the story of us 》sungtaro

7

Dear heavens my legs hurt.

I had done it. I was at the basketball game, Donghyuck in tow. I was initially nervous about going, but once I found out he'd be going too, I was fine.

I thought that we would be sitting while watching the game, but apparently it was tradition for students to stand the entire game to cheer on their peers.

Donghyuck and I had been there since the very beginning watching the younger, less experienced team play.

Then Sungchan stepped on the court.

Although I sometimes got distracted, I tried to follow the game the best I could. I watched the way he moved, claiming the court as his arena. I saw how his teammates looked up to him, followed his every move. All besides Jeno, whose chemistry test must have gone terrible, as he was sitting on the bench with a deep scowl.

I turned to Donghyuck, a wonder in my voice. "Wow, Sungchan is really good."

Despite the team's gripping performance, Donghyuck's eyes were nowhere near the court. I attempted to follow his gaze, determining he was watching someone in the student section a few rows ahead of us.

I had noticed that he had been distracted, attention almost permanently on the back of some kid's head.

I looked to my friend, noticing his troubled expression. Tapping his arm, my voice could barely be heard over the roar of the crowd. "Who is that?"

I don't even know if he realized he had been staring, but he was embarrassed nonetheless.

"Oh." He shook his head, laughing to himself. "Nobody."

Donghyuck was in fact: lying. It would take a while, but I would eventually discover the kid's identity and my friend's head-over-heels crush on him. He was perfect, everything Donghyuck could ever want.

There was only one problem, but a big one at that.

"He doesn't know I exist." Donghyuck would later confide with me. "I try to talk to him all the time and I invite him to all my big parties, but it never works.

"All this attention I get from everyone isn't worth it if I can't even get any from the one person I really want it from."

Still, he was hopeful. Perhaps one day things would change.

Letting Donghyuck have his own one sided love moment, my attention returned back to the game.

I marveled at the way Sungchan stole the ball, weaving through opponents like they weren't even there. When he attempted to score, the ball went through the hoop in one swish, the crowd erupting.

Although to this day I still can't be sure, I swore when he flashed a smile at the crowd, he looked right at me.

Sometime near the end of the game, Donghyuck got a call, informing me that he needed to go home. He was considerate, asking if I'd be alright or if I wanted a ride, but I was going to stay till the end.

And I did just that. I watched, cheering for every point made and shouting encouragements for each one missed. It was invigorating. I felt like I was really a part of something, and I loved that.

After the game, I stuck around, waiting to congratulate Sungchan. Our team had won, of course. The rest of the team made their way to the locker room, but he stuck around, talking to whoever wanted his attention.

I was one of those people, obviously.

I told him how great he was while he got a drink, although I was sure he already knew that.

"Thanks for coming, Shotaro." He ran a hand through his auburn locks, getting it off his glistening face. "I mean it. Knowing you were here only made me play better."

He shot me a wink, something I took as joking flirting between two good friends.

"If you give me a minute to change, I'll walk you to your car." He offered, though I felt his worry that I would decline.

That statement alone reminded me. "Actually, I drove here with Donghyuck. He left though, so I'll just walk home."

I didn't mean it as a hint, but Sungchan jumped on it regardless.

"You can ride with me." Sensing my hesitation, he took it further. "Really. It would be no trouble."

He seemed sincere, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to be around him more. So I took it.

"Thank you." I smiled, nodding my oblivious head. "That would be perfect."