Chapter Text
Bright green grass was swaying in the early summer breeze.
“San! Catch!”
San’s cat-like eyes shot up to the wielder of the voice, getting up from his crouching position to catch the ball.
“Nice catch!”, Yunho gave him a wink before turning to run a few yards down, “Throw it back!”
San smiled as he did so, throwing and catching the ball a bit with Yunho.
Yes. That was the exact reason why he had transferred to this college. San wanted to study economy and he had chosen the most renowned college for that, but the college didn’t have a football team. Although San thought that he wouldn’t mind at first, he definitely did. It didn’t matter to him if he went to the most popular college in the country – what mattered to him was football. His friends had told him often enough that he was wasting his talent there. Losing someone like San… The field was calling for him and as San threw the football back to Yunho yet again – a blue sky glowing above, painted with white clouds – he knew, that he had made the right choice.
A to Z – College also had an economy major and one of the best college football teams. It had not been difficult to convince San to transfer. In contrary, standing on the field again, with his childhood friends Yunho, Mingi and Jongho made him wonder why he had not joined them them in the first place.
Leaves were rustling at the side-line in a gentle breeze. It was San’s first training after getting into the team. He hadn’t been there for long yet, just settled into his courses and his dorm room – that he shared with Yunho and Jongho – two weeks ago. However, it already felt like a second home to him. This would become the time of his life! San was sure of that. And if it wasn’t just for the college, then definitely for the big stadium behind their college building. San had been mind-blown when Mingi and Yunho had shown him. It had everything, from gigantic spotlights, rostrums, bleachers to everything a football-heart desired.
“Alright, boys. Today we work on your physical condition. That means running until you can’t feel your legs anymore. Why are we doing another condition day? Right. Because you all got out-run last game and we don’t want that to ever happen again, understood?”, the coach said in a serious voice, clipboard firm in his hands, “We will start the endurance training, which means… it’s time to let my favourite boys suffer.”
Groaning went through the ranks and San couldn’t help himself but chuckle. He had already heard from Yunho that their last practice game had ended in a catastrophe. Completely out-run by a newbie college team. It was… embarrassing to say the least. Although the team was grumbling at the announcement of another condition day, the team and the coach seemed to come along greatly. San appreciated that a lot. His friends and he had made bad experiences with coaches before when they first started the sport back in high school. San remembered getting roared at every morning and although it fit the stereotype of a football coach like nothing else, San preferred a human instead of a lion.
The coach always had two trainee coaches with him – students who studied sport science and were aspiring coaches. One of them was excitedly making fists, eyes sparkling, “You can do it!”, Maddox cheered for them.
Without further ado, the team set up a parkour made of cones and other equipment to tire out every single one of them. The afternoon weather was just perfect for football training and San took a deep breath of fresh air as the wind ruffled through his dark black hair. Its strands fell into his forehead, making him flip the hair back a few times.
San loved the feeling of the grass tickling his ankles as he pushed his heels into the ground with every jump he did. It didn’t even take minutes until he was feeling sweat trickle down his forehead and he loved the way the breeze cooled it down.
“One, two, three, four! One, two, three, four!”
A new voice made San stop in his tracks, turning his head slightly to see who was counting on the side-line of the field. It was a loud firm voice – high and a bit scratchy – that tickled at San’s mind, demanding his attention.
Just as San found the source, he stumbled slightly in his exercise-
A group of cheerleaders had formed on the other side of the field, training in the swaying green grass. San was used to seeing the pretty dancers on the side-line, but since when were cheerleaders that hot?! San’s eyes were glued on the boy setting the rhythm.
His hair was a wavy brown, tickling his shoulders and glittering in the sunlight with blonde highlights. His body rolled in the beat of his voice as he counted every step and motion, a hand swiftly and sinfully gliding down his chest before he placed it on his hip to swing his body from left to right. The dark blue, sleeveless crop top with V-cut was sitting tightly on the slim body, a little waist was exposed, showing toned skin before getting swallowed by the fabric of a half skirt in the same colour. It was a half-pleated skirt with white and golden stripes at the ends – the same stripes that also decorated his top in pretty V-lines. Black shorts hugged his thighs and San’s mouth fell open as the boy took confident fast steps, showing off his toned legs before sliding in a split with his hands in a High-V motion and a toothy grin.
