Love At First Kick

140

The last two months went by. In one way, it seemed like it flew by in a blink of an eye, but in another way, it seemed like it was a year, not two months. We were tortured to half death, and we were all so tired that it seemed like eternity. But it's finally over.

The official games start in 2 days. We have some light training in the following days, but nothing that could injure us, and not as long.

We will be at the opening ceremony along with all the other competitors from all the other sports. This will be one hell of an experience.

'Can we have everyone's attention, please?' Coach Kim called out, and everyone lined up

'We would like to say a few words.' He smiles. 'I would like to say thank you for trusting us to guide you and care for you for the last 3 months. And I would like to say good luck to all of you. You have all worked so hard and every single one of you is incredible. Even if I did yell at you and scolded you, it was only to improve you. You are all amazing. It was an honour being your coach for this time. Make yourselves proud.'

'I would also like to say thank you for letting us guide you. We could learn from you just as much as you could learn from us. I have no doubt all of you will do your best. Just coming here is an honour you won't feel again in your life. Make the best of it. Show the world what you're made of. I believe in all of you.'

They bowed together to all of us, and we all bowed back.

Apart from those few awkward run-ins with coach Darby, he didn't talk much with anyone else, us included. And as for the coach Kim... I don't think I've seen him outside of the gym even once. Kind of crazy.

'We will see you tomorrow. Get some rest and get something to eat. Take it easy.'

As different as everyone here was, we started getting along pretty well as a group. We even had a few nights where we would sit all together and play random games or just talk. Even Wonhu came out of his shell a little. He was only 19, and the youngest here, so he was a bit pulled back. But nowadays he is pretty cheerful. Not that Jimin gave him a choice. Jimin being the social butterfly that he is, helped him get in with the rest of us. He kept dragging him, using his hyung card on him.

'How's everyone feeling?' Imanu was clearly jittery and very nervous. As the days were nearing the games, she got more and more restless. That is more than understandable. Everyone is nervous. It's a massive thing.

'Honestly? I'm scared shitless right now. It's only starting to sink in that this is not a usual tournament.' Sool comments

'I'm alright for now. I think I'll get slapped with the reality once I see the game opening. Then it will hit me where I am, and I'll most likely want to throw up, faint, poop myself, and die. And you need to help me.' Jimin says the last thing to me, making me laugh a little

'No worries. I'll be right here.' I smile at him

'How are you not nervous?!' Imanu yelled at me

I just shrug my shoulders, smiling at her. 'I don't know. I'm never nervous. I'm just gonna think of this as a usual tournament so I don't psyche myself out.' I'm lying just a tiny bit. I'm also nervous. It is the Olympics after all. No matter how much I'm trying to see it as a different tournament, I know that it's not, and I can't lie to myself that much.

'So you're one of those crazies who are dead calm about these things?' Hinhyuk jokes

'Yes. Yes, she is.' Jimin answered for me, nodding to confirm it even more. 'But that craziness of hers saved my ass many, many times, so I can't say a thing.' He added a bit more seriously

'So, if you calm him down, does he make you nervous?' Hinhyuk asks me

'Not about fighting.' I chuckle. 'But everything else, absolutely.' I can't even lie. He would out me just to tease me, not that it bothers me. It's funny.