Frozen Memories➔ps.ff

Chapter 11

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The next two days passed in a blur, and before they knew it, competition day had arrived. This was the long-awaited national event that both Sarang and Sunghoon had been tirelessly preparing for.

Despite the tension between them and the lack of support they'd been able to offer each other recently, they had focused on their training with relentless determination. As almost-professionals, they were well-versed in their craft, but even they weren't immune to the nerves that came with such a significant competition.

Sunghoon, however, was struggling more than usual. The weight of his stress, compounded by not seeing Sarang, had made him question whether he should even compete. Yet, he knew deep down that Sarang would be furious if she found out he hadn't participated. It wasn't that he wasn't prepared—he had practiced, but it hadn't been enough to quell the dissatisfaction and anxiety gnawing at him.

At 8 a.m., Sarang's day began with the sunlight streaming through her window, its brightness stirring her awake. She opened her eyes, feeling the effects of a restless night; the nerves had kept her up, and she had barely managed to sleep. But there was no time to dwell on her exhaustion—she had a project to deliver to school before heading to the academy.

As an athlete of her and Sunghoon's caliber, their school granted them special leave for competitions like this one. They were the pride of the school, after all.

Sarang quickly got ready, taking a shower, brushing her teeth, and curling her hair. She applied a light layer of makeup—just lip gloss and mascara—after finishing her skincare routine. With her duffle bag in one hand, packed with her competition outfit and other essentials, and her school project tucked safely in a large folder in the other, she hurried downstairs.

The moment she reached the bottom of the stairs, the aroma of her mother's cooking greeted her. Her mother had prepared a variety of traditional Korean dishes for this special day, including Manduguk (Korean Dumpling Soup), Wanja Jeon (Pan-fried Meat Patties), and an assortment of Banchan (side dishes). Sarang's stomach growled in anticipation as she approached the table, her mouth watering at the sight.

Her mother emerged from the kitchen, smiling warmly. "Did you sleep well?" she asked.

Sarang nodded, even though she'd barely slept, and replied, "Thanks, Mom. It looks delicious, and I'm sure it tastes even better." She sat down at the table, grateful for the comforting meal.

Just then, Dohwa wandered into the kitchen, rubbing his sleepy eyes. He froze when he saw the spread of food before him, gasping in mock surprise. "What's the occasion?" he teased, casting a playful glance at Sarang.

Sarang shot him a glare, scoffing in response. Their mother, setting the last dish on the table, chided him gently, "How can you say that? Today is your sister's competition day. It's a special day for all of us."

"But you never cooked this much when I had a basketball game!" Dohwa complained, feigning hurt. "This is so unfair."

Their mother, not missing a beat, retorted, "Didn't I make you seaweed soup for your competition day?"

Sarang jumped in, "Yes, you did, Mom. He's just exaggerating."

Dohwa huffed, "But Mom, you only made seaweed soup for me. You're cooking an entire feast for her!" He plopped down in his chair, continuing his mock sulking.

Their father entered the kitchen at that moment, greeting them with a bright smile. "My beautiful and hardworking daughter, are you all ready for your competition today?" he asked, taking his seat.

Dohwa rolled his eyes, mumbling under his breath, which earned him a playful smack on the head from their mother. "Don't be jealous of your sister, Dohwa. It's her special day," she said, ruffling his hair affectionately.