CHAPTER TWO ; YOU'RE FEELING THREATENED.

Narae and Sowon went back and forth in the ice skating rink, shooting automatically-shot pucks into the net. Once they'd score–or not–they'd do a lap around and line back up. Sweat was running down their necks and faces, jerseys filling with ice-cold air each time their skates would clash against the ice. Once Sowon dug down her right skate, she waited for the puck to come out.

When the puck came in her direction, she pivoted to her left skate and lifted the hockey somewhat high, almost looking like she was playing mini golf. She struck it hard, and it hit off the side of the net barrier and diagonally into the goal. Gritting her teeth, a sweaty Sowon ran to the rink's wall, skating fast.

Narae soon hit the puck, gasping for air. "God, fuck. I'm tired as shit. What's the reason that you called me out here to do drills with you? Why couldn't you take one of the second years that will follow in your footsteps next year?"

"Are any of them as fitting for the spot as I am? Not even training would help uphold this team when we leave," Narae rolled her eyes, but she knew it was the truth. Sowon shaped the team into one of the best teams in Seoul, and when she's off to university, all the third years are afraid it'll fall apart. "And, I'm not doing this for training. I just can't sleep. I need something to distract me–and ice hockey always does the trick."

"Or..." Narae trailed off, placing her chin on the tip of her hockey stick. "You could go back to doing what you do best: Playing Mario Kart and Overwatch at the brink of midnight."

"Hey! People can hear that!" Sowon skated over and attempted to cover her best friend's mouth, but thanks to the helmet, the only thing the captain was silencing was the plastic plating. "I told you not to bring up that I do that kind of thing!"

Narae pried her friend's hand off her helmet, wiping her lips. "Gosh, is it such a sin!? Everyone does it!"

"I'm supposed to have a cool persona. Games are for nerds, and I can't be a nerd!" Sowon whined, stomping down her right skate. "We've talked about this before!"

"Yes, yes, we've had this conversation multiple times," Narae rolled her eyes, looking at her hockey stick. "But really, it's nothing so secretive. You're still the coolest person alive in my eyes, Ryu Sowon!"

Sowon sarcastically laughed, a quick smile falling. "Thanks, Song Narae. You've got a visitor. Did you invite your boyfriend to the rink?"

"Hm!?" She spun around, seeing Sunoo leaning against the outer wall, waving at his girlfriend. "Oh my gosh! When did you get here? How did you know I was here?!"

She jumped out of the ice rink as Sowon gently skated over, leaving the ice rink too. Peeling off her helmet, the blonde soccer manager held it for her. "You weren't picking up my calls, so I figured if there's anywhere else but beside me, you're going to be, it's with Sowon or the rink. Turns out it was both. I got here just now."

Sowon took a seat on the stands, raking back her loosely black hair. Licking her lips, she absorbed the sweat with her gloves. "What were you calling me for, hm?" She grabbed his chin, narrowing her eyes. "You're usually busy with practice. Did the soccer team finish?"

"We didn't have practice today. We will tomorrow, though, so I can't take you out for dinner. I can still give you a ride home after practice, though."

"That's fine. Who knows, maybe we'll finish practice early and I can come join you on the field. Right, Sowon?" The question was now placed in the Captain's hands, the girl not even listening to the conversation prior. "Are we finishing practice early?"

"Might run late," Was all Sowon said, causing Narae to huff. "Not my words, it's Coach Na. As much as I'd like to leave and study for my Chemistry test, trust me–I'm with you. I have authority over you all, but not Coach Na."

"Unfortunate. Well, I guess I can just catch a ride with Natty," Sunoo nodded, sweetly patting down his girlfriend's explosive hair. The helmet sure causes some damage. "What time are we going to the party on Saturday, by the way?"

"Probably eight-thirty," Sunoo looked at his watch. "Speaking of the party–Sowon, are you going?"

She batted her eyelashes, zoning in and out. Perhaps the sleep deprivation was finally taking a toll on her, but in reality, her eyes were still on that scholarship. "What the hell are we talking about now?"

