Prince's Gamble | HAOBIN

13. Round Two

After the threat of Hanbin's assassination, Zhanghao couldn't help but feel the worry at the back of his mind as two days passed and there was now one day left before the second round. Out of nowhere, Gunwook had begun swimming training with Zhanghao, leaving Zhanghao confused but he did it anyway. 

The good news Gunwook had though, was that Zhanghao would be able to bring his weapon of choice into the next round, and there was no surprise when he picked the sword he had found from the previous round. It was just the right weight for him, almost as if it had been customized to his needs.

They had swam and swam and swam, Gunwook making Zhanghao dive down deep into the icy, cold water of the ocean to retrieve things before repeating the exercise. At first, Zhanghao's body had frozen against the water but in becoming numb, it had made it easier, pushing his body harder and stronger. 

After swimming, Gunwook allowed Zhanghao a short break before bringing him into the training room, to practice his weapon skills.    

"Please tell me Taerae is experiencing this suffering too." Zhanghao panted, his body exhausted from all the swimming and there was yet to come still. 

"Of course. You both will thank me later, trust me." Gunwook told him, before picking up Zhanghao's sword and his own. Handing Zhanghao's sword to him he said, "C'mon, let's start with sword practice since you'll be bringing this into the round later." 

The sound of clanging and heavy steps filled the training room as Zhanghao moved fast, his feet sore and his arms tired. Gunwook somehow still had all his energy as he fought Zhanghao, using his large size to his advantage. Clashing his sword against Zhanghao, Zhanghao's side became unprotected, allowing Gunwook to duck and slam his shoulder against him in order to make him fall. 

But Zhanghao knew that already, he had left that side unprotected on purpose as he watched Gunwook begin to duck. Feet moving him out of the way fast, Zhanghao turned to move behind Gunwook, swinging his sword sharply before stopping right as the sword reached Gunwook's neck. 

Chuckling, Gunwook turned his head to see the sword an inch from beheading him. 

"I win." Zhanghao said, before lowering the sword to let Gunwook turn around. 

"You never cease to amaze me, Zhanghao." Gunwook smiled, shaking his head. 

—

Hanbin had been waiting in Zhanghao's room for not that long, but long enough to make a quick check before Zhanghao returned. Moving to Zhanghao's closet he looked through Zhanghao's selection of jackets before finding the one he was looking for. Pulling out the jacket Zhanghao had worn during the first round, he stuffed a hand in the pockets, feeling around. 

And then he felt it. The cold metal of the charm he had slipped in before Zhanghao had gone into the arena. Still intact and undamaged, Hanbin smiled before putting the jacket back in the closet and stepping back into the room. 

As if on perfect timing, the door opened, revealing Zhanghao, Gyuvin and Ricky. 

"Oh, Hanbin!" Zhanghao exclaimed as he saw Hanbin. "What are you doing here?" 

Hanbin smiled at the other's cuteness, Zhanghao's innocent nature something he felt he needed to protect of some sort. Realizing he had been staring, Hanbin's cheeks flushed, pink color rising. Although, Zhanghao hadn't noticed, someone else had. 

"Someone's feeling embarrassed?" Ricky said as he touched Hanbin's cheeks, playfully. 

"Shush." Hanbin whispered quickly, pulling Ricky's hands away from his face before Zhanghao turned to look at him. He unconsciously began to smile, hiding what had just happened. 

"I'll never escape, will I?" Zhanghao sighed, knowing of his fate in an hour or two. 

"You've done it once, you can do it again." Ricky told him, encouragingly. It was the day of round two of the competition and Zhanghao couldn't help but feel even more worried than the last. Maybe it was Taerae's recent absence, but he pushed those thoughts away. 

"You finish this, and there's only two more left. We believe in you, Zhanghao." Gyuvin said. 

Hanbin just nodded in agreement before Zhanghao left to change, returning, dressed in the jacket Hanbin had just checked moments before. His new addition, however, was a fairly large sword which he had strapped to his back, ready at any moment for him to use. 

Hanbin still hadn't said anything to Zhanghao as Gyuvin and Ricky bid him good luck before Zhanghao was close to the door, about to exit with the guards. 

"Wait!" Hanbin called out, walking over to him. 

Expecting something about Hanbin's threat of assassination, Zhanghao gazed at Hanbin gravely, waiting for him to say something serious. Yet, all Hanbin didn't even know what he had wanted to say to Zhanghao but all he could manage out was, 

"You need to promise me Zero Cola again." Hanbin smiled. Zhanghao's face broke into a small laugh before replying, 

"Of course. Why didn't you remind me before?" Zhanghao chuckled, before Hanbin left him to exit, a guard on either side of him. After making sure Zhanghao had left, Gyuvin and Ricky narrowed their eyes at Hanbin. 

"So..." Gyuvin started, "Care to tell us about your feelings towards Zhanghao?" He smirked, startling Hanbin with the sudden remark that Hanbin felt the heat rising to his cheeks once again, but this time he didn't need to hide it. 

—

Standing in front of the all too familiar stone slab door, Zhanghao took a deep breath in, his heart racing as the guards stood, unfazed, behind him. He couldn't believe he was going to have to do it all over again, however the presence of the sword on his back reassured him. 

The sirens began again, counting down the seconds until the door would open. Closing his eyes, pictures of Hanbin flashed in his head—his eyes, his smile, his laugh. The noise of the sirens faded as Zhanghao's shoulders relaxed and the thought of Hanbin relaxed him. 

Opening his eyes again, Zhanghao blinked. He hadn't asked his inner mind to show him Hanbin and yet he felt calmer than ever. Unnaturally at peace, Zhanghao stared as the stone slab began to move, Zhanghao's eyes widening in horror as the arena for the next round was revealed. 

Right in front of him, a wooden pier led about three meters into the arena before it was cut off. And there was nothing left to step on, just waves and waves 

of water.