#4 Sometimes Words are Better than Actions
Title: Sometimes Words are Better than Actions
Prompt: #4
Rating: PG-13?
Length: ~3030 words
Summary: Sehun’s desire to win for his team shadows a long hidden memory that a certain someone wishes he would remember.
Warning(s): (horror, character death,...)
Notes: This is probably really awful because I’ve never written something about eloquent speakers or debate teams before and I have no idea what I was thinking when I picked this, so I hope you like it and I hope it is not as terrible as I think it is. ^^;;;
When Oh Sehun woke up this morning, his mind told him that today would be a good day. That he would be able to lead his team to the finals in the national debate competition. All he had left to do was take down the last school that stood in their way between that spot or months of practice wasted.
His morning ritual is extra special for today. His hair perfectly combed and appropriate for the occasion. His uniform wrinkle free and white button up is bright and spotless. His shoes are shined and scuff free, curtesy of his beloved mother and her efforts on taking care of her stellar son.
After breakfast and the usual pep talk from his father, Sehun finds himself in the school’s parking lot. He sees his team members standing on the steps of the school looking at him from a distance with confident grins on their faces. Chanyeol’s staring at all the senior girls hoping that one will ask him out and Minseok is just staring at him and about to slap him.
Yeah, today will be a good day.
There’s only one member that appears uneasy and this bothers Sehun. Not because he thinks that he’s not ready or scared, but because when he worries, Sehun knows something isn’t quite right.
With quick strides across the parking lot, he approaches his team and greets. Aside from himself, Baekhyun is one of the best debaters on his team and when he’s uneasy, Sehun is uneasy.
Playing off the fact that Baekhyun is uneasy, Sehun needs to get his teams head in the game, then he will address Baekhyun.
“Confident as ever I see? Well, good. Because today we take down that oh-so prestigious prep academy and secure our spot for the win. Meet after 4th period in the usual place. We will run through the last minute details, fine tune anything needed, if needed that is,” Snickers came from the other members. “Then at 2:45 we leave for the rounds. Be on time, please and bring you’re A game. We can’t afford to lose this. Got it.”
Nods came from all the team members and Sehun waved them to go to class and they dispersed.
Everyone, but Baekhyun.
“Baek, what is it?”
“Do you remember about how the captain of the last team was in a car accident and they had some nut job for a replacement?”
“Yeah, what about it?”
Baekhyun fidgeted with his fingers, “Well, a transfer student came and completely helped them annihilate one of the strongest teams in the running for Nationals. Like completely shot them out of the picture.”
“Baek, are you sure about that? It could just be the other team was off and they had a bad set of rounds-“
“No! I’m sure of it because I was there when it happened.”
He was there??? What??
“What were you doing at their rounds, Baek? Didn’t I tell you to stop doing that? If we get caught at one of their rounds, we could be disqualified for cheating?”
“I know that, but I heard the rumors and I had to see for myself whether or not it was true and it was! The new captain is something I’ve not seen in so long. He’s got this quality to him when he speaks. I watched the judge’s reactions and they were stunned into silence and applauded like mad at the end of their debates.”
Now he’s worried. If everything Baekhyun says about this new captain is true, then they might need to look over every piece of evidence they’re about to present in front of the judge.
“Baek, get message the team and tell them to meet after 3rd. We don’t have much time if what you’re telling me is true. I’ll send notes to the teachers telling them that we need more practice. They won’t question it since we’re the pride of this school. Go.”
Sehun strode through the halls straight to the meeting room. Flipping open his laptop, Sehun started looking up the stats about the opposing school. When Sehun opened the scores from the match Baekhyun was at, he wasn’t kidding. The scores were beyond anything he had ever seen before.
Underneath the scores was the team photo from the winning debate. Under the photo were the names of the team members and their new captain stood in the back in the middle. Tanned skin, dark hair, and chocolate brown eyes.
Kim Jongin
So…familiar…
Brushing the thought aside, Sehun refocuses on winning the rounds.
So you’re the new captain, huh? Well, let’s see what you got. I have five rounds to beat you, but I’ll have you down by three.
