your weird, long legs, Hyun."

"Alright, I choose Christopher." Minho glanced at his friend.

"I pick Lanhua." You decided your friend was the most athletic out of the girls.

"I'll take Renee."

"Me??" Renee squeaked, staring at Minho in shock. "Why??"

"Well, you're the only girl who does any sort of physical activity outside of walking in heels," Minho responded matter-of-factly.

"Okay, I pick Changbin!" You grinned at the buff guard.

"Oh boo, Tess, why did you have to pick him??" Lanhua complained. "He's just gonna be a pain in my ass the whole game!"

You nudged your friend in the side. "Girl, you know he'll be great at this. Can you just ignore him for a couple hours?"

"I don't know if I can," Changbin grumbled, scrutinizing Lanhua as he approached. "If you think I'm annoying, how do you think I feel about you?"

"I will pick Seungmin!" Minho pronounced.

"I choose Robin."

"I'll take JJ."

You and Minho went back and forth choosing people, until the two teams were made. The final lineup consisted of: Team Tessa: Hyunjin, Lanhua, Changbin, Robin, Felix, Mya, and Jeongin, and Team Minho: Christopher, Renee, Seungmin, JJ, Jisung, Alaska, and Riley.

"Now that that's settled, please go change into your team jerseys!" Yeonjun clapped his hands, pointing towards the dressing rooms. "Team Princess, please go to the right, and Team Prince, to the left."

"Eek, this is actually kind of exciting!" Mya cheered as she skipped along next to you and Lanhua. "I've never actually played soccer before."

"That's reassuring," Hyunjin groaned from behind them. "Makes me really confident in our chances of winning."

"Oh you know we'll be fine, we have you!" Mya tossed back at her best friend's brother. "You're supposed to be the athletic one, right?"

"Not if I have you weighing me down."

"Ugh, you're so annoying," Mya groaned. "This is why we couldn't work together longer than five seconds during that treasure hunt."

Everyone trooped into the dressing room and pulled on the assigned pink jerseys.

"Wow, don't you think this is a bit sexist?" Lanhua glanced down at herself, nose wrinkling in distaste. "We're Team Princess, and we get pink?"

"What is Yeonjun's obsession with making me wear pink?" Hyunjin groaned.

"Ooh, I love it!" Mya twirled around in front of the mirror. "If I had known you wear cute jerseys to play soccer, I'd have done it more!"

"Ewe, I hate it!" Robin sobbed. "I would rather go naked!"

"I wouldn't mind seeing that!" Jisung emerged from the opposing team's room, donning a blue jersey and a huge grin.

"Way to make it weird, Ji," Minho appeared, rolling his eyes at his friend. "C'mon, let's get this game over with."

You smiled at him as he started to walk away. Blue really was his color. Everything was his color.

"Damn, lookin' good, Prince Lee!" you called after him.

"Oooh!" Riley laughed at you as she hurried past.

He glanced back, running a hand through his hair, an uncharacteristically sheepish look on his handsome face. Now, it was just the two of you, as the rest walked ahead. "Thanks, Princess," he chuckled. "You don't look so bad yourself. Did you pick the bright pink?"

You frowned down at yourself. "Oh, definitely not. I guess Yeonjun is obsessed with the cute little princess's team playing the part. Guess I gotta show him."

"Oh I bet you will," Minho chuckled. "You're not remotely cute."

"Ouch!" you exclaimed, affronted. "I'm your wife, you're supposed to think I'm cute!"

"I meant you're more than cute, Princess," Minho winked at you.

"What the hell does that mean?" you demanded.

He laughed, a rich, low sound, like dark chocolate, making your stomach warm. "I think you know, Princess. Now, don't assume I'm gonna go easy on you just because you look good. It's game on, Lee Tessa."

And he strode past you to join the rest of your team, leaving you standing alone, mouth agape.

—————————

"Okay, Team Princess, please line up on the right side, and Team Prince on the left!" Yeonjun instructed when everyone finally made it to the soccer field, which had magically appeared to the left of the mansion.

"How did I not know this thing existed until today?" Lanhua muttered to you, rocking her feet back and forth on the green astroturf in suspicion. "I thought I'd explored the whole damn castle!"

