September 8th, 2015 (5:45PM GMT+10)

 

Jake kicks the slightly worn-out soccer ball towards me, his beaming face seeming to blind me whenever I take glances at him. With a playful roll of my eyes, I kick the ball back towards him.

I signed up into the university's soccer team on the same week I joined Ridgeford Korean Society. Jake's highly elated that I decided to join him on an extracurricular activity outside of our usual classes and lectures. Ever since my first day in on the soccer team, he's been grinning like there's no tomorrow. I can't blame him for his overexcitement, since that's my best friend's personality, but I worry that his jaw will break and fall off his face.

Currently at soccer practice with the university soccer club, Jake has been sticking to me like glue ever since I joined in. Every time I take a look at him, he smiles so widely and flashes his teeth at me like a guilty child who has just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Indeed, Jake finds it difficult to mask his sheer excitement but I don't really blame him.

"Seriously, Jake. Your pearly whites are making me go blind. Switch them off!" I joke while I watch Jake perform some tricks with the soccer ball. His grin never leaves his face; in fact, his grin gets even wider, if that is even possible.

"I'm just happy you joined me on this." He replies happily, passing the ball back towards me. I shrug with a smile, kicking the ball around idly then stopping it with my foot. "Thanks, man."

  "Well, what are friends for, right? Besides, I used to love soccer. Still do." I briefly drift into my past: during the times when I used to play soccer at the park back when I was a wee little kid. I remember joining the junior soccer team after pleading my mother for eons about it and finally receiving a "yes" as her answer. I also remember the soccer matches I would go to every spring break where my parents cheered me on even when I didn't really manage to score any goals.   "So how was RKS? Any hot girls?" Jake breaks my reverie with a massive foolish grin painted on his face. I laugh at the silly question and kick the ball towards his direction again without any warning, taking him by surprise.   "Really now? You're really asking me that question?" Jake gives me a cheeky smile while he runs after the soccer ball then I add, "It was fine. We talked about this upcoming event we're going to hold then the conversation just split into smaller groups talking about different things. It wasn't that bad, to be honest."   "That's common in meetings nowadays. Nobody gets on topic for very long." My friend laughs then suddenly looks at me with a serious demeanor, "Really no hot girls, though? There's gotta be at least one, Junsu."   "Jake, please."   He lifts his hands up in surrender while laughing to his heart's content. For a minute moment, I suddenly remember Yoochun and his shy demeanor. Even though I decide not to tell Jake about him for now, why do I find myself thinking about Park Yoochun?     "And I think I should stop there. You're all free to go." Students start to stand up from their seats, stowing their foldable tables away and leaving the lecture hall. Some quickly speed off while others stay back to continue chatting with their fellow friends. I can see the lecturer talking to a few students, probably answering a few of their questions about the lecture that he just held.   I pack my notebook away into my backpack and get off my seat, heading off to one of the two ways out of the room. I spot Yunho, or the back of his head, not too far from me and I quickly