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Mark Lee, junior at Maple Ridge High, moved from Canada at the start of freshman year. Known to be Neo City’s best high school striker with near-perfect shot accuracy. Players cower in fear when Mark Lee has a ball between his feet, gold cleats a blur as he dribbles towards their goal, steps weightless. His strikes are a different story from his impeccable footwork, packed with power, threatening to drill holes into every corner of the goal.
There’s no question why everyone dreads going against Mark Lee.
Except, maybe, one person.
Lee Donghyuck, junior at Summerville High, born and raised in Neo City. Known as the center-mid everyone wishes they had or were, because of his limitless stamina and ability to communicate seamlessly. Sure, he doesn’t usually shoot the shots, but he’s always there . Defense have a hole? Donghyuck’s there. Space at the top? Donghyuck’s there. If you think you see a space to play through, chances are Donghyuck is, well, there.
It was freshman year- first game of the season, against Maple Ridge. Donghyuck had adrenaline thrumming through his veins before he’d even stepped on the field.
But Summerville lost, four-two, every point belonging to Mark. Donghyuck had sworn from then on to never let his guard down, stay grounded, and most importantly, never let Mark score again.
The season came and went. Neo City Sports Association (NCSA) held their soccer tournament, with Summerville coming in second and, surprise, surprise, Maple Ridge coming in first.
Then, it was a week before summer break, and the Maple Ridge team was in Summerville for a friendly match. Sounds of rowdy boys warming up under the sun were muffled to Donghyuck as he changed in the locker room alone, late because his teacher held him back.
Donghyuck hadn’t put his jersey on yet, the fabric taut around his lower arms, when Mark walked in, cleats clicking against the tiles. They made eye contact, but Donghyuck was far too grumpy to notice the sudden pinking of Mark’s ears and cheeks.
“Uh, hi. Donghyuck right?” Mark stumbled over his words.
Donghyuck wasn’t in the mood to deal with clumsy new kids, and grumbled, “what do you want, Canada?” the nickname he used on the field slipping out.
Mark scoffed, “well aren’t you just a ray of sunshine,” before slipping into an empty bathroom stall.
Donghyuck was out of the changing room-barefoot- before he could think twice.
After a successful match that ended two-one to Summerville, the two teams lined up to shake hands. Donghyuck and Mark were at the end of their respective teams, and as they neared, the embarrassment from earlier rose.
In a better mood, Donghyuck slapped his palm against Mark’s outstretched one, sheepish.
“Hey,” he started, making Mark stop, “sorry about earlier. I... wasn’t in a good mood.”
Mark flashed a too-bright smile and said, “already forgotten,” patting Donghyuck’s shoulder once, “good game, Sunshine.”
It went downhill from there.
It’s junior year. The freshmen they used to be are no more, baby fat suctioned away from hours under the sun. In place are boys in their late teens, muscles filled out, movement more confident. It’s an important year for them, with SATs, and college scouts at games in hopes of finding their next athlete.
The mid-September sun beats mercilessly upon them as the players warm up. It’s Summerville’s first game of the season, a friendly against Maple Ridge to prepare them for an unforgiving season of soccer. Donghyuck is just finishing his second lap around the field when Renjun jogs up to him, joining as he starts his high knees.
“Do you follow Mark Lee on Instagram?” Renjun starts, knees hitting his raised palms.
“Yeah,” Donghyuck knows what’s coming. “Why?”
“Have you seen his latest post?”
They make it around halfway before switching to butt-kicks, Jeno sidling up on Donghyuck’s other side.
“Are we talking about Mark Lee and his incredible glow-up?” Jeno grins.
Donghyuck feels his cheeks burn. Ever since that day in the locker room, he and Mark had grown closer, from natural rivals to mutuals on Instagram, commenting on each other’s posts. The teasing stretched to the field but never affected their game. Donghyuck has always thought of it as friendly competition, enjoying the push-and-pull of their words, whether it be in a game or their DMs.
Until that one, eye-opening day, spring of sophomore year.
The three of them had gone to Donghyuck’s place after winning a game against Maple Ridge, four-two, and were eating cookies. Jeno had elbowed Donghyuck in the side and giggled, “Looks like your flirting really worked today.” Donghyuck looked at him confused, so Renjun elaborated.
