Chapter Text
South Korea’s Olympic swimmer Yoon Hana withdraws from Tokyo Olympics 2020
Yoon Hana, involved in an accident, will not compete at this year’s Tokyo Olympics
National Swimmer Yoon Hana, injured, decides to withdraw from 2020 Olympics
I run my hands over the news clippings posted inside my locker. I placed them there as a sheer reminder why I’m still doing this, why I’m still trying to get back up. It’s been exactly a year since that accident; physically I’ve actually recovered from it, not fully, but almost. But mentally and emotionally, I still have the scars it left me.
I’m a swimmer, I was supposed to compete at the 2020 Olympics but I was forced to withdraw because of my injury. I don’t really talk about it much anymore, not to my parents, my friends, not even to my coach. It’s been an unspoken rule when I'm around not to delve into that topic.
You see it wasn't really an accident, nothing like that. I mean sometimes I wish I was in a legit car accident or something; but the incident was too petty and stupid, my team and family decided not to tell anyone as it will just cause more uproar.
I have this team mate, Ayeon, we were in a heated argument last year so she pushed me and I slipped. Long story short, I injured my shoulder. I kept it in for the longest time, thinking that my shoulder was fine; training on it relentlessly. One day, I couldn't bear the pain anymore I had to go to the hospital.
I was examined and tested a bunch of times only to find out that I had a partial tear in my rotator cuff; making it hard for me to use my shoulders. Bottomline is, I had to withdraw from the Olympics to undergo therapy for a year. Yes, it was that serious.
Later I found out that Ayeon pushed me on purpose just so I wouldn't be able to compete. She was too insecure about herself that she felt like she needed to get rid of me. Stupid her, we weren't even competing in the same event. Our coach was training her for the 100meter freestyle, while I was training for the 200meter butterfly event.
And if you're wondering...yes she ended up competing last year. Since no one from outside the team knew about the incident, she wasn't reprimanded at all and the issue died down on its own. But poor her she didn't even win bronze. That bitch.
And now, she quit the national team and moved back to Jeju, her hometown, after she got back from the Olympics. She was hated and bullied a lot by the other swimmers that she couldn't take it anymore.
"Hana, let's go time for your therapy."
"I'll be right out, Coach."
I slammed the door to my locker shut, and got my bag from the bench. I just went through three hours of training, and now on to my therapy. Yaay, fun. Not.
"Do you want me to drive you to your session?" Coach Joy said as she saw me approaching.
"No, it's fine. I can walk there, I want to get some fresh air anyway. I'll see you tomorrow."
I waited til Coach left in her car before I went on my way. The clinic was only a 15 minute walk from my club where we hold our trainings and practices off season. It's home to me since I was three. Swimming had always been a big part of my life, I don't remember a time when I wasn't in the water. So imagine the pain I had to go through being away from it for almost a year.
I reached the clinic, barely making it on time. One of the receptionist told me to go straight inside and wait. The only thing I look forward to when I go to my sessions is my therapist. She's actually one of my childhood friends.
"Hana, you're here early." Jamie said as she closed the door behind her.
"Training finished early, Coach Joy had a date."
"Ooh, nice. Good for her, it's time her old ass finally gets some." She said waggling her eyebrows at me.
"Eew no, don't make me imagine it. She's still my coach!" I said making a face at her.
"How's your shoulder? Did you do the home exercises I taught you last week?" Jamie said laughing, changing the topic.
"Feeling good, I think I'm healed already."
"Let's see, maybe we can reduce your sessions to thrice a week."
"Aww, I'll miss you."
"Hush, we're still gonna see each other anyway. Hey, are you going to Yoona's party tonight?" She said holding onto my arm, helping me do the exercises.
"There's a party?" I asked turning towards her.
"Yeah, Yoona's going to migrate to Canada so Sejoo's throwing her a farewell party."
"We're invited?"
