A Quiet Awakening
Kang-dae slowly blinked his eyes open, feeling the lingering drowsiness from his nap. As his vision adjusted, he noticed that the room was dimly lit, the only light coming from a single bulb near the front, on Joon-ho's side. The soft, warm glow cast long shadows, creating a cosy atmosphere.
Joon-ho lay on his bed, propped up by a pillow, his eyes glued to his phone. The gentle tapping and swiping noises filled the otherwise quiet room. Joon-ho seemed absorbed in whatever app he was using, completely at ease.
Kang-dae glanced around the room, searching for any sign of Kyu. The bathroom door was shut, but no light came from underneath it, indicating that Kyu wasn't inside. The rest of the room felt still and empty.
With a soft groan, Kang-dae sat up, rubbing his eyes. The nap had done wonders, but he still felt a bit disoriented. "Hey, Joon-ho," he called out, his voice slightly hoarse from sleep.
Joon-ho looked up from his phone, a smile spreading across his face. "Hey, sleepyhead. How was your nap?"
Kang-dae stretched his arms above his head, feeling the satisfying pull of his muscles. "Pretty good. I needed that. Where's Kyu?"
Joon-ho shrugged, setting his phone aside. "He said something about needing some fresh air. Probably went for a walk or to grab a snack."
Kang-dae nodded, feeling a pang of hunger himself. "What time is it?"
"Just past six," Joon-ho replied, glancing at the clock on his phone. "You were out for a couple of hours."
"I guess I was more tired than I thought. Today was intense," Kang-dae swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, stretching his back.
"You think? You guys were amazing out there. That rush tactic was brilliant," Joon-ho chuckled.
"Yeah, it was a team effort. We got lucky, but it worked out in the end," Kang-dae smiled, feeling a swell of pride.
As he wandered over to his desk, he picked up his water bottle and took a long drink, savouring the coolness.
"So, what are we doing tonight?"
"I don't know. We could chill here or meet up with the girls later to plan for tomorrow. They had taken away some fried chicken and bubble teas by the way, as told by Soo-jin to me," Joon-ho leaned back against his headboard, folding his arms behind his head.
"That sounds nice. And speaking about food, how about we go grab dinner?" Kang-dae considered it for a moment.
"Great idea. I'm starving," Joon-ho wasted no time in getting himself ready. He hopped off his bed and started putting on his shoes.
Kang-dae ran his fingers through his hair, trying to tame the bedhead from his nap. Once satisfied, he grabbed his jacket and slipped it on.
"Alright, let's go."
They closed the lights and fan, locked the door, and began their walk to the cafeteria. The dorm corridors were quieter now, with most students either out for the evening or settled in their rooms. The soft hum of the building's central air system and the occasional distant conversation were the only sounds accompanying their footsteps.
"So, what do you think about tomorrow's matches?" Joon-ho asked as they walked.
"We need to stay focused and keep up the teamwork. If we can keep up the spirit and play well like today, we surely can reach the final," Kang-dae shrugged, his thoughts turning to the upcoming challenges.
"True. You should probably go over some strategies with the girls later, just to make sure you are all on the same page if confusion ever arises," Joon-ho nodded, a thoughtful look on his face.
As they reached the cafeteria, the delicious aromas of various foods wafted through the air, making their mouths water. The cafeteria was bustling with activity, filled with students chatting and enjoying their meals. They grabbed trays and made their way through the food lines, selecting a variety of dishes to satisfy their hunger.
Once they had their meals, they found a table near the window, offering a view of the campus bathed in the warm hues of the setting sun. They sat down and began eating, the conversation flowing easily between bites.
"So, personally, as a Tank, how do you feel about the team's performance today?" Joon-ho asked between mouthfuls of rice.
"In simple words, we did great. Everyone played their part perfectly. There were quite numerous close calls, but we managed to pull through, and that's what matters," Kang-dae smiled, feeling a sense of pride.
"Yeah, that timer on the first match and the rush tactic on the second was something else. Luck is definitely a huge winning factor. Reminding me of the issue in the World NexaRealm Championship," Joon-ho nodded in agreement.
