Joon-ho adjusted the straps on his bag as he made his way toward the dorms, trying to shake off the tension clinging to him like a shadow. His head was cluttered with thoughts—about Jin-ho, the ambush, and how to keep everything from falling apart. All he wanted was to get back to his room, crawl under the sheets, and let the noise in his mind settle. But as he reached the intersection that separated the men's and women's dorms, he saw a familiar sight.
Kang-dae, Kyu, Soo-jin, Hana, Sang-hee, Hyun-ae, and Jin-kyong—his entire group of friends—stood at the crossroads, waiting for him. They were casually chatting amongst themselves, but it was clear they had gathered here for him.
Joon-ho's steps slowed, a sense of guilt bubbling in his chest. He had spent the past week dodging them, avoiding texts, skipping out on meetings, and steering clear of anything that could force him to face reality. Especially Soo-jin and Jin-kyong—his teammates on Team 2. They deserved answers, at the very least. And Joon-ho hadn't given them any.
As he approached, his friends turned toward him with warm, familiar smiles. No glares, no demanding questions. Just the same people he'd always known. Joon-ho opened his mouth, half-expecting a confrontation, but before he could say a word, Kang-dae grinned and waved him over.
"Yo, lunch?" Kang-dae asked cheerfully. "Cafeteria's still open."
Soo-jin gave him a light nudge on the shoulder.
"We've been waiting, you know. Thought you'd sneak past again."
"Yeah, no more hiding," Jin-kyong added with a smirk, though her tone was playful.
Joon-ho blinked, taken off guard. They didn't seem mad—just relieved to see him. The weight on his chest lifted ever so slightly, though the guilt remained. These were the people who had stood by him, even when things got messy. He owed them.
"Come on, we're starving," Hyun-ae said with a laugh, looping her arm through his.
Feeling too guilty to refuse, Joon-ho nodded.
"Alright… let's go."
Together, the group headed toward the cafeteria, falling into step as if the past week of distance had never existed. And though Joon-ho still had a storm brewing inside him, for the moment, he let himself get swept into the familiar rhythm of their banter.
The cafeteria inside NexaCorp Korea University was a sight to behold, offering a dazzling array of dishes that catered to diverse tastes. It featured everything from hearty Korean classics like bibimbap and kimchi jjigae to Western choices such as pasta, burgers, and pizza. The international food station served sushi platters, burrito bowls, and curries, while a health-conscious corner offered vegan salads, smoothies, and acai bowls. The dessert bar, always popular, tempted students with waffles, cakes, and sweet rice cakes, accompanied by an array of boba tea and coffee options.
The group moved fluidly, each grabbing trays filled with their personal favourites—Jin-kyong went for a spicy tteokbokki plate, while Soo-jin chose a hearty steak and fries. Kang-dae filled his tray with ramen, Kyu kept things light with sushi, and Sang-hee couldn't resist a burger and fries combo. Hyun-ae opted for a fruit parfait, and Hana piled her tray with rice and grilled fish.
But even with all the variety spread out before them, the energy at the table remained muted. They sat together at a long table by the window, and as they dug into their meals, an odd silence settled over the group. It wasn't the comfortable kind of quiet they shared during study sessions or lazy weekends. This one was heavy, weighed down by things unspoken.
Joon-ho knew exactly what was causing it—him. They were all waiting, intentionally or not, for him to say something, to break the tension lingering between them. He could feel the questions hanging in the air, unasked but loud in their presence. They weren't mad, but they were unsure. It was his fault things had gotten to this point.
He stabbed at his food absently, wrestling with how to start, but eventually, with their plates half-empty, he spoke.
"I'm sorry." His voice was low but clear, drawing the attention of everyone at the table. "Soo-jin, Jin-kyong... I messed up. What happened with Min-jae, that was on me. I shouldn't have lost control like that."
He looked between them, guilt etched into his expression.
"I know I almost cost us everything. I almost got Team 2 kicked out of the championship."
The two teammates exchanged glances but didn't interrupt, letting him continue.
"But..." Joon-ho took a breath, trying to sound more certain than he felt. "I fixed it. We're still in. Team 2 will represent Korea after all."
