2.30 m. 2.30 m. 2.30 m. 2.30 m. 2.30 m. 2.30 m.

Min Hyun Jae charged towards the bar, jumping, then landing on the cushion along with the bar. He groaned in frustration.

"Kang Tae Joon, your turn." Says Gwang-min.

Hyun Jae fixes the bar.

It was always like that.
He would jump and screw up, then Tae Joon would jump so many times that it made him [Hyun Jae] feel envious, upset, and frustrated.

It felt as thought he was unimportant, like he was just an extra, as Tae Joon was the main lead.

Hyun Jae's fists balled and his jaw clenched, watching the other do another successful jump.

Kang Tae Joon is strong.
Kang Tae Joon is great.
Kang Tae Joon is his rival.
Kang Tae Joon is a threat.

"Min Hyun Jae, your turn."

And so he did his jump, and as it has always been lately, it was a failure.

It almost seemed like his success rate was dropping, from a good 90%, now hanging only on a 10.

Hyun Jae groaned in frustration, his own hair.

I can't do it.

Gwang-min shook his head, clearly disappointed [as he has always been lately].

It was true that Min Hyun Jae's performance was dropping, but whatever he does, it surely wasn't improving.

All the advices were thrown aside as he did things his own way.

But like he has [always] been, he was still a failure.

Min Hyun Jae was on the verge of tears, leaning against his locker.

I cant do it.

He slammed a fist at the stainless steel door, biting back a [yet again another] groan [he knew he has been groaning all day, he figured it should rest].

It felt as if a stormy, black cloud has been following him, drenching him with his own weakness, failure, and badluck. And unshed tears.

He came across a paperbag on their sofa, and he felt the storm cloud go away.
It came back again, turning into a raging thunderstorm.

No one even remembered his birthday.

The cloud above him worsened, and he felt extremely sick under it.

He wanted to just...

He wanted it to end.

He plopped down on his bed, one arm stretched as if trying to grasp something. He closed his eyes.

I won't lose, but...

His eyes opened again, and his arm dropped.

The gold medal was out of his reach.

Kang Tae Joon is a threat.

And as it has always been, Min Hyun Jae's mind was clouded with anger and envy.

It was when Cha Eun Gyeol got injured and Gu Jae Hee almost got hurt that finally woke him up.

I'm sorry.

I'm disappointed in you.

Hyun Ji's arrival worsened it all. She is the absolute heartbreaker.

Min Hyun Jae broke down, the glass that held him shattered.

Min Hyun Jae cried.

He lay down on his bed, his face buried on his pillow.

I can't do it.

It seemed even more impossible now. His only light, his only strength, it was also his very weakness.

When will you win a gold medal?

Soon... Soon.

He sobbed at the mental image of his sister's smile.

I can't do it.