Blessing in Disguise

Chapter Six

12/14/2017

Y/N's freshman year had been a whirlwind of dedication and hard work. From the moment Yunjin boarded that plane to Seoul, something had shifted in him. He poured every ounce of energy into basketball, using the court as his outlet, his sanctuary. Day after day, he pushed himself harder, staying late after practice to work on his shooting, footwork, and defense. The ring on his finger—Yunjin's promise—became a silent motivator, a reminder that they were both chasing something bigger than themselves.

By the time the season ended, his efforts hadn't gone unnoticed. College coaches from all over the country had started showing up to his games, eyes trained on him like hawks. They weren't just any coaches either—these were top-tier Division I schools, and they wanted him on their teams.

The first official visit he took was to UCLA. The moment he stepped onto campus, he was overwhelmed by the grandeur of it all—the sprawling green lawns, the towering buildings, and, of course, the famed Pauley Pavilion where legends had once played. The assistant coach gave him a tour, walking him through the training facilities and introducing him to some of the players who were already there. Y/N couldn't deny the excitement he felt, imagining himself playing in such a historic program. But as the visit went on, there was an emptiness that followed him. He'd glance at his phone, half-expecting a message from Yunjin, wishing she were there to experience it with him.

After the tour, he found a quiet moment and dialed her number, leaning against the wall of his hotel room. The phone rang twice before her familiar voice answered.

"Hey, you," Yunjin's voice was soft, but full of life despite the time difference. "How was the visit?"

Y/N let out a sigh, staring at the ceiling. "It was... amazing. UCLA is incredible, but I don't know, Jen. It feels weird doing all this without you here."

Yunjin paused for a moment before responding. "I know. I wish I could be there with you too. But you're killing it, babe. You deserve this."

They had been on the phone constantly since she left for Seoul, never letting the distance come between them. His mom had even started joking about it, often poking her head into his room and saying, "On the phone with Yunjin again?" whenever she caught him smiling into the receiver.

Y/N's next official visit was to Duke, and it couldn't have been more different from UCLA. The campus was smaller, more intimate, but there was a gravitas to it. Cameron Indoor Stadium was legendary, and just standing on that court made his heart race. The Blue Devils' coach — Coach K, a figure of immense respect, took the time to talk to Y/N about what it meant to be part of the Duke program, emphasizing the legacy that came with wearing the jersey.

After a full day of tours and meetings, Y/N found himself alone in his hotel room again, dialing Yunjin's number before he even took his shoes off.

"Duke," he said after she answered. "It's everything they say it is. Intense. The energy here is insane."

Yunjin laughed softly on the other end. "I can hear it in your voice. Sounds like you're leaning toward Duke."

"I don't know," Y/N admitted. "It feels right, but there's still other schools to visit. I just— I wish you could help me decide."

She paused, and for a moment, all he could hear was the soft hum of the line connecting them across thousands of miles. "I am helping, Y/N," she said gently. "I'm here. And no matter where you end up, I'll be cheering for you."

Y/N smiled, her words grounding him in the chaos of it all. He had spent months like this—navigating his college options, weighing the pros and cons, but always feeling that tug of longing whenever he thought about how far away Yunjin was.