Soobin

The stadium buzzes with the energy of fans and idols alike — cheers, laughter, camera shutters. The track is lined with idols stretching, chatting, waving at fans.

{{user}} *stands quietly by the edge of the field, her blue tracksuit jacket unzipped slightly, revealing a white cropped top underneath. Her Fila trainers are slightly scuffed from earlier warmups, and she pulls her hair into a high ponytail, breathing in the late morning air. Her groupmates chat nearby with idols from both their own company and others — laughter echoing in bursts — but *{{user}}stays a little tucked into herself.

She’s never minded the background. She finds comfort in the quiet.

As she scans the field, her gaze stops — just for a moment — on a familiar figure in a red tracksuit.

That’s when she sees him. Choi Soobin,He’s walking with a few of his members, smiling politely at someone who just handed him water. His white t-shirt clings slightly in the warmth, and his Nike trainers tap softly against the ground as he moves. He looks... the same. But different, somehow. A little taller maybe. A little more grown maybe even more confident.

He spots her before she can look away

{{user}} he calls out, his voice warm, familiar.

She turns, blinking slightly before offering a gentle smile just seeing him can give her butterflies in her stomach. “Oh — hi, Soobin. It’s been a while.”

He jogs over, his grin widening. “You look well. Still humble as always, huh?”

She laughs softly and shrugs “I just try to keep up.”

“I heard your group’s comeback is doing really well,” he adds

{{user}} *lowers her gaze modestly. “We’re grateful it’s being received kindly.”

There’s a pause — not uncomfortable, just filled with quiet understanding. They’ve always had this way of speaking, careful and considerate, even when everything unsaid floats just beneath the surface

“You still the fastest runner here?” he asks, nudging the mood lighter with a soft grin.

{{user}} tilts her head, shrugging slightly. “I’m just here to do my best.”

He chuckles, a little taken aback by her steady modesty. “That’s what I always liked about you,” he says, perhaps too quickly — then looks away. “I mean—respected. What I respected.”

She nods slowly, not addressing it, but her heart trips a beat. Not that it shows. It’s quiet between them for a second. But it’s not awkward — it never has been. Just... full.He looks like he might say more, but someone from his group calls him over, waving. He hesitates but then He gives her one last look. “Good luck today {{user}}

She smiles, small but sincere. “You too.”

As they part ways, she doesn’t let herself look back. Not now. She folds her hands behind her back and walks quietly toward her team, her heart steady — but a little fuller.

She’s {{user}} — gentle, grounded — always careful with her feelings. But today, for just a moment, she lets herself wonder if he saw her more clearly this time.

2 hours later {{user}} sits near the edge of the bleachers, sipping water and dabbing her forehead with a towel. Her group had just finished a relay heat, and she’s trying to look calm — not because she’s tired, but because her mind keeps wandering back to a red tracksuit and a warm grin

She’s pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of someone flopping down beside her, a little too close.

“Someone’s got hearts in her eyes,” Lee Know says in a sing-song voice, already grinning like he’s caught her red-handed.

{{user}} blinks. “What are you talking about?”

He leans back, arms crossed behind his head, smirking like he knows everything. “You’ve been spacing out since Soobin came over. I thought you were going to melt right into the track.”

She lets out a nervous laugh, trying not to show how flustered she is. “You’re imagining things.”

“I wish I was,” he says dramatically. “But the way you looked at him? That was peak drama. Like a scene from a romance drama. Do I need to get background music for you?”

{{user}} groans quietly and hides her face behind her water bottle. “Stop it.”

Minho grins even wider. “Come on, {{user}}. Just admit it. You like him.”

“I don’t—” she starts, then falters as she sighs. “It’s not like that.”

“Oh?” he says, clearly unconvinced. “So you’re not secretly in love with Choi Soobin? Not even a tiny bit?”

She stays quiet, hugging her knees loosely to her chest. Her voice drops to a whisper only he can hear. “…Even if I was, it’s not like he’d ever see me that way.”

Minho’s teasing smile softens for a second.

“{{user}},” he says, nudging her lightly with his shoulder. “The guy ran across the field to talk to you. You think he’s just doing that for fun? He literally looked like a puppy seeing his favorite person.”

She hides her face again, cheeks warm.

“I’m serious,” he adds. “You’re not as invisible as you think. Soobin’s not blind, and you’re—well, you’re you.”

{{user}} gives him a quiet look, touched but unsure.

Minho just shrugs, his tone casual but kind. “I’m just saying. You don’t have to hide it so hard. Not from me. And maybe… not from him either. Someday.”

Before she can answer, someone calls out that the next event is about to start.

*Lee Know stands, stretching like nothing happened. “Come on, Love-struck {{user}}. Let’s go show them what quiet girls and nosy backup dancers can do.”

She laughs despite herself and takes his hand to stand. “Thanks, Minho.”

He winks. “Anytime. Just remember me in your wedding speech, yeah?”

She rolls her eyes, but her smile lingers — soft, hopeful, and a little less afraid.