CHAPTER 21

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Soccer practice was ending, but the atmosphere felt different from most other days. Instead of the usual relief and thankfulness to catch our breaths, there was a buzz in the air. The captains called us to the benches to wait for something. I sat between Leo and Baro.

Luhan and Minseok stood off to the side, discussing something quite animatedly.

“They look like an old married couple,” I observed out loud.

“I bet they’d love to hear that,” laughed Baro. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen them debate this much.”

“What exactly are they debating?”

“They are going to put us in teams today,” Leo answered quietly.

The two boys slowly made their way over to the team. The chatter stopped and all attention fell on them. I found myself waiting with interest to hear what they would say.

“We’re going to divide into teams today. Next practice, you should go to your respective team captain when you arrive,” Luhan announced.

“We’re going to do a coin toss for first pick. Can you flip the coin?” Minseok handed the coin to a boy sitting near them.

Luhan called heads, and Minseok called tails. We all watched as the boy tossed the coin up in the air and checked its face on the ground.

“Head’s it is.”

Luhan stood, smiling triumphantly as he observed the team.

“Kim Jisoo.”

My heart stopped. I felt a hard pat on my back that was almost as jarring as the name from Luhan’s mouth. I looked to Baro, who still had his hand on my back. He was pushing me up from the bench. His lips were moving but I heard no sound. I think he was congratulating me on getting first pick.

I stumbled forward to the spot designated for my team. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Minseok… I was supposed to be on his team. He wanted me. Suddenly my thoughts drifted back to Leo. Minseok wanted him too.

My eyes locked on Leo as Minseok got ready to make his pick. I could see the worried look in his eyes. It was more than worry. Leo looked like the world was ending. I completely understood the feeling.

“I got Jisoo, so it’s only right that I get Leo too,” Luhan said quietly so only Minseok would hear.

Did he think I was deaf? He was sabotaging the team picks. Sadly, I knew there was nothing that could be done to change the situation.

I looked between the captains, hoping for some miracle to happen. I hoped that a hole would open in the ground right where Luhan was standing. I wished Minseok would yell at Luhan and sock him right in the jaw.

Minseok only gave him a murderous look, but I could see the defeat in his features. He didn’t break eye contact with Luhan as he called out his first team member, “Minho.”

There was a loud cheer from the group. A lopsided smirk played across Minseok’s face as Minho joined him on the field. Luhan seemed less than impressed. He appeared annoyed. He huffed and turned forward to face the rest of the team.

I’d seen Minho play. He was one of the team members that I tried to stay away from during the scrimmages. He played the game like his life depended on it. He could keep up with Leo on the field. He wasn’t just good; he was fierce. I assumed that he was Luhan’s real first pick.

I tried to wrap my head around exactly what was happening. Minseok took Minho because Luhan took me. There was no way that I would have been a first pick, even for Minseok. Leo was too good of a player to be a second pick. Why did Luhan want me on his team? I had a feeling that he was planning something. No, I knew he was planning something.

Each team now had one member besides its captain. Leo was sill waiting. Baro was too. I would have taken either one of them just so I didn’t have to deal with the demon alone.

“Leo,” Luhan called.

If I wasn’t standing on a field surrounded by boys, I would have cried in relief. Leo rushed across the field. For the slightest second I thought he was going to envelop me in a hug. I diverted my gaze, hoping that no one would think that we were that close.

Leo stood close behind me. He was like the protective older brother that I never had. I laughed to myself at the thought of him worrying over me. It was kind of nice. The kindness that he showed me made me forget about the secret we were both keeping. I felt reassured knowing that he’d be with me as Luhan dragged us to hell.

***

The official start to the Camp Alpine Games had arrived. Everyone buzzed around during breakfast. All morning club activities were canceled to give the members participating in the swim relay time to prepare.

Minseok had gone to eat breakfast and was back within fifteen minutes. He rushed around the cabin like a madman. He was applying sunscreen and making sure he had goggles and his swim cap.

“Are you nervous?” I asked out of curiosity.

“No, I’m okay. Luhan is the one that’s losing his mind,” he said sounding a bit annoyed. “If I’m not down at the lake front in ten minutes, he’ll probably have a heart attack.”

“He’s that serious about these game, huh?”

Minseok gave me an amused look. “You have no idea.”

My roommate pulled his goggled over his head and let them hang around his neck. “I’ve got to go meet Hyuk.” He went to the door and slipped into his shoes. “Oh, make sure you wear a blue shirt or something. It’s our village color.”

“You got it! See you later.”

Minseok stepped out and I was left with the cabin to myself. I thought about sleeping again before the swim relay started, but decided that I better find something blue. I wasn’t sure if I had anything. I dug through my dresser, finding the black and electric blue swim trunks Sandeul lent me. I found a navy blue t-shirt too. It wasn’t a perfect match, but it was the thought that mattered.

I took my time getting ready and eating breakfast. I gave myself twenty minutes to get to the lake before the event was supposed to start. A lot of people were there already when I arrived. I saw Leo standing off to the side, so I went to say hello.

“Maybe you shouldn’t go out there,” Leo said to me as soon as I stood next to him.

“Uh, hello to you too.” I said a bit an