RACERS to RINGS

Chapter 22: Identity reveal?

Third Person POV

The excitement from the race still lingered in the air, the scent of burning rubber and gasoline hanging in the cool night breeze. J Hope, still wearing his helmet, stood surrounded by a small crowd of admirers, all praising his skills. The way his bike had roared down the track, the ease with which he handled the turns he was the undisputed king of the night. His laughter was light, almost melodic, as he accepted compliments from J and the other girls crowding around him. He didn't mind the attention; he had been a public figure long enough to handle it.

But under his helmet, a feeling of disgust churned in his stomach. He wasn't interested in any of these girls. He wasn't interested in any of them, no matter how many compliments they threw his way. His thoughts were consumed by only one person Yoongi. He had no intention of falling for anyone else, no matter how much the crowd might think he was charming or desirable. He only wanted Yoongi, and deep down, he couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration at how out of reach Yoongi seemed.

Meanwhile, Suga, still on the sidelines, leaned against the edge of the track, watching the scene unfold with a sense of annoyance. He had lost the race to J-Hope by the smallest margin, and the bitterness was still lingering in his chest. But as time passed, the sting of defeat began to fade. After all, he had more important things on his mind.

Then, something shifted. Out of nowhere, one of Yoongi's fans an overly enthusiastic girl with wide, angry eyes pushed through the crowd, clutching something in her hand. Yoongi's heart raced when he saw the gleam of metal in her grasp. A pocket knife. His eyes widened, adrenaline spiking in his veins as the girl rushed toward Hoseok, her intentions clear.

In an instant, Yoongi's instincts kicked in. His heart pounded in his chest as he sprinted forward, shouting at the top of his lungs. "J Hope! Watch out!"

But it was too late. The knife grazed Hoseok's side, the sharp edge catching his skin and drawing blood. Time seemed to slow as Yoongi dove into action, throwing himself at the girl before she could strike again. With a grunt, he shoved her away, her knife narrowly missing Hoseok's chest.

"Get help!" Yoongi shouted, his voice hoarse with panic. He turned his attention to Hoseok, who had stumbled back from the blow, clutching his side. Blood was seeping through his clothes, staining the fabric a dark red.

J, who had been standing off to the side, rushed into action, pulling out his phone and calling for an ambulance. The other bystanders, shocked and terrified, scattered in fear, leaving the area empty in a matter of moments. Yoongi's eyes flickered to the crowd, his teeth gritted in frustration at the sight of them abandoning Hoseok so quickly. None of them were worth the air they were breathing.

Jhope's breathing became shallow, the pain from the wound beginning to set in. Yoongi, heart still pounding from the rush of adrenaline, knelt beside him, trying to keep him conscious. The helmet still clung to Hoseok's head, and Yoongi could see the way it was pressing down, limiting Hoseok's breath.

There was no time to waste. Without thinking, Yoongi grabbed the helmet and yanked it off, revealing Jhope's face. His eyes widened as he finally saw Hoseok, the very same man he had been racing against. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, and a mix of shock, confusion, and a touch of amusement flooded through him.

It was Hoseok. The same man he'd been sparring with, the same rival who had pushed him to his limits, was the person he had been sleeping beside at home, the person he shared everything with. The realization was a punch to his gut, a confusing whirlwind of emotions.

But as he looked down at Hoseok, who was breathing heavily and unaware of the shock Yoongi had just experienced, the only thing Yoongi could focus on was the pain on Hoseok's face. The man he loved, the man he cherished, was hurt, and Yoongi couldn't focus on anything else.