Chapter Text
“Jeung! Focus!”
Yoonchae tears her eyes from where Daniela and her team were practicing and turns back to the coach.
“If you aren’t able to keep your head in the game you’ll be benched the whole game.” She threatens.
“Yes Coach.” She nods.
Sophia nudges her with her elbow, snickering slightly.
“Shut up, you were literally just staring at Megan.”
“Yeah, but I’m not letting it keep me from practice.”
“Nobody asked.” She groaned.
“Fifteen pushups!” The coach yells, tapping her pen on her clipboard.
Yoonchae huffs and drops down to the ground.
It was probably her fault for getting distracted, but she was still irritated by it.
“I want you guys ready for our game tomorrow! Geffen is the team to beat!”
Yoonchae grunts as she goes down, then up, then down again, holding for a second before pushing back up.
She thinks about Geffen. That stupid Geffen team.
The team is full of frat boy wannabe stars.
Orlando, wide receiver, Manon’s rival. Jonah Abraham-
Yoonchae doesn’t actually know what he does, she just knows Sophia hates him for something.
And Joanh David.
Daniela’s neighbor.
He was just a little irritated that morning, which was part of the reason Yoonchae was so angry.
Her and Daniela had-
An eventful night.
And maybe Daniela wasn’t exactly- quiet.
So when they left for school that morning he had been nothing short of harassing them.
Whether out of jealousy, envy, or just hate Yoonchae wasn’t sure, but she didn’t like him. Not at all.
Not when he was so disrespectful to her girlfriend.
“Alright, I want to see a new PR on the mile! Jeung I want to see you running!”
Yoonchae runs slightly behind Sophia, Manon in front.
Coach was right.
She was unfocused.
It wasn’t helping that it felt like everything was moving in slow motion whenever she ran by Daniela.
The way she jumped, flailing her pompoms.
The way her hips swayed as she moved side to side.
The way her ass-
“Chip, what’s wrong with you today?”
Yoonchae shakes her head of the thought, looking over at our sister.
“What’d you say?”
“You’re really spacy. Are you okay?”
“Oh yeah yeah, I’m fine.” She nods, keeping her pace.
“Did something happen?”
“I’m fine, Fi.” - “You don’t need to worry.”
Sophia sighs, but relents.
“Alright, if you say so.”
The moment Sophia speeds up Yoonchae’s mind goes blank.
She runs with a single minded intensity, just trying to be faster.
Better.
She has to be faster.
She has to be better.
Better than him.
She has to be.
Maybe she’s pushing herself too hard.
Her lungs hurt by the time practice is over.
She hasn’t sweat this much in a long time.
Everything is tired. Her body, her mind.
“Chip? You okay?” Manon tries to look at her.
“Huh? Yeah why?”
“I’ve called your name like six times.”
“Oh.” She huffs, slightly embarrassed.
“I’m gonna head home.” She mumbles, slamming her locker shot.
Sophia and Manon share a worried glance as she walks out.
She calls Dani, not really sure where she is.
“Hey Baby, I’m almost out.”
“Hi, yeah I know, I was just wondering if maybe you could get a ride from Lara today. I’m heading home now.”
“Oh.” - “Um. Yeah, yeah I can. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just tired, don’t worry.” She exhales slowly.
“Okay. I’ll see you later?”
“Yeah, yeah sure, probably.”
She hangs up, not really thinking.
She drives home in silence.
She showers in silence.
Something doesn’t feel right.
But she can’t figure out what.
-
“Ugh, girl I know, why was it so hotttt today.” Megan groans.
Daniela looks down as her phone buzzes, she smiles softly when she sees it’s Yoonchae.
“Hey baby, I’m almost out.”
Her girls look at her, amused, and she turns away from them with an eye roll.
“–I was just wondering if maybe you could get a ride from Lara today. I’m heading home now.”
“Oh.” - “Um. Yeah, yeah I can. Are you okay?”
She glances at Megan and Lara, a frown painting her face.
“Yeah, just tired, don’t worry.”
Of course she’s going to worry.
“Okay. I’ll see you later?”
“Yeah, yeah sure, probably.”
“Okay-” She starts but her phone beeps when Yoonchae ends the call.
She stares at her phone for a second.
“Everything okay?”
Her brow furrows and her heart thuds against her chest.
“No, something’s wrong with Yoonchae, she asked if I could get a ride home.”
“And that’s wrong, why?”
“Yoonchae loves driving me home. And she sounded- off.”
Lara hums,
“That’s interesting.”
“I’m gonna see if I can bring her something.” She decides.
“How are you gonna do that?”
