[Book I] Winter Falls [ENG]

Chapter 2: The call of the void

TW: depression/ depression (implied), weed

Enjoy !

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He was almost jumping jacks. An overflowing energy, which he didn't think he had after his long class day, moved through his body. Chan closed the zipper on his team jacket as he left the locker room. He was so eager to swim.

Last week's training had to be cancelled because there had been a problem with the locals. However, now that everything had been resolved by management, they could return to training.

Chan approached the stands, placing his water bottle and towel on the edge, beside his group's stuff. He was getting ready to put on his glasses, to go warm up, when he noticed him.

Hyunjin was sitting in the stands, a few rows higher, watching the different swimmers warm up in the pool, waiting for the coach to arrive. Chan called him out, curious to know what he was doing here.

"Oh. Hey Mister Bang." He said as he went down a few rows to sit closer to Chan.

"Mister Bang? It's no longer Mister Wide Shoulders?" He laughed.

"It's too long to pronounce. And besides, you're not supposed to know that nickname."

"Yeah, you're right... What are you doing here?"

Hyunjin shrugged his shoulders.

"My last class was cancelled, but I have to stay on campus because I have tutoring later in the evening... So I figured I could kill time here."

"Watching the swim team practice?"

"You say that as if looking at muscular, shirtless boys wasn't a full-fledged activity."

The older one could feel his cheeks starting to burn.

"So you're just here to check out the team? I'll ask the coach to fire you from the practice."

"I was laughing!" Hyunjin smiled. "I'm here because I had nowhere to go. I thought it would be interesting to see. I usually go to the rugby practice, but...."

"But?" Chan repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"But I didn't want to go to the field today." He replied gently.

He nodded slowly as Hyunjin focused on the swimmers again.

"Shouldn't you go warm up?"

"Yes. I was about to go. I hope you won't be too bored."

He gave him one last smile, before turning his back, getting ready to move away.

"Chris-"

Wide-eyed, he turned to the young man. He didn't expect him to call him that. Everyone here called him Chan.

"I... I'll still see you tomorrow at the club, right?"

"Yes." Chan kindly replied.

"Cool."

Hyunjin offered him one last smile, before Chan finally went to the pool. He felt that it was going to be a complicated training, with the young man looking at them.

Fortunately for him, Hyunjin didn't stay to watch them throughout the session. He had left after half an hour, when someone had picked him up. Chan was happy to see him go. Not that he didn't like the young man's presence in the stands, but he had to admit that knowing that he was here, made him feel that he was being observed more than usual. He could almost feel his eyes burning holes in his back. However, he didn't know if it was reality, or just his mind playing tricks on him.