I knew Jaehyun would force me to sit near the front so I could clearly see him. I also knew that I'd argue with him, saying that the ones seated behind me might not see the game clearly if I lose myself, waving the banner high up in the air if they make a point. But I also knew that he'd win and I'd still end up here.
But what I didn't expect was that after minutes of sitting there, Joochan would sit down beside me.
After that conversation the other day, I actually tried my best to distance myself from him, staying true to my words, feeling awkward about what we had just conversed. I tried to forget him and to forget that damn notebook that made all this happen. I tried to ignore the words Joochan said to me that time.
But I couldn't.
As much as I wanted to, I can't.
My eyes dart everywhere except where Joochan is, wanting to get away from him. But of course he wouldn't.
I was getting suffocated by the awkward air around us so I decided to speak, clearing my throat to get his attention. "Why are you here?"
Joochan turns to me. "Oh, hey, Minhee! I didn't see you there," he says with an overly cheerful voice and I give him a look.
"Sure," I say sarcastically, rolling my eyes. "Why are you here?"
"To watch the game, of course."
"You don't even attend the previous basketball games, why attend now?" I cross my arms, raising an eyebrow.
It seems that he was about to say something but a smirk breaks on his lips. "How do you know I don't actually attend these?"
And just like that, I become a stuttering mess. Of course I couldn't just tell him that I always try to search for him in the crowd but fail to every time and realized over time that Joochan doesn't like to watch any basketball game at all. "I-I...uh, you see...I---"
Screams take over the covered court as Golcha College's varsity basketball team enter, jogging to their places.
Saved by the bell. Or the screams. Whatever.
I see Jaehyun jogging backwards to glance at the crowd, scanning until his eyes meet mine. He sends a wink at my direction and every girl shrieks at his gesture, maybe thinking that it was for them. I shake my head at him while chuckling, and he smiles back.
Apparently, Jaehyun never glances at the crowd, so the way he winks at the crowd made their energy rile up, witnessing a new thing for once.
Joochan is, well, disinterested. He just sat there staring into oblivion while almost everybody is standing, looking at the two teams that just entered.
Infinite University's team is also no joke. While I knew that they have pretty good skills in basketball, they also have unique and handsome looks.
They start to warm up, our team lining up, having one turn to shoot the ball. Jaehyun, as usual, being his usual arrogant self, turns before shooting and indeed the ball gets in the ring smoothly. The crowd cheers, me too.
The referee starts to whistle after a while, holding the ball high in his hands. Throwing the ball in the air, Golcha College touches it first and holds it, taking the game into a good start.
◐
The game was in favor of our school in the first half.
My throat wasn't in the best condition. I have been shrieking for a lot of times already that Joochan became worried that I'll lose my voice but that didn't stop me from yelling my cheers.
Jaehyun once again proved that he's the MVP of their team, showing off a lot of three-point shots throughout the game. Sadly, Jaehyun was only playing for the first half of the game.
He was replaced by Bomin for the last half, the so called hidden gem of their group. He was still a newbie in the varsity team and yet he had the ability that can match Jaehyun's. He was agile and quick with his moves, quite playful while in the game. This opposed Jaehyun's personality during the game: he was serious and focused, aggresive and powerful, his moves very calculated, although sometimes arrogance seeps through his skin as he shows off how amazing he can be at basketball.
The other team didn't know how good our newest player was, and they're in for a shock.
"Fighting, Choi Bomin!" I scream my lungs out as he enters the court displaying a playful grin. The students chime in too as Bomin gets into his place.
"Tch," Joochan mutters, not loud enough for me to hear. Joochan's mood wasn't the least bit great. He has been grumpy in the first half of the game, his arms crossed. He rolled his eyes too many times (and coincidentally it happens whenever I cheer for Jaehyun, and Jaehyun would always look at the crowd to search for me and give me that victorious grin, I will always shoot a thumbs up at his way, a salute, or a fighting pose) that I thought he was becoming cross-eyed or possessed by a demon or something.
Although, his mood completely changed when Choi Bomin came in. He cheered for him, even stands up when he does so, as opposed to his self during the first half when he always sat down. It was skeptical of him, but you never mind it.
Bomin runs to the other side of the court with the speed of lighting, dribbling the ball. He displays an amused smirk as he dribbles it across the court, aiming for the ring.
Things don't turn out the way they should, and Sungjong hits Bomin on the side, hard, making the junior fall on his feet in the wrong way. Sungjong got the ball and proceeds to shoot it and gets a point.
"A-ah...my foot..." Bomin cringes in pain, muttering to himself as I see him glancing from side to side for someone to help him, but sadly everyone was focused on Sungjong's recent three-point shot.
It seems that I was the only one who noticed. I look to the side to see Joochan still staring into oblivion.
I sigh. Should I help him?
I stand up and run as fast as I can (well I sat in the very front seat, Bomin fell near me, so all the more need that I should be the one helping him) , seeing that Bomin is still lying on the ground, no plans of getting up. He winces as he holds his foot, looking over to our team. I rush to him as I get to him, slinging his arm over my shoulder as I help him get up. He mutters a simple 'thank you' and I smile.
Now noticing that something wrong was happening (well because they saw me on the court holding a player) , our team becomes alert and they come to their youngest member instantly. Jaehyun takes care of Bomin's other side and nods at me. We start to walk out the court as the referee whistles again, signalling a time out.
I look to the audience, finding my seatmate, but turn away looking disappointed, seeing another vacant seat next to mine.