[Requested]
athlete!reader x Yanan
Synopsis: On the day before your biggest volleyball game of the season, you argue with your boyfriend Yanan. Will you still be able to focus on the game?
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"I don't have time for this, I have work to do"
You complained, rolling your eyes. You were trying to walk past him to go to your room, but his tall ass would literally not move out of your way.
"No, you can't just walk away when I'm talking to you!"
"Watch me"
You snapped, really not in the mood to deal with him after a stressful and exhausting day at university. You and your team had been preparing for the biggest game of the season, and scouts from the national volleyball association would be there observing you. Now was not the time to be in a negative headspace, but his incessant need to argue about this was slowly causing you to fall into one.
You could tell he was following you as you walked all the way up to your room and put your stuff down.
"Y/n please, we need to talk about this"
"What is there to talk about?"
You rolled your eyes, lifting a binder out of your backpack to place it on your bed.
"Maybe let's talk about you flirting with that guy on Monday"
He snapped, and you swore you could feel your blood pressure rising.
"You call getting the ball from a guy in the audience flirting?!"
"When he was clearly checking you out, yeah!"
"I was in the middle of a game, Yanan, I didn't even notice!"
"Okay, well what about after?"
You sighed. His jealousy was always a problem in situations like this. That Monday you had a small game with your team. You were outside hitter, and closest to the ball when it went out of bounds, so naturally, you ran to get it. A boy in the audience caught it, and when you ran over to get it back from him, you exchanged a quick thank you before running back to the game. After it had finished, you were packing up your things when the boy came up to you again. You could tell he was flirting, but you politely shut him down and informed him of your boyfriend who was watching from the stands. The guy looked over at Yanan's stature and intimidating expression, deciding not to mess with him.
You explained all this to your boyfriend, but he didn't like you being around other guys, especially since he usually wasn't with you due to his busy schedule.
"I can't believe that's what you call flirting!"
You explained, on your way to the bathroom connected to your room.
"If you're not going to talk to me about anything other than how you don't trust me, then you can go!"
You yelled, before closing your bathroom door. The next time you opened it, he was gone. You sighed cuddling up to yourself in bed. Today couldn't have been a worse day to fight. You would need all your focus for tomorrow, but you couldn't go to sleep upset. You were even more stressed now, and it was keeping you awake. Somehow during all your turning and tossing, you managed to eventually fall asleep.
~~~
That day at university, you had a terrible time focusing. Your problems all started in the morning. You were so tired and sleep-deprived that you couldn't see which direction you turned the shower handle in, very much shocking yourself awake when you stepped into freezing cold water. After ruining your shower, you just barely made it out of the house in one piece when you realized you'd forgotten to put your contacts in. Great, now how were you gonna see at the game. There was a short practice right after school so you didn't have time to walk home and grab them. You had missed the bus (that would have taken you to campus much faster) due to your sluggishness and were already halfway to school by now, so to avoid being late you had to go through the day partially blind.
After all your classes, you met up with the rest of your team in the gym for a short practice. You weren't looking forward to today's game. Your focus was off, and you were sure Yanan wasn't coming because you fought, and usually you avoided each other for a while after fighting.
"Y/n hit it!"
Your teammate yelled at you, snapping you out of your trance. You quickly moved to bump the ball forward, but you weren't aligned properly and it flew out of bounds. Collective sighs and eye rolls traveled around the court and your coach blew her whistle.
"Y/n pay attention please! I know we're all stressed and anxious about this game, but you're very talented players and I have no doubt you'll do well. Everyone go take five!"
She blew her whistle again, and everyone sprinted either to their bags or the water fountain. You decided to take a quick walk and clear your head. You exited the gym feeling the cold air of the hallway against your uniform shirt as you walked around. Just as you were turning the corner into the athletic hallway, a familiar figure was coming into view.
"Yanan?"
You questioned, having to wait until he got close enough to see that it was in fact your boyfriend holding your contact case.
"I know you forget them sometimes"
He smiled, holding them out to you. You smiled back and took them from him before a tense air settled between the two of you. You were going to try to break the silence when you heard the whistle signaling that your break was up.
"I-I gotta go"
You stuttered, turning around and running back to the gym with your contacts in hand.
~~~
Hours later, the bleachers were filled with spectators, while you and your team were in position on your side of the net.
"Alright everyone, this is important. We've been preparing for this day, and I know we're ready"
Your team captain spoke while turned around in her spot, trying to ease everyone's nerves as the game was getting started. You all nodded and cheered quietly in response, trying to get into competition mode. Just as you were looking up to get a glimpse at the other team, your eyes caught familiar ones in the crowd.
