PLAY BALL | minsung

SUMMER

Los Angeles, California, USA

"I think I'm going crazy."

Kevin almost chokes on his food at Jeongin's sudden outburst, what the hell was he going on about now? He swallows his food slowly, "W—what? Why?"

The younger sighs as he shoves around his soggy noodles idly, "I don't know," he scrunches up his face in thought, "I—I guess I feel stuck."

Kevin still has a shocked expression on his face, forgotten noodles hanging from his chopsticks as he tries to compute what his friend has said.

"I feel like my career isn't going anywhere."

Kevin finally puts down his utensils, scooting his chair closer to the table, "You mean like, baseball?"

Jeongin nods slowly, moving his bowl away from him, no longer hungry.

The older sighs, leaning back in his chair, taking a good look at his friend, "It's only been a couple months, how could you feel stuck already?"

The boy looks out the window of the little Korean restaurant in LA, shaking his head lightly, "I don't feel like I'm improving, I feel like I'm just a static player, practicing everyday and doing the same stuff," he furrows his brow as if cringing at himself, "I feel like I don't belong, like this was a mistake."

Kevin stares at him for a few seconds, face blank.

Suddenly he reaches over and flicks Jeongin's forehead, making him hold it in pain, "Stupid."

"Ow, what the hell was that for, Kevin?"

The older begins to eat his food again while he shakes his head disapprovingly.

Jeongin looks at his friend deadpanned, "The hell is wrong with you man?"

Kevin begrudgingly puts his chopsticks down again, unimpressed look on his face, "You're the most talented pitcher on our team, Yang Jeongin," said boy blushes, "and you're worried about not getting better?" the older scoffs as he shakes his head, "You've been here, what, three months?" Jeongin is quick to correct him, "Four, four months." Kevin rolls his eyes, "Same difference."

"Either way, you don't have to rush man, you're 18 for Christ's sake, you have years ahead of you."

"If you seriously think you're stuck now imagine how you'll feel at the end of your career, when you're in your mid-thirties and these children are vying for your spot on the team."

"You're not stuck, you've just convinced yourself that you are."

Kevin shakes his head continuing to eat again, Jeongin smiling softly at his new friend.

"Thanks, Hyung."

The older smiles, reaching over to hit Jeongin's shoulder playfully, "Anytime," something seems to occur to him, "and if it's any consolation, I think you've been improving like crazy since the beginning of the season."

This makes him blush, giggling nervously, "Ah, thanks."

The youngest begins to eat again, feeling embarrassed by his insecurities, "I'm sorry I put that all on you, I just miss my friends and my home."

Kevin looks up at him with sympathy as he listens, "You and Changbin are all I have right now, the ones that actually understand me."

The older chuckles, "Hey, Mark is trying!"

This makes Jeongin giggle, remembering Mark Tuan's botched Korean, "He is, he's definitely trying."

When they stop laughing Jeongin smiles down at his bowl with hesitancy, "I guess what I'm trying to say is thank you for being there for me."