𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐍𝐨𝐰 || 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐨

Chapter 4 : Set It High

The atmosphere in the gymnasium of NCT U is cold and Mark feels like someone took away the air from his lungs. He’s sitting on a bench as he waits for the coach to show up. His fingers flicker over his trembling legs as he lets out heavy sighs every time someone enters in.

A few players from the current team are walking around getting the set up done for the new members.

Mark follows them with his eyes as a distraction until a blurry red spot calls his attention.

Jeno is walking up to the bench of newbies when he stops on his tracks as he locks eyes with Mark.

None of them were sure where the other would go. Mark always made it clear that he wanted to get into NCT U because he was a big fan of a previous hitter from this university. He still has the walls from his old bedroom filled with posters showing his not so lowkey obsession that leaded him to start playing volleyball.

Of course, Jeno didn’t know any of that because they barely talk — they just glare.

As expected, Jeno sits as far away as he possibly can at the beginning of the bench away from Mark. He’s not surprised though, they’re not friends anyway it’s not like he was expecting a warm greeting.

Two seconds later the coach comes in and the chattering dies down as they start hushing.

“Good morning.” He says and everyone replies in unison. His eyes scan the now upstanding new members and they start quivering under his gaze. Park Chanyeol is young with a firm authority as makes them know when he starts demanding from the beginning a few serves to check their skills.

Mark is about to send his third serve when the coach stops him. He feels as if his knees are going to give out any second.

“What’s your position?”

“Wing spiker, sir.” Mark manages to spill, voice caught up in his throat.

Changeol's gaze lands on the boys perched on the bench and announces, “I need a setter.”

Apart from Jeno, two other boys raise their hands and the coach checks his clipboard. He flips the pages reading the provided information until his head comes up again and Jeno is about to vomit his breakfast.

“You two are from the same district?”

Jeno and Mark look at each other briefly before letting out a ‘yes’.

“Good, show me what you got.”

With quivering steps, Jeno approaches the net and catches the volleyball that Mark throws at him.

“Set it high.”

Jeno is too focused with getting his shit together that ignores the fact that Mark demanded him something. If they still were in high school, they would be bickering like dogs by now.

His Adam’s apple moves as apprehension fills his system. Jeno manages to put out a decent ball as his first set but it’s nothing spectacular. The coach calls for a second one. Rotating his shoulders trying to loose his muscles, Jeno sets it high and a bit inclined to the right as he had saw Mark’s old setter do it every time it was his turn. Mark spikes it perfectly and the coach hums in satisfaction.

A/n : And they meet again...