"The party. You know, the first party of our last year in high school! The one that Chaewon is hosting? Come on, she's been talking about it for days on end, and you've told her to use that mouth on the rink." Sowon can remember the vagueness of it, maybe just the bare mention, but nothing else. "Anyway, everyone from Seoul is super hyped about it, and Sunoo was asking if you're going."

"It's a weekend... I have nothing better to do," Sowon shrugged, implying agreement. "Is there a theme or anything? Do I have to dress up?"

"Nope, nothing," Sunoo shook his head. "Just look nice. Maybe you can score yourself a boyfriend while you're at it and achieve that dream you told me and Narae about when you got rejected: High school sweethearts."

"I told you never to bring his ass up," Sowon gritted her teeth, getting angry. When she realized the panic settling over their faces, Sowon exhaled heavily. "Sorry. I'm never letting that go. At this age of mine, I can kiss high school sweethearts goodbye. I'd rather become a nun if I can't become a professional ice hockey player."

"No need to be a nun, please," Narae rolled her eyes.

"How have you been holding up about the scholarship thing? I figured it might be weighing on your mind since everyone's been placing non-existent bets," Sunoo asked, tightening his grip around his girlfriend's waist. "I know that our team captain's been pretty cocky that he'll win, and he'll do anything necessary to make sure you don't."

"Word for word?" Sowon asked and Sunoo nodded slowly. Sowon rolled her eyes, elbows on her knees. "Asshole. I'm not surprised, though. I felt like I could get it if I really tried–and trust me, I need that big scholarship more than anything. But, I'm going to try and be humble among the other qualifiers."

Then, she paused and cracked her knuckles, sucking in her teeth. "Sim Jaeyun, however... I'll make him eat shit. I'd rather have both of us lose than have him win!"

"It seems you're excited for war, hm?" Sunoo chuckled, looking at his watch again. "I won't let it weigh on your mind any longer. Since it's already sundown, I'm going to take Narae and myself home. Do you want a ride home?"

Sowon shook her head, standing back up. Her body slammed her, asking for a break–but she knew that if she wanted to perfect her stance, she'd have to work harder. "I'm okay. I'm going to continue practicing for a little longer and walk home."

"It's dark out now, Sowon," Narae worried for her best friend, reaching a hand out to her arm. "Come on. Let's just call it a day already."

"You two... Gosh, I'll be fine. Besides, if I need a ride home, I can just ask my older sister. She's probably out with her boyfriend right now," Sunoo snorted, knowing exactly who the boyfriend was. Narae giggled as well, wondering what they could be doing. "What? Am I missing something?"

"Nothing, nothing. It's a story I'll tell you later when you find out about his identity," Sowon already knew the boyfriend. What more was there to him? "We'll be going now, Sowon. Don't overdo yourself."

She waved her glove, saying goodbye to the couple. "See you guys tomorrow."

And, facing the ice again, she winced at the pristine white, groaning. "Back to practice..."

"Up and down, again!" Jaeyun ran back and forth as his coach, Choi Yeonjun, advised him and the rest of the team. Jaeyun was the fastest, his cleats smacking against the grass and back to the white line. "Break once you're done with this set."

Jaeyun was able to take a breath of relief, his hair tousled back in a clipped headband. With his hands on his hips, Myung Jaehyun, the team's center back finished second, joining him. "Tired?" Jaehyun asked him, but Jaeyun shook his head. "You can be honest, hyung. None of the scholarship officers are here to watch you die of exhaustion."

Jaeyun laughed a little, shaking his head. "I'm not tired. I'm building my endurance anyway, so I have to teach my brain that I'm capable of going farther than I usually do," He explained, causing Jaehyun to snicker. "If you think it's about the scholarship... Well, partially it is. However, you've said it yourself. None of them are here to watch me anyway."

Jaehyun's eyes lifted to the stands, his finger pointing to someone. "I mean, you've got a visitor."

Jaeyun tilted his head before he turned around, seeing his best friend, Sunghoon. The boy waved his hand, looking as charming as ever. Yeonjun cocked an eyebrow at him, soon sighing. "Go ahead, Jaeyun. Might as well before we split off into teams."

"Thanks, Coach," Jaeyun jogged off the field and onto the stands, going up the incline. "Sunghoon! What are you doing here, dude?!"

