Chapter Text
"Hyejoo-ah!"
Hyejoo glanced up from lacing her basketball shoes and saw an orange sphere traveling through space straight towards her. Hyejoo quickly lifted her hands and caught the ball.
"Ahhh! Jinsol what the hell? You see I'm not ready yet" she whined.
"Well that sucks! I've been ready for HOURS waiting on your slow behind"
Hyejoo squinted her eyes at her friend in pure disdain and threw a hard chest pass back at her, making Jinsoul grunt.
The two teammates have been playing basketball ever since they could remember. Picking up the basketball and shooting was as natural as breathing for Hyejoo. Jinsoul was always naturally athletic, but she always needed help fine-tuning her mechanics- which Hyejoo was always willing to help with. The best friends trained like nobody's business together for years. Late nights. Early mornings. Wind, rain, or shine, they were probably in the gym together. Today was no different for them.
The friends always played on the same team, and they were lucky enough to make it to the next level together- college. Who would've thought that these two young ladies from a small town would get to play collegiate basketball together? Life was so good to them. They got to do the things they loved, together. Their signing day was the happiest day of Hyejoo's life. She remembers fondly sitting at the table with her parents, beaming, and her new college coach as well as her former high school coach, and her best friend in the entire world Jung Jinsoul. Hyejoo was nearly brought to tears. Her friend almost gave up. She was a late bloomer to the game and recruiters were slow to take notice of the black haired forward. There were many nights were Jinsoul cried into Hyejoo, panicking about the future and if she would ever get to play basketball outside of high school again. Jinsoul wanted to give up, but Hyejoo, stubborn and steadfast, refused to let her. They worked twice as hard getting shots up, doing dribbling drills, hitting the weights, and their least favorite activity-conditioning. It all came to fruition on their signing day. Hyejoo's parents and her siblings, Jinsoul and her mother. Their teammates surrounding them with balloons of their new school colors and a cake that said "Congratulations! Jinsoul #7 Hyejoo #12" in frosting. The girls remember the day with such adoration, so many pictures were taken and bright smiles.
Now they are here. 6:00 in the morning on a Monday. Pre-season conditioning was to start next week, but it would be out of character for the duo to not jump the gun and start putting in work themselves. They wanted to be on top of the game. Hyejoo desperately desired to be the best, to break records, to win games, to make her family proud. She wasn't exactly sure who she was playing for, all she knew was that she felt a certain... oneness, whenever she played the game. It was her element.
The duo began their workout sessions jogging up and down the floor a couple of times, followed by some dynamic stretches. After they both felt warmed up, Hyejoo pulled the ball cart to half court and chucked too balls at Jinsoul and grabbed two for herself. Two ball dribbling drills always was the beginning of their ball handling workout. They pounded the balls into the gym floor. Same time. Alternating popcorn. Varying heights- knees, waist, ankles, shoulders. Hyejoo was dripping sweat already. They moved onto single ball drills. Up and down the court 3 times each doing cross overs, between the legs, behind the back, spin moves, hesitations, in and outs. You name it, they did it. Before they allowed themselves a water break, they paired together. One dribbles while the other defends full court. Hyejoo was fast, and somehow even faster with the ball in her hands. Hyejoo was smart too, she could figure out where Jinsouls momentum would go or what moves would allow her the edge to get past her friend. Hyejoo was good alright, but if Hyejoo was a genius at the offensive, then Jinsoul was a revolutionary when it came to defense. Jinsoul was light on her feet. She could stop and plant her foot powerfully and gracefully allowing her to change directions and speed sharply to catch up with her man. Not only could Jinsoul move, she had hands which would cause Hyejoo to swear and lose the ball several times. They complemented each other. They changed positions so that Jinsoul could work on her offense, something she always struggled with and so Hyejoo could work on her defense. Hyejoo's defense was just as good as her offense, but sometimes Hyejoo would have late reactions because she's so busy calculating the next move in her head she doesn't have time to react. Soaked in the sweat, the friends finally ran to the baseline and made their way to the bench to drink some water.
