#kim ejun

yeonggwang liked to think of himself as a patient guy.

most things barely gets on his nerves—atleast, that’s what he told himself. except for the time seonho ate the food he was saving for later. or when hyeongsik returned his headphones cracked clean in half after getting ragebaited by some random player online.

fine, maybe his patience wasn’t as high as he liked to believe.

still, yeonggwang tried his best to stay out of trouble. he kept his head down, followed instructions and focused on training but that got difficult real fast when the aerobics team was suddenly standing right in front of them, arms crossed, faces showing clear resentment.

the expressions was a result to the decision the principal had made—to switch their coaches until further notice. this was a decision completely out of their control. they too, were a victim of it without the latter realizing.

“rugby,” one of the gymnasts scoffed, tilting his head with a tight smile. “you guys are seriously something else. first you take our spot, now you’re taking our coach too?”

the air suddenly shifted. yeonggwang felt it before he saw it—the subtle tightening of shoulders beside him and the way seongjun’s jaw clenched just a second too long.

seongjun, their captain who had been quiet all this time, finally took a step forward towards the gymnast.

that’s when yeonggwang knew his patience was about to be tested for real.

“we didn’t take anything,” seongjun calmly said. the gymnast grinned in fake amusement. “is that so?”

seongjun didn’t look away. “the coaches made their decision. if you've got a problem, take it up with them, not us.”

a few murmurs could be heard between the aerobics team. the gymnast's grin fades quickly as it appeared on his face.

“easy for you to say,” he shot back. “you’re the ones benefiting.”

seongjun’s expression hardened—not angry, but still sharp. “you think we asked for this?” he replied. “we train just as hard as you do. don't act like we’re stealing something that was never ours to begin with.”

for a moment, no one spoke—until the gymnast started stepping closer, close enough that yeonggwang could smell the sharp tang of sweat and chalk.

"funny,” he said. “because from my perspective, it looks like the rugby team always gets what they want.”

seongjun stayed where he stood. instead, he leaned in just enough to make his point clear.

“then maybe you should try surviving our training before saying that.”

the gymnast shoved seongjun’s shoulder, not hard but hard enough for him to stumble onto yeonggwang's chest. his hands were quick to catch him as he helped seongjun get back on his feet.

“back off." yeonggwang stepped in, voice stern and eyes so sharp it could cut through trees.

“don't act so tough.”

“touch him again and see what happens.”

“you still think you’re better than us?”

a hand suddenly fisted into yeonggwang's jersey. it felt like a silent war between him and the gymnast. it was only a matter of time before one of them snaps.

that was when a voice cut through the noise—quiet but firm.

“enough!”

everyone turned their heads around to see you, hands carrying rolled up mats. you had just came back after meeting with your coach. barely 15 minutes had passed and you came back to this?

“that’s enough,” you repeated, sharper this time.

“ingu, do you want us to get suspended?”

“but captain, they started it—”

“i don’t care,” you replied flatly.

your gaze moved to yeonggwang, steady and unreadable but not hostile.

“same with you,” you added. “let go.”

the gymnast finally released his grip, leaving yeonggwang’s jersey all crumpled up. his hands dropping to his sides. the tension didn’t dissapear but it loosened.

you exhaled slowly before speaking again, voice quieter but no less firm.

“this wasn’t their fault,” you said, addressing your team. “we’re angry, i get it. but starting a fight isn’t going to fix anything.”

no one argued.

yeonggwang watched you as you turned, gesturing for your team to move. you led them away without another glance, footsteps measured and controlled like you had done this a million times before.

it was only before you entered the building did you paused.

you looked back at him. once.

your eyes met with yeonggwang’s for a split second.

the moment was short but somehow it felt like an eternity.

he felt his chest tightened, heat creeping up his neck. he looked away too fast, heart racing like he’d been caught doing something wrong. even when he didn’t.

when they were sure the aerobics team had all disappeared (including you) did all of them let out an exhale.

“that was close,” myeongu muttered under his breath.

yeonggwang barely heard him and the others after that.

during their “training” with coach bang, his mind couldn’t help but stuck on the way you stepped in without hesitation. the way you looked at them not with resentment, but responsibility. the way you always did. patient, that is.

maybe that’s why he thinks of you differently (maybe highly too) than the other gymnasts he met. maybe that’s why you were the captain—because you deserved it.

later that night, he was halfway through convincing himself to stop replaying the moment earlier when he saw you. he felt like a highschool girl having a crush.

as he was heading back to his dorm alone, he spotted you on the benches outside the school entrance. your legs were tucked up as you stared at the ground like you were lost in thought.

yeonggwang was hesitant of approaching you at first, not wanting to bother you but his legs betrayed him. instead, it brought him straight to where you were sitting.

you glanced up, sensing him before he even made it.

“oh, you’re still here?” you asked.

he nodded too quickly for his liking. “yeah. i mean—yeah. left something at the gym.” you let out a small chuckle.

“also, thanks for earlier.” he added.

you smiled, small but tired. “someone had to stop it before it escalates. don’t want this school to catch a case again.” you emphasized the last word as if to make a point.

you turned back to the field and continued whatever you were doing before.

there was a pause. it wasn’t awkward, just quiet.

“you can sit if you want.” you finally said, eyes closed to enjoy the cool air of the night.

he then sat, careful to leave some respectful amount of space between you two. yeonggwang shut down his urges telling him to sit closer. for a moment, neither of you spoke, the silence filled with the distant hum of the streetlight at night.