"Yup, Sejoo called me two days ago and told me to make sure you come this time." She said walking towards her table, writing down something on my record.
"Not my fault I was injured last year."
"I know, Hana, I know."
We worked silently for the next minutes, with her mostly instructing me to do this and that.
***
"Hurry up Hana!" Jamie said dragging me behind her, as we made our way inside the restaurant.
The party's being held in a restaurant owned by one of our friends in Sinchon. The moment we stepped inside, we were - well actually just me, attacked by hugs and kisses from our friends. They haven't seen me in months.
"How've you been Hana?" A friend asked, I recognize her but I can't seem to remember her name. I'm bad at this seeing as I'm not really a fan of big social events. I rarely go, and when I do go it's usually in a smaller setting than this one. I don't know half of the people in this party.
"Doing good, I'm okay now."
"So you'll be competing next Olympics then?" She said.
"Hopefully." I said half smiling, not really interested in the conversation anymore. Our other friends joined in in the conversation, already changing the topic.
I saw Jamie doing shots in the other side of the room, downing soju bombs after soju bombs; our friends cheering her on. I laughed when she spilled a glass on herself, staining her white shirt. That'll be a pain in the ass to remove, ooof.
The party is in full swing when suddenly a very familiar face opened the door, half the room turning their heads.
Kim Wonpil.
I haven't seen him since he graduated from our high school. He was two years older than me, and I used to have a huge crush on him. He was the quiet and shy kid you wanna befriend but couldn't because he looks too intimidating.
I remember my friends, Jamie included, used to tease me whenever we crossed paths with Wonpil. They'd push me towards him, making me stumble in front of him. He'd take one look at me and turn the other way. I was a nobody to him.
And now he's here. Oh. My. God.
"Wonpil hyung!" I heard someone scream, as soon as he closed the door. He smiled and walked over to where Jamie and the others are.
I watched as he greeted his friends, laughing over jokes and stories. God, I missed seeing him smile - the way his eyes disappear almost completely and his laugh lines evident. I only ever saw him laugh like that with his friends, and I've yet to see it up close.
"Hana!" Jamie screamed all the way across the room, motioning for me to come over.
Alcohol and Jamie was never a good combination from the very beginning. But add to that the fact that she knows I still like Wonpil? Good luck Hana, things are about to go down.
I walked over, regretting every step that I took; and the closer I got to where they were...the more nervous I got.
"Oh yeah, hyung, you remember Hana right? Yoon Hana, the swimmer? She's two years younger than you." Sejoo said, an arm around Wonpil's shoulder.
"Yes, I remember..." he said pausing, before turning to look at me. "Hello!"
"Hi, Yoon Hana...but you can just call me Hana." I said extending a hand out to him, bowing timidly in the process.
"Nice to see you Hana. How's your shoulder?" He asked.
Holy guacamole he knows about my injury! Okay, who am I kidding; the whole country knows, but still! Kim Wonpil knows. The Kim Wonpil knows about my shoulder injury.
"All healed now, slowly getting back in shape."
"I'm a big fan you know, and I was disappointed you decided to withdraw last year. But I guess your health is more important." He said smiling at me. And did I hear that right? He said he's a fan right? I'm not being delusional?
"Oh wow, please, if anything... I should be the one saying that I'm your fan. I mean, wow DAY6 huh? You guys are big now." I said turning the spotlight on him. Enough of me.
"Please, we're not that big." Now he's blushing. Cute.
"I've been to one of your shows before, you guys are pretty big. I love your songs, especially Chocolate."
"Thank you Hana, that means a lot."
The rest of the night went by in a blur. But it was mostly me looking out after Jamie; and basically trying to compose myself and not space out since Wonpil sat beside me the entire time. To say that I was internally losing my shit is the understatement of the century. And when he asked for my number before he left? I lost it. I felt my cheeks burning with heat, as we exchanged our phones for our numbers.
And that ladies and gentlemen, was how our love story began.