“I don’t know, I’ll walk if I have to. There’s a market just a few blocks from her apartment.”
“And how are you gonna get to there?”
“Like I said, I’ll walk if I have to.” She reiterates.
“Pfft, no I’ll drive you.” Lara scoffs. “C’mon.”
“You don’t have to, I know you’re tired.”
“It’s fine, let’s just go.”
“Alright.” Dani nods. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Daniela looks through the aisles, picking up random things within her twenty dollar budget.
“Why do you think Yoonchae is upset?”
Dani sighs,
“If I had to guess, I think she’s upset because we had a rough interaction with our neighbor this morning.”
“How so?”
“Well since you guys were all gone, we had sex, and I think he heard us-”
Lara trips over her own feet, almost falling straight to the floor before catching herself.
“You did what?!”
“What?” Dani looks at a bag of chips, unsure of why it matters.
“You and Yoonchae-”
“Yeah.”
“You and Yoonchae??”
“Yeah.” She nods slowly. “Anyway, we had walked out this morning to get to class and he was throwing slurs at us and he tried to threaten me. It was a whole thing.”
“Did you report him?”
“Ugh, no they aren’t gonna do anything.”
“Not even to management?”
She throws the chips into the basket, settling with them and a few candies and a drink.
“Actually I didn’t, maybe I should try that.” She hums.
Lara nods firmly,
“I will too, maybe we can convince some of the others to as well, the more we can get to report him the more likely he is to get kicked out.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
They walk through check out together.
“Where do they live?”
“Just turn left here and keep going until you get to the target, then turn left again and it’s like right there.”
Lara nods, following her instructions along the way.
“It’s the apartment with the Sofia the first banner in the window.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know, Yoonchae says Sophia loves that show. I don’t question it.”
Lara gives that a light chuckle.
“Go cheer up your little puppy.”
“Shut upppp.” Dani groans, opening the car door. “Thank you again.”
“Sure thing girl.”
Dani skips up to the apartment and knocks on the door softly.
Sophia opens the door slowly.
“Dani? What are you doing here?”
“Is she brooding?”
Sophia steps aside to let her in.
“You know she is.”
Daniela walks past her to Yoonchae’s bedroom door and knocks once more.
“I told you I don’t want to talk Soph.”
“It’s me, baby.” She speaks softly.
It’s a matter of seconds before the door whips open.
“What are you doing here?”
“I brought you some snacks, thought it might make you feel better?”
Yoonchae sighs and pulls her into the room, shutting the door behind her.
“How did you even get here.”
“Lara drove me.”
She set the bag down by the bed.
“What’s wrong, amor?”
“Nothing, I’m just tired.”
Dani frowns at her, and sits on the bed, pulling Yoonchae on with her.
“You know I know you better than that.”
Yoonchae sighs.
“I don’t know.”
Dani pulls her to lay on her chest, threading her fingers through her heir and scratching gently.
“That’s okay, you don’t have to know. But why are you shutting everyone out?”
Yoonchae sighs against her, nuzzling against her hoodie.
“I don’t really know, it’s what I’ve always done.”
“Does it make you feel better?”
She shrugs,
“Not really.”
“Would it feel better to talk about it?”
“Maybe.”
Dani kisses the top of her head, inhaling her scent.
“Do you want to try?”
Yoonchae’s fingers wrap around her hoodie string, mindlessly fiddling with the metal piece at the end.
“Yeah.” She admits. “Maybe.”
“I’m listening.”
Yoonchae huffs, snuggling more into Daniela.
Daniela’s hands trail from her hair to her back, pulling her shirt up to trace small patterns into the soft skin.
“I think- I’m angry.”
“Okay.” - “Do you know what about?”
“Him.”
Dani hums, so she was right.
“Is that all?”
“I don’t know. It’s hard.” She grumbles, tucking her face into Dani’s neck.
“I know, baby. You’re doing so good though.” She assures her. “So so good.”
Yoonchae smiles against her neck, the familiar words making her heart jump.
“I think I’m worried. About the game tomorrow.” She adds on.
“Why’s that?”
“What if we lose?”
“Then you’ll try again another time.”
“But I can’t lose to him.”
“Is that why you burnt yourself out today?”
Yoonchae winces and picks her head up.
“Oh, you noticed that?”
“You’re my girlfriend, I noticed something was wrong the moment Coach yelled at you. You never get yelled at.”
Yoonchae groans,
“I just need to focus. Do better.”
“Baby you can’t do better if you drop before the game even starts. I hate seeing you be so hard on yourself.”
“But we have to beat Geffen.”
