• HOYA'S POINT OF VIEW •

“Hey captain! We’re going out for drinks later. Do you want to come?” Wonho hollered.

I looked left and then right. “Are you talking to me?” I asked. Wonho wiped his sweat off and nodded. I then turned and looked blankly into my locker. I pulled out a t-shirt and slipped it over my head before I shifted my body towards his direction. He was clearly staring at me, waiting for my answer. I took out my phone and saw that it was almost half past five. When was I supposed to go to her house again?

I skimmed through my inbox which didn’t take too long since I barely text anyone and found her name almost immediately. erted Nuisance. I chuckled as the corner of my lips defied gravity and moved upwards. After reading the message, I saw that the time of our scheduled—meeting was set for 8:30pm. That’s about three hours from now. Hmm, I stuck the device into my pocket and shut my locker. “What time?”

I doubt she’ll give me food anyways. She can’t even cook.

“Six or six-thirty. We’re going to Mama Sura’s. I heard the bulgogi there is the best.” He replied enthusiastically.

I nodded in understanding, “Alright. I’ll see you guys there.” 

Making my way to the car, Kyungmi suddenly popped out of nowhere. It was like she just appeared from thin air. I jumped back a little startled but luckily I was able to conceal that fact very well.

“Sunbae!” she shrieked with a huge grin plastered on her face. And before I knew it, my arm was seized by her.

“Kyung,” I said in a warningly tone. Although she’s like a little sister to me, biologically speaking she isn’t. So her holding me so intimately, especially in public like this, can lead to many misunderstandings.

“Sunbae, why don’t we go to dinner?” she beamed as she nuzzled comfortably against my shoulder. My body stiffened and I could only hold my breath.

“I can’t.” I declared. I felt her grip loosen and my shoulder become lighter. She was now looking at me with bunched up brows and an upside down smile. Seeing that she had weakened, I quickly liberated myself.

“Why not?” Kyungmi snapped. Man do women have a lot of mood swings. Why can’t they be like halmeoni or omma? They barely have any of those.

“Because I’m already going with the guys.” Why is she so curious? Doesn’t she understand that the two of us are never going to be together? Sang Kyungmi has always been and will always be a little sister and supporter in my eyes. Nothing will change my mind about that. I’m not dense or oblivious like Myungsoo is or was. I can tell if someone likes me that way and unlike him, I won’t perform any misleading actions which could confuse that person.

“The guys?” she scoffed, folding her arms against her chest while glaring back at the stadium. After, she returned her attention to me. “You see them everyday. Don’t you get sick of them?”

“Of course I get sick of seeing them everyday but hey, they’re my teammates. I need them and I’ve grown accustomed to their presence already.” I pointed out truthfully.

Kyungmi her teeth, and then a roll of the eyes followed. “But sunbae,” she whined. Her orbs got wider as her bottom lip jutted outwards. I realized she was trying aegyo with me and I nearly cringed to death.

Does she not know how much I hate that kind of stuff?

I composed myself, “Look Kyung, if you want to eat, go with one of your friends. I have plans made and that’s final.” Her face fell when I pronounced the last syllable of my statement. She then huffed in annoyance at the stern rejection. I have to draw a line somewhere. It’s not like she can’t eat unless I’m there with her, holding her hand.

“They’re all busy though.” She grabbed my hand and I felt nothing but coldness. She held it up and gave that aegyo thing another shot. It caused me to retrieve once more but this time, I also took a step back, creating a greater distance between us.

“I am too.” I retorted wittingly.

“But you can eat with them anytime. Besides it’s my birthday tomorrow.” No it isn’t. Her birthday was all the way back in March. How did I manage to remember? She never stopped nagging me to take her out. So I did. I brought her to the café Woohyun worked at and that’s when I ran into Xiazi for the first time in a long, long while.

Did she seriously think I’d forget? I don’t have a terrible memory like that nuisance does.

“Oh really?” let’s see if she chooses to continue on lying or not. I cocked a brow at her, indicating how skeptical I was about her claim but she smiled.

“Mhm hmm!” she confirmed ecstatically. Wow.

I took a step closer to her and I noticed Kyungmi’s cheeks getting pink. I examined her closely before shaking my head and pulling back. Without uttering another word, I unlocked my car and got in. There was, as I expected, banging and I swiveled my head to find Kyungmi frowning at me. She gestured me to roll down the window. What does she want? I followed her hints and as the thin glass keeping her out disappeared, she started with the questions.

“Sunbae, what are you doing?” she poked her head inside but I, as gently as I could, kept her outside of the vehicle.

“I’m leaving. What does it look like?” I answered matter-of-factly, irked by her having the indecency to lie to me just so she could keep me to herself.

“B-but you just said you’d hang out with me because of my birthday.”

“I didn’t say that. I told you already. My evening is occupied.” I proclaimed. “Now if that’s it, I’m going.” I started to back up but Kyungmi recklessly ran behind my car with her arms spread open. I hit the breaks and stuck my head out the window pissed. “Kyungmi! What are you doing? Move!” I ordered.

She stomped one foot and shook her head vehemently. “Not unless you take me with you! What? Do you have a date to catch or something?” she spat. I pulled my head back inside. A—date? Didn’t I tell her I was going to eat with the team? How did she even know about Xiazi? Wait no! We’re not going on a date. We’re just watching a movie together. Why can’t she take no for an answer? She’s making it difficult for me.

