CHAPTER FIVE POINT ONE

Inside LoL Park's team room, the T1 players were in their usual pre-match groove.

"Think you can carry today, or should I do it for you?" Gumayusi grinned wide as he leaned over his setup, casting a glance at Oner.

"You can try," Oner replied, fingers flying over his keyboard as he adjusted his settings. "But don't cry when I take all the credit."

Zeus snorted from across the room. "Last time you carried, you almost threw the game."

Oner glanced up with a smirk. "Almost doesn't count."

The room buzzed with the energy of preparation: mouse clicks, headsets adjusting, and the hum of the crowd filtering in from the arena. It was the kind of atmosphere that made your heart pound—but for the T1 team, it was just another day at the office.

"Let's focus," Keria interrupted, adjusting his chair. "Sang Hyeok-Hyung's been quiet for ten minutes—that's when you know it's serious."

Faker, seated between the bot laner and jungler, didn't look up. "It's always serious," he muttered, tapping out practice combos on his screen.

Before Oner could reply, the door to the room opened, and in walked Hye Jin, leading Khynny inside. The chatter died down as Khynny looked around, her eyes wide with excitement.

"You made it," Oner said, standing up, a small but unmistakable smile tugging at his lips.

"Of course," Khynny replied, trying not to look overwhelmed by the intense pre-match atmosphere. "Wouldn't miss it for anything."

Hye Jin nudged her forward. "Don't just stand there. Say hi to the team."

Gumayusi was the first to speak, flashing Khynny a grin. "So, this is the famous Professor Khynny, huh? The one who's been keeping Hyeon Junnie all distracted?"

Oner glared at him, shaking his head. "Ignore him. He talks too much."

But Khynny smiled. "I didn't mean to distract anyone."

Zeus piped up, "Oh, you didn't hear? He's been smiling more. We think you're good for him."

The team chuckled, and even Faker cracked a tiny smile.

Then Tom, the assistant coach, entered the room with Kkoma, the head coach. They exchanged greetings before Kkoma's gaze settled on Khynny.

"Kkoma Sajangnim, this is Professor Khynny Myggz Cuenca," Oner introduced her formally. "She's Noona's history professor's friend..."

"And yours," Kkoma finished, a faint but approving smile. "Nice to meet you, Professor. I hope Hyeon Jun's been a good host."

"He's been great," Khynny said, her voice steady despite her nerves.

Tom nodded, while Roach, the assistant coach, gave a small wave. "Welcome. We don't usually get visitors before a match, but Hyeon Jun must think you're special."

Oner groaned. "Can we not make this a thing?"

Khynny laughed, the room's warmth easing her nerves. The players welcomed her with playful jabs, but the vibe was light.

As the conversation progressed, Gumayusi suddenly paused, his head tilting. "Wait. You're not Korean but you speaking our language is really good. How long have you been here?"

The room quieted, all eyes on her. Khynny smiled, a little surprised by the attention. "Yep. I'm Filipino and been here only almost five months."

"Five months?" Zeus said, his eyebrows shooting up. "And you're already this fluent?"

Khynny chuckled. "Well, I actually started learning Korean when I was sixteen. A family friend was moving to Korea, so I joined them for language lessons. At first, it was just out of curiosity, but I ended up enjoying it and kept studying."

Oner raised an eyebrow, his expression amused. "So you knew Korean all along?"

Khynny smirked, catching the subtle memory behind his question. Ah, he remembers our first meeting. He knew she was aware he was Korean, but she'd communicated in English instead. She decided to play along.

"Yep," she replied, her tone light. Then, with a playful glint in her eye, she answered his unspoken question, "You didn't ask."

Oner's eyes narrowed, but his lips twitched into a smirk. "I'll get you for that later," he promised, leaning just a bit closer. "Count on it."

The entire team watched the exchange, impressed and a little amused. Zeus, curious, leaned forward. "So how many languages do you speak?"

Khynny smiled modestly. "Including Korean and excluding my native language, Filipino, five."