“Geffen-” - “Or Jonah?”
Yoonchae’s heart picks up.
She didn’t know she’d figure her out just like that.
They stare at each other for a moment.
Dani brushes her nose to Yoonchae’s.
“Jonah.” She decides on.
Yoonchae nods slowly.
“I see.”
Dani gave her a small peck.
“Is that dumb?” Yoonchae asks.
She shakes her head.
“I understand. But I don’t think you’re going about it the right way.”
“How so?”
“You’re pushing yourself until you drop, that’s not gonna help.” - “Maybe instead of that you should try and figure out a way to work well with your team, strategize how you can win better rather than just training as hard as you can.”
Yoonchae pauses.
She hadn’t really- thought of that.
“Oh.”
Dani chuckles slightly, and kisses her again, just as light.
“You’re pretty hard headed, you know that, right?”
“I know I know.” Yoonchae sighs.
They sit up together, Yoonchae moving off to the side and Daniela picking the bag up from the floor.
“What’d you bring me?” She smiles.
Dani pulls the contents of the bag out,
“I only know a few things that you like, but I also grabbed some stuff that I do because I wanted to share with you.”
“I like that, thank you.” She smiles.
Yoonchae doesn’t have a tv in her room like Daniela does, but she does have her laptop.
Yoonchae pushes the laptop towards her when she loads up Netflix.
“You pick.” Dani turns it back towards her.
“What, no, you always pick.”
“Exatly, today’s about you, you pick.”
“Even if it’s a kdrama?”
“Especially if it’s a kdrama.” She chuckles, eating a piece of chocolate.
They barely get into fifteen minutes before there’s a knock at the door.
“Chip?”
“Yeah Fi?”
The door opens entirely and Sophia stands there.
“Are you okay?”
Yoonchae nods, smiling slightly.
“Yeah, sorry I know I was having a hard time earlier.”- “I didn’t mean to shut you out.”
Sophia leans against the doorway, nodding.
“I understand. What was wrong?”
“I’m worried about the game tomorrow.”
“Is that why you were struggling during practice so much?”
“Yeah.” She admits, looking at the bag of chips in her hand.
Daniela smiles as she looks between the two.
“Oh, chip, we got it. We’re gonna crush them tomorrow, we’re playing better than ever.”
Yoonchae sighs,
“I know.” - “I’m sorry for acting poorly.”
She sits over on the edge of the bed when Sophia approaches her.
Sophia’s arms wrap around her shoulders, and Yoonchae buries her face in her sweatshirt.
Sophia glances up at Dani after kissing the top of Yoonchae’s head.
She mouths, thank you, at her.
Dani simply smiles and nods softly.
“Love you, baby chip.”
“Love you too, Fi.”
She leans down to Yoonchae, whispering,
“Picked a good one.”
She steps back and winks, walking out the door without another word.
She smiles to herself, looking over at Dani.
“What did she say to you?” Dani side eyes her, suspicious.
“Said I picked a good one.” She grins wider, pulling Dani to sit in her lap.
Dani’s arms wrap around her neck, leaning against her.
“Oh yeah? What do you think?”
She hums for a moment, then leans in to kiss her softly.
She pulls back and brushes her nose against Dani’s cheek, smiling too wide to continue kissing.
“I think the good one picked me.”
–
“What if I just don’t play.”
“You’ve gotta play babe.” Dani tries again to pull her out of the bed.
Dani slept over last night, much to Yoonchae’s relief.
As much as she tried to act like she wanted to be alone,
She didn’t really.
So Dani coming over despite her trying to push her away opened something in her heart.
“It’ll save me embarrassment if we lose and I’m not there.”
“Or it’ll cause you more if you lose because you weren’t there.”
Yoonche huffs into the pillow.
“Don’t wanna.”
“But if you don’t go then who will I cheer for?” Dani pouts, crawling over and laying on top of Yoonchae’s back, kissing her shoulder.
Yoonchae grumbles something Dani can’t hear, so Dani sits up and pulls at her shoulder to turn her over.
Yoonchae rolls over with a soft grunt and frowns up at Dani.
Her frown doesn’t last when she sees her though.
“You look cute in my jersey.”
Dani looks down at herself, panties and Yoonchae’s jersey, her usual pajamas.
“Shut up.” She scoffs.
But she’s still smiling.
“It’s true.” Yoonchae insists, sitting up to hold Dani’s straddled body. “I love it when you wear my clothes.”
“Oh yeah?” She grins, biting her lower lip as she brushes Yoonchae’s hair behind her ears.
Yoonchea nods firmly, playing with the hem of the jersey, trying to subtly pull it up.
