TAT (6/?)
6
High school clichés don’t stop at family
The game soccer game was starting. The cheerleaders were lined up on the side of the field chatting animatedly. Kibum was warming up next to Minho. He stretched out his left leg and tucked his right one next to his thigh. He reached out with one hand and repeated the motion.
“I didn’t know your stepsister was a cheerleader. I heard that she quit the season and only came back to cheer for soccer and lacrosse.” Kibum let out a belated groan.
“I’m just as surprised as you are.”
Kibum patted Minho’s knee,” Let’s kill ‘em tonight, what d’you say?”
“I’m in.”
*
Yuri shook her foot impatiently as she watched the game intently. They were winning by ten points but they still had a lot of time left. Her hair was half put up and the girl behind her was still making different braids.
“You have a lot of hair.” Yoona praised. “So, why’d you come back?”
Yuri swung her legs over the bench to face the girl. Her pointer finger was positioned at the field. “That’s my brother over there. Number 18.”
“That’s cool. My best guy friend is on the team too. Kibum, number 1. You’re real lucky to have an athletic brother, I always wanted siblings.”
Yuri smiled, so she’s a talkative little one.
Yoona smiled back and held out her hand. “I’m sure it was pretty weird for me to play with your hair when I haven’t formally introduced myself. My name’s Yoona!”
After they shook hands and the younger one looked around. She jerked her head in another direction. “That’s Seohyun. She’s one of the youngest, minus the few maknaes over there. She’s going out with Kibum. Cliché isn’t it?”
“I think it’s cute. Who wouldn’t want to cheer for their boyfriend?” Yuri cracked another smile. Maybe coming back wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
“She’s kinda snobby though, like, we’re all pretty rich but she takes it to the next level. But it doesn’t really matter. She used to think I liked Kibum enough to steal him, can you believe that? Ugh, cheerleaders, I swear!”
Yoona grabbed her hand and went to the snack stand. She took out a few bottles of water from the cooler and tightened her grip. The water was probably freezing cold, yet, Yuri had to feel it to believe it. Yoona pressed a bottle onto the dark stomach and giggled when she saw her expression.
“I like you; we’re going to be great friends.” Yoona got comfortable on the grass. “Well anyways, this bottle is for you, I usually just get two for me and Kibum but, y’know, the more the merrier.”
Yuri nodded. She looked up and finally saw Kibum. He was gorgeous.
“Hello ladies! Great game right?” he pointed to the leftover bottle,” For me?”
Yoona handed it to him and he took a seat next to her. Yuri thought it was weird. Wasn’t his girlfriend just feet away?
“We’re killing them.”
“Totally. I saw that pass to Taemin, it was epic.”
“Thanks Yoon.” He turned to Yuri. “I’ve never really seen you around the house. You should stop by sometime, well, if Minho doesn’t come as your body guard.”
“Sure.”
He waved goodbye and joined his coach in the same position while watching the game. She narrowed her sight on Minho. He was running with the ball. He was so close to the goal. He shoots. He scores!
Yuri jumped from her seat and clapped wildly. That was the last point needed to pronounce their winning defeat and her Minho did it.
“Yeah! Minho, you’re the best!” she screamed loudly over the deafening cheers. “Woooooooooh!”
He ran across the field, past the team hug, past the group of empty drink bottles, and into Yuri’s arms. He squeezed her hard and brought her up to the air. Her legs swung with the wind and she couldn’t be happier.
“Choi Minho, you are the best, I can’t believe you actually made the winning goal!”
Then, time stopped, space closed, and they kissed. But nobody saw, thankfully.
*
“Caught a ride home with Kibum, make sure you get the laundry detergent mom asked for. Bye Yuri!” Minho yelled into the phone and hung up.
“She’s nice.” Kibum stated. He got out of the car and they both went into his house. “You’re birthday is next weekend. What do you plan on doing?”
Minho took a bite out of his granola bar. “My parents are going out of town that night. They gave me some money to throw my own party.”
“Beer?”
“I’m not sure if I want to get my house evacuated and searched this year.” He smirked.
Kibum nodded and pushed him out of the kitchen and into the bedroom. “So true.”
Kibum closed the door and locked it. He slumped into his computer chair and watched Minho’s eyebrow curve.
“I’m breaking up with Seohyun.”
This time Minho was quiet. He rolled the winning ball with his foot. “Why?”
“We don’t … we aren’t like I thought we were. I guess summer really put the stuff out.”
“Is there someone else?”
“A mistress? Of course not.” And that was true. A guy couldn’t be a mistress… unless it was a guy in drag.
“When are you going to do it?” Minho thought for a minute. “You know, I’ve broken up couples before, I let them down easy.”
“I am a man, Minho, not a wuss that can’t do his own dirty work. Even though that idea is inviting I have to decline. I just don’t know how to do it.”
Actually he wasn’t as worried about the breakup as much as he was worried about Minho. Either he got a shot for more words in a conversation or he felt closer to him enough to speak. Kibum liked it a lot.
Minho crumpled the silver wrapping of his bar in his fist. “I say, you go straight up to her and say it’s over. You know, once you guys drink coffee, have small talk, and explain in thorough details why you came to this.”
“Girls like that?”
“They don’t like not being told their flaws; in a relationship.”
“Are you high? Why are you talking so much?”
Minho snorted. “You’re my best friend, is it a crime to talk?”
“I guess not.”
“We should talk tomorrow after you talk to the princess.” He grabbed his bag and left. Kibum heard the front door shut. He went downstairs to lock the door.
He removed the aluminum wrapper off the blue Dove chocolate and popped it in his mouth. He let it melt on the side of his cheek, this shouldn’t be too hard, Kibum, you’ve thought about it for days.
*
Kibum sat there in silence.
“I’m sorry, I-I just had to come clean.” Seohyun whispered, her hands weaving through her disheveled ponytail.
She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye,” I never meant to, hurt you, that is. But, I don’t love you. I might have been infatuated with you, because you were fresh and cute, but I can’t have a relationship with you. Sorry.”
“You… cheated on me,” the words were whiny;” I don’t know what to say.”
He took a deep breath. He pushed the mug onto the patio table and stood up. His chair scratched along the bricked ground.
“We’re over.”
It didn’t completely hit him until he reached his house. He cried endlessly for hours in fetal position, curled up in his blanket, cursing his oblivious mind. But it isn’t like he did better. Maybe it was meant to be, maybe.