UP NEXT ââ .⊠FACEOFF: ENHYPEN IN THE NHL. A SERIES BY @jaeyundazed & @mcwilla, PRESENTED BY PRIME VIDEO. AIRS 01/16.
graphic by @jaeyundazed.
[camera clicks on; static hums]
[jaeyundazed]: *clears throat and taps mic* Is this thing on?
[jaeyundazed]: Good evening, everyone! Alongside mcwilla, Iâm jaeyundazed, and we are ecstatic to welcome you all to FACEOFF: ENHYPEN in the NHL, presented by Prime Video. Nothing like a beautiful winter night for some hockey, eh, Ellie?
[mcwilla]: Absolutely, Rachel.
[jaeyundazed]: Weâve got a great lineup to take a look at tonight, but first, Iâm going to let Ellie explain a little more about our show.
[mcwilla]: FACEOFF, as we so creatively plagiarized named it, is our personal spin on the hockey world, featuring everyoneâs favorite K-pop group, ENHYPEN. Each episode will feature a carefully detailed player profile, along with a cluster of interesting facts and an excerpt from their day-to-day life! Through our guidance, you can follow along and experience the lives of NHLers through a fresh and new perspective.
[jaeyundazed]: Beautifully summarized, Ellie.
[jaeyundazed]: First up, we have defenseman Jake Sim, the Australian Shepherd, of the Boston Bruins, whose episode will be released on Friday, January 16th, 2026. His journey started in 2021, when he was drafted in the second round of the NHL draft, and debuted just two years later. Sim is known to be the small and speedy offensive defenseman of the bunch, and is often treated like the teamâs child. He was notably trained by fellow defenseman Brandon Carlo, who was traded in March of 2025, and Charlie McAvoy, who remains with the team.
[jaeyundazed]: His play mirrors those around him, and he is most notable for his ability to swiftly skate through his opponents. Many will say that heâs good at moving the puck, and his stats prove that to be true! With a hefty number of points this season, he might very well be looking at his first high-scoring season.
[mcwilla]: He is a true lovechild of the Bonafide Stallion and Brando, isnât he?
[jaeyundazed]: Absolutely, he is. And David Pastrnak cannot get enough of that Brisbane accent.
[static]
[Clip rolls of Sim saying he needs water to the camera, only for it to whip in Pastrnakâs direction as he yelps âwotahâ playfully in response.]
[static]
[jaeyundazed]: In FACEOFFâs second episode, airing Wednesday, January 21st, we shift to star goaltender Heeseung Lee of the Buffalo Sabres. With an astonishing .898 save percentage in just his first year with Buffalo, Lee has been absolutely demolishing his opponentsâ shots! He even pioneered the teamâs ten-game winning streak with eight starts alongside goalie partner Alex Lyon to set the franchiseâs all-time longest streak. Since Anaheim did not re-sign him after the 2024-25 season, he has had to adjust to living hundreds of miles away from his family, which he admitted in a post-game interview has been quite rough. But luckily for Heeseung, he has a great surprise in store.
[jaeyundazed]: The episode does turn a bit raunchyâŠso you might want to leave the kids elsewhere.
[mcwilla]: Scandalous.
[jaeyundazed]: Indubitably.
[mcwilla]: Shifting sideways, we turn now to Chicago Blackhawks forward Sunghoon Park, whose name isnât âSilkyâ for no reason. Heâs had a hell of a year, reaching a whopping forty-five goals and thirty assists, sitting comfortably at a -1 overall.
[jaeyundazed]: Giving Bedsy quite the run for his money, eh?
[mcwilla]: Sure is. Parkâs game is easily one of the most versatile in the league; as a power forward, he blends agility with aggressive play, sometimes sparing a penalty or two, but oftentimes lighting the lamp. On top of that, heâs a point machine! Just a few nights ago, he managed a 4-point game, his first-ever. One thing this episode doesnât touch heavily on is his toughness. Park isnât afraid to deliver a hit or offer a shove, though he isnât much of a fighter, but his ability to get under his opponentsâ skin is just perfect. Tune in on Friday, January 23rd, to watch those mitts come to life.