Dani shifts slightly in her lap, allowing Yoonchae’s hands to snake under the jersey and find the smooth skin underneath.
Dani sighs at the touch, Yoonchae’s rings cold compared to her warm hands.
Dani’s hands scratch softly at the back of Yoonchae’s neck as they sit with each other.
Yoonchae can think of nothing but kissing her right now.
She pulls at Dani’s hips, thumbing over her skin, urging her closer.
Dani smiles down at her, knowing what she wants.
Their lips connect in a gentle kiss, slow, warm.
Dani’s hands tighten in her hair, just slightly, not pulling, just holding her there. Not wanting her to move away an inch.
Yoonchae’s arms snake entirely around Dani’s waist, pulling her as close against her as she can, not a wisp of space between them.
Kissing Daniela had slowly started becoming one of Yoonchae’s favorite things. More than school, more than football, more than late nights watching tv and eating.
More than sleep.
She loved Daniela more than sleep.
Wait.
She pulls back, breathing softly against Dani’s lips.
“I love you.”
Her voice is barely above a whisper.
Just enough for Dani to hear her.
Her eyes are half lidded as she looks up at her.
Daniela’s eyes shine with something, slightly glossed over as her smile widens down at Yoonchae.
“I love you too.”
She kisses her again.
Once.
Twice.
A third time.
“You still have to go to the game tonight though.” She whispers against her lips.
“Nooooo.” Yoonchae groans. “I was hoping I distracted you enoughhh.”
“Oh you definitely did, but I remembered eventually.” Dani chuckles.
Her thumb grazes over her lip, pulling it down slightly.
“I can’t believe we just said that.” She breathes.
“Said what?”
“I love you.”
Yoonchae’s heart picks up and she visibly brightens again.
“Is it bad?”
Dani shakes her head quickly, tightening her legs around Yoonchae’s hips.
“No no, not at all.” - “Did you mean it?”
“Of course I did.”
“Then it’s perfect.” Dani brushes their noses together. “Now you gotta be there in like an hour, so get out of bed.”
Yoonchae pouts at her, holding onto Dani tighter as she tries to move.
“But I don’t wanna.”
“Don’t be difficult, puppy.” Dani coos, scratching under her chin.
Yoonchae wants to pull away, to tell Dani she isn’t a puppy.
But she knows that won’t end well for her.
So she stays silent, and enjoys the affections.
Her eyes close and she leans into her touch, trying not to smile.
She freezes when Dani whispers at her.
“If you behave I’l let you shower with me.”
Yoonchae’s eyes snap open and Dani sits up off of her, collecting her clothes from around the room.
She grins,
She can behave.
–
“I’ll see you after the game baby.”
Dani gives her a quick peck, picking her bag up from the floor of the car.
“Yeah, yeah.” Yoonchae nods, staring at the dashboard.
“Hey.” Dani grips her chin, turning her head to make her look at her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Just- scared.”
Dani brushes her thumb over her cheek, frowning at the genuine turmoil in Yoonchae’s eyes.
“It’s okay if you don’t win every game, amor.”
“I know, I just really want to win this one.”
“Then you’ll win.” - “If you set your mind to it then you will.”
“But we don’t know that.”
“Yoonchae.” Dani sighs. “Just try your best baby. I just want you to try.”
“I will, but what if-”
“If you’re trying then that’s good enough. Your best will always be good enough, Yoonchae.”
Yoonchae almost wants to cry.
Daniela and her unwavering support, always there for her.
“Okay.” She nods. “Okay.”
“There’s my girl.” - “Now go kick their ass.”
She kisses her once, a quick peck before she slides out of the car and walks to the gymnasium.
Yoonchae sighs, leaning further back into her seat.
She steps out of the car, opening the back door to pull out her gear bag.
She walks in silence. Thinking about Daniela.
They’ll win today.
She knows it.
—
Warmups run smoothly.
She’s focused.
Less in her head and more in the game.
She focuses on the feeling of the ball in her hands. The thick bumpy leather in her hands.
She squeezes the ball as she looks at the field.
The field fills with players, running drills and passing a ball between each other.
The stands are filled to the brim with people, students and families alike.
This was the game of the season.
Hybe vs. Geffen.
“You okay, chip?”
She rolls her neck, cracking it slightly.
“I’m ready.” She nods.
She glances over to the cheer team, doing their routines to entertain the crowd while they wait.
“Let’s go Hybe! Let’s go Hybe!”
She can see Dani clear as day. Her curly hair bouncing with every jump.
It makes her smile.
A whistle blows, signaling the teams need to get ready.
