Most Valuable Player || Hwang In-Yeop [ONGOING]

Chapter 7

I spotted In-Yeop in the kitchen. He was rummaging through the fridge and cabinets trying to find something to eat. "...Morning.", I said.

In-Yeop sighed. "Good Morning.", he said curtly. I joined him in the kitchen in the search for some food. "There's nothing...", he mumbled. "Empty..."

I remembered seeing a grocery store down the block. I wonder if it's okay if I go? My stomach growled and that was my answer. I instantly walked to the front door and slipped my shoes on.

"Where are you going?", In-Yeop asked.

"Everyone's gonna be looking for food soon. Might as well go buy some ingredients."

"With what money?"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not that broke anymore.", I said. "I'm leaving." I left the cabin and closed the door behind me. "He's so infuriating... I can't even go buy food?"

I made it down the street but heard fast footsteps coming nearer. "You couldn't wait?", asked In-Yeop. Why is he coming along? "I can go to the store by myself.", I said. "It's not that far from here."

In-Yeop scoffed. "Then point to our next turn.", he said crossing his arms. I looked at the local shops around and thought for a moment. Where was it again?

I pointed in a random direction and In-Yeop walked past me towards the opposite direction. "Close.", he teased. "But wrong as ever."

Whatever.

We made it to the grocery store and I grew excited. What should I make? In-Yeop grabbed a cart without saying a word and walked beside me.

"...How do you feel about kimchi fried rice?", I asked. "And scallion pancakes?" In-Yeop's eyes widened and I couldn't help but chuckle. "My cooking got you excited?", I asked. He cleared his throat and continued pushing the cart.

"Whatever you make, it's up to you.", he said. "Just get extra servings since the basketball players eat a lot." I completely forgot I had to feed more than two people. I scratched my head thinking about the total cost.

"Just get whatever you want.", he said. "We'll worry about the price after."

____

We stood in the checkout line and it was finally our turn. I placed all the needed ingredients on the conveyor belt and noticed a pack of my favorite peach gummies. I glanced at In-Yeop but he was too busy looking at the other items hanging by the register.

"That'll be $187.", said the cashier. My heart sank  hearing the total price. "How much is it?", asked In-Yeop coming closer. He looked at the price and nodded before pulling his wallet out.

"Will that be debit or credit?", asked the cashier. In-Yeop tapped his card and the transaction was complete. "Debit.", he said. "Do you mind if we get paper bags?"The cashier nodded and bagged all the groceries for us.

I stared at In-Yeop on our way out of the store. "Why did you do that?", I asked.

"My team eats a lot. It'd be unfair to make you pay for them."

"And what about the girls? And me?"

"If I was gonna pay half might as well pay all of it."

I was upset he took it upon himself to do that. But I was also grateful. Switching universities 2 years in wasn't exactly ideal for my bank account. "...I still feel like I should pay you back.", I said.

In-Yeop sighed and shook his head. "It's fine...", he said. "I acted out of line yesterday so this is the least I can do." He glanced at me.

"...You-"

In-Yeop stopped himself. "Never mind.", he said. "Let's just hurry up so we can eat."

___

"This is delicious!"

I smiled at everyone's enjoyment. "Were you always this good at cooking?", asked Eunho. I shook my head and memories of my childhood played in mind.

"I was more of a baker.", I said. "My family owned a bakery but it burned down in high school." Everyone gasped. "...Was everyone safe?", asked Sunny.

I nodded my head. "Thankfully.", I said. "...But it was hard to recover after everything was lost." Shinhye pouted. "That sounds awful!", she said.

Those years of my life were tough but I had a lot of people who made it better. I glanced at In-Yeop. And worse.

"You know... I think you should sign up for this work study program.", chimed Boyoung. "Our campus partners up with this super popular restaurant-bakery nearby."

Restaurant bakery? "Like a two in one?", I asked. Sunny nodded. "They cater practically every event on campus.", she said. "They also coordinate with the cafeteria to create meal plans and everything!"

"It might help out if you need some extra funds.", said Boyoung. "Plus your skills are too good to go to waste."

"Our team is about to plan our health regimen for the upcoming tournament.", added Eunho. "...We could use someone who actually knows how to cook to help plan our meals."

Everyone looked at me with eager eyes except In-Yeop. Should I just do it?

____

"You missed dinner.", said In-Yeop getting into the hot tub. "And lunch... and breakfast." Yeseul tucked her hair behind her ear. "I just wasn't feeling hungry."

In-Yeop nodded. "Is everything alright?", he asked. "You've been avoiding me this entire trip." Yeseul placed her arm on the hot tub's rim. "Did you and Nana ever date?" In-Yeop blinked in surprise. "No.", he responded.

"Did you ever hook up?"

"No."

"Kiss?"

"Yeseul, I don't understand why you're asking me this.", he said. "It's not like you're my girlfriend anyways." Yeseul's face fell. "It shouldn't matter to you what my past relationship with Nana was.", he said. "We clearly have some bad blood and it's gonna take some time to get over it."

Yeseul ran her fingers through her hair. "I know I'm not your girlfriend.", she said. "We only ever hooked up and kissed before." In-Yeop sighed.

"I thought we both agreed to end on a casual note?", he asked. "You even said you wanted nothing to do with being in a relationship." Yeseul looked down. "...I don't.", she said.

"You're such a liar.", he said. "Just say the truth about your feelings and maybe we can stop playing these games." In-Yeop stepped out of the hot tub. "I don't want a girlfriend.", he said. "And if you need time to get over me, then I'll respect it."

In-Yeop grabbed the nearby towel and dried himself off. "Even if it means you never talking to me again, that's fine too.", he said. "I just don't want to be responsible for someone's feelings."