{WARNING: A very Hana-centric chapter}

. . .

Hwang Hana was someone who used to hold the title:

Daegu's Prodigy.

Her parents would say that the moment the Daegu-born girl could walk, she was already out and about playing every sport there was to offer. Basketball, softball, tennis, you name it. Hana probably had tried it one time or another. It seemed like magic, in the way how the young girl could adapt to the sport so quickly. Physically inclined, sharp minded, and had the never-ending motivation, it was no wonder that the girl excelled in every sport she tried. However, it wasn't until the age of 10 when she found her passion in volleyball.

Something about the sport enticed Hana. Whether it be the concept of teamwork or to be as ruthless as possible on the court, she ended up falling in love with every single detail of volleyball. And so, her life began revolving around the lone sport, forgetting every other sport in the dust and forgotten. She dreamed of it. She lived it. She breathed it. Her love only grew greater lengths with every passing year.

By the time she was 14, she had gained all the attention of Daegu with her extraordinary volleyball skills. For someone so young, she already possessed the expert abilities of a college student. And so, it wasn't a surprise when the girl was showered with offers, scholarships, and other great opportunities from scouts all over South Korea. Many have claimed to have a guaranteed spot on their top-notch volleyball teams if she were to choose them.

It wasn't until a year later she had met Seon Moon Hi.

The older woman was known to once being a part of the national women's volleyball team, wowing people with her undeniable talent in setting balls to the other spots with absolute precision. She then grew up to be the coach of the very team, leading them through victory after victory. Its been rumored that the female coach could whip up anyone into shape when she so desired. Even if practices were grueling and that she can be a strict woman at times, she was the best of the best.

Seon Moon Hi was always known for scouting most talented volleyball players, and so, she had approached Hana at the volleyball competition. Granted, Hana was every ounce of surprised at the appearance of the unexpected visitor.

Why?

Hana's team ended up losing national finals that day due to sudden complications in their teamwork.

The loss didn't refrain Coach Seon from walking up to the girl after the crucial game.

And the coach had told her this:

"You were outstanding out there, so I'm going to give you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but I have a favor to ask of you first. I still see a flaw in your play, this sport isn't something you can win alone. Make sure you understand every one of your teammates and their positions. You need to be in sync with everyone on the court, as well as the opposing team."

At first, Hana had thought this was absurd. She had done so well doing what she had been doing for all these years. Shouldn't it be her teammates trying to understand her and her skills? Why was this woman telling her something else?

Coach Seon continued, "So in a year, I'll come back and if I see a change in your gameplay, then I'll invite you to be a part of my team. It's your choice whether to fix the problem or not, but I believe you can do it. I don't usually meet someone personally if I don't see the talent within them. I want you on my team, Hwang Hana, and I apologize that my offer isn't the best out of all you were probably already offered but I promise that I will make you one of the best players in the nation. A spiker like you would be a great addition to my team."

After giving Hana a business card, she bowed respectfully and returned back to her awaiting son who stood by at the exit of the stadium, waiting.

And for once in her life, Hana had a goal.

She had improved greatly within that very year. Her progress surpassed everyone's expectations and her high school volleyball team managed to return to the nationals once again and win the finals. As promised, Hana was invited to be a part of the national professional volleyball team by Coach Seon before her junior year of high school.

The transition was drastic. The move from Daegu to Seoul was a complicated one. Leaving friends, family, and the only life she ever known behind was something she didn't think would happen so soon. College was only a couple years away, but it felt like she was already breaking free and becoming her own individual. So young, so early, yet she was ready.

This was her ultimate dream and Hana haven't wanted to do something so much in her life.

Coach Seon had sought out her flaws when others hadn't. She had seen the potential within Hana and knew that she needed to grow more into it. People around her, who had known her only as Daegu's Prodigy, only claimed that she was the epitome of perfection when, in fact, she wasn't. Even Hana knew that she had things to work on, more moves to practice, train her body more to be more fit for the port she loved so much.

Agreeing to Coach Seon was the best decision Hwang Hana ever made.

Thus began her life on the professional team at the age of 16.

Adapting to the team took little to no time, all veteran members had welcomed the young girl with open arms and made sure she was a part of the family. If possible, Hana's love for volleyball exploded tenfold as she had found the people she would no doubt do anything for. She worked harder than she did before; being loyal to her diets, doing personal exercises, following the schedule the coach had set out for her, she stuck to it religiously.

Her life was fantastic, even when for the first couple years on the team, she hadn't played an official match.

