The anticipation in the airport terminal is palpable, the air filled with the excited chatter of travelers embarking on their long-awaited vacations. San and Yuqi stand by the gate, their faces alive with anticipation as they exchange playful banter and excited chatter.
San adjusts the strap of his backpack, a grin spreading across his face as he turns to Yuqi. "Can you believe we're finally doing this? I bet Thailand is going to be incredibly!"
Yuqi's eyes sparkle with excitement as she nods eagerly. "I know, I can't wait! It's going to be my life's highlight!"
Their families stand nearby, exchanging smiles and laughter as they prepare to board the plane together.
San's father claps him on the back, his eyes shining with pride. "You kids are going to have a blast," his dad says, his voice filled with excitement. "I'm sure you'll love the hotel we picked out"
They enter the plane.
As they settle into their seats, the beam in the air is undeniable, the anticipation building with each passing moment.
San leans over to Yuqi, his voice filled with amusement. "I can't believe we're actually doing this," he says, his eyes almost glowing. "I hope we'll share a room again like last time"
Yuqi grins back at him, her eyes shining, "I know, I can't wait!" she says, "But I'll sleep in your best anyway, you know I can't sleep without you Oppa"
Everyone is in such a good mood today.
But as the plane takes off and begins its ascent into the sky, a sense of unease begins to settle over the cabin. A faint odor of smoke drifts through the air, causing passengers to exchange worried glances.
San furrows his brow in concern as he leans over to Yuqi. "Do you smell that?" he asks, his voice tinged with worry.
Yuqi nods, her expression tense with concern. "Yeah, something doesn't seem right. I hope everything's okay."
San glances around the cabin, his heart pounding with unease as he takes in the worried faces of his fellow passengers. He catches the eye of a flight attendant passing by and flags her down with a wave of his hand.
"Excuse me," he says, getting the woman's attention. "Is everything okay? We're smelling smoke back here."
The flight attendant's expression is tight with worry as she nods. "We're aware of the situation, sir. Please remain calm while we investigate."
But as the minutes tick by, the unease in the cabin grows, whispers of concern rippling through the passengers as they exchange worried glances. San grips Yuqi's hand tightly, his heart pounding in his chest as his fear or flights doesn't really help the situation.
Suddenly, chaos eructs as flames erupt from the cabin, sending passengers into a frenzy of panic and terror. San's heart lurches in his chest as he grabs Yuqi's hand, his voice filled with urgency. "Don't leave my side"
Thick smoke billows through the cabin, obscuring the vision of passengers and filling the air with a suffocating sense of dread.
"Passengers! We're about to emergency land on one of the big farmer fields below us! Please try to remain calm and seated!"
Nobody is listening.
San's big brother, Jae-hyun, springs into action, his instincts kicking in as he grabs San's arm and pulls him towards the nearest emergency exit.
"Come on, San, we need to get out of here!" Jae-hyun shouts over the roar of the flames, his voice filled with urgency as he guides his younger brother through the smoke-filled cabin.
"But Mom and Da-"
"They'll follow!"
San stumbles along behind him, still trying to keep an eye on Yuqi, his heart pounding with fear as he struggles to keep pace with Jae-hyun's hurried strides.
But as they near the exit, a wall of flames blocks their path, cutting off their escape route and trapping them in the burning cabin. Jae-hyun's grip tightens on San's arm as he frantically searches for another way out, his eyes scanning the chaos for any sign of hope.
"Stay close to me, San," Jae-hyun shouts, his voice strained with panic as he pulls his brother towards the rear of the plane. But as they push through the dense smoke, the flames close in around them, their heat searing their skin as they struggle to breathe in the thick, acrid air.
Desperation grips San's heart as he realizes they are running out of time, his mind racing with fear and uncertainty. But just as he begins to lose hope, Jae-hyun spots a small window of opportunity—a narrow gap in the flames that leads to safety.
They've landed.
"Go, San, go!" Jae-hyun shouts, pushing his brother towards the exit with all his strength.
With a final push, San stumbles through the gap, collapsing onto the wing of the plane as he gasps for air, his heart pounding in his chest with a mixture of relief and fear.
Everyone is screaming.
It's so loud.
He didn't have much time to actually take a breath as he heard his older brother's voice once again, "San! Help her out!"
San quickly gets on his feet again to take Yuqi's shaking hand into his and pulling her out of the small window.
"Yuqi, are you okay?" San asks, his voice trembling with emotion as he reaches out to her, his eyes searching her face for any sign of injury.
