Ricky leaned against his locker, chatting with Zhang Hao, who was calmly munching on dried durian chips.
"I'm telling you, My Demon keeps getting better," Ricky said, eyes gleaming. "Last night I binge-watched it, and it was beautiful."
Zhang Hao side-eyed him. "You really need to get your priorities straight."
"Priorities are straight." Ricky pointed dramatically. "Gaming first, then... uh, sleep, maybe school if there's time."
"You won't survive here if you don't focus on Korean," Zhang Hao sighed. "Did you even prepare for your test?"
Ricky shrugged. "I'll figure it out."
Before Hao could scold him further, Ricky suddenly stumbled forward, nearly face-planting on the floor. He spun around, his jaw clenched.
And there was Gyuvin, leaning against the lockers with that cocky grin. His arms were crossed like he'd just accomplished something noble.
"Oops," Gyuvin said with mock concern. "Are you okay?"
Ricky narrowed his eyes. "Seriously?"
Gyuvin gasped in mock horror. "Why so hostile? A little stumble never hurt anyone."
Zhang Hao sighed, dragging Ricky back before he could say something. "Are you both five?"
Ricky shrugged. "Only one of us acts like it, and it's not me."
Ricky clenched his fists as Gyuvin sauntered down the hallway, hands shoved in his pockets.
Ricky began complaining. "That guy is unbelievable."
"Both of you are," Zhang Hao muttered. "Grow up."
"I'm not on his level."
"Sure you're not," Hao deadpanned.
Ricky walked in the classroom to find Gyuvin already there, sprawled lazily in his seat. "Morning, partner," Gyuvin greeted with a grin.
Ricky ignored him and flipped open his notebook.
Minutes later, Gyuvin's head drooped onto his desk, snoring softly.
Ricky's lips curled into a devilish smile. Without hesitation, he grabbed his pen and jabbed it into Gyuvin's side.
Gyuvin shot up from his seat, eyes wild. "What theâ"
"Oh, Gyuvin!" the teacher said. "Finally, someone volunteered to answer the question. Please come to the front."
Gyuvin shot a glare at Ricky before going to the front of the class. "You're dead."
The next day, Ricky walked into the classroom, already suspicious. Gyuvin's grin was way too innocent.
Ricky sat downâonly to feel an odd stickiness beneath him. His heart sank.
"Don't tell me..."
Gyuvin's smirk widened.
"Ricky, please come to the front," the teacher called.
Ricky stoodâand the entire chair came with him, stuck firmly to his pants. Laughter exploded around the room.
Gyuvin wiped a fake tear from his eye. "Nice accessory."
Then came PE class.
Everyone was playing football, while Ricky sat on the bench and was dozing off.
Suddenly, Ricky's peace was interrupted. "Ricky! Watch out!"
Before Ricky could react, the ball hit him on the head. The impact sent Ricky stumbling back.
Before he could even register the sting, he caught sight of Gyuvin grinning like a mischievous monkey.
"Sorry, Ricky! It was an accident. Is your hairstyle fine?" Gyuvin called out, his voice dripping with sarcastic cheer as he chuckled at Ricky's dazed expression.
His eyes darkened.
Fine.
He spotted a weighted ball and an old piece of worn ball leather tossed carelessly near the equipment rack. He wrapped the leather around the weight until it resembled a perfectly round, intimidating football.
"Kick this, Gyuvin!" he challenged, holding the makeshift ball high as if daring his rival to take the bait.
Gyuvin, ever cocky, leaped to kick it. The second his foot made contact, he yelped in pain.
"Youâ" Gyuvin hobbled around, clutching his foot.
The gym erupted in a chorus of gasps and then laughter. Moments later, his two friends, Junhyeon and Gunwook, rushed over to him. "Are you okay? Dude, are you hurt?"
Grimacing and trying to shake off the pain, Gyuvin managed to push himself up. "Take me to the doctor's office," he demanded. Before his friends could fully react, Gyuvin's eyes snapped toward Ricky with a glare that promised retribution.
The basketball court buzzed with energy as sneakers squeaked on the polished wood and the ball thudded against the floor. Ricky darted across the court, sweat dripping down his face, his focus razor-sharp. Gyuvin, leaning on his crutches by the sidelines.
Ricky's team won the game, and the players dispersed, panting and high-fiving each other. Zhang Hao jogged over to Ricky. "Good game, man."
Just then, Gyuvin hobbled toward them. "Hey, Ricky!" he called out, his tone unusually sweet. "You're a jerk, but you did well today. Here." He held out a neatly folded towel.
Ricky wiped sweat from his forehead. "Thanks."
"Wow, thoughtful," Zhang Hao remarked, suspicious.
The gym fell into an eerie silence. Ricky noticed the odd stares first, then Zhang Hao's grimace.