“Alright guys.” The coach looks over them all. “I know we’re the only female team here, but that isn’t gonna stop us from beating these guys any more than every other game we’ve played this season. I want to see you guys out there playing your best. Got it?”
“Yes Coach!” They shout.
“Alright, get out there.” She releases them.
Yoonchae breathes sharply, hopping on her feet as she gets in position.
She bends forward, ready to receive the ball.
She counts in her head.
Ready.
She glances at her team.
Nods at them.
Ready.
She glances forward.
She can see him.
He’s already looking at her.
With that stupid stupid smirk that makes her want to bash his head in.
The whistle blows and the ball flies into her hands,
She rushes back, looking for an opening,
She takes a chance at Sophia.
She throws it hard, watches it spiral to her hands.
And she’s on the ground.
She grunts hard, breathing heavily as she tries to get back up.
She looks at who dropped her,
Shocker.
Jonah sneers at her as he walks off.
When did the whistle blow?
Samara helps her up, she shakes her helmet around, slightly disoriented.
“You good?” Manon pats her padded shoulder.
“I’m fine, just took a hard hit.”
“You need a sub?”
“Nah, I’m fine.”
Okay, back into position. 35 Yard line.
Ready.
Wait.
Samara passes her the ball.
She chooses to run with it.
She rushes forward, pushing her way through,
She goes down at the thirty.
Damn it.
Not much, but it’s something.
“He’s eyeing you.” Sophia mumbles as she walks by.
“I know.”
He has been the entire time.
And it seems he is dead set on making her life a living hell in this game.
Same routine.
Ready.
Wait.
“Hike!”
She rushes forward again, but there’s actually an opening this time, she passes through and keeps sprinting.
25, 20, 15, 10,
“First score goes to Hybe Academy!” The announcer yells.
She feels the smacks on her helmet, the shoves and the yelling.
“Nice job Jeung!”
Can Marquise make the field goal?
Naturally,
“Alright, up 7-0” She nods. “Great job so far guys.”
Geffen scores on them after the second down.
Embarrassing.
She was already pissed off.
“Suck it, Jeung.” - “She’ll come crawling to me when you lose.”
“Not a chance.” She hisses.
Jonah was not helping.
Ready. Wait.
“Hike!”
She throws the ball.
It’s a solid few seconds before she goes down.
“C’mon ref that’s targeting!” Sophia yells.
The ref doesn’t call it.
Yoonchae waves her away.
It’s fine.
Except it isn’t fine.
They aren’t advancing.
Geffen's offence may not be great, but their defense was.
She got lucky with the first touchdown.
They haven’t advanced after four downs.
Now it’s their turn to defend.
She’s not in front of him, but he’s nearby.
Watching her.
She’s not even supposed to be his focus.
So when she’s holding back Orlando she’s surprised when he rushes at her from the side, tackling her to the ground.
Whistle blown. Yellow flag.
“Penalty Number 21- Targeting, Fifteen yards, Geffen.” The ref announces.
Jonah huffs, scuffing turf into her face as he walks away.
They move down the field.
Her ribs are starting to hurt.
It feels-
Wrong.
She ignores it.
Geffen doesn’t score,
They practiced for this.
Lucky for Hybe,
As good as their offence was,
Their defence was just as good.
That gave them the upper hand.
They switch,
Hybe is on offence again.
She readies behind Samara.
But this time,
Something doesn’t feel right.
She glances at him, just right before.
His eyes look like they’re burning.
Something about it makes her angry.
But something about it scares her too.
“Hike!”
She holds the ball, throws it to Manon, who’s wide open.
Manon runs it.
Sophia, Marquise, Nayoung, Samara, defending.
She can barely see well enough that it looks like Manon just might make it.
Then she stops breathing.
Because she can’t.
She can’t breathe.
How did she get on the ground?
There's a cracking sound.
Okay, that’s not right.
She huffs, trying to get air in her system.
Somethings- stabbing her.
“Stay down, Fag!” Jonah spits.
Whistle.
The ref motions, and the stands erupt in yells.
“Yoonchae? Yoonchae get up!”
“Fi?”
She can barely see straight.
Everything hurts.
“Everyone hold on, it seems that our star player isn’t getting back up! Number 16 Jeung Yoonchae seems to have been injured by Geffens number 21, Jonah David.”
Her team takes a knee, even some of the opposing kneeling.
Daniela’s on the field running.
“Move! Move!” She pushes her way through the crowd of players. “That’s my girlfriend! Move!”
She sees Sophia holding Yoonchae’s arm.
“Yoonchae? Baby?? Baby are you okay?”