[â3 seconds to goâŠThe Florida Panthers have won the Stanley Cup!â]
[mcwilla]: Sunoo Kim may just be the Golden Child of the Florida Panthers.
[jaeyundazed]: I wouldnât disagree.
[mcwilla]: Kimâs episode takes us all the way back to 2024, when the Florida Panthers won their very first Stanley Cup. As one of the first to hoist, with the help of some others, after captain Sasha Barkov and fellow forward Matthew Tkachuk, Sunoo Kim kisses the cup with pride, knowing his three post-season goals helped boost the Cats to the finish line. Itâs chaos on the ice! Confetti falls from the rafters, towels fly in the air, fans go wild in their seats as yelps of joy erupt in Amerant Bank Arena. Kim is regarded as one of the best playmakers in the league, on pace for his first 60-point season with an impressive seventeen goals and forty-one assists this season. Coming Wednesday, January 28th.
[jaeyundazed]: Enter Jay Park: the defensive defenseman of the 21st century. If there is one thing Park likes to do, it is play hard. His assertive style of play allows him to skillfully shut down the opposing offense while winning battles at the boards and blocking hundreds of âwhat-ifâ shots. Heâs racked up a beautiful +11 overall this season, which showcases his role effortlessly. But Parkâs most defining characteristic is none of those things; in fact, it is his stack of penalty minutes. His episode, which will air on Friday, January 30th, flashes back to the Park Bowl, where he faced forward Sunghoon Park, and was promptly ejected from the game and assessed a major penalty that resulted in a scrum just minutes away from the end of the third.
[mcwilla]: Yikes.
[mcwilla]: Last, but certainly not least, 2022 first overall Jungwon Yang of the Ottawa Senators ends the series on Sunday, February 1st, 2026. Yang is a beast at the faceoff dot, sporting an extraordinary 52.3 win percentage. If youâre playing against him, youâll sure hope that you donât have to take him in one of those. As a two-way forward, Yang is expected to do it all, and he does. His primary focus as a two-way center is to be defensively responsible, which requires quick thinking and intelligence with the puck, all while maintaining offensive ability. He stands near the top of the league with one of the lowest numbers of turnovers this season.
[mcwilla]: Earlier this season, a small rivalry bloomed between Yang and former first overall Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils. Tensions rose in New Jersey between the two stars until about halfway through the second, when Yang suddenly cross-checked Hughes in the chest and sent him backwards. The stunt sparked a fight between the two as they dropped their gloves, and yet, no one knows what was said. Fans were riled in Jersey, and the two even seemed to continue arguing through the penalty boxes as they served their fighting majors! And to this day, there seems to be lingering tension between the two firsts.
[jaeyundazed]: And speaking of first-rounders: Montrealâs Riki Nishimura, drafted just a year ago in 2024, has been tearing it up with the BC Eagles alongside Bostonâs Dean Letourneau and James Hagens. Theyâre saying he might debut as early as next year, if all goes well. Not always likely for defensemen, but something uplifting to note.
[jaeyundazed]: Well, thatâs all the time we have for tonight.
[mcwilla]: My throat feels kinda dry.
[jaeyundazed]: Yâknow, so does mine. I think Iâve done enough talking for the next week.
[jaeyundazed]: This concludes the announcement of our brand new series, FACEOFF: ENHYPEN in the NHL, presented once again by Prime Video. Weâve worked tirelessly for weeks to put this together, hoping you all can enjoy the beautiful sport of hockey just as much as we do, even if itâs through a bunch of K-pop idols turned NHLers. Or even if you know nothing at all, and youâre just along for the ride.
[mcwilla]: Either way, we hope to see you on January 16th.
[jaeyundazed]: This is mcwilla and jaeyundazed, signing off.
