Almost blind | Haobin

32| Fractured Strength |32

"This is so embarrassing," Hanbin huffed, dropping himself onto the bench with an exasperated sigh. He crossed his arms tightly over his chest, his expression etched with frustration as he watched his teammates rush onto the basketball court. The sound of sneakers squeaking against the polished wood, the echo of the referee's whistle-it all felt like a cruel taunt.

"Oh, come on, it's literally the first time you're sitting on the bench as a substitute," Gunwook attempted to soothe him, placing a reassuring hand on Hanbin's shoulder. But Hanbin rolled his eyes, shrugging off the comfort. "Yeah, but at what cost?" His voice dripped with resentment, and Gunwook let out a sigh.

This was their last game before the Christmas break, and instead of being out there leading the team to victory, Hanbin was stuck on the sidelines, reduced to nothing more than a spectator. They had traveled for hours to another town, endured the cramped seats of the van, all for him to sit here like an extra piece of furniture. He felt humiliated. He was used to being the one calling the shots, the one who made things happen on the court. Now, he was just another player warming the bench.

If Yujin saw him like this, he'd never let him live it down. He could already hear the teasing remarks, the smug smirk on Yujin's face as he mocked him for the rest of his life.

The game began, his teammates darting across the court with practiced precision. Their coach stood nearby, his sharp eyes analyzing every movement, every play, like a master strategist planning his next move.

Hanbin slumped back against the bench, still feeling the lingering dizziness from last night. He had drunk too much. His head throbbed slightly, and his stomach churned at the memory of it. Maybe, just maybe, sitting on the bench wasn't the worst thing in the world. But still-he longed to be out there, to feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins, to command the court like he always did.

His thoughts drifted back to last night, to Ricky, to the things he had said. The embarrassment from his drunken ramblings clawed at him, but at the same time... he didn't regret it. If anything, it felt like their relationship had softened, become less strained. This morning, Ricky had made breakfast for him, even wished him luck before the match. Hanbin wasn't sure why, but that simple act of kindness settled something deep inside him. Maybe all their arguing had been pointless after all.

Hao, on the other hand-he hadn't even seen him today. When Hanbin left the house, Hao was still in his room, and honestly, that was for the best. He was done chasing after him, done trying to fix something that clearly wasn't meant to be fixed.

Maybe it was time to accept things as they were. Hao was with Yujin now, and even if that meant Hao would end up hurt in the future... Hanbin couldn't do anything about it.

He sighed, shifting on the bench, his gaze flickering back to the game. At least his team was winning.

Then, out of nowhere, a sharp whistle cut through the air. One of his teammates staggered, gripping his forehead before collapsing onto his knees, their coach was already moving, yelling instructions, signaling for a substitution.

One of the players suddenly grew dizzy, stumbling as he lost his balance. Though it was a serious setback for the team, Hanbin couldn't help but feel a spark of gratitude. He sat up straighter, his heart lurching with anticipation.

"Hanbin!" The coach barked.

That was all he needed to hear. In an instant, he was on his feet, shoving aside the frustration he had been drowning in moments ago. He rolled his shoulders, stretched his arms, cracking his neck like a fighter stepping into the ring.

But, of course, he played his happines cool.

With an easy smirk, he turned to Gunwook. "Guess it's my time to shine." He said, but Gunwook just chuckled, shaking his head. "Try not to let your ego explode on the court."