Clique (txtXitzy)

20. Day 43

"WE. ARE. BACK!" Yeonjun burst in the court doors and the girls clapped in reluctant support.

"Hey, at least say welcome," Soobin chuckled, winking at Ryujin. "He really missed you guys."

"Especially Yeji-noona!" Hueningkai piped in, earning himself a back kick on the shin from his eldest hyung.

"We all did actually," Kai continued, "We've never had such good partners to play against to begin with."

Then they all did their warm-ups and began practice, just like they used to. Yeji felt peaceful. For some unknown reason that's in her heart, she found a spark of happiness while she played with them again. She hated that. How she secretly found it intriguing to be with their enemies. How she secretly longed for each day to come to practice again. To be with them again. To be with... someone who made her heart flutter.

"Yeji, the ring is unguarded!" Chaeryeong shrieked at her, who had received the ball.

Enough of that. After all, idol athletes deserve to behave like robots. Work, work, work, study, sleep, eat, work. Emotions never mattered. Being hurt or tired never mattered. All you have to do is make your fans happy, make your boss happy, make your family happy. And everything will be fine.

She shot the ball right into the hoop and scored. It wasn't bad to take out negative energy on the court. It was what Yeonjun had taught her. And that was one of the most valuable lessons she's ever learnt. Imagine how hostile they were towards the boys when all they needed to do was adapt a bit and finally make a functioning and compatible friendship among themselves.

They're good people. We shouldn't worry anymore.

But what about Beomgyu? Does he really love Yuna? They're so sweet to each other though. I hope he treats her well.

These thoughts clouded her mind as she played all out on the court, up til the end. And even after those three hours, she still wanted more.

"Jun-oppa, do you still have any energy left?" Yeji gasped after taking a huge sip of lemon water from her brand-new glass bottle. Which Yeonjun had bought for her on Valentine's Day. Which matched with his.

"Of course, just wait up a sec and let's talk a bit first while I catch my breath real quick," Yeonjun climbed on to the benches where everyone was talking.

"Above all the other Valentine gifts that our fans and my friends and family sent me, I think the one that stood out most was was when someone gave me a box of Ferrero Rocher through the mail yesterday," Kai said, with his GoPro in his hand, filming everything, "I don't know who sent it but the card was so nice. It looked like the cards that were attached to Tae and Beom-hyung's chocolates so I think it might be from a Hanlim student but still, the words inside were so poetic and lovely."

"What did it say?" Yeji asked, suddenly interested.

"Everyone else is happy but me. It hurts to laugh more than to cry. I can't hold it in anymore, I need your hand now. I want to run away with you."

"In English?" Lia asked, surprised that his accent was not bad. Ouch, he's good but her standards are uh. "How is something so depressing considered 'poetic and lovely' according to you?"

"Well, if you don't understand sad art or appreciate it then that's okay but I love it. And yeah, it's actually the lyrics of our Run Away era OST but in English. The grammar was perfect though. I can't relate despite being born in America."

"That's okay," Chaeryeong said, "I also like sad romance."

"Yeah, you watch too many K-dramas," Lia joked.