UP NEXT ââ .⊠FACEOFF: ENHYPEN IN THE NHL. A SERIES BY @jaeyundazed & @mcwilla, PRESENTED BY PRIME VIDEO. AIRS 01/16.
graphic by @jaeyundazed.
[camera clicks on; static hums]
[jaeyundazed]: *clears throat and taps mic* Is this thing on?
[jaeyundazed]: Good evening, everyone! Alongside mcwilla, Iâm jaeyundazed, and we are ecstatic to welcome you all to FACEOFF: ENHYPEN in the NHL, presented by Prime Video. Nothing like a beautiful winter night for some hockey, eh, Ellie?
[mcwilla]: Absolutely, Rachel.
[jaeyundazed]: Weâve got a great lineup to take a look at tonight, but first, Iâm going to let Ellie explain a little more about our show.
[mcwilla]: FACEOFF, as we so creatively plagiarized named it, is our personal spin on the hockey world, featuring everyoneâs favorite K-pop group, ENHYPEN. Each episode will feature a carefully detailed player profile, along with a cluster of interesting facts and an excerpt from their day-to-day life! Through our guidance, you can follow along and experience the lives of NHLers through a fresh and new perspective.
[jaeyundazed]: Beautifully summarized, Ellie.
[jaeyundazed]: First up, we have defenseman Jake Sim, the Australian Shepherd, of the Boston Bruins, whose episode will be released on Friday, January 16th, 2026. His journey started in 2021, when he was drafted in the second round of the NHL draft, and debuted just two years later. Sim is known to be the small and speedy offensive defenseman of the bunch, and is often treated like the teamâs child. He was notably trained by fellow defenseman Brandon Carlo, who was traded in March of 2025, and Charlie McAvoy, who remains with the team.
[jaeyundazed]: His play mirrors those around him, and he is most notable for his ability to swiftly skate through his opponents. Many will say that heâs good at moving the puck, and his stats prove that to be true! With a hefty number of points this season, he might very well be looking at his first high-scoring season.
[mcwilla]: He is a true lovechild of the Bonafide Stallion and Brando, isnât he?
[jaeyundazed]: Absolutely, he is. And David Pastrnak cannot get enough of that Brisbane accent.
[static]
[Clip rolls of Sim saying he needs water to the camera, only for it to whip in Pastrnakâs direction as he yelps âwotahâ playfully in response.]
[static]
[jaeyundazed]: In FACEOFFâs second episode, airing Wednesday, January 21st, we shift to star goaltender Heeseung Lee of the Buffalo Sabres. With an astonishing .898 save percentage in just his first year with Buffalo, Lee has been absolutely demolishing his opponentsâ shots! He even pioneered the teamâs ten-game winning streak with eight starts alongside goalie partner Alex Lyon to set the franchiseâs all-time longest streak. Since Anaheim did not re-sign him after the 2024-25 season, he has had to adjust to living hundreds of miles away from his family, which he admitted in a post-game interview has been quite rough. But luckily for Heeseung, he has a great surprise in store.
[jaeyundazed]: The episode does turn a bit raunchyâŠso you might want to leave the kids elsewhere.
[mcwilla]: Scandalous.
[jaeyundazed]: Indubitably.
[mcwilla]: Shifting sideways, we turn now to Chicago Blackhawks forward Sunghoon Park, whose name isnât âSilkyâ for no reason. Heâs had a hell of a year, reaching a whopping forty-five goals and thirty assists, sitting comfortably at a -1 overall.
[jaeyundazed]: Giving Bedsy quite the run for his money, eh?
[mcwilla]: Sure is. Parkâs game is easily one of the most versatile in the league; as a power forward, he blends agility with aggressive play, sometimes sparing a penalty or two, but oftentimes lighting the lamp. On top of that, heâs a point machine! Just a few nights ago, he managed a 4-point game, his first-ever. One thing this episode doesnât touch heavily on is his toughness. Park isnât afraid to deliver a hit or offer a shove, though he isnât much of a fighter, but his ability to get under his opponentsâ skin is just perfect. Tune in on Friday, January 23rd, to watch those mitts come to life.