Yanan
You didn't think he would actually stay and watch, but there he was, smiling at you and then hitting Wooseok and Yuto next to him to wave. You waved back shyly, some of your nerves erasing knowing he was watching. Yanan had always joked that you were his good luck charm since the time Pentagon won a music show while you were present, but it was moments like this that made it feel as if he was the one who brought luck to you.
And you weren't wrong in your thinking. Since the game started, your team had been absolutely killing it. You guys had scored 15 points in comparison to their 12, but you'd need to beat them to 25 in order to win. The game was proving to be exhausting. The other team was really good, as anyone competing for the state title should be. The whistle blew for a short break, and each of your team members took small sips of water before getting back to it. As you tied your shoe, you noticed how the girls on the other side of the net glared at your team.
Poor sports
You thought but decided to mind your own business and get back in the zone.
They had the ball first, and as it was served it fell short of the net and a girl in the front used the opportunity to spike the ball over, completely shocking your line of defense and winning their team another point. Everyone sighed. You were beginning to think this wasn't an act of quick thinking, but a strategy considering this was at least the fourth time they'd done it. You'd begun to notice this team wasn't playing fair. They only caught up to you in points because they'd been holding out in the beginning and waiting until now to unleash all their dirty tricks. You also found it funny how the ref had yet to call out the girl in the front CLEARLY spiking headshots. Ones that your members in the first row had to dodge several times.
All of this inner turmoil was making it hard to focus. The other team called time, and as your members went to get water again, you looked at the scoreboard anxiously. The lead your team had formerly held was gone, but the score was close. It was almost the end and you were now tied at 24:24. The round that occurred after this break would determine the fate of the game.
You all huddled into a circle to collect yourselves.
"Geez, that girl in the front shouldn't be allowed to spike the ball so hard"
Someone complained, making all of you erupt in a fit of laughter. As you turned away to catch your breath, you found yourself looking over at the section where your boyfriend and his friends were sitting. Yanan was already looking at you, and he smiled encouragingly and held his thumbs up.
"You got this"
He mouthed, and you read his lips feeling a light blush start to heat up your face. Despite the fact that you weren't really over your fight, he was still so supportive, and that was one of the things you loved the most about him.
"Y/n!"
The girl next to you smacked your arm to get your attention, and you turned to realize everyone had their hand in the middle of the circle and was waiting to do the team cheer.
"Sorry"
You quickly placed your hand in the middle and your captain counted down.
"Let's win this!"
She yelled, as all of you cheered in agreement and moved back into position. It was the other team's ball and the girl who had been spiking before rotated to the back now. She was standing in the position to serve it traditionally towards the middle of the net, but as you watched her you knew she was about to do something else. Based on your analysis of their other plays, they wouldn't give up the last round without a fight. You watched the way she positioned her hands, and then you noticed the way she glanced at you right before she hit the ball. A glance you wouldn't have noticed if it wasn't for Yanan bringing your contacts. You acted fast, getting into a serving position the moment her fist made contact with the ball. You trusted your instincts, and you were right. She fake served it to the middle and seconds later, the ball came soaring directly toward you as predicted, shocking everyone except you who was prepared to quickly hit the ball with just as much fervor straight into their front defense line. None of whom was ready, because they weren't expecting you to hit it, and as the sound of the ball bouncing on the ground echoed through the gym, all you could hear was a victory.
Your team looked at each other in curiosity before watching the scoreboard change to HOME: 25. Immediately you were wrapped in multiple bodies and lifted up into the air as the home crowd screamed.
"You did it, Y/n!"
Your best friend cheered with you on her shoulders.
"I don't know how you knew she was going to do that, but you saved us the game, kid"
Your coach said, reaching up to pat you on the back. You smiled happily as friends and family rushed onto the court to congratulate you and your teammates. Just as your feet were touching the ground again, a tall figure was squeezing through the crowd to get to you. You rushed up to your boyfriend.
"Yanan I-"
You didn't even have time to say anything. He held your hips to pull you closer and placed a slow kiss on your lips, only pulling away when both of you needed air.
"I'm sorry, Y/n. I never wanted this to turn into such a big thing, I just really love you and I don't want anyone trying to take you from me"
You smiled.
"Trust me, you don't have to worry about that, and you're forgiven by the way"
You smiled, making him smile as well as he lifted you into the air and spun you around.
"You did amazing today, my little MVP"
I don't know much about volleyball so I had to research for this, also it was my first time writing for a pentagon member, so I hope I did okay. I think I got a little too into the whole volleyball thing 😊