San… felt like he might faint, good lord-
“Close your mouth, Sannie. That’s Jung Wooyoung, dance captain of the cheerleaders and absolutely off grounds. Don’t even try.”
The voice of Yunho caught San by surprise, jumping as he realised that he was still on the practice field. Yunho rolled his eyes as San tried to stutter himself out of it.
“Oh, come on. We’ve been friends for years. I know that look you just had.”
“That’s not true!”
Yunho chuckled as he shrugged with his arms, head slowly shaking, “If you say so… Just know that nobody has ever managed to get a date with Wooyoung.”
Nobody?
Ever?
San looked back to the cheerleader who was currently talking with some girls of his team, showing them some moves. The girls all wore the same uniform as he did, a skirt instead of just a half-one. Immediately, San forbid his mind to even think about how the cheer-captain would look in a real skirt. They all looked stunning, and San also noticed some other boys in either half-skirts or tank tops with pants. There were plenty of people to look at and yet, San couldn’t hinder his eyes to go back to the dance captain again and again.
“I’m gonna lose my mind”, San groaned as he tried to shake the pretty dancer from his thoughts. Jongho, who had approached the two talking friends, just laughed, “He’s totally your type, San. And we all know that.”
“Oh, shut up”, San seethed through gritted teeth as he tried to focus on their training. However, San felt sluggish as he caught himself looking to the cheerleader dancing on the far end just a bit too often. San had seen pretty cheerleaders all his life. They had danced every time he played in a football team. Why the fuck couldn’t he concentrate now, just knowing that this pretty boy was counting on the side-line? It wasn’t even as if he was seeing San or so-“
Just the second San threw another shy glance over his shoulder to see what the dance captain was doing, their eyes locked. THEIR EYES LOCKED?!
The cute dance captain had his arms folded over his chest, a soft expression on his face. The moment Wooyoung realised that San was looking at him, he pulled his lips into a little smile. A coy hand-wave was sent San’s way- Wait he was waving at San and what-!?
San tripped over his own feet, staggering before crashing to the ground, meeting the blades of green as his face found the field. Great, he thought, his heart beating in his ears as he swallowed deeply. Warmth crawled up his cheeks as he realised what had just happened. How embarrassing. However, the blush on San’s face ten folded as a heart-warming laugh found his ears. The shrill cackle was loud but still so lovely, so fond, so urgh-
San didn’t even need to look up, he just knew that the adorable sound came from Jung Wooyoung, who had witnessed San’s unforgettable stunt. And all because you look so damn cute in that little half-skirt.
The world around San grew darker as a shadow was casted upon him. Oh my- what if it was Wooyoung?! What if the boy had been running all over the field to see if San wasn’t hurt, his delicate fingers touching his cheeks, asking him if he was alright as San was looking up from the ground, greeted by caramel toned thighs-
“Hey Choi”, a rough voice grumbled, and San’s hopes were shattered. A shrill whistle sounded nearly instantly afterwards, making San yell and bolt up straight, spitting some grass and dirt out of his mouth.
A guy with black hair cut short on his forehead and piercing black eyes was looking down on him. His whole body and face laid in shadows as his frame covered the sun behind his back. The whistle between his teeth was the same silver colour as his ear piercings, and rings glimmering on his fingers. With a shrill short whistle, he blew the object dangling around his neck on the blue strap out of his mouth.
“If you want to keep your quarterback position better keep it in your pants, alright?”
San’s cheeks flushed a crimson red, huffing, “Who are you?”
With a fierce thump, the boy slapped his own chest, pointing at a little sign clipped on his jersey, “Maddox and I won’t accept anyone slacking off in this team. We have a fucking title to defend. Now get up and do another round. For fuck’s sake- stop staring at Wooyoung!? He’s out of your league, now get a grip!”
Another shrill whistle made San squint his eyes. This Hongjoong guy would make San’s ears bleed one day.
San sighed, lifting his head in defence, “Yeah, yeah, alright, I’ll run. But why is everyone telling me the same about Wooyoung? Why does everyone keep telling me that?”
Hongjoong took another blow at the whistle, its sound ringing painfully loud in San’s ears.
“Listen buddy, I know you’re new in this college, but hitting on Wooyoung is like hitting on…”, the trainee coach frowned as he noticed the spark in San’s eyes as he listened attentively. “You know what. I’m tired of warning boys like you. Do whatever you want. Just know that I’m friends with Wooyoung.” Hongjoong’s eyes grew dark, “Don’t make a mistake.”