“weren’t you scared?” he suddenly asked, glancing at you.

you hummed.

“i’m used to it. ingu is always up in someone’s faces like it’s a hobby—besides someone had to do it.”

yeonggwang smiled without realizing it.

“that’s very… you.”

you finally opened your eyes, amused at his words. “what’s that supposed to mean?”

he hesitated, fingers playing with the hem of his sleeves. “just—you always look out for other people. even when it’s inconvenient.”

your expression softened. “you… notice stuff like that?”

his heart skipped a beat.

“hard not to.” he admitted.

there was another pause, but it felt heavier. the bench suddenly felt too small like it had suddenly shrunk twice its size.

you swung your legs slightly. “but you were really calm back there. i thought rugby guys were supposed to be hotheaded.”

yeonggwang laughed, surprised by how easy this felt. “i try not to be. it doesn’t always work.”

“i think you did fine.” you said.

he swallowed. this was it. he could feel it—something sitting right on his tongue, pressing against his ribs. this is the perfect time to tell her.

he called your name and you let out a small noise, letting him know you’re still listening even without moving your head.

“actually, there’s something i’ve been wanting to—” he started. it started well untill you fully turned to him.

the words stalled.

yeonggwang stared at the ground instead, heart pounding so loudly he was sure you could hear it. if he said it now, things will change. he wasn’t sure if he was brave enough for that.

“..say?” you prompted him gently.

his brain shortcircuited as he thought of every possible, appropriate response to this. the confession suddenly thrown out of the invisible window.

“i—did you know,” he blurted out, “that the vending machine near the stairs sometimes eats coins but only on tuesdays…?”

silence.

you blinked. once. then twice.

“what?”

yeonggwang suddenly wished the ground would just open up and swallow him whole right there.

“i mean—” he scrambled, face heating up. “just—because earlier when we were training—i noticed and—yeah.” he gave up.

you stared at him for a second longer.

then you laughed. a real, genuine laugh.

“that’s… new.” you said, smiling at him.

he rubbed the back of his neck. “i don’t know why i said that.”

“it’s kind of cute,” you admitted.

his heart stopped.

“i should go.” he said, quickly standing up and stumbling slightly in the process as if things couldn’t get any worse. “i’ll see you tomorrow.”

“goodnight, yeonggwang,” you said, still smiling.

“goodnight.”

he walked away at record speed.

he didn’t realize the way your eyes followed him until his figure dissapeared into the building.

“i like you too.” you muttered quietly to no one in particular.

yeonggwang gently closed the door to their shared dorm, not realizing two quiet pairs of eyes staring at his every move. the embarassing moment replayed itself in his head as he moved and dropped himself to the bed.

“yo vending machine guy,” a voice above him called out.

he froze, and slowly he sat up.

he saw myeongu sitting crosslegged on his bed, phone in hand, a grin on his face. seongjun sat beside him, arms crossed, eyes bright with barely contained amusement.

“..don’t even.” yeonggwang warned weakly.

“oh come onnnnnn” myeongu laughs. “i didn’t even say anything yet.”

“you don’t have to,” yeonggwang replied, rubbing his temples. “i can already hear it.” seongjun tilted his head. “so it’s true?” he asked casually.

yeonggwang blinked. “is.. what true?”

“what he meant to ask was instead of confessing,” myeongu continued, “you gave her some really helpful tips about our school’s vending machine—and on TUESDAYS?” he added loudly, almost waking up the sleeping mun ung.

yeonggwang immediately hid his face into his pillow. “dude stop i panicked.”

“no, you malfunctioned,” myeongu corrected him. “just like the vending machine.” both him and seongjun snorted at his joke.

yeonggwang groaned into his pillow, a muffled ‘i hate you guys’ could be heard.

myeongu wiped the imaginary tears from his eyes.

“but she laughed,” yeonggwang muttered. “like—really laughed.”

both of them suddenly paused.

seongjun’s teasing expression softened just a bit. “yeah?”

yeonggwang rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. “yeah. she didn’t think it was weird.”

myeongu hummed thoughtfully. “that’s… actually a good sign.”

“wait, really?” yeonggwang asked, a glint of hope creeping in despite himself.

seongjun nodded. “well, if she didn’t like you, she would’ve left which i would too, to be honest—“

“is this your way of payback after your “synergy” moment with ujin? atleast i didn’t get rejected.”

“…shut up.”

yeonggwang’s phone suddenly lights up with a new notification.

“ooh, must be her.” myeongu said. “next time you see her, you say, ‘oh by the way, i like you—but also the vending machine is working again.’”

seongjun shook his head, as the boy laughed more to himself. “ignore him.”

yeonggwang let out a small laugh, tension finally easing from his chest. maybe he hadn’t completely ruined everything after all.

he froze again. it was a text from you.

myeongu leaned forward, trying to peek at his phone. seongjun raised an eyebrow. “is it?”

yeonggwang grabbed his phone, heart hammering.

[your name] : i checked. it really DID eat my coins before.

he stared long at the screen, then smiled.

“..guys,” he said quietly, thumbs still hovering over the keyboard, “i think i’m not doomed.”

myeongu beamed. “congrats vending machine guy, you just earned your second chance.”

yeonggwang typed back, his nerves buzzing—but this time, smiling instead of panicking.

maybe when the time comes, he’d say it properly.