Min-Jae could feel the energy in the gym shift the moment he stepped through the doors of the university Taekwondo club. It had been years since he last trained, but the thrum of the mats under his feet, the crisp ki-yaps echoing through the air, and the faint smell of sweat brought back a flood of memories.
He had to admit, part of him was nervous. Joining the Taekwondo club in college felt like a big step after years away from the sport. He'd spent most of high school focused on academics, but something about Taekwondo—the discipline, the focus, the memories—called him back.
As he scanned the room, his eyes caught on a familiar figure. A tall man with broad shoulders, standing at the front of the class, demonstrating a roundhouse kick with a grace and power that Min-Jae remembered all too well.
His heart skipped a beat.
Could it be...?
"Joon-Ho Hyung?" Min-Jae whispered to himself, barely audible over the sounds of students sparring.
The man turned, and when their eyes met, Min-Jae's breath caught in his throat. It was him. Joon-Ho. The older boy who had once been his mentor, his inspiration, his first crush.
Years had passed since they'd last seen each other. Joon-Ho had moved away abruptly during Min-Jae's last year in elementary school. Min-Jae had missed him more than he would ever admit, but seeing him now, looking so composed and confident, brought everything rushing back.
Joon-Ho's expression shifted from concentration to surprise, then to recognition. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he took a step forward.
"Min-Jae?" Joon-Ho's voice was deeper than he remembered, but still held the same warmth that had drawn him in all those years ago.
"Yeah... it's me," Min-Jae replied, his own smile growing. "It's been a while."
Joon-Ho chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't expect to see you here. You've grown."
Min-Jae's heart did a little flip at the comment, but he quickly brushed it off, focusing on keeping his cool. "I could say the same about you. You're... the instructor now?"
"Technically, Team Captain," Joon-Ho corrected with a grin. "But yeah, I'm still in the game. I couldn't stay away from Taekwondo."
Min-Jae felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him. He remembered how Joon-Ho had always been patient, guiding him through kicks and forms with the ease of someone years older. Back then, he had looked up to Joon-Ho like a hero. But now, standing face to face with him as adults, there was something more.
Joon-Ho's eyes softened, and for a moment, the noise of the gym seemed to fade away. "You've really changed, Min-Jae. It's good to see you again."
Min-Jae's cheeks flushed slightly. "You too. I missed... this. Taekwondo, I mean."
Joon-Ho's smile widened, and there was a glint of something in his eyes that made Min-Jae's pulse quicken. "I'm glad you came back. Maybe we can train together again, like old times."
Min-Jae nodded, though his mind was racing. Could it really be like old times? Or was there something more between them now, something unspoken but undeniable?
As they began the class, Min-Jae found himself stealing glances at Joon-Ho, watching the way he moved, the way he commanded the room with quiet authority. The admiration he'd once felt as a child had blossomed into something deeper, something more complex.
And Joon-Ho... Min-Jae could feel the weight of his gaze, too, lingering a little too long, his smile a little too warm.
When the class ended, Joon-Ho approached him, his expression a mix of nostalgia and something more intense. "Hey... do you want to grab a coffee? Catch up?"