Yuqi nods, her eyes brimming with tears as she clings to San's hand, her voice choked with emotion. "I'm okay, Oppa, I'm okay," she whispers, her voice trembling with fear as she struggles to catch her breath.
San pulls her close, his arms wrapping around her tightly as he whispers words of comfort and reassurance in her ear. "It's going to be okay, Yu, we're going to be okay," he murmurs, his voice filled with determination as he holds her close, his heart pounding with fear and shock.
He was just about to turn to call out for his brother again, when everything suddenly goes quiet.
"..."
A deafening explosion rocks the plane, sending shockwaves rippling through the air as the cabin erupts into a ball of fire.
San's world spins wildly as he is flung through the air, harshly landing on the wet dirt of the field as he loses consciousness.
Everything goes black.
Silence.
———————————————————————
San
"Come on, San, shake it off!" Yoongi's voice rang out, his tone a mixture of encouragement and annoyance.
San gritted his teeth, his determination reigniting as he forced himself to push aside his distractions and focus on the task at hand. He took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing with determination as he prepared to dive back into the fray.
"I've got it, hyung", he yelled back, eyes focusing on the ball and the ball only.
The mint haired received the opponent's serve perfectly, setting it high up into the air, "Show us what you've got, San"
Left, Right, Left, Jump, Swing, Spike.
The audience erupted into applause and cheers as San finally got the team a point again after what seemed like an eternity.
He smirked as his teammates praised him, clapping his back in the process, when his comeback moment was suddenly interrupted by a deep voice.
"Playing against your brother was more fun, not gonna lie"
San's eyes shot to the other side of the net as he fully gave his attention to one of the other players he had never met before.
Since they weren't from their university, San didn't recognize the unfamiliar face as he only knew that the other team was slightly older than them.
"Did you ever beat him in a game?"
San remained silent.
"Probably not, right? He's really good at volleyball. Or, well, was"
San kept his composure.
"At least you saved yourself a spot in the national team, right?"
San held his breath.
"You're good at that, gotta admit. Saving yourself I mean"
The others teammates tried to shut him up.
"I've heard you're quiet the star in this team", he stepped closer to the net, voice dripping with mockery, "Everything worked out then, didn't it"
San felt his heartbeat pick up.
"What do you mean by that?", he asked, his tone remaining steady as his blood quickly pumped through his veins.
"Nothing, nothing. I totally get it. I would've done the same thing if I would've lived in the shadows of my brother my whole life", the other smirked as his eyes darkened, "Always save yourself first, hm? No regard for losses"
San's vision went red.
His body moved without him having any control over it and before he knew it, his opponent harshly hit the ground.
San had used full force when he struck him through the net, right onto his now bleeding nose.
Surely broken.
San could only register screams and yells before the loud game alarm rung, announcing the game as over as suddenly Mingi and Yeonjun were at his side, struggling to hold him back.
He didn't even realize that he was trying to get out of their grip to further injure the other player, until his coaches voice pierced through the yells.
"Choi San. Follow"
And he did.
With shaky, short breaths he adverted his gaze and let himself be guided towards the changing rooms by the steady hand of his coach.
As San and his coach stepped into the changing room, the air crackled with tension, the echoes of the chaotic scene on the court still ringing in their ears.
San's jaw clenched with frustration, his fists balled tightly at his sides as he struggled to contain the storm of emotions raging inside him. His coach fixed him with a stern gaze, his expression a mixture of concern and disappointment as he closed the door behind them with a firm click.
"San, what in the world were you thinking out there?! Gone insane now, hm?" his coach demanded, his voice sharp with reproach as he crossed his arms over his chest. "You know better than to let your emotions control you on the court."
San's chest heaved with anger as he met his coach's gaze head-on, his eyes flashing with intensity as he struggled to find the words to explain his actions. "I couldn't just stand there and take it" he growled, his voice laced with venom. "Not when- I- How dare he to even mention him? It wasn't my fault! I-.. Coach I- It wasn't my fault"
San's voice trembled.
His coach's eyebrows furrowed in concern as he listened, a flicker of understanding crossing his features before he quickly schooled his expression into one of stern disapproval. "I understand that you're upset, San, but that's no excuse for what you did," he said, his voice firm and unwavering. "You could have seriously injured that player, not to mention the damage it does to our team's reputation."