The trainee coach left San with rolling eyes.
Strange… San thought. Why was everyone telling him how unapproachable Wooyoung was, when approaching him seemed so easy? San could just walk over and say ‘hi’, right? Where was the hurdle?
Just as San wanted to catch another look at the cheer captain, a piping whistle sounded.
“Train!”
San straightened his back and shoulders as he took off for the round that he promised Hongjoong.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
While the boys trained on the field, the sun was taking its journey throughout the sky. It was late afternoon when the coach finally ended the training. It was such a torture getting through these two hours. Every time San wanted to do just as much as turn his head into the cheerleader’s direction, he was met with a painfully whistling boy. Hongjoong had San on tight watch. He couldn’t believe that he had managed to piss off one of the trainee coaches in just one day.
Nonetheless, the training was nice, and San loved every minute of it, just running and sweating with his friends and new teammates.
The sunrays had already a slight orange touch as San let himself fall backwards into the soft swaying grass. He took a deep breath, enjoying the scent of the field tickling his nostrils. Heavy groans came in-between his breathes as he tried to calm his heavy heaving chest. Meanwhile, Jongho had laid next to him on his left side, panting wildly as he tried to wipe the sweat of his forehead.
“Damned be coach for making us run an extra round.”
San closed his eyes, gasping for air, “Are you… sure… that it was coach and not Hongjoong?”
“Hongjoong?”
San’s throat felt so dry as he tried to swallow while nodding enthusiastically, “I swear… he hates me.”
“Who hates you?”, Yunho asked with a nosy glint in his eyes, black hair laying sweatily on his forehead as he also fell down into the field, just on San’s other side.
“Hongjoong”, Jongho and San rasped out simultaneously, chuckling at the weird coincidence.
“Ooooh, I wanna hear the gossip too!”, Mingi exclaimed as he bounced their way, falling on top of the three exhausted boys. Immediately, he received a choir of curses and complaints as they grunted tiredly under his weight.
All their complaints died down quickly though, fading into sounding laughter.
Yunho turned slightly to San, “How do you like it here so far? Is everything living up to your expectations?”
San propped his elbow up, resting his cheek into his palm, “Yeah, it’s really as cool as you promised. I can’t believe I am living with you guys now. Honestly, sleeping in the same room once again with Jongho and you just feels like we’re back in our school days.”
Yunho grinned, “It was just our luck that our former roommate graduated last term.” With a little snicker, he fell back into the grass again, arms outstretched, enjoying the sunrays illuminating the field.
As the friend’s all seemed to finally have calmed down, silently enjoying the moment of rest in the middle of the football field, San dared to let his eyes wander to the side of the field for the first time after their training had ended.
“One, two, three, four, five, six, sev-“ The cheerleaders were still rehearsing on the side. San listened to Wooyoung’s steady counting as he watched some girls making backflips while Wooyoung stepped in front of two boys wearing blue pants. The male cheerleaders looked buff and better built than the other dancers and San figured that they must be the dancers who were helping doing lifts and stunts in the air. A wave of jealousy hit the shore of San’s heart as one of them gripped Wooyoung’s waist from behind, lifting him up on the shoulders of another guy.
San sighed. Maybe his friends were right… Wooyoung was exactly his type…
“Why don’t you talk to him?”, Yunho’s voice ringed from the side and San knew that the question was addressed to him.
Talking… But what should San even say to him? He had already made a fool of himself in front of him, he couldn’t bear to embarrass himself even more in front of Wooyoung and possibly the whole cheer team if San were to go over to… introduce himself?
San watched how stiffly Wooyoung stood on the boy’s shoulder. No shaking, no trembling, just standing there in the middle back of the formation. His arms were stretched out in a T-motion and San sighed just taking the beautiful silhouette in, the half skirt was slightly swaying in the wind. The moment Wooyoung lifted one leg off the shoulders, San’s heart made a jump. Wasn’t that dangerous?! The cheerleader rapidly put the leg back down, gathering momentum before jumping in a high split jump.
A tight, icy grip got hold of San’s heart. Gasping, San sat up like lightning, eyes wide as his heart beat in his throat. He would fall! His eyes were drowning in fear but he still he couldn’t look away. His shoulders were tense but slumped down the moment Wooyoung landed graciously on the boy’s shoulders again as if it was the easiest thing for him to do.