[â3 seconds to goâŠThe Florida Panthers have won the Stanley Cup!â]
[mcwilla]: Sunoo Kim may just be the Golden Child of the Florida Panthers.
[jaeyundazed]: I wouldnât disagree.
[mcwilla]: Kimâs episode takes us all the way back to 2024, when the Florida Panthers won their very first Stanley Cup. As one of the first to hoist, with the help of some others, after captain Sasha Barkov and fellow forward Matthew Tkachuk, Sunoo Kim kisses the cup with pride, knowing his three post-season goals helped boost the Cats to the finish line. Itâs chaos on the ice! Confetti falls from the rafters, towels fly in the air, fans go wild in their seats as yelps of joy erupt in Amerant Bank Arena. Kim is regarded as one of the best playmakers in the league, on pace for his first 60-point season with an impressive seventeen goals and forty-one assists this season. Coming Wednesday, January 28th.
[jaeyundazed]: Enter Jay Park: the defensive defenseman of the 21st century. If there is one thing Park likes to do, it is play hard. His assertive style of play allows him to skillfully shut down the opposing offense while winning battles at the boards and blocking hundreds of âwhat-ifâ shots. Heâs racked up a beautiful +11 overall this season, which showcases his role effortlessly. But Parkâs most defining characteristic is none of those things; in fact, it is his stack of penalty minutes. His episode, which will air on Friday, January 30th, flashes back to the Park Bowl, where he faced forward Sunghoon Park, and was promptly ejected from the game and assessed a major penalty that resulted in a scrum just minutes away from the end of the third.
[mcwilla]: Yikes.
[mcwilla]: Last, but certainly not least, 2022 first overall Jungwon Yang of the Ottawa Senators ends the series on Sunday, February 1st, 2026. Yang is a beast at the faceoff dot, sporting an extraordinary 52.3 win percentage. If youâre playing against him, youâll sure hope that you donât have to take him in one of those. As a two-way forward, Yang is expected to do it all, and he does. His primary focus as a two-way center is to be defensively responsible, which requires quick thinking and intelligence with the puck, all while maintaining offensive ability. He stands near the top of the league with one of the lowest numbers of turnovers this season.
[mcwilla]: Earlier this season, a small rivalry bloomed between Yang and former first overall Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils. Tensions rose in New Jersey between the two stars until about halfway through the second, when Yang suddenly cross-checked Hughes in the chest and sent him backwards. The stunt sparked a fight between the two as they dropped their gloves, and yet, no one knows what was said. Fans were riled in Jersey, and the two even seemed to continue arguing through the penalty boxes as they served their fighting majors! And to this day, there seems to be lingering tension between the two firsts.
[jaeyundazed]: And speaking of first-rounders: Montrealâs Riki Nishimura, drafted just a year ago in 2024, has been tearing it up with the BC Eagles alongside Bostonâs Dean Letourneau and James Hagens. Theyâre saying he might debut as early as next year, if all goes well. Not always likely for defensemen, but something uplifting to note.
[jaeyundazed]: Well, thatâs all the time we have for tonight.
[mcwilla]: My throat feels kinda dry.
[jaeyundazed]: Yâknow, so does mine. I think Iâve done enough talking for the next week.
[jaeyundazed]: This concludes the announcement of our brand new series, FACEOFF: ENHYPEN in the NHL, presented once again by Prime Video. Weâve worked tirelessly for weeks to put this together, hoping you all can enjoy the beautiful sport of hockey just as much as we do, even if itâs through a bunch of K-pop idols turned NHLers. Or even if you know nothing at all, and youâre just along for the ride.
[mcwilla]: Either way, we hope to see you on January 16th.
