FOREIGN ATTRACTION

CHAPTER3: SERVE

"Oh God, that was so exhausting. Why on earth would the terror professor assign us a drawing plate on just the third day of class?" Sophia vented her frustration as we stretched out, leaving the classroom. "I feel like my nerves are ready to strangle that woman. I could understand if she made us draw a simple one-story residential house, but a whole school building? Seriously?" Ran chimed in, joining Sophia in her complaints.

Architectural drawings are no joke, and this task was beyond stressful—it was traumatizing. Having to provide accurate views of the house from all angles—sides, rear, 3D, and 2D—with precise measurements, and all done manually! Sure, if it were digital, it might have been a tad easier with computers and software. But no, she threw us into the deep end with paper and pencils, giving us a mere 7 hours to complete everything. Trust me, that's nowhere near enough time.

"Why do you seem so chill, bro?" Sophia directed the question at me, surprising both of us. I thought she was talking to Ran. "What do you mean, chill? That's Gelo, Sophia. His skills are out of this world. He probably finished everything," Ran interjected.

"Cut it out, guys. I didn't finish the section view, so I'm definitely getting a failing grade for that impromptu test," I defended myself, sensing my explanation might not convince them.

"Bro, apart from floor plans and elevations, I only managed to complete the section. You're insane. What did you eat when you were a child in Seoul?" I suddenly stopped walking upon hearing the mention of Seoul. Their reactions were instant, and an uneasy tension filled the air.

"I mean, when you were a child. I'm sorry, bro," Ran quickly apologized, attempting to retract his words.

"Next time, Ran, try eating a f*****g break, so you'll know when to stop," Sophia defended me with a sarcastic remark. I tried to diffuse the situation, saying, "Stop it, guys. It's okay. Let's go eat," and they all nodded silently as we made our way to the cafeteria.

It's not that I hate talking about my past; maybe I'm just not ready to face it yet. There are numerous questions about my childhood that I haven't grasped the answers to. The mysteries of my past linger, and it's frustrating when you can't connect the dots—there aren't even dots in the first place. Nothing is making sense. So, I've chosen to conceal these sensitive issues and keep them locked away.

Minutes later, we arrived at the canteen. The drawing test had drained me, and even though I hate spending money on lunch to save, that plate had depleted my energy.

"What will you buy, Hyung [older brother]?" Sophia asked with her mixed Korean statement, and then we went to the line to order food.

"Maybe some chicken curry and vegetables; we need nutrients," I replied. Ran, holding my shoulder from behind, whispered, "Hey, president, don't tell the coach I'm going to cheat today."

"You approached the wrong person. Nope not on my watch, you have to stick to your diet; you need it for your training." As a generally disciplined person, I couldn't entertain his request. He required sufficient supplements to endure the upcoming rigorous training days. This is another thing I hate during my training days.

"Please, bro," he attempted to pull off the puppy face, as if I would give in to that. "Nope, not even a chance," I firmly responded.

"If you don't tell coa-" he was interrupted as two girls approached us, asking me to take a picture. "Oh hi, President Gelo, can we take a picture with you?" they squealed with high-pitched voices.

I agreed, allowing them to take a selfie with me, while Ran sulked on the side. Another girl was about to approach when suddenly the crowd rushed, and girls started screaming.

"OMG, Sungjin!" The girls who took a photo with me rushed to the scene as the new transfer student made his way to the cafeteria.

"Even from afar, you can see his bright aura," Sophia remarked as if hearts were appearing in her eyes.

"What's so bright about that face? Even his smile seems fake," I said irritably. Sophia's mood suddenly changed, looking at me suspiciously, as if implying something.

"OMG, my BL heart," she teased. Was she out of her mind? That's the most disgusting thing I've heard. Besides, I wouldn't even want to be friends with a guy with such a trashy personality. Just because he can charm a crowd doesn't mean he can disrespect me like that.

Before I could respond, the cashier was already asking for our order. I hadn't even noticed it was our turn to order.

"That Sungjin is really something, huh? It's like a celebrity transferred to UP," Randel added. "Someone's stealing your place now, oppa [older brother]," he joked, earning him a deathly glare from me. He just smiled awkwardly and ordered his food. I smirked after seeing his reaction.

–

Fortunately, we managed to finish our lunch peacefully without paparazzi swarming around me. I wouldn't be surprised, though, as all their attention was on Liam [Sungjin]. A few minutes ago, Liam had already left, either for training or to escape the suffocating crowd. Most likely the former, as Ran had left ahead of us due to the training schedule, and Liam was wearing his training outfit.

I couldn't thoroughly inspect his physique due to the amount of crowd, but with his semi-fitted training shirt and volleyball shorts, his build became more apparent. His powerful legs were visibly toned and well-defined. I had similar legs, just not as consistently buffed since he was dedicated to his training.

"Shall we go home?" Sophia asked after scrolling through her phone.

"Yeah, sure, I still have to go to work," I replied as we put on our bags and carried our T-Squares.

"But I thought your Aunt doesn't want you working on school days? Only on weekends when there are no classes," she inquired as we strolled along the sunken garden of UP. "Exactly, but I keep insisting, especially if I'm still free, because she would give me extra for those instances."

"What a hardworking president; only a romantic partner is missing," she teased, annoying me about this kind of stuff. She and Kai always do this. "What if we're really meant for each other?"

"For Ran's sake, stop," I jokingly said.

