Chapter 5: The Court & The Crowd
Wonie's POV
I guess the best thing about college is…you don't get time to overthink.
Classes had finally begun, and I was grateful for it — for the structure, for the homework, for professors who talked too fast and assigned too much.It gave my brain something to chew on besides stupid things like: What does it mean when someone from your past shows up out of nowhere looking like the main character in a fanfiction?
Two days in, and my planner was already packed.Assignments. Group projects.Some club was trying to recruit me for their film journal, and my roommate Maya dragged me into a "How to survive College 101" workshop that mostly involved playing icebreakers and stealing free snacks.
Evenings were better. Louder.Some nights I hung out with Grace and Maya — my roommates, my chaos twins.Other times, I ended up with Liam — usually somewhere loud and neon-lit with fries on the table and conspiracy theories about campus drama flying across it.
That Thursday evening, I was with Liam again.We had just watched a movie — something about time travel and lost lovers. I wasn't even paying that much attention. Mostly just grateful for popcorn and Liam's running commentary about how the main lead "definitely failed physics."
Afterward, we wandered into a small Asian place down the street. The lights were soft, the walls painted warm amber. There were paper lanterns above every table.
We ordered ramen and bubble tea.It felt... easy.
He was talking about something — a professor who randomly burst into song during lecture, or maybe the squirrel war happening near the dorm quad — I don't remember.
But I remember laughing. A lot.
"You're glowing, Wonie," Liam said at one point, pointing at me with his chopsticks like I was a science discovery."College suits you."
I smiled. "It's the free wi-fi and chronic sleep deprivation. Very flattering."
He chuckled, then leaned back in his seat. "You know you still haven't been to any of my games, right?"
I tilted my head. "Are you guilt-tripping me right now?"
He gasped. "Yes. Shamelessly."
I laughed again.
"There's a game this Saturday," he said, casually. "And we're winning this one. I can feel it. You should come."Then, with a smirk:"There's a party after, too. In case my athletic skill isn't enough of an incentive."
"So... bribery and emotional blackmail?" I said. "Classic Liam."
"Wouldn't be me otherwise."
I nodded, stirring my bubble tea. "Fine. I'll come. I'll even bring backup."
"Your roommates?"
"Yep. Grace already looks at you like you hung the moon. And Maya's just here for the drama."
He choked on his noodles. "Grace what?"
I smirked. "You heard me."
Saturday rolled in warm and electric.The stadium was louder than I expected — music blasting, students screaming, cheerleaders glittering under the sun.
Grace, Maya, and I found seats near the middle row. Grace was already fixing her hair every three minutes.Maya was handing out mini posters that read GO DRAGONS that I was 90% sure she didn't even make.
"Is he playing yet?" Grace asked for the third time in three minutes.
"You'll know when he is," I said, sipping my soda.
And then — the players walked in.
Liam was there — head high, confidence blazing like it lived in his bones.His jersey clung to him. His sneakers hit the court with ease.
The crowd roared.
Grace let out a noise that sounded like a gasp and a squeal mashing together.Maya cheered, just for the drama.
I just... smiled.
There was something comforting about this moment — the lights, the crowd, the game.For once, I wasn't thinking about the past. I wasn't haunted by streetlight memories or quiet heartbreaks.
I was just... here.
In the stands.Among friends.Cheering for someone who's always showed up for me — without asking for anything in return.
And when Liam's team won — the stadium erupted.
Grace screamed his name like she was auditioning for a K-drama.Maya filmed everything.I clapped, grinning, letting the buzz of victory soak through me.
Maybe this is what moving on looks like.Not in giant leaps. But in small, noisy, ramen-filled moments.One cheer at a time.