[jaeyundazed]: This is mcwilla and jaeyundazed, signing off.
worked on this for so long that i had to log into this gem to promote it. if any of you are still here and still like hockey and maybe dabble in kpop, i advise you to check this out :p
UP NEXT ââ .⊠FACEOFF: ENHYPEN IN THE NHL. A SERIES BY @jaeyundazed & @mcwilla, PRESENTED BY PRIME VIDEO. AIRS 01/16.
graphic by @jaeyundazed.
[camera clicks on; static hums]
[jaeyundazed]: *clears throat and taps mic* Is this thing on?
[jaeyundazed]: Good evening, everyone! Alongside mcwilla, Iâm jaeyundazed, and we are ecstatic to welcome you all to FACEOFF: ENHYPEN in the NHL, presented by Prime Video. Nothing like a beautiful winter night for some hockey, eh, Ellie?
[mcwilla]: Absolutely, Rachel.
[jaeyundazed]: Weâve got a great lineup to take a look at tonight, but first, Iâm going to let Ellie explain a little more about our show.
[mcwilla]: FACEOFF, as we so creatively plagiarized named it, is our personal spin on the hockey world, featuring everyoneâs favorite K-pop group, ENHYPEN. Each episode will feature a carefully detailed player profile, along with a cluster of interesting facts and an excerpt from their day-to-day life! Through our guidance, you can follow along and experience the lives of NHLers through a fresh and new perspective.
[jaeyundazed]: Beautifully summarized, Ellie.
[jaeyundazed]: First up, we have defenseman Jake Sim, the Australian Shepherd, of the Boston Bruins, whose episode will be released on Friday, January 16th, 2026. His journey started in 2021, when he was drafted in the second round of the NHL draft, and debuted just two years later. Sim is known to be the small and speedy offensive defenseman of the bunch, and is often treated like the teamâs child. He was notably trained by fellow defenseman Brandon Carlo, who was traded in March of 2025, and Charlie McAvoy, who remains with the team.
[jaeyundazed]: His play mirrors those around him, and he is most notable for his ability to swiftly skate through his opponents. Many will say that heâs good at moving the puck, and his stats prove that to be true! With a hefty number of points this season, he might very well be looking at his first high-scoring season.
[mcwilla]: He is a true lovechild of the Bonafide Stallion and Brando, isnât he?
[jaeyundazed]: Absolutely, he is. And David Pastrnak cannot get enough of that Brisbane accent.
[static]
[Clip rolls of Sim saying he needs water to the camera, only for it to whip in Pastrnakâs direction as he yelps âwotahâ playfully in response.]
[static]
[jaeyundazed]: In FACEOFFâs second episode, airing Wednesday, January 21st, we shift to star goaltender Heeseung Lee of the Buffalo Sabres. With an astonishing .898 save percentage in just his first year with Buffalo, Lee has been absolutely demolishing his opponentsâ shots! He even pioneered the teamâs ten-game winning streak with eight starts alongside goalie partner Alex Lyon to set the franchiseâs all-time longest streak. Since Anaheim did not re-sign him after the 2024-25 season, he has had to adjust to living hundreds of miles away from his family, which he admitted in a post-game interview has been quite rough. But luckily for Heeseung, he has a great surprise in store.
[jaeyundazed]: The episode does turn a bit raunchyâŠso you might want to leave the kids elsewhere.
[mcwilla]: Scandalous.
[jaeyundazed]: Indubitably.
[mcwilla]: Shifting sideways, we turn now to Chicago Blackhawks forward Sunghoon Park, whose name isnât âSilkyâ for no reason. Heâs had a hell of a year, reaching a whopping forty-five goals and thirty assists, sitting comfortably at a -1 overall.
[jaeyundazed]: Giving Bedsy quite the run for his money, eh?
[mcwilla]: Sure is. Parkâs game is easily one of the most versatile in the league; as a power forward, he blends agility with aggressive play, sometimes sparing a penalty or two, but oftentimes lighting the lamp. On top of that, heâs a point machine! Just a few nights ago, he managed a 4-point game, his first-ever. One thing this episode doesnât touch heavily on is his toughness. Park isnât afraid to deliver a hit or offer a shove, though he isnât much of a fighter, but his ability to get under his opponentsâ skin is just perfect. Tune in on Friday, January 23rd, to watch those mitts come to life.