She tries to look through her helmet.
“M’fine-” She rasps.
She tries to sit up, but the cracking sound and the scream that rips out of her makes her land right back down on the ground.
“No, she can’t play like this, I think her ribs are broken.” Sophia glances over her again.
“Can we get a medic over here or something?” Daniela yells, looking around the players.
The ref yells throughout the field,
“Number 21, Geffen, targeting and unnecessary roughness, ejected from the game.”
Her tears drip onto Yoonchae’s grass stained jersey, so focused she doesn’t even hear the call.
The medical team finds their way through.
Sophia has to pull Daniela away from her so they can examine her.
“We need to transport her to the medical bay.” One says. “We gotta wrap these ribs as soon as possible.”
“Understood.” Another nods.
“What’s her name?”
“Yoonchae.” Daniela speaks first. “Is she going to be okay?”
“Her ribs are definitely broken, who knows why he hit her so hard, but there’s definitely multiple ones. She might need to get checked at the hospital so we can make sure they didn’t puncture any lungs.”
Daniela’s hands shake at her sides.
Megan and Lara make their way in.
“She’ll be okay, she’s strong.” Megan rubs her arm.
They manage to get Yoonchae standing,
Her helmet is off somewhere on the ground, Daniela can see her wince with every step.
“You should go with her.” Manon suggests. “She’ll need you.”
Daniela wipes her tears and nods, running after the medical team and her girlfriend.
They make it into the medical bay before she does.
She can still see them as they enter the room, and she follows in staring.
“Excuse me, this is a private space.”
“That’s my girlfriend, I’m on the cheer team.” She tries anything that will get her to Yoonchae.
The nurse looks at her for a moment, then to Yoonchae.
And steps aside.
She rushes over to her where she lay in the medical bed.
“Yoonchae? I’m here, baby.”
Yoonchae’s breathing is ragged, laboured.
“I’m fine, Jagiya. Don’t worry.” She tries to assure her, then is betrayed when she winces at the cold metal of the stethoscope on her ribs.
“I’m sorry, I just need to listen.” The woman says.
“You’re fine.” - “I’m fine.” She insists.
The woman hums, nodding to herself.
“I hear nothing coming from your lungs. But you seem to have several broken ribs. I’d like to get you to an emergency room so they can further analyze you. I will put a temporary wrap on your ribs in the meantime so nothing moves further in your transport.”
“You’re saying I can’t go play??” She jerks up, yelping as the pain shoots through her.
“Be still.” The woman scolds. “You’ll make it worse.”
“But I need to get back out there.”
“Baby you can’t play like this.” Daniela sighs.
“But we have to win.”
“We will, we’re already up 14-7, we can do it.”
Yoonchae wants to argue further.
But the pain is making her tired.
“You get to ride in an ambulance if that makes you feel better.” The woman chuckles lightly.
Yoonchae stares at her.
“Alright, sorry. Bad timing.” She retracts, busying herself with pulling out an ace bandage. “We need to get your shirt out of the way so I can wrap you. We can have someone hold up your shirt or you can take it off entirely.”
Yoonchae sighs, then winces.
Okay, note to self.
Don’t breathe?
“Jagiya.” She rasps.
“Yeah, baby?”
“Can you help me, I can’t pull it off.”
Daniela is there in a second.
It proves difficult to do it without pain.
But they manage to get it off, and the nurse wraps the ace bandage around her ribs.
“Ghh, fuck.” She groans.
She grips Daniela’s hand, trying not to squeeze too hard.
“You’re doing good, baby.” Daniela tries to comfort her.
“Alright, we’ll send you off to the emergency room on main street. You’ll get taken care of there.”
Yoonchae gets ushered to the inactive ambulance.
“This is so unnecessary.”
“Of course, you would be embarrassed about needing medical help.”
“It’s because it’s embarrassing."
She’s assisted into the ambulance, and she sits in the stretcher, waiting irritatedly.
“Excuse me, are you family?” The EMT asks as Dani follows her.
“She’s my girlfriend.” Yoonchae answers for her. “Let her come with, please?”
The EMT nods,
“Alright, let’s go then.”
Daniela tries to make her laugh along the way.
Doesn’t really work, but it’s a start.
“This sucks.” Yoonchae grumbles as she shuffles into the lobby.
“Me too.” She winks.
Yoonchae reddens.
“Not for a while.”
“Aw I didn’t think about that.” Dani pouts.
“Really?” She almost laughs. “I break my ribs and you’re sad you can’t suck me off?”
“Yeah.” She continues pouting, “I like doing that.”
