The Whispers (Underworld 6) VK

17: Jinyoung or Hansol

It was another intense match day for Hansol, and the gym was packed with students buzzing with excitement. The basketball team was gearing up for the game, Hansol leading his squad as usual, looking focused yet effortlessly cool. Meanwhile, Seungkwan was, once again, roped into cheering for Hansol's team with the cheerleading squad. It wasn't something he particularly enjoyed, but Moonbin had dragged him along, claiming it would be "fun."

"Come on, Seungkwan," Moonbin said, grinning as they stood at the edge of the court. "You've done this a million times now. Just try to enjoy yourself."

"Enjoy?" Seungkwan scoffed, crossing his arms as he reluctantly held his pom-poms. "I'm not sure I'd call supporting Hansol's ego 'fun.'"

Moonbin chuckled, patting Seungkwan on the back. "You know, it's almost like you care. You're practically his biggest fan at this point."

Seungkwan shot him a glare. "I do not care. I'm here because you made me come, and someone has to keep you from embarrassing yourself."

As the teams started warming up on the court, Hansol stole a glance at Seungkwan from the other side, catching sight of him standing with the cheerleaders. Though he would never admit it out loud, seeing Seungkwan on the sidelines—whether he was cheering or reluctantly waving his pom-poms—always made Hansol feel just a little more competitive. There was something about knowing Seungkwan was watching that made him want to play even better.

But today was different. When the opposing team filed into the gym, Hansol and Seungkwan's attention was suddenly drawn to their captain—the one and only Jinyoung. Seungkwan froze in shock as he saw his date from last week, the same Jinyoung who had been so charming and perfect at the café, now leading the rival basketball team. Moonbin, noticing Seungkwan's wide-eyed stare, raised an eyebrow.

"Wait... isn't that—"

"Jinyoung," Seungkwan finished, his voice barely above a whisper. "What is he doing here?"

"I guess he didn't mention that he's the captain of the rival team," Moonbin teased, nudging Seungkwan's arm. "This just got a lot more interesting."

Seungkwan was still processing the situation when Hansol, standing in the center of the court, locked eyes with Jinyoung. The atmosphere between them instantly shifted, a competitive tension filling the gym. Hansol could feel his irritation bubbling up—this was the same guy Seungkwan had been on a date with. And now, he was the one standing in the way of Hansol's win.

The game began with a fierce energy. Both teams were playing hard, but Jinyoung's team dominated the first half. Every time Jinyoung scored, Hansol's frustration grew. And to make things worse, he couldn't help but glance toward Seungkwan every now and then, watching for his reaction. Was Seungkwan cheering for him or for Jinyoung?

Seungkwan, on the other hand, was completely torn. Jinyoung was playing brilliantly, leading his team with grace and precision, and Seungkwan couldn't deny that he was impressed. But at the same time, there was something about seeing Hansol struggle on the court that made him... uncomfortable. It wasn't like he wanted Hansol to lose, but—

"Seungkwan!" Moonbin hissed, pulling him out of his thoughts. "Focus! You're supposed to be cheering."

"I'm trying," Seungkwan muttered, lifting his pom-poms half-heartedly. But his eyes kept drifting between Hansol and Jinyoung, unable to decide who he was really rooting for.

The first half ended with Jinyoung's team leading by a solid margin, and Hansol's frustration was at an all-time high. As he headed to the sidelines for a break, he shot a glance at Seungkwan, who was still standing with Moonbin, looking conflicted. Hansol clenched his jaw, wiping sweat from his forehead. Was Seungkwan really going to cheer for his date over him?