"Five?" Keria asked, wide-eyed. "What are the others?"

"English, Korean, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese," she said, shrugging as if it were no big deal.

The room went silent for a beat, the T1 players looking at her in stunned disbelief.

"That's insane," Gumayusi muttered, clearly impressed. "Are you some kind of genius?"

Khynny laughed, shaking her head. "It comes with the job. I'm a historian and archaeologist. Knowing multiple languages helps when working with ancient texts and artifacts from different cultures."

"I still think that's genius level," Zeus said, shaking his head in amazement.

Before they could continue, Kkoma clapped his hands, signaling it was time to focus. "Alright, that's enough," he said, though his tone was light. "Let's get back to the game. We've got a match to win."

As the team shifted into match mode, Khynny and Hye Jin stepped aside. The players focused, the lighthearted mood quickly fading as the competitive energy took over.

As the team headed to the stage, Oner turned to Khynny. "Stay close to Noona. I'll see you after the match."

"Good luck," she said with a smile.

"Luck never hurts," he replied with a wink. Then, lowering his voice, he added, "But remember, it's skill that wins games."

Before Khynny could respond, Gumayusi groaned dramatically. "Alright, lovebirds. We've got a game to win. Let's go."

Oner shot him a glare but didn't respond. The team followed Kkoma toward the stage, their playful banter fading as they focused on the match ahead.

The roar of the crowd filled LoL Park as the T1 team stepped onto the stage, their names echoing through the arena. Khynny and Hye Jin watched from the sidelines, the atmosphere electric. Khynny's heart pounded in sync with the rising tension in the stadium.

As the game began, Khynny couldn't help but feel she was witnessing something special—something much bigger than just a game.

The roar of the crowd was deafening as the enemy team's final Nexus exploded on-screen, marking T1's victory. Khynny felt the buzz of excitement ripple through her, the entire arena alive with cheers. Even though she wasn't an expert on League of Legends, the energy was infectious. Beside her, Hye Jin practically leaped out of her seat.

"Did you see that? Hyeon Jun's engages were perfect! Flawless!" Hye Jin beamed, glowing with pride for her brother.

Khynny nodded, her gaze following the players as they removed their headsets, congratulating one another. Oner—Hyeon Jun—stood apart, calm and collected despite the electric excitement around him. His eyes found hers across the room, and a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at his lips.

As the team filed offstage, Khynny and Hye Jin followed, weaving through the buzzing crowd of fans and staff.

Backstage, the T1 team was catching their breath. Gumayusi flopped onto the nearest couch, noticing Khynny. He shot her a playful grin.

"So, what do you think? Did Hyeon Jun impress you?" Gumayusi teased, tossing a wink in Oner's direction.

Zeus, already sipping water, chimed in. "We could use a fan vote. Professor Khy, what's your verdict? Thumbs up for Hyeon Jun-hyung's Lee Sin?"

Khynny opened her mouth to respond, but Faker, from his corner, chuckled. "You guys are relentless."

Keria smirked, leaning back in his chair. "It's not every day we have someone special in the audience. Don't let Hyeon Junnie hog all the praise."

Oner stayed quiet, toweling off his forehead, but Khynny could see a flicker of pride in his eyes. Finally, he broke his silence, his voice calm. "You all talk too much."

"Oh, we're just getting started," Gumayusi shot back, laughing. "You're lucky you don't have to deal with the fan stuff like me and Sang Hyeok Hyung. Give it a year, though."

Oner smirked, his gaze shifting toward Khynny. "What do you think, Professor Khy? Was I any good?"

Khynny smiled warmly. "You were amazing."

The room filled with exaggerated groans and teasing remarks, but before things could escalate, the door swung open, and Kkoma, Tom, and Roach entered. The room instantly shifted, the mood becoming more professional.

"Well done, everyone," Kkoma said, nodding toward the team. "But there's still work to be done for the next match. Don't get too comfortable."

Roach added, "That last fight was close. Let's work on positioning for next time."