"Fuck" gasped Jinsoul
Hyejoo squeezed her water bottle into her mouth and nodded at her friend. "You could say that again".
The friends took a couple of minutes gulping down water and breathing heavily. 6:30 am.
"You ready to shoot now Sol?" Hyejoo asked as she sat her water down. Jinsoul took one last huge swig of water and looked at the ground, as if she was contemplating life.
"Jinsoul!" Hyejoo yelled again. Jinsoul looked up and lifted a finger.
"Let me gather myself" Jinsoul breathed and smirked.
Hyejoo rolled her eyes and laughed. Her friend had always been so dramatic.
They finally made their way back onto the court. They would start off by making 5 free-throws a piece, then 10 layups with each hand on each side. After that it became less structured. Jinsoul worked on the shots she needed to get better at, like floaters and pull up jumpers, while Hyejoo worked on making post moves down low and three pointers from the center. Half an hour passed by and the girls were yet again dripping with sweat. "Hyejoo-ah" Jinsoul exclaimed. Hyejoo looked up from the rebound she just pulled down and grunted in reply. "Ready for Horse?"
"Do you feel ready?" Hyejoo asked
"I do"
"Alright then. Loser buys breakfast"
The two smiled and shook hands. Every workout, no matter how long it went, the pair always finished up with a game of horse. (Horse- for those who don't know is a shooting game. If one makes a shot and then the next person misses they get a "letter", the first person to spell "horse" loses).
Before the game commenced, they did rock paper scissors to determine what, who went first. Jinsoul.
She smirked and went to the three point line. Jinsoul ran towards the basket and did a behind the back dribble, and finished with a reverse lay up. It went in.
"AYeee ! Let's go! Come on Hyejoo I'm feeling good today!" Jinsoul cheered.
Hyejoo laughed and shook her head. She jogged to the three point line and took in a deep breath. She took a quick jab step and took off towards the rim, making a hard plant and throwing the ball around her back, she lept and floated in the air seamless, making the shot to Jinsouls dismay. "lucky" Jinsoul huffed under her breath. Hyejoo smiled before her friend went to take the next shot, a three from the left corner. The shot was like butter as it made the crisp sound of going through the net. Jinsoul jumped and held two "3's" in the air, "Ayeeee!!"
Hyejoo walked to the corner, imagining the ball being swung around the perimeter and simulated catching it front a "teammate". She caught the ball and let it fly, only to have toilet-bowled around the rim and fall away from the rim. Hyejoo's jaw dropped, but Jinsoul went nuts.
"OHHH!! THAT'S AN H FOR YOUUU HYEJOO!! WOAAH!!"
"Since when did we become children?!" Hyejoo snarked back, but her saltiness could not drown the pure joy Jinsoul was experiencing. Jung Jinsoul was on cloud nine bouncing up and down still hollering.
"Yeah yeah whatever, just hurry up and shoot the next one".
"You're just mad cause I'm on fireeeee!" Jinsoul sang as she let another three fly. Time seemed to slow down as it flew through the air and into the basket yet again.
"THEY CALL ME A WALKING BUCKET FOR A REASON!!!"
Hyejoo couldn't help but laugh at her friend. As much as Hyejoo loves to win, she loves seeing the people she cares most about happy.
Setting her pride aside, she walked over and high fived her best friend, "Nice one Soulie, you're icy!"
Jinsoul slammed her hand into Hyejoo's and said "Now hurry up and miss another one!"
Hyejoo rolled her eyes, yup, that's her best friend all right.
Another half hour had passed. Jinsoul had H-O-R and Hyejoo had H-O-R-S. They were neck and neck. Even though Hyejoo was losing, it certainly didn't feel like it. The shooting gods were on their side today for some reason.