The two fist-bumped and hugged, Sunghoon's wet hair indicating that he had just left the pool. "I was doing some practice for a meet tomorrow, and figured that you'd still be training by this time, so I came to see you. Congrats on qualifying for that scholarship, by the way."

Jaeyun flashed a smile, nodding. "Thanks," He breathed out, both of them facing the field. "I'm glad I'm recognized. I swear, if I wasn't considered, I would've blown a fuse."

Sunghoon snickered, leaning against the railing. "Nobody from our swim team qualified, and I didn't want to participate. I have more than enough money, so a scholarship and an award is nothing but a gift to me. Why did you want to go for it?"

"It's the highest award a high school athlete could get. What else? I think you could've qualified. You're the God of swimming, not to mention, the captain from first to third year," Jaeyun complimented his childhood best friend. Park Sunghoon and Sim Jaeyun had been inseparable since elementary school. The only reason they split up was because they lived in different districts, forcing Sunghoon to go to Hanseong for high school and Jaeyun to go to Seoul. From partying to sports, though, they continue to support one another, always being there when they need it. "A scholarship is bullshit. I just want the trophy. Mom and Dad can pay for university."

"You're not very kind to those not as privileged as you, hm?" Sunghoon teased, causing Jaeyun to roll his eyes. "But I hear that you've got quite the competition this year. Dude from Kyunggi, that girl from Hanlim–"

"Do you know that girl?" Jaeyun interrupted, which made Sunghoon furrow his eyebrows. "Oh, sorry. The girl from Hanseong. Ice hockey girl."

"Ryu Sowon?" Sunghoon already thought of her. I mean, who wouldn't? She was the girl crush of Hanseong. He laughed, exhaling out a bit of cold air. "What about her? All of a sudden? Don't tell me... are you trying to get with her?"

"Fuck no!" Jaeyun denied, shaking his head swiftly. "She's one of the qualifiers."

"Oh. I figured. She's beyond amazing in ice hockey. I've never seen someone as determined and flowy as her," Sunghoon's adoration for the girl caused his best friend to groan. "What? Oh... I get it, you're feeling threatened."

"Threatened?" The soccer captain rebuked in disgust. "No fucking way. I'm just asking because I'm thinking of messing with her, you know? Trying to make her look bad."

"Good luck," Sunghoon brushed back his hair, the collar of his shirt wet. "It's hard to mess with that girl. Trust me, even boys at our school have tried–and she's never given in to it. Not once."

Jaeyun huffed. "You know, for my best friend, you're really putting me down right now," He complained, staring at the swimmer. "They tell me you've talked to her. About what?"

"Nothing important. She's a little awkward if you're wondering about her personality, but if you rub her the right way, she's pretty gentle," Sunghoon smiled. "If you treat her like a girl, she'll be well-spoken. We had a conversation about something, can't remember what, and I've held her in high regard since."

Sunghoon paused, adding soon after, "But if you want me to hate her, I'll hate her. Just for you."

Jaeyun turned his head, and just as he faced his best friend, the swimmer blew him a kiss. "Ugh. Fuck you."

"Love you too, Jaeyun," Sunghoon looked at his phone. "Anyway, I have to head home. Mom's cooking me good food tonight, and my sister's going to call any minute if I delay. Want me to save you a plate?"

"No need," Jaeyun shook his head. "I'll head straight home after. Good luck at your swim meet."

"Thanks," Sunghoon patted his back, beckoning to the field. "Practice well. Bye!"

Jaeyun quickly stepped down and ran back to the field, fist-bumping Sohee. "What did you both talk about?"

"Nothing important," Jaeyun semi-lied. To him, Sowon was a forced irrelevancy. He considered her only important in the plan of taking her down, and in all other aspects of his life, she didn't mean anything. "Let's get back to practice."

But, then again, the notion of Sowon to Jaeyun was right in front of the eyes: Forced irrelevancy.

Deep down, the thought of her winning bothered him to his core. His craving for winning still lived, even if the award was pointless to everyone else. Even if it wouldn't define his success, he needed it–if that meant taking out his athletic enemy.

By any means possible.