Sehun searched his name and nothing came up besides the scores. It’s like he’s squeaky clean without even a scuff on him. Not even a piece of social media.
Damn it…
When his team members walk in, they’re carrying the materials that they’re gonna present in each of the rounds.
“Alright, we need to go through every piece of this information and if there is anything that the other team can poke and prod at we need to fix it with cement because we are not losing today. So each of you get in order and start analyzing your cases. And when fifth period rolls around each of you will present your case to me and the others. So Joonmyun be ready to go first. I need you to be able to start cracking their cases. Make your opening debate so solid that they couldn’t even jackhammer through it.”
“Got it.”
“Good. Baekhyun, you and I will look over both of our cases together because we’re the double final round. Let’s knock em’ dead.”
A solid two hours passes by without a single interruption and this pleases Sehun because he’s taught his team how to spot the holes and how to turn them into solid steel. He’s taught them how to turn tiny holes in the opposing team’s cases into wide open damns.
As Joonmyun makes his speech, Sehun analyzes every movement he makes, every word he says and how he says it. With this kind of opening, the other team might as well give up because this is impenetrable.
After fine tuning and polishing up some minor things in the other arguments, Sehun nodded in satisfaction.
“Alright then, just remember, keep your heads held high and your words crisp and clear. And nothing can stand in our way.”
Sehun motioned his head and the team flanked out behind him towards the car to take them to their rounds.
Sehun quietly sat in the back of the car by himself with a grin on his face.
‘Kim Jongin, you messed with the wrong group of debaters. I will crush you. You and your stupid brown eyes and-‘
He felt his insides turn into mush for just the smallest second. Then he snapped out of it. What was wrong with him? Why was he thinking such…things…about the other team’s captain like that?
‘Come on, Sehun. You can do this. Just pull yourself together.’
When they arrive the other team is already set up, but nowhere to be seen. Sehun leaves Baekhyun in charge of setting everything up and relaxing Joonmyun’s pre-round jitters.
Sehun flanks off and sees if he can find Jongin to see if he can catch them reviewing their material so he can observe for himself just how “incredible” of a debater he was.
Carelessly not watching where he was going, Sehun bumps into a figure that is slightly taller than him and hears a deep grunt in return. Pushing his blonde hair out of his eyes, Sehun knows he’s found him and he’s completely stunned.
Standing before him in a sleek black blazer and white slacks is Kim Jongin, himself.
Jongin’s hair is combed off to the side elegantly, and those eyes. Jesus fucking Christ those eyes. Sehun feels like he’s staring off into the voids of Willy Wonka’s chocolate river when he sees those eyes. So sinfully dark and mysterious. Sehun feels like he’s seen those eyes before, but he just can’t remember from where.
Sehun admits to himself that there is a small, minute attraction for Jongin, but not enough to where it would falter his A game.
“Are you alright? You seem a little out of sorts?” Oh god.. that voice.
Jongin’s voice was deep and had this feeling to it, almost as if he could entrance someone into doing anything that he wanted them to do. Sehun would bet his entire bank account that Jongin could also be very, very persuasive. Exactly the quality a debater needs to win the hearts and minds of judges.
One can have an excellent case, but should the speaker not rope in the audience, the work and evidence is useless to everything.
“I’m fine. Thank you. And now if you’ll excuse me.” As Sehun started to leave, when he feels a strong hand on his shoulder.
Oh god, don’t. Please, don’t do this.
“I didn’t get your name.”
“Sehun. Oh Sehun. Now please. I have to go.”
What Sehun didn’t know is that Kim Jongin was standing there smiling at him as he continued to walk away.
Oh Sehun, hmm? Finally. ________________________________________________________________________
Rinsing his heated face off, Sehun looked in the mirror and still felt his cheeks burning. He just ran into the captain of the other team and faltered like an idiot. How could he have just let himself get so caught up in the moment that he forgot how to use his words?
His grandfather’s words rang true to his mind.
“Words are important, Sehun. Almost as important as shoes. Shoes may walk you everywhere, but good words will put you in good standing with those around you and those people will take you good places if you know the right people to speak to.