Yoonchae rolls her eyes, but she still smiles.
They get checked in, third in line for now.
“We’ll see how long that takes.” Dani sighs, sitting down in the uncomfortable lobby chair.
“Wanna watch the game while we wait?”
Yoonchae nods, sitting down slowly next to her.
“Might as well.”
Yoonchae’s arms stay at her ribs, scared to move.
Daniela pulls her phone out to find the live stream.
“Somewhere around here.” She mumbles.
She clicks on the video and pulls it up, tilting her phone so they can both watch.
“See, we’re still winning.” - “We may have lost you, but it looks like they lost him too.”
“Where’d he go?”
“I’m not sure, but he isn’t on the field, let me text the girls and see if they know.”
Yoonchae shuffles slightly as Dani texts Megan and Lara, then winces sharply as a specific sharp pain shoots through her body.
Dani sits up and frowns at her,
“Are you in a lot of pain baby?”
“I mean, I have several broken ribs, yeah it hurts.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize.”
Dani grumbles, turning to face Yoonchae.
“But you’re in pain.”
“You’re not why I’m in pain.” Yoonchae smiles. “You’re quite a nice distraction from it actually.”
Dani still pouts, not liking that as an answer.
“I’m fine, Jagiya. You don’t need to worry.”
“You’re not fine though.”
“I will be though.”
Dani’s eyes start to water, her lip trembling in a pout.
“Baby, don’t cry.”
“But I don’t like seeing you hurt, you look like a wounded puppy.”
“Should I be offended by that?”
“No, it means you’re cute and I feel the need to take care of you.”
Yoonchae grins at that,
“Well I wouldn’t mind that.”
“Jeung.” She’s called.
Dani helps her stand up, walking back to the treatment area slowly.
“So you’re the one with the broken ribs huh? How about we see what we’re dealing with.”
As the wraps come undone Dani almost laughs to herself.
They probably look ridiculous.
They’re both adorning their school sports uniforms, Yoonchae still wearing her leg pads and cleats and Daniela completely glammed up in her cheer outfit.
The examination process is tedious, and irritating.
They make her breathe, which hurts, get x-rays, which hurts, cough, hurts a lot, and a million other tests.
“Almost done, amor.” Dani yawns. “The game's over too. We won.”
Yoonchae nods silently.
She doesn’t even care about the game anymore.
She just wants to go home and sleep, hopefully next to Daniela.
“You okay?”
“Irritated, don’t want to say anything mean by accident.”
Dani nods,
“Can I hold your hand?”
She thinks for a moment, then nods once.
Daniela interlaces their fingers, brushing her thumb over her knuckles.
“My strong girl.” She mumbles.
Yoonchae wasn’t really supposed to hear it.
It made her smile though.
The nurse walks in with the x-rays,
“Good news, not completely broken, just some fractures.” She smiles. “You’ll need to lay off sports for a while while you heal, no strenuous activities. Ice for twenty minutes a few times a day, stuff like that. It will all be in the report.”
“Thank you.” She nods. “Can we be discharged?”
The woman nods.
“Here are your papers, and a list of suggested pain medications.”
Daniela takes the papers for her, tucking them in her skirt's waistband.
“Thank you.” She smiles at the nurse as they walk out of the ER.
“Wait, how are we getting home?”
Dani points at Yoonchae’s car.
Yoonchae pauses.
“Wait- how.”
“Sophia and Megan dropped it off earlier, hopefully nobody broke in because our stuff is in it and the key is literally and hopefully in the bush.” She laughs.
“Is that why you were laughing earlier?”
“Maybe-”
Daniela manages to find the keys, jingling them and smiling.
“I’ve never seen you drive.” Yoonchae mentions.
“I’m an excellent driver, thank you.”
“Then why don’t you ever drive.”
“I like it when you drive me.” She beams.
Yoonchae huffs.
Of course she does.
She helps Yoonchae get into the passenger seat, then checks in the trunk for their bags, pulling them out and putting them in the back seat.
“Success.” She nods proudly. “I can’t wait to get home and shower.”
Yoonchae huffs again, something that might become a regular occurrence as she heals.
“I need to shower but that’s going to suck.”
“I’ll help you baby, don't worry.”
“Okay.” She sighs, leaning back against the seat.
“Ready to go home?”
“Yes please, I’m exhausted.”
–
Sophia is already at the door by the time they get there, rushing over to the car to help Yoonchae get out.
“What’d they say? Are you okay? Do you need anything?”
“I’m fine, Fi, don’t worry.” She grunted as they walked to the apartment, Dani in tow with their bags.