San felt his heart die in his chest. If he had to watch that one more time, he would drown in worry and concern.
On another note, San was mesmerised. How could someone have so much control over his body? And balance? And grace? And on top of it all – confidence!? All the questions made San’s head spin.
Wooyoung broke his T into an X in front of his chest before leaning backwards, letting himself fall down the boy’s shoulders.
Now was the time for San’s heart to completely stop in his tracks. Wooyoung can’t just-!? He couldn’t just let himself fall down that boy’s shoulders?! That was far too dangerous!! Although San saw the other guy and two girls already lined up to catch him, he grew nauseous just at the thought that something could go wrong during the stunt. Something about trusting these strangers to catch the pretty boy… did absolutely not sit right with San. What if one day they wouldn’t be able to catch him and he-
San really didn’t want to think about that.
“San, please go talk to him”, Mingi groaned, “You’re painful to watch.”
“I’m what?!”
Yunho chuckled, “Well you are clearly interest-“
“I’m not”, San deadpanned, and it made his friends stare in silence for a minute before breaking out in hysterical laughter as if he had just cracked the joke of the year.
“Oh Sannie”, Yunho sighed before he took the football that laid on the side of the group in his hands. “We never meant to scare you off, haha. We’ve just seen… enough boys and girls try their best with Wooyoung. But that boy is hard to get and no matter how loud their confession was, his rejection was louder. He’s damn popular and we just want to spare you of the public embarrassment. But also… you’re Choi San. The loveliest, softest, and best-looking guy I’ve ever met on this earth. If someone has a chance, then it might be you all along.”
San nibbled on his lower lip. He didn’t quite get what Yunho wanted to tell him.
Jongho jumped from his seating position, finger raised in the air, “I have an idea!” The red-haired boy ripped the ball out of Yunho’s hands, taking some steps and throwing the ball far, far to the side, coming to a stop just a few steps next to the cheerleaders.
“How about you go get the ball, San”, Jongho suggested, putting his hands into his shorts’ pockets, “And introduce yourself?”
A wink.
In a comfortable jog, San approached the group of dancers. He was just a yard away when he noticed that they were rehearsing the same part from before again. In rhythmic counts, the girls did their backflips while Wooyoung stepped behind the cheerleaders. Oh, how much San already dreaded the moment the guy would lay his hands on Wooyoung’s waist again. He couldn’t really stop himself from grumbling in disapproval as the boy lifted Wooyoung up on the shoulders. God, how San hated this choreography.
Again, Wooyoung lifted his foot to gather momentum and San just sped up a bit in his steps. Just in case, you know?
The split jump went perfectly though, legs sideways in a toe touch. San sighed in relief. However, the moment Wooyoung found his way back on the shoulders, the guy beneath him took a shaky step back. The cheer captain on top wobbled back and forth for a second, arms suddenly flailing as San found himself watch in horror as Wooyoung slipped sideways from his teammate.
High pitched screams of the girls sounded around and it ringed like an alarm in San’s ears. The ball long forgotten, he rushed forth, heart in a tight grip as he prayed to make it in time. The cheerleaders who had gathered to catch Wooyoung didn’t see the fall coming and weren’t able to react fast enough, but San was.
His trained leg muscles carried him there, arms stretched out. With a little huff, San caught Wooyoung mid-air. One hand supported his back, the other was tugged under his knees.
San’s heart was racing. “Oh my god, are you alright!?”, he nearly shouted in his panic. The fear must have been written all over his face as he felt his knees slightly shaking because of the adrenaline. Some cheerleaders rushed to their side to see if Wooyoung was alright.
But Wooyoung didn’t seem to notice them at all as he was busy staring into the face of his saviour. These dark twinkling eyes of the boy he had watched train on the field before.
San’s eyes trailed all over Wooyoung’s body, lingering on his ankles a bit longer, “Is your foot alright? Does something hurt?”
Wooyoung only stared.
“How dare you!?”, a voice boomed, getting San’s attention, but that wouldn’t have been necessary as a flick against his forehead made the footballer wince.
“Get your hands off Wooyoung!” San was met with the cold stare of a blonde boy, who was wearing the same uniform as Wooyoung. “Didn’t you understand me!?”, he emphasised, and San reluctantly let go.