"You shouldn't be exploring anything!" Mya, on Lanhua's left, hissed. "I keep telling you to stay in our room, but you won't listen!"

"Because it's boring!" Lanhua snapped back. "You're always invited to join, you know."

"I-I couldn't," Mya stammered, turning back to Yeonjun, who was still giving instructions, as always.

"Now, the game will be first to five goals, or thirty minutes long!" Yeonjun announced. "Team Prince, please head to the other side of the field and get ready for the coin flip, and kickoff."

You watched as Minho and the rest of his team marched through the grass. You couldn't help but linger on your husband's - that was still crazy to say - gorgeous 5'8 figure as he postitively swaggered his way to the other side of the field. With slightly mussed hair that you knew would only get messier as the match went, on and that signature devastating smirk, you were obsessed.

"Need a napkin for all that drool?" Jeongin, who stood next to you, grinned widely.

"Wha? Jeongin, shut up!" you exclaimed, reaching out to slap his arm.

He dodged your blow, snickering. "If you don't want anyone to notice, be a little less obvious! I know he's your husband now, but damn."

"Oh please, you just wish someone would stare at you like that," you scoffed. "Now you'd better play well, just know that I would've chosen Jisung over you."

"Okay, mean," Jeongin whined. "I don't know anything about soccer!"

"None of us except Hyunjin do, so just follow his lead," you responded. "Basically, try and block the other team when they have the ball, and be open for the ball when we have it."

"I guess I can do that," Jeongin sighed as he made his way to mid-field, where Hyunjin had apparently assigned him.

"Tess, you're doing the coin flip!" Hyunjin called to you, pointing to the center of the field. "If you win, tell him, we want to receive."

"Why me??" you yelped. "You know I'm unlucky."

"Well, you look good in the uniform!" Hyunjin shrugged, grinning over at the other side of the field.

"Ewe, Hyunjin don't say-" you wrinkled your nose, before your eyes drifted to the other team.

Minho stood waiting in the center. And he was now glaring daggers at Hyunjin.

You shot a knowing look in Hyunjin's direction before making your way over to the fuming prince.

"Hey, what's the sour face for?" you asked, smiling innocently at Minho.

He burned you with a stare. "You know exactly what," he growled.

You shrugged, enjoying your little game. "I have no idea what you're talking about. This is gonna be fun!"

"That shithead duke has no right talking to you like that. I'll punch him in the jaw the first moment I get."

"Hey, that's kind of against the rules," you pointed out mildly. "And since he's my team's only chance at winning, I can't let you do that." You reached out a hand, brushing your fingertips against his. "Besides, your win is my win, right?"

Minho stared down at your hands, not pulling away from the prolonged contact. "Fine." He said after a pause. "I won't beat the shit out of him. But if he tries anything again..."

"He won't," you said hurriedly. "Now c'mon, let's play, or we'll never get to go home."

Yeonjun came to stand next to you, a coin in his hand. "I see the two of you will be doing the coin toss. Heads or tails, Princess Lee?" He asked, throwing the coin into the air.

"Heads," you decided.

Yeonjun caught the coin, and stared at it. It sparkled in the sun, and you blinked at it. You'd never seen a coin look so pretty before.

"It's heads! Princess Lee, would you like to kick, or receive?"

"Receive, please," you recalled what Hyunjin had told you.

Yeonjun handed the ball to Minho. "You may kick the ball whenever you like, Prince Lee."

Minho set the ball on the ground, and took a running shot at it, kicking it over your head and right at Robin. She nearly stumbled, but was able to recover. Sneaking a peek towards your team, she raced a few feet away and passed to Changbin, who had been waving his arms over his head like a madman.

"Here, Bin!" Lanhua called from a few feet closer to the goal. Minho had raced over to try and steal the ball from Changbin, and Jisung had just made it over to block Lanhua.

"Hey, get out of my way Pretty Boy!" Lanhua exclaimed, scooting around Jisung. "Bin, pass!!" she called again.

Changbin glanced back and forth between her and Hyunjin, who was being guarded by Alaska. But instead of passing to either of them, he kicked it towards Jeongin, who was standing unassumingly, unguarded.

He received the ball and started running it towards the other team's goal, where Christopher stood.

"Go Jeongin!" Changbin yelled as he "casually" nudged Minho out of the way and ran after his teammate.

