I came into swim practice today with no motivation and barely any sleep from last night. I didn't even manage to get up to practice this morning.
I was still pretty exhausted. All of us were up till pretty late talking at the restaurant but Eunseok still managed to drop me off at my house though his was in the opposite direction.
"Today, we will be working in pairs for practice. I want about 4 to a lane, you guys will be helping each other give advice and critique. I want you all to learn from each other." Coach blew the whistle and everyone all scattered.
I looked around to find a partner and the only person I see is Jia looking directly at me with her arms crossed.
Damn it.
Today is not my day. We both knew we didn't want to practice together but we silently got into the pool without saying a word.
We took turns making laps and flip turns. Every time I would get up I could see in her face she wanted to say something. But she just gave me that same smug look and then swam.
"Shit." I heard Jia mumbling as she swam from behind me. She got out and sat in the ledge holding onto her stomach.
"Are you good?" I asked looking to see what was wrong.
She paused before answering me, "It's just a cramp." she replied with no remorse. She got up and just left to the locker rooms.
As I was about say something to Coach who was nearby, Chanyoung walked in with his things coming up to the coach.
He exchanged a few words with him and looked among the lanes and made eye contact with me.
You got to be joking me.
He left to go change and came back slipping into my lane.
I didn't even bother saying hi, "I didn't know being new gave you excuses to come in late." fixing my goggles for another lap.
He chuckled combing back his wet hair, "You don't remember yet do you?" he said.
I didn't reply. I was curious but I didn't want him to assume that I wanted to know.
"You told me that the pool wasn't opened in the morning. I didn't know you were that competitive to try to keep the pool to yourself." He looked at me with a smirk.
I could feel my cheeks get hot from embarrassment. So, he was the guy that morning.
I stuttered, "No— I thought you would know I was joking." I said.
He shook his head with a laugh, "Well I already went this morning. Looks like you've been slacking since I didn't see you this morning either, your highness." He lifted his hand up towards the pool to tell me to swim.
I bit my lip not sure how to come back from his remarks. I was so embarrassed and just began to swim to save myself from anymore comments from him.
After school I met up with Wonbin in the gym where his club was still practicing.
I peeked in and saw a number of new faces and familiar ones I knew of.
I knocked lightly against the door where Wonbin turned and waved his hand for me to come in.
"We can take a quick break guys, good job." he said pausing the music.
He came in for a hug, "Hey, Rin! What's up" he said taking a long drink of his water.
I settled my things down and sat next to him. "Nothing really, I just got out of practice. How's the team?" I asked.
"Not so good to be honest, we are down few guys. There's people that came in to audition but their schedules ended up not fitting with the teams. So we couldn't take them in" he said scratching his neck.
He gave me a nervous look and eyed me down. That was the look he gave me when he wanted me to ask him why he looked that way.
I sighed, "What... I don't have anything for you that you would want from me." I said in an annoyed tone.
"Actually..."
"Can you ask if Eunseok could join?" He put his hands together.
"What?" I was surprised.
"I don't know if he even dances!" I replied.
"He does, and he's good too. It's because of basketball season, but now that it's ending it would be perfect." I hear someone say behind me.
I turned my head and saw Sungchan wiping his sweat off his forehead.
He patted my head, "Hey kiddo" smiling at me.
"Really?" I think for a bit, "Well I can ask him... but are you sure?" I turned to Wonbin.
He nodded relentlessly, "Rin, we would win the competition this year. There's a lot of good people, we just need a few more people to make the requirements." He pleaded.
"Jeez, this is embarrassing" Sungchan said laughing at how he desperate was.
"Okay okay, now stop looking at me like that." I said shoving his arm laughing.
"But don't be upset at me if he can't."
He gave me a big hug, I could feel his damp shirt against my skin. "Wonbin!" I yelped trying to pry him off me.
Sungchan ruffled my hair, "Yeorin, you're our life saver." he said laughing.
—
The next day I found Eunseok at his locker fixing his uniform tie in his locker mirror.
"Hey," I walked up to his locker.
He gave me a sweet smile, "Do you mind?" he asked pointing at his tie.
I grabbed his tie and began fixing it, "So..." I hesitated.
"So." Eunseok replied, questioning my awkwardness.
"You know how multi talented you are and how I envy you so much, right?" I said too afraid to look him in the eyes so I just fidgeted with the piece of fabric.
"Okay..." he said still not understanding the situation.
"Well. I didn't know you danced." I blurted out fixing the last touch of his tie.
His eyes widened, "Who told you that?"
I couldn't help but break out into a laugh, "Some people."
"What i'm saying is, since you are so talented, could you help Wonbin out by joining the dance team?" I let out an awkward smile.
"Yeorin..." He looked like he just saw a ghost.
"I haven't danced since I was young. Who knows I might have two left feet if I join."
"Please! You know I never ask for stuff and he really needs people. And they all say that you're really good so I want to see for myself too." I grabbed his hand, hoping that I could maybe or maybe not flirt my way into this.
He brushed through his caramel brown hair with his fingers, looking like I just asked him to take on the role of the President.
"When is the competition?" he asked.
"I'm not sure, I think beginning of spring?"
There was hope. Eunseok was that type of person that would always try when you asked him to do something. But he seemed super unsure about me asking him this.
"Okay. But I'm not doing it if you are gonna spy on me during the practices." he chuckled.
"Really!" My eyes lit up. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I squeezed his hand.
He laughed, "Yes, but those are my conditions."
I heard the bell ring for the next class. I fixed his tie position one more time.
"You made your promise to me but I can't promise you anything." I whispered in his ear before waving him goodbye.
"Hey, Yeorin!—" I heard him call out as I walked away laughing.