Carefully, he crouched down to set Wooyoung’s legs on the ground first before letting go of his back. For a short second, Wooyoung’s foot buckled in, making San reach out to support him by holding his upper arm. He seemed to be fine though and stood straight, leaving San’s supporting touch just in time before the blonde smacked San’s hands away.
“You footballers are all the same!”, the blond complained, pressing a finger into San’s chest, “You all think you have the right to touch us, but I have news for you, you absolutely don’t! Try to touch Wooyoung again and I’ll bite that finger of yours off-“
“Yeosang!”, Wooyoung interfered, getting a little upset by his best friend’s behaviour now. Yes… maybe some footballers had tried to get some little fun with Wooyoung in the past but it was mainly players from opposing teams. He loved Yeosang to bits, but sometimes he felt like his single status was all his fault.
“He saved me! If he hadn’t caught me, I’d have injured myself, so-“, Wooyoung turned, making San blush as he watched the half-skirt twirl, “Thank you, uhm-“
A blush crept up the footballer’s neck as he was met with a soft smile, “Ch-Choi San! San! I’m San. J-Just San is fine, I mean…”
Wooyoung beamed at San as the adorable stuttering quiet down, his eyes laughing just as much as his mouth, “Alright, San. Nice to meet you. I’m Wooyoung. Thank you for… catching me. I haven’t seen you around before, are you new?”
The beating of San’s heart slammed so loud in his chest that he wasn’t sure that he had heard Wooyoung correctly and his erratic heartbeat grew even worse as he repeated his words in his head again. Wooyoung had noticed that it was his first time on the field…
San replied shyly, “Yes, I am the new quarterback of the team.”
Wooyoung raised his eyebrows, eyes wide open as he shot Yeosang an undefined look, but the blonde just shrugged.
“Well, whatever”, Yeosang started, waving at San, “It was nice getting to know you, but now we really need to rehearse that part again so that Wooyoung won’t fall again. If you excuse us-“
Yeosang’s eyes were as sharp as his tongue as he put a hand on Wooyoung’s back to guide him to the benches on the side.
San bowed slightly at the retreating cheerleaders with a smile.
All the way back to the dorm San couldn’t forget Wooyoung, couldn’t forget how warm and light his body had felt in his arms. How soft his skin had felt against his rough fingertips.
… San was down bad. Why was he even trying to hide it?
A furious groan escaped his lips as he massaged the nape of his neck. At least Yeosang had been the one to make him leave and not Wooyoung himself.
San was already at the stairs to the building housing the dorms as he froze in place. Wait, didn’t he-
“Fuck”, he rasped, dashing back. He forgot Yunho’s ball.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
As Wooyoung ran down the corridor of his college’s dorm, his hands were tightly pressed against his flushed cheeks. His heart was racing faster than his steps as he tried to calm it down in vain. Damn it, what is wrong with you, Wooyoung? It was just a stupid footballer. But damn, he couldn’t get the feeling of San’s warm hands away, still felt them pressing into his knees and back. Whenever he closed his eyes, he saw those cat-like eyes glinting at him in surprise. However, closing his eyes while running wasn’t the best idea and Wooyoung stumbled over the well-known and infamous folds in the corridor’s carpet.
With a surprised gasp, the cheer captain caught himself on the floor just right to avoid crashing face first into the hard floor. Cursing this San, he pulled his legs cross legged and crumbled with a pout as he folded his arms. His shoulders were raised as he tapped his toes in a sulking manner.
Never in all his cheerleader years had someone ever thrown Wooyoung so immensely out of his thoughts. It was concerning and dangerous. Just in the split of a second that Wooyoung had noticed that San had approached the dancers, he had been careless. Wooyoung was a professional in cheerleading, he had danced before he’d walked and on top of that he’d been the team’s flyer ever since he started at this college. Usually, he knew how to handle an insecure step from his back spot, but…
A shiver went down Wooyoung’s arms as he recalled the moment he had fallen, goosebumps spreading on his arms.
His mind had suddenly panicked, knowing that San was watching him, and he had lost his balance before he even knew it. Yeosang had been worried sick, had screamed at Wooyoung the moment San was gone.