Hana then was officially introduced to Seon Young Gi and the girl swore her heart raced the moment she saw him. May it be love in first sight, she wasn't sure at that time. But the more she had seen him and bonded with him (along with the team), she knew this fascination was something more. She liked him more than she anticipated.

And during those days where she'd been gaining popularity within the nation, the two became close. Young Gi at that time have been struggling with school and such, but managed to get through with it. Hana did her best to stay by his side, showering him with the support he needed.

And she swore, nothing could be better than this. Volleyball and being with the guy she liked (even as a mere friend) was just all she needed to be happy.

Then came the ungodly year of 2012.

"So, how long would it take?" Hana asked. The tears were threatening to spill from her eyes and her voice couldn't help but crack. She was so close to breaking right now if no good news were coming her way. She was ready to burst out of the bed and flee from the hospital. The white walls... the white, blank walls were teasing her.

"I apologize Hwang Hana-sshi. It will take months for the injuries to heal, but might take a whole year of physical therapy to help you get back to the level you once were at... maybe longer," the doctor murmured, the sympathy dripping in his voice.

Hana's heart dropped. "More than a year? Doctor, is there no other way to get better faster?!"

"I'm terribly sorry."

"Are you sure?!"

Hana began to pinch and tear away at the cords that were connected to her. She wanted to leave, she wanted to go somewhere to scream. That's far too long, way too excruciatingly long without volleyball. A hand then shot out to stop her from thrashing. She glanced up to see a saddened expression from the boy she trusted the most. "Young Gi-yah, this shouldn't have happened! That driver was a drunk, he wasn't supposed to be driving but--"

"Just be thankful you're alive right now, Hana-yah," the med student told her in a low voice. "Please put that in consideration. Your family, the team, and I are very thankful, alright?" He clasped her unbroken hand into his. "We've got our support, alright? You're Hwang Hana, Daegu's Prodigy, a girl who's too strong to let this get to her. You should do your best to get better for your fans, alright?"

Young Gi's words always had a calming effect on her.

Easily, she agreed to it and promised.

2013 was the year when Coach Seon was considering to scout Yoon Dalnim onto the team by the recommendation from Young Gi. Outstanding talent who had been kept in the shadows far too long, it was about time Dalnim was brought out of her boundaries and be taken in to something more. College volleyball was one thing, but being a part of the professional team was a whole other unbelievable level and Hana knew that wholeheartedly.

In during the period of Hana's therapy, Dalnim finally joined the team.

When she has been sitting out for practices most days, Hana still tried to be a part of the team as much as she could, always cheering and supporting on the sidelines. She wanted to be with her team as much as possible even when it aches her that she couldn't join on the fun. But this only got her to get to know Yoon Dalnim a bit more.

Hana was the first to get Dalnim comfortable on the team.

She had seen the 21 year old girl play on the court and was instantly amazed by her. They were both of the same position as well, both spikers, so there was already that underlying connection between the two. Hana felt like Dalnim was a spectacle, someone who would only grow more into greatness, and she was ready to cheer her on for it.

Her and Dalnim were friends.

And with the support of her new friend and her teammates, Hana was finally back on the court.

After the hell of not playing volleyball, she was ready to get back to the swing of things.

But everything else around her seemed to have moved on.

Fans who used to be very loyal to her had suddenly disappeared. There were a few who still cheered her on in games, but not like before. Daegu's Prodigy was no longer a term used. And Hana even told Dalnim about this, about how she used to be showered with love from her fans and was known as that.

What did Dalnim say?

She had no clue about who was Daegu's Prodigy.

The raven haired girl claimed that she was really bad in keeping up with news about everything. A valid point but Hana was a bit hurt to hear that their fresh-faced teammate, a supposedly volleyball fanatic, had no clue about her or her legacy.

It made her realize that she no longer was relevant in the volleyball world, despite being one of the best players in the nation. The resting time had been too long and everything had moved on to something else without Hana. The girl was willing to catch up, she had to.

Every time she did, however, Dalnim was one step ahead, leaving her in the dust.

Then came her own growing popularity, giving Hana no chance to rise out from her hole. It was too much.

Yoon Dalnim replaced her as the face of the team.

Hana should have been fine with that, because she knew she couldn't keep it up forever anyway. Of course someone new was going to be invited into the team and the focus will then drift over to them. But she didn't m want to be forgotten so quickly, not now, not when she had suffered so much to get back on her feet.

And to make matters worst, Young Gi had been following Dalnim like a lost puppy. Hana knew his true feelings for the other girl, because this was how she was with him.

It hurts.

Why?

Why does everything have to change so suddenly?

Everyone promised for things to go back to normal when she came back.

Liars.

