THE DREAM CHASERS

 

THE DREAM CHASERS

Chapter Text

Chapter 7

Mark was too tired to drive so he hitched a ride with Jaemin after night practice. He was sitting in the back with Jisung who was already asleep.

"Are we changing the line up? Did you talk to the coach?" Jeno asked, turning back.

"Yes. We just briefly talked about it." Mark mumbled. Jeno shot a questioning look towards a sleeping Jisung and turned back to him.

"Are we even playing him in the game ?" Jeno asked.

"Do you think we can play him in the game?" Mark asked Jeno. After all, Jeno was the vice captain of the dream chasers and he was honest.

"I wouldn't play him if it was up to me. He still needs some time." Jeno answered. Too much honesty was turning out to be bad for Mark's mental health. He rubbed his eyes and sighed.

"Do we have to talk about this right now? I've had enough of exy today." Jaemin said as he gave Jeno a look that Mark didn't understand.

"Fine. We'll talk tomorrow." Jeno shut up, even though he looked like he wanted to say more on that subject.

Mark realized that Jeno must have liked Jaemin a lot more than Mark expected seeing how he stopped talking about exy. Mark didn't know Jeno could ever stop a conversation about exy.

Mark thought back to when Jeno was a freshman, he was quiet and clinged to Jaemin but perked up whenever exy was mentioned.

Thinking about Jeno's freshman years made Mark's mind wandering to a certain loudmouth he met around that time.Mark realized he was thinking about Haechan again. He was doing that a lot lately.

Mark worried about the limited time he had with Haechan. It changed the air around them, souring the mood but neither of them wanted to broach Mark's inevitable graduation and departure from dream chasers and wherever he may go next.

Mark sighed tiredly as he looked at Jisung to distract his thoughts. Jisung had been working really hard to keep up with them at the practice and his academics. Mark wanted in on the extra practice because he did not want Jeno to work Jisung to the bone.

It had been two months since Jisung had joined the team, Mark felt like Jisung was slowly growing on them. Especially Chenle. Everyone in the team thought it was endearing to see Jisung follow Chenle around like a puppy. It was so very evident that he admired Chenle.

Mark desperately tried not to think about Haechan. Again.

"Should I wake him up?" Mark asked as they entered their dorm parking lot.

"Leave it to Jeno." Jaemin said as he parked the car.

Mark watched in horror as Jeno woke Jisung up by violently shaking him, Jisung was unfazed as he woke up and got out of the car with his bags.

Mark entered his room to the sight of Haechan dozing off while sitting in the chair. Mark felt his heart melt at that. He noticed Lucas was sleeping on the small couch, his body too big for it. They had waited for him. Mark felt guilty about staying out that long.

Mark knelt before Haechan and slowly shook him awake. Haechan's eyes fluttered open as he woke up.

"When did you come?" Haechan rasped.

"Just now." Mark whispered.

"Mark Lee, do you know what time it is ?" Haechan asked as he saw the clock.

"It's hyung to you."

"I'm gonna have a word with Jeno. " Haechan said, getting up from the chair, his movements sluggish. He looked like he was still half asleep.

"Haechan. " Mark said. But haechan was already out the door. Mark looked back at Lucas's sleeping form as he followed Haechan to Jeno's room.

Haechan went up to knock on the door but the door was already open.

"Jeno, why the hell is your door open? What are you.... " whatever question Mark had died in his throat as he took in the scene in front of him.

Jisung was sprawled on the couch, his limbs tangled with Jeno and Jaemin, who were passed out half on the couch and half on the floor, the room a mess of books and dirty laundry.

"Idiots." Haechan muttered to himself as he untangled Jeno from Jaemin and dragged him to bed with Mark's help. Jeno didn't even stir.

"I don't understand why you idiots are working yourself to the bone over this stupid game." Haechan complained as they dragged Jaemin to the bunk bed.

Haechan looked at Jisung, sound asleep on the couch and said, " He looks comfortable there, let's just leave him on the couch."

Waking up Lucas was harder than moving Jeno and Jaemin. Mark felt like forever had passed before he fell asleep to Haechan's quiet voice complaining about exy and how they are breaking themselves for nothing.

The month flew faster than Mark wanted it to. The dreamies were all faced with something they hated more than losing a home game, exams. They may have been training like exy is the only thing that mattered but the university was clear on one thing, 'if they fail to pass their exams or keep up the mandatory attendance, it didn't matter if they were a star, the university will pull them out of the team'.

So they went to class, submitted their assignments, did their share of academics while trying to be the rising exy stars. There was only one match before the exam started. He was tired of being reminded of how little time he had with the dream chasers. He was even more tired of answering about what he was gonna do after graduating.

The dreamies were definitely better than they were at the start of the season. Jisung had drastically improved over the last two matches, better than he had hoped for. The dreamies had fared well against the white knights and the killer whales. They won against the whales. Mark hoped that they could keep up the momentum.

"I can't believe you let Jeno and Jisung continue with their extra practice, even though the exams are like in two weeks." Haechan