Donghyuck had just blinked.
Now, as his two best friends rave about the post Donghyuck avoided looking at for the last week, he struggles to stop thinking about the things he’s come to realize in the last six months.
It always happened in-game. He would notice the way Mark almost over-leans into his kicks. How he dribbles more with the outside of his feet than inside. Then it was less soccer and more… Mark. Like how he bites his lips when he’s concentrating. And the way his thighs move between different stages of visibility depending on how his shorts ride up.
In conclusion, he’s fucked.
He goes ahead and finishes the lap, then turns back to check on his friends. Seeing them slow to a stop, glancing at something, and then flashing Donghyuck an amused smile, Donghyuck halts, confused.
“Hey, Sunshine!”
Donghyuck swallows, and turns at the voice.
There stands Mark Lee, saluting Donghyuck with a smirk. His eyes are sparkling, as usual, but he’s sporting a perfect tan and has clearly been working out. Even his face seems more defined than before, skin taut over the bones of his jaw and cheekbones.
Donghyuck yanks himself out of his daze and shoots back what he hopes is a confident smile, only turning away when Mark does so first.
He’s met with Renjun and Jeno’s knowing smiles as they jog over.
“Blushing?” Jeno laughs, swinging an arm around Donghyuck’s shoulder so hard he stumbles.
“Shut up.”
Renjun bumps him with his shoulder, “admit you have a big crush on Mark Lee and we’ll let you be.” Donghyuck flinches and checks around instinctively.
“Ohoho, you are down bad ,” Jeno says, sending both him and Renjun into a whirl of laughter.
They lost.
It wasn’t anyone’s fault. Over summer break, their usual goalie, Jungwoo, fractured his pinky finger, meaning their substitute goalie, Chenle, had to step in. Basketball player, but fairly good. Just needed a warm-up.
But a game against Maple Ridge is far more than a warm-up.
“You can trust me,” Donghyuck had said before the game, seeing Chenle nervous, “so relax. I’ll try my best.”
...Well.
It put Donghyuck in a grumpy mood. He loves to win. Loves to feel the rush of pure ecstasy when the whistle goes off three times, the scoreboard glowing with their victory. He knew he should’ve done better.
“Hyuck, it was a friendly. Chill,” Jeno says, wiping another bead of sweat away from his hairline with the bottom of his jersey as they walk to Donghyuck’s.
“And,” Renjun adds to his left, “it was Maple Ridge. Those games are always hard.”
Donghyuck sighs, shifting the duffel bag on his shoulder.
“Besides, even I got distracted with you-know-who on the field,” Renjun giggles, earning an almost bruising elbow to the side. He stumbles with a soft, oof.
“I did not get distracted,” Donghyuck snaps, harsher than he intended. He calms himself down. “I really didn’t, I promise. I won’t let any of that mess up a game. I can’t.”
“Hey,” Jeno starts, apologetic. They've finally reached the house. “Don’t stress about it, we were just messing,”
“And don’t stress about scouts either,” Renjun adds, knowing there’s more to Donghyuck’s mood. “You’re going to get into a great college and have an amazing future. We know it.”
Jeno nods, his eyes curling into their own smiles, making Donghyuck’s chest feel lighter as he pushes through the door.
Minutes later, the three of them settle at the kitchen table, with a batch of brownies Taeyong had made, and give him a rundown of the game.
“So you lost, it happens. It’s not like anything is messing with your concentration.”
Donghyuck almost chokes on his brownie.
“Is there?” Taeyong’s eyes are wide.
Donghyuck casts his eyes down. "...No."
“I was right?!” Renjun blurts, flinching when he gets a glare from Donghyuck.
Taeyong leans forward, eyes flickering between them. “What? What are you right about?"
“Um, Hyuck? You wanna explain?” Jeno says slowly, “Renjun and I are also… confused.”
So he swallows the brownie and explains. He starts by asking Taeyong, “remember that kid I told you about? The crazy striker from Canada?” Then they get through the years, the sudden glow-up, and eventually, with his face practically up in flames, Donghyuck’s admission of a crush.