“Wooyoung, what in fuck’s name!?”, he had yelled with tears glistening in his eyes, before pulling his best friend into a bone-crushing hug. “You know how badly you can injure yourself while doing those stunts, please…”
If someone knew about that, it was Yeosang. Yeosang had been a flyer all his life until he got gravely injured in his last high school year and decided to take the spots on the ground instead. Which had its benefits – given that Yeosang looked stunning with those juicy arm muscles. However, Wooyoung couldn’t give up the spot. He loved the position, the attention, the spotlight! Especially as the captain of the team and learned cheerleader, he wanted to take the dangerous spots for his team. He felt like it was his duty to shine in the positions which nobody dared to take. It made him Jung Wooyoung, right? The unapproachable perfect cheerleader captain.
Wooyoung rolled his eyes with a snicker. Well, that was his reputation at least.
One of the doors inside the corridor opened, revealing platin blonde hair, “I already thought that I heard your voice.” A boy came outside, leaning against the wall with folded arms over his white wide linen shirt and a questioning eyebrow raised as he took in the sight of Wooyoung sitting on the floor.
A sigh, “How often do I need to tell you that if something is bothering you, you can chew on it as much as you want, but preferably with me and preferably in our room.”
Wooyoung looked up from his hunched position, rolling his eyes at his roommate, “It wasn’t my intention, Seonghwa.”
Without waiting for another word, Seonghwa reached to help Wooyoung stand up.
“I just tripped and fell. You know how the carpet-“
“You fell!?”
Seonghwa gripped Wooyoung’s shoulders, his eyes sparkling in unspoken worry as he inspected his body. “Did you hurt yourself? Oh, Wooyoung. You have the practice game coming up, please be careful.”
“I’m fine. I just-“, Wooyoung started but his words faded in the approaching blush tainting his cheeks.
Immediately, Wooyoung’s cheeks were squished in a tight grip, “Hwa?”
“Oh no”, Seonghwa whined scoldingly, “Is that a blush?”
The blush just got worse at his roommate’s words and Wooyoung felt like exploding, “Sh-Shut up! Idiot!”, he squealed in high octaves before pushing his best friend – apart from Yeosang – away.
However, Seonghwa knew exactly what was up. Wooyoung? Blushing?
He took Wooyoung’s hand without another word, dragging them into their room before shutting the door.
“Tell me”, Seonghwa said, flicking annoying blonde strands out of his face as he sat next to Wooyoung on the cheerleader’s bed. Seonghwa had bleached his hair just a week ago, but damn the boy looked crazily good with it. “What happened at training?”
“Nothing happened”, Wooyoung squealed again. Seriously, San made him feel things he hadn’t felt in a while. The high-pitched screech made Seonghwa laugh.
“Shut up!”
“You’re cute”, Seonghwa hummed as he watched Woo fall backwards into his nest of purple and pink fluffy pillows.
Wooyoung was right, wasn’t he? Nothing had happened. It was just… weird. Wooyoung felt weird. That was it. His heart had been jumpy all day and he had been nervous for no apparent reason but… He sighed.
“You know that I have that toe touch in the air in the new choreography?”
Seonghwa dipped his head to the side, “Oh that really dangerous flying part in the air on the shoulders of some guy? Yes, yes, I know that one.” The blonde’s smile was fake and Wooyoung felt his heart sink. Seonghwa had warned him a lot of times to not include it because it was a very dangerous move. Wooyoung pursed his lips as he scratched his neck, clearing his throat. He really didn’t want to worry Seonghwa… His hands played with the ends of his half-skirt as he searched for words.
Seonghwa, who sensed Wooyoung’s nervousness, put a warm hand on his thigh. “Did something happen during the stunt? Did someone get injured? Please tell me what you are worrying about.” His eyebrows were drawn in a frown as he drew patterns on Woo’s skin. So comforting. So very Seonghwa. Sometimes Woo couldn’t believe that he found himself such a good friend.
Well…
“I fell.”
Death silence invaded the room.
“I fell from his shoulders”, Wooyoung explained in a suddenly dry voice, watching as Seonghwa tore his eyes open, the soothing patterns stopped, as he trailed down Wooyoung’s entire body in order to spot any injury, bruise, or blood.
Wooyoung shoved Seonghwa’s hands off his legs, sat up and supported himself on his hands as he shook his head, “I’m fine! Really! I didn’t get hurt at all! I’m okay, because… because…” Another blush crawled up Wooyoung’s neck, he felt the warmth on his ears as the last two words were breaking in a high squeal.