"What?" Ricky demanded, heart sinking.
Zhang Hao coughed awkwardly. "Uh... your face."
Ricky darted to the nearest glass door, his reflection glaring back at him. His face was a shocking, vivid green, like he'd just emerged from a radioactive swamp.
Gyuvin cackled so hard he nearly fell off his crutches. "Shrek is that you?" he laughed, tears streaming down his face.
Ricky clenched his fists. "Dumbass."
The rest of the gym erupted in laughter, the players doubling over at Ricky's expense. Even the coach struggled to hide a smirk.
Ricky's face burned hotter than everâbut it wasn't from embarrassment anymore. His glare locked on Gyuvin, who was barely keeping himself upright on his crutches.
After the game, Ricky and Gyuvin walked out of the school together in silence. Gyuvin limped on his crutches, grimacing with each step, while Ricky's face still glowed faintly green despite his attempts to scrub it off in the locker room. They looked like two survivors of a war.
As they reached the gate, Gyuvin shot Ricky a sideways glance. "Hey, you know green isn't your color."
Ricky's lips twitched into a dangerous smile. "Keep talking, and I'll steal your crutches."
Gyuvin grinned through the pain. "See you tomorrow, Wicked Witch of the West."
"See you tomorrow, stupid," Ricky snapped back.
They parted ways, each plotting their next move.
The tenth grade was already coming to an end. Autumn and winter had passed, and finally, spring arrived. The air was warmer, flowers blossomed, and the trees outside the school were dotted with vibrant green buds. Inside the classroom, the golden afternoon sun washed over the desks, illuminating the focused faces of students â well, most of them.
One thing never changed.
Gyuvin was sleeping on the desk, his face turned slightly to the side.
Carefully, Ricky leaned over, gripping his pen with precision. Tongue slightly poking out in concentration, he was carefully writing "pabo" on Gyuvin's cheek, ensuring each letter was neatly aligned.
Suddenly, the bell rang, jolting Gyuvin awake.
Ricky leaned back nonchalantly. Gyuvin, oblivious to the masterpiece on his face, frantically began shoving books and papers into his bag.
In a rush, Gyuvin stopped at the door and turned back to Ricky. "Hey, are you coming to today's game?"
Ricky raised an eyebrow. "Maybe. I don't know."
Gyuvin smirked, a cocky gleam in his eye. "You should. I want you to witness me in my prime."
Ricky scoffed. "Your prime? You mean when you're benched?"
"Ha-ha, hilarious," Gyuvin shot back, stepping toward the hallway. "You're talking to the MVP, Ricky."
Gyuvin suddenly bolted out of the classroom, still unaware of the bold "pabo" tattoo gracing his cheek. Ricky watched him go, grinning smugly.
Ricky did come to the game. The air was thick with excitement as the stadium buzzed with anticipation. Banners waved, drums beat rhythmically, and chants echoed throughout the stands. Jinhwa High School had made it to the provincial finals for the first time in history. If they won, they would advance to the national football leagueâa monumental achievement.
Ricky and Zhang Hao navigated through the crowded stands, squeezing past excited students and parents. "Excuse me... sorry... watch your drink!" Ricky grumbled as someone's soda almost splashed on him.
Finally, they found two empty seats near the center of the stadium. Ricky slumped down, arms crossed. "This better be good," he muttered.
Ricky glanced around. The entire school seemed to be there, along with reporters, alumni, and locals. The energy was contagious, even for someone like Ricky, who usually couldn't care less about sports.
Suddenly, the stadium erupted into cheers as the players began walking onto the field. One by one, they were announced over the loudspeaker, each greeted with thunderous applause.
And then came Gyuvin.
As the team captain, he was the first to step onto the field, his face lit with a confident, almost smug grin. The crowd went wild. Girls screamed his name, and boys shouted praises.
"Gyuvin is so cool!"
"Captain Gyuvin, lead us to victory!"
"Marry me, Gyuvin!"
Ricky scoffed, his jaw tightening. "Seriously? He isn't all that."
Zhang Hao chuckled. "He kind of is."
Gyuvin was waving to the crowd with the poise of someone who knew he was the main event. His prideful expression made Ricky's blood boil. Still, Ricky clapped politely. He wasn't that petty.
"Look at you being mature," Zhang Hao teased.
"Well, I gotta give credit when it's due," Ricky muttered.
Though Gyuvin was undeniably stupid and insufferably annoying, Ricky couldn't deny one thingâhe respected him. Gyuvin was fiercely devoted to his team and the sport. Ricky had seen it firsthand: the way Gyuvin always stayed after school for extra practice, sweat dripping down his face as he ran drills long after everyone else had gone home. He pushed himself relentlessly, carrying the weight of being both the youngest player and the captain. And as much as it irritated Ricky, that kind of dedication was something he admired about him.