All of them.

Why was she suddenly left behind and replaced by someone who was now getting noticed by others?

Hwang Hana was the prodigy, not her.

But it didn't cross Hana's mind that being a prodigy only goes so far in life. Eventually... you'll become like everyone else.

Now, she's left back in the shadows, only watching everything unravel before her in the darkness.

But... she couldn't bring herself to despise Yoon Dalnim.

Not even close.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"Why did you do it, Hana?"

The fireworks could still be heard crackling outside, the dark room still flashing in an array of colors. The 23 year old girl stood by the bed, her face void from any emotion. After Dalnim had run downstairs and out the house, Young Gi had dragged her inside the room so they could have this conversation.

No.

This wasn't a conversation. Hana hadn't said anything in the past few minutes that the male had been berating her and accusing her of the mess before them. What happened to the warm voice you used to talk to me by, Young Gi?

It hasn't even been that long since she'd been known as the bitch of the team, always so aggressive and snappy at others when they don't deserve it. At this point, Hana couldn't stop herself.

Her heart had been broken by the sport she was supposed to love and by the people she thought she could rely on.

Who knew that would change?

"Talk to me," Young Gi pressed on in a harsher tone. He held the CD higher to show. "This was in this room! This could only mean you stole it that night. You knew that I was going to confess to Dalnim in that performance, Hana. Why did you take it?" A silence settled between them, the girl still unwilling to answer. The tan lad pinched the bridge of his nose out of frustration, processing the situation in hand. "If you hadn't... then this whole scandal wouldn't have happened."

Instantaneously, Hana's heart swelled with rage. She finally met his eyes, a scowl pulling at her glossed lips. "No. If it weren't for your pathetic ass going to the media and telling them about that ridiculous lie, then this scandal wouldn't have happened!"

Young Gi was taken aback by the sudden outburst, eyes bulged out and his lips slightly agape. Now that Hana was staring at him in this moment, she couldn't understand why she had liked him so damn much. This desperate state he was in just to cling onto Dalnim a little longer was unquestionably sad but Hana couldn't bring herself to feel sorry.

"I took away the CD that night because I knew you were going to be rejected anyway," Hana grumbled out, her glare shooting daggers into the male's soul. "You didn't listen to me, Young Gi."

"You said you wanted me happy, Hana. You think I'm happy right now??" he shouted back.

"I know you're not!" Hana snapped back. "But you trying to hold on to Dalnim when she's clearly not yours is unhealthy. She doesn't love you, Young Gi. She loves Chanyeol and that was obvious from the get go! It was about time that the damn paparazzi caught them doing who knows what and reveal their relationship, but you just had to screw everything up!"

"Well, if I could take everything back, I would!"

"But you can't, you fucking idiot." Hana gritted her teeth as she watched the male nurse sink onto the bed, his hands running across his face. "Because of your damn ignorance, she's in this scandal, which also puts our volleyball team in danger. The team that your mom puts so much of her time and effort on. Dalnim would have rejected you anyway."

"I would have liked it if she told me herself!" It was Hana's turn to be shut down. "You knew damn well how much I prepared that performance. You were the only one that knew about this. I couldn't even tell Mom about it... Maybe I knew deep down that I was going to be rejected, but it doesn't hurt to try, right? For that slim chance that she would actually consider my feelings... Isn't that what you wanted when you asked me to go with you when you confessed to me?

"Yeah but..."

"Yeah nothing, Hana. You were just being selfish," Young Gi spat at her.

SMACK.

It became deadly quiet in that room.

Hana's hand stung from the slap but she didn't regret one bit of it. "How dare you tell me that I was selfish. You alone had put a whole team, as well as the girl you love, in danger by your lie! Do you know how crucial the process will be to attempt to wash this over? People who saw the articles are now going to think Dalnim is a whore when she's no where near of being one. All she did was do her best on the team and fall back in love with a childhood friend. I know damn well I could be selfish but at least I have the decency to not screw people over."

She felt her eyes sting from the upcoming tears. She bit down on her lip as she glared intensely at the boy who looked to be contemplating everything about his life. "At least try to be the best friend you claim to be, asshole. Now get out, I can't stand to look at you anymore."

Young Gi left without any further arguments.

Hana then crumpled onto the floor and let the overwhelming regret of the past couple years wash over her in the darkness of that guest room. Because in a way... she had helped this shit happen too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/n: Quick question

If I were to pair Hana to a certain idol (from either EXO or SHINee), who would you want to see her paired up with?

Just mildly curious, and if you have a reason why too, that'd be great.

I hope you had a happy read, lovelies. <3