While laughing and walking, someone suddenly approached us from behind. Speaking of Kai, another troublemaker had arrived.

"Hey, President, do you miss me?" she asked.

"No," I responded quickly. "Oh, by the way, how's the financial report I made? Have you checked it already? Sir Maxwell needs it tomorrow."

"Yes, your highness. I just have to print it tonight, and everything's good," she replied, her goofball side can really appear at times, but she’s well responsible. She was the vice president who actually worked in an organization. "Oh, hello Sophia, how are you?"

Then they started their never-ending girl talk, even bringing up Sungjin now. Thankfully, someone saved me from this nightmare.

Ran called out to us, and we all stopped walking. It turned out we were now beside the outdoor volleyball field. In his training outfit, Ran's shorts never failed to reveal his build, but I still took pride in being taller than him and wouldn't stop bragging about it.

"Focus on the training, b***h!" shouted Sophia, while Kai waved back. "Oh my, Ran is still as handsome as before," whispered Kai. As if it was anything new; she always had a crush on everyone.

Some players began waving to me, even the coach. I recalled my first time joining the team, feeling like I had no hope in sports. They all played a crucial role in helping me become the MVP in recent seasons.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" as we got closer to the field, they both said that in sync.

"Liaaaaamm, good luck on your training!" shouted Kai, as if they were close. Liam smiled back at her before tossing the ball in the air for a serve.

Judging by his momentum, it was a fireball hit. His arm muscles moved swiftly, displaying impeccable posture. His legs bent slightly, preparing for the perfect jump. No doubt, girls were swooning over those buffed, long legs. His flawless, fair complexion made him stand out, and the sweat only enhanced his appeal. Before I could shake off my daydreaming, I noticed with my own eyes that the ball was heading directly toward us. Damn, the ball was on fire.

"Sophia!" shouted Ran, and that's when I realized the ball was literally coming our way, especially toward Kai and Sophia.

Without second thoughts, I made a massive leap to cover them from that powerful strike. I raised my arms to block the ball, but it was already too late. My legs were fast, but my arms were late. It went straight to my temple, throwing me off balance and hitting a tree branch with my left arm.

"If I wasn't only daydreaming, I could've probably returned that ball to that jerk," I mumbled to myself as Sophia and Kai helped me stand up.

"Hey, are you okay, President?" Kai hurriedly held my hand to help me stand. "Oh God, how's your head?" asked Sophia.

"I'm okay; my head is completely fine. But my left arm is a bit sore," I said, finding no wounds on my forehead. The ball was soft and didn't cause any permanent damage. It was the impact that threw me off balance and caused my arm to ache.

The team rushed toward us, especially Ran, looking genuinely concerned. "Hey Gelo, are you okay?"

"I am," I assured him with a smile.

"You should go to the clinic, President Gelo," advised Maku, one of the UP Volleyball players. "Hey Sungjin, apologize to President Gelo now!" shouted the coach.

"No, he doesn't have to; it was an accident," I said with an awkward laugh."Hey bro, where are you even aiming? Watch your strike," Ran cut me off, tensing up a bit as he approached Sungjin, who was walking slowly towards us as if he didn't give a damn.

“It’s just a small accident, don’t cry like a child,” Sungjin said while looking directly at me, asserting his dominance once again. His Korean accent was still evident.

“Lim Sungjin!” the coach shouted.

“Fine, sorry then,” Sungjin replied blankly without looking at me now. Sophia and Kai began to stretch my left arm, trying to help, which I found really painful.

“Ah, that hurts,” I accidentally reacted. “Coach, we'll just take Gelo to the clinic,” said Ran.

“No, you continue your training. Let the cause of this matter take him there,” the coach declined.

“Jejeongsin-ieyo? [are you crazy] No way, coach, I have to train.” How dare he call the coach crazy? “Take him or you will be on the bench this upcoming tournament,” the coach stood his ground.

“It’s okay, coach, I can go by myself to the clinic.” After advising Kai to finalize the financial report and telling Sophia to go home, I rushed to the clinic instantly. The three of them wanted to join me, but I really hate being a burden. Whenever things get heavy, I always figure them out by myself. I rarely ask for help from other people.

While holding my left arm and walking alone to the clinic, I heard footsteps behind me. “Why did you even follow me?”

“As if I like to do this???” Sungjin grumpily responded while still wearing his uniform. His body was damn slim, but his arms and shoulders were broad. I wished I could be taller so I could still dominate. Wait, what?!

“I swear, you don’t really have to.” I was trying my best to bargain, for he would just make my situation worse.

“Can you please stop whining? Such a crybaby, yaghan [weak],” he said deliberately.

“Just so you know, the University of the Philippines is a well-respected school. Please don’t put a stain on our school with your trash personality,” I said annoyingly. How could he talk like that when he’s the one who caused all that commotion? Maybe he really did aim to serve directly at us.

“And not because you’re the college department president you have the right to tell me what to do.” Then he randomly grabbed my left arm while giving me that fierce look. To show superiority, I tried my best not to react or say anything while he squeezed my arm, but the pain was still fresh, so I failed. My eyes closed, and my teeth clenched, so I just looked down so he wouldn't see that.

To my surprise, he freed himself from squeezing my arm, and for a second, I saw a glimpse of guilt in his eyes. For that short moment, I caught him off guard, and he suddenly ran towards the opposite direction to walk away.

“There’s really something with those narrow eyes,” I said to myself and made my way to the clinic.