YEAR 2008

"It's a shame really, today we all had high expectations for her but it seems that things are unfortunately not going her way at the moment."

"That is true, Leeteuk-ssi. She was one of the biggest upcoming names in the collegiate badminton scene until she suddenly disappeared five years ago, and now she's playing again in hopes of making a comeback but Nam Ja-hoon is definitely making it hard for her."

"But if she does find a way to prevail in this match, she will not only make a successful comeback, but she will also be breaking a long untouched record!"

"She really needs to do well, because this is indeed a big opportunity for Kang."

"But putting all that aside, everybody is on the edge of their seats, because this is undeniably a close match with them being currently tied!"

Small monolid eyes roamed around the gigantic and boisterous court in wonder. She stole glances at the people around her and took note of the excited expressions painted on their faces as they all cheered fiercely.

As the girl sat beside her father she wondered what got all these people excited, but even without knowing why the contagious energy radiating all throughout the stadium still managed to influence her somehow, prompting her to yell and cheer as well.

Seeing the young girl act so lively, her father couldn't help but shoot her a warm smile despite the nervousness in his heart, before diverting his eyes back to the court, or to one of the players to be precise. The young man diligently trailed her every movement, because he knew that he can't do anything right now but just cheer for her as well and hope for the best.

This was an important day, to him and to the girl currently playing on the court. This wasn't just some simple match, it was something that could dictate their future in ways still unknown to them.

He looked at his daughter again, and watched the way her eyes turned into crescent moons as she grinned in excitement, a single hand in the air waving towards the court.

The man shook his head lightly.

Right, no regrets. Despite the hardships that they went through these past few years, all the pain and tears will never make him regret having this little ball of sunshine.

They will never, no matter what the outcome of today will be.

The young man just hoped that she won't notice his peculiar behavior, and fortunately for him, his daughter paid him no mind as she was still pretty preoccupied herself.

Oblivious to her father's internal dilemma, the little girl's chubby hands continued to grip on the hem of the jersey hanging loosely on her small frame, which had the name KANG S. displayed boldly on her back, before she finally fixated her gaze on the center court.

'Mom's playing extra hard today.'

The girl couldn't help but think.

Her eyes zeroed on the panting figure of her mother running around within the court, and just like that the little girl solely focused on her and as if they knew her intentions, one of the big cameras suddenly panned