"Does this guy even play? Let's see." A player said.(smirk)
And then he hit a high smack, the ball soaring straight into the air, and coming down fast on the net.
Kaven was ahead—it was his call… he tried to control it, got into position… jumped… hit the ball, but it wasn't enough. The ball went up but straight, perfectly perpendicular—not slanting, not angled—he hit it with bullet-like speed. And Point!
Garam's team couldn't save it.
"Ha! just knows how to smack, not how to save," Ben said angrily.
A smirk appeared on Garam's face. "He was an idiot." He laughed at himself.
He flicked his hair side with a flick, Kaven served, Garam returned it, and a strong hit sent it straight toward Gyu. Gyu was ready to hit, but his other partner smacked it first.
"Man, if this keeps going, the game'll never end! This game's gonna go on forever like this—just playing safe! Do something already."
Even Mr. Cha looked frustrated. He grabbed the mic.
"I only need five more players from you all. Anyone who takes five hits is out. Rounds are two minutes each. Performance-based selection."
That's all he had to say—and the game burst into high energy.
Smacks from one side, outs from the other.
Garam's hit—one player out.
Gyu kept defending, saving his teammates over and over, while Garam seemed addicted to taking him down. If he couldn't throw Gyu out of his life, he'd at least throw him out here.
He was lost in thought when a Kaven team member fired a tight shot—straight toward Terry. One player rushed forward to defend, but before he could, the ball struck Terry.
"I told this shorty—you and your tiny feet can't handle this! Out!"
"Hey! You trying to embarrass us out there? Get back here!" Ben shouted.
Terry glared at him, turned toward Garam, said "All the best," and gave Gyu a thumbs up. Gyu responded with a lopsided smile.
Moments later, Garam knocked out more of Kaven's players—until only Gyu, Kaven, and one of Garam's teammates were left.
It was intense—Garam vs. Kaven vs. Gyu. One struck, the other smacked back.
Garam noticed Gyu was only defending from the back, so he aimed for him—and hit hard. But Kaven saved it.
Two minutes up.
Gyu wanted a break, so he turned to move back to his place.
"Why does Kaven keep saving him? Is he crazy to keep such players in his team?"
"I could've taken this guy out easily if Kaven wasn't around. Talentless!" a opposition player muttered through gritted teeth, picking up the ball.
Gyu heard everything. Every time he tried to smack, Kaven stepped in first. What was his fault in that?
Sweat soaked through Gyu's white shirt, making it nearly transparent. His hair was drenched. He shook his head, droplets flying off.
Just then, the other player hit a fierce shot toward Gyu. He turned, startled—the ball was coming at full speed—but before he could hit, something unexpected happened.
Huh? What—? He couldn't even process it. One moment he was in the air, the next, he was somewhere else.
Kaven had rushed forward the moment he saw the ball. He grabbed Gyu from behind and pulled him to safety. Ben and Terry exhaled in relief.
But Garam—Garam's jaw clenched. He was right there, close to Gyu. His steps wouldn't stop even when he tried. His heartbeat was racing—faster as he saw Gyu in someone else's arms. He turned his head away.
Garam, he's not your Gyu... remember that. he told himself.
"What was that, Chenk?" Rex snapped.
"What? What did I do? He's a player too, and if he wants to be part of this team, he needs to prove himself, right?"
"You think that's how you prove it? Attacking from behind when the game isn't even on?" another player snapped.
"Man, it was just anger—and he's fine anyway."
"Oh yeah? If you love knocking people out so much, do it during the game!" Kaven growled through clenched teeth.
"I'll deal with you next round."
Garam lowered his gaze, silently walked to his seat. He didn't say a word.
Ben sat beside him on the ground, looking up.
"Hurts, doesn't it?"
Garam stared back, expression unreadable, as if saying What are you trying to say?
"Huh... idiot. If you care that much, then stop acting tough. Go and give your 'brother' a tight hug—you'll feel better."
"What nonsense are you talking?" Garam snapped.
"What brother?" he asked, feigning ignorance.
"The one you couldn't take your eyes off the whole match—Gyu."
Ben cursed himself silently. He hadn't meant to say that. He wasn't supposed to let Garam know he knew about their relationship.
Garam just stared at him.
"Aunty told me last time, so... yeah, we know," Ben said quickly.
Then the whistle blew—the game started again.
And just like that, Chenk was out. Couldn't hit Kaven's smack in time and got hit himself.
Now it was only Kaven and Gyu vs. Garam.
1 minute 30 seconds left.
The smacks were brutal. Neither side willing to give up.
But then—Kaven's foot twisted a bit, and he called himself out.
"Damn, Kaven… that was a mistake," Ben muttered. "Now it's Gyu and Garam, face to face. Hope nothing goes wrong."
"What could even happen? What can Garam do? The same guy who stopped me last time from acting out—and kept taunting me, saying 'I should check my eyes! Hah...Have you looked at yours?" he mocked.
"If something goes wrong…"
"I'll apologize to Garam. Again."
"Again? Meaning?"
"Oh… for what I did yesterday. That whole mess. Should've been me who got hit, not him."
He said, glancing toward Gyu. With a playful smile playing on his lips.
Meanwhile somewhere in a dark place in a glass-panneled office, a person sets coughing cigarettes.
On phone,
"Those two idiots won't give me anything.
If only i could have her legs tied... hands cuffed. she wouldn't have let go of her life or if only I had the means to tie her to me, that twin kid!"
"Uncle, calm down."
"How can I, without her my both businesses aren't working properly.
If only I had her access, ha that wench."
"Not only did she die, she took the means of my money too — Beomgyu,"
the uncle growled, spitting the name like a curse.
"That twin kid shouldn't have burned with her."
"She was your blood uncle. In such a field how could you trap her?"
"Hah! She wasn't. That wench never loved me, married me to turn my eyes away from that lovely sister of hers."
"How can she." The other person muttered,rolling his eyes.
"And when i finally clipped her wings she made her sister fly away from my clutches."
"Uncle let bygones be bygones."
"Ha ha, where are you, I hear young voices, have you already arranged things for the next birthday. I already told you they don't entice me any more."
"Oh uncle, just have a look."
"here's a gift for you, a more delightful may be. "
And send.
The older man's eyes only grew wider as he looked at the pic.
He brushed his tongue against his lips.
"Laila?"
"U huh, only a look alike."
"I want her."
"Umm, sure." He smirked with a playful thought.