Chapter 16 - Ready, Set, Swim (2k)
Saturday arrived quicker than anyone had expected. By the time Y/N finished getting ready, Karina was already waiting by the apartment door while Giselle searched the living room for the sign she had somehow managed to misplace. “I swear I left it right here.”
“You’ve said that three times,” Karina replied.
“Because it was right here!”
Y/N picked up a rolled-up poster leaning against the couch. “This one?”
Giselle gasped dramatically. “I knew I wasn’t losing my mind.”
A few minutes later, the three of them stepped out of the apartment building and made their way to the subway.
Y/N glanced at the large paper bag swinging from Giselle’s arm. “I still think making signs was unnecessary.”
“It was absolutely necessary.”
“You spent your Friday night drawing chickens.”
“They’re adorable,” Giselle corrected.
Karina laughed quietly. “I haven’t even seen them yet.”
“I’m not sure that’s reassuring.”
The train pulled into Nakseongdae Station, and the three of them stepped onto the platform before following the steady stream of students toward the exit. The walk to the sports complex only took a few minutes. Even from outside, they could already hear the faint echo of whistles and cheering coming from inside the building.
“There they are,” Karina said, spotting the rest of the group gathered near the entrance.
Sungchan waved both arms the moment he noticed them. “Finally!”
“We’re on time,” Y/N replied as they walked over.
“You were supposed to be early.”
Sohee laughed. “I don’t know why you keep arguing with him.”
“Because someone has to.”
Shotaro reached for the paper bag in Giselle’s hands. “Please tell me those are the signs.”
Giselle grinned. “Oh, they’re even better than you think.”
“You should be.” She pulled out the first poster with a flourish.
Shotaro burst out laughing almost immediately. “No way.”
Wonbin pinched the bridge of his nose. “Poor Anton.”
“And that’s not even the best one,” Giselle said proudly. “There are more.”
Giselle proudly revealed the second one.
JUST KEEP SWIMMING, ORIGINAL.
Y/N laughed so hard she had to grab Karina’s arm.
“You guys are actually the worst.” Wonbin said.
“I wasn’t complimenting you.”
Ningning reached into the bag next.
Her eyes immediately lit up. “Oh my God.”
She turned the sign around.
IF YOU LOSE, WE’RE PRETENDING WE DON’T KNOW YOU.
“Sohee!” she exclaimed. “This one’s definitely yours.”
Karina shook her head. “I can’t believe we’re about to embarrass him in front of the entire university.”
They finally made their way inside.
The air smelled faintly of chlorine, and the echoes of whistles, splashing water and conversations bounced around the large indoor pool. Students filled the stands, many wearing university hoodies or carrying banners for friends competing that afternoon.
“Over there,” Sungchan said, pointing toward a section with a good view of the pool. The group squeezed into one row, immediately spreading out the signs. Y/N looked from one poster to another.
“You really couldn’t just write ‘Good luck, Anton’?”
Giselle looked offended. “And waste my artistic talent?”
“You drew a chicken wearing swimming goggles.”
“It took me forty minutes.”
Giselle gave Y/N a side eye.
The loudspeaker crackled overhead.
“The men’s freestyle events will begin shortly.”
Almost instantly, everyone leaned forward.
“There he is,” Sohee said, pointing toward the pool deck. Anton walked out with the rest of the team, stretching one shoulder as he listened to one of the coaches.
His eyes found their section.
Then he noticed the signs.
Shotaro stood up first. “ANTON!”
Sohee followed immediately. “ORIGINAL CHICKEN!”
The entire group erupted into cheers. “YOU’VE GOT THIS!”
Anton covered his face with one hand.
“I think we embarrassed him enough already,” Karina said.
“We’ve barely started,” Giselle replied.
Despite the obvious embarrassment, the corner of his mouth twitched into a small smile. He shook his head once before turning back toward his teammates.
Y/N couldn’t help smiling. “I think he secretly likes it.”
“No,” Wonbin said immediately. “He definitely doesn’t.”
The starting whistle echoed through the building. For the next hour, the group cheered through every event Anton competed in. By the final race, their voices were already hoarse. When the results were announced, the entire section erupted once more.
“He did it!” Sungchan shouted.
The team slowly gathered near the edge of the pool, laughing and congratulating one another while spectators began making their way toward the exit.
“We should go say hi,” Sohee suggested.
The group climbed down from the stands and waited near the athletes’ exit.
Anton spotted them almost immediately. “You guys…” He looked at the signs again.
“…I’m never letting any of you make posters again.”
“So you liked them?” Giselle asked.
Before Anton could answer, someone called his name.
A girl hurried across the hallway, weaving through the small crowd without slowing down.
She stopped right in front of him and before anyone could react, she wrapped both arms around him in a tight hug.
The conversation around them fell silent.
Anton stiffened almost instantly.
His hands stayed awkwardly at his sides for a second before he carefully stepped back, creating some distance between them.
There wasn’t any excitement in his voice.
And unmistakable discomfort.
Y/N’s gaze shifted from the unfamiliar girl to Anton, who had carefully stepped out of the hug.
“…Who’s that?” she whispered to Sohee.
The single word suddenly explained the awkward atmosphere. Minju smiled as if nothing had happened. “It’s been a while.”
Anton gave a small nod. “It has.”
“I heard about the meet. You did really well.”
“Thanks.” His answer was polite.
Minju looked at the medal resting around his neck before smiling again. “I knew you’d do well.”
Another brief silence followed.
Quietly, so only the two of them could hear, she asked, “…Does she always do that?”
Sohee sighed. “…Not usually.”
He paused. “At least…not in front of this many people.”
Before she could ask another question, Minju spoke again. “We should catch up sometime.”
Anton didn’t answer right away. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
The smile on Minju’s face faltered for just a second.
“It doesn’t have to be weird.”
“…But I think it’s better if we leave things as they are.”
For the first time since she’d walked over, her expression softened. “…You’re still saying no.”
Anton met her eyes. “Yes...”
This one lasted a little longer.
Finally, Minju forced a small smile and nodded.
Whether she actually did…
She gave the group a polite nod before quietly walking away.
Everyone watched her disappear into the crowd.
“So…” Giselle was the first to speak.
“So awkward,” Ningning agreed immediately.
Anton let out a tired sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.
Y/N looked at him for a moment before shaking her head. “You don’t have to apologize.”
He offered a small, appreciative smile. “…Thanks.”
“So,” Sohee said, clapping Anton lightly on the shoulder.
“How about we get food before Giselle starts making another sign?”
“My signs were motivational.”
“They were emotionally damaging,” Anton replied.
That finally earned a laugh from everyone.
The tension eased just enough as the group started walking toward the exit together.
But Y/N couldn’t help glancing back one last time.
She had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last time she’d see Minju.
Author’s note: I just finished chapter 44 lol
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