When Sehun walked out of the bathroom, he looked at the clock and took a moment to gather his thoughts and clear his mind of any distractions. Including Kim Jongin.
When he walked out on stage, he saw his team already there and sitting. The only people left to come out were the captains. Kim Jongin vs. Oh Sehun in a battle of wits and eloquence. Who is the Word Champion?
Sehun watches as Jongin walks to the center of the stage and meets him in the middle.
“Hello, Oh Sehun.”
“Always pleasurable, Kim Jongin.” Oh Sehun 1 : Kim Jongin 0
When they shook hands Kim Jongin leans in and whispers in his ear, “You have no idea how pleasurable I can be. Just wait and see Oh Sehun.”
Sehun flushed a bright shade of red and released his hand and dropped his head before heading back to his seat.
Seated at the judges table is the hardest judge Sehun has ever been judged by. Sehun barely made it to State finals because of him, and now the fate of Nationals lies on this. As the rounds start, Joonmyun’s opening is rock solid with nothing for Kim Jongdae to poke at.
Score! Sehun 2 : Jongin 0
Sehun sneaks a glance at Jongin and sees that his smirk hasn’t left his face yet and Sehun understands why. Obviously, this isn’t his first rounds for National qualifications. Jongin has a few tricks left up his sleeve.
Jongin scored his first point during the third round. Chanyeol left a minute, but crucial key point and that gave Kim Jongin the opening to start tearing at the wall. Simple enough, but it was a common falter, not enough to cost them the round.
Finally. It’s the Captains round. The two walk to their podium and seeing as Sehun started the last round, Jongin will start this round.
Jongin’s opening is short, but solid and sufficient enough to get his point across without sugar coating it. His presentation, however, was stellar. His evidence was unquestionably true based off the facts he provided and the linkage to the subject.
Sehun felt his insides flop a little because he needed to nail this round. But even then, Baekhyun was right. Even at peak performance, Sehun’s best might not be enough. Seeing as Jongin uses his words so eloquently, Sehun thinks it’s time he stopped playing by his own rules and set some of his own. He would do whatever it takes to secure that spot and make sure that it was his team that went to Nationals, not Jongin’s.
After the rounds are finished, Sehun takes his team home and awaits the results from the judges.
Days later, a letter arrives from the judge of the rounds:
To Mr. Oh Sehun and Team,
It is my greatest pleasure to inform you that you have qualified with your team to go to Nationals in Moscow, Russia. The arguments you and your team displayed were some of the best that I had seen in years. Congratulations on your victory, Oh Sehun.
Chairman Kim.
That night Sehun took his team out for a meal at Panda Garden.
And who else, but Kim Jongin would be there with his team eating at the same restaurant at the table next to his. The glares and stares could have been mistaken for rivals in a mafia, however, nothing nasty was said. Only words that were meant to be taken as digs, but Sehun’s team was flying so high on their victory that they could care less about Jongin and his band of a team.
As the team heads home, Sehun stays behind to pay the bill when a familiar voice captures his attention for just a moment.
“Couldn’t stay away from me, could you?”
Asshole
“Actually, I was celebrating with my team as we qualified to Nationals as of today.”
“What a coincidence. So was I.”
What????
“How? I got the letter and everything. How did the both of us qualify?”
“Oh, you didn’t hear? One of the already qualified teams was found sneaking into our rounds and observing us as we competed and was disqualified thus moving the next most qualified team up into the rounds, which was you apparently.”
So we didn’t beat Kim Jongin’s team? We just… slipped in? How is that possible?
“Why so confused? Be happy you qualified! I look forward to competing against you again. You really gave us a run for our money. That opening was truly incredible and your evidence was amazing. I can see that you put a lot of time and effort into your team and that’s what got you this far.”
Glancing at his watch, Jongin’s face shifted a little. Writing something down on a napkin he handed it to Sehun and darted off without another word.
In somewhat messy scrawl was this:
Jongin
XXX-XXX-2563
Was he being serious? Did Jongin just give him his phone number? Sehun fiddled with the napkin and wondered whether or not he should keep it or toss it in the trash.
