track team AU | love triangle | slice of life | slow burn | found family | comedy + longing + insane rizz
JL transferred to Korea's most elite sports university hoping for a fresh start. He didn't expect to be rooming beside the nation's top sprinte...
"He sure isn't shorter than any of us now," JL said, just watching, stunned like everyone else.
The gun fired.
Chih En moved -- not with flair, but with purpose. His form was clean, economical. He ran like someone who didn't care about the audience, about being admired. He ran like he wanted to win, and didn't need attention to do it.
And yet -- he had the crowd's attention. All of it.
After placing 4th on the board, Chih En toweled off wordlessly. Back at the tent, he didn't seem tired, just mildly inconvenienced by the sweat. If he heard the dozens of screams outside cheering his name, he gave no indication.
Ups! Gambar ini tidak mengikuti Pedoman Konten kami. Untuk melanjutkan publikasi, hapuslah gambar ini atau unggah gambar lain.
@chihenswaterbottle: he is beauty. he is grace. he does not know how to smile and that's okay
@chihbunny: imagine being overtaken by a man who looks like he just woke up from a 200-year nap #maknaesupremacy #goldenmaknae
@maknae_knsu: the youngest one being the most terrifying is such a k-drama arc. he's so tall now. who let him grow up?? #chichi #knsugods
"You did great," JL said.
Chih En nodded once. "I want to place next time."
Han, standing just behind JL, met Chih En's gaze and gave a rare nod. "You will."
Juwon, grinning like he couldn't hold it in, leaned over and stage-whispered, "He's gonna smoke us all once he learns how hot he is."
Chih En blinked slowly. "I know I'm hot."
Everyone turned.
"Oh my god," Woongki said, dropping his water bottle.
"...Did he just admit it?" Steven asked, stunned.
Chih En tilted his head. "I'm not stupid. I just don't care."
The tent erupted into laughter.
* * *
Outside, the fangirls screamed louder than ever.
The cooler station was tucked behind the medical tent, half-hidden in the shadow of the bleachers. JL poured himself a cup of water, sloshing it a little as he gripped it too hard. He drank slowly, like that would help with the heat in his chest, the kind that didn't come from the weather.
He didn't know how to feel about any of it. About Han looking at him like that. About Steven standing too close and never quite saying what he meant. He didn't know how to feel wanted in ways that made his whole body feel watched, or chosen, or like something expensive behind glass. He leaned against the tent wall and let himself breathe for just a second.
Steven found him there. Of course he did.
"You okay?" he asked, voice lower than usual.
"Yeah," JL said, too fast.
Steven didn't push. He stood beside him, arms folded, gaze on the field. "I know that look," he said eventually. "The one you get when you're trying not to like someone."
JL didn't answer. He didn't have to.
"He makes it hard, huh?" Steven said, barely above a whisper.
Back at the tent, Han watched them, two shadows standing a little too close behind the med tent, not touching, not talking, just existing in the same charged air. He looked away before anyone could see his face shift.
By the time Chih En's last lap was logged, the sun had dropped low over the stadium, painting everything in gold and violet. The team sat sprawled under the tent, half-unlaced and half-sprawled, too tired to banter, too wired to sleep.
JL sat with his knees pulled up to his chest, trying to make sense of the tension in his limbs. Steven sat next to him, absently twirling a hair tie. Han was across the tent, head tipped back against his chair, eyes closed, but JL could feel him. Like gravity.
"Tomorrow's gonna be intense," Steven said.
"Yeah," JL replied. And they both knew they weren't talking about the meet.
@knsuupdates: End of Day 1 and the gods are still undefeated in visuals TT_TT #TrackKings #KNSU9
@track_obsessed: chih en's face = unreadable. han's face = dangerous. steven's face = possessive. jl's face = confused and hot. i'm invested.
@HaneulzHeart: the way han looks at jl like he's memorizing him... #haneulz
@stejay_gm: idc what anyone says, steven and jl standing side by side in that golden hour light is giving BL finale energy #stejay
@shipwarscentral: #Haneulz and #SteJay stans are about to throw hands in the quote tweets again lmaooo
Later, as the team packed up, Han said, "You should rest early," not looking at anyone.
"I'm fine," JL answered too quickly.
Han's gaze flicked over. It wasn't long. But it felt like pressure.
Steven stood. "We should all rest." He didn't wait for agreement. He just left.
JL didn't move. Han didn't move. The silence between them sat heavy and fragile.
That night, JL curled up in bed, blanket around his knees, and tried not to replay the day in his head. But he did anyway: Jeongwoo flying over hurdles, Chih En blinking through screams, Juwon landing with joy, Steven always watching, and Han...
Han, who looked at him like he was one second away from saying something that would change everything.
JL closed his eyes and tried not to think about tomorrow too much.