After a quick debrief, the coaches exited, leaving the team to relax again. The atmosphere flipped back to casual almost instantly.

As the group started talking about where to grab food, Oner quietly made his way over to Khynny and Hye Jin. Hye Jin immediately caught the change in her brother's demeanor and raised an eyebrow, noticing his focused attention on Khynny.

There was something different in the way Oner looked at her—more intent, more personal. Without wasting time, he turned to Khynny, his voice steady but carrying a hint of vulnerability.

"Professor Khynny," he began, his gaze locking with hers, "would you like to grab dinner with me? Just us. Tonight."

Hye Jin's jaw dropped, her hand flying to her hip. "Wait, wait, wait! Are you actually asking her out? Right here? In front of me?" She shook her head dramatically, though her eyes sparkled with amusement.

Gumayusi, lounging nearby, let out an exaggerated groan. "No way! Hyeon Junnie's asking someone out in front of us? This can't be real."

Keria, ever the instigator, leaned over, grinning. "Told you he had a soft side. Guess his jungle camps aren't the only thing he loves."

Zeus nudged Faker. "Looks like we don't have to worry about him solo-carrying anymore, huh, Sang-Hyeok-Hyung?"

Oner shot them all a look, but there was no real malice in it. His focus quickly returned to Khynny, his expression softening as he waited for her answer.

Khynny's heart raced. The way he asked her was so straightforward, so honest—just like him. She could feel the eyes of the room on her, waiting, but there was no pressure from Oner. Just quiet hope.

Hye Jin rolled her eyes, though a grin tugged at her lips. "You're lucky you're my brother, or I'd be grilling you right now."

Khynny glanced at Hye Jin, a bit unsure, but the warmth in her friend's eyes gave her the confidence she needed. Turning back to Oner, she smiled. "Yes."

The room erupted into playful chaos.

Gumayusi clapped his hands dramatically. "Alright, dinners' canceled for the rest of us! Hyeon Junnie's off the market again!"

Zeus grinned. "We should've known something was up when he started talking more in comms. Love really does change people."

Faker, as composed as ever, chuckled. "You're all hopeless."

Keria leaned back, hands behind his head. "Looks like Hyeon Junnie's found his carry."

Hye Jin shook her head, laughing at the antics. "Okay, okay, enough. I'm still his sister. Cool it with the jokes."

Oner's neck flushed slightly, but he turned back to Khynny, his voice quieter this time, just for her. "Let's get out of here. I know a place."

Sensing the shift in mood, Hye Jin gave Khynny a supportive smile. "You two go ahead. I'll catch up with the others. But Hyeon Jun," she added with mock-seriousness, "don't screw this up. I don't want to fail my secret history lessons."

Oner gave her a flat look. "Noona."

"She's my professor, you know. I'm just looking out for her." Hye Jin grinned before turning to Khynny. "Go have fun, okay? But call me if my brother gets too boring."

Khynny laughed, her nerves easing. "I'll keep that in mind."

Oner's lips curved into a small, satisfied smile as he gently placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her toward the door. Outside, the crisp night air greeted them, and Khynny felt her senses heighten. The neon lights of Seoul blurred around them as the sounds of the bustling city hummed in the background, but all she could focus on was the warmth of his hand and the steady beat of her own heart.

They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the energy between them shifting from the playful chaos of the team to something quieter, more intimate. Oner glanced at her, the streetlights casting soft shadows across his face.

"You know," he said, his voice softer now, "I've wanted to ask you out for a while."

Khynny felt her cheeks warm. "Why didn't you?"

Oner smiled, his eyes filled with that same quiet intensity. "Timing. And maybe a little fear." His honesty caught her off guard, but in the best way. "But I didn't want to wait anymore."

Khynny's heart fluttered at the sincerity in his words. "I'm glad you didn't."

They continued walking towards Oner's car, footsteps falling in sync, their surroundings a blur of lights and sounds. The city buzzed around them, but in this moment, it felt like they were in their own little world, where time slowed, and the only thing that mattered was the connection growing between them.