When the cashier returns, Sehun grabs his jacket and walks out with the napkin tucked safely in his jeans pocket.
It is a week later that Sehun runs into Jongin again. This time, he’s at a coffee shop in Seoul and he’s there because Sehun asked him to.
Its summer break for the students and Sehun decided to let his team rest and enjoy their summer before the year resumes in a few weeks.
Jongin is ordering his coffee at the counter as Sehun watches from the table.
Kim Jongin. That name is driving Sehun crazy. He knows that he’s heard the name before, but from where, he knows not. But everything seems so familiar to him and he just can’t understand why.
When Jongin sits down, he stares at Sehun just as focused as Sehun does to him.
“Why- Nevermind. I shouldn’t have called. I’m sorry that I pulled you all the way out here for this.”
“Sehun, just calm down and talk to me. Nothing you can say is stupid so please.” Jongin motions for Sehun to sit back down, and with much hesitation he does.
“Just why do you seem so familiar to me, Jongin? I’ve never met you before and yet here you sit before me and I still have that feeling like I’ve known you for years.”
“Thank god, I thought I was going to have to spell it out for you. I have known you for years, Sehun. Just like you’ve known me. I used to live next door to you and we would play and talk in loud whispers through our windows in the middle of the night.”
“No, it can’t be….”
“Oh, but it is me. I also remember that one time you leaned too far out the window and you fell out into the bushes below.”
No, this isn’t possible. His neighbor left and he said he wasn’t ever coming back. So how can he be his neighbor with that said?
“Sehun, I know what you’re thinking. You’re dwelling on the past. Remembering what my father had said after I snuck into your house that one night and never went back. You remember what my father said about me never coming back, but here I am. And to prove it, there’s this.” Jongin reaches into his pocket and pulls out an old photo of them sitting in the grass smiling like goofballs.
Sehun’s not quite sure that he’s in love with Jongin, but he remembers enough that he was Sehun’s only friend when he had no one. And that’s enough for him to be happy.
Prompt: #4
Rating: PG-13?
Length: ~3030 words
Summary: Sehun’s desire to win for his team shadows a long hidden memory that a certain someone wishes he would remember.
Warning(s): (horror, character death,...)
Notes: This is probably really awful because I’ve never written something about eloquent speakers or debate teams before and I have no idea what I was thinking when I picked this, so I hope you like it and I hope it is not as terrible as I think it is. ^^;;;
When Oh Sehun woke up this morning, his mind told him that today would be a good day. That he would be able to lead his team to the finals in the national debate competition. All he had left to do was take down the last school that stood in their way between that spot or months of practice wasted.
His morning ritual is extra special for today. His hair perfectly combed and appropriate for the occasion. His uniform wrinkle free and white button up is bright and spotless. His shoes are shined and scuff free, curtesy of his beloved mother and her efforts on taking care of her stellar son.
After breakfast and the usual pep talk from his father, Sehun finds himself in the school’s parking lot. He sees his team members standing on the steps of the school looking at him from a distance with confident grins on their faces. Chanyeol’s staring at all the senior girls hoping that one will ask him out and Minseok is just staring at him and about to slap him.
Yeah, today will be a good day.
There’s only one member that appears uneasy and this bothers Sehun. Not because he thinks that he’s not ready or scared, but because when he worries, Sehun knows something isn’t quite right.
With quick strides across the parking lot, he approaches his team and greets. Aside from himself, Baekhyun is one of the best debaters on his team and when he’s uneasy, Sehun is uneasy.
Playing off the fact that Baekhyun is uneasy, Sehun needs to get his teams head in the game, then he will address Baekhyun.
“Confident as ever I see? Well, good. Because today we take down that oh-so prestigious prep academy and secure our spot for the win. Meet after 4th period in the usual place. We will run through the last minute details, fine tune anything needed, if needed that is,” Snickers came from the other members. “Then at 2:45 we leave for the rounds. Be on time, please and bring you’re A game. We can’t afford to lose this. Got it.”
