six

"Why are you all laughing?" Seunghwan strode towards the wheezing Rammick and giggling Donghyuck.

Rammick straightened up, hearing Seunghwan's voice but his laughter didn't cease.

"Arabeshqui."

Seunghwan stopped on his tracks. What?

Min was sporting a very adorable expression and anyone looking at him could easily imagine the invisible question mark popping from his head.

"Interested in Arabesque huh?" Seunghwan quirked a brow, folding his arms in front of his chest.

"Yes!" Min replied happily.

"That one's a difficult position—you won't be able to do it till you have learned to retain a proper body balance."

The frown that shortly came to Min's lips, made Rammick grab the fellow and ruffle his hair. Min looked exactly like a drenched puppy.

"Ah, Captain... let him be a curious cat for now." Rammick inferred, his meaty arms still wound around Min's tender and slick neck.

Seunghwan pursed his lips, thinking if he really was being too serious with this new boy. Maybe letting the lad flap around with curiousness won't be a bad thing.

"Anyways Rammick didn't you promise me you'll check on Arata again today?" Seunghwan changed the topic briskly, making Rammick tense.

Rammick exhaled helplessly. This Arata dude had some serious social issues. Every time he went to talk, Arata would find excuses and flee. If not for the prevailing condition of their team, Rammick would've never gone to talk to that weirdo moron.

Seeing Rammick's expression, Seunghwan knew what was going on inside the drill Captain's head. Seunghwan himself would never chase a guy like Arata but in front of talent, some consideration was necessary.

"Fine.." Rammick drawled tiredly before letting go of Min's neck and preparing to leave.

Min was incredibly prying in the discussion and wondered who this Arata guy was. From the words, it seems that Captain really wanted this guy to join their squad.

"Can I go with you too, Rammick Sunbae?"

Rammick twirled around quirking his blonde eyebrow up in query.

A grave silence stretched across the scarcely filled gym.

"You want to go?" Seunghwan questioned, not understanding why Min would like to accompany Rammick to recruit Arata.

Min fingered the straps of his bag and shyly nodded. "Yeah.."

Although Min didn't seem like someone who would ruin important business or create troubles, Seunghwan still didn't feel completely assured of the newbie's nature. Min was—just someone new, they were not very closely acquainted yet.

"What will you do by following Rammick?" For some reason, Min and Rammick together in one sentence made Seunghwan feel insecure. He disliked the feeling he felt for a moment.

"I will just stand behind Rammick Sunbae and not say anything."

Seunghwan wasn't convinced.

"I also need to pick up my schedule and other important cards."

That..

Rammick decided to help his cute junior out of Seunghwan's interrogation. "Captain ah, let him come. Later I can bring him to office too to get his things."

Seunghwan pursed his lips. Why is it that he disliked this situation?

Inwardly irritated, Seunghwan agreed to let Min accompany Rammick.

Min, happy after getting permission, skipped out of the gym with Rammick trailing behind.

The scene almost made Seunghwan angry. But he couldn't decipher the cause. Why does seeing them together make him feel so unsettled?

Seunghwan ignored the unspeakable uneasiness in him and called off the practice session. Donghyuck noticed the irregularity in Seunghwan. To him, Seunghwan seemed a bit disgruntled.

Seunghwan hung his bag on his shoulder and waited outside the gym for others to come out—so that he could lock up the gym.

While waiting, Seunghwan's phone buzzed in the pockets of his shorts. He pulled out his phone and frowned upon seeing the caller ID.

"Yes, dad."

The older voice from the other side immediately scolded in a cruel manner. "Why weren't you back this weekend?"

Seunghwan cleared the entrance of the gym and walked past the stairs to the empty pathway. "I was busy with club activities."

Soon another shout reached his ears from the other side. "Again? Tell me dear son, what's so addicting about that good-for-nothing club you are so dedicated to? I even heard that more than half of the members quit this year."

"You're still keeping tabs on my matters?" This time Seunghwan raised his voice slightly. His expression displayed irritation. His forehead wrinkled just thinking about how his dad insulted his choices like that.

"Dad, I am tired after practice. I'll try to visit the coming weekend."

"You—" Seunghwan hung up before his dad refuted back.

The phone screen turned black, reflecting the green waving trees on the screen surface. Seunghwan's thumb smudged the fingerprint on the screen surface, heart stuffy.

Ever since the beginning, Seunghwan was forced to leave the club by his dad.

You play Soccer, basketball, baseball, anything. But why that thing? Do men even suit those kinds of girlish sports?

To Mr. Kang, Seunghwan was acting too willfully. Just playing around was fine but taking it seriously was something Mr. Kang didn't support.

"Captain! Is something wrong?" Donghyuck's voice jerked Seunghwan out of his thoughts.

Donghyuck had changed into another pair of casual clothing from the sportswear he wore during practice.

Donghyuck had a head full of brown-black hair, swept to one side with long fringes, almost like an emo style. Due to his relatively short height, Donghyuck was someone easily noticeable in the crowd.

"Captain?"

Seunghwan looked away. "Alright."

Donghyuck didn't argue and bid Seunghwan goodbye, leaving for the dorms.

Seunghwan too checked the indoors of the gym for the last time and then locked it up. His mood was adversely affected with Mr. Kang's call.

The sun was above head now, warm rays of light falling upon him. Seunghwan jogged down the pathway of the gym and boarded a minivan for the south gate of the university.

South gate was smaller than the others and mostly used less by the students, but more by the staff.

Gazing outside the minivan from the window seat, Seunghwan cradled his chin on his palm.

It's just Monday and he already feels like drinking a few bottles of Soju. [Korean alcoholic drink typically made from rice or sweet potatoes]