ａｓｙｍｐｔｏｔｅ // guanho

Sixth

Seon Ho sat at the corner of the couch, giving Jeong Han a shy look as he wonder what the others are going to talk about with how closely they are seated. As much as the silence wasn't awkward, he however didn't enjoy as he hoped to, silently begging either Jeno or Jeong Han to break the ice.

"It's getting too quiet for my liking."

He nodded, sincerely glad that Jeong Han did as he secretly wished. He wore a meek smile, looking to Jeno next who then returned him a wide one. Seon Ho took a better look at the other when they shared eye contact, pondering over the puffy and swollen eyes that were obviously from crying. His growing urge to question was vanquished as fast as it was formed when Jeno averted his eyes away, seemingly noticed that his eyes had gotten unwanted attention from the younger.

"Seon Ho," Upon being called out by Jeong Han, he peeled his eyes away from Jeno to see Jeong Han giving him a gentle smile. "Why do you like basketball?"

Seon Ho dropped his smile after a while. He didn't expect him to be questioned instead and certainly, he lacked a definite answer which made him wonder why.

"I don't really have a definite reason why I like basketball... I just like it?" He replied softly, rubbing the back of his neck to erase the slight embarrassment he caused himself, but the other two found it cute.

"You remind me of him..."

Seon Ho raised his eyebrows at Jeong Han's comment. "Who?"

That was when he realised he should have kept quiet because Jeong Han's usual smile was added with a tinge of sadness, and his eyes could not hide it as well. Jeno was the same, just that his smile from before was almost entirely gone.

Seon Ho was so close to apologising till Jeong Han stared at him firmly, a fake smile plastered strongly on his face.

"Guan Lin."
"Huh?"

Jeong Han softly chuckled and Seon Ho thought it was angelic.

"Your reason for liking basketball, it's similar to his when I first asked him."

Seon Ho let out a soft 'oh', mind soon drifting to the scene whereby the said guy—who seemed to be the other two's current trouble—tossed the basketball into the hoop in his beautiful form, the ball not touching the rim even for a bit as it went through the net like it's the easiest thing to do. Guan Lin's perfect shot has been deeply etched in his heart when he first saw it as he yearns to be as good as him, but the other seemed to be against of his passion, something he is unsure why.

"Do you guys want to play basketball at the nearby court?" Jeno suggested before he looked at Jeong Han who had a bitter smile, silently slapping himself for being incautious.

"Sure, I don't mind watching you guys play." The older replied as he looked down to his legs with the same smile, tucking his stray chestnut strands behind his ears delicately, making Seon Ho blush at how feminine he is being. It didn't help that Jeong Han looks so pretty that he could be mistaken as a lady, like how he initially did. "I would like to see how Seon Ho plays too."

Seon Ho felt a punch at his guts as his eyes widened, letting out a "E-Eh?" in nervousness.

So far as he knows, Jeong Han is his basketball idol's—Guan Lin's—mentor and if he were to be judged by Jeong Han with his lame and amateur skills, he might as well make himself a clown.

"Yep, I can help give areas for improvement. I'm quite good in Basketball. Well, was."

The small hint of sadness in his tone made Seon Ho's heart ache slightly, though knowing well enough to say nothing about as he gave Jeno a look, wanting to see his reaction at Jeong Han's words. Jeno seemed to share the same pained expression. Their lowered eyes showed their sorrow even with smiles hiding it.