Nods came from all the team members and Sehun waved them to go to class and they dispersed.
Everyone, but Baekhyun.
“Baek, what is it?”
“Do you remember about how the captain of the last team was in a car accident and they had some nut job for a replacement?”
“Yeah, what about it?”
Baekhyun fidgeted with his fingers, “Well, a transfer student came and completely helped them annihilate one of the strongest teams in the running for Nationals. Like completely shot them out of the picture.”
“Baek, are you sure about that? It could just be the other team was off and they had a bad set of rounds-“
“No! I’m sure of it because I was there when it happened.”
He was there??? What??
“What were you doing at their rounds, Baek? Didn’t I tell you to stop doing that? If we get caught at one of their rounds, we could be disqualified for cheating?”
“I know that, but I heard the rumors and I had to see for myself whether or not it was true and it was! The new captain is something I’ve not seen in so long. He’s got this quality to him when he speaks. I watched the judge’s reactions and they were stunned into silence and applauded like mad at the end of their debates.”
Now he’s worried. If everything Baekhyun says about this new captain is true, then they might need to look over every piece of evidence they’re about to present in front of the judge.
“Baek, get message the team and tell them to meet after 3rd. We don’t have much time if what you’re telling me is true. I’ll send notes to the teachers telling them that we need more practice. They won’t question it since we’re the pride of this school. Go.”
Sehun strode through the halls straight to the meeting room. Flipping open his laptop, Sehun started looking up the stats about the opposing school. When Sehun opened the scores from the match Baekhyun was at, he wasn’t kidding. The scores were beyond anything he had ever seen before.
Underneath the scores was the team photo from the winning debate. Under the photo were the names of the team members and their new captain stood in the back in the middle. Tanned skin, dark hair, and chocolate brown eyes.
Kim Jongin
So…familiar…
Brushing the thought aside, Sehun refocuses on winning the rounds.
So you’re the new captain, huh? Well, let’s see what you got. I have five rounds to beat you, but I’ll have you down by three.
Sehun searched his name and nothing came up besides the scores. It’s like he’s squeaky clean without even a scuff on him. Not even a piece of social media.
Damn it…
When his team members walk in, they’re carrying the materials that they’re gonna present in each of the rounds.
“Alright, we need to go through every piece of this information and if there is anything that the other team can poke and prod at we need to fix it with cement because we are not losing today. So each of you get in order and start analyzing your cases. And when fifth period rolls around each of you will present your case to me and the others. So Joonmyun be ready to go first. I need you to be able to start cracking their cases. Make your opening debate so solid that they couldn’t even jackhammer through it.”
“Got it.”
“Good. Baekhyun, you and I will look over both of our cases together because we’re the double final round. Let’s knock em’ dead.”
A solid two hours passes by without a single interruption and this pleases Sehun because he’s taught his team how to spot the holes and how to turn them into solid steel. He’s taught them how to turn tiny holes in the opposing team’s cases into wide open damns.
As Joonmyun makes his speech, Sehun analyzes every movement he makes, every word he says and how he says it. With this kind of opening, the other team might as well give up because this is impenetrable.
After fine tuning and polishing up some minor things in the other arguments, Sehun nodded in satisfaction.
“Alright then, just remember, keep your heads held high and your words crisp and clear. And nothing can stand in our way.”
Sehun motioned his head and the team flanked out behind him towards the car to take them to their rounds.
Sehun quietly sat in the back of the car by himself with a grin on his face.
‘Kim Jongin, you messed with the wrong group of debaters. I will crush you. You and your stupid brown eyes and-‘
He felt his insides turn into mush for just the smallest second. Then he snapped out of it. What was wrong with him? Why was he thinking such…things…about the other team’s captain like that?
‘Come on, Sehun. You can do this. Just pull yourself together.’
When they arrive the other team is already set up, but nowhere to be seen. Sehun leaves Baekhyun in charge of setting everything up and relaxing Joonmyun’s pre-round jitters.
Sehun flanks off and sees if he can find Jongin to see if he can catch them reviewing their material so he can observe for himself just how “incredible” of a debater he was.