“I think I’ve liked him for a long time now,” Donghyuck finishes, his voice barely above a whisper. They stare at him, and when it grows unbearable, he rushes to the kitchen to get some water.
A few seconds later, Taeyong walks in and grabs two other cups. Donghyuck sips at his water, standing by Taeyong as he fills the ones in his hands.
“I get it,” Taeyong starts, “I know you’re scared that it’ll eventually affect your game, and maybe it will! Big whoof,” He offers a sympathetic smile. “But that’s okay . You’re still a kid, things happen.”
“But-”
“The scouts, I know. But the more you think about it, the more likely it’ll happen. So try to put it aside. Study well, then think about soccer, then let Mark Lee slip in here and there.”
Donghyuck thinks his smile isn’t convincing because Taeyong puts an arm around him and squeezes. “You’ll be fine.”
He tries another smile and feels a rush of warmth thinking that maybe, he will be fine.
Donghyuck is not fine.
It’s March. The air is still cold, but the sun is out. Soccer season is almost over and the NCSA tournament is finishing. SATs are coming up.
Donghyuck is, I repeat, not fine.
They haven’t played Maple Ridge yet. Both schools were in different qualifying groups, and both obliterated their opposition, coming out with three wins and no losses each. Now, they’re in the finals, and sports scouts have their eyes on them.
Donghyuck worries Mark might cost him this game. Over the last few months, they’ve talked as usual, and his feelings just grew. He hasn’t stopped studying for SATs, his head hurts from sleepless nights, and he’s barely eaten for the last week.
At lunch, he crouches over his notes, barely sparing his sandwich a glance. Jeno and Renjun gave up trying to get him away from his books ages ago. They know that Donghyuck’s concentration keeps him from thinking about Mark.
And it works.
Until they’re stepping off of the bus, and Donghyuck sees Maple Ridge under their tent on the field already. He starts feeling queasy and says just as much.
Renjun frowns. “If you’re not feeling good, you should sub out first.”
“No!” Donghyuck shouts, then seeing heads turn his way, lowers his voice. “No.”
“We should’ve shoved the sandwich down your throat,” Jeno grumbles to no one in particular.
Donghyuck sigh when he turns, just in time to see Mark laugh at a joke someone made. “I’ll be fine."
And he is- until the last ten minutes.
“Jaemin!” Mark’s voice cuts through the air as he sprints forward, receiving a pass in Summerville’s half.
Donghyuck is nearing his limit. His calves are on the edge of cramping, his head is spinning and the taste of bile stings the back of his throat. But he can’t back down, not when all eyes are on them.
Mark works expertly through the field, then somehow, Donghyuck is the only one left between him and Chenle. He crouches, trying his best to blink into focus.
But then the sunlight hits just right, or just wrong , and bounces off of Mark’s too-bright cleats, blinding Donghyuck for long enough that he misses Mark stopping above the ball, right leg pulled back and then-
SLAM!
The next thing Donghyuck feels is the air being knocked from him as his back smacks to the ground, blacking out for a second after being smashed in the face by the ball. His body curls into itself, his head is spinning a million times more than before, forcing his eyes close.
“Holy shit.”
“Hyuck?”
“You okay?”
There are too many voices, but he’s still conscious, pain rocketing through his face and every limb on his body. He tries to sit up and then feels something warm trickle to his lip.
Oh for fucks sake.
“Donghyuck?” The voice makes him squirm; he’s torn between looking and also not-looking because he probably looks like a sweaty, bloody mess right now. “I’m so sorry, oh my God, wow, that’s a lot worse than I thought-”
Then there are arms all over him, trying to get him up, and he doesn’t even get a peek at Mark’s face as he’s half-carried away, blood staining the grass.
Donghyuck hears the tell-tale sound of three whistle blows from his place in the nurse’s tent behind the food trucks and slumps at the edge of an ambulance bed. There’s a wad of bloody tissues in a small bin at his feet, and the sweat has partially cooled on his skin. Everything feels steadier now, but everything aches and his face hurts , even with the giant ice pack he’s pressing to it.
