Regular - Korean | Bold - English | Italicized - Chinese | Underlined - Japanese

Narrator's POV

After a week of crutches and staying on the sidelines during practice, Kari was more than excited to ditch the crutches to actually walk on her two feet.

"tomorrow's the preliminaries" Jinae said as the girls and boys team gathered in the gym

"we're riding together" the boys' coach

"everyone needs to be here in the gym by 5 am. Tournament starts at 9 and the place is 2 hours away" the girls' coach said

"deh"

"and Kari" the girls' coach said "are you sure you're going to be okay to participate?"

"deh coach" she nodded

"I feel grateful that you wanna play, but you barely recovered from that tricking incident" her coach said "be careful or that injury could get worse"

"deh" Kari nodded

"see you here tomorrow" the boys coach dismissed them.

"Ai" Mark said going up to her, offering his hand

"hey" she said letting him help her up

"are you sure you wanna play?" he asked taking her bag "your ankle-"

"I'm fine Mark" Kari said taking the strap of her bag "really. I can also carry my own bag"

"I'm just worried" he said "you know..as a friend"

"thanks, but I'm pretty sure I can take care of myself just fine" she gave a small smile "I'll see you tomorrow Tuan"

"ani, I'll walk you home." Mark said "just in case you fall..on the street"

"smooth" she scoffed "arasso, I'll let you go once. Just cuz you were so nice this week"

"I'm a very nice person" he said

"bull" Kari laughed

***

The next day, Kari woke up at around 3 am, took a shower, and changed into her uniform before getting her stuff ready and taking a taxi to the school. She arrived at about 4:30, glad to see that her whole team was there already

"there she is" Miyeon smiled going over to her "is your ankle okay today?"

"yup" Kari nodded "it's all good"

"still a bit scared Kari-ya" Aeji said "what if you injure yourself even more?"

"I'll be fine" Kari said "don't worry about me. I've got your backs remember"

"acting all rightous. Take care of yourself first before worrying about the game" Nara said

"and I already told you guys, I'm fine" she said. As soon as the clock struck 5 o'clock, the two teams made their way onto the coach bus. Kari sat at the back, hoping to sit alone. What surprised her was that Mark went and sat down next to her "neo"

"morning" he said giving a small smile

"I was kinda really hoping to sit alone" she said

"heol, that hurts" Mark said "well too bad, I wanted to sit next to you"

"if I wasn't tired, I would have wushu'd your Tuan" Kari said

"cha" he said putting on his headphones "pretend I'm not even here"

"stubborn little " Kari muttered

"I can still hear you" he said facing her

"I don't really care" she said also putting in her headphones. Half an hour into the drive, Kari got a call "yeobosayo?"

"musume" a man said

"papa!" she squealed "arema, papa why'd you call? why aren't you sleeping?"

"we just wanted to wish you good luck before your tournament" papa said giving a hearty laugh

"we?" Kari asked

"DO GOOD ANE! TOUSHI!" her siblings shouted

"my ears" she laughed "you guys are too loud"

"good luck musume, we're rooting for your team" mama said in the phone

"arigato* mama, papa, Daiki otouto, Daichi otouto, Aki imouto, Arichi imouto" Kari smiled "I'm coming home in 2 days, prepare some good food mama"

"focus on your match first musume" mama chuckled "you're probably busy right now, call us after your match"

"I will mama, promise!" Kari smiled

"bye ane! Kick some !" Arichi shouted

"bye" Kari laughed hanging up the phone

"ni appa?" Mark asked

"my whole family" Kari smiled looking down at her phone "now I really have to play well"

"I haven't talked to my family in a while" he sighed "I think ever since I came here"

"wae?" Kari asked

"long distance and money problems" Mark said

"igeo" she said handing him her phone "call them"

"a-ani, I can't do that" Mark said

"I insist" Kari said "calling your family will give you strength, even if you're already strong"

"k-komawo" Mark took her phone and dialed in his brother's number "hello? Joey?"

"bro?" the boy said "oh my God! It is you! why are you calling? isn't it like 6 am there?"

"calm down with the questions. I'm using a friend's phone" Mark smiled "today I have a volleyball tournament I'm going to"

"you play volleyball bro? what about basketball?" Joey asked

"it's not the season yet, idiot" Mark said "tch, what about you?"

"still same the same, bro" Joey said "oh! wanna talk to mom and dad?"

"can I?" Mark asked

"well duh, hold on" Joey said

"hello?" a man said

"baba" Mark said "it's been a while"

"Mark? your voice got deeper" he laughed "how are you son? How's Korea?"

"I'm good baba, I'm heading to a volleyball tournament right now. I've been doing good here in Korea. I have good brothers here to keep me company" Mark said

"that's nice to hear you're doing well" he said "your mama would be relieved to hear that"

"sorry I haven't called at all. Money..." Mark muttered

"don't worry son, we understand. I just hope sending you to Korea was a good experience" he said

"it's been great baba, thank you" Mark smiled "where's mama?"

"I'll get her, hold on a second" he said

"hello?" a woman said

"mama" Mark said quietly "it's been a while"

"oh my, this isn't a dream right?" she said "I'm really talking to you, Mark?"

"yes mama" he said "it's me"

"are you well? have you eaten? why are you awake this early? are you sick?" she said bombarding him with questions

"mama I'm doing fine, don't worry about me" Mark chuckled "you and baba are well right? Also Joey and the jie jies?"

"we're fine. Korea's not hard on my boy right?" she said

"I really like it here mama. But I miss you a lot" he said

"your voice is trembling, don't cry Mark, mama will cry too" she said

"I won't cry" Mark said "I wish we can see each other soon"

"I wish that too son...it'll come true one day Mark. Stay healthy until then okay? Mama needs to see a smile on your face to be happy" she said

"I'm smiling right now mama, I promise" he said "wo ai ni"

"I love you too" she said and he hung up.

"gwenchana?" Kari asked "you look like you're about to cry."

"I'm fine" Mark said handing her the phone "komawo, chincha"

"do you feel better?" Kari asked "you know, after talking to them?"

"tons" Mark said "but I can't help missing them more. You're lucky"

"I am?" she said "how so?"

"you're taking a plane back to Japan, Monday right?" he said

"how did you-"

"Jinyoung told me, Suzy told him" Mark said

"oh.." Kari muttered

"I envy you" he said. Kari looked down at her phone and bit her lip, and idea coming into mind before putting on her headphones again and dozing off to sleep.

***

"we're here everyone! Wake up!" the coaches shouted

"Ai-ah" Mark said shaking her "we're here"

"what?" Kari yawned opening her eyes "oh, thanks"

"kaja" Mark said taking both his and her bags