"It's nearly 8am, Hye. Let's wrap this up"
Hyejoo nodded, she was getting hungry and the granola bar she had before the workout was probably all burned up by now. She moved to the three point line, she had to wrap this up quickly. She dribble to the left, between the legs and ran towards the rim and let go a right-handed floater. In.
"I know I said to wrap this up but you did that intentionally!" Jinsoul grumbled and with her angry taking over, Jinsoul hardly got the ball through her legs and hit the backboard hard, missing the shot. Jinsoul looked up and blinked "I don't wanna talk about it". Hyejoo exploded with laughter and fell on the ground.
"Ahhh!! Hyejoo-ah! It's not funny! Get up so we can finish the game!" Jinsoul whined.
Hyejoo stumbled to her feet, weak from laughter. "Okay, okay" she said stifling her giggles. She pulled herself together and made her way to the right side of the floor. She dribbled with speed to the corner, halted and did a between the legs step back and shot the ball. Hyejoo just couldn't miss! The ball sank in again, and so did Jinsouls heart.
"Aghhh" she grumbled, knowing she would have to be on it to make this shot.
"Bub, you got it. Get out of your head"
"I thought you wanted to win!"
"I do! But I also want to my friend to be confident in herself"
Jinsoul blushed a little and felt all soft on the inside. Hyejoo always believed in her, even when no one else did. Admittedly, Hyejoo could have probably went to a bigger and better school to play, but deep down she knew she couldn't leave Jinsoul, not after all this time. Because of that, Jinsoul always felt a tad bit guilty, but Hyejoo couldn't know that, not now at least. Jinsoul wanted the best for her sister, she wanted to see her soar and see her success beyond her wildest dreams, she didn't want to be a burden and make her chances smaller than what they should be. Jinsoul knew the reason for Hyejoo coming here, but Hyejoo didn't know Jinsoul knew.
Jinsoul took in a deep breath and took off for the right corner. She had always been so light on her feet and step backed with so much grace. The shot flew off of her finger tips and into the basket.
"Heyyyy!!" Hyejoo cheered. "That's confidence baby!"
Jinsoul smiled widely. She felt incredible. Even though she did feel guilty, she was very happy she could keep playing with her best friend for at least four more years.
Hyejoo walked to the free throw line "let's just end this here" and let go, only to be utterly disappointed as the ball went in and then promptly went out. Her jaw dropped as she turned around to her best friend.
"Were you confident?" Jinsoul asked.
"Oh shut up" Hyejoo said as she shoved her friend laughing. The game was coming down to the wire. One more letter stood between them and paying the bill for breakfast. If Hyejoo was gonna play dirty by making Jinsoul shoot floaters, she would make Hyejoo hit a three from center court.
Jinsoul smirked at her friend and said "Watch this" and launched a three ball in the air. It felt good. Everything was fluid. It all paid off as the ball went in, nothing but net.
"You're turn Oli-bear"
"Ah! You know I hate that!"
"Please. I'm the only one who can get away with it" she giggled.
Flustered by her annoying pet name, Hyejoo stormed to center court. Sending a small prayer to whoever may be above to help her make this shot. She dribbled the ball a few times, bent her knees, and let it fly. This was it, this felt like her best shot all day. Everything went in slow motion as #7 and #12 watched the ball arc into the air towards the rim and swirl in...
.... and then right back out.
"OHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Jinsoul cried running towards her friend.
"Don't touch me!" Hyejoo squealed trying to protect herself with the ball.
"I cannot wait for the fruit parfait! Gonna taste even better knowing it's on you! WoW! My best friend is truly so generous. A saint. Saint Hyejoo of the Cathedral"
"Watch it Jindori" Hyejoo said but Jinsoul couldn't hear her. She was too busy gleaming with excitement and walked to take her shoes off and slip into a clean t-shirt.
"Good thing I just got paid" Hyejoo thought to herself.