There was a beat of silence as his words sank in. Then Soo-jin leaned forward, frowning slightly.
"How? I thought Director Hye-su already made up her mind?"
"Yeah, how did you manage that?" Jin-kyong tilted her head, equally curious.
Joon-ho knew he couldn't tell them everything—not about Jin-ho or the ambush plan set for tonight. So he chose his words carefully.
"I talked with Director Hye-su. She admitted that it wasn't entirely fair how things were handled. She felt like she'd pushed us too hard during training, and she didn't want us to pay the price for that."
The group listened quietly, absorbing his explanation.
"So... she's letting us compete after all?" Soo-jin asked, her expression softening.
"Yeah. We're back on," Joon-ho nodded.
A sense of relief began to spread across the table, melting away the tension that had held them all captive. Kang-dae gave him a playful nudge, and Hana offered a small smile.
"See? Told you it'd work out," she said.
The silence that had weighed them down earlier was gone now, replaced by the familiar ease that came with their friendship. As the conversation slowly shifted to lighter topics—memories from practice, jokes, and plans for the tournament—Joon-ho found himself relaxing, even if only a little.
But deep inside, the unease hadn't entirely left him. Tonight was going to be complicated, and he knew he'd have to tread carefully.
As the conversation naturally flowed, Soo-jin took a sip of her iced tea and then looked at Joon-ho and Jin-kyong thoughtfully.
"You know," she started, her tone measured but earnest. "The three of us should meet up with Min-jae and Baek-hyeon soon. We've got to get back on the same page."
Joon-ho lowered his chopsticks slightly, the suggestion hitting him like an inevitability he had been trying to avoid. Reuniting with Min-jae—after all that had happened between them—felt like walking into a storm. But Soo-jin wasn't wrong. If they were going to represent Korea as Team 2, they needed to repair the damage before it could seep further into their performance.
"Yeah," Jin-kyong chimed in, swirling her soup absently. "We can't go into the championship all scattered. If we want to have a chance, we need to work things out with them. Especially with Min-jae... I'm sure he regrets what happened too."
Joon-ho leaned back in his chair, fingers tightening around the edge of the tray. Min-jae probably did feel bad—Joon-ho knew him well enough to realize that. But knowing didn't make it any easier to face him again. The fight they'd had wasn't just about a flare of tempers; it had left cracks not only in their relationship but also in their trust.
"Yeah, I get that," Joon-ho admitted, though the thought made his stomach churn. "It's just... not today."
Soo-jin gave a small, understanding smile.
"No rush. We'll do it soon when everyone's in the right headspace. But we need to. For all our sakes."
Jin-kyong nodded in agreement.
"The championship isn't going to wait for us to get it together. We'll need to act fast."
Joon-ho appreciated that they weren't pushing too hard, giving him room to breathe. He knew Soo-jin was right—eventually, he'd have to meet Min-jae and Baek-hyeon, apologize properly, and start fresh. For the team to survive, they needed to forgive one another, no matter how awkward or difficult it might be. That confrontation would come, but not today. For now, there were other things to focus on.
"Yeah... we'll do it," Joon-ho agreed, more to assure them than himself. "But let's take things one step at a time. Right now, we should just finish eating."
Soo-jin grinned, grabbing another piece of steak.
"Finally, something sensible out of you."
The group chuckled softly, the mood continuing to lighten. Jin-kyong rolled her eyes playfully at Joon-ho.
"You're just saying that because you're hungry."
"Guilty," Joon-ho admitted, smirking.
The conversation drifted into easier topics again—memories from past games, complaints about professors, and speculation about the teams they'd face in the championship. Plates were gradually emptied, laughter bubbled up here and there, and for the first time in days, Joon-ho felt the weight on his shoulders lighten, if only slightly.
He knew there was still a storm waiting on the horizon—the ambush with Director Hye-su tonight, the looming confrontation with Min-jae, and the uncertainties with Jin-ho. But those problems belonged to the future. For now, he was with his friends, and that was all that mattered.
And so, with a final bite of his meal, Joon-ho pushed the heavy thoughts aside, at least for a little while. There would be time to worry about everything else soon enough.
But not now. Now, they had food to finish.