"Bin, you're supposed to help me guard!" Hyunjin yelled, but to no avail.

"Not as good of a guard as you say, huh Bin!" Seungmin taunted as he stole the ball from Jeongin and started running the other way.

"Hey, I didn't even have the ball!" Changbin snapped as he blocked Seungmin's pass to JJ. "Watch, while I kick your ass!"

Changbin ran towards Christopher, who was preparing to catch the ball if necessary.

"Pass it, Bin!" Lanhua said, sterner this time. With her long legs, she was able to sprint all the way across the field in record time, leaving Hyunjin and Mya to guard on the other side.

Changbin shot her a look, before passing to you instead. While you wouldn't have those two arguing when they were supposed to be on the same team, you couldn't think about it without getting distracted. You raced towards Christopher, unchallenged, before firing a shot down the left of the net.

Christopher lunged for the ball, missing by an inch.

"GOAL!!!" Changbin cheered, giving you a high-five.

"Who knew you were so good??" Lanhua exclaimed, hugging you tightly.

"Yay!!!" Mya cheered, copying Lanhua and hugging you too. "I love soccer!!"

"You were just standing there staring at Jeongin," Hyunjin corrected.

"I was not staring!" Mya exclaimed, affronted. But the redness of her face said otherwise.

Jeongin stared at her for a moment, before grinning. "I'm glad you enjoyed the show, Mya."

"I did not."

"Okay guys, c'mon!! It's just one goal, we can come back from it!!" Alaska clapped her hands cheerfully. "We can't let someone as lame as my brother beat us!"

"So true, let's kick their asses!" Riley cried out.

"Yeah, we can still win!" Christopher agreed. "Does someone wanna take my spot as goalie?"

"I'll do it." Minho stepped towards the net and they switched.

"What about me!" Felix called from his place as Team Princess's goalie.

"You're good Lix!" Changbin replied. "We're gonna do so well, you won't even be needed."

"Wow, thanks," he said, deflated.

"You're doing great Lix!" Alaska beamed at him, and he flushed red.

"Okay, let's kill it!" Hyunjin called, clapping his hands, just like his sister had. "We're gonna win this, and finally go on a date."

"As if!" Alaska scoffed.

Unfortunately, Hyunjin was right. Well, not unfortunate for you, of course. Your team went on to score five goals in twenty-five minutes, blowing Team Prince out of the water.

"5-2, take that!!" Changbin crowed, getting in Seungmin's face just to annoy him.

"Ewe. Stop it." Seungmin rolled his eyes, trying to trip the guard as he ran by. "That's so annoying."

Changbin smirked, before going back to you and the rest of the team, who were whooping and cheering with obnoxious gusto.

"I can't believe we won!" you exclaimed breathlessly, hugging Hyunjin tight. He had scored the final goal, sneaking past Minho's outstretched hands to win the game. "As annoying as you can be, you really carried today."

"Okay, I'm gonna ignore that first part, and take it as a compliment," Hyunjin huffed, a smile breaking out across his face.

"Who gives a shit if it's a compliment or not??" Changbin demanded. "We fucking won!"

"Wow, someone's excited." You raised your brows at him, and he glared.

"We get to go on a date!" Mya cheered, running over and grabbing your hands. "I really need another one."

"Ah, not so fast." Yeonjun appeared behind you, once again. How did he keep doing that?

"What?" Lanhua cocked a brow. "We won, we deserve it."

Yeonjun's lips morphed into a smile. "It's not that easy, Miss Guo. You haven't won, not yet. This soccer game is far from over."

laska's note —
dun dun, yeonjun is out here changing the rules, once again! 😭 he's always messing around with them, he's a bit annoying isn't he? i mostly wanted to write this chapter because it's just fun and silly games hahah i hope you like seeing them be lighthearted for a bit, since this fic has so much drama! i love seeing the friendships and couples getting slightly closer, especially tessho. they seem like they're slowly starting to get comfortable with each other! next chapter is the end of this soccer game. who do you think will get the next date? give me all your predictions and thoughts in the comments!

𝖭𝖤𝖷𝖳 𝖴𝖯：
𝟯𝟭 - 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆
┊ ⇄ ◁◁ II ▷▷ ↻ ┊