[â3 seconds to goâŠThe Florida Panthers have won the Stanley Cup!â]
[mcwilla]: Sunoo Kim may just be the Golden Child of the Florida Panthers.
[jaeyundazed]: I wouldnât disagree.
[mcwilla]: Kimâs episode takes us all the way back to 2024, when the Florida Panthers won their very first Stanley Cup. As one of the first to hoist, with the help of some others, after captain Sasha Barkov and fellow forward Matthew Tkachuk, Sunoo Kim kisses the cup with pride, knowing his three post-season goals helped boost the Cats to the finish line. Itâs chaos on the ice! Confetti falls from the rafters, towels fly in the air, fans go wild in their seats as yelps of joy erupt in Amerant Bank Arena. Kim is regarded as one of the best playmakers in the league, on pace for his first 60-point season with an impressive seventeen goals and forty-one assists this season. Coming Wednesday, January 28th.
[jaeyundazed]: Enter Jay Park: the defensive defenseman of the 21st century. If there is one thing Park likes to do, it is play hard. His assertive style of play allows him to skillfully shut down the opposing offense while winning battles at the boards and blocking hundreds of âwhat-ifâ shots. Heâs racked up a beautiful +11 overall this season, which showcases his role effortlessly. But Parkâs most defining characteristic is none of those things; in fact, it is his stack of penalty minutes. His episode, which will air on Friday, January 30th, flashes back to the Park Bowl, where he faced forward Sunghoon Park, and was promptly ejected from the game and assessed a major penalty that resulted in a scrum just minutes away from the end of the third.
[mcwilla]: Yikes.
[mcwilla]: Last, but certainly not least, 2022 first overall Jungwon Yang of the Ottawa Senators ends the series on Sunday, February 1st, 2026. Yang is a beast at the faceoff dot, sporting an extraordinary 52.3 win percentage. If youâre playing against him, youâll sure hope that you donât have to take him in one of those. As a two-way forward, Yang is expected to do it all, and he does. His primary focus as a two-way center is to be defensively responsible, which requires quick thinking and intelligence with the puck, all while maintaining offensive ability. He stands near the top of the league with one of the lowest numbers of turnovers this season.
[mcwilla]: Earlier this season, a small rivalry bloomed between Yang and former first overall Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils. Tensions rose in New Jersey between the two stars until about halfway through the second, when Yang suddenly cross-checked Hughes in the chest and sent him backwards. The stunt sparked a fight between the two as they dropped their gloves, and yet, no one knows what was said. Fans were riled in Jersey, and the two even seemed to continue arguing through the penalty boxes as they served their fighting majors! And to this day, there seems to be lingering tension between the two firsts.
[jaeyundazed]: And speaking of first-rounders: Montrealâs Riki Nishimura, drafted just a year ago in 2024, has been tearing it up with the BC Eagles alongside Bostonâs Dean Letourneau and James Hagens. Theyâre saying he might debut as early as next year, if all goes well. Not always likely for defensemen, but something uplifting to note.
[jaeyundazed]: Well, thatâs all the time we have for tonight.
[mcwilla]: My throat feels kinda dry.
[jaeyundazed]: Yâknow, so does mine. I think Iâve done enough talking for the next week.
[jaeyundazed]: This concludes the announcement of our brand new series, FACEOFF: ENHYPEN in the NHL, presented once again by Prime Video. Weâve worked tirelessly for weeks to put this together, hoping you all can enjoy the beautiful sport of hockey just as much as we do, even if itâs through a bunch of K-pop idols turned NHLers. Or even if you know nothing at all, and youâre just along for the ride.
[mcwilla]: Either way, we hope to see you on January 16th.
[jaeyundazed]: This is mcwilla and jaeyundazed, signing off.