He’s alone in the tent as the nurse goes to fetch more ice, wishing he could see the results of the game. He’s about to get up and check when a familiar face rounds the nearest truck, searching.
“Donghyuck,” It’s Mark, still sweaty from the game. Donghyuck's heart rate rockets as he offers a small wave. “Are you okay?”
Donghyuck doesn’t reply.
“That was a dumb question,” Mark mutters as he approaches the bed. Donghyuck pulls the ice pack away from his face a little and Mark immediately winces at his bruised cheek. “Ouch.”
Donghyuck shrugs, “If you’d sliced something, at least I’d have a cool scar for it.”
“What happened?” Mark frowns, “You don’t usually blank out on the field like that.”
Again, Donghyuck shrugs. Mark crosses his arms, cocks a brow, and Donghyuck almost goes crazy. Exhausted, he gives up on any pretense and goes for the truth.
“I’ve been… preoccupied, lately.” He starts adjusting his ice pack. “SATs, NCSA, and… feelings.” Donghyuck cringes at how he sounds and drops his eyes to the floor.
“Feelings? You... like someone?”
Donghyuck looks up. “Um, yeah?”
“Oh.”
Donghyuck blinks. Is he… disappointed?
“Yeah,” Donghyuck says. Then, he steels himself, and admits with as much strength as he can- “It’s you.”
For a second Mark just stares. Donghyuck feels his heart pounding at the rush of such a daring confession, and gives himself a mental pat on the back for doing it. So what if Mark doesn’t like him back, he was brave enough to do that, and hey, maybe I can get over him pretty easily-
Then suddenly Mark is a lot closer than before, pulling the ice-pack away from Donghyuck’s face.
“Wh-”
“You’re not kidding, right?” Mark says, voice hushed.
Donghyuck blinks, unable to pull back. Mark is so… so close- has he fainted?- “No…?”
“Good,” Marks says, eyes flickering down to Donghyuck’s lips before coming up to his eyes again, “because I’ve waited a long time to do this.” Mark leans in, and Donghyuck lets the ice pack tumble to the bed, shutting his eyes- “Can I kiss you?” Mark asks, breath on Donghyuck's nose.
Donghyuck opens his eyes and almost laughs. “Please.”
And then Mark’s lips are on his.
Mark’s lips! Are on mine!
They stay like that for a while, then Mark is pulling away, but Donghyuck chases him, not wanting the moment to end, wanting more-
“Hey,” Mark laughs, steadying Donghyuck by holding his arms, “Your nose is bleeding again.”
Donghyuck brings a finger up to his nose and sure enough, there’s blood there. He curses under his breath and yanks a handful of tissue out from the box beside him, then looks up and asks the question sitting on the tip of his tongue.
“Since when?” He asks, voice slightly muffled from the tissues.
Mark thinks for a moment, then replies with, “since the changing room two years ago. I think.”
Oh.
Donghyuck bursts out laughing, but is too hung on the high of the kiss and Mark’s confession to register any pain.
“Hey, you’re gonna make your nose bleed more!”
The two of them crumble into a fit of laughter as they try to stop the bleeding, hands fumbling with tissues and ice, but too preoccupied with each other to really care.
“C’mon,” Mark says eventually, helping Donghyuck off of the bed. “Let’s get you back.”
Donghyuck nods and hops off, almost toppling over when his legs give way. Instantly, Mark winds his arm around Donghyuck's waist, stabilizing him. Donghyuck considers falling again just to feel his hold tighten.
“By the way,” Donghyuck starts, as they limp back to Summerville’s tent. “Who won?”
Mark laughs, “We drew. Your face prevented the winning goal.”
Donghyuck considers it, looking over to Mark, who keeps his eyes trained on the ground first, then looks over, a gentle smile on his lips. Donghyuck can see the guilt in Mark's eyes. It must’ve thrown him off his game, hard enough that he didn’t go for a goal that would’ve been a lot easier without Summerville’s ace.
“No mercy next time, Canada,” Donghyuck finally says as the ground beneath them goes from cement to grass.
Mark looks to him and there’s a pause, and Donghyuck almost thinks he’s going to get kissed again until Mark laughs, soft and bright, melting his heart.
“Game on, Sunshine.”