“It’s because that new Choi caught him.”
Wooyoung must have resembled a traffic light by now.
With a click, the door fell close as Hongjoong shrugged, three coffees in his hands. His short black hair beneath his grey cap was a bit ruffled and still damp to a possible shower. The short cut bangs framed his forehead in a line, translucent glasses on his nose.
“What!?”, Wooyoung squealed while Hongjoong gave Wooyoung and Seonghwa a cup of coffee.
“Oh, come one, Woo. Everyone saw it. It’s the talk of the campus right now.”
“I’m gonna bury myself under the football field”, Wooyoung took his white blanket and threw it above his head after pressing his coffee cup into Seonghwa’s hands.
God, that was a nightmare. That was exactly why Wooyoung did not date anybody. He couldn’t do as much as look into someone’s direction without the whole college knowing. That wasn’t even an exaggeration. The last time Wooyoung flirted with that bright redhaired footballer of the neighbouring college, his design professor had asked him how his relationship was going. In fact, Wooyoung had spoken to that boy once and the college already barked about Wooyoung losing his virginity, which he… definitely lost in high school, but hey… the campus was allowed to think whatever they wanted as long as it didn’t affect Wooyoung too badly. Sometimes it was just… tiring. Yeosang had every right to be protective over him.
Hongjoong took his sport cap off, putting it on Seonghwa’s bed, which was just next to Wooyoung’s – only two little tables separating them – before he went to pull the blanket off the cheerleader’s head. “You brought that upon yourself.”
“Excuse me!?”
Helplessly confused, Seonghwa looked from one friend to the other, before Hongjoong gave in, explaining, “Wooyoung fell from the toe touch and Choi saved him. Caught him before something could happen.”
“Oh, that’s a relief-“, Seonghwa breathed, but was promptly interrupted.
“His name is San, good gracious lord! Don’t call him by his last name, it makes him sound so old.”
Hongjoong chuckled as he sipped his coffee with a smug smile, “Oh wow”, he raised his eyebrows in mischief, “First name basis. You two are going at a fast pace, I see.”
Wooyoung should have been tired of squealing by now… but no, he wasn’t. With a high fox noise, he took one of his fluffy pillows to hit Joong. “We. Aren’t. Going. At. Any. Pace!”
“Hey! Hey! Be careful of my coffee!”, the older sports-science student complained as he dodged the attacks.
A fond chuckle came from Seonghwa as he watched them bicker. “So, you’re not injured?”
Wooyoung stopped the beating and took a long sip from his coffee as he gave Seonghwa a shake with his head, his pretty shining locks swaying.
“And it was because that… San caught you?”
The cheerleader really tried not to choke on his drink, but… he choked on his drink. “…yeah.”
Seonghwa cooed at the sputtering, running a hand through Woo’s soft hair. “Was he hot?”
Now it was Hongjoong’s turn to choke on his coffee.
The blonde veterinary medicine student shot his best friend an accusing look, “What? I just wanna make sure that Wooyoung gets only the best. So?”
The nod Wooyoung gave Seonghwa was so eager that he nearly spilled his coffee on his bed. “Seonghwa, you have no idea!! San is so urgh- so, so handsome!! If there’s a picture in the dictionary to describe the word, it’s a picture of San. From his face to his hands to his body, that boy screams perfection! He looks so lean but still full of muscles and his eyes! Seonghwa, please what should I do!? I can’t just… fall for a guy I have seen for one day?! Tell me I’m stupid!”
“You’re stupid”, Hongjoong said between sips of coffee, looking over the rim of his glasses.
“Well thank you, asshole. At least I admit feelings in contrary to someone else.”, Wooyoung said, shooting Hongjoong a hard glare.
Hongjoong coughed as he choked on his drink once again. Seonghwa looked confusedly between his two friends before shrugging, “Well, yes maybe it’s not the wisest to crush on someone that fast, but showing interest is always fine. And you’re adorable, Woo.”
“I’m not”, he said with a pout, but Seonghwa ignored him.
Hongjoong put the empty coffee cup away as he had a sudden idea. Promptly, he got his phone out. “I have the number of every player, if you want-“
“No!”, the voices of Wooyoung and Seonghwa boomed, making Hongjoong stop in his tracks, “No?”