Thank you, nonnie!! This means so much!!!! I never actually know if people read the Mason stuff so this is really good to hear!! I had a vision and I wrote it for him bc I miss him and his Instagram stories are highly entertaining - he's just a dude. Makes me miss watching the Bruins, I can't lie, even if they do make my blood pressure skyrocket.
And IKR!! I will do my best to contribute and I really want to write a long fic for him at some point!
I also recommend @laukoslovergirl, @snorky and @happilysmythe for really cute and incredible Mason fics/SMAUs too (but you should check them out in general)!!
summary: one word to describe the past year? bliss. that's what you and trent have experienced. that is, until one night when he gets a call. you know â the call, the one saying he's been traded, and, well...you don't want to move.
A/N: heeeeey everybody đ swear i'm alive and well! my absence has been a mix of writer's block, business, and hockey hell. what even is the 2024-25 season. anyway i'll shut up but i'm back! send in a request if you'd like :D i'm also thinking about posting my kpop fics so if anyone's down feel free to send a request ok thank u bye
âTrent.â
Your voice was a weak whisper, which accompanied your pale face and trembling frame.
You were sitting on the couch before it happened. Your couch, to be exact. You decided that you wanted to cook your boyfriend dinner at your place instead of going out, and he happily obliged. Your body was nestled into his as you sipped a glass of red wine post-dinner and admired the fireplace before you. When his phone rang, you had just lifted the half-empty glass to your lips.
Iâll only be a minute, he told you when he stood up to take the call, and you nodded, opting to reach for your phone and scroll through your socials while you waited. It wasnât the first time there was some hockey-related call coming his way, and you learned in your ten months with him not to pry, because it usually wasnât about you, anyway. Your feed was full of updates and reporters, mostly, so you figured youâd catch up. That being said, you typed the password in and opened your phone.
Your eyes lost all of their life when you read the first post on your feed. Your heart sank, and you couldâve sworn that your phone had never left your hand so fast.
Traded, the caption echoed in your head. Traded to Edmonton. The post slowly burned itself into your memory as you repeated it for what seemed to be the thousandth time in your mind. You felt dizzy as if your drink had been laced with a psychedelic, only this was far from a fucking trip. You wished you were hallucinating.
Hearing Trent Frederic will be traded to Edmonton.
You set the glass on the table and finally scrambled to your feet. Stability didnât come naturally to you, but it wasnât important. You had to see him because you knew exactly what that phone call was, and it would be about you this time.
You padded to the bedroom, where he stood with his back to you. His body was entirely still, his phone still up to his ear. He mumbled a soft okay, barely audible enough for you to hear, and slowly lowered the phone. His arm hung dead at his side. That was when you weakly choked out his name.
He slowly turned to face you. His eyes were glossed over, and his body was tense, his hand barely keeping the cold metal in its grasp. His chest rose and fell with every unstable breath. You took one reluctant step closer. He tossed the phone away and closed the remaining distance, enveloping your body in his arms. His hold was at first so tight that you struggled to breathe properly, but even as you melted into his hold, it couldnât go back to normal. You were sobbing into his chest, and you felt him sniffling all the same above you.
âTrent,â you repeated. âTell me that call was denying it, and it was a rumor.â Pain laced your voice, and it only hurt him more that he couldnât tell you what you begged to hear. âPlease,â your palm banged against his chest, and his arms held you tighter.
âI canât,â he whispered. âI wish I could.â
Your fingers curled around the cotton shirt he wore as your tears formed small stains in the fabric. âTwo days. You only have two days to pack up your things and leave?â you croaked and looked up with glassy eyes. âI only have two days left with you.â
âI know,â he frowned, lifting a hand to your cheek and cradling it gently. Had the situation been any less finalized, it wouldâve soothed you more. âIâm sorry.â
âI canât uproot my life, Trent,â you muttered. âMy whole life is here. OrâŠwas. My job, my friends, my family,â you paused, âand you.â A tear ran down your cheek, and his thumb brushed it away. âI canât leave. There's too much of my life here.â
âBut I have to,â he finished your thought with a confirming nod.
