Chapter 23 (1/1)

The next day, she slept in, she didn’t attend any lesson because she thought she didn’t need to since she quitted school the day before. She arrived at the gym to pack her things, not because she promised nothing to Bogum but because she already decided to do that yesterday. It was just slightly past the time that school officially ended for the day when she reached. She took in a deep breath and let it all out as she stood outside the gym and stared at the building with heavy heart. It was a place that she spent barely 2 months here but made much more memories than places she had stayed for years. She moved her feet to the gate and saw the chains that she had put up to lock the door was scattered on the floor, broken in to 2 pieces. She bends down to pick it up and threw it in to the box that she had brought with her to clear her stuff. It was barely a day since she said that she was going to leave, yet they can’t wait to open the gym already. She disappointedly dragged her feet with her to the gym. She was going to take a last look at the court before she really leaves for good. Dejectedly, she laughed at the thought of Bogum’s word yesterday. She laughed at herself for being silly to think that she could change them. She laughed at herself for not listening to her brother’s words.The moment she steps into the court, she took 2 steps back. Taken aback by the scene in front of her. She stood there for a good 5 seconds before the other party started.“Roo, they cut the chain off the door, but they can’t make us play” *who cut? *“We’ve decided to finish what you’ve started, Roo”“Yeah, so leave us be, Roo. We’ve got shit to do, Roo” She saw a few of their school tutors helping out with their studies. They were all seated with desk and chairs in the middle of the basketball court. Are they really going to change? Or is this all a show put up just so they could at least have a coach. She swallowed, turned around to leave the hall. “Roo!” JongHyun stood up, getting attention from her. “How much does our passion cost? Well, we could give up all for basketball, we could skip 3 meals just so we can buy a basketball that this broke down school can’t provide us. We gave up our free time just so we can spend more time playing basketball. We could let our pride down and challenge other schools just so we can have that opportunity to stay on court, even if it means we knew that we will never win all along. Right now… I would like to say, we are willing to give up basketball to study… so we can get to be a real basketballer.” Her gaze travelled upon JongHyun. “Roo, I just want to say thank you, you saved all of our lives. Please…stay.”JongHyun sat down and seems like it’s Mino’s turn to speak.“Roo…I am not good with words, and it seems to you that I am always trying to show that I am fearless. I finally found the answer to your question. You always ask me ‘what’s my deepest fear’ before each training ends, and it made me think a lot last night hearing all of your words.” He stood up from his seat. “Our deepest fear, is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. we are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”The tutors were surprised by how well Mino was speaking, no one expects that to come out from him, even Roo. She smiled, genuinely. “Most importantly” he rubbed his neck awkwardly, “I take back what I said that day, and I am sorry” Everyone was taken aback, not knowing what he was talking about as well as, Mino actually apologised.