San's hands trembled with fury as he struggled to contain the burning rage threatening to consume him, his breath coming in short, ragged bursts as he fought to regain control. "But he had it coming, Coach," he snapped, his voice sharp with anger. "He was disrespecting my brother. He was disrespecting me. He had- Coach he has no right to talk about him"
His coach's expression softened slightly at San's words, a glimmer of empathy shining in his eyes as he placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I know it's hard, San, but you have to learn to channel that anger in a productive way," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "You're the ace on this team, and your actions reflect not only on yourself, but on all of us. You can't let one person's words dictate your behavior."
San gritted his teeth, his knuckles white with tension as he struggled to rein in his emotions, the weight of his coach's words settled heavily on his shoulders. "I know" he muttered, his voice strained with effort. "But that's not something you should expect from me"
The elder sighed, adverting his gaze away from San as he slightly shook his head, "Everyone on this team has their challenges to face, Choi. You don't get special treatment because you can't keep your composure"
"How dare you to compare-"
"You'll warm the bench for the next few matches. Go take a walk or something. You're free to go now"
San's mouth went dry as he watched his coach walk towards the exit, back to the court to calm down the situation outside.
San was left alone.
Well, almost.
—————————————————————
Wooyoung
As the heavy silence enveloped the changing room, Wooyoung's heart pounded in his chest like a drumbeat, his breaths shallow and uneven as he hesitated in the doorway.
He watched San from afar, his back turned towards him, a solitary figure standing amidst the stark emptiness of the room.
He didn't mean to eavesdrop upon them, but he did definitely hear more of the conversation than he intended to.
San had a brother?
The air is thick with tension, palpable and suffocating, as Wooyoung took a cautious step forward, his footsteps echoing softly against the tiled floor. His mind raced with uncertainty, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions swirling within him as he struggled to find the right words to break the suffocating silence.
San's shoulders were hunched, his posture tense and rigid, as he stood before Wooyoung, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.
His breathing was ragged, each exhale a harsh rasp that cut through the silence like a knife, betraying the storm of emotions raging within him.
Wooyoung cleared his throat, the sound loud and jarring in the stillness of the room, as he tentatively addressed the other boy. "San... are you okay?" he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper, laced with a tremor of uncertainty.
For a moment, there is no response, the silence stretching out between them like an unbridgeable chasm. Wooyoung held his breath, his heart pounding in his chest as he waited for a sign, any sign, that San had heard him.
And then, slowly, almost imperceptibly, San turned to face him, his eyes vacant and hollow, devoid of the spark of life that Wooyoung is accustomed to seeing. His lips were pressed into a thin line, his jaw clenched tightly as he struggled to contain the torrent of emotions threatening to consume him.
Wooyoung's heart sank at the sight of San's anguish, a sharp pang of empathy twisting in his chest as he watched the silent tears that trickle down his cheeks.
He wanted to reach out, to offer comfort and solace to the other boy, but he knew that words alone will not be enough to ease the pain that grips San's heart.
"San, I know we're not exactly... friends" Wooyoung continued, his voice trembling with sincerity. "But... whatever just happened out there.. I'm sure you did the right thing"
San's gaze met Wooyoung's, his eyes glassy and unfocused, as if he's staring through him rather than at him. His lips parted, but no words emerged, his voice lost amidst the cacophony of emotions that swirled within him.
For a long moment, they stood in silence, the weight of their unspoken emotions hanging heavy in the air between them. And then, slowly, almost imperceptibly, San's rigid posture began to relax, his walls crumbling in the face of Wooyoung's quiet compassion.
A single tear slipped down San's cheek, a silent testament to the pain and anguish that he carries within him. And as he finally found the strength to speak, his voice barely above a whisper, Wooyoung's heart broke for the boy standing before him, broken and vulnerable.
"Thank you, Wooyoung," San murmured, his words barely audible amidst the silence that surrounds them. "I... I appreciate it."
Wooyoung offered him a small, understanding smile, a sense of warmth blooming in his chest at the knowledge that he's been able to offer even a small measure of comfort to his... his.. to the guy in front of him.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No", San's voice came out stern and sharp, almost startling the younger at the sudden change of behavior.
San seemed to notice as his glossy eyes found Wooyoung's.
"Not yet", he added in a soft whisper, "Thank you, Young-ah"
Wooyoung offered him a small smile.
"I'll be here when you're ready, hyung"
...to be continued
——————————————————————
Wow.
That was a lot.
I'm sad now.
And my team lost the game today 😔🤙🏼
See you next chapter my baby's, thank you for keeping me company here.
(Even though there are only about 3 of you 🏜️🐪🌵🦂)