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The cheers in the waiting room ring in his ears as EDG’s mid inhibitor is destroyed. T1’s match versus LPL’s first seed, EDG, is currently being aired on the television screen in T1’s waiting room. It’s the second round of the group stage and T1 is about to get their revenge on EDG after their tragic defeat in the first round.
Jinseong feels sad that he hasn’t been able to play a single game on stage since groups started. He wants to play against EDG Viper but he’s sitting backstage and waiting for the game’s results instead. He misses it - the feeling of competing with your teammates on stage and sharing the joy of sweet victory. It’s a shame , he thinks. But seeing their team winning and the rookies succeeding eases his sadness. If the Gumayusi-Keria synergy is what it takes for them to win and to get Sanghyeok his fourth world championship, then being benched is perfectly fine. Memories and regrets from Worlds 2019 fill his mind but they’re gone as quick as they came and he puts his focus back on the game shown on the screen in front of him.
The nexus turrets fall and T1 gets 3 more kills on JieJie, Viper, and Meiko before the game comes to an end. As the nexus collapses, the camera focuses on Sanghyeok. Jinseong doesn’t miss the way the corners of his lips curl up to form a small smile as he takes his headset off. It makes Jinseong happy, seeing his hyung like this. A part of him wishes that he was with Sanghyeok on stage celebrating their victory, but he dismisses the thought. Let’s just be happy that our team won and we have a chance at getting 1st seed, he tells himself.
He’s taken out of his trance as the room gets filled with cheers again as his teammates enter the room. Jinseong scans the surroundings and spots Sanghyeok standing by the door frame with a huge grin on his face, watching the rookies celebrating with their coaches. Jinseong swears he doesn’t mean to, but his eyes refuse to look somewhere else. His gaze stays on the mid laner, admiring his features as if he was artwork on display. His eyes trail from Sanghyeok’s eyes, nose, and finally, his smile. This man’s smile could light up a whole town, the ADC thinks.
His thoughts come to a halt as Sanghyeok’s eyes meet his. He could feel his cheeks heating up from embarrassment as he was just caught staring at his team captain but his eyes betray him, still trained on the figure in front of him.
“Take a picture, it’ll last longer.” Sanghyeok playfully remarks. So Jinseong does. He doesn’t know what enters his mind as he decides to pull out his phone and snap a picture of Sanghyeok, but he does it anyway, capturing the midlaner’s smile.
“Hey! Did you actually take a picture of me? I was just kidding!” Jinseong laughs at his hyung’s reaction, no longer tense from getting caught staring. He checks the photo on his phone and for a picture that was taken so suddenly, it surprisingly looks good. He peeks at Sanghyeok and smiles at him.
“Delete it, Jinseong-ah. I probably look stupid there.” Sanghyeok pleads but Jinseong refuses to.
“You look good in the picture, hyung. Don’t worry.”
Sanghyeok approaches him and tries to grab Jinseong’s phone, but the latter is quick to react and Sanghyeok fails.
“At least let me see the picture.” The mid laner asks and Jinseong obeys, showing the said picture to his captain. “See? You look good here, Sanghyeok-hyung.”
“Fine. You can keep it, but don’t post it.” Jinseong grins mischievously as if implying that he will and Sanghyeok just sighs.
“Congrats on the win, hyung. You did well.” Jinseong says, changing the subject.
“Everyone did well. I’m glad we won against them. Our drafting was better this time and we also made fewer mistakes, but I think we can still improve.” Sanghyeok replies. It’s a typical response from him. Knowing his competitive nature, Jinseong knows his hyung always wants to improve even when he’s already regarded as the best in the world.
“But your Twisted Fate was really good. They might start calling him Twisted Faker with the way you’re performing with that champion.” The younger of the two jokes and they both laugh.
The conversation gets cut short as Sanghyeok gets called for a POG interview, but before he leaves the room, he calls on Jinseong.
“Jinseong-ah.”
“Hmm?” The younger hums in response.
“The next time we win, you’ll be the one sitting beside me.” Sanghyeok remarks. Jinseong just smiles back and watches as Sanghyeok walks out.
I hope so.