Chapter 7 – Lunchtime and the Basketball Tryout
The lunch bell rang, and students poured into the hallways, heading straight for the canteen.
"Haneul, let's go, guys! I'm so, so hungry!" Jiwoo exclaimed, clutching her stomach dramatically.
"Me too!" Sani said quickly, trying not to spill her excitement.
"Then let's go," Haneul urged, leading the way.
When they reached the canteen, trays in hand, they joined the line for food. Sani's eyes, however, were scanning the room, searching for sean. Today, I will not miss the chance to sit with Sean, she thought eagerly.
Her heart sank when she saw Jason already sitting beside Sean. "Uuuu… why am I so unlucky?" she muttered under her breath.
"Come on, Sani, don't just stand in the middle of the way," Jiwoo scolded gently, tugging her forward.
"Ooo, sorry!" Sani replied, blushing.
"It's okay," Jiwoo said with a small smile.
Finally seated, Jason leaned toward Sean. "Let's finish quickly—we need to meet the team soon."
"Okay," Sean replied, smiling politely.
A few minutes later, their trays were empty.
"Alright, we're done. Are you all coming to watch us practice?" Jason asked the girls.
"Of course! After class!" they replied in unison.
Jason grinned. "Okay, then let's go."
Sean caught Sani's shy glance and smiled softly. Sani felt her cheeks heat up and whispered under her breath, Good luck, Sean…
Jiwoo and Ha-eul cheered together. "Yeah! Good luck, Sean!"
Later, Jason and Sean arrived at the basketball court for practice.
"Hey guys! Guess who I brought?" Jason called out proudly. "This is Sean!"
Sean waved politely. "Hi, nice to meet you all. Please take care of me," he said, trying to sound modest.
The team sized him up, curious about his skills.
"Let's see how much you can play," Min-su said with a grin.
The girls arrived to watch, excitement shining in their eyes.
"Sean, have you played basketball before?" Seong-bin asked.
"Yeah, I have," Sean replied confidently. "No need for introductions. Let's just start the game!"
Jason clapped his hands. "Okay, me and Sean against Yeong-su and Min-su. Let's see who's better!"
The game began. Jason ran toward the ball, but Sean quickly intercepted it, grabbing it and sprinting down the court. Seong-bin tried to chase him, but Min-su blocked his path. Yeong-su attempted to stop Jason, slowing him down.
Sean weaved effortlessly between defenders, moving with incredible speed and skill. In the end, Sean's team won the game.
Yeong-su and Min-su hugged Sean, laughing. "We did it!"
The girls watched in awe, impressed by Sean's talent.
Jason and Seong-bin shook hands. "Next time, we'll get you," Jason said.
"Yeah," Seong-bin laughed, smiling.
The court buzzed with energy as everyone celebrated the exciting game, secretly wondering just how good Sean really was.
After the game, the team gathered together, laughing and cheering.
"Sean, we're so lucky to have you on our team! I'm sure we'll win the competition now—you're amazing!" one of the teammates exclaimed, giving him a thumbs-up.
"I knew I chose the right person," another added with a proud grin.
The girls nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, Sean, you're really good at basketball!"
"Thank you," Sean replied with a shy smile, feeling a mix of pride and embarrassment as everyone laughed and celebrated.
From behind the wall, the coach had been watching quietly. Now he stepped forward, clapping his hands. "Woo! Sean, you played incredibly well! I'm lucky to have you on the team. Training starts tomorrow. Team, line up one by one. From now on, we'll practice hard—for the competition and for the future!"
"Yes, Coach!" the team replied energetically, their voices echoing across the court.
"Okay, you can all go home now. We'll meet again tomorrow," the coach said.
"Yes, Coach!" they chorused in unison.
Later, Sean, Jason, Jiwoo, Sani, and Ha-eul walked home together, the afternoon sun casting long shadows as they chatted and laughed about the day's events.
Jiwoo leaned toward Sani and Ha-eul, whispering with a mischievous grin, "Did you see Sean today? He's even better than I expected! Honestly, he's amazing!"
Sani felt her cheeks heat up, trying to hide her blush, but she couldn't stop smiling. Ha-eul giggled softly beside her, shaking her head.
Sean, walking quietly next to them, smiled to himself, enjoying the lively conversation and the warm, friendly atmosphere. He felt lucky to be part of this group—friends who supported and cheered each other on.
As they continued walking, Jason started joking about the game, teasing Sean lightly, and everyone laughed together, the sound of their voices blending with the gentle hum of the neighborhood streets.