A Bout for Two // NCT Renjun

Chapter 14

       A week had gone by since our first competition with a neighboring school.  A week had gone by since Renjun had charged at Jake with all his might.  A week had gone by since I saw that Renjun had drawn me in his notebook.  I seriously couldn't get my mind off of that.  I mean, what was he doing, and out of all of the fencers on our team, why me?  However, I knew I couldn't keep daydreaming and question this.  I had to continue to focus on my grades as well as fencing.  Whenever I was around the team, I made sure to act as normal as possible, as I didn't want anybody to be concerned about me.  Mark and I had been a little bit awkward around each other ever since that kiss, but we were still really good friends.  I knew that he didn't have any ill intentions towards me, and he knew that my feelings towards him was just that of a friend.

       So far my morning had gone pretty well.  I had a good PE class and a good Literature class.  I was currently on my way to the cafeteria with Renee.  "Unnie," I say, "You know, I'm literally so excited for the lunch today!"  "Umm, why?" she asks.  "Unnie," I say again, giving her a pout,  "it's because they have my favorite dim sum dish today.  You know how I am when it comes to my Chinese food."  We both laugh and go over to stand in line to grab our lunch.  After grabbing our trays we head to our usual table and meet up with the rest of the fencing team.  Mark, Jeno, Jaemin, Julia and Minju were already sitting down.  "Hey guys!" Jaemin ways with a smile.  We sit down and start to dig into my food when I realize that Haechan and Renjun aren't here.  I was about to ask where they were when someone beat me to the question.  "Yo, Mark" Jeno says.  "Where the hell is Haechan and Renjun?"  "Haechan is in his math classroom taking a test since he missed one due to fencing practice, and I think Renjun's in the gym," Mark says.  "Why's he in the gym?  I mean, I know that we have another comp in three days, but he should at least eat something," Julia says.  I nod my head in agreement.  "Beats me," Mark says.  "But, everyone knows how he is when it comes to fencing.  He takes it so seriously, and trains super hard to be the best."  

       After everyone is finished eating their lunch, we head our separate ways.  I have free now, so I can do whatever I want now.  I already finished all my homework, so I decided to get some dim sum and head over to the gym.  I arrive at the gym and crack open the door just enough so that I can see inside.  Renjun has his foil in his hand, and he's practicing on a target on the far wall.  His back is faced towards me, so he doesn't see me when I walk in.  I see him doing some more advanced drills and he seems so focused.  Sweat is dripping down his neck and face, and his eyes look like they could kill the target.  After finishing off the drill with a nice jump lunge, he turns around.  He looks stunned that I was standing there, and we make eye contact for a good 20 seconds.  I clear my throat after a while and look down.  "Umm, sorry for disturbing you," I say.  "Mark told us that you were in the gym since we noticed that you weren't at lunch.  I brought you some food since I thought you could be hungry."  "Oh, thanks, you didn't have to do that," Renjun said, his voice with a hint of coldness in it.  Sure, I was a bit hurt because of that intimidating tone he used with me, but I assumed that he was just tired from practicing so hard.  "Well, I'll see you around," I say before I turn around and walk out the door.  

       After last period had ended, I head out to the parking lot to head home.  I say goodbye to Minju and Julia and hope into my car.  I sit in the driver's seat for a little bit and close my eyes.  My head hurts from all my lessons, fencing, and just the social pressure.  I  decide to head home and wind down after a long day.  

       I arrive home, change into some sweatpants and a t-shirt, and plop down on the couch and open up social media.  It feels like I haven't checked social media in such a long time.  I don't see anything of much interest except for a few posts from Mark, Julia, and Haechan.