Chapter Text
Kyuhyun hated how he looked when he ran. Arms too stiff, posture too upright, legs flailing like he’d missed the tutorial on how to be a person.
He joined the local rec soccer league on the advice of his therapist. “You need a hobby,” she’d said. “Something physical – a way to take care of your body, ease some of that pressure in your chest, lets you get away from grading papers and doomscrolling, maybe even meet a few new people. And something that helps you rebuild your confidence.”
When he didn’t respond, she’d added, more gently, “You’re so used to being good at things that starting something new probably feels terrifying. But that’s the point. Physical things – movement, play – they get you out of your head. You don’t have to be great at it. You just have to do it. Learn something new. Let yourself improve. Let yourself fail a little, even. That’s where confidence grows – not from perfection, but from showing up anyway.”
“And if you happen to get some good night sleep, for once, because you’re sore, even better,” she said with a small smile.
He hadn’t expected to agree with her. But a few days later, while microwaving leftover pasta in the school’s break room, he noticed a flyer pinned on the bulletin board:
Join the NPL Soccer League and the Offside Optimists!
Beginners welcome – no experience, no pressure, just fun on the field ☺
He’d never played soccer before. He signed up anyway. Later, he found out the NPL stood for “No Pressure League”. Someone clearly enjoyed their puns – and the English Premier League.
So now, every Sunday, here he was. On a dirt patch of a field with more gravel than grass, playing midfield for a team with other overworked, chronically sleep-deprived adults in bright blue and neon-orange checkered jerseys. He never expected anyone to be watching.
But lately, there was this guy.
Messy, curly two-toned hair – black fading into blonde. Purple-tinted glasses resting on his nose. An old camera hanging from a worn brown strap around his neck. Sometimes, a more modern one, like he's a photojournalist. The guy stays off to the side of the stands, leaning against the half-rusted chain-link fence. Occasionally, Kyuhyun sees him sitting in the technical area.
At first, Kyuhyun assumed he was there for someone else. Then the guy waved once. Hesitantly. At him.
Kyuhyun tripped on his own shoelace immediately after.