Clique (txtXitzy)

19. Day 41

"Beomgyu, you have a letter from JYP," Bang Sihyuk said when they passed each other at the university third-floor corridor. The headmaster pulled out an envelope with the official JYP seal on it, and brandished it jokingly before finally handing it to the much cheered up athlete who had just woken up and was on his way to Somi's house to make chocolates. Taehyun was already on his way there. Pretty ironic, because he was the least enthusiastic one about the idea at first.

"Thank you, sajangnim," Beomgyu then bowed at his boss and opened the envelope after they both parted ways. He was pretty happy that JYP's answer to his letter was short, because Beomgyu despised reading long texts. It bored him to death.

'Dear Choi Beomgyu-shi, I am glad to hear that you and your friends enjoy practicing with my girls, and am pleased to grant you the resume of joint activities at JYP Basketball Hall. Thank you for taking care of Yuna, and for clarifying you and your teammate's intentions towards the members of Itzy. I hope you have a good day. Sincerely, JYP.'

Where is everyone anyway? Beomgyu thought to himself. Everybody was gone this morning when I woke up.

...

Lia walked inside the 24-hour school library, and the first thing she spotted was a very tall black-haired man falling asleep over his math textbook.

Their math teacher had noticed Soobin's grades dropping significantly, worrying her a bit. So she sent Lia (her best student, who was living almost the same kind of life with him) to tutor him on Saturday mornings until he understood each chapter well enough to get back to his old self. And after that happens, she wouldn't have to tutor him ever again. Problem was he never really got good grades because he would just ask for cheat sheets from the smartest kid in class, something he never told his teammates. Sure he gets clean 100's on social studies, Korean and science. But math and physics was wayyy too much effort to actually study hard for. But for some reason he stopped asking for help, and stopped talking to other people altogether. And of course, he stopped being in the top ten of his class for math and physics.

So when she saw Soobin sleepily sprawled over his past math tests and worksheets and books still in his party clothes from last night, she softened up and sighed. What's gotten into him? There was a half-empty bottle of coffee near him, and crumpled cookie wraps scattered around. He was also wearing his airpods, and a blanket was draped over his lap.

But after she got comfortable in her seat next to Soobin's and prepared her things, she noticed that some parts of his papers were wrinkled up (the kind which is usually caused by getting wet) and there were tear stains on his cheeks. Lia never thought anyone — especially a tough-looking boy — would cry over his scores. 78, 76, 62, 81... He used to get at least 90. He's that stressed?

"Hi Soobin, it's Lia," Lia rasped, shaking his arm a bit.

Soobin got up in an instant and looked at her after rubbing his eyes furiously, only to realize that it was already morning and he cried himself to sleep by accident in an attempt of not looking that dumb in front of Lia. He wanted to learn a bit more so that he wouldn't feel too embarrassed when Lia came to help him out. He also wanted to hurry up and learn quickly so that Lia didn't have to see him every Saturday morning and make situations very awkward.

Instead he looked like a soft crybaby for math.

"Hi Lia, I dozed off by accident," Soobin laughed nervously.

"Yeah, so can you tell me where you need help?"

...

"Hello, oppa!" Yeji shouted when she heard the door to the basketball court squeak open. "It's a lovely morning!"