They continued to eat, discussing various moments from the matches and analyzing what had worked and what could be improved. Kang-dae appreciated Joon-ho's insights, knowing that his friend's keen eye for strategy was invaluable.
After finishing their meals, they lingered at the table for a while, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere. The cafeteria began to quiet down as more students finished their dinners and headed back to their dorms or off to evening activities.
Feeling content and reenergized, Kang-dae and Joon-ho finally decided to head back. They left the cafeteria and walked through the dimly lit campus, the cool evening air refreshing after the warmth of the day.
"Are you going to watch tomorrow's match as well?" Kang-dae glanced at Joon-ho and asked.
"Yeah, definitely," Joon-ho nodded, his voice enthusiastic. "And not just me, even Kyu and Hyun-ae will be there to show support,"
"That's great to hear. I really appreciate you guys being there," hearing that, Kang-dae felt glad that he had made good friends ever since he got to NexaCorp Korea University.
"We're all in this together," Joon-ho smiled.
"By the way, did you get a chance to watch the other teams play today?" Kang-dae then shifted the conversation.
"I didn't, actually. I was going to, but I had to run to the toilet right in between, so I missed out," Joon-ho shook his head.
"There's a team we need to be wary of—Aerial. Two of their players, Chin-hwa Eun and In-su Tak, are especially strong. Chin-hwa is the second-best Marksman in Korea, and In-su is the third-best Mage. If we get to the final, we'll meet them there. So we need to be prepared for them," Kang-dae nodded, understanding.
"Got it. I'll make sure to watch their matches tomorrow and see what strategies they use. It might mean I can't watch your matches as closely, but I'll give you all the details I can gather," Joon-ho listened intently.
"That would be really helpful," Kang-dae said, feeling reassured. "Thanks, Joon-ho. We need every bit of intel we can get to stand a chance against them if we meet in the finals."
"Don't worry about it. We'll get through this together," Joon-ho nodded.
With their plans for tomorrow set, the two friends felt a renewed sense of determination.
As they reached the dorm section, they saw the familiar sight of the intersection where they usually parted ways. The women headed to the right while the men turned left. Kang-dae and Joon-ho walked down the corridor to their room, Room 215.
Inside, the room was quiet and comfortable. Kang-dae felt a wave of drowsiness wash over him again. The day's activities and the satisfying meal had left him feeling pleasantly tired. He changed into more comfortable clothes and settled onto his bed.
Joon-ho did the same, and they both lay back, enjoying the peaceful silence. Kang-dae stretched out on his bed, feeling more prepared for the challenges ahead. The quiet of the room enveloped them as they both settled down, the anticipation of the next day's matches mingling with the satisfaction of their day's accomplishments.
"Tomorrow's going to be another big day," Joon-ho said, breaking the quiet.
"Yeah," Kang-dae replied, his eyes groggy heavy. "But we've got this."
But rather than sleep, Joon-ho's continuation of small talks had forced Kang-dae awake for a while longer. The two continued their quiet conversation, the room bathed in the soft glow of a single light. The sense of camaraderie was palpable, and the bonds they had forged over the past months were stronger than ever. As they discussed various strategies and potential scenarios for the next day, they found themselves laughing at shared memories and inside jokes.
"So, remember that time when we played together? When you accidentally used your ultimate skill on the practice dummy?" Joon-ho chuckled.
"Yeah, that was embarrassing. But hey, at least it showed us what not to do in a real match," Kang-dae grinned sheepishly.
They both laughed, the tension of the day easing with each chuckle. It was moments like these that reminded them why they played the game in the first place—not just for the competition, but for the friendships and the joy of shared experiences.
"Thanks for always having my back, Joon-ho," As the conversation wound down, Kang-dae's eyelids grew heavy once more.
"Always, man," Joon-ho replied, his voice sincere. "We're a team, on and off the field."
With that, they finally let the quiet of the night settle around them. The sounds of the dormitory faded into the background as sleep overtook them. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, they were content, knowing they had each other and the support of their friends.
As Kang-dae drifted off to sleep, he felt a sense of peace, ready to face whatever the next day would bring with the unwavering support of his team and friends.t.