the 61st hunger games • chanbaek

pt. 5

the three days of training went quicker than baekhyun wanted it to, he still didn't speak to chanyeol after their quick argument. he wanted to approach him but he just didn't want to stand out, he didn't want others to see that they were close to each other.

he'd watch him sometimes, the way he'd swing his axe around as if it was second nature to him. baekhyun was certain the male had grown even more muscular than when he first saw him at the opening ceremony and he could tell some other tributes had noticed it as well.

he tried not to think too much of it, especially when the tall boy from district 2 would stare at chanyeol a little too long for baekhyun's liking; his eyes always burned with something baekhyun couldn't quite put his finger on, competitiveness or maybe even jealousy.

he saw them speak once, it was at one of the weapon stations, he couldn't remember which. he just wondered what the district 2 boy had said to chanyeol and why the male had nodded his head in agreement.

throughout the training, baekhyun didn't bother teaching himself how to throw a knife or spear, he focused on things he figured would be more useful like how to make a fire, he even learned new types of plants he could and couldn't eat, more than the ones chanyeol showed him in the woods.

he was currently in the large lounge area on the district 8 floor, gathered with taeyeon, a couple of their stylists and the district 8 mentor. the training scores were being revealed today, baekhyun looked to his left at taeyeon, she never told him was she did for her private session and baekhyun wasn't that curious to ask anyway.

districts 1, 2 and 4's scores were high as per usual, he could already picture them smirking at the screen, knowing how much better they were than anyone else and baekhyun couldn't disagree; they were better.

he didn't listen to the rest of the scores, that was until district 7 came around, he looked up to the screen curiously. he didn't know what to feel about the big eared giant right now. he wondered if they were still friends because chanyeol didn't try to approach him after their disagreement; that baekhyun knew was all his fault.

chanyeol got a score of 9.

baekhyun didn't know what to feel about that, he felt relief for him, that people would think he was capable of winning; that they'd spend their money on sponsors for him. but he didn't know how the other tributes would feel about it, especially the intimating boy from district 2.

taeyeon got a score of 7, baekhyun looked over at her with a polite smile on his lips, "good job."

"thanks." she returned the smile but it didn't last long at the sight of baekhyun's score.

baekhyun's eyes were glued on the 5 that was shown on the screen, he didn't let what he felt deep down show, he was embarrassed and disappointed in himself. the low score made him look vulnerable and weak.

"that's good too." taeyeon spoke up, trying to show a reassuring smile to baekhyun; noticing the hint of disappointment in his eyes.

"no it's not." he mumbled whilst standing up and making his way to his bedroom, closing the door shut and after a while of waiting to see if someone would follow him, nobody did. he eventually collapsed onto the large bed, he could spread his arms and legs out and still have room to move around. he stared at the patterned wallpaper, his shaking hands gripping onto the satin sheets.

he had one of the lowest scores this year, he knew no one would bat an eyelash towards him now. he knew he shouldn't of expected much after what he did in his private session. the onlookers from the capitol barely noticed the couple of snare traps and baekhyun distinguishing between plants he could and couldn't eat; but it was all he knew what to do.