Wooyoung shook his head vehemently, “That would be…”
“…way too straightforward”, Seonghwa finished Woo’s sentence. “They should approach this as naturally as it can be for… well… the captain of the cheerleaders.”
“And the quarterback”, Hongjoong added, making Wooyoung scream.
“What!?”, Hongjoong shouted, annoyed at his loud friend.
“I thought that I might have heard it wrong but no… he’s the quarterback!? This is just my luck…”, the younger boy groaned, fisting his hair in a desperate grip.
“Oh, come on, Youngie. It fits and who knows”, Seonghwa said, patting Wooyoung’s shoulder pitifully, “Maybe he’s finally the one.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
“This is bad”, Yunho said while trailing back and forth in his room. San sat cross-legged on his bed, judging Yunho from above his book’s page.
“Are you okay?”
“Me? Yes! I’m very okay! You should be the one worrying.”
San shut his book, taking it to the side before sliding his glasses up his head, “Why should I worry? What about-?”
“Wooyoung.”
Just the name made San’s blood rush to his cheeks. “W-What about Wooyoung? Nothing happened between us, I just talked to him…”
Yunho threw his hands into the air, “Talk? You caught him from falling!”
“He could have gotten hurt!”, San instantly cut in, feeling the panic and anxiety of Wooyoung getting injured still vibrate beneath his skin.
“San, Wooyoung is really popular. Do you really think that-“, Yunho’s talk was interrupted by Jongho sliding inside the room, with his phone in front of his face.
“Hey, what’s all the talk about San dating Wooyoung about?”
San’s heart skipped a beat. Dating?!
“I just caught him! That could have been anyone! Yes, I wanted to talk to him and- didn’t you set me up with him in the first place!?” San remembered Jongho throwing the ball that was currently laying on Yunho’s desk.
Yunho pinged the bridge of his nose, “We didn’t think it would become such a big thing.”
Jongho clacked with his tongue as he threw himself in the top rank of the bunkbed, “They will calm down in a few days. Students love gossip. Especially if they concern people like Wooyoung.”
San frowned, “What do you mean?”
Jongho tapped his fingers against the wood of the bed poles, “Gay? Athletic? Beautiful? Ring any bells?”
The blush on San’s cheeks was there before Jongho had even finished his sentence.
“Wooyoung is the male cheerleader everyone steals hidden glances at.”
San’s thoughts got stuck at one word though, “He’s gay?”
As if San was irrational, Yunho and Jongho threw him a weirded-out look, “Do you think we would tell you he’s totally your type when he’s straight as fuck?”
San sighed.
“Oh, wow there’s even a photo”, Jongho giggled, making San jump from the lower rank of the bunkbed and climb the ladder halfway.
“Oh my god, there’s a photo!? Show me!”
Jongho chuckled as San ripped the phone out of his hands, going back down the steps of the ladder as his eyes were locked on the glowing display. A picture of the field showed, cheerleaders surrounding the scene like a frame as San was clearly standing in the middle of the photo dressed in his warm football jacket as he held Wooyoung dressed in the cute uniform in his arms. San wanted to scream and faint at the same time when he saw their fond expression as they stared into each other’s soul. He could definitely see why there were suddenly dating rumours at the campus.
Without another thought he pressed the button to save the picture and send it to his phone. Jongho, who watched San doing so, just laughed with all his heart.
“Well. We need to consider that San, as quarterback, will get pretty popular himself. Everyone will fawn over you.”, Jongho whistled but San just huffed.
Yunho laughed, “Well… who knows. San, just… don’t let anybody tell you what to do and even more important, what to feel. I already talked to Wooyoung a few times and he’s lovely. You two would fit quite well. Why not give it a shot?”
San gave Jongho his phone back, reaching for his own from his pants’ pockets to receive the picture that he had just sent to himself before making it his new phone background. At least that had been his plan, but his heart stilled in his chest as he saw the newest incoming message he had gotten, blinking on his phone display.
The fall of his smile didn’t stay unnoticed as Yunho dipped his head to the side. “Is everything alright, San?”
Surprised, San looked up, clearing his throat before he gnawed on his lip. “Uhmm, yeah. I’m fine.” His raspy voice was a bad indicator that he wasn’t, but San was a little overwhelmed with the situation. A message shone forth on his display.
‘In case you wanna make sure he’s okay’, a message from his trainee coach, Hongjoong. San swallowed. A message with Wooyoung’s phone number added.