Carelessly not watching where he was going, Sehun bumps into a figure that is slightly taller than him and hears a deep grunt in return. Pushing his blonde hair out of his eyes, Sehun knows he’s found him and he’s completely stunned.
Standing before him in a sleek black blazer and white slacks is Kim Jongin, himself.
Jongin’s hair is combed off to the side elegantly, and those eyes. Jesus fucking Christ those eyes. Sehun feels like he’s staring off into the voids of Willy Wonka’s chocolate river when he sees those eyes. So sinfully dark and mysterious. Sehun feels like he’s seen those eyes before, but he just can’t remember from where.
Sehun admits to himself that there is a small, minute attraction for Jongin, but not enough to where it would falter his A game.
“Are you alright? You seem a little out of sorts?” Oh god.. that voice.
Jongin’s voice was deep and had this feeling to it, almost as if he could entrance someone into doing anything that he wanted them to do. Sehun would bet his entire bank account that Jongin could also be very, very persuasive. Exactly the quality a debater needs to win the hearts and minds of judges.
One can have an excellent case, but should the speaker not rope in the audience, the work and evidence is useless to everything.
“I’m fine. Thank you. And now if you’ll excuse me.” As Sehun started to leave, when he feels a strong hand on his shoulder.
Oh god, don’t. Please, don’t do this.
“I didn’t get your name.”
“Sehun. Oh Sehun. Now please. I have to go.”
What Sehun didn’t know is that Kim Jongin was standing there smiling at him as he continued to walk away.
Oh Sehun, hmm? Finally. ________________________________________________________________________
Rinsing his heated face off, Sehun looked in the mirror and still felt his cheeks burning. He just ran into the captain of the other team and faltered like an idiot. How could he have just let himself get so caught up in the moment that he forgot how to use his words?
His grandfather’s words rang true to his mind.
“Words are important, Sehun. Almost as important as shoes. Shoes may walk you everywhere, but good words will put you in good standing with those around you and those people will take you good places if you know the right people to speak to.
When Sehun walked out of the bathroom, he looked at the clock and took a moment to gather his thoughts and clear his mind of any distractions. Including Kim Jongin.
When he walked out on stage, he saw his team already there and sitting. The only people left to come out were the captains. Kim Jongin vs. Oh Sehun in a battle of wits and eloquence. Who is the Word Champion?
Sehun watches as Jongin walks to the center of the stage and meets him in the middle.
“Hello, Oh Sehun.”
“Always pleasurable, Kim Jongin.” Oh Sehun 1 : Kim Jongin 0
When they shook hands Kim Jongin leans in and whispers in his ear, “You have no idea how pleasurable I can be. Just wait and see Oh Sehun.”
Sehun flushed a bright shade of red and released his hand and dropped his head before heading back to his seat.
Seated at the judges table is the hardest judge Sehun has ever been judged by. Sehun barely made it to State finals because of him, and now the fate of Nationals lies on this. As the rounds start, Joonmyun’s opening is rock solid with nothing for Kim Jongdae to poke at.
Score! Sehun 2 : Jongin 0
Sehun sneaks a glance at Jongin and sees that his smirk hasn’t left his face yet and Sehun understands why. Obviously, this isn’t his first rounds for National qualifications. Jongin has a few tricks left up his sleeve.
Jongin scored his first point during the third round. Chanyeol left a minute, but crucial key point and that gave Kim Jongin the opening to start tearing at the wall. Simple enough, but it was a common falter, not enough to cost them the round.
Finally. It’s the Captains round. The two walk to their podium and seeing as Sehun started the last round, Jongin will start this round.
Jongin’s opening is short, but solid and sufficient enough to get his point across without sugar coating it. His presentation, however, was stellar. His evidence was unquestionably true based off the facts he provided and the linkage to the subject.
Sehun felt his insides flop a little because he needed to nail this round. But even then, Baekhyun was right. Even at peak performance, Sehun’s best might not be enough. Seeing as Jongin uses his words so eloquently, Sehun thinks it’s time he stopped playing by his own rules and set some of his own. He would do whatever it takes to secure that spot and make sure that it was his team that went to Nationals, not Jongin’s.