Megan stood up from the couch, frowning slightly,
“Hey Yoonchae, how are you feeling?”
“Hey Megs, I’m fine, just tired honestly.”
“Yeah, you should sleep.”
“We gotta take a shower first.” Dani casually mentions.
“Oooh, showering together?”
“That is like the tamest thing we’ve done.” Dani scoffs.
Yoonchae freezes in the hallway, turning slightly to look at Sophia.
Sophia is looking at her, unimpressed and slightly disgusted.
“You have no room to talk-” Yoonchae defends.
“Just go get in the shower.” She waves her away.
Dani follows her down the hall to set their bags down in the room.
She grabs Yoonchae’s jersey, her pajama of choice, then Yoonchae’s sweatpants.
“You wanna sleep no shirt tonight, mi amor?”
“Yeah, please, baby.” She grunts, trying to get her cleats off.
Dani gets everything into the bathroom before Yoonchae is even done getting anything else off.
“C’mon I’ll help you in the bathroom.”
Yoonchae follows her slowly.
Dani drops to her knees to pull down Yoonchae’s pants and thigh pads.
Yoonchae sighs as her legs get freed from the tight pants.
“Thank you, for helping me.”
“Of course, you don’t need to thank me, I’d do anything for you.”
Yoonchae’s heart skips a beat.
“Oh.”
Dani’s fingers loop into her waist band, waiting for permission.
She nods.
She pulls them down slowly, helping Yoonchae step out of them.
Dani smirks,
“Someone’s excited.”
“It’s not on purpose-”
“I’m just teasing you.” Dani chuckles, pulling her shirt off.
Not on purpose,
But not without reason.
Dani helps her the entire time.
Her hands are gentle against her skin, fingertips skating over the soap on her body.
Yoonchae sighs into her touch, leaning more and more into it the more her fingers graze her body.
Her eyes closed slowly, relaxing as the steam surrounded them.
The pain dissipates slowly.
Daniela’s hands trail lower, the cloth swiping over her thighs.
She peeks one eye open when Dani swipes over-
Something else.
“Dani.” She grumbles.
“I’m not doing anything.” She insists.
Dani stood back up, a mischievous grin on her face.
„Sorry.“ she said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
She washed Yoonchae’s hair after that, then took the time to wash herself.
“I appreciate you.” She whispered as Daniela towel dried her hair.
“I appreciate you too.”
“But I didn’t do anything.”
“You’ve gotten me breakfast every morning since we started dating and even before, you take me to and from class, you take me out to lunch and help me cook dinner, you learned my hair wash routine and bought me that expensive hair spray I wanted, need I go on?” She huffed.
Yoonchae shut up after that.
Daniela rewrapped her ribs, starting at her breasts and wrapping downwards just as the nurse told her to.
“Is it bad that you look kind of hot?” Dani mumbled after she helped Yoonchae get her sweatpants on.
“Uhhh, no?” - “You do too.”
Dani giggled and dramatically twirled, Yoonchae’s jersey swishing around her.
Sophia caught them on their way back to the bedroom.
“Wow, together you almost make a full outfit.” She laughed. “Dani’s got the top with no pants, and you’ve got the pants with no shirt.”
“Shut uppp.” Yoonchae groaned.
They walked into Yoonchae’s room quietly, Dani helped her all the way. Pulling back the sheets and letting Yoonchae settle underneath them before snuggling in herself.
“Baby, I can’t move well.”
“I know, amor.”
“No but I-” She huffed. “I want you.”
“Oh?” She smirked.
“Not like that-” - “I mean yes like that but not now.”
Dani laughed,
“What are you talking about then?”
“I just- want a kiss, and to cuddle.”
Dani smiles,
“Okay.” She says simply, leaning over to kiss her.
She’s gentle with how she moves, careful to not touch anywhere near Yoonchae’s torso.
Their lips touch softly, Yoonchae tries to push into her desperately, but Daniela keeps her still, holding her at her neck.
“Slow down there, lovergirl, no strenuous activities.” Dani chuckles as she pulls away from her.
“I love you so much.” Yoonchae breathes. “You’re amazing.”
Dani’s heart stutters, and she grins up at Yoonchae.
“I love you too.” - “So so much, amor.”
They kiss again once more, just as sweet.
“You happy you won?”
“Yeah.” - “I’d be more happy if I got revenge though.” She joked.
“I know. I’m almost scared to go home later.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“And do what with your broken ribs.” She laughs.
“I don’t know.” - “Just like, fight him.”
“Right. You’re cute. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Daniela leans on her shoulder, careful to not put too much weight on her.
“I hope he gets hit by a car though.”