The game began with a deafening whistle. Both teams charged onto the field, moving with precision and intensity. The opposing team was strongâtall, fast, and clearly experienced. Jinhwa's players struggled to maintain possession, and within the first fifteen minutes, the opposing team scored a goal.
The stadium fell into a tense silence.
"Not looking good," Zhang Hao said grimly.
Gyuvin was everywhere on the field, yelling commands, intercepting passes, and pushing his team forward. His energy was relentless.
"Come on, Captain," someone behind them shouted. "Do something!"
As if on cue, Gyuvin stole the ball from an opposing player, dribbled past two defenders, and launched a powerful shot into the net. The stadium exploded.
"Yes!" Zhang Hao shouted, pumping his fist.
Ricky found himself clapping, despite himself. "Okay, that was impressive," he admitted.
Both teams fought fiercely, and the clock ticked down. Jinhwa needed one more goal to win, but the opposing team's defense was impenetrable.
The whistle blew. Jinhwa had lost.
The crowd fell into a stunned silence. Some students began crying, while others shouted in frustration.
Gyuvin sank to his knees on the field, sweat pouring down his face, his chest heaving with exhaustion. His legs trembled from the relentless effort he'd poured into the game. Ricky's eyes flickered to the state of himâGyuvin's knees were literally bleeding, scraped raw from endless falls on the field. He had given everything, throwing himself into every tackle, sprinting with wild determination even when the odds were clearly against him.
Ricky watched from the stands, feeling an unexpected pang of sympathy. Gyuvin had fought hard, and the loss wasn't fair.
Ricky stood up, brushing dirt off his pants.
"Well," Zhang Hao sighed, "that was intense."
Ricky shrugged. "Yeah."
Ricky and Zhang Hao made their way toward the team.
"You guys did well," Ricky said, his voice firm. "That referee was trash anyway."
Zhang Hao nodded. "Seriously, don't be too hard on yourselves. Getting to the finals was already huge. Next year, you'll crush it."
Hanbin, one of the senior players, managed a tired smile. "Thanks, guys. That means a lot."
The tension lifted slightly as some of the other players muttered their thanks. However, Zhang Hao's brows furrowed when he scanned the group. "Waitâwhere's Gyuvin?"
Gunwook answered. "No idea. He left right after the whistle. Didn't even change or talk to usâjust grabbed his stuff and left."
Zhang Hao frowned. "Seriously?"
Gunwook sighed. "Yeah. He didn't say a word. Just took off."
Ricky and Zhang Hao said their goodbyes to the team and parted ways. As Ricky walked toward the school gates, the cool evening air brushing past him, he noticed a lone figure leaning against the wall near the field.
Gyuvin.
Ricky clenched his jaw. "Not my problem," he muttered. But guilt gnawed at him. Gyuvin might be annoying, but Ricky wasn't heartless. With a heavy sigh, he turned back and walked toward him.
Gyuvin noticed him approaching and groaned. "Ricky, not now. Seriously."
"I'm not here to tease you," Ricky said, standing over him.
Gyuvin let out a bitter laugh. "Don't pity me either. I've heard enough of that already."
Ricky frowned. "Why do you always have to be such a drama queen?" He dropped his bag and knelt in front of Gyuvin, pulling out random items. "Hold on..."
Gyuvin blinked, confused. "What are you doing?"
Ricky ignored him, pulling out a pack of plasters and tossing it at Gyuvin. "Here. For your knees."
Gyuvin looked down, finally noticing the dried blood on his legs. "Oh," he muttered.
Ricky dug further and found a snack. Without a word, he threw it at Gyuvin's chest.
Gyuvin caught it with a raised brow. "Is this poisoned?"
"Wow, hilarious," Ricky said dryly. "I can't believe you're wasting your talents on football when you could be a comedian."
Gyuvin let out a tired chuckle but then quickly fell silent. Ricky sighed and sat down beside him.
"You know," Ricky said, his voice softer, "I'm shocked each time I see you falling all over the field, bleeding everywhere, screaming at people... You care about the team and this sport so much."
Gyuvin blinked, his face unreadable.
Ricky glanced at him. "Losing sucks, I get it. But it's not the end of the world. They'll remember how you made it to the finals as a first-year captain. That's huge."
Gyuvin's lips pressed together tightly.
Ricky stood up, brushing off his pants. "Anyway, don't let it get to your big head, Captain Dumbass."
Gyuvin looked up, something raw flickering in his eyes. "Ricky..."
"Okay, I gotta go." He grabbed his bag and walked away without looking back.
As his footsteps faded into the night, Gyuvin's shoulders shook. He bit his lip, fighting the tears he'd been holding back since the game ended. But in the quiet, with no one around to see, he let them fall.