I sighed but soon enough a brilliant idea came to mind. She said she wouldn’t move unless she was able to tag along? Alright. Quickly I looked at the rear-view mirror to see her body slouched, a sign that she was unsure of herself. Again, I stuck my head out and I saw her straighten up. “Okay, come on!” I hollered. The surprise was clearly written on her face as she did nothing but stare at me. “So did you change your mind?” Once I said that, I saw her jump up a little before nodding. Her arms were lowered and as she moved to the side, making her way to the passenger’s door, I hit the gas and quickly reversed out of there.

“Sunbae!” Kyungmi exclaimed. I shifted the gear to drive before I rolled down the window. She was running to me but I wasn’t going to let her pull another stunt like that.

“I did take you out for your birthday back in March, Kyung. I don’t like lying so have fun eating with your friends!” her jaw hit the floor and that’s all I managed to see before I sped out of there.

Girls, do they think guys don’t treasure honesty and trust just as much as they do?

As I drove home, in my mind I was rifling through my closet in search of what my attire should be. I knew it was going to be casual but looking good never hurt anybody. Unless they got plastic surgery or something waxed. I’ve never done either of those things but I’ve heard numerous of women whom I've had the displeasure of meeting talk about it. If it’s so painful, why do they do it? I guess I’ll never know.

Pulling up into the driveway, I turned the car off and sat there doing nothing but think. What is this anyways? I’m talking about the relationship I have with Wu Xiazi. It’s so confusing and mind-boggling. I know I like her. I like everything about her. Her grandma memory, that mocking laugh which still sounds sweet to my ears, the small beauty mark above her left eyebrow, from the way she acts around kids to the way her eyes twinkle every time she talks to my family. But she hasn’t said if she liked me directly.

Yes, we kissed and she invited me over but I initiated the kiss and the movie thing? What friends don’t hang out? My palms started getting moist at the thought of her not feeling the same way as I recalled how she was when Myungsoo was unconscious. What if she still loves him? I mean the one who’s been in her heart for the last ten years was him. She did everything for him and feelings like that don’t disappear quickly. If she loves him, what does that mean about me? Does she not feel anything towards me?

Hold on, why am I even talking about love? This is crazy. I’ve lost it. I exited the car and when I arrived at the door, it opened. I met my mom who was wearing the hugest smile ever. She eyed me up and down, cheekily. Why is she looking at me like that?

“Omma,” I uttered a bit awkwardly yet she didn’t pick up the hint. She just continued to stare me down before leaning in.

“Are you prepared?” she randomly asked. Prepared for what? I walked in and she closed the door behind us. “Yoo-hoo, I’m talking to you, Lee Howon.”

I removed my shoes and shielded my feet with slippers. I whipped around and tilted my head to the side. “What are you talking about, omma?” she pinched her nose bridge and shook her head at me.

“When were you going to tell me that you were going on a date with Miyoon later? Tch and you guys said you weren’t involved in a romantic relationship.” She snickered.  My right eye began to twitch slightly. It’s that word again. How did she even find out?! “Halmeoni called and told me. She said Miyoon phoned her.”

She called halmeoni but why? “I-it’s not a date.” I forced myself to say even though I staggered. Omma didn’t buy it as she sent me a smug smile. Did Xiazi say it was?

“So why are you stuttering? Aigooooooo, are you already getting nervous!? Look at my baby!” she screeched jubilantly. I face-palmed myself as she pinched my cheeks. “Kyeopta! Just so you know I want three grandkids. But if you guys want to make more, I’ll be more than okay! That way they can all run around in this big house their appa bought!”

Grandkids?! I choked on my saliva as I grabbed her hands and gently detached them from my face. How could she openly say stuff like that? Doesn’t she know what people have to do in order to make babies? Does she expect me to do that with that nuisance? We’re not even married, let alone actually dating!

“O-omma.” What’s with the damn stuttering?! Get yourself together!

“What? Did I say something wrong?” she blinked innocently at me and then I caught on to what she had asked me earlier about being prepared.

My face became beet red as I went to my room. “I’m going to get changed. See you in a few.” And as I left the vicinity, I could hear her squealing and laughing to herself like she was a female high school student who just discovered her crush liked her. Will my mom ever grow up?

Strolling in my closet, scanning each piece of clothing carefully, I finally decided to go with a white v-neck and some jeans. It was simple and casual, plus it was very similar to what she usually wore. I had already taken a shower at the stadium so I was pretty much set. 

Oh wait, I'm forgetting something. I made my way back to the bed and kneeled down. I reached my hand under and because I couldn't see anything, I had to feel around for the item I was searching for. I was hitting nothing but the floor until my fingers grazed something made of cardboard. Found it. I wrapped my hand around the article and yanked it out. It was a shoe box I held into because for one, it was the box I received my first cleats in and secondly, I stored precious memorabilia in there. 

I sat on the bed and pried off the lid, revealing some notes, cards, photos, her phone and the purple watch she had gotten me some time ago. I barely wore it unless it was for a special occasion. This could count as one. Now you might be wondering what happened to the headphones she got for me.

Well, those came in handy over the years. I used them often, es