After the rounds are finished, Sehun takes his team home and awaits the results from the judges.
Days later, a letter arrives from the judge of the rounds:
To Mr. Oh Sehun and Team,
It is my greatest pleasure to inform you that you have qualified with your team to go to Nationals in Moscow, Russia. The arguments you and your team displayed were some of the best that I had seen in years. Congratulations on your victory, Oh Sehun.
Chairman Kim.
That night Sehun took his team out for a meal at Panda Garden.
And who else, but Kim Jongin would be there with his team eating at the same restaurant at the table next to his. The glares and stares could have been mistaken for rivals in a mafia, however, nothing nasty was said. Only words that were meant to be taken as digs, but Sehun’s team was flying so high on their victory that they could care less about Jongin and his band of a team.
As the team heads home, Sehun stays behind to pay the bill when a familiar voice captures his attention for just a moment.
“Couldn’t stay away from me, could you?”
Asshole
“Actually, I was celebrating with my team as we qualified to Nationals as of today.”
“What a coincidence. So was I.”
What????
“How? I got the letter and everything. How did the both of us qualify?”
“Oh, you didn’t hear? One of the already qualified teams was found sneaking into our rounds and observing us as we competed and was disqualified thus moving the next most qualified team up into the rounds, which was you apparently.”
So we didn’t beat Kim Jongin’s team? We just… slipped in? How is that possible?
“Why so confused? Be happy you qualified! I look forward to competing against you again. You really gave us a run for our money. That opening was truly incredible and your evidence was amazing. I can see that you put a lot of time and effort into your team and that’s what got you this far.”
Glancing at his watch, Jongin’s face shifted a little. Writing something down on a napkin he handed it to Sehun and darted off without another word.
In somewhat messy scrawl was this:
Jongin
XXX-XXX-2563
Was he being serious? Did Jongin just give him his phone number? Sehun fiddled with the napkin and wondered whether or not he should keep it or toss it in the trash.
When the cashier returns, Sehun grabs his jacket and walks out with the napkin tucked safely in his jeans pocket.
It is a week later that Sehun runs into Jongin again. This time, he’s at a coffee shop in Seoul and he’s there because Sehun asked him to.
Its summer break for the students and Sehun decided to let his team rest and enjoy their summer before the year resumes in a few weeks.
Jongin is ordering his coffee at the counter as Sehun watches from the table.
Kim Jongin. That name is driving Sehun crazy. He knows that he’s heard the name before, but from where, he knows not. But everything seems so familiar to him and he just can’t understand why.
When Jongin sits down, he stares at Sehun just as focused as Sehun does to him.
“Why- Nevermind. I shouldn’t have called. I’m sorry that I pulled you all the way out here for this.”
“Sehun, just calm down and talk to me. Nothing you can say is stupid so please.” Jongin motions for Sehun to sit back down, and with much hesitation he does.
“Just why do you seem so familiar to me, Jongin? I’ve never met you before and yet here you sit before me and I still have that feeling like I’ve known you for years.”
“Thank god, I thought I was going to have to spell it out for you. I have known you for years, Sehun. Just like you’ve known me. I used to live next door to you and we would play and talk in loud whispers through our windows in the middle of the night.”
“No, it can’t be….”
“Oh, but it is me. I also remember that one time you leaned too far out the window and you fell out into the bushes below.”
No, this isn’t possible. His neighbor left and he said he wasn’t ever coming back. So how can he be his neighbor with that said?
“Sehun, I know what you’re thinking. You’re dwelling on the past. Remembering what my father had said after I snuck into your house that one night and never went back. You remember what my father said about me never coming back, but here I am. And to prove it, there’s this.” Jongin reaches into his pocket and pulls out an old photo of them sitting in the grass smiling like goofballs.
Sehun’s not quite sure that he’s in love with Jongin, but he remembers enough that he was Sehun’s only friend when he had no one. And that’s enough for him to be happy.