This wasnât a new concept to you, especially not after watching so many of your friends leave in the last year. In short, it wasnât a possibility you ruled out. You loved your boyfriend, but he had a short lifespan with the team, and you had to accept that early on. But you werenât like some of the other girlfriends; you couldnât just up and leave with him at your leisure. You were from Boston, and everything you ever knew was there. When the day inevitably came, it would never end with you giving up everything you worked for. And Trent knew that.
âI want you to go alone,â you finally told him, stepping back and flattening your palms on his chest.
âWhat?â
âI canât go with you. You know that,â you sniffed, wiping the skin beneath your eyes. âBut I refuse to tie you down and hold you back. I want you to go without me. And I want you to meet someone who,â you hesitated, choking on your words, â...makes you as happy as you made me. And be happy with them. Okay?â Your eyes watered again, despite your effort to suppress your emotions. You wanted to stay strong, but it was almost too difficult.
âNo,â he shook his head. âIâm not doing that. That's stupid.â
âTrent, I canât anchor you here. You don't deserve that.â Your eyes locked with his as you swallowed thickly, trying desperately to muster the courage to say what you knew was the truth. âThis isnât your home anymore.â
He stepped back and breathed out, his hurt visible in his eyes. âJust like that, you want to give this up? Because I have to be further away?â
âI donât know if Iâll ever be able to leave here, okay? I know it sounds dumb, but I justâI donât know. It hurts enough that I have to lose you, but it will hurt even more to always watch you from 2,000 miles away. It's not fair to you."
âHey,â he sternly said, taking your hands in his. âLook at me.â
You obeyed without hesitation, slowly looking up and letting your eyes fall on his.
âIâd rather be 2,000 miles away than never see you again,â his eyes bored into yours, conviction bleeding through his words. âWeâll make it work. Iâm not asking you to surrender your life and move to Canada. Iâm just asking for you to work through this.â
âTrentâŠâ
âI love you,â he cut you off, âand you know you don't have to write this off. You need to decide if what you want here is the life you want, because I think all you're chasing is security." He breathed, "But if Iâm wrong, and youâd rather choose the safe option, Iâll walk out that door right now."
He was right, and you knew it. You were too scared to leave the place you grew up in. You didn't know much else, and you didnât want to. But amongst that, you didnât want to lose everything you worked for. Your job meant so much to you, and you were scared to lose it. Trent could provide for you, sure, but you werenât dependent. The idea of always being cooped up inside and never working upset you. You never wanted to feel like a trophy piece, and he always ensured you never were.
But where did that leave you now? Stuck between leaving the life you always knew behind, or giving up the person who made you happiest, all because you got involved with a player with an unstable future in Boston.
Had you known that you were tangling yourself in a web of what-ifs a year ago when you first met him, perhaps you wouldnât have made the reckless decision to open that door and spend the night with him? Or maybe you would have, knowing how content you'd be.
That was your decision right there.
âI donât want to let this go,â you finally whispered.
âThen donât.â
You wrapped your arms around his neck and buried your face in his shoulder. He meant too much to you to give up as easily as you were going to. âIâm sorry, Trent, I justâIâm gonna miss you.â
He breathed softly, his fingers gently stroking your hair. âYou donât have to come with me yet.â
âNot yet, but I will. Eventually,â you told him. âYou're right. I need to stop choosing the safe option. I'll never be satisfied that way." You took a deep breath and swallowed. "I need to live my own life. That starts with leaving here."
He smiled. "That's my girl."
"Real talk, though...Screw Edmonton.â
He chuckled, âYeah?â
"Yeah. I am never becoming an Oilers fan. Just you." You pulled back to look at him, your arms still wrapped tightly around him as if heâd disappear if you let go. He really was gorgeous. âI love you,â you murmured.
